Bury LETS

Hello and welcome to the next exciting instalment of the BuryLETS newsletter. We have several members writing for this issue, and we are always looking for more members to contribute, so if you would like to write a piece for the newsletter or website please email it to me at info [at] burylets.org.uk.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 2nd June 2009 at 7.30pm in the So Bar. It is the AGM and there are a couple of roles which need to be filled (newsletter and publicity) so if you would like to become more involved and earn some abbots put your self forward. It is also a clothes swap so please bring a maximum of 4 items to swap for abbots only (no sterling.)

Over to Noeleen who, reports on our last meeting:

"Our last LETS meeting at the So Bar in Langton Place was a huge success and very well attended. We are very pleased to welcome our new member Shem Jones and our hopefully soon to be new member Laura Gowanlock. Lots and lots of trading took place.
On sale for Abbots were:
beautiful cards made by Val and Louise covering such celebrations as birthdays, new home, new baby, wedding day and thank you and get well cards as well.
Nearly everyone had vegetable plants and seedlings for sale such as tomato plants, beans, peas, courgettes, peppers and various squashes. There were also lots of flower seedlings as well.
There were clothes, books, bric a brac etc. also for sale. Val was selling her crocheted and knitted flowers suitable for brooches etc. they were beautiful.
We had a wonderful time trading and a lively get together with drinks from the bar.

Joe and I need 4 kind people to water our garden any week from the last week in July to mid August (4 weeks in total) We will pay generously in Abbots and sterling for time and petrol etc. and you can have some veg. as well. Please ring Noeleen in the evening. Many thanks."

Noeleen

Party – the BuryLETS summer party is on 19th July 2009. Ritchie Tenant has very kindly volunteered his garden. The party will take place between 2 - 6pm, bring a bottle, a plate of food and a barrelful of fun.

Meeting dates

• June 2nd - AGM and clothes swap - no sterling, abbots only
• July 7th - summer vegs special - give us your cabbages!
• July 19th - Summer Party!
• September 1st - cake swap bring your cake and try a bit of someone else's
• October 6th - It's Quiz night!
• November 3rd - suggest a theme -what would you like to do?
• December 1st - ahhhh the Christmas market place – get your gifts here.

LET ME IN

One of our new members, Carolyn, has written this most excellent piece about BuryLETS.

What's the connection between a courgette plant, a television, a cardigan and a nice drink in a bar?
The answer is BuryLETS.
All the above have come into my life since Karen Cannard suggested I go along for a Christmas drink at a BuryLETS evening in the SoBar. It was such a nice evening that I found myself going along to a regular meeting too.
I wasn't sure what to expect but was made to feel welcome by an "assorted" bunch of people. I don't think any of them could be labelled other than to call them nice and friendly. They are all ages and all types.
Getting my head around the system is a different matter altogether, all I could understand was that you never pay for anything its all taken care of by the Abbots.
It's the Abbots that take a bit of understanding, each month a piece of paper appears at the meeting and magically if I have taken something to swap then numbers appear on it. "How many for the book" I was asked - I look blank and shrug my shoulders- someone suggested 2 and that was a transaction. Swapping other peoples items is much easier I just write my name down and hey presto I have purchased something. Apparently you mustn't think of it as money.
Its a great way to work and I have been to a plant swap and a clothes swap and really enjoyed the experience - it seems to be even more fun than e bay as theres no nail biting outbidding going on at the last minute. Plus you come away with something you really want having seen it first.
I haven't yet stepped into the behind-the-scenes world of exchanging services, but I know it goes on. Yes someone has been round to another members house and got them organised for more Abbots- brilliant idea.
I spent nearly an hour trying to work out what services I could offer to the members when I had to fill in my membership form. It's not easy working out what your skills are that others might like to make use of, I don't have language or computer skills, I'm not a gardener or a cook and I don't have loads of spare time. In the end I decided I'm quite good at looking after children and certainly professional level at writing press releases.
I love the idea of BuryLETS in a world where everyone is out to take your money, it makes a refreshing change, and having themed swapping evenings in the bar seems to be a good idea. We have done plants and clothes and hopefully theres a cake one on the cards too there must be endless ideas out there.
Plus it has the bonus of a social evening and meeting new people too - what more could you ask for?
Well at the moment I think I'm on for a brain swap! I was trying to explaing the BuryLETS system the other week and for some reason I thought of Bishops instead of Abbots so maybe we should have a scale perhaps starting with a choirboy and working up through monk, abbott, bishop and finally Archbishop - on second thoughts no because I have enough trouble with the Abbots.

Carolyn

And now for something completely different.

Val's Grandma’s Flapjacks

• 6oz Margarine
• 8oz porridge oats
• 8oz granulated sugar
• 6oz self-raising flour
• 1 tablespoon Golden Syrup
• 1 tablespoon of warm water

Melt the syrup and margarine in a large bowl in the microwave~ about 1 minute.
Add porridge oats
Add sieved flour
Add the Golden Syrup
Mix thoroughly then add the water. You may need to add extra water to make the mixture hold together.

Grease a swiss roll tin and press the mixture into the tin making it smooth and level.

Cook at 260° centigrade or gas mark 3 for 20 minutes.

Other suggestions:

• I reduce the sugar to 6oz.
• Use honey instead of golden syrup.
• Add a large handful of mixed fruit, small handful of pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds or try chopped apricots.

Val

Thank you to all the contributors to this newsletter, you have done an excellent job.

See you at the AGM on 2nd June.

Best Wishes

Louise