The Clifton Women's Institute

Very few people can get it right all the time, and maybe somebody has very kindly given you a present that isn't really 'you'. Perhaps the colour doesn't suit you, or you aren't too keen on the perfume, or you're trying to give up eating chocolates ... whatever it is, please put it aside for the upcoming "re-gifting stall" at Clifton WI. Bring something that's not quite right and go home with something that you love! More details later: meanwhile, a happy new year to all!

Very best wishes to all members and potential members and their loved ones from Clifton WI. We hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year filled with the friendship, interest and fun that WI brings.

What a brilliant success! £181 was the final figure for Clifton WI funds, and our thanks go to Sally Meadows and Gill Gardiner who set up and ran the stall, and to every single member who helped or contributed in any way. The money goes into our account to help towards paying for speakers and general running expenses, and at the end of the year the surplus is donated to our chosen charity. Well done everybody.

We've received the following request from Bryony Bennett-Lloyd at The University of Bristol Clinical Research and Imaging Centre (CRIC) who seeks to  recruit female volunteers. Several members at the November meeting were interested, and if you'd like to be part of this study please arrange things direct with the University department as requested below. "We are doing a brain imaging study to look at the parts of the brain involved in attention and fatigue. Our aim is to find an objective and quantitative measurement of fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis, therefore improving diagnosis and clinical care for MS patients suffering from fatigue. "We are recruiting female healthy volunteers in or near the South West to participate in our non-interventional study and wondered if your members might be interested or might know people who would be.The participants we require are females, ideally aged between 45 and 70. "The study would involve lying in an MRI sc

The three charities shortlisted were: SARSAS (Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support) - SARSAS.org.uk Bristol & District Tranquilliser Project   http://www.btpinfo.org.uk/ Hartcliffe Youth Project   http://www.southbristolyouth.org.uk/hartcliffecyp Members present at the November meeting voted overwhelmingly to donate our £500 operating surplus from the past year's accounts to the Hartcliffe Youth Project.

Grateful thanks to all those who brought lovely home-made goodies to last night's meeting, and we'd just like to remind you that we still need lots of freshly-baked deliciousness for Sunday. So please, please, get baking on Saturday if you can - muffins, biscuits, fruit cakes, Victoria sandwich, brownies, whatever you love to make. Christmas cakes, puddings and edible decorations, of course - or how about a little box of gorgeous truffles from the recipe in the new post below? WI baking is always in huge demand, so we can sell as much as you can bring us! We'll be setting up from 10am on Royal York Crescent (our stall is opposite no. 20 RYC) so please bring your contributions there between 10 and 12. If you can't bring your goodies on Sunday please email Sally who can arrange for alternative delivery. sally @meadows517.orangehome.co.uk  All profits from the whole year's fundraising (after our operating expenses are paid) are given at the end of the year to a

We had a lovely crafty time at Clifton WI last evening with guest speaker Judith Laing, who had set up a display of her jaw-droppingly intricate and lifelike origami sculptures and gave us a brief talk about how her hobby began a good many years ago, and more lately turned into a business when she was made redundant from her 'day job'. Since then she's travelled the world to give demonstrations and tuition, including an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii! Judith then provided us with the materials and guided us in making our own simple origami objects - a Christmas tree, a six-pointed star and a little presentation box. She suggested the box could be filled with treats as a small gift, and lo! as if by magic brand new member Marianne Stewart, a professional pastry chef and cookery teacher, kindly gave the following recipe. Chocolate truffles: makes approx 50.  300g double cream  300g dark chocolate (ideally 60% cocoa) 1tsp honey or glucose  optional flavouri