Organize your own group and you go free!

Planning a girls' day out or weekend away? Why not get your own group together and customize your away day or weekend experience! You'll find some ideas to get you started on our website...Examples of events that are part of wine women and philosophy's history, but which could certainly be resurrected with a look and feel that is designed especially for you. If you are a group of 6 or more, we even have a special deal - one of you goes free! Check out our website for more details of this great offer.

Members' salon evening: Thursday 28th of January

Our first members salon evening of 2010 runs from 7:30 - 9:30 pm, and hot on the heels of the holiday season, we'll be taking a look at photographs - how they move us and why. Remember to bring along a photograph that speaks to you in some way. Drawing on the work of french writer and thinker Roland Barthes (our philosopher of the month), we'll be discussing how the concepts of "studium" and "punctum" can help us to see in our photographs something new. Come one and all. Bring a friend. See you there!

A song for you, from us...

Here is the 2009 anthem to our fabulous membership friends, our sensational salonnieres, and our dazzling weekend participants. Picking up on the Festive spirit, it is to be sung to the tune of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman"...But this is where the similarities to that old chestnut end! When we sang it at the Salon Christmas Party last Thursday, we tried to stay true to the wwp salon spirit by delivering it as a conversation. Enjoy!

DON'T MESS WITH RESTLESS MATRONS

Don't mess with restless matrons,
They are something to behold.
A Salon Eve or Weekend Leave,
Will find them acting bold,
A glass of wine
A thought divine
Ideas turn into Gold...

Oh what pride in Spa for the Mind,
Spa for the Mind,
Oh what pride in Spa for the Mind.

We've done two choral weekends,
You will find us on You-Tube.
We've belly danced and transcend-danced,
And learned about Lao-Tsu,
We've slow-cooked stews
And penned haikus
Felt belonged and bemused...

Oh it's all tried in Spa for the Mind,
Spa for the Mind,
Oh it's all tried in Spa for the Mind.

Okay, so there's a bridge club,
And a cookbook in the works.
Our membership is growing,
And our website's got no quirks,
And so we've had
A day or two
To go a bit beserks...

So what's biding for Spa for the Mind?
Spa for the Mind,
Here's what's biding for Spa for the Mind.

We've added scuba diving,
And drag racing 101.
We've got a special weekend going,
For women on the run,
We wanted to
Give Flu Shots...
But the town hall turned us down,

Here's to Wine Women and Philosophy,
W(W)P
Here's to Wine Women and Philosophy.


Wishing you all the very best of holiday seasons, and thanking you for your wonderful support during our first year of wine women and philosophy.

Linnet and Rona

Photo Gallery of Christmas Salon Evening

Watch this space!

We are putting together a photo gallery of last night's festive salon evening. In the meantime, here are a couple of photos to whet your appetite! Thanks to Kathy for leading the caroling, Pat and Sue for Ms Claus' Christmas Grotto, and other members and guests for making it such a fun evening. A wwp tradition in the making? We hope so!

Just Caroling

Thanks, Kathy, for guiding us through a fun caroling repertoire from 'In the Bleak Mid Winter' to 'Go Tell It On The Mountain' wonderful stuff! And next time we will get the piano tuned - promise!

Sisters, Janice and Elaine share a high note at the caroling weekend.

For more choral delights plug in 'wine women and song' in our search engine.

Table Talk Cookbook

We are in the process of producing wwp's first cookbook, based on favourite 'feel good' recipes from our weekends and from the kitchens of our members.

All proceeds made from the sale of the cookbook will go towards supporting the Marcelle Scholarship Fund. The cookbook committee will be going public with their ideas shortly. Make sure to check back for details in the coming weeks...

Nurtury Book and Film Club Weekend

To what, or whom, do we feel we belong? What are the necessary conditions to "feeling" belonged? And though many of us might aspire to belong, are there also drawbacks to being "in the fold"? These were just some of the questions that we explored over the course of this weekend, dipping into the terrains of home, nostalgia, longing and coming-of-age as we hammered out a collective living philosophy around belonging and experienced, in our different ways, how belonging actually felt in the context of the group itself. Our props for thinking through the theme of belonging were three books-to-film - Carson McCuller's "The Member of the Wedding," Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis" and Rebecca Wells' "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" - which we turned inside out (and back again!) over fireside discussions, salon screenings, wine and food, and walks in the woods. There was even a game of hopscotch thrown into the mix to return us to those tenuous belongings of girlhood, and remind us of how play could make us feel a part of the crowd, or apart from it. Bringing our own stories of belonging (or not) into dialogue with the kind of belongings (and longings) experienced by our fictional weekend companions enabled us, by Sunday, to put forth a tentative lexicon of what might constitute belonging: unconditional acceptance, confidence, respect, connection, freedom, love, leaving and returning, negotiation, action and being yourself being but a sampling of the words and sentiments that found their way into it. A special insight into belonging was provided by having a set of triplets with us for the weekend. As one of the sisters so eloquently encapsulated that sense of being always already a 'we' beyond the 'me': "I was belonged before I was born."

Thank you to everyone who was part of this special weekend for making it such a memorable learning and living experience.

Be Original - Gift A Getaway This Holiday Season

A wwp getaway makes a great gift for your close friends, your partner, a valuable volunteer in your organisation, a special work colleague, or yourself (!)

Many of our participants come to us courtesy of women who want to spend some quality time with a friend, their mother, a daughter or a sister - to mark an important birthday, for example, or to celebrate some other special event. Contact us if you want to find out more about gifting one of our wwp getaways.

wwp weekend gift certificate from $50 to $445
wwp away day gift certificate $60 ($50 to members)

Belly Dancing Troupe a Hoot!

Thank you, Sharon, for a wonderful weekend of fun, belly rolls and hapticity. It is amazing what you managed to get us - total beginners - to do in just 2 days. Life without our money belts will never be the same!

"This weekend allowed me to 'play' with five other very different women. We found our likenesses and our differences and enjoyed both. Women are incredible people. I strive to take a piece of each home with me to enjoy in my thoughts for a long time to come." (Susan)

"A beautiful home and a forever giving generosity. As the teacher and student, it was the most fulfilling, relaxing and warming experience. Thank you." (Sharon)

Why not try our Belly Dancing Weekend 20-22 November, 2009

Where: Our beautiful Laurentian Lodge in Lakefield, just 1 hr from Montreal
What: A tasty mix of dancing, dining and table talk, designed with women over 35 in mind
Focus: An introduction to the basics: hip and chest circles, hip lifts and drops, shimmies and belly undulations.
Led by: Sharon Levinger, a belly dancing teacher who also performs in a multitude of Montreal shows and festivals.
Visit the wwp website for more details

A Night of Transcendence

A big thank you to Janice Poltrick Donato for her transcendent offering last night at the member's salon evening. Janice enlightened us to what is meant by transcendence - a state of being or existence above and beyond the limits of material experience or the state of excelling or surpassing or going beyond usual limits. Collectively we touched on the differences between transcendence (to go beyond) and immanence (to remain within). Starting with a look at our left and right brain tendencies, Janice drew on the work of Jill Bolte Taylor - a neuroscientist who had to learn how to walk and talk again after suffering a massive stroke. Members then had a chance to experience first hand what it was like to draw from the right side of the brain and how to calm the chattering monkey - ie. our inner voice - during meditation. Once again thanks to all who attended and we look forward to seeing you at our next member's salon evening on Thursday 10th December. As part of this salon evening, Kathy McKnight has offered to lead us in a few seasonal carols...so tune up your pipes and we hope to see you all there!

Fragments of The Writerly Life

Our collective writing weekend was a wonderful mixture of wit, wine, warmth and wonder.
Together we explored how those everyday scraps of life can be turned into pieces of writing of which we can feel proud. Pat, our able guide and source of so much inspiration, helped us to craft our thoughts and experiences into the written word, and to present the results to the rest of the group. We came away feeling like we had worked in a very playful way. Pat is going to pull our writings together into a blog...details to follow! One of our writing exercises was to compose collective Haikus (3 lines of 5 syllables /7 syllables / 5 syllables). We began with...

an object = Typewriter
an emotion = Anger
an action = Writing

... broke into groups, and started composing. Here are a few of our offerings...

Typewriter
Grade 8 Miss Pion
Holding court in typing class
Syncopated bliss

Black and silver box
Worked 2 weeks factory job
Right to left, no fault

Anger
Bubbling rage within
Dark energy eating me
Spring up to seize throat

Steaming in my bath
Raging through my tortured limbs
Simmering, I plot...

Writing
I put down my guts
Spirals, circles and feelings
Will you still love me

Pen poised waiting here
Words, fragments, moments create
The writerly life

...And finally, Typewriter, Anger and Writing all rolled into one:

Clack clack space return
Pound out fury on your keys
Pen resolves head noise

Thanks to all for making this another great wwp weekend!

Slow Food a Triumph

Thanks to everyone who made the slow food cooking weekend so special. The company was delightful, the food superb and the instruction illuminating. We will never underestimate the value of a good stock again! Kate, you led us through the Parten Bree, Trou Normand, Roast Leg of Lamb, Fondant Potatoes, Beetroot and Onion Chutney, Scottish Oatcakes, Apple and Ginger Crumble...(the list goes on!)...with flair and confidence - thank you. Thank goodness, too, for a beautiful autumn weekend that permitted walks through the woods between the courses!

wwp bridge salon

Open to all members interested in playing bridge once a fortnight in Montreal West on a Wednesday evening from 7-10pm - all levels welcome. Look out for the date of our next bridge night in 'forthcoming events' on this blog.

Please get in touch with Rona - by email - for more details.

2010 Early Bird Special

Wow! Save $75 on the cost of the following weekends if you book and pay for your weekend before December 31st 2009.
Digital Photography and Photoshop
Discover Your Inner Designer
Yoga at the Nurtury
Nurtury Bridge Club

Visit the wwp website for more details

Open House at The Nurtury on Sunday November 15th, 2009

Why not drop in on us at our next Open House, being held at The Nurtury in Lakefield, Gore between 2pm and 5pm.

An easy drive from Montreal, the day is free and all are welcome to come along to find out more about our beautiful premises and location, as well as about our exciting wwp weekend and Away Day line-up for 2009-2010. This is an opportunity to see first hand whether The Nurtury would be a suitable place to go on one of our artist or writer retreats, or to host a retreat of your own. As with all wine women and philosophy occasions, a welcoming glass awaits you.

Please contact us for directions to The Nurtury. Make sure to spread the word to your friends and colleagues. We look forward to seeing you there.

Fancy a delicious weekend away?

Why not try our...

Slow Food Experience
Cookery Weekend

16-18 October 2009

Where: Our Laurentian Lodge in Lakefield, just 1 hr from Montreal
What: A tasty mix of cooking, dining and table talk, designed with women over 35 in mind
Focus: Local seasonal fare prepared in a ‘slow food’ way
Led by: Kate Duffield, British cook with a Scottish flair
Cost: From $395 for 2 nights accommodation, all food and instruction included.

For more details on this weekend and other
wine women and philosophy getaways please visit us our website
or phone Linnet or Rona on 514 998 1417

Looking for a creative, activity-based getaway in a beautiful country setting?

Why not try our...

Collective Writing Weekend
23-25 October 2009

Where: Our Laurentian Lodge in Lakefield, just 1 hr from Montreal
What: A tasty mix of writing, reflection and table talk, designed with women over 35 in mind
Focus: Transforming those everyday scraps of life into writing that pleases and pleasures
Led by: Pat Machin, a lifelong teacher and editor
Cost: From $395 for 2 nights accommodation, all food and instruction included.

For more details on this weekend and other
wine women and philosophy getaways please visit our website
or phone Linnet or Rona on 514 998 1417

Real Deals at wwp

Are you 4 friends, colleagues or family members who want to get away together on one of our weekends? If you are, have we got a deal for you! Take over our bunkroom which boasts 3 single beds and a sofa bed and one of you gets your weekend free.
The bunkroom has its own bathroom and leads off from the Parisian salon. Check out our website for more details.

wine women and philosophy at the National Women's Show in Ottawa 26-27 September 2009

Thank you Kim, Bernice and Sheryl for your invaluable help at the National Women's Show last weekend. It was fun, exhilarating and SO worthwhile!!!

Due to the success of this event wwp will be attending the next National Women's Show in Montreal in April, 2010.

Reminder to Register

If you are interested in any of our Fall weekends and away days please register soon to avoid disappointment. We look forward to hearing from you.

Getting to know Lao-Tzu

With Pimms in hand and Lao-Tzu in mind, the 3rd members salon took place last night, August 27th, in Montreal West. Bernice Lamb Senechal was our guest salonniere, and she began the evening by situating Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu amidst his circa 600 BCE contemporaries, Confucius and Buddha. After hinting at how he differed from these two, and giving us a small taste of his approach to life - going with the flow and seeing the world in its many shades of grey - we broke into small groups and took to our activity stations. A tempting excerpt from Lao-Tzu's writings awaited us at each station, and our task was to engage with his controversial ideas around "suppleness," "actionless action," and "living without artifice." We then reconvened for a wrap-up, and mused over suggestions that Lao-Tzu was in fact a woman.

Thank you to Bernice for animating the evening and making it a thoroughly lively, entertaining and enlightening salon. Thank you too to our wonderful members, who never fail to turn up in scintillating form, and always amaze us with their insights and intellect - not to mention their great sense of humour.

The next members salon will be held on Thursday, October 29th - 7:30 to 9pm - and will be animated by Janice Poltrick Donato. Janice will explore the notion of transcendence, particularly in relation to how we see the world and strive to represent it in art.

Make sure, also, to pencil in our special holiday season salon on Thursday, December 10th - same time, same place - and keep watching this space for more details.

We always welcome new members, and encourage existing members to bring along a friend to these events.

What's going on this Fall...

• October 2-3, Painting Autumn Colours Weekend
• October 16-18, Slow Food Experience Cookery Weekend
• October 23-25, Collective Writing Weekend
• November 6-8, Self-Promotion from the Inside-Out : Strategies to Promote Your Own Business Weekend
  
• November 14, "Making Sense of the Senses" Away Day
  
• November 20-22, Belly Dancing Weekend
• November 27-29, Nurtury Book and Film Club Weekend
• December 4-6, Tuning-up for the Caroling Season choral weekend

To find out more about these away days and weekends please visit our website: www.winewomenandphilosophy.com

Come and Visit Our Stand at the National Women's Show in Ottawa

• September 26th and 27th at Lansdowne Park
  

For more information visit www.NationalWomenShow.com

Design your own Retreat at The Nurtury

• Stay at the Nurtury from $50 a night...Check out our website to find out more
  

Looking ahead to 2010...We'll be offering the following activities at The Nurtury

• discover your inner designer - February 2010
  
• digital photography and photoshop - April 2010
  
• vegetarian cookery
  
• yoga - March 2010
  
• soundwalking - April 2010
  
• funny girls : who makes us laugh and why - April 2010
• soap-making - Autumn 2010
• ...and more!
  

Open House at The Nurtury on Sunday 13th September and Sunday 4th October, 2009

You are invited to attend wine women and philosophy's Open House which is being held at The Nurtury, in Lakefield, Gore - between 2pm and 5pm - on Sunday September 13th and Sunday October 4th, 2009. An easy drive from Montreal, the day is free and all are welcome to come along to find out more about our beautiful premises and location, as well as about our exciting wwp weekend and Away Day line-up for Autumn 2009. This is an opportunity to see first hand whether The Nurtury would be a suitable place to go on one of our artist or writer retreats, or to host your own retreats, meetings or events. It will also give you the chance to meet some of our salonnières, and to find out if wine women and philosophy is for you. As with all wine women and philosophy occasions, a welcoming glass awaits you.

Please email us for directions to The Nurtury. Make sure to spread the word to your friends and colleagues. We look forward to seeing you there.

thanks to our members and guests

Thanks to all our members and guests who attended last night's salon. The discussion centred around P4C - a philosophy for children programme created by Matthew Lipman in the 1960s and designed to nurture critical thinking in young people while building a 'community of inquiry'. After Rona provided us with a brief background of this initiative and introduced us to some of its guiding principles, we partook in a variety of exercises that gave us a real taste of P4C in action. The evening was lively and fun, and the ideas to emerge around the notion of dissensus as a way to create a respectful dialogue between people who disagree, was extremely thought-provoking and energizing. We are excited about how these members salon evenings are unfolding and how the membership is growing.

Members salon evening

Our third members salon evening will take place on Thursday, August 27th... Same time, same place. Bernice Lamb-Senechal will be animating the discussion around the notion of living without artifice - based on the musings of an Eastern Philosopher named Lao Tzu. Bernice will introduce us to his most well-known ideas regarding "actionless action"... And we will take it from there!

If you would like to become a membership friend, please refer to the membership form on our website. As ever, if you are an existing member and you would like to bring a potential new member along, that would be great.

In praise of great day out at the nurtury

Thanks to those who turned up for our open house on Sunday June 14th. The weather was beautiful and the women were on form. Over glasses of rosé and homemade iced tea, scones and cheeses the discussion ranged from what motivates us to volunteer to the benefits of mid-life career changes. We are looking forward to the next open house which will take place on Sunday July 12th between 1 and 4pm.