Monthly Meeting - "A Change of Latitude helps my Attitude"
Over the roar of the Ruskie Burn in full flood after the recent rain, Anne Artis welcomed a packed hall including our furthest afield member who tonight is here in person – Lesley Gentles! Helen Little thanked members for paying their subs with about 80% already submitted. In other news Sheena Gibson is a new granny (congratulations), and our talented members who were placed second and first in the Warnock Trophy Short Story Competition – Isobel McGuire and Alison Smellie – read their Childhood Memory stories to the group before Elizabeth Farr President of SC&WP Federation presented Alison with her Trophy.
Anne then updated the group on the recent visits to the Hydro Scheme and Dunblane Cathedral which were great days out, both with tea and cake. She also read a thank you card from Sheenagh Beaton who is delighted to be an honorary member and overwhelmed to be associated with Ruskie, noting the things learned, places visited and lovely teas! Anne then announced the first part of the ‘business’ for the evening, split into two sections because we are sooooo busy! SC&WP Federation business meeting is on 11 November with three competitions – Janet McLay Trophy (A Christmas Limerick starting “There was a wee elf called joe….”) the West Lothian Trophy (3 different craft gift tags) and Cath McByrne Trophy (best use of a fat quarter of fabric). On Saturday 18th Ruskie will hold a Christmas Silent Auction for Advent Calendars in The Church Hall in Thornhill at 1030am – entry is free, and there is tea/coffee and mince pies – along with a raffle to raise funds for maintenance of the hall.
Taking a break from announcements, Anne then introduced Amy Thomson who is part of the Ruskie Rural Diaspora and who talked about her travels in Peru in November 2019 as part of a small group of single travellers with ‘JustYou Tours’. After summarising her journey to Peru she then introduced Paddington Bear whom she met in Lima, where it never rains and ¼ of the population of the country live in that one city! She took the Ruskie members and guests round her tour with fabulous photographs of sculpture, churches, presidential palaces and vintage train stations before suffering from altitude sickness in Cusco (treating it with paracetamol rather than ‘coca’ tea!) Amy also informed us about the style of architecture, and national dress which varies from village to village and where babies are carried on mothers’ backs for convenience and to tackle the hundreds of steps in the villages without the need for a buggy. They also visited the lush and well ventilated Sacred Valley with the six unfinished monoliths which are a tribute to the sun and sculptures and grain stores are carved out of the hillside. Amy spoke about the lovely food, including alpaca which is mild and tasty! On the train to Machu Picchu the decorations were much admired, and the local sellers with stacks of hats on their heads. It is well organised as there are 1.5 million visitors every year. A local guide helped Amy and her group around the lost city of the Inca’s and explained how it was rediscovered in 1911 by a Yale professor, working with local people who helped clear the vegetation and reveal the mountaintop citadel which had been abandoned in 15th century when the Spanish raided the country for gold and brought disease which devastated the population. The buildings in the area are 60% underground for stability, and windows and doors are narrower at the top than the bottom to withstand earthquakes. Amy shared her memories of meeting Llamas, and visiting many small villages made of enormous stones which the travel companies invest in to support the locals who collect alpaca wool and spin it to make products, coloured with natural plants, fixed with salt. Further travels south included visiting a church, nondescript on the outside but sensational inside and even more impressive architecture, including landscapes reminiscent of the Ochils although at 12,500 feet with altitude sickness. Next a boat trip to see iconic vessels made from bound reeds shaped like mountain lions and pumas which are worshipped in the area being built in front of houses with solar panels and satellite TV (very 21 century! But no running water or ensuite facilities!) and fascinating tours of islands and craft works … but mostly meeting the mayor time and time again! The group then stayed overnight on an island, staying with a local family who continue to suffer from altitude sickness even when they are permanent residents. Further island tours revealed men who sewed, and women knitting in one location versus a separate island where the men knitted (and were caught cheating by the women for buying shop made products). A final lunch time treat of the two week trip included entertainment with pan pipes and a little girl drumming. The return flight allowed time to reflect on the adventure and how it was not for the faint hearted but was fabulous!
Before announcing the competitions and raffle, in the second ‘business’ session, Anne reminded everyone of the opportunity to drop off gifts and donations for Start-Up Stirling for Christmas this year – they have asked for earlier submission so they can organise their own boxes – the list of requests will be circulated on email nearer the time. Please drop off at the Silent Auction on 18 November or at the meeting on Tuesday 14 November. Anne also shared the new WhatsApp group we will be setting up which will be administered by Sharon McRobert. Finally there is a Federation walk on 25 October starting in Doune (and ending with lunch!!)
Competitions
To finish off the recognition of prize winners and trophy giving for the meeting, Liz Black received the cup for most competition points in 2022-23 (Runner Up Anne Artis). The competition winners this month were:
Favourite Travel Souvenir 1) Allison Mcleod 2) Pamela Deans 3) Alison Smellie
Photograph of something that makes you happy 1) Vivien Leckie (Puskie Plate) 2 Equal) Allison Mcleod, Jane Baron 3) Christine Bauer
Phew - what a meeting! all topped off with a fabulous Ruskie tea, expertly served in a very busy wee hall!
