Category: Community Groups

British Intelligence and the Ukraine War

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

February Meeting of Wenvoe W.I.

The recent meeting of Wenvoe WI was interesting and topical, in that our speaker was Mr Peter Cox ( formerly from GCHQ, Cheltenham). Mr Cox’s subject was ‘British Intelligence and the Ukraine War’. Apart from itemising military requirements for efficient intelligence gathering and supplying in modern day combat in the theatre of war, Mr Cox provided us with two videos of the vulnerability of certain items of Russian warfare and how these could be ‘taken out’. Perhaps the most interesting of all, was a transcript of a mobile phone conversation between a Russian conscript and his wife, highlighting the conditions in which these soldiers serve their country.

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 7thMarch in the Church Hall at 7pm, when our speaker will be Mrs Gillian McCabe, a local physiotherapist. New members and ‘tasters’ are always welcome.

Jan Young ( President)

 

February Forum

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, REPURPOSE, RECYCLE

Just when we had all got accustomed to looking on the Wenvoe Community Facebook page for Glenys Tucker’s reminder about what recycling to put out and whether its black bag day, there is more, much more to think about. It seems there are 4 Rs before we even get to recycling and this year the Forum has decided to focus on the theme REUSE and we include REPURPOSING within that. We’ll be trying to find opportunities to lighten the load for the recycling teams on their visits to Wenvoe. To kick us off I asked forum members to give me some good examples.

The first things that came to mind were children’s toys, and of course with that the need to be safety conscious. Toys need to be in good condition and well cleaned. Both givers and receivers have responsibility here in ensuring safety.

“Toys these days are expensive especially when you buy well-known brands; children often grow out of them as toys have to be age appropriate. While we live in this era of technology, more and more children turn to iPad and computer games, but in our house, we encourage time with toys.

In the current economic climate to pick up a bargain in a charity shop or a table top sale is so rewarding. Not only does a new child benefit from the toy and its learning, but the charity shop gains too.

“We are fortunate that people in the village often sell or give toys away, I have been lucky to pick up lots of items like wooden puzzles, books, trucks, garden toys to name a few. I then pass them on to others.” You can either sell or give items away by advertising in What’s On or put it onto the Wenvoe Community Support Group Facebook page. Both are free adverts placed easily on the internet. Baby Basics in Barry have a Facebook page appeal for things such as buggies and Moses Baskets. They donate to young mothers referred via midwives or social services.

“In parts of Australia they have a wonderful method of passing used and unwanted items on to their neighbours. They place unwanted goods on their driveway on a designated morning, neighbours walk around and take what they need. Any uncollected goods are brought in before the following day.”

Plastic plant pots should definitely be reused precisely for the purpose intended. Pass them on to the school, new gardeners, busy gardeners to be washed to avoid contamination before being reused.

“My metal indoor rubbish bin is looking a bit worn. When I replace it I shall save the inner black plastic bin as it’s nice and deep and I will attempt to grow

parsnips.

The humble toothbrush seems more like a magic wand. Did you ever imagine that there would be so may ways to repurpose one.

As with the toys hygiene is vital. We stick them in the cutlery basket in the dishwasher to start with, then they go into the pot by the sink with all the other brushes and cloths until all their bristles are completely squished.

Follow the directions for Milton (other brands are available!) and they can be re-used for a short while on dentures, removable braces, sporting mouth guards etc

We use them for brushing the cats’ faces – they love it and it cleans around their eyes and ears also between the pads on paws. As with all pet brushes, do not use the same brush for both eyes in one grooming session, and clean/disinfect, then dry them thoroughly in between each use.

Then there’re all those little places that they can get into to clean in the house – around taps, inside bottles and fiddly equipment like coffee machines, the choices are myriad, once you start they become an essential!

Kids crafts and brushes for experimental painting effects!

Cleaning running, golfing, football and rugby boot, spikes or cleats, walking boot treads.

Then there are the uses in the garden! You can pull out the bristles with pliers if you like, using a twisting motion, and they become dibbers for seeds and small plants.

Our toothbrushes are also bamboo and so can be used to write on for plant labels.

A household essential, that can be reused time and time again! “

 

New Forum members are always welcome to join e-mail us e-mail gwenfo.
forum@gmail.com
Contact to us on :-Facebook: Gwen Fo @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1/
and Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402 or
twitter @ForumGwenfo
See our Blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/

Valeways Walks March 2024


Valeways Walks March 2024

 

 

FOOTPATH – WENVOE 41

The footpath between Vennwood Close and Wrinston Farm was closed at the start of this year after the footbridge across the ditch leading onto the old railway route collapsed. A new bridge, with gates, has now been installed making the route safe for use again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW KISSING GATES

Recently, five Valeways volunteers joined with 3 Public Rights of Way officers to install 3 new kissing gates, one to replace a severely damaged wooden stile, the other two on a newly created route around Greave Farm, Wenvoe instead of through its yard and buildings. The work involved removing an old stile, digging new holes for the new gates, the 3- part gate assembly and securing with concrete. Then finishing off with some landscaping, ensuring the boundary was stock-proof and finally waymarking the new structures and surrounding indicators to make walkers aware of the new route. A job well done and enjoyed by all.

For more information about Valeways walks, strollers, self-guided walks and volunteering, visit www.valeways.org.uk

 

 

“The Marriage Portrait” by Maggie O’Farrell

“The Marriage Portrait” by Maggie O’Farrell

Regular readers may remember that we reviewed this book briefly last month; it was received by one of our group from our “lucky dip” read in December. Our group member recommended that we should all read it as our January book.

The author Maggie O’Farrell has based this book loosely on historical characters who lived in 16th Century Italy. Lucrezia de’ Medici was a 16 year old who, it is rumoured, may have been murdered by her husband. The author came across a very small oil painting of Lucrezia and felt that she could imagine the life of this young girl who died at such a young age.

In 2020 O’Farrell started writing a novel about this imagined life. The book focuses on Lucrezia who was the third daughter of the Grand Duke Cosimo de Medici of Florence. Her older sister was betrothed to 27 year old Alfonso, Duke of Ferra. Sadly, this young woman died before they married and it was decided that the 13 year old Lucrezia would become Alfonso’s wife. The marriage is one of political convenience and Lucrezia is a pawn in this power union. The story starts one year into the marriage and Lucrezia is convinced that her husband is intent on killing her. The narrative rewinds to show the reader what has happened in Lucrezia’s life to reach this point. O’ Farrell’s writing is descriptive and she paints vivid images. She beautifully illustrates life in an Italian court in the 16th century and the insignificance of women in the courts of powerful men at that time. The story alternated between two time periods and several members of the group did not enjoy this, stating that it was difficult to follow.

The group also spent time discussing whether this book could be classed as a historical novel or a novel with historical content. The majority of the group felt that they became emotionally engaged with the characters especially the main one, Lucrezia and enjoyed the surprise ending.

Although two members of the group felt that this was not one of Maggie O’ Farrell’s best novels, the rest thoroughly enjoyed the story and gave it strong recommendations. The overall score was 8 out of 10

Cancer Strollers at Cosmeston

LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS

Cancer Strollers at Cosmeston

 

A sun filled blue sky greeted the Living with Cancer Strollers at Cosmeston for their February walk. Coats and hats were abandoned as we strolled through the woods and around the lakes. Who wouldn’t enjoy a walk, a chat and a coffee in such beautiful surroundings?

 

 

The Glorious Vale Of Glamorgan Coast

The Stress Buster Strollers

 

 

Is there a better way to spend a Tuesday morning than walking along the glorious Vale of Glamorgan coast, with friendly folk to chat and laugh with? Ask the Stress Buster strollers who enjoyed their leisurely Tuesday morning stroll with fabulous views across to English shores

“Metronome” by Tom Watson

OFF THE SHELF

“Metronome” by Tom Watson

This dystopian novel was highly praised on BBC TV programme ‘Between the Covers’ We had mixed feelings; most agreed that it was well written and portrayed the desolate island landscapes convincingly. The thoughts and feelings of the characters drew the reader into their alien and bleak world. Some of us found it a page-turner, however, we all agreed that the further we read the less believable the story became. Ultimately, although expertly written, we decided it was a frustrating and flawed story.

We gave it 6.5

Tricia Coulthard

Community Library March Events

WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

MARCH EVENTS

Cuppa with a Copper – 2:30 Wed. March 13th

Wellbeing Group – 2-3 Friday March 15th.

Talks at the Hub – Gardeners’ Question Time 7 p.m. Friday March 22nd

Our horticultural experts: Mike Tucker and Joyce Hoy are waiting to answer your gardening questions.

Everything Welsh

To celebrate St. David’s Day, this month’s article focuses on Wales and the Welsh Language.

Clwb Clonc, our Welsh language group has been meeting for about eight years now and has been so successful that we have had to split it into two groups. Members range from native speakers to entry level learners.

We just chat and develop our speaking skills. There is no pressure to speak, and new members often find it useful to just sit and listen to how the language is pronounced and spoken. Members say that practising the language improves their vocabulary, builds their confidence, and advances fluency.

We work closely with Dysgu Cymraeg, and many of our members attend classes at Palmerston and other centres across the Vale. To support their learning, the Hub holds reference copies of all the workbooks used by these centres from entry level to proficiency and we hold the full range of the recommended reading books to support the courses which are available for loan.

This year, the Welsh National Eisteddfod, which is the largest cultural festival in Europe, is held in Rhondda Cynon Taf so we are planning a bus trip to join the fun. Further details to be released soon.

Whether you are a Welsh learner, a native speaker or just interested in Welsh history and culture, are you aware of the resources freely available to you from libraries across the Vale and from the Vale of Glamorgan Library page?

My Digital Library provides a fantastic collection of online resources – over 200 top e-magazines, 25,000 e-books and hundreds of e-audio books, e-comics – all for free, simply join the library! Scroll down the page to also find access to a selection of reference resources about Wales, free newspaper archives and family history resources.

People’s Collection Wales is a free website dedicated to bringing together Wales’s heritage. The Collection is full of fascinating photographs, documents, audio and video recordings and stories that link to the history, culture, and people of Wales. These items have been contributed to the People’s Collection Wales website by national institutions, individuals, local community groups and small libraries, archives, and museums across Wales.

The National Library of Wales offers a wide range of electronic sources, ranging from scholarly journals to encyclopaedias and newspapers. Ask a Librarian is a free online service that allows you to ask a question to the enquiries team at the National Library of Wales. The National Library’s dedicated, knowledgeable, and bilingual enquiries staff are available to answer enquiries which are based on the varied collections held at the library, as well as basic genealogical enquiries.

BorrowBox. Enjoying e-books and e-audiobooks? The BorrowBox website and app is now available in Welsh.

Dictionary of Welsh Biography This website contains over five thousand concise biographies of Welsh people who have made a significant contribution to national life, whether in Wales or more widely.

Geiradur Prifysgol Cymru is the only standard historical dictionary of the Welsh language. It presents the vocabulary of the Welsh language from the earliest Old Welsh texts, through the abundant literature of the Medieval and Modern periods, to the huge expansion in vocabulary resulting from the wider use of Welsh in all aspects of life in the last half century.

The Welsh Academy English-Welsh Dictionary online. A digital version of the Dictionary

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