OUR sponsored WI walk through Monkwood at the end of April had to be cancelled because of the rain and strong winds.

We did continue with our lunch and have re-scheduled our walk (and another lunch) for the end of May.

This could go on indefinitely if the weather doesn’t improve but at least we will have a lovely lunch with good company and humour.

For our trip to the Back to Backs in Birmingham, the rain held off and we had a fabulous visit taking us back in time – frightening to think that things which were a normal part of our growing up are now exhibited at a National Trust property showing how working class people lived in from the 1830s to the 1970s.

From the original wallpaper, coats on beds for extra warmth, the range for cooking, rag rugs, tin baths, outdoor toilets, sculleries, the communal wash house with the big copper and mangles etc it was a truly nostalgic visit.

Our May meeting to discuss the resolution calling on the Government to increase investment in the training, employment and retention of midwives was not the straightforward issue I had presumed. It will be my job as delegate at the WI AGM at the Albert Hall to take our results and those of four other WIs I am representing and putting our votes forward to decide on whether the NFWI should pursue this as a campaign.

JEANETTE RIDDEX