News from Old Buckenham Women's Institute

Touring the world
Old Buckenham WI were pleased to welcome Louise Casson (the new Norfolk Federation Secretary) and 25 members of New Costessey WI to their July meeting. Old Buckenham’s association with this WI started over thirty years ago and they still meet up once a year to share an evening together.
After supper and a glass of wine, they were entertained by two Thetford WI members, Marilyn Bartrup and Lynn Ready, who told members about what they term their “pension gap year”. This proved to be twelve months of pure adventure. They purchased a round-the-world air ticket and firstly flew to Tokyo and spent several weeks in Japan, including a visit to the Peace Park at Hiroshima which they found deeply moving. They then went on to visit other countries in the Far East including Singapore and Malaysia. While in Borneo they went on a boat trip to a remote island and found themselves in the position of having to wade ashore only to find a large notice warning them of the presence of crocodiles. They hired a camper van in Australia and spent five months touring the country from Darwin in the north to Cairns and then further south, including a camping adventure near Ayers Rock. They also spent some time in Tasmania in the jungle before flying on to New Zealand for two months. Their next stop was Fiji before flying on to Los Angeles and San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Boston and Toronto. Apart from the initial flight to Tokyo, they had no firm plans of where they were going or for how long they would be staying. An incredible journey lasting twelve months for two ladies of pensionable age.
The next major event for Old Buckenham WI is on Sunday 11 September for the Village Produce Show. Entries can be taken to the Village Hall between 9.30am and-11am. The show opens to the public at 2.30pm with prize giving at 4pm. If you have mislaid your schedule, please telephone 01953 860845.
The speaker at the August meeting, to be held on Thursday 25 August, will be Denise Janes who will be talking of her experiences as a Tourist Information Centre Officer.
The following monthly meeting is on Thursday 22 September when the speaker will be Brian Heard on the subject of Forensic Science.