Discussion ideas

Hello Pat
I’ve only learnt about the NWR this week (on here, of course!)
It sounds interesting.

What topics have you discussed in the past?

I think a good one would be how Covid has changed the way we want to live our lives going forward. I think a lot of people have changed their lifestyle and reset priorities, most in positive ways. It would be important to remember that some may have really struggled or experienced significant losses.

CafeAuLait. Good suggestion. Will definitely take that one with me.

Fanny. My group is very small -about 10 members. We meet once a month in our homes, taking it in turn. Previous topics have been - a woman called Jane, any Jane, a man called James. Shipping forecast areas, previous careers, travel, a specific country- chosen by Head Office each year. We each take an area of that country e.g. castles, history, geography, politics. We all have our own slant in our presentation e.g. when it was Germany I took the period immediately after WW11. I was born there in 1947 and really enjoyed the research. Google is our friend. We might have some food from that country.

A book which means a lot to us and why. Something in our life which is out of our control. I took the light-hearted approach and talked about my addiction to a Curly Wurly
at 9.00 p.m. I was followed by a member who was estranged from her son.

We have a book chosen from a section suggested by Head Office. We pay an annual fee of about £20 which goes to HO, and 50p monthly which we save up for a donation to our occasional guest speaker e.g. Women’s Refuge, First Responder.

We have an occasional visit e.g. Amazon, Food Bank. Yesterday 5 of us met at an Open Garden. A couple of times a year we have a meal, sometimes husbands/partners are allowed to join us.

There endeth the NWR commercial!

It was many years ago, but I remember my sister attending a meeting of the National Housewives’ Register, where the topic was, ‘Would you marry the same man again, and if not, why not?’

She said it was a very lively and interesting meeting!

Very interesting.

Why not trawl through the gransnet archive?

We have just had a Spanish meeting where we all brought a tapas dish and had a Spanish quiz, everyone brings 2 shoes and put them in a bag so you can guess which shoe belongs to who, plant swap, baby photos of members, discussion where each talks about something yellow. I could go on

This might sound very silly,but am l too old to wear Boden clothes ? I'm 76 and have always loved bright colours. I really don't want to end up in beige with a cardi.

I've PM'd you, pensionpat. I've been a member, with one short absence when I was otherwise occupied, since 1973, and don't think I've known any topic repeated!
All the best from our group to your group.

I've never bought Boden clothes but never fight shy of bright colours, though yesterday I was wearing my one and only white teeshirt with a cheerfully patterned blue and turquoise skirt. I have loads of pink, blue and orange(ish) tops in summer and, in winter, a good selection of cheerful jumpers. Oh, I do have one oatmeal - wouldn't dream of calling it beige - cardigan but wear it over brighter tops. In winter, my 'signature' seems to be 'lively' coloured socks. Oh and I'm 80 - so not about to change.

Iwtwab12bow ........Of course your not too old to wear Boden clothes . ..wearing bright colours is lovely. Like you I'm not a beige older lady, bring on the brightness.

You could discuss the new billboards that are being put up around the country. To bring about a debate on monarchy.

I think that would be a good talking point.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/republic/comments#start

Is the register just for married woman only?
I belong to the Monday morning get together at my local community house. We have had people come in a speak to us .
We have had writer, an officer from the kings troop as I live near Woolwich, a herbalist and many more, very interesting a good topics of conversation.

Thank you Pat, really interesting

I joined what was then called “Housewives Register” (!?!) in 1972, stuck at home in a new area with a new baby where I didn’t know a soul.
Boy, was that a life-saver! Not quite literally but not far off ... it was so good to meet other people, talk about lots of different things, the occasional outside speaker (always fascinating) ... it changed my life, and I’d recommend it to anyone. Wish I could do it now but I don’t think it ever travelled to France!

Is gaining weight a part of getting older?
If you could go anywhere, where would you go to for your dream holiday?
Quality over quantity?
Favourite meal?

How about starting your life again after 60? Me and my control freak of a husband retired abroad but after 2 years I came back to the UK without telling him. He thought I was coming back to visit family, but I just walked away with just a 'Ryan Air carry on suitcase. Initially I stayed with my daughter. It wasn't easy, I have joined a Meetup group and met some lovely ladies, some in a similar situation to me. I'm sure there are ladies out there, on their own, who would like advice on various issues of being alone after 60. One group of us meet on Sunday afternoon, unlimited coffees at Wetherspoons!

Olivia Laing’s article about loneliness and friendship (today in the Observer) struck me as very significant. There are two separate issues in the article, but they’re certainly connected.
How has lockdown dovetailed with loneliness, for instance? What are the realities of friendship compared to the myths that maybe some want to hold onto (eg, ‘join a group’, ‘go out and make some friends’ etc)?

I joined the National Housewives Register in 1969 and I still have a Newsletter dating from then. It's a historic document from the days when "housewife" was a designated occupation when filling in forms. Quote from the 1969 NHR magazine: "...our husbands are away all day and most of us have an evening meal to cook so that evenings are a bit hectic with children to bed down, dinner to cook and wash up and not much evening left at the end of it".

The 1969 magazine has some suggestions for meetings: "scientology, antiques, divorce, influence of TV, history of modern conveniences, planned parenthood, working wives, new maths, the role of the elderly in the home".

I haven't been a member of NWR for nearly ten years now but I remember a couple of successful meetings: (1) "the colour red". This triggered all sorts of responses - red for anger, red for danger, that awful red coat I wore in the 1970s, red in politics.... (2) "Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions and can you still fulfil them?"

Pleased to hear NWR is still going strong.

Members could bring an item from home and talk about why it has a special significance in their lives. e.g. This is a pebble I brought back from the Isle of Wight where my husband proposed to me .... Then the conversation might turn to the Isle of Wight, or geology even!

Would you marry the same man again, and if not, why not?
Witzend Now that's a leading question if ever I saw one!
It needs balance and should end " and if yes, whatever for!?

Life with a retired husband? RHS, retired husband syndrome? Divorce over 60.

I would run a mile

Diane7, i have just suggested this as a topic. I keep looking for local meetups but cant find any in my area. Have realised my depression is because of husband. Im going mmmaaaddddddd