Category: Miscellaneous
Various items that do not fit any particular category
Appeal for Stamps
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..
Chistmas 96 Bus Service
Christmas Reindeer Cafe
CHRISTMAS REINDEER CAFE
The local community was treated to a really lovely afternoon on Saturday 23 November 
when Glenys and Mike invited everyone to spend time with friends and neighbours at the Christmas Reindeer Café.
Randolph’s extended family were eagerly awaiting the arrival of people from the village who had offered to give them a home. The reindeers, handcrafted by Mike, will make a lovely addition to our garden displays for the festive season. And, for those wanting something a little smaller, the snowmen complemented Mike’s display of handcrafted gifts.
Wenvoe Crafters supported the event and it was an opportunity to buy good quality Christmas cards, decorations and balloons.
The warm and welcoming atmosphere in the Church Hall was fantastic. Hot and cold drinks as well as a very tempting variety of Glenys’ delicious homemade cakes, meant that 
everyone stayed to catch up and while away a very pleasant couple of hours. With John and Lowri in the kitchen, it really was a family affair.
Raffle prizes included bottles of champagne, wine and spirits, food and sweet hampers and a
handmade Christmas cake. All thirty-six raffle prizes had been generously donated by people from the village in order to support such a worthy cause.
The £440 raised will be donated to the Wenvoe Wildlife Group in order to support the many on-going projects that we read about regularly in the monthly ‘What’s On’ update.
Glenys and Mike would like to thank all of the people who supported the Christmas Reindeer Café and made the day such a success. Their thanks also goes to their family and the people who donated the raffle prizes.
Glenys and Mike have also extended a special thank you to Joyce Hoy who worked tirelessly with the Tucker family preparing the Church Hall and making the table decorations. Perhaps most importantly, Joyce also ensured that all of Randolph’s family were looked after until they were taken to their new homes.
A very special ‘thank you’ on behalf of the 
village to Glenys, Mike and their family for hosting the Christmas Reindeer Café. You created such a lovely afternoon and the money you have helped to raise will have a lasting impact on the continued hard work of the Wildlife Group.
New Bus Pass
NEW BUS PASS
Concessionary Travel Pass
Have you applied for your new pass?
Transport for Wales are working with all Welsh local councils and Welsh Government to roll out new-style Concessionary Travel Cards by the end of December 2019. These cards will replace the current green ‘bus passes’ across Wales. The old-style cards will not be recognised by electronic readers on buses after 31st December 2019.
The new-style cards offer the same free travel rights and benefits as the current bus passes. The new cards are designed so that they can work as part of an integrated travel network in the future.
Advice and support with the application process is also available from your local council, Age Cymru and other community organisations. Find out where you can find help in your local area by contacting our help desk at travelcards@tfw.wales or call 0300 303 4240.
Residents are encouraged to apply online or ask a friend, family member or someone they trust to apply online on their behalf. Online applications take around 15 working days to be processed.
Paper application forms are available by emailing your contact details to travelcards@tfw.wales. They’ll also be available from your local councils. Paper copies take around 20 working days to be processed.
To apply on line go to:-https://tfw.gov.wales/ travelcards and follow the simple instructions. You will need the number of your present card and your National Insurance number to complete the application. The new card will use your present photograph unless you wish to change it, instructions are available on how to proceed
Dyffryn Paintings Conservation Project
DYFFRYN PAINTINGS CONSERVATION PROJECT
Dyffryn House, at Dyffryn gardens is holding a paintings conservation project from the 22nd October-end of November. Visitors will get the chance to watch specialist painting conservators in action, as they repair the 3 paintings by prolific Welsh artist Margaret Lindsay Williams (1888-1960). Williams portraits are in the Royal collection , and the National Museum, Wales. Come and discover more about her fascinating life and career, and take a look at her allegorical paintings which caused quite a stir when she painted them in the early 20th century; The Imprisoned Soul and The Devil’s Daughter.
Conservators will be in the Oak Room of Dyffryn House Monday to Thursdays from 1-4pm. They will also be running conservator talks with Q&A at 1:30pm and 3pm.