Round the Regions - Lothians and Borders

Trefoil members in Lothians and Borders have enjoyed a varied programme recently,
both within their local groups and when visiting neighbouring groups, in addition to
taking the opportunity to participate in the Annual meeting in Aberdeen, the Cotswold
Coach Trip, Trefoil rambles and much more.
Midlothian started the session with a Pamper Evening which involved a refreshing
foot bath and making and applying a hand treatment and face mask. The following
month involved an interesting visit to the local museum, including a storyteller.
In September, 47 members, drawn from all 6 Edinburgh Guilds, met for their 2nd
Annual Gathering. A table quiz greeted all on their arrival followed by an entertaining
talk from Alison Plummer, Scottish Chair. A Promise Ceremony followed and after
tea, coffee and home bakes, the afternoon ended around a camp fire. Note: All risk
assessments were in place including a pail of water! 
A few members of East Lothian County Trefoil Guild helped in both the Craft Tent
and the First Aid/Quiet Area at Girlguiding East Lothian's Festival in a Field in May.
The weather was lovely, and the girls had a great time with all the activities.
Peebles Trefoil Guild have had some very interesting speakers, including a theatre
nurse who served on a Mercy ship off the coast of Africa, a member of the
Innerleithen Civic Trust, who gave a “virtual” tour of Innerleithen old and new, and an
enlightening talk from Scottish Charities Air Ambulance.
A group from Roxburghshire Trefoil went on the June Jaunt Residential, when they
visited Traquair House, Glentress and challenged themselves to walk the Neidpath
Tunnel. In August they held a camp day and in September were challenged to Live
Environmentally Friendly, with talks on recycling goods and saving on food waste.
Berwickshire Trefoil Guild held its summer outing to Kelso to complete the Kelso
Town Trail Treasure Hunt as part of the Motivate Land Challenge. A couple of them
had previously tried tomahawk throwing for the Air theme! Their November meeting
involved looking at Trefoil badges and challenges including the Chocolate Challenge
– playing Kim’s Game using mini-chocolate bars, a pictorial chocolate bar quiz and
tasting chocolate bars containing different percentages of cocoa.
Eildon members went to a local restaurant to sample a variety of dishes based on
plant and seafoods. They went on to make airplanes, have a water quiz and are still
to write poems and make Christmas decorations using plant materials.
And finally…Borders Trefoil members hosted a mix of ramblers from The Lothians
and Aberdeenshire in the Footsteps of Walter Scott. A participant writes “On a
glorious Autumn Day we met at Tweedbank Railway Station for the start of a 10k+
circular route up Rhymers Glen, stopping for lunch at Cauldshiels Loch before
dropping down to Abbotsford House, Scott's home. At one point we had to negotiate
a field of cows. Just when we were congratulating ourselves on our bravery, we rounded a corner in the wall to come face to face with the Bull. He was more interested in his cows than eight ladies wearing red!