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.

Murder Mystery!

December was given over to our Christmas murder mystery party, very successfully organised with great input of time and effort by Caroline Smith and Michala Roger.

Elegantly dressed ladies of the 1920s mingled with a surprising number of gentle - and not so gentle – men at the auction of jewellery and ancient artefacts belonging to the murdered Baroness.

A splendid buffet and light refreshments oiled the wheels of social interaction and curious enquiry as participants attempted to outwit Inspector Clue Do in his efforts to solve the murder mystery.

In some cases this involved concealing the truth, in others laying a false trail and in most, the hope of solving the mystery before the professional detective. 

The evening ended with ‘Secret Santa’ present giving, but in traditional style, not before our elegant guest judge, Davina Farquharson, had judged the seasonal competitions.

Competitions
Christmas Stocking - 1, Sandra Boath; 2, Hazel Smart; 3, Ellen Carleton;

2 Mincemeat Pies - 1, Sandra Boath; 2, Patsy Paton; 3, Sheina Smith;

Flower of the month - 1, Patsy Paton; 2, Margaret Mackie; 3, Sandra Boath;

President Susan thanked all for the very many efforts which made the memorable evening a resounding success and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and safe home.

Cortachy Rural is the Greatest!

Cortachy Rural showed its power and versatility on a dark night of torrential rain, but excellent spirits!

President Susan welcomed a crowded hall to a members’ corners night and introduced some streamlining measures to the housekeeping, following a committee meeting last week.

Hazel Hood taught us how to make a woollen sheep decoration by felting a ball of wool with a barbed needle, and encouraged us to think of entering the needle felting class in 2020 Federation show. 

Some of us discovered just how sharp and barbed the needles are!

June Rae and her daughter Pauline demonstrated Pergemano paper craft and offered to share some donated craft items to anyone interested in pursuing the craft further.

 

Margaret Mackie demonstrated her scone making secrets and produced fresh scones in the hall kitchen.

Susan McLaren’s green fingers turned black as she demonstrated her successful bulb planting techniques and advised prospective planters on materials, equipment, timing and methodology and distributed pre-ordered bulbs and growing medium.

 

Gloria’s jewellery stall featured new stock donations and our streamlined raffle gave us more time to talk, includng wishing June many happy returns of the day!  Michala and Caroline Smith who have been working hard on the Christmas crime front, issued us with our characters for our Christmas “Murder at the Auction” mystery . . .

A lovely tea followed, provided by hostesses Irene Park, Patsy Paton, Sandra Boath and Moira Ronin.

Elsie Nicoll kindly judged our competitions, with the following results.

 Flower of the month – 1, Patsy Paton; 2, Ella Mackay; 3, Caroline Lang;

Apricot & chilli chutney – 1, Margaret Mackie, 2, Sandra Boath, 3, Hazel Hood;

Cheese scones – 1, Sheina Smith, 2, Margaret Mackie, 3, Ruth Simpson;

 

The great spirit of Cortachy Rural came to the fore in a dark and wet car park when I discovered I had a flat tyre and I will be eternally grateful for the practical help and support of Louise nee Myles, Caroline S, Michala, Susan and extra-honorary rural member, Alec Boath who all proved invaluable in getting me back on the road. (Not forgetting those who checked that the job was in good hands before they left.)

I told Angus Federation extraordinary meeting last year and our Federation Press Secretaries meeting last month, how much I value Cortachy Rural and I cannot say it enough. "Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart."

 💖

Frightfully good fun

We welcomed Shona Young, of Nutscene, based at Kingsmuir.

Shona described how Nutscene has survived 98 years on the core product, jute twine, and now exports it throughout the world. The twine, currently available in 22 colours, including neon hues, has grown a market in the craft sector and Nutscene has developed the market with products including cotton ‘MacCrammy’ string and raffia.

Shona told us of her adventures driving to Chelsea Flower show and the impact Nutscene makes there. She spoke of her pride in creating employment in Forfar and overseas, the global interest in a natural product, produced and processed by sustainable methods, using traditional equipment.

Moira Ronan thanked Shona for her lively and enlightening talk on a very successful local business.

Shona judged the 38 entries in our competitions and kindly donated prizes to the winner of each section.

Competitions:- 

Edible Halloween treat :- 1, Hazel Hood, 2, Valerie McMaster, 3, Michala Rogers; Halloween decoration:- 1, Danielle Simmonds, 2, Sandra Boath, 3,Tifaine ; 

Flower of the Month:- 1, Patsy Paton, 2, Ruth Simpson, 3, Caroline Lang.

President, Susan McLaren thanked Gloria, Sheina and Sine for our tea and reminded us of our forthcoming Silent auction on Friday 12^th October.

A Pretty Picture

Cortachy opened the 2019 -2020 session with an excellent turn-out of 44.

New President, Susan McLaren, welcomed established and new members, our Honorary President and a guest, keen to improve her photography skills.

Our speaker, keen photographer and enthusiastic trekker, George Milne, gave us tips and advice on the technical side of photography, the best way of storing and displaying photos and ideas about planning photography walks around our home area or beyond.

He judged our photos – 1, Sandra Boath, 2, June Rae, 3, Valerie McAlister;

our flowers -1, Susan McLaren, 2, Ellen Carleton, 3, Lady Airlie;

and our chocolate traybakes - 1, Hazel Hood, 2, Gloria Mitchell, 3, Valerie McAlister;

Caroline Lang thanked George for sharing his expertise and inspiration.

Treasurer Caroline and predecessor June gathered in our memberships.

We enjoyed a lovely tea, provided by our hostesses, Caroline Lang, Pat Harrow and Moira Ronan, said goodbye to Maggie Bentley, who is moving South to be nearer her family, and thanked her for her donation of a mound of crafting materials. 

At the weekend, some of us visited or worked on our promotional stall at Dundee Flower and Food Festival. We were based in Camperdown House which drew many admiring comments from visitors. On Saturday, around 15 people asked to join the SWI and wanted to know which is their nearest institute.