Last month, we had a delightful visit to Ruby Hue at Finzels Reach, where we learned about sourcing the best cacao to make amazing chocolate (which was absolutely delicious). 
 
This month we return to the hall, and we need your help. As part of our fund-raising efforts, we have a stall at BS3 Community Festive Market (Southville Centre) on Saturday 30^th November. We plan to sell salt dough decorations, crochet decorations and sweet treats.
 
Please join us to embellish our salt dough decorations and have a go at crocheting as well. Please bring a crochet hook if you have one. Materials will be provided and in return there will be chat, tea, and cake.
 
We are looking for volunteers to help on the stall on 30^th November. The market runs from 10am to 4pm, so even if you could help for an hour, it would be greatly appreciated. There will be a sign-up sheet at the meeting.
 
In addition, will be providing some recipes to take home to make sweet treats that we can sell.
 
We really hope you can help in our fundraising efforts which will help us to continue to offer an exciting range of speakers and outings next year.
 
Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday 30^th for some Christmas crafting!

 Last month, we had another fascinating guided walk from Ed Hall, discovering the Cumberland Basin, with plenty time afterwards to chat over drinks.

 
We are out and about again this month, visiting Ruby Hue at Finzels Reach for some chocolate tasting. 
 
Ruby Hue is a Bristol based bean-to-bar chocolate maker specialising in ethically sourced, single origin chocolate. They believe chocolate has the ability to be as complex and diverse as other craft foods such as coffee or fine wine! 
 
Recently featured on Andi Oliver’s ‘Fabulous Feasts,’ they are taking the chocolate world by storm 

They will be taking you through a guided tasting of some of their fine chocolates and teaching you a little about what chocolate is and how it is made. 
 
We have a maximum number of 20 spaces, and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis with priority given to members. If you would like to attend, please email wearemalagowi@gmail.com by Sunday 22^nd September to secure a place.
 
Guests can also express an interest, and we will put you on a waiting list. We will let you know if a space is available on Monday 23^rd September. The costs for guests to attend is £10.
 
Details for the meeting
 
Please arrive from 6:45pm to start at 7pm
 
Address is Hawkins Lane, Finzels Reach opposite BocaBar. The nearest parking is on street parking nearby or Cabot Circus (about 10 min walk through park and over castle bridge) If you get lost and need to contact us on the day, please call Suzanne on 07866 417277 
 
Date for the diary!
 
As part of our fund-raising efforts, we will have a stall at BS3 Community Festive Market (Southville Centre) on Saturday 30^th November. We will be doing Christmas crafting at our October meeting to support this. We will be looking for volunteers to make Christmas treats to sell or help on the day. More details to follow at our October meeting.
 
Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday 25^th to indulge in all things chocolate!

August news...

It was delightful to hear from Sam White last month about the role of a celebrant. Sam is offering a freebie to give away for anyone who is interested in knowing more about going down the alternative/unconventional celebration of life route instead of the standard crematorium half hour. To find out more visit https://discover.ownyourceremony.co.uk/
 
This month, we are delighted that Ed Hall is leading another of his fascinating walks. Ed volunteers for the M Shed and runs regular tours around the harbour, displaying his amazing knowledge of the buildings, boats, and their history, picked up over the course of a long career skippering tourist and ferry boats in Bristol. Our walk this time is around the Cumberland Basin explaining how Bristol turned the tidal docks into the 'Floating Harbour.’
 
Starting at the Cottage we will walk to the Underfall Yard car park to understand its important sluices and their function. Then through to Underfall Yard itself which is a historic protected site. Part of the workshops were sadly devastated by a fire in May last year. Ed will explain the workings of the hydraulic power station and the patent slip for boat repairs.
 
Next on to the Cumberland Basin walking along the south side looking at the various locks, and bridges; including BOB -Brunel's original bridge and the first ever known use of tubular iron work for construction strength. Then on to see the bonded tobacco warehouses and their new uses, ending up with one of the most spectacular views of the Suspension Bridge. We will then amble back to the Cottage via the New Cut, the Chocolate Path, and the dockside railway line.
 
Start: 6.45pm for 7pm start at the Cottage, Baltic Wharf, Cumberland Rd, Bristol BS1 6XG
Expected duration 1 ½ hours. (NB It will be starting to get dark by the end of our walk).
 
Late arrivals – catch up with us at Underfall Yard, Cumberland Rd, Bristol BS1 6XG
NB If the Underfall Yard through route is shut we will walk round by road (Avon Crescent) to the Nova Scotia and Cumberland Basin.
 
Contact on the day: Avril mobile 0780 395 4120
 
Our members have been sent notification of the Avon Federation Annual meeting, taking place on Wednesday 25^th September. If anyone would like to attend, please contact us at wearemalagowi@gmail.com
 
Fingers crossed the weather is kind on Wednesday 28^th August for a beautiful evening walk.
 

July news.....

 We hope you enjoyed our June meeting as much as we did with the wonderful Karen Lowe, giving is advice on what colours to wear and making the most of our figures.

 
This month we will be joined by Sam White who is a celebrant based in Bristol, working all over the Southwest. Sam delivers bright, modern and inclusive ceremonies for couples, families and businesses who want their story told with authenticity and warmth. After 25 years working in education, Sam changed direction using many of her transferrable skills in setting up her business.
 
 If you are not familiar with what a celebrant does, they officiate non-religious ceremonies marking life's precious milestones - baby naming’s, weddings, vow renewals, gender affirmations and celebration of life or funerals. Ceremonies are not just limited to these moments - Sam has also been known to officiate ceremonies marking the openings of local businesses. Celebrants can bring a sense of joy and celebration to any important occasion.
 
Sam will be telling us all about how she creates personalised and bespoke ceremonies. She will also talk about doing funerals differently and the options available when it comes to how and where you can do this. Sam will delight us with her knowledge about modern weddings and how she tells the couples story and the ways in which friends and family can become involved creating a memorable experience for all the guests. You will have the opportunity to see a variety of different handfasting’s - a popular ritual that many couples are opting to include in their ceremony.
 
Some advance notice of our August meeting.  We will be undertaking a guided walk of the Cumberland Basin area with the ever knowledgable and engaging Ed Hall.  We will be meeting at the Cottage at 6:45pm to head off at 7pm.
 
We hope to see you on Wednesday 31st at 8pm.

June news....

Thank you to Robyn for her amazing Qi Gong session she led last month.  It was lovely to take part in a practice that was both relaxing and energising.
 
Our speaker this month is the wonderful Karen Lowe, a personal stylist whose aim is to help women regain confidence in themselves by taking the pain and frustration out of not knowing what to wear.  She works with clients to create the perfect style that suits your personality
 
She’ll be talking to us about colour analysis and how to identify what colours work best for you and will also be giving advice on body shapes and how to make the most of your figure and what to look for and what to avoid.
 
If you have not had the chance to renew your membership, we encourage to do so when we meet. The membership fee for 2024/25 is £48. As part of your membership, you can attend eleven meetings throughout the year and have membership to WI Avon Fed and National WI. Of the £48, we receive £23.60 of your membership, and this go towards covering the cost of speakers, materials, hall rent (which is £34 per meeting) and outings.
 
Membership can be paid by bank transfer or cash.
 
We hope to see you on Wednesday 26^th at 8pm.