7th OCTOBER 2021

Before starting this I looked back through the archive to see exactly how long it has been since we were at the Bowls Club.  The last session was 12th March 2020, and Noreen kicked off the blog by saying, 'In spite of the Media’s efforts to send us into paroxysms of anxiety about the new virus, we had a full house at this morning’s session. 👍 Your committee has been discussing our forthcoming programmes whilst having to take into account possible interruptions as the epidemic spreads.  We will keep you informed'.
If only we had all had a crystal ball! 
19 members were present for the AGM this morning, actually not much down on the previous one in 2019 (23).  I think I speak for all in saying how enjoyable it was to be physically together again, despite having to bring our own drinks, and wearing masks when moving about.
After the official part of the morning we showed our responses to the Chairman's Project  from 2019 - The Pleasures of Life.  There were a few recurring themes; chocolate, wine, tea, cake, gardens, walking, family, pets and landscape.  Jackie reminded us that our freedom to roam was only fully legalised in 2005! June gave us the stages that cocoa goes through to become so delicious.  Les made us all laugh when he said that one of his pleasures was knowing that he had woken up in the morning!  Sally L had made repeated studies of a pebble.

So here we all are, and here is Lesley, illustrating her thought process.  As I said, wine was one of the themes....

Here are the contributions from Carolyn, Sally T and Sally L.  The joy of a hot shower, the garden, bicycle rides in glorious countryside and pebbly beaches.

 From Frances, Josey, Jane and Diana, colour, viewpoints and Haikus, doodles (can you really call them that?!), companionable chickens and the inside of Diana's head.

Richard, Harriet and Sally P gave us the sea and a gliding seagull, the pleasure of enjoying the view (and a nice bottle of something), and a composite of reading, family tea, the garden art and even the smell of clean laundry (although Sally P made the washing as a removable element!)

Here is my sleeping cat, enjoying the main pleasure of his life, Cynthia's landscape with picnic table for artistic friends, Maggie-Anne's adoring (and adorable) dogs, and from Elaine, her husbands pleasure - fish, and hers, jigsaw puzzles (from which her subject comes).

Lesley's country walk and an interpretation of the landscape by her house, that brings her so much pleasure, Noreen's picture contains its own title, Avril has also done a portmanteau painting with all her many skills and interests, June and the story of cocoa, and Elizabeth's rose that represents beauty and movement.

Finally, Jackie was late sending in work last week that represented the fruit of her visit to Dunwich (a view of the abbey, and a study of pebbles on the beach), so here they are, with her rose to represent the joy of a garden (if not the work that goes into it!) and a gate to remind us that we now have the freedom to open gates on footpaths and explore the glories of the countryside. 
And it looks like Les took his picture down without me photographing it, so sorry for it's absence.

So don't forget, it's still life next week, and those of you who want to come, bring something to draw or paint, or something you are working on and want to continue.  Don't forget your flasks, and to wear something warm because the end doors will be open.  See you then!