The Fife Herald has kindly given the Dairsie web site permission to copy the Dairsie News that is printed in the Fife Herald every week.
Did you take note of the request in the Dairsie Newsletter for used stamps? Trim them with a margin of around 1cm round them; hand them in to the Church or give them to Ruby Braid. They can be used to raise money to benefit some of the poorest people in the Third World, so please start saving now if you have not done so already.
Dull weather is forecast for the beginning of 2008, but a friendly greeting or kindly word will brighten the year ahead, so to one and all, here are wishes for a happy, and healthy New Year.
Over 100 revellers welcomed in the New Year with a dance in the Hall. The dance was a real family occasion with familiar faces and a number of welcome newcomers. Thanks to Blair and David Littlejohn for organising the bar, and Bethan Owen for running the disco. Thanks also to the Ladies who provided the supper and everyone who gave prizes for the raffle. Alas, no piper in person this year as our piper was away in Japan.
Happy New Year to everyone in Dairsie from the Hall Committee.
The Rev. and Mrs. Strickland, formerly of Dairsie, are delighted to report the safe arrival on January 4th 2008 of twins, Georgia Valentina and Luca, to their daughter, Elizabeth and husband Enrico. All four are well and so happy, though Enrico is said to be stunned!
Nine stalwarts braved the unfriendly weather on New Year’s Day, and thoroughly enjoyed the wet and bracing conditions to blow away the cobwebs! A warm-up in the church hall over hot tea and happy chat completed the successful walk.
Members had a complete change when in lieu of the January meeting, they enjoyed dinner at the Fairways restaurant at Elmwood Golf Course. This was the seasonal treat, and it was a great success. First, the chef demonstrated how the meal we were about to eat was prepared - attention was deep and questions many, as cooking techniques and presentation were shown. The spotless kitchen was admired, and the ladies grew steadily hungrier as they saw and smelt the haggis stuffed chicken and unusual fruit salad which were to come! Finally, we ate, and it was as tasty as foreseen, and the chef was highly praised for his professional, relaxed and helpful presentation. The committee were warmly thanked too, for this interesting and unusual evening.
The next meeting will be in the usual venue, the Memorial Hall, at 7pm - please note earlier time, at which the talk will be on "Climbing in Western Canada". New members are always welcome.
Members and visitors were welcomed by the President, Willa Ferguson, who spoke of the happy and sad times of the past year, with the recent loss of Mrs. Maxwell and with Mrs. Panton in hospital. The speakers were the Rev. Andrew and Mrs. Jean Stevenson, who shared the talk. They had been in Kendal, Cumbria, and had visited an exhibition on the “Quaker Tapestry”. They had thought to pass an hour or so there, but found it so absorbing that they were there almost all day, and their talk proved to be as interesting as they had found the exhibition to be. It is a modern tapestry – a project initiated by a Devon lady from a comment by an 11 year old boy. They were members of the Society of Friends (the Quakers) so named from the saying “We tremble (quake) before the Lord” and from that small beginning came an inspiring piece of work, in which, between 1981 and 1996, 4000 men, women and children from 15 countries worked small panels which ultimately were assembled to make a pictorial social history through 350 years of the Quaker movement. Between them, Jean and Andrew told how the tapestry evolved; gave a talk on the beginning of the Quakers in 1652, and their search, through meditation and prayer, for the “Inner Light”; and finally, members were shown how the panels were sewn. There were many illustrations to study, and interested questions, before Jean and Andrew were warmly thanked by Mary Campbell Brown. Refreshments and business followed.