IWO - International Women's Organization: The Original

Time flies whether you're having fun or not. We're looking forward to our October meeting, 3rd. We'll  meet at Seasons 53 in the St. John's Town Center. And it will be Christmas in no time. Dread the thought!

Lynda from Ireland sent me this link here yesterday asking if I was a member of this club. Yes, I was! Apparently, they are still going strong.

http://www.limerickiwo.com/index.html.

King John's Castle, Limerick

Indeedie, I was a member there for 6 years .This gave me the idea to start one of my own here in Jacksonville when I couldn't find one.
A couple of photos from this year's trip to Germany: 

  In Krakau on the lake in Meck-Pomm.

  From our balcony in the Black Forest

             Typical architecture in Strasbourg just across the border into France.

Happy May and Mother's Day!

Sorry I missed our last meeting. So glad we had a good turn-out in spite of technical problems with my email. Thanks to Alicia who always jumps in to help out! Our next meeting is a few weeks away, but I'm announcing it here already : June 6th at our new and obviously popular venue Seasons 52.

Just wanted to show you two more photos of Germany where we're going for our next home swaps. You have the address in case you want to follow our steps again:www.Intrepidhomeswappers.blogspot.com.
Season 2!

                                                           
That's on the Baltic Sea in what used to be the former East or GDR. And this is the house we're moving into for 3 weeks.
In the meantime, have a good month of May and happy Mother's Day!

March Luncheon

Spring has sprung and that should be the end of cold nights (while they are still freezing in most of our home countries...:) Our March luncheon should be very nice affair at a new venue.
Lynda and I followed Heather's advice and tested a really nice restaurant, almost in the same location where we were in the St. John's Town Center: Seasons 52. I only knew its dinner menu.
I hope they'll have something for everyone. When we were there they were surprisingly busy. Why surprising? Because it was mid-week.
They booked us in for Wednesday next week, March 7th...and every other month till July. I told them to hold it...We'll be the judge of that. Room is no problem, neither is parking. Here is its website, address and directions.
We'll meet as usual at 11.30 for a sit-down at high noon. Bring a friend, use those cards I'm always so busily printing. Don't forget to book a seat.
See you all there and then!

Happy 2012!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year, I'm inviting you to our next luncheon next Wednesday, 4th January at our new place "Osaka". For directions click on this link!
We'll meet at our usual time at 11.30. The place is spacious enough and has a great selection of food, hopefully to please everybody.
Look forward to seeing you all there. Sigrun

Happy Holidays!

Our Christmas luncheon came and went.We had a lovely 2 hour session at Blackfinn's and enjoyed a new member from Romania, a lively, friendly lady by the name of Lena. And what is even better: she wants to brings more of her friends.
Allow me to include a little story in the Christmas spirit here that I recently wrote on my blog. Our German members can relate to it:The Charm of Christmas Markets. Just click on this link under the title. It's on a new blog that I started about 3 weeks ago; an interesting read on a variety of topics even if you're not a contributing writer.
Thank you, Sally, for providing us with this picture of last Wednesday's luncheon.
In January, our first Wed falls on the 4th. We 'll meet at Osaka, another restaurant for a change.
These are its details:
Osaka Japanese Restaurant 11701 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32223-0756

Winn Dixie Plaza

(904) 886-7778
Please join us at 11.30 A.M. It's a spacious restaurant with
delightful food and ample parking.
Until then: A happy and healthy new Year! See you in 2012!



‎

Our Christmas Luncheon

It's that time of the year again...The Holidays are approaching fast and our annual Christmas Lunch is coming up. We decided to keep it simple, just in our usual surroundings at "Blackfinns" in the St. John's Town Center. They have looked after us all year in such a friendly way, I didn't have the heart for a change of location. Most restaurants we discussed were more expensive.
For January, however, I suggest a change of venue and move to Osaka, a buffet style Asian- Sushi place that Louise and I checked out last week on my birthday. It's located on the corner of San Jose Blvd. and Loretto Rd. Exact directions to follow shortly.
The food was very good and they had a huge selection of starters, fish and desserts. Salad too!
See you on 7 December at Blackfinn's. Booking in this case is essential.

We're growing -without any growing pains

Last Wednesday we had a terrific turn-out for our monthly lunch group. There were four new ladies with the French contingent growing more than any other country at the moment. And of course, our tiny twins were in attendance even though they slept through the whole fun again. How does she do it? I wish I had could have fed mine some of whatever they are getting!
With a little cooler autumn temperatures, the weather was gorgeous and we sat outside which most people enjoy most in this restaurant (Blackfinn). They are really welcoming and accommodating, considering they had to add two tables on the spur of the moment.
Stories about summer trips were swapped and photos shared. I'd like some here too, please. My home swapping adventure naturally got some interest: Will I do it again? If you're interested in going this route in preparing for a value for money vacation, ask me which website we had subscribed to. Some regular members are still away, one on a trip to Alaska and others in their first residences.
Our next meeting for which I expect new ladies as well (we met them inside) will take place on Wed, October 5. The table is already booked. But please, please let me know how many of you're coming. It may be a bit more problematic inside to add on tables.
Here is a picture where two of our members, hailing from AUS and E went to Berlin together and St. Petersburg.