Category: Community Groups

February Book Choices

Snap by Belinda Bauer

On a stifling summer’s day, eleven-year-old Jack and his two sisters sit in their broken-down car, waiting for their mother to come back and rescue them. ‘Jack’s in charge,’ she said. ‘I won’t be long.’

But she doesn’t come back. She never comes back. And life as the children know it is changed for ever.

Three years later, mum-to-be Catherine wakes to find a knife beside her bed, and a note that says: I could have killed you.

Meanwhile Jack is still in charge of his sisters, of supporting them all, of making sure nobody knows they’re alone in the house, and – quite suddenly – of finding out the truth about what happened to his mother.

 

But the truth can be a dangerous thing …

A taut, suspenseful new novel from award-winning thriller author Belinda Bauer in which a woman being menaced by a knife-wielding home invader is connected to a string of burglaries in a quaint bedroom community, and the brutal murder that left three children motherless three years before.

The group scored an average of 7 for this quirky and well written thriller. Overall, it was described as an easy, enjoyable read.

There were a number of threads which initially some found quite confusing but it was interesting to see how these all came together at the end. Good descriptions of characters and environments in the story although there were also a number of unrealistic situations. A number of the group would recommend it to others to read

 

 

Cold Comfort Farm

OFF THE SHELF

 

  Book Review for Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

The plot is simplistic and was written as a comedy about rural life in the 1920s. When it was first published in 1932 it was not without its critics, but it did sell very well. Flora Poste, the main character, was orphaned at 19 when her parents were both carried off by the 1919 Spanish flu epidemic, and she was left penniless. Her only option is to throw herself on the charity of her remote Sussex relatives, the Starkadders who live in Cold Comfort Farm. This desolate and ominous place is full of miserable, brooding, and overpowering characters, where even the animals are all full of gloom. Big Business the dominant bull, reigns over a hopeless herd of Jersey cows, ridiculously named: Graceless, Pointless, Aimless, and Feckless. They do all add to some memorable, comical, and bizarre accounts, such as the references to the cow with three legs, which reminded one group member of the cleverly written Monty Python sketches. Cousin Amos preaching hellfire and damnation to the congregation of the Church of the Quivering Brethren is another such high point in the book.

As the rustic mayhem unfolds, Miss Poste, who is a modern bossy-boots, decides that it’s her mission to bring a “higher common sense” to the lives of her relatives.

There were divided opinions on the book as some felt that there were too many questions left unanswered, the ending was too simplistic and there was a condescending pitch that the Starkadders’ lives needed ‘mending’. Generally, a well-liked book and the group scored it 7 out of 10.

 

 

Short walks around Wenvoe

 

Short walks around Wenvoe

5km (3 miles)

1 Starting at the Church gate. Go up Walston Road and into Clos Llanfair to the end and pass through the kissing gate. Keep straight ahead and turn right when you reach the road. Follow the road around to a footpath between 50 and 51 Burdons Close. The path leads to a stile into a field. Cross the field diagonally heading for the electricity pylon to pass it on your right to a stile beyond and you are now on Burdonshill.

2 Turn right to reach a stony track at the top of the hill. Pass through the kissing gate ahead. You are now on the golf course, keep close to the righthand hedge to reach a footpath post; descend right to a kissing gate (can be muddy here if wet) Turn left to reach a stony track.

3 Turn left going downhill through a gate past the Goldsland Farm Orchard to reach Goldsland Farm. (This is a working farm cattle and machinery are moving around at times, keep to the public path)

4 Turn right and left to pass around the barns and continue along the drive to the junction. Turn left. Follow this road passing through the golf course and the entrance to the club. Continue past the Walled Garden and the Bothy houses to reach the main road. (The road opposite the Bothy will take you back to the top of Burdonshill).

5 Go left past the garage and Style garden centre and either continue to Old Port Road and go left back to the church or take the first turn left into Goldsland Walk and take the footpath in front of No 18 to re-join your outward path at the kissing gate.

 

 

February Walk Reports

 

LIVING WITH CANCER
STROLLERS

Time to Talk day is February 3rd and coincided with the Living with Cancer Strollers at Cosmeston. It’s a day when people are encouraged to talk and to share….the strollers did not need much encouragement. Indeed, as ever, they were cajoled to keep walking, whilst doing all the talking! And what did people talk about: the mud , the start of radiotherapy sessions, the abundance of robins, painful migraines….and the sheer joy of being outside walking ‘n’ talking with good companions. Join us!!

 

STRESS BUSTERS STROLLERS

Five new walkers joined the first Stress Buster stroll of 2022. The newbies were welcomed into the group and soon found themselves chatting and sharing stories with the oldies…no disrespect meant!! It was a very still, calm sea that the walkers by passed and nobody was tempted to join the cold, very cold, water swimmers at Watchtower Bay…maybe next month!??

 

 

Dull, dark, dismal skies

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CARERS WALK

Dull, dark, dismal skies did not dampen the enthusiasm of the walkers on the Carers stroll. 3 new walkers joined the group, and although views across the Channel were lacking, conversation and bonhomie were in plentiful supply!! Italian ice creams at the end of the walk seemed to revive any weary limbs!

 

Women’s Institute Back In Action

 

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

We’re back!

At last, Wenvoe WI members were able to meet as normal in the Church Hall on Thursday Feb 3rd. Many thanks to Carol Wylie for her prompt action and advice.
It was a well-attended occasion, and we held our ‘rummage’ / unwanted Christmas presents sale. One member even brought a ‘simulated’ fur coat along and it was duly auctioned!
On Valentine,s Day afternoon, an informal meeting was held for members in the Wenvoe Arms, and we would like to express our thanks to Jenny and the staff for their welcome and willingness to provide us with a venue during the pandemic.
Our next meeting is on March 3rd, at 7pm in the Church hall, when Debra John from Swansea will address us as ‘an Edwardian maid’, describing the duties and difficulties of such a task.
All new members are ensured of a warm welcome.
Janet Young ( President)

 

 

First Meeting of 2022 Outdoors.

Welsh Government Covid restrictions meant the Page Turners had their first meeting of 2022 outdoors. The group gathered under unbelievably blue skies and strolled towards Watchtower Bay. Whilst sitting on the wall in the winter sun, the group were invited to comment on books they had received from Secret Santa at the Christmas meeting.

Nicola thought her Christmas in Wales, by Dewi Roberts had some diverse material but wouldn’t recommend it as a Page Turners monthly read.

Diane was enjoying the intense Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles but recommended reading it in small sections.

Jill’s House of Windows by Barbara Newhall Follett required a huge suspension of belief…and a

belief in fairies. The author wrote the book when she was 12…what were you writing when you were 12?

A Bit of a Stretch by Chris Atkins was Helen’s selection and highly recommended this account of the British penal system.

A Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards was a novel Jenny couldn’t get into.

May’s gift of the Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell was hugely interesting to May, especially how the author attempted to describe why the Danish are amongst the happiest people in the world!

Lynne found Margaret Atwood’s Hag-Seed an enjoyable read based on the Tempest.

Babs book, Snap by Belinda Bauer was selected by the group as their next monthly read…so more details will follow in next month’s What’s On!!

Sandra was happy to have received The Survivors by Jane Harper, a novel set in Tasmania, which she considered a good read.

Is there a book in this list you would have liked to have received from Secret Santa? Santa certainly had a very diverse choice in his sack!

Happy reading in 2022.

 

 

Boots Were Needed

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CANCER STROLLERS

Raincoats, hats and boots were needed for the Living with Cancer Strollers around Cosmeston. No navigation tools were needed, only carefully planned routes around the numerous puddles. Betty remarked how she has learned to walk in all weathers since becoming involved in the Valeways walks. Well done everyone for being such a resilient, joyful, energetic and fun filled group! Join us!!

 

 

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