Happy Birthday Malago!

We love Jane Brocket. It was a total pleasure to welcome her back to Malago WI and we hope you enjoyed hearing her speak, seeing her fabulous crafts, and buying those beautiful books. Thanks Jane, until the next time...

Well, we're fast approaching our 4th birthday - haven't we grown? Which means a rather special October meeting/party.

On Wednesday 31 October we will be celebrating this milestone with a spot of wine tasting. Because our usual venue is teetotal, we're changing venue again. Same time though - 8-10pm.

October's meeting will take place at:
St Paul's Church Hall
Coronation Road
Bristol
Here's a map.

Seeing as we're vino quaffing, we thought we'd park the cake for the month (gasp!) and go for cheese and biscuits. We'll provide the dairy, but we're after bakers who'd like to make crackers, biscuits or bread to go alongside. Email us with your carbohydrate offers.

And as if that's not exciting enough, our birthday party is also our AGM which means the swearing-in of our brand new 2013 committee. These wonderful women are stepping up to make sure Malago continues to be a well-oiled WI.

Talking of 2013, the programme is shaping up nicely. Don't forget to sign up for next year's membership - the guest list opens at the October meeting so you lot are first in the queue. We'll be changing the rules slightly, making it possible to come along as a guest for £5 (2013 membership is £33 for 11 meetings).

Another new development - we've changed our Facebook group/profile to a page so please 'like' us (please!).

Don't go changing...
MWI x

September with Malago WI

We're so very excited to announce the return of Jane Brocket - writer, knitter, embroiderer, blogger, domestic goddess extraordinaire. Jane visited us back in 2010, and her talk was the highlight of the year.

In September's meeting, Jane will talk Domestic Delights: Stitching, Knitting and Cakes, the subjects of the three books she's published this year. Jane was kind enough to write about her visit last time and we'd love to offer her a very warm welcome for her return visit - if you would like to bake a cake for the meeting, please drop us an email.

*CHANGE OF VENUE*
September's meeting will be at ACTA, Gladstone Street, Bedminster BS3 3AY - click here for a map. Same times though, 8-10pm. And we will be opening the meeting to guests - tickets £5 - so invite all your friends for a truly special evening. We'll kick the night off with a glass of fizz, and there'll be soft drinks available too, but no tea. I know!

Jane will bring along a batch of books to sign and sell, so don't forget cash or cheques (no plastic). It's all so very exciting.

Moving onto October's meeting which is our fourth birthday party and AGM, this will also take place at ACTA, and we'll be wine tasting. Instead of cake, expect an array of cheeses so we're asking for bakers to make homemade crackers and biscuits, pickles and garnishes. Drop us a line to volunteer.

Talking of volunteers, we have several vacancies on the committee for next year. Are you an accountant or book-keeper? Perhaps you're a budding photographer, florist, or stylist? Have an interest in events & marketing, a big little black book, or just want to develop your skills in many different areas? Malago WI committee is a great way to make friends, get involved, and give a bit more to your WI. Everyone who has been a committee member has had a fantastic experience - it's a great way to enjoy collaborating, learn new things and help shape the future of Malago. Have we piqued your interest? During the break at September's meeting, members of the committee will be on hand for an informal chat and to answer any questions (you are always welcome to email as well), and we look forward to welcoming lots of new faces to the 2013 committee.

Don't forget the change of venue, beautiful people.
See you very soon,
MWI x

Green and pleasant

Malago's July meeting was a triumph - hot weather, beautiful gardens, and a glut of jolly banter and generous cake. The Ethicurean folk could not be lovelier, and we thank them for their hospitality.

August - we're making felt beads so be prepared to get your hands soapy. We'll show you how it's done, give you a chance to make a few of your own, after which we'll make a few bits and bobs with more beads. If anyone has any fleece tops (balls of fleecy felt wool not old jumpers, you understand) bring them along to add to our multicoloured wool mountain. But we have a request - WE NEED CAKE BAKERS! Please come forward if you can muster up something delicious for August, drop us an email.

Looking forward, September is Jane Brocket (woo hoo!) and October is our 4th birthday party. Both these meetings involve a temporary relocation but we'll give you all the deets nearer the time. And if you've been wanting to get more involved with Malago, we're recruiting for new committee members - come and say hi if you think you might like to join the Malago gang.

See you on Wednesday 29 August,

MWI x

Always on my mind

Yo, Malago!

After June's relaxing meeting, we've been feeling the benefits of Jackie Hawken's mindfulness techniques, and, despite the endless rain, have felt inner calm and a peaceful guesthouse. Jackie mentioned quite a few books during her talk and we'll put them up on the site just as soon as she sends us the deets.

And we passed the WI Olympic torch, received from Westleaze WI on their Raleigh Choppers, on to Dundry WI who plan to take it onwards via tractor.

July - a special treat lies in store. Rather than our usual Methodist Church meeting, we're going on a trip to The Ethicurean at Wrington. One of the most fabulous places in all the land, we'll tour the beautiful walled garden, hear how the restaurant was born from its chef/owners, and sample tea and cakes of a different variety.

Malago WI will cover the cost of this meeting, but we ask you to contribute £5 towards the coach cost. Places are filling up fast - you have until 9 July to confirm your place, after which we'll open the list to non-members.

Drop us a line for more info, or pop your £5 in a named envelope through Lottie's door.

Until then, stay dry,
MWI x

PS If you don't already get our email newsletter, sign up via that there box over on the right ----->

Midsummer Malago

Wasn't Lia lovely? May's meeting was a wonderful combination of gardening talk and potting up with the Guardian's gardening guru, Lia Leendertz. All very inspiring. If you want more of the same, have a look at Lia's blog or follow her on Twitter (you ARE following us, aren't you?), and have a gander at Alice's ever-wonderful pics from the night.

June's meeting is a chance to take stock and ponder, much in the vein of our Happiness meet at the beginning of 2012. On Wednesday we'll welcome Jackie who will introduce us to Mindfulness. The way we handle our feelings plays a big part in how we cope with challenging experiences in life. Mindfulness is a potentially life-changing way to alter our feelings in positive ways, and an ever-expanding body of evidence shows that it really works. Find out more about mindfulness before the meeting, or learn everything you need to know on Wednesday.

We'll also be welcoming the ladies from Dundry WI who will be receiving the Avon WI Olympic(ish) torch. A few of our members took receipt of this fiery chalice last week from Westleaze WI - pics on the Flickr if you fancy a nose. In honour of this summer's sport extravaganza, we'd love it if you'd dress with a nod to those famous rings - have a rootle through your wardrobe for the following colours and wear with pride on Wednesday: blue, yellow, black, green, and red.

And looking forward to July, we'll take Malago on the road with a visit to The Ethicurean, voted the UK's best ethical cafe/restaurant. Housed in the most beautiful walled garden in Wrington, we'll hear all about the Ethicurean ethos from the chefs and take a tour of the veg patch. More details at Wednesday's meeting, and we'll be sending out an email nearer the time. There may be subs to pay for the coach, so if you could bring along a fiver to the June meeting to secure your place we'll be able to book our transport in advance.

See you on Wednesday 27 June, 8pm.