Two WI book talks, but have been doing other things as well. Lunch with friends Jill and Ros at a new restaurant, and it was the fifteenth birthday of our WI, so gave a little talk there, looking back at being President. Then, a jolly day out in Rye with old friend Pete from York, and a relaxing walk this morning round Winchelsea followed by Sunday lunch in the garden of the New Inn. Weather has continued very hot and dry, but we have had a couple of cooler days – refreshing. We have yet another new Prime Minister tomorrow, God help him, and England have been knocked out of the World Cup. Those two last things are so boringly predictable, so déjà vu-ish, methinks.
Here’s a hot dry morning in Winchelsea, but blessedly shady on that little lane under the huge old trees. Here are some sheep, looking very Holman-Huntish as they shelter from the sun.
The first WI talk was at Playden WI, out beyond Rye. Not such an isolated village as Waldron, and one of the very few WIs with its own hall. And a lovely little hall it is too. That talk was very pleasurable, a smallish group of a dozen lovely ladies who very much enjoyed my efforts. Battleaxe has got those book talks off a to a fine art now – lots of laughs and anecdotes, most ladies love hearing about how I went to the Royal Albert Hall and met the late Queen, and they provided fabulous cake and bought lots of books. The second talk was much more daunting – Micheldean WI, who meet at East Dean Village Hall, beyond Beachy Head. An evening meeting, which meant younger women, driving back in the dark, a much, much bigger group, and they sounded very sophisticated – asking me all about what projection equipment I needed, and what type of microphone I needed… (answer to those things nothing – I just talk, like to prowl about unencumbered, and can project my voice just fine.) However, it went really well. Philosopher drove me over there, bless him, which was reassuring, the women were interested and friendly, more laughs, and I sold even more books. They gave me two bottles of wine as well. East Dean is a very pretty village – obviously very affluent, and the hall was fabulous with every possible mod con. Here is the scene while everyone was arriving.
I really enjoy doing those talks, and I know I’m good at it, but let’s be honest, the performances do take it out of me. It takes me at least a day to recover from each one. Two in one week is too much.
The contrast between deprived, left-behind Hastings, and those affluent areas of the county is alarming. There are real differences between those WIs and my own group, Hastings Ore. It was particularly noticeable at Micheldean. On the whole, and I hesitate to say this, those women were from altogether a different demographic. However, Hastings Ore women are unstoppably lively – loud to the level of being almost out of control. For our fifteenth birthday do the hubbub in the hall was absolutely deafening. I only had to talk for five minutes but it was a daunting task. I had fetched Yvonne Everitt, one of our founder members, from her home at Fairlight Hall. She is now quite frail, and was obviously a bit taken aback by the wall of sound that greeted her.
Here is Battleaxe, strutting her stuff and posing with Angela, past President, Liz, current President, and Jean, our first Secretary, who was standing in for founder-President Jan, who was cruising round Iceland – the country, not the food store!
Rye? Nick and Pete went to a talk at Rye Art Gallery, given by a bloke who was a studio collaborator with artist Victor Passmore, one of Pete’s favourites. Not quite Battleaxe’s bag, so I went to visit poet friend Alex Josephy, who lives in a beautiful old house just behind Rye Church. She has just issued her latest poetry collection – here is a photo off Facebook of Alex unboxing the book. I look forward to reading the poems.
Before the talk etc Philosopher, me and Pete had an excellent lunch at Webbes Fish Cafe in Rye. I had a very good Fish Platter. Battleaxe would recommend.
Talking of restaurants, earlier in the week I had lunch with friends Jill and Ros in the Lamarinara, on the Hastings Seafront near the White Rock Hotel. Had never been there before. A Turkish/Cypriot family run the little restaurant. Very unpretentious, reasonably priced and delicious food. Battleaxe would recommend.
So, not surprisingly, Battleaxe was worn out. I never sleep well before talks and it is still very hot at nights. So, on Saturday night it was a bit cooler and I was really looking forward to a good night’s sleep. No such luck – our bloody smoke alarm went off in the middle of the night. Obviously, no fire, and have no idea what its problem was….
