Category: Community Groups

September Activities

 

President Madeleine welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave a big thank you for all the kind thoughts and support she received during a very sad, difficult year.

Catrin, from Wales Air Ambulance gave us a very interesting talk, with slides. Wales obtained its own first air ambulance in 2001 and the very first one was sited at Fairwood Common in Swansea. Now Wales has enough air ambulances to get anywhere in the country within 20 minutes. A fully equipped air ambulance costs £5½ million and it will need a landing space the size of a tennis court.

At the end of the presentation Madeleine gave Catrin our donation to Wales Air Ambulance – the result of our 2018 fundraising.

After refreshment we proceeded with WI business. Culverhouse Cross WI has invited us to a Harvest Supper on October 11th and some members are visiting Sully WI on October 3rd to celebrate their 70th Birthday. Menu choices were available for our lunch on September 10th (to celebrate Betty’s recent 90th birthday) at the Wenvoe Arms. We are pleased to hear that Mair is progressing well after her recent new pacemaker. A big thank you was extended to Pam E. for her time and effort in producing a scarecrow for the festival, to represent the WI.

Next month’s meeting is on Thursday, October 4th at Wenvoe Church Hall. The speaker will be Damian Murray who will talk to us about podiatry. Visitors can be assured of a warm welcome and there is no charge.

 

 

Fly Tipping

I am the owner of the field alongside the footpath between the Vennwood Close tunnel and the playing field. I am working to tidy the field up but we are having trouble with fly tipping. It is very difficult for me to clear myself and costs a lot to have it removed. This time it is building rubble which has been thrown over the fence. This is a danger to animals, so we can not use the field at the moment. It is hence getting over grown and untidy. This is not abandoned land but private property.

I would be very grateful if anybody could help with information about where it is coming from. Please contact me on 07598533554

Amanda Paddoc

 

 

Mynydd Troed

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Mynydd Troed –

Parking at the Dragon’s Back Inn, we were about to tackle the hill we had seen when circumnavigating Llangorse Lake. We headed north around the bottom of the mountain skirting Pengenffordd. Grassed paths all the way made the going easy and coming around to the western side of the hill we started to climb – fairly steep but not too difficult. As we climbed Llangorse lake came into view to the west.

Turning a corner the wind lashed at us and the temperature dropped a few degrees – quite pleasant after the warmth of climbing. Looking into the valley below a large stretch of land stood out, a lighter green than the rest.

On reaching the trig point (609m) we stopped for a breather. The Dragons Back ridge was in view and mountains stretched far to the south. It was now an easy walk along our ridge. There had been a fire up here; the majority of the ridge was brown and it was still smoking in places. The grass path was largely undamaged but heather and winberry bushes were all gone leaving ash in their wake. At one point flames were spotted and someone stamped them out. It was clear that although the surface was charred there was still heat in the ground and burning could be hidden below. We wondered whether it was a controlled burn, the result of hot weather or arson. We also joked that the dragon of the Dragon’s Back had breathed fire over to Mynydd Troed.

At the end of the ridge we descended a zigzag path through lush grassland and picked up a road through Waun Fach before reaching the end of the hill and turning north to follow the lower reaches of the ridge. We followed a very pleasant path for over two miles that felt like an old drover’s road but that is unlikely as it is between the A479 and a small country road.

An 8 mile walk and 1700ft climb was followed by excellent tea and a special treat of homemade cakes (delicious). As we finished our drinks the heavens opened – the weather forecast was right to the minute! Map OL13

 

 

Llangorse Lake

 

 Llangorse Lake –  

Parking at the lake, we set off to circumnavigate it. We headed across fields to a solid bridge allowing us to cross a feeder stream. We spotted well constructed bird hides at the edge of a group of trees; three of the oaks here were probably planted when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne. In the distance at least 2 dozen swans swam on the lake.

 

 

Llangorse is the largest natural lake in South Wales. It has been a feature of the landscape since the ice retreated 11,000 years ago. At that time the outflow to the Wye valley may have been blocked by ice. The lake would have been much larger causing it to spill over into the Usk valley. By the Iron Age it was only slightly larger than the lake we see today and it was important to local people for both food and ritual purposes. It is an important stopover for migrating birds.

We joined the road by the church at Llangasty with Celtic knot work on its notice board and a lovely rectory next door. The church is mostly Victorian but is built on an ancient ‘Llan’, or settlement, that was created by St Gastyn in 420AD. St Gastyn was a holy man and tutor to the Brychan family, who helped extend Christianity in southeast Wales.

Passing Newydd farm we took a road towards Cathedine. At this point we started to notice dark skies all around the surrounding hills, threatening rain. Silhouetted against the sky stood the beautiful skeleton of a tree, still standing though stripped of all foliage and signs of life.

Then we faced a steep climb. Passing Treholford light rain started to fall. As we stopped for lunch at the edge of some trees on a comfortable bank we had misty views of the lake below. Getting closer to Llangorse, we could see the lake clearly but the clouds gathering on the hilltops were getting darker by the minute. We donned waterproofs in preparation for the inevitable downpour. We walked through a field full of a white daisy type flower (oxeyes or feverfew?), the expanse of them was beautiful to behold.

To our right the bluff of a hill appeared – ‘we’ll be going up there in a couple of weeks’!

Across a couple more fields and we were passing a farm where a sheepdog was keen to let us know he was looking after them. Only one big field to cross and the sky was looking ominous ‘do you think we’ll make it back to the cars?’ Someone said ‘yes but we’ll have to get a shift on.’ So we did and the big drops started to fall as we reached the cars.


It had been the first damp walking day of the summer, a bit of a relief after the heat. 7 miles walked and 600ft climbed.

 

 

Meetings Schedule

 

Our branch doesn’t meet in August but some members enjoyed a summer lunch at the Wenvoe Arms on the 7th of the month. They want to thank the staff for a their warm welcome and excellent service. A further lunch is planned for Monday September 10th and menus will be provided at our Sept. meeting at which members will need to pay.

Culverhouse Cross has invited us to their harvest supper on October 11th.(please sign up at our Sept. meeting).

Our next meeting is on September 6th at 7pm at the Church Hall, when we will be presenting our cheque for this year’s charity, Wales Air Ambulance. No charge for any visitors, who will receive a warm welcome.

 

 

The Annette Bracey School of Dancing

 

The Annette Bracey School of Dancing has had a busy year, so we thought it would be nice for you all to know what's been going on.

We are very proud to announce that you can now see our school professionally on Mr Tumble's DVD, from the TV Programme 'Something Special' on the episode 'Loud and Quiet'. It was filmed a little while ago now at our own Village Hall but still a joy to watch!

From the young, to the more mature student, whether it be Freestyle, Ballet, Street or Exercise, we try to cover it all. Our classes are run throughout the year at the Wenvoe Village Hall on a Saturday from 11:30am to 3:00pm (starting term on the 8th of September 2018) encouraging the younger through to all age groups. We are NATD qualified teachers teaching for enjoyment and through to qualifications in which we pride ourselves. We thrive on keeping up-to date with music trends and the challenge that provides.

It was so nice to see how well all the girls did in their exam session this year with distinctions in Ballet, Freestyle and Street. We concluded our term with a lovely Summer Concert, and it was so wonderful to see our ex-students at the concert well on their way to their careers in Performing Arts.

We have two school shows a year and also perform periodically in the West End of London.

If anyone would like to start, either from scratch or take up dance again, don't be shy! Give us a call and we would love to kick-start that experience and hear from you! Your initial trial class will be free as a taster session!

If you feel that age has pipped you at the post, why not try something else?

Annette is a qualified Zumba Instructor part of the ZIN network and has a Monday evening class starting in our Church Hall on the 10th September from 6:15-7:00pm which is a new Zumba Cardio class combining Freestyle, Toning and Sentão (incorporating chair-work). The music is fab and great for shifting those unwanted calories (consumed in the summer via those cheeky ice-creams!) helping you get ready for a little black

number over Christmas!

If you feel like something completely different again, why not try Annette's Balletcanetics class? This is very popular in numerous Cardiff Health Clubs and popularity is spreading! So, why not be part of the buzz and give it a go?!

We have two classes a week in the village, one on Monday evenings from the 10th September in the Church Hall from 7:00-7:45pm and one on a Wednesday evening in the Village Hall starting on the 12th September from 6:15pm-7:00pm.

Balletcanetics is really different from anything else, as it is done from a standing position, or a chair if required, to ensure you get the best out of your bodies without getting down onto the floor. It really does strengthen your core and give you a sense of wellbeing. Using the breathing essences of Yoga and Pilates and slow, controlled movements incorporating strengthening exercises from Ballet, it is a beautiful combination. Although it is slow and controlled, you do work, believe me! The ambience of the class is truly amazing; people find it invigorating and empowering where no one is too old to try.

If you would like a free trial class, just cut out this article from the Wenvoe What's On and bring it along to class with you to give it a go!*

*One free class entitlement per person.

For more information on any classes, upcoming events or to book any demonstrations, please call Annette on 07739535726, email us on annette.bracey@hotmail.co.uk or visit our websitewww.annettebraceyschoolofdancing.co.uk

 

Autumn/Winter programme

 

After a sweltering summer, we are now about to start our Autumn/Winter programme. With Christmas plans on the agenda. ‘How time flies’. We have a full programme for the rest of the year, which commences on September 5th with, as always, a game of Bingo .This is followed on the 12th with the much awaited return of a very funny lady, Lorna Pearson, known as the Welsh Pam Ayres, who has entertained us previously with her humorous anecdotes and poems.

If you are a person who dislikes going out on dark winter evenings, why not try a Wednesday afternoon with Leisure Group. Our entertainment is very varied, from speakers to music, or Harvest Thanksgiving to chair exercises and Christmas Festivities. So come along to the Community Centre at 2:15pm on Wednesdays and give us a try. Visitors are always welcome.

 

 

“Arcadia” by Iain Pears

 

"Arcadia" by Iain Pears is a long, complex novel which defeated several members of our group. However, three valiant women succeeded in completing the saga.

The prose is easy reading but the book contains several anachronisms which at times confused the story line. The novel is extremely convoluted with ten very clearly defined characters being followed through three separate "Worlds".

The first world setting is a frustrated Oxford academic who is responsible for writing the story. The second is the academic's imaginary parallel universe called Anteworld and the third world is a future world probably coming into being after an unstated catastrophe.

The whole book has an element of plagiarism by using themes from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Alice in Wonderland; Orwell’s 1984 and an element of Chick Lit".

Although a complicated story of magic, parallel universe and impending doom the author succeeds in collating all the various strings into a satisfactory conclusion.

Owing to over half the group's non-completion of the novel we were unable to give the book a score. However, it must be said that the others found the book, although challenging, an enjoyable read.

 

 

 

 

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