This month we will be joined by speaker Colin Deely to tell us about the “secrets” of Belton House.

Belton House was built in Lincolnshire around 1687.

It is a Grade I listed building, surrounded by deer-filled parkland (also home to the “Belton bats”) and its famous formal Italian and Dutch-style gardens.

It was featured in the BBC’s 1995 TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth!).

According to historical photographer Mikey Holden, Belton “is considered one of the finest examples of Restoration architecture.”

As I was looking up the house to write about, I found several dreamy paintings of the family who was extraordinarily privileged enough to call Belton their home.

I like to think that the woman in the blue dress has the most secrets to tell…

Depending on how well she kept them, we will find out.

  → What To Bring To The Meeting

• Your mask and hand sanitiser (we will have spares);
• Your mug and name badge;
• Warm clothes as we’ll be keeping the big doors open.

You can message us about our Covid precautions if you are nervous and want more information.

→ Next Three Meetings

• November: The Alexander Technique with Maggie Bishop
• December: Christmas Chips
• January: Cake Decorating

→ Subgroup Calendar

• Saturday 16, 14:00 – Crafternoon
• Wednesday 20, 19:00 – Supper Club, Amores
• Wednesday 27, 14:00 – Cafe Society, TBC
• Wednesday 27, 18:30 – Committee Meeting
• Thursday 28, 18:45 – Book Club: Dune by Frank Herbert
• Sunday 31, 10:00 – Walk n Talk, Matlock

Book Club Book of the Month

Dune by Frank Herbert

Dune is a science fiction classic set in the distant future…

…amidst a feudal interstellar society in which various noble houses control planetary fiefs. It tells the story of young Paul Atreides, whose family accepts the stewardship of the planet Arrakis. While the planet is an inhospitable and sparsely populated desert wasteland, it is the only source of melange, or “the spice,” a drug that extends life and enhances mental abilities. Melange is also necessary for space navigation, which requires a kind of multidimensional awareness and foresight that only the drug provides. As melange can only be produced on Arrakis, control of the planet is thus a coveted and dangerous undertaking. The story explores the multilayered interactions of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion, as the factions of the empire confront each other in a struggle for the control of Arrakis and its spice.

Wikipedia

It has won multiple awards and is famous as much for its cult following as for the story itself.

By coincidence, our book of the month is about to be released as a major new film.

If you would like to read and discuss the book before the film comes out, join us on Thursday the 28th of October at 19:00.

You too can be one of those “the book was better” people!

CAKE Fighters

“Good quality treats” for Broxtowe Women’s Project

The CAKE Fighters subgroup has suggested that we host a Christmas collection for Broxtowe Women’s Project (BWP).

Chris, who works for BWP, told the subgroup that “good quality treats” would be ideal.

These items include:

• Hot chocolate sachets
• Chocolates
• Small packets of nice biscuits
• Magazines (including WI Life)
• Nice shower gel
• Bubble bath
• Hand cream
• Moisturiser/body butter
• Puzzle books
• Nice stationary (pens, paper, pencils)

These are things that the women she supports often aren’t able to buy themselves.

Chris told me that most of the women she helps leave home with nothing: “You don’t know how useful things like pens and paper are until you don’t have them anymore.”

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