March 2012
March’s meeting saw our first ever male speaker …. TR McGowran from Cycle Pit Stop who gave us all a workshop on basic bicycle mechanics.
With a 1-hour session, which was fairly ‘hands on’ we participated in bicycle repairs, learnt the anatomy of the bike, the correct names for each of the bicycle’s components and how to lubricate your bike, keeping it clean and what tools were required.
February 2012
Our Valentine’s meeting saw us master the Chair & Stocking routine with Khandie Khisses as she taught us all the key Burlesque skills of stocking and glove removal.
January 2012
January = detox!
We got our NEW YOU resolutions into gear as we welcomed Geeta Sidhu Robb, founder of well-being delivery company Nosh Detox to help unlock the secrets of our bodies. Geeta took us on a personal journey to help us kick start 2012 with total health and vitality, both inside and out.
November 2011
Shimelle Laine taught us how to scrapbook with a part-practical workshop and part-talk. As a simply way to preserve memories in a unique and creative way, either digitally or physically, kind of like the collages you may have made as a little girl. A scrapbooker usually starts with a book and a set of memories — photos, clippings, and other small mementos — that he or she wants to preserve for the future so its sort of like a journal.
And if that still doesn’t make sense (!) then watch this video where Shimelle explains why she scrapbooks.
September 2011
We bagged Marawa The Amazing (as seen on this year’s Britain’s Got Talent!).
Marawa has hoola hooped just about everywhere from Glastonbury and Edinburgh festival to New York, Paris and all over Australia. She performs internationally with the Olivier award winning La Soiree (formerly La Clique). She spins, twirls and shakes her way through each performance involving a huge array of skills culminating in the big finales where she spins up to 70 hoops!
May 2011
Salt & Pepper: ’Lets Talk About Sex, Baby’In May’s meeting you could find out everything you want to know about sex! In the most tasteful manner. We are ladies, of course.Couples therapist Clare Murray and Dr Sara Riley were our guest speakers hosting their talk ’ Summer Lovin’ : Couples and Sex’.
April 2011: Land Of Kings Festival
Save the Date! Wedding Tickets! How would you like to get ‘married’ on the very same day as Wills & Kate? Well that’s what happened.The Dalston Darlings hosted an alternative to the Royal Wedding nuptials with a mass ‘wedding’ of our own!For a small fee you and your future-husband/wife-to-be were married in style. Reverend Robin performed the service that was held on the spectacularly romantic Dalston Boys Club as part of The Land of Kings Festival.We gave access to our fanciest of fancy dress boxes, a free shot to calm those pre-wedding jitters and then a glass of bubbles once the deed had been done – and even officiated the special event with a marriage certificate for you and your betrothed to keep.
Invite your guests to come and witness your big day that will also be photographed for prosperity. Get them to dress up in all their finery! Bring your relatives!
March 2011
Dalston Darlings WI Christmas Disco: Men Allowed! One Night Only
The Nest, Dalston, Tuesday 14th December 2010
We danced, drank and enjoyed kisses under the mistletoe with the ladies of Dalston’s Women’s Institute.
DJs: Akiko (Big Pink), Captain Magic, Eeek Empire, Hannah Holland (Batty Bass), Harry Sprout & Charlotte Bugged Out, La-La Leanne, Nadia Ksaiba (Say Yes!), Sophie Lloyd
LIVE: Marina Gasolina Live, RART
PLUS: Traditional Meat Raffle – Fun & Christmas Cheer plus tip top lady DJs playing back to back fun and festive tunes.
We hit The Nest on Tuesday 14th December for The Dalston Darlings – the newly formed Women’s Institute of Dalston – Not-Quite-Christmas-Disco. Tapping into the institutes creative and artistic pool they’ve snagged a line-up so worthy, dance-able and down-right fun, the little ladies of the Woman’s Institute should feel safe knowing the future of the WI is in their hands.
Expect a pre-Christmas tipple of booty bass and pop to rockabilly and sock-hop with a fab DJ line-up including Miss Bastard Batty Bass herself Hannah Holland, the first lady of Guilty Pleasures Anna Greenwood, uniquely off-centre Akiko from The Big Pink and many, many more. With the Baile funk stripped away, Marina Gasolina will also be performing live to rock out the Nest electro-sythn-pop stylee. Plus with more acts yet to come, everyone will be playing 30 minute sets each so even the most ADD troubled folk can find solitude here.
Last but by no means least, to all men everywhere, please take note, this is the first and only time they’ll be allowed through the doors of the Dalston Darlings so buy your raffle ticket on the way in and take your place on the dance-floor. We’ll see you down the front.
December 2010
December’s WI speaker was the super stylish food whiz Annie Rigg, who talked us through her book ‘Gifts from The Kitchen’, and offered us the chance to get stuck in and get creative with cakes ourselves!
Annie has not only cooked around the world, but also for rock and roll’s royalty including Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones and Sir Paul McCartney as well as becoming part of Delia Smith’s team at Sainsbury’s Magazine as Deputy Food Editor where she uses her talent in particular on food styling. She’s a respected freelance food stylist, writes features and columns for monthly publications including Sainsbury’s Magazine, Country Living, Olive, Good Food, Red and Delicious and has written many of her own books!! Basically Annie couldn’t be more fitting for our next inspirational speaker and we’re really pleased we’ve been able to nab her for a chat – just in the nick of time before Christmas!
November 2010
East End Boutique Wah Nails hosted our Dalston Darlings WI November meeting.
Hotspot nail boutique WAH Nails was the destination where we enjoyed a WAH nails experience with owner, stylist and all-round super girl Sharmadean Reid.