Category: Community Groups
“Killing Time ” by Alan Bennett
OFF THE SHELF
“Killing Time ” by Alan Bennett
We were looking forward to reading Alan Bennett’s Killing Time, but as a group we were ultimately disappointed. The story follows a group of elderly residents in a care home, among them Winnie — a once-glamorous actress whose memory and health are beginning to fail. Around her, other residents navigate the boredom, indignities and small absurdities that make up the daily rhythm of institutional life.
When COVID arrives, the home goes into lockdown. Residents are cut off from their families, routines crumble, and staff are pushed to their limits.
Although we appreciated Bennett’s flashes of wry humour and the darkly comic moments that surface as the residents pass their remaining time in confinement, the overall tone felt unexpectedly unkind. Instead of the honest, moving and bitingly funny voice we associate with Bennett. The writing struck us as dispassionate, grim, stark and often emotionally distant — at times even edging towards the hurtful in its portrayal of the characters lives.
We also felt the story was rushed and under-developed. Characters appear and disappear quickly, leaving little space to build a sense of connection or emotional investment. Rather than feeling engaged or comfortably moved, many of us were left unsettled by the book’s bleakness and its abrupt handling of both life and death in the home.
As a group we admired Bennett’s skill, but Killing Time didn’t resonate with us as hoped. We gave it 5/10.
“This Must be the Place” by Maggie O’Farrell
“This Must be the Place” by Maggie O’Farrell
If you haven’t noticed, it’s the award season in the film world with Oscar and Bafta nominations for the best film and TV programmes from 2025 being discussed.
To start our December Page Turner meeting, a vote was taken to decide the best book we have read in 2025…and the winner was: This Must be the Place, by Maggie O’Farrell.
There are plenty of award ceremonies in the book world: the Booker Prize, Costa Novel Award, Pulitzer Prize for fiction etc. and now Wenvoe has its very own book award! The Wenvoe Page Turner BOAT prize. BOAT? The Page Turners choice for the Book of All Time. Our favourite ever read, from the 100 plus books we have read since our inaugural meeting over 10 years ago. The nominations, chosen by the 10 current members, were:
Where the Crawdads Sing
The Paris Wife
The Bell in the Lake
The Island of Missing Trees
The Seal Women’s Gift
The Marriage Portrait
…and the winner was…The Bell in the Lake by Lars Mytting, a story of mystery, history, relationships and intrigue set in 19th century Norway.
Do you agree with our choices of the winning books? Maybe not but that’s what reading and book clubs are all about, welcoming and celebrating and discussing the diverse nature of literature that is available for us to read
After all the discussions and voting for the two books, it was time for Secret Santa to provide everyone with their latest read over the Christmas period and eat some well-earned mince pies!
Happy reading in 2026
December Events of Wenvoe W.I.
WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
December Events
Our Christmas Party was on December 4th and a fantastic bring and share supper was provided by the members. We also had a raffle, and our brains were exercised with a Christmas quiz.
December 11th saw us hosting a Carol Service in St Mary’s Church followed by mince pies in the Church Hall. We were joined by members of our neighbouring WIs who provided readers for some of the lessons. It was also good to welcome members of the wider Wenvoe community to join us. Thanks to Parry for leading the service, Gareth for playing the organ, Carol for sorting everything out for us and to Lyndon for allowing us to use the Church.
We are not having a meeting on January 1st. Instead, our former President Janet Young is giving us a talk on “The Spanish Armada of 1588” on January 8th and we are having a lunch at the Horse and Jockey on January 15th.
Our chosen charity for 2026 is The Vale Domestic Abuse Service and on February 5th Charlotte Archibald, their Engagement & Fundraising Manager, is giving us a presentation on the work of the service and ways that we can support the charity during the year.
Visitors and prospective members are always welcome to our meetings, which are held in the Church Hall at 7.00pm, usually on the first Thursday of the month. Please ring 07881 853032 for further details.
Carol Charlson (President)
The BBC Reith Lectures 2025
WENVOE FORUM
Considering Tomorrow Today
The BBC Reith Lectures 2025
Moral Revolution – Rutger Bregman
As I write we are three-quarters of the way through the BBC Reith Lectures, given this year by Dutch historian and author, Rutger Bregman. If you have not listened to the series, you will find it on BBC Radio 4 website. He presents interesting and challenging ideas that are worth a listen.
At the heart of the message Bregman is conveying is the famous quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead.
When we set the Wenvoe Forum in motion a few years ago now, we weren’t trying to change the world. We were hopefully intending to make a few people think, change a few minds and possibly inspire individuals to consider what they could do to make a better future for Wenvoe and its community. We acknowledged that Wenvoe is an active, skilled and resourceful community, with lots being done by the community for the community. Forum members also avoided projects that were too ambitious and settled for some easier wins to start with, and indeed, over time we have contributed to a few small successful actions, activities and projects.
Rutger Bregman, however, seems to challenge us to do a bit more. Like many of us he finds a vacuum at the heart of leadership, and it seems to me that he urges us to heed the call and make the change. He warns that it takes commitment, energy and resilience. However, maybe we should indeed at least try to tackle something a bit more substantial in scale and impact. Here are some projects that other communities have succeeded in developing:
- It has taken 25 years! But a derelict industrial site has been developed into a lovely community amenity which includes a hydroelectric scheme. Profits from generation go towards community activities of all sorts, sports, drama etc.
- Many schemes that use the solar power generated on Community Buildings for community benefit.
- Car clubs that provide electric cars that are bookable by community members to use.
- EV charging services – shared to reduce cost for individuals or community charging points.
- Community composting schemes.
The success of the Wenvoe Repair Café in terms of both the number of volunteer repairers and the number of people who have been trying to avoid scrapping items and bringing them to the café, demonstrates a community keen to address climate change.
So, we will be exploring our next project with optimism in our January meeting. If you would like to be part of it e-mail Gwenfo.forum@gmail.com.
Wenvoe Repair Café – Potential New Service
One of the volunteers has an idea for a new service which, as far as the Wenvoe Café knows, is not offered anywhere else locally … read on
Do you have an old laptop that you have stopped using? Perhaps you are using Windows 10 or an earlier version that is no longer supported and are considering a new purchase. There is a possible alternative. At the Wenvoe Repair Café we are committed to avoiding the sending of electrical items to landfill and have been researching the process of migrating old laptops to the open-source Linux operating system to give them an extended life. One of our fixers is now able to offer advice on the suitability of the system for your laptop and, where appropriate, carry out the migration process for you. With effect from our repair café on 28th February 2026 you can bring along your laptop to see if we can help. As long as you have the necessary power lead and your laptop will switch on and is, at best, not more than 10 or 12 years old, then bring it along and we will see what we can do. Be sure to back up any data that you wish to keep as the process involves erasing the hard drive. We will not be able to deal with hardware problems or replacement parts, but maybe we can save some of these faithful old machines from the skip and possibly save yourselves the expense of a replacement!
To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the GwenFo account @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1 and then jon the Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402
Some further information and updates, blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/. Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which are normally held 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwen-fo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join
Stormy Weather – Senghenydd
Stormy Weather – Senghenydd
We parked on the Eglwysilan Rd near Abertridwr, next to St Ilan’s church and a closed pub, to climb up to the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway walk and do a wide circuit around Senghenydd. As we booted up the wind cut across the pub car park and we donned extra layers. Storm Amy had arrived, and we took to the plateau that surrounds Senghenydd knowing that there were no trees to pose a danger to walkers.
It was sunny but the wind was very strong, and every step needed concentration. As we set off one person was heard to say, ‘I am glad my rucksack is so heavy, it might keep me on the ground’. Cows sat in an open field and it could have been a summer’s day but of course, they were sheltering from the wind.
There was very little conversation as we could not hear above the howling of the wind and going uphill required all our breath. On reaching the plateau a rainbow appeared ahead of us. There seemed to be an amazing number of electricity pylons marching across the area. Although we had been here before we had never noticed how many there are before, but they were to be our constant companions, and we never seemed to lose the sound of the wind vibrating through their wires.
We could see a fair distance as it was clear. The track we were following was stony and wide, so we always felt safe. Horses grazed as if all was normal.
We came across a number of horses. There are around 250 semi-feral ponies living on the commons of Gelligaer and Merthyr Tydfil, the majority of which are not owned and are the result of unchecked breeding of abandoned horses and ponies. The RSPCA surveyed the ponies in 2024 and, assisted by other animal charities, agreed a plan to rehome some of them. The aim is to create a more sustainable future for the ponies and the land.
Crossing a stretch of moorland, we could see people in the distance and as we came closer realised there were dogs with horse riders. The Gelligaer hunt were exercising a pack of hounds (at least 20 beagles and wolfhounds). We stepped off the track to allow them to pass but they gave us a wide berth, and we exchanged smiles with the riders. We were probably all thinking we were mad!
One stretch of the path was flooded and around here a small herd of cows spread out some sitting, others grazing. In the distance we could see a pyramid shaped slag heap and as we got nearer could hear shooting. Red flags were placed around the perimeter of the Llanbradach shooting club. We were surprised at the large number of vehicles and men who seemed to have huge guns. A constant sound of shooting was in the air for about half an hour after we had passed them.
It was time for lunch. We were walking just below the top of a hill with no shelter from the wind, as we had stayed away from any structures, and decided to hunker down in an attempt to escape it. It was certainly a bit calmer at ground level but quite cold, which encouraged us to eat quickly.
As we resumed, we passed a radio mast which sounded a higher note than the electricity lines. Soon we were descending from the high ground and passed a stream tumbling down the hillside.
Arriving back at the cars, we briefly looked at the churchyard of St Ilan’s (which held its final service in 2023). There is a large yew tree and many of the victims of the Senghenydd colliery disaster of 1913 are buried here. It is the worst mining accident in the UK; an explosion caused by firedamp killed 439 coal miners and a rescuer.
The wind had been constant and very tiring; we all agreed it had resulted in a harder walk than more challenging walks, but the route had been excellent for the conditions. For once we headed straight home without stopping for refreshments.
Walk 7.8m 800ft Map OS166
Grey Skies Were Forgotten
Most Festive Christmas Headgear
Damp Day At Barry Island
Simple Tips for a Sustainable Season
WENVOE FORUM
Considering Tomorrow Today
A Greener Christmas – Simple Tips for a Sustainable Season
A forum member points the way to a more sustainable but just as lovely Christmas.
This Christmas, a few small changes can make the season brighter for both people and planet:
• Choose a real tree from a local source, or one you can replant – and compost it afterwards.
• Light it wisely – LED fairy lights use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs.
• Wrap with care – try brown paper, reusable bags, or fabric wraps instead of glittery or plastic-coated paper.
• Decorate naturally – pinecones, holly, ivy, dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks look beautiful and are biodegradable.
• Reuse and recycle – keep ribbons, bags and boxes for next year, and recycle cards that aren’t foil or glitter-covered.
• Eat seasonally and shop local – support nearby farms, refill shops and markets to cut packaging and food miles.
• Plan your food shopping to avoid waste – and turn leftovers into creative Boxing Day meals.
• Travel lightly – walk to local events if you can or share lifts to family gatherings.
• Give thoughtfully – consider gifts of experience, local crafts, or donations to a cause close to your heart.
• Compost what you can – peelings and trimmings will soon feed your spring garden.
Wishing everyone in Wenvoe a joyful, sustainable Christmas and a hopeful New Year!
To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the GwenFo account @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1 and then jon the Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402
Some further information and updates, blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/. Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which are normally held 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwen-fo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join