Category: Coming Up

New Quilting Group

WENVOE QUILTERS

We are a group of ladies who are passionate about Patchwork, Quilting, Crochet, Knitting and much more.

We meet on a Monday 9.30am – 3.30pm. Why not pop along and have a look at what we are making and maybe join us.

We meet at Wenvoe Community Centre. Alternatively, telephone Linda Edwards – 02920 593679

 

 

Let’s Get Creative

Local author, Cathy Farr is hosting another Creative Writing Day on 10th July in Dinas Powys.

Following the success of previous workshops over the last two years, Cathy will be welcoming budding writers to spend the day enjoying a host of practical writing activities that really will get those creative muscles going.

The sessions are inspired by the workshops and tutorials that Cathy attended when she was doing creative writing as part of her degree with the Open University. After achieving a 2.1 honours, Cathy has spent the past eight years developing her own teaching material as well as writing novels, and regularly hosts writing workshops in the Vale, as well as in schools.

‘The day is ideal for people who are interested in doing some creative writing but don’t really know where to start,’ says Cathy, author of six novels for children and adults. ‘You don’t have to be planning to write a novel; some people come simply to have a go at doing something a bit different.’

Cathy with her Irish
Wolfhound pups – the
breed that inspires her
writing.

Cathy’s main aim in these workshops is to give people the chance to let their own imagination do the work and to have some fun, too. Positive comments from people who have attended previous workshops include: ‘It was enjoyable, fun and really interesting. Your teaching methods enthused us all I think, they certainly did me, along with the wonderful character you brought to it, that is Cathy Farr!’

Cathy gives as much constructive feedback as possible during the day, which means that places are limited so early booking is advised. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, 10th July, 10.30a.m. to 3.30p.m. in the Lee Hall at the Parish Hall in the centre of Dinas Powys and the price is £45 including tea and coffee throughout the day. For more information and to book your place contact Cathy at cathy@bitebooks.co.uk or on 02920 511031.

 

 

June Update

 

Hay: A wonderful day was had by all. A few members of the group had booked ahead for festival events, but the others enjoyed looking around the festival stalls before enjoying a beautiful day shopping in Hay and nipping into a tavern or two for refreshments. Everyone agreed that this has to be an annual event.

Sat July 13th Cheddar Gorge (see advert page 11) and Sat Nov 30th London Trip. £22. Book your seats early to avoid disappointment.

The Village Show is organised by the library and all proceeds from the show will go to its upkeep. It’s going to be a fun event with lots of fun activities. More details to follow. You’ll find a copy of the schedule and the rules in the library so start making, cooking and growing.

Sharing experiences: Each month we’ll be inviting people to share memorable experiences of places they have visited. Your contributions are welcome.

Hay: We arrived in time for a coffee before listening to Rosie Goldsmith’s interview with Victoria Hislop on the launch of her new novel ‘Those that are Loved’. This is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship. We were intrigued by the amount of research Hislop puts into each of her novels and will be ordering her new book from the library.

A quick lunch before our next event: Inside Brexit – The Story, The News, The Spin. Three journalists Katya Adler, BBC’s Europe Editor, John Crace, The Guardian’s parliamentary sketch writer and Simon Jenkins, former editor of The Times, and now a columnist gave us insight on the coverage of Brexit. They gave a candid and fascinating discussion on Who said what, what they meant, what they didn’t say, and why it might not matter for another 50 years. Or how it might bring down reputations, governments and economies.

Our final event was an interview with Ian McEwan on his new novel Machines Like Me, which takes place in an alternative 1980s London. Marcus du Sautoy, author of The Creativity Code: How AI is learning to write, paint and think questioned McEwan on how artificial intelligence will confront us with the fundamental question: what makes us human? Another two books to order from the library. Can’t wait for next year.

The Marianne North Gallery, Kew Gardens. Marianne North travelled solo to some of the world’s most remote jungles and forests. On her return from these travels she produced more than 800 botanical painting which are housed in her gallery at Kew. The gallery was completed in 1892.

One of our ‘Page Turners’ visited recently and was totally fascinated by the floor to ceiling exhibits. Well worth a visit.

Annual ECALM initiative: The ‘Every Child a Library Member’ project aims to introduce library membership at key stages throughout the early years. On 11th June we invited 27 year 4 pupils from Wenvoe School for a talk by ex-teacher and volunteer Alina Trigger. The session included a brief introduction to the Dewey system, a quiz, and a goodie bag for each child.

Did you know that everyone in the UK is entitled to join their local library at birth? If you live in Wenvoe and have a child who is not yet a member, don’t miss out. Just call in to see us during open hours, bring proof of your address and your child’s details. Online registration is quick and easy, and you can walk away with up to 10 books which your child can borrow for three weeks.

Readers’ recommendations: We are asking readers to let us know whether they have particularly enjoyed a book that they can recommend to other readers. We are putting these recommended books on a separate shelf in the library for the attention of other borrowers. This initiative is really popular so please let us have your suggestions.

Pop-up Book Stalls: We continue to hold our successful pop-ups. Look out for us outside the Village Stores over the next few months with a selection of good-quality donated books at reasonable prices. All proceeds go to keeping your library open.

Book donations: Many thanks to those who have donated books. We are grateful to receive good quality books. We can always collect your books if you find it difficult to drop them off at the library.

Book Bags: We have some lovely grey canvas book/shopping bags for sale in the library at £5 each.

Clwb Clonc – Our Welsh conversation group continues to go from strength to strength. Learners and first language Welsh speakers who want to practise their conversational skills can join us for an informal chat. Weekly meetings are held on Mondays in the café at Pugh’s Garden Centre at 11 am, and at 7pm on the second Thursday of the month in the bar of the Wenvoe Arms. Croeso i bawb

 

 

 

Canadian Storyteller Dan Yashinsky

 

‘SWIMMING WITH CHAUCER

– A STORYTELLER’S LOGBOOK’

 

Canadian storyteller Dan Yashinsky will be making a stop in Wenvoe at the end of June to perform at a house party concert.

Dan is a storyteller, writer, and community animator living in Toronto. He has worked for the last five years as the storyteller-in-residence at Baycrest Health Sciences, telling stories in the psychiatry and palliative units. He was also the storyteller-in-residence at The Stop Community Food Centre, Toronto Public Library, UNICEF Canada, and Queen’s University Education Department. His most recent book is ‘Swimming with Chaucer – A Storyteller’s Logbook’.

‘I once memorized the Miller’s Tale’, says Dan. ‘It has accompanied me on long drives, long swims, long walks, and a long vigil for our son in the neonatal intensive care unit. Stories and poems are useful, especially the ones we carry in our heads and hearts. Mixing life stories and folktales, this evening explores how and why stories are such wise road-companions.’

While he is in the country Dan will be contributing to the volunteer training for a new project. A diagnosis of a neurodegenerative condition like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS or others, is a life changer. ‘Something is wrong in your brain!’ is the message, and it can feel like an assault on your sense of self, your very identity. It takes a bit of getting used to. Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund and hosted by storytelling charity Beyond the Border (Charity no 1144275) Slow Motion Selfies, is a programme of activity designed to help individuals affected by neurodegenerative conditions to find a new creative self. Donations received on the evening will go to the project.

Join us on Wednesday 26 June for a 7.30 start with refreshments to follow Dan’s performance; he always has an engaging and humorous take on life.

Places will be limited to 25 so please email philipthomas664@gmail.com or text/call 07870 212437 by 17th June to reserve a place and receive address details. Last time we sold out!

Please note that this is storytelling for adults and not intended for under 14s.

To find out more about Slow Motion Selfies contact eirwenmalin@beyondtheborder.com

 

 

The Valeothon Event

Following on from last month’s article, we thought a little bit more information about the Valeothon event on Sunday 30 June wouldn’t go amiss.
The event will bring up to 200 riders to the village which is where the start and finish is located. We have the use of the Community Centre for our registration area and the Village Hall for a short time for extra toilet facilities. After 9 am the Vale Village Church will be using the Village Hall as usual.
The event will start from Station Road West and the riders will turn right and head out of the village along Old Port Road and up the hill towards Dyffryn.
There is a choice of 2 routes, a 40 mile route which sticks to the Vale of Glamorgan and an 80 mile route which goes through the valleys and up over the Bwlch mountain. The 80 mile route has a refreshment stop just after the descent from the Bwlch and both routes meet in Cowbridge for more cake and sweets before heading home to Wenvoe.
The event is supported by a number of local sponsors and is a non-profit making event. However, we
think we will have some surplus money after totting up the overheads, so we have decided to make a do-nation to Wenvoe School who would like some sports kit and we intend to make further charitable donations too.
However, we are well aware that this event will bring a lot of people to the village early on Sunday morning and we want to ensure that no one is inconvenienced as a result. No roads will be closed. The start/finish area will be marshalled to ensure there are no problems with access to drives and houses. This will mostly affect Station Road West, as this is where the riders will line up before setting off. Riders will start to arrive from about 7.00am and all riders will have left by 9.00am.
We will do our best to keep any disruption to a mini-mum and we will be advising all the riders to be respectful of the residents. We will definitely be picking up any litter.
We hope you will support us and perhaps get involved and cheer our riders on at the start and finish. Of course, we will encourage anyone who fancies a pint afterwards to call in at the Wenvoe Arms.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at: wenvoewheelers@gmail.com

 

 

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