In September, Blewbury WI had a most informative and enlightening talk from Mark Godaland, from Thames Valley Police, about cyber crime and keeping us as safe as possible online. He gave us a summary of his talk, which is 24 pages long, however we thought it was worthy of a mention in your newsletters, so people know how to deal with these things.

The full summary is rather long, but we can email it to you blewburywi@gmail.com

Make sure you have a really strong password, (3 impersonal words and a number) never share an email account, run your antivirus software every month, make sure you update your devices when prompted, set up 2 factor authorisation, and save your passwords in your browser or use a password saver app.

To 31st August 2021, 47k of scams and 94k URLs were removed from circulation, prosecutions and convictions for cyber crime have dramatically risen, so its well worth reporting all suspicious texts, emails and websites. Forward suspicious texts to 7726, forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, for suspicious websites go to NCSC.GOV.UK

More information is available on www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/suspicious-email-actions or http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/guidetoreporting or contact citizens advice

Please remember that cold calls to your landline are also probably scams, block the number if you can, hang up, never give your bank details or personal information to anyone!

We are also asking for help and information about the early days of Blewbury and Upton WI, we know it was in existence in 1922 as the banner was made then, and in 1937 they had a resolution about the provision of milk to school children, discussed at the national annual meeting in London. We know they had a canning or bottling machine during WW2, but all the previous records have mysteriously disappeared, we’ve checked the Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the national records, so if any one can remember anything at all, please contact us at blewburywi@gmail.com or our secretary, Joy, on 01235 850543, Thank you.

Blewbury WI are about to take delivery of 400+ free trees from the Woodland Trust, as we are all being urged to plant a tree for the queen’s platinum jubilee, Upton Village hall have already agreed to have some for their new wildlife area, but if anyone else would like 1, 2 or 20, please get in touch with Karen. (07825154842 or blewburywi@gmail.com) There are many different British native trees available, mainly small to medium size, wild harvest, nuts, berries, seeds and fruits for us and wildlife, all round colour and some for sustainable wood for woodburners in the future. They will need to be potted up if not being planted straight away, and come with a support and a protective sleeve.

 

Autumn has gone, Winter is here. Short days, long, cold nights. But at Blewbury WI we have lots of events during December, and we would love some new Members to join us. All would be made welcome at the following events.

Monday, 3rd December at 2.30pm. – Mah Jong at Graeme’s. Please ring beforehand.

Wednesday, 5th December at 9.00am. – Lyn’s Walk. Meet at Village Hall for a different walk to Didcot. Bring pennies for coffee and your bus pass if you have one. The walk will be possible even if it has rained in the days before.

Wednesday, 5th December at 7.30pm. – Scrabble at Rosemary’s. Please ring beforehand.

Friday, 7th December at 7.00pm. – Craft Evening at Liz’s. Please ring beforehand.

Wednesday, 12th December at       – Blewbury WI Christmas Lunch at The Blueberry.

Friday, 14th December at 1.30pm. – Talking Science lecture at RAL Harwell.  “The Star of Bethlehem – an astronomer’s view.” With Dr. Barry Kellett.

Monday, 17th December at 10.30am. – Mince pies, coffee and a raffle at Maggie’s.

Mah Jong is held every Monday at 2.30pm.

For more details of any of our events, or if you wish to join us, please ring Karen on 850219 or visit our web page, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information.

Cilla

Autumn has arrived, showing off its beautiful colours on all the trees, but soon we shall be sweeping up the leaves when they decide to fall. Bonfire night will soon be here and we will see a wonderful firework display and some of our WI ladies will be serving hot baked potatoes and mulled wine. Below is a list of our November events and we would love to welcome any new Members to join us.

Friday 2nd November at 7.00pm – Craft evening at Liz’s, please ring beforehand.

Monday 5th November at 2.30pm – Mah Jong at Judy,s, please ring beforehand.

Tuesday 6th November at 9.00am – Lyn’s Walk, meet at the Village Hall. Destination will depend on the state of the paths, but will probably be around Blewbury. Coffee possible.

Tuesday 6th November at 10.30am – Coffee morning at Sharon’s.

Wednesday 7th November at 7.30pm – Scrabble at Judy’s, please ring beforehand.

Friday 16th November at 1.30pm – Talking Science Lecture at RAL Harwell. Speaker  Dr. Kathryn Harkup – “ B is for Belladonna “

Wednesday 28th November at 7.30pm – WI monthly meeting in the Vale Room. Craft Evening.

For more details of any of our events, or if you wish to join us, please ring Karen on 850219 or visit our web page, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information.

Cilla.

The time of the year already, when the leaves are falling, the days are shortening and the nights are getting colder, but Blewbury WI have some good events and outings in October and if anyone out there is thinking of joining us as new members, you will be made most welcome.

Tuesday, 2nd October at 9.00am – Lyn’s Walk. Meet at the Village Hall. Destination undecided but we will be walking from Blewbury. Bring bus passes and pennies for coffee. ( Note change of day and date.)

Friday, 5th October at 7.00pm – Craft evening at Liz’s.  Please ring beforehand.

Monday, 8th October at 7.00pm – Scrabble at Judy’s.  Please ring beforehand.

Wednesday, 10th October  at 10.30am – Coffee at Style Acre.

Thursday, 11th October at 12.30pm – Lunch at Kingswell.  Car rota being arranged.

Friday, 19th October at 1.30pm – Talking Science Lecture at RAL Harwell.  “How the Universe will end.” Professor Brad Gibson.

Wednesday, 24th October at 7.30pm – WI monthly meeting in the Vale Room – Speaker, Cyril Mannion.   “From Routine to Abnormal in the blink of an eye.”

For more details of any of our events, or if you wish to join us, please ring Karen on 850219 or visit our web page, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information.

Cilla.

Here we are again, back to routine. I hope everyone has enjoyed the lovely Summer weather and had super holidays. Autumn is just around the corner, but hopefully there will be some sunny days for us to enjoy the outdoors. We have our usual events in September, listed below, and we would love to welcome new members to join us.

• Tuesday,  4^th  Lyn’s Walk.  We will do the walk that was postponed in July because of the heat! Meet at the Village Hall at 9am. The walk will actually start from the Rec. in Aston. No coffee on the way, I fear.
• Friday, 7^th Craft evening at Liz’s. 7pm. Please ring beforehand.
• Monday, 10^th Scrabble at Bernardine’s. 7.30pm. Please ring beforehand.
• Tuesday, 11^th Coffee at Style Acre. 10.30am.
• Wednesday, 26^th WI Monthly Meeting in the Vale Room. 7.30pm. Speaker, Linda Benton. “ Harvest into Autumn. Harvest-themed musical evening.”

For more details of any of our events, or if you wish to join us, please ring Karen on 850219 or visit our web page, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information.

I hope you are enjoying the lovely summer weather and, maybe looking forward to happy holidays. Following is a list of our Blewbury WI events being held during July, we would love to welcome some new members to join us.

Tuesday, 3rd July at 9.15am. – Lyn’s Walk. Meet at Blewbury Village Hall before going on for a circular walk from Aston Recreation Ground. Some may have done part of this walk before, it is a little longer than previous walks but it is flat. Regretfully there is no coffee shop en-route. Hope to see you all whether you are WI members or not.

Tuesday, 3rd July at 7.30 pm. – Scrabble at Rosemary’s. Please ring first.

Friday, 6th July at 7.00pm. – Craft evening at Liz’s. Please ring first.

Monday, 9th July at 10.30am. – Coffee at Style Acre with Karen.

Wednesday, 25th July 2.00pm to 5.00pm. – Visit to Ashdown House, Lambourn. Car rota will be arranged.

Wednesday, 25th July at 7.30pm. – WI monthly meeting in the Village Hall.  Speaker, Sue Drage. “Recycling with a Difference”

For more details of any of our events, or if you wish to join us, please ring Karen on 850219 or visit our web page, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information.

Cilla.

 

Hopefully we will have some real Summer weather in June, lovely long, warm, sunny days and balmy evenings, sitting on the patio, watching the sun go down. Well, we can dream. Following is a list of our Blewbury WI events being held during June and we would love to welcome some new members to join us.

Friday, 1st June at 7.00pm..-.Craft evening at Liz’s. Please ring beforehand.

Tuesday, 5th June at 9.00am. – Lyn’s Walk.  We will be re-doing a previous walk outside Blewbury. Meet at the Village Hall, transport sorted on the day. Hopefully the weather will not beat us this time and the paths should not be water logged. We will definitely be having lunch, so pennies will be needed.

Wednesday, 6th June at 7.30pm. – Scrabble at Cilla’s. Please ring beforehand.

Wednesday, 13th June at 10.30am..-.Coffee at Style Acre.

Friday, 15th June at 1.30pm. – Talking Science lecture at R.A.L. Harwell. “Seeing cancer before it is cancer: illuminating the way with ALICE by seeing the invisible.”  Dr. Michele Siggel-King.

Wednesday, 27th June at 7.30pm. – WI monthly meeting in the Main Hall. Speaker- Gilly Pusey.  “Hand Spinning and Natural Dyeing”

For more details of any of our events, or if you wish to join us, please ring Karen on 850219 or visit our web page, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information.

Cilla

Hello again to everyone. I am back from an absolutely wonderful month in Australia, with my Daughter, visiting family and friends. A vote of thanks to Karen for standing in for the April News. The weather here is not very Springlike, hopefully the month of May will bring us some nice warm, sunny days to get our gardens into shape? The Blewbury WI is holding the following events during May and any new Members will be made most welcome to join us.

1. Wednesday, May 2nd at 9.30am – Lyn’s Walk.  Meet at the Village Hall for a local walk with coffee afterwards – probably.
2. Friday, May 4th at 7.00pm – Craft evening at Liz’s. Please ring beforehand.
3. Tuesday, May 8th at 10.30am Coffee at Style Acre.
4. Thursday, May 10th at 7.30pm – Scrabble at Rosemary’s. Please ring beforehand.
5. Friday, May 11th at 1.30pm – Talking Science Lecture at RAL Harwell. “How to build a star – nuclear fusion on Earth “ Sarah Fell.
6. Wednesday, May 23rd at 7.30pm – WI monthly meeting in the Vale Room. “The Wonders of Aromatherapy” Speaker, Janice Nicholls.

Mah Jong sessions are on hold during the Croquet Season.

For more details of any of our events, or if you wish to join us, please ring Karen on 850219 or visit our web page, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information.

Cilla.

Cilla is away, so you have me this month! As I write the daffs are looking hopeful, there are buds on the lilacs, my hyacinths and bluebells are popping up in the garden, and the Blewbury WI are about to have their annual meeting, we say goodbye and thank you to Joanna, Liz and Marilyn who are retiring from the committee this time, we will hopefully have some new committee members for the coming year, to help steer us towards trying new and exciting experiences! I know we have calligraphy, weaving and mosaic workshops planned for later this year, along with our usual walks, coffee, craft, scrabble, films, science lectures, lunch and theatre outings! Someone recently told me that the WI was for “old” ladies, I just told her we had great fun at our Bollywood dance workshop, and we are hoping to go to the Bombay Sapphire Gin distillery later this year!

We also say goodbye to Lyn Page, a former President, who is moving away, we shall all miss her very much, but send her our best wishes in her new home!

Tuesday 3rd April at 9.30am – meet at Blewbury Village hall for Lyn’s walk, (everyone welcome) bring some money for coffee/lunch.

Wednesday 11th April at 10.30am – coffee at Style Acre Tearooms.

Wednesday 18th April – Lunch out at The Blueberry.

Thursday 19th at 7.30pm – Singing in the Rain at Abingdon.

Wednesday 25th April at 7.30pm – Main meeting in the Vale Room with wine or soft drinks if preferred.

For more details of any of our events, the date of the next Coffee morning, Scrabble or Mah Jong session, or if you wish to join us, please ring Karen on 850219 or visit our webpage, http://blewburywi.wordpress.com where you will find more information.

 

Love from Karen