Kilrea WI keep in touch despite lockdown

A spokeswoman said: “April, May and June meetings have been cancelled and it looks unlikely that they will meet up until later this year, if at all!

“However, we have been embracing modern technology and taken ourselves out of our comfort zones. We keep in touch with our WI friends and neighbours by phone, email, text, and WhatsApp, sharing humorous snippets, photos and WI information, celebrating births and anniversaries, and sympathising with bereavements. Our Committee meeting was held via Zoom, and this may be the way for our whole Institute to meet over the Autumn months.

“The Kilrea WI ladies have really enjoyed the WI Facebook page, which has been both interesting and amusing. Pearl Hutchinson has contributed several very poignant poems written during lockdown, along with a video of her garden.

“Unfortunately, the Annual 72nd Kilrea WI Flower Show, due to take place in September, has had to be cancelled. This is only the third time the show has not taken place. However, this has not prevented the Kilrea ladies from making their usual Show preparations. Flowers have still been planted, seeds sown, vegetables grown, cakes baked, needlecraft projects undertaken, jam made, photos taken, poems composed, rugs completed, and pictures painted. Members have been keen to share these on our WhatsApp page.

“Congratulations have been expressed with cards and gifts to two of our members who celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversaries: Alison and Ronnie Torrens, and Teresa and Sean Darragh. Also, we were delighted that several of our members became new grannies to lockdown babies! Maud Steele has a new granddaughter, Joan Dunlop a granddaughter and grandson, Ann Laughlin a grandson, and Marina Laughlin her first great grandson.

“We have certainly missed our monthly meetings but we do take comfort knowing that we are all facing this crisis and together we can get through it. We may have to change and adapt but if we can remain positive, enjoy the simple things in life that we very often overlook, and keep ourselves busy we will have a lot to chat about when we do meet again, whenever or wherever that may be.”