Author: gosforthcentralwi

likely named after the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants

And, while its true that I didn’t dance around any may poles this year (or any year come to think of it), I do think May is a special month. The weather is getting warmer (normally!), things are building up to the start of summer, garden furniture is being dusted off, and it’s time to get cracking on the allotment. It feels optimistic

May ’23 is also a very busy month in the UK….a Coronation, an extra Bank Holiday, Street parties and, of course, Sunday 7th sees the start of National Hedgehog Awareness week – which we’re celebrating on the 11th with our very own talk by the Northumbrian Hedgehog Rescue centre. Perfect!

Apparently, there are also days in this month dedictated to cocktails (13th), whisky (20th) and tea (21st). What’s not to love…!

Mind you, I’m still not casting a clout……

I keep telling myself that Spring is just round the corner but it still seems too far away. This week, I found myself talking to some daffodils in my yard (well, “wandering lonely as a cloud” has already been done) just to encourage them to be brave and bloom. No sign yet though.

Why do we let the weather get us down, what is it about grey days that can make us feel “meh”? I know about sunlight and serotonin, rain and rheumatism, (air) pressure and pain but is this really true?

So, of course, I turned to Google and spent a happy half hour reading up on various studies. If you’re interested, I’d check this website out – https://www.healthline.com/health

According to them, our best moods are associated with, among other things of course, temperatures between 50 and 70 degree F. So….with average April temperatures in the North East of 54 degrees, we ARE nearly there!

And, in the meantime, we’ll look forward, seek out the snowdrops, and be thankful for not living in Ottawa (where, according to my sister, they have had a total of 8 feet of snow this winter)

How on earth do they cope with that AND Mondays….(cue the Carpenters song)?

Nearly here..:)

Another year has gone by in a blink of an eye and we are now at the start of our next year at Gosforth Central WI. We have an exciting calendar of events with more being added all the time. Check out ‘Events and Activities’ from the menu page.

Why not make 2025 the year when you join a WI. You will meet some interesting and friendly ladies, from all backgrounds, and hopefully make some friends along the way.

So, come and try us out – you may find you like it.

‘Tis the season to be jolly, tra la la etc….

And I hope that you all experience lots of jolliness over the coming days.

We may have to dig deep, of course.

Worries about strikes, cost of living, energy, war (I’m going to stop that list right now – too depressing!) affect even the most positive of us.

But I’m going to channel my inner sunbeam 🙂 and be of good cheer.

After all, research shows that a genuine smile shared with another person can make them smile too. It can help them feel better about themselves even if it’s just for a moment! It also makes you feel better. The gift that keeps on giving!

So, as it’s Christmas and our heads are full of gifts bought and still to be bought, remember that gift of a smile 🙂

According to William A Ward “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness” (and, yes, of course, he was both American and a Motivational writer.)

Even so, let’s all try to radiate good humour this Christmas – it’s probably the only radiator we can afford right now!!