It has become a tradition at Elstead Afternoon W.I. for the Committee to provide a special tea at the December meeting, and to increase the enjoyment, members from Farnham, Wrecclesham, Hale, Seale and Sands, The Bourne, Millbridge and Ockford Ridge were invited to join the meeting.

The president welcomed three new members, Jane Taylor, Jane Whitehouse and Penny Shawyer, and a reluctant farewell extended to Serena Gaylard who is moving out of the village. Thanks were given to Betty Moxon for making a superb Dundee cake to present to the Scout Group for their raffle.

The Art Group next meets in January, the Swimming re-commences on 3^rd January and the Discussion Group's next gathering will be on 19^th January. The new enrolment year for the W.I. starts at the meeting on 5^th January, costing £22.00. New members will be warmly welcomed and may immediately join in any of the nine activity groups.

May Deaville won this month's competition for a homemade Christmas gift.

After the draw for a special Christmas raffle, Mrs. Patricia Hobson, pianist and singer, accompanied by Mr. Arthur Venables, commenced their performance of 'Songs from the Shows' with passages from 'The Mikado'. Moving through the century with solos and duets, the music included the 'Desert Song', 'This is my lovely Day', 'Younger than Springtime', 'Some Enchanted Evening', 'Eidelwiess', 'Memories' and finally 'Music in the Night' from Phantom of the Opera. The whole repertoire was received to resounding applause from the audience and appreciative thanks from Venetia Pierce.

Christmas greetings and best wishes for a Happy New year are extended to all our members and readers.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 5^th January 2006, when Mr. Hiliman will illustrate with slides, a talk on 'Images of Sri Lanka'.

Christine Welland

A happy New Year to you all.  Support for Fair Trade is growing but there is still a long way to go to help producers in the poor countries of Africa, South America and Asia.

Good news:- over three million fair trade hot drinks and almost half a million fair trade bananas are eaten every day

Not so good news:- Unfair trade rules rob poor countries of 14 times as much as they get in aid.  This is equal to £1.3 billion per day.

Good news:- The UK is the largest market for sales of products with the Fairtrade mark, with sales doubling every two years.  At the end of 2005 there were 1,500 fair trade Churches.

What is new.  Three weeks before Christmas, Traidcraft introduced "Fruit Snacks".  These are succulent strips of dried pear, peach and nectarine, 100% pure fruit, high in fibre and no added sugar.

My Traidcraft stall will be at the U.R.C. coffee morning on Saturday 7^th January.  See you there!

Jean Wheatley