Category: Community Groups

“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey

 

“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey

Orbital by English author Samantha Harvey was winner of the Booker Prize 2024. The novel is beautifully written with distinctive and poetic prose. It covers a 24 hour period in the International Space Station as six astronauts and cosmonauts from America, UK, Japan, Italy and Russia hurtle through 16 sunrises and sunsets at over 17,000 miles per hour, 250 miles above Earth.

Their day is filled with individual tasks carried out with dedication and precision as they pass over and see the ever changing vistas of oceans, mountains, deserts and glaciers, a world without borders. They watch as a gigantic typhoon builds over the Pacific.

They have a daily exercise programme to offset the negative effects of the lack of gravity and at night they sleep floating about in their small claustrophobic cabins. We are given brief insights into the lives, histories and thoughts and learn how the cycle of daily orbits result in the loss of their natural sense of time.

This novel initiated a lively discussion and some very different reviews from the Page Turners. All agreed it was well written and thought provoking. Some were fascinated by the narrative and were of the opinion that any elaboration of the characters would have changed the whole tenor of the book. More negative responses described how they found it tedious and boring with no plot or character development, not enough human drama and too many lists and repetitive descriptions of scenes of Earth from space. Scores ranged from 4 to 10 and the overall score was 8.5.

A Very Windy Friars Point

A Very Windy Friars Point

 

High winds and grey skies at Barry Island—and not to forget the sore knees and ankles, did not put off the strollers today…and all were rewarded with an enjoyable walk around Nell’s Point…and of course, ice cream, chat and coffee at the end

 

 

 

June & July Events of Wenvoe W.I.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

June & July Events of Wenvoe W.I.

uneIn June we welcomed Ann Lush MBE from Penarth who gave us a very interesting talk about how cakes are used to celebrate occasions throughout the year, along with how they are made. She also told us about the filming of her garden for a future Gardeners’ World programme which had taken place that day.

On July 3rd Viv Truran entertained us again with tales of her travels, gave us some information on antiques that members had brought in and described how she has become an Instagram influencer. This was followed by a strawberries and cream supper.

The following day we visited Ty Hafan, our chosen charity for the year, for a very informative tour around the gardens and hospice, showing us the facilities available for the children and their families. We were also treated to cakes and drinks provided by the volunteer gardening team.

We are not meeting in August but are going out for a meal together.

A member of staff from Ty Hafan will be the speaker for our September 4th meeting and we will be having a raffle as our final fundraising event.

Visitors and prospective members are always welcome to our meetings, which are held in the Church Hall at 7pm on the first Thursday of the month. Please ring 07881853032 for further details

Carol Charlson (President)

Thursday Walkers Celebration

 

THURSDAY WALKERS

– CELEBRATION –

Wenvoe walking group began about 30 years ago when Doreen Searchfield and Mary Rees said, in the Wenvoe Arms upper room, that they would like to walk around the village but didn’t know where to go. Bert Bates and John Custance took up the challenge and started local walks.

The monthly Thursday walks and longer Saturday walks then become the norm. Bert and Gwyn Bates, John and Jacky Custance and Ian Moody were the main organisers.

Following Bert’s recent decision to hang up his Thursday afternoon boots, current and past Thursday walkers assembled at the Wenvoe Arms upper room once more to say ‘Thank you’ for all the chat, walks and fun.

Thanks to Joyce for organising the evening, Jenny at the Wenvoe Arms for supplying a delicious hot and cold buffet, all the walkers for the friendship and stories, and of course, Bert and Gwyn for all the happy memories.

 

Summer Sunshine?

LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS

Summer Sunshine?

 

Summer sunshine? There was no sun anywhere to be seen in the sky above Cosmeston for the latest stroll. Instead, heavy rain poured down for the entire walk.

To lift the spirits, plenty of orchids were to be spotted in the fields. Well done to the hardy walkers who braved the conditions.

Thanks to Jan and Lynda for stepping in to lead.

 

Two Months’ Worth of Reports!

Two Months’ Worth of Reports!

“Less ” by Andrew Sean Greer

This Pulitzer Prize winner was boring, uninteresting and not at all funny. So said all ten of us Page Turners. Our score was the lowest yet of one out of ten. Less was clearly not more.

However, it was lovely as always to meet up together for a welcome cuppa and exceptional bara brith and brownies. Thank you, Nicola. You spoilt us

“Frank and Red” by Matt Coyne

Frank is a widowed older man who likes to keep himself to himself. Red is a six-year-old boy who is chatty and excitable.
Frank is a gruff, ill-humoured loner since the death of his wife, Marcie, whose “ghost” does her best to cheer him along or put him straight on a few things. His house and garden are now neglected, and he’s turned his back on the world. Then Red and his mum Sarah move in next door after Sarah’s divorce
Red hates the new house, it’s tiny compared to his old house, he hates his new school, none of the kids speak to him, excluding him at playtime, and one boy in particular is a real bully. It’s no better at home, no one to play with, and then there’s Frank, the grumpy old man next door who’s really mean.
The most unlikely of friendships, but somehow, two people who are decades apart in age, are thrown together by circumstance. What follows warms the heart to see just how the relationship develops. Frank and Red are new neighbours and complete opposites.
The group felt that it was an easy read with some laugh out loud moments and was sad and emotional. There were some issues that some members found difficult to accept. Firstly, why didn’t the teacher do more about the bullying of Red which was quite obvious as the story developed. The whole group questioned whether a six-year-old would have taken this difficult journey on the underground as he was trying to reach Frank’s son or would Frank have got away with driving on the pavement (which he did) trying to reach his son.
The story was heartwarming and uplifting but had varying scores between 5-9. The final score was 7.1

Many thanks to Jill our hostess for the afternoon who provided us with delicious chocolate cake.

High Winds And Grey Skies

High Winds And Grey Skies

 

High winds and grey skies at Barry Island—and not to forget the sore knees and ankles, did not put off the strollers today…and all were rewarded with an enjoyable walk around Nell’s Point…and of course, ice cream, chat and coffee at the end

 

 

 

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