Calendar Girls

I read today that the original Calendar Girls are coming back for another! For those who mightn't remember, these gals were from a Women's Institute branch somewhere in the hills of Yorkshire who, upon the leukaemia death of a member's husband, decided to pose tastefully naked in a calendar to raise money for a new couch for the cancer ward's lounge area at the local hospital. These cool gals, all 50 or above, went on to raise more cashola than they could ever have imagined, to gain notoriety all over the world, and have their story inspire the film starring Helen Mirren and a stage adaptation of said movie.

Well, they are at it again!! 10 years after the sepia coloured original calendar, replete with strategically placed embroidery frames, iced buns and cider presses, they are doing another calendar, this time in colour, with different sorts of WI type props to shield the rude bits. I just think this is so awesome. These dignified English small town wives and mothers, stalwart WI members who faithfully sing "Jerusalem" at every meeting, and enter their Victoria sponges and cucumbers and needlepoint in the town fetes, throw caution to the wind, and get their collective kit off for the world to see, all in the interests of a charity near and dear to their hearts... Wow.

I only hope that, when I reach more advanced years, that I can be as cool as the Calendar Girls...not that there will likely be any exuse for me to don my birthday suit in the public eye, but just to have that kind of brio! You go, girls!!