Category: News

Happy New Year everyone!

Happy New Year everyone!

Since getting back into the flow of uni work, I’ve come to realise recently that just maybe some of my work-life balances aren’t as healthy as they probably should be.

These days, I wouldn’t dare submit an essay the day it’s due – I’m too worried something will go wrong and it won’t make it in. For some reason, I need for my essays to be submitted the night before it’s due (at the latest). For me, it’s a comfort to see it’s actually gone through and I still have a little time to change anything if need be.

You’d think submitting an essay two days before it’s due would be a relief – it is, but I still worry the link’s been lost or I’ve forgotten to add something and time after time I’ve resubmitted an essay three or four times because there’s just one more thing I think it needs.

I bet my parents are rejoicing (to an extent) when I tell them sometimes – my first year of GCSE saw me doing the bare minimum. I think part of it is me realising that the bare minimum for me is disappointing; it makes me guilty, because I know I’m better than that.

If I haven’t learnt my flashcards to the dot the day of the exam, I’m scared I’ll fail. My best isn’t always phenomenal, but I feel worse if I do badly and I hadn’t tried my hardest. Maybe it’s because I know that if my results are less than stellar, there’s no way anyone can tell me it’s because I didn’t try hard enough. It’s still gutting but at least I have the peace of mind that maybe I just can’t necessarily do that particular subject.

I think I have quite low standards for myself, too. It’s laughable how excited I get when I get good feedback on some work. I wrote the beginning of a script for this year’s module at the start of the year, and I still can’t stop fixating on the positive feedback. I’ve always been the kind of person who feels boosted by positive feedback. I’m petty enough that part of me wants to do better than the teacher thinks I can do sometimes (ahem, see History A Level Vietnam War coursework) but generally speaking, I can feel deflated if my feedback has no positives.

I guess part of me thinks I have something to prove. I’m studying for a degree in subjects I should excel at; I get worried when I don’t do as well as I’d like to.

It’s hard I suppose to fall out of old habits sometimes, even if they’re not as healthy as they should be. I don’t think I’ll ever be the kind of person who doesn’t need to check everything twice before submitting, which to some extent is a good thing – just maybe not when it’s quite so neurotic.

But maybe this next decade needs to be different. I’d like to learn to be (a little) more carefree with my attitudes to work. I don’t think submitting my essays a few days in advance is a problem, but I should definitely learn to be more conscious that as long as I’ve checked it to the best of my ability before submitting it, that it doesn’t need any more work.

I’d like to learn to be calmer when it comes to exams. There’s nothing I can do to change the outcome the second I leave the exam hall – whatever happens, happens. Funnily enough, the exams last year actually went pretty well (doesn’t mean I didn’t think about them throughout the summer). I’d like to learn to leave my worries on the exam hall floor.

I’d like to learn to see the positives of my work. To be able to say ‘Okay, this bit wasn’t perfect, but that’s fine’. I’d like to learn that perfect shouldn’t have to be the operative word every time. I’d like to incorporate more positive attitudes to my work. Perfect isn’t always necessary; I think for me, it’s probably too much to have to think of everything as perfect every time. I’d like to learn to look at my work and not be consumed by the negatives.

I feel like a hypocrite sometimes when I’ve said to others that they should be careful to balance their work-life time effectively, when I know I’m not necessarily doing the same. The title of this column could be considered an example of said hypocrisy.

Should probably start taking my own advice, soon.

Despite what I’d like to learn, one thing I have learned the past few months is that it’s okay for me to leave university with a 2:1 if it means I’m okay. A First Class, and that craved perfection isn’t worth risking my mental health.

As we head into 2020 and this next decade, I need to remember that my mental health is more important than being perfect.

By Tirion Davies

 

 

February Parish Church News

February Parish Church News

 

Last Christmas, the Parochial Church Council decided that the chosen charities for the collections at the Wenvoe Community Carol Service and the “Waiting for Jesus” service, would be shared between the Neo Natal Unit at the UHW and the Food Bank in Barry. The money given on these two occasions came to £900 and cheques have been sent to both charities. This was a wonderful and generous response and thanks are given for all who attended and gave so generously.

During January there has been work in the churchyard on the Jenner family graves. Mr David Randolph had been concerned for some time that the white marble crosses, placed there in memory of former members of his family, had become so discoloured that it was time for a restoration to their former pristine condition. This is a common problem when white marble is chosen as a memorial. The amount of rain falling and the surrounding trees continually dripping on the stone surface, creates a discolouring that is difficult to remove. Thank you David for making the churchyard that much cleaner and a pleasure to all who visit.

Since the carpeting in the nave, choir and sanctuary has been removed revealing the historic tile flooring, many have commented on the beauty of the designs and colours of tile used. The church will close for two weeks in the month to allow the restorers to remove the unsightly white deposits, replace broken tiles, clean and polish the tile surfaces. This will bring them back to what the earlier generations who had the care of the church building in the mid 19th century, when they decided to beautify the church.

The church is now kept heated, at minimum temperature, during the week in an attempt to cure the condensation on the walls and floors. This is a work in progress, and already the building is much warmer and much easier to raise the heat level on Sundays. To keep the heating on is costly as there is so little insulation in the building. The roof is not insulated, the windows are single pane stained glass, the main entry via the south door lets the heat out and the cold in. The walls are solid stone, so we know that there is a great heat loss to be expected.

Preparations are in hand for compiling the 2020 Parish Electoral Roll. This is a listing of all communicant members of the church over 16 years of age, who can then stand for the Office of Churchwarden, serve on the PCC and also be able to vote at the Easter Vestry Meeting, should a vote be called for. All forms to be returned to church by Mothering Sunday March 22nd.

2020 in the Diocese is the ‘Year of Pilgrimage’ which was launched at the service in the afternoon of January 12th in the cathedral. The current issue of ‘Croeso’ had a very interesting article on the idea of pilgrimage, as we explore our own personal faith together with an invitation to make a pilgrimage to

Llandaff Cathedral as it celebrates its 900th year of foundation. During the service Bishop June talked about ‘flying the flag for faith, supporting our communities and encouraging cooperation and friendship’ Presentations were made to schools and parishes of a faith candle, a pilgrim’s staff, a scallop shell and a pilgrim bear to be used during the year at services in the parishes of the diocese to mark the progress of the pilgrimage.

Events to remember during February:

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) – February 25th

Ash Wednesday (First day of Lent) – February 26th

Fun Quiz in the Community Centre – February 29th

A warm welcome awaits you in St Mary’s.

Parry Edwards

 

 

December Planning Updates

Planning updates

Valegate Retail Park, Culverhouse Cross. to install two rapid electric vehicle charging stations within the car park. Approved.

The budget has been discussed and approved for the forthcoming year. There will be a 3% rise in the local precept to cover forthcoming expenditure.

VE day celebrations by the community.( See  VE Celebrations ). A letter has been sent to all local organisations inviting a representative to the meeting on Friday 14th February at 7.00pm in the Village Hall. Additional advertising of the meeting within the community was agreed. Ideas are already being suggested.

A quotation for renewal of the lighting and replacement of the present glass lamp shades in the Community Centre main hall has been accepted. A replacement is to be sought for the projection screen following the failure of the attachment brackets during the month.

The state of the footpath from Vennwood Close to the tunnel was discussed. There appears to be no registered owner of the land. The Vale are to be approached about possible remedial work to remove the tripping hazards posed by the uneven paving slabs.

Library It is with disappointment and frustration that we have to report that we still do not have a starting date for building the extension. Although the Welsh Government has now approved the necessary grant, they stipulate that the money has to be claimed by the end of March 2020, which would mean that a large part of the work would have to be complete at that time. It has taken so long to reach this stage that it is no longer possible to make this deadline, so we have asked that the deadline be delayed. This may or may not be possible, but we are now waiting for a response from the government.

A defective swing, noted on the final inspection, at the Twyn-yr-Odyn new playground has been rendered inoperable while awaiting repair/replacement. The old play equipment in the Grange playing field has been removed; the replacement work is expected to be completed by the end of February.

The Council members agreed to co-opt Mrs Ceinwen Frost as the replacement member following the resignation of Mr Trevor Case.

 

 

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/NEW YEAR RECYCLING

 

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR RECYCLING

 

Up to and including Friday 10th January the restriction on 2 black bags per household does NOT apply. The 2 black bags restriction will resume from Monday 13th January 2020

You CAN recycle these items – be sure to put them in the correct containers for separated recycling.

  • Brown paper
  • Chocolate boxes (cardboard)
  • Chocolate boxes (plastic)
  • Chocolate box trays (transparent)
  • Foil trays (please clean)
  • Turkey bones (food waste)
  • Vegetable peelings (food waste)
  • Christmas crackers
  • Christmas cards (plain)
  • Real Christmas trees (see dates below)

 

Unfortunately, these items CANNOT be recycled, please place them in your black bag waste.

  • Wrapping paper – all types
  • Wrapping decorations e.g. ribbons and bows
  • Sellotape
  • Christmas cards (metallic/glitter)
  • Tissue paper
  • Chocolate box trays (black plastic)
  • Tinsel
  • Broken decorations
  • Fairy lights – can be taken to HWRC
  • Plastic trees – can be taken to HWRC

 

Christmas Tree Recycling

For the Wenvoe area it will be Friday 17th January 2020. Simply place your tree out for collection alongside your recycling before 7.00am.

You can also place any cut off branches and loose pine needles in your garden waste bags and place at the kerbside for collection.

Collections will be taking place throughout the day and early evening by a dedicated vehicle on your normal collection day.

If you miss your collection day, Christmas trees can also be taken to both our Household Waste Recycling Centres. (HWRC)

  • Only real trees are able to be collected for recycling
  • All decorations and soil will need to be removed
  • If longer than 6 foot, please cut down to this size
  • Trees need to be placed out for collection before 7.00am

 

 

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