A “Break” in India
Speaker: Annie Johnson
In October the President’s husband, Geoff, was once again present giving IT support when his wife, Annie Johnson, gave a presentation on their 2019 ‘Temples, Tigers and the Taj’ holiday in India. The talk was entitled ‘A Break in India’- with more significance in the name than members realised. From Northern India they were to travel to Shimla and then to the Goan coast.
The Indian itinerary was very full and included visits to Old and New Delhi; Agra for the Taj Mahal, which Annie felt was ‘just too big’; and the abandoned city of Fatahpur Sikri where there were amazing stone carvings and somewhat uneven floors. And it was the floors that caused Annie’s downfall and a consequent broken wrist. Treatment at a clinic resulted in a plastered arm and the advice that she must have an operation on her wrist within 8 days!
While they made arrangements to travel back to the UK, and in the knowledge that Shimla and Goa were now out of the question, they journeyed on to Jaipur and its carpet and textile co-operative, and then to Amritsar where the Golden Temple was amazing. And so was the volunteer work of the Sikh community in the Gudwara serving 50,000-70,000 free meals everyday! ‘The scale of the thing blew my mind’ was Annie’s closing remark.
The business meeting that followed made plans for the WI Christmas tree in St Peter’s Church; a New Year meal out; and a spring Afternoon Tea to raise money for the Ankoma Project and Hospice at Home as well as the ‘normal’ afternoon meetings with guest speakers.
