The good news was that we don't need to polish our furniture so often! Once a year is enough. So said Mrs. Margaret Greene talking about the work and care which goes into maintaining National Trust properties. Chandeliers are cleaned every two years with methylated spirit and rinsed with distilled water. Although one tends to think first of National Trust properties as great houses and buildings, the organisations's first acquisitions were land, and later coastline. She talked about the success of Enterprise Neptune, launched in 1965 by the Duke of Edinburgh to preserve our beautiful coastline, and which raised £2 million in the first two years. The speaker was thanked by Heather Chester.

Final plans were made for welcoming other W.I.s on April 19, taking them on a guided walk around Ripon followed by lunch in Skelton Village Hall. Ruby Booker, presiding, gave details of the annual National W.I literary competition which would be a short story on the subject, "Ghosts", and which must end with the words, "So beware, you never know who is present at your W.I. meeting." She also gave notice of forthcoming events which include the Ripon Group summer meeting when the talk would be on 'Young Offenders', an outing to Burghley House in July, and a Group Quiz, on Monday, October 13.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 13, in the Village Hall, Skelton, when the subject of Nicola Down's talk will be "On a Slow Boat to China." There will also be a discussion on topics which will be debated at this year's AGM in London, including resolutions on 'the inappropriate imprisonment of the severely mentally ill', and 'bottom trawling',- the practice of dragging huge weighted nets along the bottom of the oceans, resulting in extensive damage being done to the seabed. The meeting is at 7.30pm, and all are welcome.