(no subject)

[pensnest]

Well, I have been missing from DW for a few days, mostly because I have been baking. This is not normal for Pen, and indeed, I cheated quite a bit with some Betty Crocker mixes, a couple of which were even made using Fanta.

I had a Macmillan Coffee Morning here yesterday. I have done them before, and it's quite satisfying to have people come through and raise money - and also quite satisfactory to get some of my craft stuff out of the house! This time, I seem to have sold several suncatchers, which is pleasing, though nobody wants my magnificent Avengers mugs, alas.

There's a couple up the road who have run a big Macmillan coffee morning for many years, but last year was their swansong and they passed lots of Stuff - a banner, T shirts, a bunch of tablecloths and labels - on to me. They also put up their regular poster, with a big arrow pointing thisaway! They'd have been here, chatting happily, but one has just had a hip replacement and the other has a serious back problem. Most unfortunate.

But a couple of my chorus ladies came to help and did a fabulous job socialising with the guests and making sure everybody felt welcome and was encouraged to guess How Many Toffees were in the rather oversized container. Lots, is the answer. Probably Too Many, really - I'll be a bit less ambitious next time!

It seemed nicely busy, and I didn't get off my feet until lunchtime, when things calmed down a lot. I think next time I will do Friday morning and offer Saturday afternoon as well - I was hoping a few of my chorus might show this afternoon to eat the excess of cakes, but alas, no. But they didn't get much notice.

We raised well over £200*, which is a pretty decent start to what I hope will be a several years' run of Macmillan fundraisers.

Next week, I'm doing a couple of art workshops - one papercraft, one acrylic painting, which I am very much looking forward to, plus going to look at a bunch of art studios. It's Open Studios season, and I went carefully through the leaflet and picked out some geographically convenient places. Woo hoo!

* £263!

Comments

[smallhobbit]

Congratulations for raising the money for such a good cause.

[pensnest]

Thank you. It is a fun way of doing some fundraising.

[dine]

I had never heard of Macmillan Coffee Mornings, but it sounds like a really cool idea! I'm glad yours was a success, raising a goodly amount of cash, and that you had enough fun to do it again

[pensnest]

It's pretty much a national thing here; I noticed the people up the street were having one in the first year we were here, and went along. Nice way to say hi to the neighbours!

[minoanmiss]

Yay baking!

Using mixes isn't cheating, especially if it helps get you over the hump to the actual baking.

[pensnest]

I sometimes wonder if the cake is a little too spongy, but eh. The chocolate swirl cake - a mix, made with Fanta instead of eggs and veggie oil, and coated with melted chocolate - went very well!

[yarnofariadne]

I always say using mixes is extremely valid! Especially if you don't bake often, it just makes sense to buy precisely the amount of dry ingredients you need, and really all a mix is is pre-mixed dry ingredients.

[pensnest]

This is true, and makes me feel less sneaky! Though I was more proud of the spiced apple cake, which I made from a recipe (and added spices because who wants an apple cake without cinnamon?).

[yarnofariadne]

An apple cake without cinnamon baffles me.

[pensnest]

It would be Quite Wrong.

[frausorge]

Kudos to you, that's great that you raised so much money! (and cleared out some of your stash.)

The workshops and studio visits sound delightful!

[pensnest]

I am pleased - and I think most of this year's visitors will come back, which is reassuring.

I'm definitely looking forward to a very art-filled week!

[sperrywink]

I guess Macmillan COffee Mornings are a British thing? I have no idea what charity that is for? But go you for raising so much money, getting rid of stash, and having fun! And the baking, can't forget that!

Have a fun art week!

[pensnest]

Macmillan Nurses support people with cancer, in various ways. And the Coffee Morning thing is a very successful fundraiser that takes place every year and is quite a Thing. A very clever idea, indeed!

[turlough]

I had to look up what Macmillan Coffee Mornings were and they sound like a very worthwhile thing to organise, so go you! And baking for it too. You should be very proud of yourself! It sounds like it was all a great success, yay! Congratulations to selling some of your craft stuff and an even bigger congratulations to raising so much money!

Sounds like you're going to have a very arty week coming up. I hope you'll have lots of fun and learn many useful things!

[pensnest]

It's a very clever fundraiser, asking people to invite their friends and neighbours round for a cuppa and a chat! And it has definitely caught on.

I'm looking forward to it, definitely - I don't know what 'papercraft' means in this context, so it will be a voyage of discovery. Also, I have to drive to Attleborough.

[turps]

Congratulations on raising such a fantastic amount, and in such a good way.

Sadly no one does events around here, I suspect because the houses and gardens would be too small. But, I imagine an event done well, like yours, would be fabulous.

[pensnest]

I ended up banking £300 today, because three people made small donations which added up to £298, so I thought, fair enough.

You might be able to organise a kind of street party in the area where you park the car? But that totally depends on whether your neighbours all get along and would be interested.

[spikedluv]

That sounds like an interesting endeavor.

[pensnest]

It was nice - particularly with two extrovert friends who like chatting to people! I manage it, and enjoy it, but it is hard work!

[ephemera]

Congratulations! That's a great fundraising total, and sounds like a good event all around!

[pensnest]

I was pleased - £300, in the end! Made quite a few notes for next year, but mostly, what went best was that the sun shone (more or less).

[kat_lair]

Sounds like a fun event. I've never actually been to those coffee mornings though have seen them advertised.

[pensnest]

Well worth while, I think, although no doubt it depends on who is running it what the character of each specific event will be. I must say it is nice to have reliable weather apps these days, so handy to know if it will or will not rain!