Month: September 2016

Black Mountains

We started out from Mynydd Du forest car park, apparently this is the largest forest in the Brecon Beacons National Park. We walked along a stream and crossed it via a bridge. The track led us through trees and gradually we began to climb the valley. The track became narrower and in places there was a steep drop to the stream below. As our ascent continued we came out into the open to walk along the edge of a felled forest. The gradient had increased and with the sun coming out it was getting a ‘bit warm’, we were glad whenever a cloud arrived to give us some relief. The last section of the climb was very steep and the path rocky in places. The good news was that we had climbed to a ridge and the remainder of the walk would be relatively easy.SEPT### IMG_5378

We reached the summit of Pen y Gadair Fawr at 800metres. There was a profound silence, nothing to remind us of modern society, not even any planes. And we could see for miles in all directions, uninterrupted views of mountains and no wind turbines! It was 12.45 but we decided to continue to the next high point before stopping for lunch.

The paths are excellent on the top, grit having been laid by National Park rangers to preserve the moorland and peat. We had a glimpse of the reservoir at Gwynne Fawr as we headed towards our second peak of the day, Waun Fach at 811metres. By now we had split into two groups 3 people striding out ahead and 3 of us just a bit further back. It was definitely lunchtime but they kept going and a black cloud gathered in the sky above us. ‘Maybe they’re trying to get out of the cloud before lunch’ I thought. But no they eventually stopped and we were able to sit on piles of empty sacks which had been used to haul all the stone up the mountain for the paths. It was cool only 17degC under the cloud but all around was bathed in sunshine. It was so clear that we could see Hay on Wye to the north and the Malverns in the east.

After lunch we turned for home passing the Dragonsback on our left. Our descent was gradual taking us towards Gwynne Fawr reservoir which had a bothy at its head. It was now a very warm day and we enjoyed the proliferation of wildlife around us –

butterflies, bees, dragonflies, many plants and gorgeously cool mountain streams. The final stretch was rough stones which was a bit tough on the feet after such a demanding walk. We weren’t surprised to hear that the guide book had described the walk as ‘strenuous’. We’d covered 9.7miles and a 1500ft climb, which included the 2 highest peaks in the Black Mountains. (Map OL13)

St Mary’s Parish Church News

August Review

The month of August is often called the “Silly Season” often due to fact that nothing of great import happens during this month. Our School closes for their summer break, parliament is in recess, and the country slows down while we bask in long lasting sunshine. However life in the church keeps going, often against the odds, and while we miss having “Pebbles” with us, they are always in our thoughts and prayers that they and their leaders enjoy their break and will return once again in September, when they will be back in church on the 4th September.

The long awaited work on the sound system in church has been carried out during the month, and the difference between the old and the new is there for all to hear. We have installed new speakers in the nave and transept, and also one in the porch. Plus we now have the facility to provide an outside speaker for any overflow of people during large funerals or outside services or events. In addition a microphone has been installed on the chancel screen to pick up the vows being made between bride and groom at their weddings, so that the congregation can hear. And the work doesn’t stop there, for we also have a mobile microphone so that we can hear the children when they make their contribution to our services on special occasions. This is a wonderful asset to have in the church and even more wonderful it has been gifted to the church in memory of wonderful parents. Many of the things around us in St Mary’s are there because in the past they have also been gifted to beatify the building, in providing new hymn books, the pew Bibles and so much more. When the current building programme gets going and the planning of the proposed extension at the west end of the church is granted and completed we will have a church building that is more than fit for purpose. As the words of the hymn has it “We love thy place O God, wherein thy glory dwells” so we are looking forward in hope for all these things to come about. So to all the generous men and women who have donated, not only their time, but the money, both in the past and the present we say THANKYOU.

At the recent united service of the Ministry group at

St Lythan’s Church, it was distressing to see that, a large wall monument in the Button Chapel had detached itself from the wall and crashed to the floor. Luckily there was no damage other to the top stone panel which was shattered in pieces. And upon examination, it seems the iron fixing had become corroded with the amount of water and damp within the walls. The memorial is to John Sproson aged 6 years the son of Richard and Mary Sproson of the City of London who died in 1809. The only other record we have is the burial of Mary Sproson in 1826 when place of abode was given as Dyffryn. St Lythan’s church, like St Mary’s has a problem with damp and water infiltration in the walls, and the proposed remedy is to create around the base of the outside walls a “French Drain” which means digging down a metre or so and refilling with crushed stone, plus drainage pipes to take the rain water away from the building to soakaways. This causes all sorts of problems when you start digging in graveyards, with archaeologists being called in to supervise, make reports and decide which way the work has to proceed. This was the remedy at St Mary’s, some years ago, when the walls around the base of the tower, had a “French Drain” installed, and has solved the problem we had of damp, and as a result the walls are now dry.

September will bring a new surge of life to St Mary’s with the “Scarecrow Festival” on the 24th/25th, the Harvest Festival Services on Sunday 25th, including the Community Harvest Praise at 6.00 pm. The launching of the combined Parish magazine with the parish of Sully and with Jon refreshed from his holiday visiting the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe events, who knows what delights we have in store during the Autumn and Winter months.

 

With every Blessing, see you in church

Parry Edwards

Planning for Winter

Summer is now almost over and gardeners are beginning to plan for winter planting in borders and containers. You can’t go wrong with the familiar plants like winter pansies, viola, primula, polyanthus, to name but a few, and pretty soon garden centres will be full of bulbs and there are many available in the catalogues that keep appearing through the post.

If you want to raise your own plants next year, late August/early September is the time for gathering seed. Home – grown plants will cost you nothing and seed sown fresh usually germinates more readily than long – stored options..

Early summer varieties will have already shed seed but many more will mature over the coming weeks. Be ready to collect seed when pods and capsules are dry or on the point of splitting. Gather seed in large envelopes ( not plastic bags) and keep them open in a dry place, to enable dehydration to continue. They will be ready for cleaning and packaging when they are completely dry.

Hippeastrum, more familiar to us as Amaryllis. If you have been watering and feeding these plants they should be carrying plenty of long leaves, but now they need rest. Stop watering and allow the leaves to completely wither. Remove the dead ones only when they have dried and don’t water until early to mid October. Re-pot only if the plant has become badly root-bound. Begin watering in autumn, sparingly until the first buds appear, then water more freely. Feed regularly with high nitrogen plant food when the first buds have appeared and continue until next summer.

Thicker Than Water

BethanBookWenvoe resident, Bethan Darwin, has a new novel out. This is Bethan’s third novel, and came out on 18 August 2016.

It is called Thicker than Water and is set both in 1926 and present day. The 1926 story is about Idris, a miner from the Rhondda who is disillusioned by the collapse of the General Strike and decides to emigrate to Ontario, Canada. Just before he leaves, his sister in law Maggie has a favour to ask of him.

The present day story is about corporate lawyer Gareth, who lives in Penarth and has a pretty good life – his own law firm, a high flying wife who is also a corporate lawyer, and four children. But then he gets instructed to do some legal work for Canadian clothing company Perfect which is considering opening for business in Wales and things start to change for Gareth.

Bethan has lived in Clos Llanfair, Wenvoe for ten years. Her husband David Thompson grew up in the village. Their children Caleb 17 and Megan 11 attend Bro Morgannwg school in Barry

Bethan and David are both solicitors, and work together in a small firm in Cardiff. Bethan also writes a column every fortnight for the business section of the Western Mail and regularly reviews the newspapers for various programmes on BBC Radio Wales.

She says “It’s a bit of a juggle writing novels round a full time job and a family. I often joke that as a result I’ve got a big bum and a dirty house!”

You can find Thicker than Water and Bethan’s other novels in libraries or online. If you prefer to buy books in a bookstore, they will be able to order them for you if they don’t have them in stock. Bethan warns that there is some plot related sex in her books, but also plenty of history and gardening.

She will be discussing Thicker than Water with Jamie Owen on his radio show on Sunday 28 August from 11am.

September, Playgroup

Due to the Village Hall having a new kitchen and boiler fitted at the beginning of September, Playgroup will resume on Monday 26th September 9am.
For more information please contact us via the website:wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk or email wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com or telephone Monday to Friday between 8:30 and 12noon 02920597494 (a 24 hour answer phone also available).

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