CLUB CLIPBOARD - FINAL WEEKEND!

1 CLUB CLIPBOARD - FINAL WEEKEND! I know that I said that last week s Bulletin would be the last for the year but reviewing the FINAL weekend should not wait! The sun shone brightly as the Club held its impromptu Pop Up Sale last Saturday. The variety of locally grown natives proved popular as did the spectacular sculptured succulents. Business was brisk with early customers snapping up the healthy plants. Gumnut Cottage was a perfect spot for the morning, helping to create a relaxed village feel. The Knit-n-Knatter s beautifully knitted items made a colourful display and their inside stall was also popular.

2 Delicious coffee and homemade scones were served by Coffee King Rob at the Casual Caf with the quality of the coffee ensuring that Rob will be encouraged to take on the role again! But masks, checking in and sanitisers were reminders that times have changed, and different measures are now needed as part of Club event planning. A huge thank you to all who came but especially to those who helped to put the morning together and, on the day; providing the plants, muscle power, information and expertise the fun morning raised an amazing $921 which will be put towards future garden improvements at both buildings. The morning also helped to continue the conversation regarding the start of a Gardener s Gossip Group in 2022, so watch this space!

3 FINAL WEEKEND! Again, the hall took on a festive feel last Sunday; tiny trees decorated the tables which were named after Santa s reindeers, tinsel adorned the total board and seasonal tunes filled the air. Norm s trivia presentation was up to its normal high standard with clever visual tricks to keep attendees on their toes. The questions were varied and as promised included a dazzling mixture of pictures, tunes, video grabs as well as the odd Mystery question. But you never leave one of Norm s afternoons without one of those really? moments. Such as: Did you know - that Kentucky Fried Chicken is the most popular dish in Japan on christmas Day and has to be ordered weeks in advance advertising has a lot to answer for!

4 The Club purchased a new portable projector recently, which made its debut and while it has been a little challenging to master, provided much brighter images than the now aging ceiling model. christmas trivia has signalled the end of the Club year since 2018 (missing last year due to COVID) and it was great to see such an enthusiastic gathering. trivia will return for another round or two in February 2022! Arrival of Giant Pots Members who regularly visit the Club will have noticed the arrival of two large rust coloured pots. Designed to discourage any future boarders they neatly fill the two areas were that were recently occupied by our hard to move guest . Aesthetically pleasing, they have easily blended into the outside landscape. Purchased before the last lockdown, they finally arrived a couple of weeks ago.

5 Now filled with soil, they will soon rival our bloomin Floriade flower bed. Foreshore Mural The other interesting addition to the landscape is the mural that has been painted on the Pump Station a little more tropical than expected but another colourful lakeside landmark! TALKING christmas TRADITION! CLUB CLIPBOARD One of Norm s questions was What is an Advent Tree Called? and my curiosity took me on another Google journey! THE TRADITION OF THE JESSE TREE Jesse Trees are a very old christmas tradition and date back to the Middle Ages. Originating in Europe in connection with Mystery Plays, they have been used over many centuries to bring life to the characters who are part of Jesus family Tree, from Jesse through David to Joseph and Mary.

6 The name comes from Jesse who was the Father of the great Jewish King David. One prophecy in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, says: A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1-4 (NIV) A branch is a sign of new life and new beginnings. Jesus was a descendent of King David and Christians believe that Jesus is this new branch. The first Jesse Trees were large carvings, tapestries or even stained-glass windows put in Churches that helped people who could not read or write to learn about the events leading up to the birth of Christ. The Jesse Tree designs showed Jesus connection with Jesse and other important Biblical figures. The Cathedral of Chartres, in France, dating back to 1260, has a particularly famous and beautiful Jesse Tree stained glass window.

7 But now Jesse Trees are used as a kind of Advent Calendar. Each day through advent (or sometimes just on the four Sundays of advent) a special decoration or ornament that tells a story from the Bible, is hung on the tree. Since Advent is a season of waiting, a Jesse Tree can help to build joy and anticipation as you wait for christmas and be a symbolic reminder of the reason for the season . The upper section of the Jesse Tree window at Chartres Cathedral showing Jesus at the apex and Mary below him christmas CRAFTY CORNER! MULLED WINE JELLIES We enjoyed these yummy jellies at our trivia table had not been rolled in sugar and were nicer without! * Ingredients 5ml olive oil cooking spray 2/3 cup caster sugar 1 cinnamon stick 2 whole cloves 1 orange, 2 rind cut into 4cm-long strips 1 vanilla bean, halved lengthways 1 1/2 cups dry red wine 1/4 cup glucose syrup 1/3 cup powdered gelatine 1 1/2 cups white sugar Method Spray a 20 cm (5 cm deep) square cake pan with oil.

8 Combine caster sugar, cinnamon, cloves, rind, vanilla and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until sugar has dissolved and mixture is fragrant. Add wine and glucose, then bring to the boil over high heat. Remove pan from heat. Sprinkle over gelatine and whisk until dissolved. Strain mixture into cake pan. Stand for 6 hours or until set (do not refrigerate). *Place white sugar on a baking tray. Cut jelly into 4cm squares, then roll in sugar to coat completely. Serve. A NOVEL IDEA - PEOPLE ARE USING THEIR FAVOURITE BOOKS TO MAKE christmas TREES Choosing a fake christmas tree over the real version is no longer a faux pas now it's a way to show off your crafty side.

9 People are building DIY trees using everything from wine bottles to tree branches to biscuit tins, but these trees made out of stacks of novels are hard to go past. Sort of simple and very effective but the one is the easiest to assemble. All you need to do is rearrange your piles of magazines and books ever so slightly into a tree-like shape on your bookshelf and voila a christmas tree!