Christmas All Wrapped Up 2013
On Saturday 30th November 2013 over four hundred WI ladies from all over the province came along to the Annual Christmas Event organized by the Home and Garden Sub-Committee. This year the event was entitled Christmas All Wrapped Up and was held in the La Mon House Hotel. A welcome cup of tea or coffee and scones with jam and cream greeted everyone on arrival and there were many stalls, including some new ones, to browse and purchase gifts from. In the foyer glowing fires were burning, which set the scene for a most enjoyable day.
(Nora Lennon, Home and Garden Sub-Committee Chairman, pictured with chef Paula McIntyre.)
The first demonstrator Shakila Simpson showcased her fashion accessories, giving the ladies many ideas on how to enhance outfits with scarf’s, shawls and wraps, etc. Following this, Joan Magee, a very talented lady, who is not only an Area Demonstrator but also a National Judge in the Floral Art World, demonstrated five magnificent floral arrangements which some lucky ladies won to take home. After enjoying a lovely lunch the afternoon began with a cookery demonstration by Paula McIntyre, the popular ‘home-grown’ from BBC Radio Ulster’s Saturday morning show. The ladies were enthralled by her cooking skills as well as her great sense of humour and craic.
Joan Magee finished off the day by giving great ideas on how to wrap awkward shaped parcels and how to make bows and curls for decorating presents. Federation Chairman Margaret Collinson and Federation Treasurer Anne Kirkwood stepped up on stage to attempt the daunting present wrapping challenge, much to the amusement of the audience. They are two brave ladies! The Competition winners for A Decorated Christmas Parcel were:
1st Florence Johnston, Carrickfergus WI (who was awarded the Romanian Platter)
2nd Marie Arnold, Ballyholme WI
3rd Linda Woods, Ballievey WI
There was a wonderful display of gifts entered in to the Competition, thank you to all of the ladies who took the time to enter. Ballot prizes were drawn by Federation Chairman Margaret Collinson and Federation Vice-Chairman Irene Craig. Thank you to all who generously donated the gifts for the Ballot and also to Killyhevlin Hotel for their generosity- one very lucky member received a voucher for two which entitled them to two night’s bed and breakfast and a dinner for two.
At the end of a great day Nora Lennon, Home and Garden Sub-Committee Chairman, gave a general Vote of Thanks to all of the WI members for their continued support of the event and also to the demonstrators, to the hotel, to the technicians from Saville Audio Visual and especially to the very hard-working Home and Garden Sub-Committee ladies. Thanks were also extended to the office staff at Headquarters and to the Office Bearers Margaret Collinson, Irene Craig and Anne Kirkwood. After wishing everyone a ‘Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year’ the singing of A Countrywoman’s Song brought the proceedings to a close.
(Some of the beautiful floral art by Joan Magee.)
