July 10th 2014

'The origins of festivals and food eaten then' – Angela Cooksley

 'A festival is a gala or an event ordinarily staged by a local community which centres on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the festival.' Sometimes they are religious, connected to feasts or fiestas,  - Christmas and Easter or agricultural – Harvest, changing of seasons and the effect on food supplies, lunar connections, Chinese New Year etc. We look forward to welcoming Angela to see what she has to say on these important dates in our calendar and maybe some that are lost in time.

Review of evening
Unfortunately, Angela had to withdraw a few days before the evening so some of  the committee worked hard to find a replacement at short notice.  Alison Grantham kindly stepped in to give us her talk on "Gift Wrapping - Styles and Ideas". She began by saying that it is vital to have a 'useful box' to keep essential items in, such as sellotape, scissors, sticky fixers, glue, string, ribbon etc. She showed us various ways of recycling  papers e.g. tissue and cellophane from bouquets of flowers, wallpaper, old road maps, sheet music, photocopied pretty papers, brown paper decorated with metallic pens and computer generated designs. Fabrics such as organza and lace, ribbons, florists ribbons and gift ties, used gift bags, butchers' string, broken Christmas decorations and dried fruits were all utilised in different decorative ways. Old tea bags and coffees granules were used to stain paper and the printing of paper put them to better use.
She showed us how to wrap awkwardly shaped presents by putting them in a box and using scrunched up tissue paper and cellophane. The addition of a large bow in ribbon, string or raffia added the final touch. They are easily available and cheaply made if you have space to store them for 'that occasion'. 

Competition: Food glorious food This was still used as  members had prepared for it .  It was won by a member who had found a recipe for Trench Cake, made for soldiers in the First World War. She had made the cake and we shared in the tasting. Second was a plate of very indulgent Berry Bars which we also tasted,  and 3rd, a print of the song from 'Oliver', Food Glorious Food with illustrations.