Ok, here’s a confession – I’m a member of the WI. There, I said it.
I always find myself making excuses when I tell people this, I’m not really sure why. Because despite the title of this post, there’s no jam making demonstrations or singalongs to Jerusalem at the Manchester WI that I’m a member of.
It’s one of the ‘new breed’ (feel free to insert alternative cliche here) of WI’s set up by young women looking for something a bit more fulfilling to spend their time on.
The members range in age from 20 to 60+, with most – far as I can tell – in their 20s and 30s, making me one of the older members! But this week the average age dropped even further as C made her first visit to a WI meeting, in the stunning surrounds of the Chetham’s School of Music Baronial Hall.
I wouldn’t usually be venturing into town after dark with a 6 week old, but this month was membership renewal month, and the branch is so popular that if I didn’t go then the chances of me being a member again were pretty much zilch. C was impeccably behaved, sleeping soundly in her Moby sling as we nibbled on cake and learnt about the suffragist movement in Manchester.
I’m sure she’ll appreciate it when she’s (much) older, but she didn’t seem overly impressed at the struggle for women’s rights and the vote. So much so that part way through she decided to fill the room with some cold induced snoring and grunting. As half the room turned to stare at the rude person who’d fallen asleep in the back row I had to very quickly perfect my best ‘it was the baby, not me!’ look.
It could have been worse I guess. At least she didn’t fill her nappy loudly mid talk.
Anyhow, I’m once again a fully signed up, card carrying member for 2014.
Now I just have to figure out how to get to some meetings without baby in tow.