MAY2008 MEETING
How lovely to see the sunshine – such a difference to the day we went to Blackmoor Apple Farm recently. Heavy rain meant we could not get to all parts of the farm and mother nature contrived to delay the arrival of the blossom this year, but despite that we all enjoyed the trip, learning a lot about what happens before we pick an apple off a supermarket shelf.
In her opening notes Chairman Sybil Saunders told members that Jacqui Prendiville is back home after her operation and recovering well, we have a trip to West Dean planned for July 14th and our Summer Buffet Lunch this year is on JUNE 3rd AT 12 for 12.30 Please let Shirley know if you want to come to either as soon as possible (01428 643625).
Our Speaker this month was Jill Grainge with a talk on China called ‘The Sleeping Dragon Awakes’ Jill had travelled extensively in China and illustrated her talk with some beautiful slides. The term Sleeping Dragon was given to Chinaby western diplomats during the time of Mao Tse-tung but as we all know Chinais emerging as a major power and will open itself to the world for this summer’s Olympics. Being 3,000 miles north to south and east to west it is a vast country and Jill talked about some of the more well known areas – Xian where the Terracotta Army is to be found. Excavations started in 1974 and extend to a huge pit the size of 2 football pitches, no figures were found completely intact, they have 9 different hairstyles, all have different faces and took 36 years to complete and still more have to be excavated.
We were introduced to one local delicacy – snake wine! Apparently the wine in Chinais not to be recommended but the beer is fine. We saw the morning Tai Chi sessions, some beautiful gardens and the water buffalo working in the flooded paddy fields.
Back in the capital, Beijing, we saw the Forbidden City, so called because no one was allowed to enter for 50 years, although now it is one of the most popular tourist sites. Because the air in the city was so polluted there was a SummerPalacein the hills where it was much cooler. Other attractions included the Great Wall, Peking Opera and in more modern Chinaa huge project to build a dam and the very modern city of Shanghai.
In a short time Jill did a wonderful job showing us many different aspects of this huge country and was warmly thanked by Sybil before answering members questions.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE SUMMER LUNCH IS JUNE NOT JULY THIS YEAR SO BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
