Month: December 2016

November Activities

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It feels as if Christmas is upon us already in school – with the Christmas concert practices in full flow! Indeed, you may have heard some strains of Christmas music if you have been walking past school.

We had a super Children in Need day – the children dressed up in spots and enjoyed a cake sale and a raffle. The staff also had a Bake Off competition!pudsey01

Vicar Jon came visit Year 1 in school: they were delighted to show the work they had completed as a follow up to the church visit. Activities undertaken included: making stained glass windows, writing prayers and using the Paint computer programme to draw pictures of the church.

The response to The Children In Need Shoebox Appeal was fantastic and we would like to say a very big thank you to all our parents and children were so kindly gave so many donations.

We have held a Book Fayre this week – as always, it has been very well received. School receives a percentage of the profits to spend on books which is always wonderful – and we have great fun choosing our new books. Thanks must go to Mrs Edwards who has run the Book Fayre and our Year 6 volunteers who have ably assisted.

We now look forward to the run up to Christmas and the exciting activities and trips we have planned for December.

 

 

 

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Wenvoe Arms Reopens

 

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So the refurbishment is complete and we are open.pub01

We are so grateful to the community for the support that has been shown to us already. We were certainly not expecting to receive good luck cards before we even opened the doors and met anyone. As a family, we have always been community centered and it is so refreshing to move into an already well-established and supportive community that Wenvoe so evidently is.

We are still dealing with teething issues from the refurbishment and want to thank you all for your patience at what for us is a very frustrating time. We look forward to having our full team in place and being able to welcome you day and night for good food as well as beer and coffee.

We look forward to our first Christmas in Wenvoe.

 

Digby, Jennie and Binki.

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Any enquiries please pop in or call 02921 322772

 

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Christmas Preparations

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As we write this we are busy creating our Christmas crafts and practising our songs in time for Christmas.

Our concert this year is on Friday 16th December at 11am here at the playgroup.playgroup03

Our news. Most recently we benefited from a grant from the ‘Big Lottery’ to help with costs towards advertising and new equipment for the children. We would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to the ‘Big Lottery’ for the support shown to the group.

Here at the playgroup we support children’s care from the age of 2 years and 4 months to 4 years and 11 months. We do this by offering various hours each morning and by working closely with the local nursery provision at school to provided extended care.

playgroup02For further information on how we can help, please phone 029 20597494 Mon – Fri 8:30 – 12:30pm, contact us via email wenvoeplaygroup @btinternet.com or why not take a look at our website wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk

We would like to thank everyone in the community who has supported Playgroup over the past year and thank those who continue to support the playgroup by volunteering their time to ensure it runs smoothly.

 

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 to you all 

 

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Preparing For Winter

 

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What an autumn it’s been, so mild with some days warmer and sunnier than many summer days. As I write this piece in mid November, the trees have yet to shed half their leaves and throughout the land the autumn colours have been spectacular, notably the maples of which there are several in the village.

I have only just emptied our containers and dug over the garden beds and really the geraniums and bedding begonias were in such good condition, they could have gone on until the end of the month. However the time is right for bringing my wallflowers down from my allotment for planting out in the garden and the winter bedding is ready and waiting in the greenhouse, to fill pots and containers. If you plan to fill your containers with bulbs, shrubs and other permanent plants, make sure water can pass through easily as good drainage is doubly important in winter. Clear any blockages in the pots and water should drain through readily. Ants and worms nesting under container bases can block holes but pots can be raised on broken pieces of tile or even half bricks.

I’ve been spending some time on my allotment in this fine weather, pacing myself with my digging – just a half hour at a time and not going mad as I used to do. I like to dig. I get the same satisfaction from the job as my dad used to do. I’ve got a rotavator but I still like to dig.

I was asked how long leeks, carrots and parsnips could be left in the ground. Leeks are winter-proof and can be left in the ground and lifted as required as can carrots and parsnips but these will begin to deteriorate after January if the tops begin to grow again.

Do you really want a poinsettia in mid- October which is when they’ve appeared in supermarkets this year? It wouldn’t do for us. We’re lucky if this plant lasts through December and rarely into the New Year, so we’ve admitted defeat and we now enjoy them in other folks’ homes.

So to all readers of What’s On I hope you have 

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November’s Book Choice

 

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie.poirot01

Agatha Christie’s first novel “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” was published in 1920 and introduced a new literary character in the form of Hercule Poirot, a Belgian detective who became the central figure in more than 30 of her novels.

The unfolding story line is narrated by Captain Hastings, a guest of Emily Inglethorp, the owner of Styles. Hastings has pretentions of becoming a detective and solicits the help of his friend Poirot to resolve the mystery of the subsequent death of the owner. The book is thoroughly enjoyable with the introduction of several intriguing characters, a page turning plot with numerous clues and red herrings which kept the reading group guessing as to the murderer until the final denouement.

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The prose is relatively naive with one or two unexplained clues emerging and all agreed that in our imaginations we continually saw Poirot as portrayed by the television actor David Suchet However this did not deter from our enjoyment of an easy and relaxing novel which was awarded an overall mark of 7.5 out of 10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New Schedule and December Programme

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Vale Village Church has been meeting in the village of Wenvoe since 2012 and now it is changing times.

From November 20th 2016, we will be meeting every Sunday morning. Come along at 10.30am for pastries, and refreshments and then stay for our service where we celebrate Jesus with great music, relevant talks and engaging activities for the children.

December 4th – Village Hall

December 11th – Community Centre

December 18th – Village Hall

You are most welcome to join us.

Vale Village Christmas – Sunday December 18th

11am – Christmas Family Service

6.30pm – Carols by Candlelight Wenvoe Village Hall

 

Christmas is a special time for everyone and we would love you to join us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. With carols, the story of the nativity, seasonal music, mince pies & mulled wine everyone is welcome.

Fire & Rain – A Night of Worship, Healing & Wisdom

Sunday December 4th – 6.30pm – Wenvoe Village Hall

This is a new event organised by Vale Village Church & Eden Church, Penarth. The programme will be flexible but time will be available for extended worship, ministry and there will be opportunities to pray for the sick.music01

Our guest speaker will be Andy Hawthorne OBE, founder of the Message Trust. He has spoken in the UK and Scottish parliaments & is a major conference speaker throughout the world. More information at valevillagechurch.org.uk

 

Carol Singing in the Wenvoe Arms –

Thursday December 15th – 8.30pm. Join Vale Village Church for the annual carol singing in the pub. We supply the hymn sheets & you supply the voices. A selection of carols, Christmas songs and seasonal tunes are guaranteed to get you in the mood for Christmas!

 

 

 

 

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Dance and Exercise in Our Village

 

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After teaching in this village for 20 years it still gives me pleasure to see that young-to more mature people are still kind enough to support me.hm-theatre03

However, the children in the Dance School have achieved tremendous feats over the past 18months from being part of the "Mr Tumble" TV Programme ,

performing in Her Majesty's Theatre London West end and of course locally.

It is nice to think, see and know that some of the students have achieved professionally and can be seen in major productions and TV.

We specialize in nurturing and preparing the children socially ,physically and mentally for their future. All our exams are credited by "CDET" which means they gain points towards UCAS if they go to University or in fact to go on to teach dance or just use it for fitness and enjoyment. We pride ourselves on our standard and smaller personal classes in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Freestyle, Line Dancing . Age is not a barrier neither is ability . However adults are included too from Zumba on landdance02 to in water and now my new exercise formula that has had tremendous results.

Age and ability does not come in to it. Floor work is not necessary so bad knees or back problems are not an issue. All exercises are done from standing or indeed can be assisted by a chair or support. It teaches you through breathing control and correct Skeletal line how to use those all important "Core Muscles" everyone keeps mentioning these days.

By using the essence of Yoga and Tai Chi and Balance Exercises and Ballet stretches for core it sculpts and tones the body through slow movements . It uses all the muscle groups and helps your general posture and body alignment. Giving an overall amazing Well Being experience.

This new regime has been taken on by some major health clubs and proving very popular. People with mobility and some health issues really benefit too. You will burn calories and change shape in certain areas so come and try it for yourself and see what I mean. Call me on 07739535726 for details.

 

Or see my advert in the "Whats On"

 

Annette Bracey

NATD qualified and Zumba licensed

 

 

 

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Musings of A Political Teenager

 

 

PLAY HARD, WORK HARD

Being 16 means that the ability to vote over the decisions made in our country is currently unavailable to me. It’s unfortunate that I was unable to voice my opinions in a more political way over the summer than simply conversing with those who’d voted in the Referendum. Yet I suppose there must be a reason why I am unable to vote at 16.voting02

Although I was unable to vote over the summer – and subsequently (though for continental reasons) the recent Presidential Election in America – it cannot stop me from having my own political stance. I have strong beliefs and given that I was unqualified to voice them, I could talk for hours to my peers about my beliefs and the outcome.

I wish I had been able to vote. I wish the UK had lowered the age as they had done in Scotland; yet I cannot ask for too much. I must instead accept the vote and understand that perhaps my vote wouldn’t have changed the outcome. I suppose I feel frustrated simply because I am unable to make any sort of difference. However, perhaps my having a personal political stance has made some difference – it means that by the time I will be able to vote, I might make the choices best suited to what I wish for my own future.

So, don’t despair youth of Wenvoe! Although we can’t vote, that doesn’t mean we can’t have our own opinions.

Therefore, for the meantime I’ll have to brush up on my political knowledge ready for my turn at the voting station.

 

By Tirion Davies

 

 

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