Category: Community Groups

Planning For the New Year

Planning For the New Year

President Madeleine welcomed everyone and extended New Year greetings to all present. We were delighted to have 3 visitors – Sandra, Debbie and Diane. We certainly hope they will visit again.

Our speaker for the evening was Stephen Allen. Stephen is the Chief Officer of South Glamorgan Community Health Council (the Patients’ Watchdog). His wonderful talk was packed with information and stories regarding the work of the Community Health Council – from its involvement in “Save the Sam Davies Ward” campaign (Barry Hospital) to advice on submitting complaints about the NHS.

Changes will soon be taking place. The Community Health Council will become a new Citizens Advice Bureau. The new body will cover social care as well as health care – something which can only be a positive move forward.

After refreshments we proceeded with WI business. Members were thanked for all their contributions towards our December Christmas party evening. It was announced that a Christmas card had been sent to Pat Williams at the home in Porthcawl where she is still spending time. Glamorgan events were read out. Then each member voted for one of the five resolutions listed and explained in the recent edition of WI life.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, 6th February at 7pm at Wenvoe Church Hall, when we will be enjoying “Musical Moments with Maria”. Any visitors can always be assured of a warm welcome and there is no charge

 

 

‘A Winter Book’ by Tove Jansson

‘A Winter Book’ by Tove Jansson

‘A Winter Book’ by Tove Jansson. This is a quirky collection of short stories by an author more renowned for her children’s books about the Moomins.

On one level they are an easy read but also have depth and gravitas. They are written from the point of view of a naive child and are simple and non- pretentious. The descriptions of scenery are vivid, and it is easy to picture the situations and even smell the smells from the text. A sense of humour pervades the stories which reflect the bohemian upbringing of Tove. We all enjoyed the stories and recommend giving the book a score of 8/10.

 

 

New Year – New You!

 

New Year, New You!

Want to feel better, have more energy and have fun? Then join our walking group at Cosmeston.

Exercise has many benefits including burning calories and can prevent and manage health problems. But everyone knows that! So make time this new decade to exercise more and feel some of the benefits!

The group managed to keep their boots relatively clean for the first walk of 2020, despite the previous weeks of rain turning many paths to muddy puddles. No promises about clean boots for this year, but in two years the group has only experienced a light rain shower!

February’s walk is a change from the normal plan: it’s the 2nd Thursday of the month, then back to the first Thursday for March and the rest of the year! Hope you can join us.

 

 

FALLING ANGELS by Tracey Chevalier.

FALLING ANGELS

Tracey Chevalier.

This novel tells the story of two families, covering a period from the end of the Victorian and into the Edwardian eras. The author highlights the many social changes through this decade, including the customs and etiquette of mourning and the beginnings of the suffragette movement.

The Colemans and the Waterhouses first meet at a cemetery whilst mourning the death of Queen Victoria. Their family burial plots are next to each other and, despite their very different personalities, the two young daughters Lavinia Waterhouse and Maude Coleman begin a friendship which we follow over the subsequent years, as they become neighbours and grow to maturity.

Each of the short chapters is individually narrated by the numerous characters in the book, including not only the members of the two families but also the household staff and the graveyard employees. The Page Turners agreed that this method of writing gave the impression that the characters were addressing you personally and, as such, were extremely well portrayed. We got to know them very well and very quickly with varying perspectives from the character’s different social backgrounds.

However some of the Page Turners felt there were too many storylines that were only touched upon and not developed sufficiently and as such, preferred the author’s previous novel ‘The Girl with the Pearl Earring’.

Generally it was agreed that the book was very well written, descriptive and a good read which can be recommended. The scores ranged from 7 to 9 giving an overall score of 7.6.

Our thanks to May for the delicious home made ginger cake and other goodies which we all enjoyed following our lively discussion about this novel.

 

 

V.E. Day Celebrations

 

 

VE Day 75 will be an international celebration of peace – a time to remember, reflect and pay tribute to the millions who played such a vital part in achieving it. This includes the Armed Forces personnel from many countries who gave their lives or were physically and mentally injured; the hard-working women and men who kept the factories, mines, shipyards and farms operating throughout the years of turmoil; the ARP wardens, police officers, doctors, nurses, firemen, local defence volunteers and many others who safeguarded the home front.

SSAFA the Armed Forces Charity – which has been supporting service personnel, veterans and their families since 1885 – is the charity partner for this series of VE Day 75 commemorative events.

Sir Andrew Gregory, chief executive of SSAFA, said “It is our duty to keep the events of the past alive in collective memory, including future generations – this is how we ensure that such a conflict never happens again. It is our hope that the nation takes a moment to reflect on the significance of this date, as a milestone that changed the course of history for the whole world.”

The planned national activities organised for the weekend and other ideas can be found by looking at the official website dedicated to this event: www.veday75.org

 

 

Christmas Walk.

Christmas Walk. –

 

Nine people braved the incessant rain, on voting day, for the annual walk before a Christmas lunch. We started at Victoria Park and were amazed to spot a hedgehog scurrying across the grass along a hedge. We were worried that it should be hibernating but aware that there was probably someone putting food out for it.

Exiting the north-east gate we headed for Thompsons Park. As we entered the pond looked colourful with pink, green and white cabbage plants around it and behind it a weeping willow drooping yellow-green branches. At its centre the iconic fountain ‘Joyance’ by Sir William Goscombe John is known by generations of Cardiff people.

At the top of Thompsons Park we headed across Pencisely Road, down to Llandaff fields and then walked alongside Pontcanna fields and the allotments. Heading north, over the relatively quiet A48, we came to Llandaff cathedral. We had a quick photo stop at St Teilo’s well – St Teilo was consecrated as the 2nd Bishop of Llandaff in the 6thC and was one of the three Celtic saints in whose honour the cathedral church in Llandaff was originally dedicated. Now we traversed the Green and headed past Insole Court and back to Victoria Park.

A very pleasant walk and we hardly noticed the rain we were so busy chatting and admiring our surroundings. Now it was back to the Horse and Jockey for a huge Christmas lunch with walkers old and new.

 

 

Tylcha Fach,Tonyrefail

Tylcha Fach,Tonyrefail –

The weather was very wet on Saturday so the walk was rearranged for Sunday, when it was still overcast but dry. We parked near Tylcha Fach and took a south-westerly route towards Rhiwfelin and Rhiwfelin Fach across open farmland. We then took paths to Nant Muchudd which we followed to Pant-y Brad and Tonyrefail before heading back to Tylcha Fach.

As we set off heavy clouds hung in the sky over our heads but it was not raining. We started on quite a steep gradient and were glad to reach fields where the going became easier. We came across a pile of discarded tyres and fencing which wouldn’t have looked out of place as an art installation but definitely wrong in the countryside.

We soon travelled beside very full streams and some splendid moss. As we climbed uphill from one stream we passed a tree which had honey comb in a hollow in its trunk; bees must have made a home here in the summer. A couple of farms had old boats in their yards – obviously they are used to heavy rain in these parts! At Tre Eric cottage farm the footpath was blocked and we had to climb over a barbed wire fence to carry on and then clear a stile hidden by a holly tree before we were able to follow a disused railway line, which was a good path. A huge ring of fungi about 6ft across with the individuals several inches in diameter glowed in the dim light under trees.

At Pant y Brad we were surprised to come across a plaque which read ‘Opposite on Nov. 16th 1326 was captured King Edward II (Edward of Caernarvon) the guide of captors was Rev Rhys Hywel’. The disastrous reign of Edward II came to an unofficial and humiliating end on 16 November 1326 when Edward II, guided by a Cistercian monk, went for refreshment to Penrhys. Heading for safety Edward was intercepted at Pant y Brad – the Hollow of Treason – in Tonyrefail. He was captured by agents of his estranged wife Isabella of France who had invaded England 7 weeks earlier. He was taken to Llantrisant castle and imprisoned overnight. Later he was held in honourable captivity at Kenilworth castle in Warwickshire. A few weeks later he was forced to abdicate in favour of his 14 year old son, Edward III, whose reign began on 25 January 1327.

Walking along the road we spied a group of 19 llamas (or maybe alpacas) in a field. As we walked

over to see them they ran towards us and were very friendly – probably thought we had food. We spent a happy few minutes admiring their shenanigans.

Tref-y-Rhyg school had a colourful wall with a field and rainbow and their values ‘positivity, patience, trust, respect, equality, care, pride and honesty’ written around the picture. A stream in full flow poured into a metal bath and then cascaded into a 2nd bath. We had a laugh as one of the group stood beside it and pretended to undress for a quick dip! Passing a flock of sheep they came so close that unusually some of us patted them. Descending the road we had climbed at the beginning of our walk we arrived back at the cars and went to Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins for a welcome cup of tea.

Walk 7.1 miles 700ft Maps 166 & 151

 

 

 

December’s Cosmeston Walk

December’s Cosmeston Walk

Christmas hats adorned the walkers for December’s walk around Cosmeston. A 3 course Christmas lunch was the carrot that kept the group going for the longer walk the leader decided on! Thanks to the staff at Cosmeston for a splendid Christmas lunch, enjoyed by all. And thanks to the members of the walking group who have turned up on the first Thursday of every month in rain, sun, wind and mud: it’s been a great year of walking and talking. Join us in 2020.

 

 

Village Hall Raffle Results

 

The Village Hall Management Committee would like to thank everyone who kindly donated prizes to this raffle and to the people who support us by the buying and selling of the tickets. All money raised through the raffle contributes to the on-going insurance, maintenance and daily running costs of the Hall which is primarily for the use of the villagers.

We thank you all and wish you Good Health and a Happy and Prosperous New Year

 

1 … 32 33 34 35 36 … 72