Reports and Photos
ANY EXCUSE FOR A PARTY AT COUNTESTHORPE WI...
In early June, Countesthorpe WI celebrated the Queen's Jubilee with their very own Jubilee Party. President, Dorothy Wells directed the proceedings in regal splendour, as you can see from the photo above!
Everyone wore red, white and blue together with a home made tiara and Dorothy Wells devised suitably royal, but very silly, games. A great time was had by all and we all look forward to another excuse to have a party.
ANYONE FOR YOGHURT?...
In July, Countesthorpe WI members visited Manor Farm near Brooksby College, to see a small yoghurt making factory. Just for once the weather was kind and, as it was a lovely evening our host, Peter Holmes, took us round the dairy farm first. Having heard so much recently about larger dairy farms that keep cows indoors, it was lovely to see the Manor Farm herd out in the fields doing what comes naturally. Peter explained that they have over 40 pastures and so can have the herd outside from February to October. Once inside the small factory Peter explained the yoghurt making procedure from bringing the milk from the milking parlour to the most important part, his wife judging the exact time that a batch is ready to pot. Having made yoghurt for over 30 years Peter knew that they had a 'reasonable' product, that is until 2010 when he entered 5 different categories at the main agricultural show and won gold in each category, including best product in show. He then had to admit that, just perhaps, his yoghurt is really quite good! 
Since then Manor Farm yoghurts have been available in farm shops around the county and in Waitrose. We certainly had a good time sampling the various yoghurts, plain and flavoured, low fat and full cream and can certainly say that they taste good.
WALKING FOR WOMEN...
In January 2012, Countesthorpe WI President Dorothy Wells said she'd had a letter from ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World) to say that they were having a world-wide walk on Sunday 29 April to raise funds. This is a wonderful charity that helps to educate and support women all over the world and in many places women are enabled to start small, successful businesses of their own so that they can provide for and educate their children. WI has been an associated member of ACWW for many years and most WIs collect 'Pennies for Friendship' at their monthly meetings, so the walk presented an extra opportunity to help.
At our February meeting it was decided that, rather than ask for sponsorship, we would sell quizzes and so anyone who had bought a quiz would be very welcome to join our walk. During sunny February and March preparations went full speed ahead.
The quiz was devised, the local paper ran a piece about ACWW, the daffodils came out and all was right with the world. Then April arrived ...
... six hardy souls.
The wettest since records began and oh boy! was the 29th wet. After fielding many phone calls of 'is it still on??' and 'Oh it's soooo wet I don't think I can', six of us met at the Village Hall and, as we were wet through by then anyway, decided we might as well carry on.
... drip-drip!
We walked through the new Country Park area of the village and very thankful we were for the new tarmac path although even that was 6 inches deep in water in places. We walked for around an hour then went back to Dorothy's for coffee and hot mince pies, a very welcome end to our endeavours.
Sale of the quizzes, which was limited to 200 copies, managed to raise over £150 for ACWW.