Category: Miscellaneous

Various items that do not fit any particular category

RHS tips for January

 

RHS tips for January

  1. Shred your Christmas tree to use as mulch.
  2. Check on dahlia tubers and begonia corms for rot.

3, Brush off the worm casts on lawns.

  1. Start forcing rhubarb.
  2. Prune apple and pear trees.

Environment team tips

  1. If you need some company and exercise join the Wenvoe wildlife group, environment team or turn up for one of the many walks. More information in the columns of What’s On.
  2. Make sure you wear those scarves and gloves you were given at Christmas.
  3. This year try to label all those seeds you’re going to plant.
  4. Clean out the bird feeders regularly, which will help keep disease at bay.
  5. Loads of bargains in garden centres at the moment as they get rid of the seasonal stock. Blue diamond at St Mellons is worth a look.

Sow sweet peas now and those that you planted in the Autumn can be repotted but try not to disturb the roots too much. If you have a heated greenhouse or warm window sill you can sow begonia, lobelia and salvia to give you early plants. Cut off some of the older leaves of helebores to give the flowers a better chance.

Most people prune their roses at the beginning of March. Some gardeners advise that this job is done in January. The lady and gentleman who live at Belgrave house, had advised their gardeners to cut the roses in the west garden down to just above ground level. This was completed last autumn and could well be the way forward. The roses at Vennwood will be pruned, half now and the rest in March to compare. If we get snow, don’t let it linger on your hedges and shrubs as the weight will put them out of shape and could break branches off. Have just read that being heavy handed in breaking the ice especially on shallow ponds can send shockwaves through the water and kill off some fish. They recommend resting a pan of boiling water on the ice to melt it.

Summer bulbs, seed potatoes and onion sets will be available by the middle of the month .

On the vegetable patch, It’s time to to lay fleece down to warm up the ground for early planting. When forcing rhubarb with a large up turned pot, putting straw inside the pot will help to bring it on. The jury’s out on whether its worth chitting potatoes. When working at Mr Phillips market garden the potatoes were not chitted but still gave good yields.

Happy New Year to all. Have a great gardening year.

Take care and happy gardening.

 

Are You Making A New Year’s Resolution?

Are You Making A New Year’s Resolution?

The tradition of New Year’s Resolutions has a long history, with people from many cultures across the globe making promises at the start of each year. Babylonians made promises to their gods that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named. In the medieval era, the knights took the “peacock vow” at the end of the Christmas season to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.

If you are thinking of joining in, here are some ideas based on the top 10 most common New Year’s Resolutions:

  • Exercise More
  • Lose Weight
  • Get organised
  • Learn a new skill or hobby
  • Live life to the fullest
  • Save more money
  • Quit smoking or drink less
  • Spend more time with family/friends.

 

If you need more inspiration for this year, how about this advice from Billy Connolly ‘Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares … He’s a mile away and you’ve got his shoes.’

Interestingly, your enthusiasm for New Year’s resolutions may depend on your age. Recent research suggests young Brits are by far the most likely to make them, with more than a third of 18 to 24 year olds intending to do so, while only 15% of those over 65 will bother. On the plus side research shows that Americans are more likely to give up on their resolutions than we are.

So how likely are you to be successful with your resolutions?

A study of 3,000 people by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail! People apparently have more success with small and measurable goals like ‘lose a certain amount of weight in a week’ rather than a more general resolution to lose weight. Pauline Wallin, PhD, psychologist and author of ‘Taming Your Inner Brat’ advises people to develop a realistic plan, build in imperfections and focus on small victories along the way. But beware! Recent research has discovered that the second Friday in January is the day when we are most likely to falter. So this year if you do make a New Year’s Resolution be wary of ‘Quitter’s Day’ Friday 10th January

 

 

The Boy Who Laughed At Santa Claus

The Boy Who Laughed At Santa Claus

In Baltimore there lived a boy
He wasn’t anybody’s joy.
Although his name was Jabez Dawes
His character was full of flaws.
In school he never led his classes
He hid old ladies’ reading glasses
His mouth was open when he chewed
And elbows to the table glued.
He stole the milk of hungry kittens
And walked through doors marked No Admittance.
He said he acted thus because
There wasn’t any Santa Claus.

Another trick that tickled Jabez
Was crying “Boo!” at little babies.
He brushed his teeth  they said in town
Sideways instead of up and down.
Yet people pardoned every sin
And viewed his antics with a grin
Till they were told by Jabez Dawes
“There isn’t any Santa Claus!”

 

Deploring how he did behave
His parents swiftly sought their grave.
They hurried through the portals pearly
And Jabez left the funeral early.
Like whooping cough
from child to child
He sped to spread the rumor wild:
“Sure as my name is Jabez Dawes
There isn’t any Santa Claus!”

 

Slunk like a weasel or a marten
Through nursery and kindergarten
Whispering low to every tot
“There isn’t any no there’s not!”
The children wept all Christmas Eve
And Jabez chortled up his sleeve.
No infant dared to hang up his stocking
For fear of Jabez’ ribald mocking.
He sprawled on his untidy bed
Fresh malice dancing in his head
When presently with scalp a-tingling
Jabez heard a distant jingling;
He heard the crunch of sleigh and hoof
Crisply alighting on the roof.
What good to rise and bar the door?
A shower of soot was on the floor.
What was beheld by Jabez Dawes?
The fireplace full of Santa Claus!
Then Jabez fell upon his knees
With cries of “Don’t ” and “Pretty please.
” He howled “I don’t know where you read it
But anyhow I never said it!”

“Jabez ” replied the angry saint
“It isn’t I it’s you that ain’t.
Although there is a Santa Claus
There isn’t any Jabez Dawes!”
Said Jabez with impudent vim
“Oh yes there is; and I am him!
Your magic don’t scare me it doesn’t”—
And suddenly he found he wasn’t!
From grimy feet to grimy locks
Jabez became a Jack-in-the-box
An ugly toy with springs unsprung
Forever sticking out his tongue.

The neighbors heard his mournful squeal;
They searched for him but not with zeal.
No trace was found of Jabez Dawes
Which led to thunderous applause
And people drank a loving cup
And went and hung their stockings up.
All you who sneer at Santa Claus
Beware the fate of Jabez Dawes
The saucy boy who mocked the saint.
Donder and Blitzen licked off his paint.

By Ogden Nash

 

SCAM WARNING

SCAM WARNING

Please be aware of a current doorstep scam working the area. These are calling themselves ‘Keep Britain Working’ or ‘Nottingham Knocker’s’ which are a very similar outfit (if not the same).

They are doorstep callers who target areas offering small household products for sale. These callers may claim to be ex-convicts attempting to mend their ways or ex-servicemen. However, they are not part of any recognised rehabilitation scheme.

Please warn your communities, particularly elderly or vulnerable neighbours, not to open the door to strangers or to buy or sell on the doorstep. Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality goods at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime.

How do they work?

The sellers may say that they are on a ‘rehabilitation course’ arranged by Probation Services or other organisations trying to find people work. This is not the case, and often they are known criminals. Probation Services do not run such schemes.

They may show a card which claims to be a ‘Pedlars Licence’ or work permit. This is not valid and they are breaking the law if they are using anything like this. They may also hand over a card saying they are deaf or dumb.

According to the Police, the bag of household products is supplied by someone who employs them. The male/female is supplied with a full bag of household products (including the typical tea-towels!) and charged a minimal sum for the contents. It used to be £35. They can keep whatever they make, above this amount.

Usually they are deposited in an area from a transit

van and given a list of streets to work. An hour or so later they are picked up and dropped off in another location. They often work from 9am to 9pm.

They will knock on a door, offering cleaning items which they know are cheap and of very poor quality; the householder also knows they are rubbish but that is part of the scam. Many people will purchase items and pay them out of their good nature as they have fallen for their story or, just to get rid of them. There have been cases of elderly residents handing over large sums as these people can be very persistent and confrontational.

The price for whatever has been purchased usually comes to a note – usually £10. The householder disappears to get this and according to the police, this is when the scam begins. When the note is handed over, the person examines the condition and how long it took the person to get it. If it is crumpled, they accept it and move on. If it is crisp flat and new, they are much more interested and may engage the person in more conversation, to obtain details about them. As they leave they will smell the note. If it is slightly musty, it is an indication that there is more in the property.

These addresses and the addresses of elderly and vulnerable people are noted. They are then handed to the employer and there is a small amount of cash handed over for each one. These addresses are then sold in prisons and pubs. If there is a later break-in, the employer expects a further cut of the proceeds.

Police advise that in almost every case of a stop check – the people have long strings of convictions for burglary and violence. They use the skills learnt during their criminal activity to identify possible targets.

Please do not open your doors to strangers. Do not buy goods these people offer you on your doorstep

 

 

Scouts Cymru Adult Volunteer Of The Year

 

SCOUTS CYMRU ADULT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to Heulwen Jenkins, 1st Wenvoe Scout Group’s Cub Leader and Assistant Beaver Leader, who was awarded Scouts Cymru’s Adult Volunteer Award for 2019!

At the October Celebration of Scouting annual event at the Metropole Hotel in mid-Wales, Heulwen was presented with her award by Rhian Moore, Chief Commissioner for Wales, and Joe Doherty, Scout Adventurer (Antarctica). They are pictured below along with Glenys Shelley, Cardiff and Vale Scouts, who was also awarded a lifetime achievement award at the ceremony. Many congratulations to both.

“Out of more than 3,100 adult Scout Leaders and assistants across Wales, Heulwen definitely deserves this award for the energy and enthusiasm she brings to delivering our programme and growing our Group. This award recognises her engagement with the Wenvoe community, including inviting other adults in the village to share their skills and experiences with our Young People, and celebrating the badges they are awarded. It is a privilege to have Heulwen as one of our leaders and this award celebrates how she lives the Scout values, champions diversity and inclusion in Scouting and helps Young People and adult volunteers develop #SkillsForLife. Congratulations!”

Tori Thomas, Group Scout Leader, 1st Wenvoe Scouts

A full list of award winners was published on Twitter: @ScoutsCymru. For more information about 1st Wenvoe Scout Group email 1stWenvoe@penarthanddistrict.org.uk or follow us on Twitter: @1stWenvoe

 

 

A Visit to Puy Du Fou

SHARED EXPERIENCES

A Visit to Puy Du Fou

by Sylvia Harvey

Puy Du Fou is an historical theme park near Nantes in France welcoming over 2.3 million visitors every year.

Throughout the summer on Friday and Saturday nights is La Cinescenie – this is the most amazing spectacle. It is a large theatrical performance held on one of the world’s largest stages. It involves 2,500 actors, alongside 190 horses. There are 80 technicians and it brings together 4,000 volunteers.

It is a beautiful pageant telling a story set in the Vendee region. As each scene unfolds, it just takes your breath away. With the constant action, the lighting, the pyrotechnics, it’s almost impossible to describe.

There are a number of other shows on during the day. Two special ones for me were:

Le Signe du Triomphe: A Gallo-Roman stadium performance in which the 7,000 spectators are divided into Romans and Gauls to watch Gaulish prisoners trying to win circus games in front of the Roman governor. The atmosphere is electric; clapping, cheering, booing, chariots thunder around the arena as lions and tigers prowl among the contestants. WOW!

Les Bal des Oiseaux Fantomes: Another breath-taking experience as 330 eagles, falcons and vultures swoop over the audience, with their wings brushing our heads.

I could write so much more but I am hoping others may have visited Puy du Fou and will share their experience..

 

 

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