Indian Head Massage

Susan discussed arrangements for the forthcoming Angus Federation SWI show of Homeskills and Handcrafts in Forfar on March 20-21. She announced that walking netball is to be introduced to Angus federation in the autumn session, and instructional sessions and matches will be held for members wishing to participate.

 

Caroline Smith introduced Jenny Inglis of Pure Beauty salon in Dundee to a large and enthusiastic audience. Jenny demonstrated an Indian Head Massage on a volunteer. After the initial massage, Jenny distributed written instructions and guided us through the process twice more, while members worked in pairs to both give and receive a massage.

 

Sine thanked Jenny for giving us her time and suggested that Jenny might have sewn the seeds of future competition, if members go on to build on their experience of the evening. 

Jenny kindly judged our competitions:

 

Mother’s Day Poem - 1, Rachel Crabb; 2, Sandra Boath; 3, Moira Ronan;

 Hyacinth in water - 1, Patsy Paton; 2, Susan McLaren; 3, Hazel Hood;

 

Flower of the month - 1, Susan McLaren; 2, Hazel Hood; 3, Margaret Mackie;

 

We all enjoyed an excellent supper produced by June Rae, Michala Rogers and Rhiannon MacIntyre.

Burns' Night

Susan welcomed local poet and raconteur, Cmdr Jim Smith and his wife Muriel, from Kirriemuir.

After expressing his surprise at, and appreciation of, the impressive extent and wide age range of the audience, Jim gave us a lively and very informative talk on the life and background of Robert Burns. He illustrated the quality of the Bard’s touching love poetry, quoting lines and verses, before turning to his forte – the dramatic performance of poetry, for which he is renowned in the district.

Jim’s rendition of Tam o’ Shanter was wondrous.

 

With the aid of a few props, his grey mare Meg and the assistance of his lovely wife Muriel who did an excellent act of “nursing her wrath to keep it warm”, Jim took us from the pub to the kirkyard and emerged with a handful of ghostly horse hair.

 

Caroline Smith thanked Jim and Muriel for an entertaining and enlightening evening and the couple judged our competitions. 

Tartan Corsage- 1, Sandra Boath; 2, Caroline Smith; 3, Ruth Simpson;

Whisky Truffles - 1, Jessie Duncan; 2, Tiffaine Speirs; 3, Irene Park;

Flower of the month - 1, Hazel Hood; 2, Sandra Boath; 3, Caroline Lang;

Mary Friedrich, Moyra Ronan and Tiffaine Speirs set out a mouth watering supper and we all appreciated it greatly.

 

A Good New Year to Ain and Aa

Cortachy started the New Year and the new decade on a powerful track with Susan welcoming Amanda Kopell to telling us of her life with her late husband footballer, Frank, and their battle with his Dementia. She told us of their meeting, first date at a football match, first kiss in a game of postman’s knock and their final one, when Frank died in Amanda’s embrace.

As many know, the couple’s work to establish free personal care for under 65s led to the passing of Frank’s Law. Under the terms of the law, in Scotland, personal care should now be available, free of charge at the point of delivery, to anyone who needs it, regardless of their age or the nature of their disability.

Caroline Lang thanked Amanda for telling us of their relentless battle with officialdom to establish this right and pointed out that the whole of Scotland owes the couple a huge debt of gratitude for their strength in pushing on their campaign.

Susan encouraged members to consider entering the inter institute competition, Variations on a Theme. This year’s theme is ‘Journeys’ and the format is that team members read four passages comprising prose and or poetry on the subject. (No props, drama or histrionics required!) 

 

Many members took a final opportunity to complete Angus Federation show applications.

Amanda judged the competitions.

Pot plant 1, Sandra Boath, 2, Patsy Paton, 3, Claire Richardson;

Flower of the Month 1, Linda Cruikshank, 2, Sandra Boath, 3, Gloria Mitchell;

First Footing gift 1, Tiffaine Spears, 2, Patsy Paton, 3, Kim Wellington;

We enjoyed a lovely supper, catered by Hazel Hood, Nicola Macbeth and Su Spink, before setting off for home

Thanks to Hazels Hood and Smart for pix.