Month: May 2017

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

 

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

The Doughty Family lives on the oddly named Scribbly Gum Island, a short ferry ride from Sydney Australia, and so called after the Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus trees that grow there.

The Island and the family becomes famous because 70 years previously, teenage sisters Connie and Rose Doughty had found an abandoned baby girl whose parents Alice and Jack Munro had mysteriously vanished. It created a media sensation which captivated Australians, and turned sleepy Scribbly Gum Island into a tourist attraction offering guided tours, cream teas, souvenirs and a carnival atmosphere. In time both Rose and the baby, who had been named Enigma, get married and have children and eventually grandchildren. The dynasty which becomes very wealthy but rather inward looking is held on a tight reign by matriarch Connie. The scene changes when Connie dies and bequeaths her beautiful home to Sophie Honeywell, an outsider, who she had met just twice. Family infighting starts and traditions begin to unravel.

The book was given a high score and enjoyed by one member. Another thought it readable and interesting as alongside the saga of the unconventional Doughty Clan, Moriarty allows us a peep into their thoughts, fantasies and secrets, giving us a somewhat surreal understanding of their characters.

However, this was not the opinion of the majority of the group who variously claimed it to be boring, written for teenagers, compared to an Enid Blyton children’s adventure story, naïve, rubbish, lightweight, predictable, with characters floating around disconnectedly. The average score was a miserable of 3 out of 10.

The evening was sweetened with a lovely fresh raspberry tart.

April Events

 

We were delighted to have Wenvoe school choir come to entertain us on March 29th.The children from classes 8-10 sang beautifully and we had a very enjoyable afternoon. The children were then each given an Easter egg.

Rosemary Chaloner gave us an interesting talk on April 5th on WW.I. nursing .It was not considered right for women to be near the front line, but as the war continued they became needed to deal with the terrible injuries sustained .

On April 12th ,members brought along an array of food for our Easter party,and after tucking in ,we drew the extra large raffle ,thanks to Shirley. Best Wishes were expressed to Chris on her Eightieth Birthday.

We look forward to our May programme, particularly to the long awaited return on May 17th, of the very amusing Lorna Pearson.

New members and visitors always welcome.

Apples

 

If you visit the orchards in May you should still see plenty of blossom around, the majority of the trees being apples. But what is an apple and where does it come from? The first distinction is between the crab-apple and the sweet apple that we eat. The crab is our native apple and you can often find it growing in hedgerows around the parish. It usually has spines on the branches and the fruit is small, hard and very sour. But it has been used for thousands of years by our ancestors cooked and fermented. Crab-apple jelly is still popular to make at home or buy.

The sweet apple originally came from the Tien Shan Mountains in Kazakhstan thousands of miles away and it took many centuries to work its way along the silk routes to the Middle East and Europe. If you plant the pips from, say, a Cox’s Orange Pippin you will get a variety of different apple types, many of them of little use so to get another true Cox’s you have to graft them, a skill that was well known to the Romans. You may hear people referring to hybrids between a crab and a sweet apple but this does not happen and DNA analysis of the origins of the sweet apple has found that crabs were not involved in its evolution.

Because of this great variability you never quite know what might pop up and many new varieties were chance discoveries. Claygate Pearmain (which grows in our Community Orchard) was found in a hedgerow in Surrey but once discovered grafting ensured that that tasty variety is still available to us these days. In the heyday of apple development in Britain there were thousands of varieties. Farmers would spread the mush from cider production around the edges of their fields to see what new varieties might appear and if you look out of the window of the car or train you will see apple trees growing from the cores lobbed out of the windows by passengers – there are several on the link road past Pencoedtre. These are known as ‘wilding’ apples.

Commercial orchards have little value for wildlife as the trees are kept short, grubbed up after around 7 to 8 years and sprayed regularly through the season. In a traditional orchard the trees are allowed to grow to their full size and may live for 100 years or more. These are a haven for wildlife attracting many of the species that would have been common before our orchards were destroyed, including rare beetles such as the Golden Chafer and birds like the Wryneck. In 1900 there were about 15 orchards in Wenvoe but little evidence of these remain other than in the names of some houses and streets.

So enjoy your apples whether you plant a tree or two in your garden or visit one of our traditional orchards in the parish. There is increasing evidence that the older varieties may be better for you and being locally sourced you avoid the air miles involved in shipping your fruit from other continents to your supermarket. And wildlife will benefit.

 

Wild Mushroom Tartlets

This month 2 easy Veggie recipes.

Wild Mushroom Tartlets

375g block of all butter puff pastry

25g butter

300g pack mixed wild mushrooms, wiped clean, [don’t wash]

50g parmesan, finely grated

Handful of chopped parsley

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 egg beaten

1 small ciabatta roll, blitzed to crumbs

100g pitted green olives, finely chopped

Roll the pastry on a floured surface and cut out 4 cir-cles about 15cm in dia. leave to chill on a lined baking tray in the fridge for about 15 – 20 mins. Heat the oven to 180C Fan. Heat a large frying pan add the butter and gently fry the mushrooms for about 5 mins until all liquid has left the pan, [don’t burn the butter]. Re-move from the heat, season, add half the parmesan and the garlic. Score a 1cm border around each tartlet and divide the mixture between them. Mix the crumbs, olives and the remainder of the parmesan, sprinkle over the mushrooms. Brush the edge of each tartlet with beaten egg, then bake for about 20 mins until puffed and golden. Serve with buttered baby new pota-toes and green peas.

Re-roll the pastry into a rectangle, sprinkle with more parmesan and black pepper. Fold in half and re-roll. Cut into stripes twist a few times and bake alongside the mushroom tarts

Leek, Ricotta & Gruyere Tart

Leek, Ricotta & Gruyere Tart

500g pack all butter shortcrust pastry

Butter

2 large leeks, thinly sliced

250 ricotta

100ml double cream

2 eggs, beaten

2 tbsp chopped tarragon

100g gruyere cheese grated

Heat the oven 180C fan. Butter a 23cm loose base tart tin. Roll the pastry, line the tin, prick the base and blind bake on a baking sheet for about 10 mins. Re-move the parchment and beans and cook for a further 5 mins until golden in colour. Reduce oven to 160C. Melt the butter in a large pan and gentle cook the leeks for about 10 mins until softened. Beat together the ricotta, cream, eggs, tarragon, salt, black pepper. Stir in the leeks and the grated cheese [leave enough cheese to scatter over the top]

Pour the mixture into the tart case and scatter the re-maining cheese over the top. Bake for about 25 – 30 mins until set. Leave to cool and remove from tin. Serve warm

WENVOE SPRING CRAFT FAIR

WENVOE SPRING CRAFT FAIR

Proudly presented by Wenvoe Craft Workshop

SUNDAY 14 MAY 2017 10.00am – 4.00pm Community Centre

FREE ENTRY

Come and join the fun! We have a lovely selection of crafts and crafters at the Wenvoe Spring Craft Fair.

There will be Glass art, Wood and Slate art, Jewellery, Felt items, Plants and garden advice from the Village Gardener, Ceramic art, Book folding, Greeting cards, Family trees, Driftwood and Beach art, Textile items, Wall art, Sock Monkeys, Paper and Card art, Floral arrangements, Memory Bears, Hand embellished plaques that can be personalised while you wait, Laser cut wood, Button art, Preserves ( proceeds of sales to go to the homeless), Cakes and cookie mixes (for you to make at home) and lots more.

We have beautiful, fragrant hand made candles and Reed infusers from Marc at Cartref a Gardd, Cathy Farr( a local author) selling her children's books (and one adult book) at very reasonable prices.

The Eccentric Gin Company will be selling their locally distilled Gin and giving taster sessions.

Nicola will have her mobile Potters wheel for those who would like to 'have a go' or you can paint a ready made pot and you really should not miss out on a delicious ice cream from Tricycle Treats' 1940's style 'stop me and buy one' ice cream Tricycle. The flavours are amazing!

There will also be refreshments available – hot and cold drinks and homemade cakes and biscuits at knock down prices and a raffle with seriously good prizes, the proceeds of which will be donated to the Wenvoe Wildlife Group and the Wenvoe Playgroup.

If you miss this one you'll have to wait until November for the second annual Wenvoe Christmas Craft Fair so be sure to attend!

RHS Flower Show

Having been to the RHS flower show in Bute Park, it made me realise just how good some of these exhibiters are. To be honest, a few of the show gardens would not have come up to the standard of some of the gardens in and around Wenvoe. I have asked a few residents for some tips, if only to share the blame if things don't work out as they should. Gerry Crump, of Rectory close, always staggers the sowing of flowers and veg to prolong the the season. Most years he's still picking runner beans in October. If you can make room for a wigwam of beans in your garden its well worth it. Gerry's garden is lovely, especially with the summer bedding in place.

Another lovely garden is Sylvia Davies's which is opposite the Walston Castle as you turn in to the Village. Sylvia's tips include labelling containers of mixed up plant feed and pesticides as mistakes are costly and the use of more perennial plants to cut down on the extra work of bedding plants. Sylvia also points out that with longer days the temptation to do more is always there but remember that the garden will still be there in the morning.

Adventurer Joyce Hoy's tip for saving your plants from slugs and snails is to put slug bait or traps on prepared ground a couple of days before planting out. I would love to hear any tips you can share. I'll be manning my table at the Wenvoe Spring Craft fair on 14th May and am around the village most days.

A lot of the perennials are really starting to grow now, the taller of which will need support, especially perennial poppies and peony. Day lilies are a good bet for a dry spot in the garden. They will need a bit of room as they will eventually form clumps. That early, yellow flowering shrub Forsythia will need pruning now if you want it to keep its shape and to flower next spring.

Roses, the favourite in a lot of gardens, take a bit of looking after. The mistake I used to make was to wait until I saw an aphid or a bit of black spot, go to the Garden Centre to get a remedy and then take action. Now I spray before there is any sign of pest or disease at all and it works for me.

I have just read that now is the perfect time to divide daffodils. Dig up the clumps and pull apart by hand, trying not to break off roots and leaves, and re-plant at the same depth.

Look after those tender young plants. The temptation to put them out may be great but they will need to be hardened off by putting them outside in the day and back under cover at night. When all risk of frost has passed, put them into beds and they will soon catch up. Sadly the Tulip tree, positioned at the front of the Community Centre, had to be taken down as it had outgrown its space. This should be a reminder to us all when considering the positioning of larger plants. It's not just about the damage they may cause to structures in the future but they can be expensive to remove. Wenvoe has lots of lovely large trees but in my experience they look a lot better in other people's gardens. If you're tempted by the lovely Acers in Garden Centres, they do suffer from wind damage so a sheltered spot is ideal.

Last thing, if we do have a dry spell don't skimp on the watering, especially near to the house where ground can be drier. Happy gardening

News and Information

 

We have been very busy at the Playgroup over the last half term. The Children have been busy planting for Mothering Sunday, Supporting Red Nose Day and cleaning their outside garden space in time for the Summer Term. Prior to the Easter Holidays we held our Easter Fayre, where the children sang a collection of songs with a surprise visit from Peppa Pig, who gave each of them an Easter Egg for singing so beautifully (It always brings a tear to your eye watching their faces light up as Peppa enters the room).

Our Committee held a cheese and wine tasting event with quiz at the hall, selling over 100 tickets. A fun evening was had by all and a staggering £800 was raised for the playgroup. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and supported the event and a big thank you to Uncle Dai for arranging the quiz. Thanks must go to Vicky, Lisa, Michelle and Rachel from our Committee who gave up their time to put on the event. Well done, an excellent return for playgroup ladies.

WHO ARE WE?

Wenvoe Playgroup is a registered charity which has been in operation for 48 years at the Village Hall. Parents of children who attend the playgroup are elected each year at the AGM to form a committee. We Co-opt members of the community who have previously served on the Playgroup Committee to support a smoother operation. The Committee employ Sandra Morgan along with her registration with CSSIW to run and operate the playgroup. Sandra holds a level 5 qualification in Early Years and Management.

The playgroup employs an additional 5 staff, 3 of whom hold a level 3 Early Years qualification, 1 staff with 20 years’ experience and 1 staff, who works part-time to support the wrap around care. We offer care for children from the age of 2 years and 4 months up to the age of 4 years and 11months. Our staff offer a safe, caring and stimulating environment where the children may learn through play.

The playgroup operates from the Village Hall Monday to Friday from 9am until 12:45pm offering extended hours on Monday and Wednesday until 3:15pm.

At this time we operate ‘Wrap around Care’ with Gwenfo Nursery each morning, taking the children across to the nursery for 1pm. This allows working parents daily care for their children from 9am until 3.30pm. For those children who attend morning nursery we offer collection from the nursery and on into playgroup on Monday and Wednesday, collecting children 11:20am and on into Playgroup until 3:15pm.

If you would like more information with regard to how we can help support your child then please contact playgroup 02920594724 during opening hours. Alternatively email us on wenvoeplaygroup@ btinternet.com

Why not visit our website wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk to view our recent photograhs and find out a little more about us by viewing our Statement of Purpose, Operation Plan and Admissions document. Costs of care can also be found online.

 

 

Easter Celebration

 

What a joy it was to hear the church bells ring out on Easter morning announcing that the Lord has risen, and that it was time to celebrate this most wonderful event in the Christian Church worldwide. During the season of Lent the bells had been silent, in keeping with the church being stripped of all the decorations and shiny brass ornaments within the church. In Lent our services are much plainer, with only the Lenten Hymns being sung and the Eucharist service for the most part being said. Jon said that he is almost a Puritan during Lent, happy when the church is bare, but knowing that when the great day of Easter dawns, St. Mary’s will be ablaze with the Pascal Candle lit, the flowers decorating the church, the glorious Easter music, the uplifting Gospel readings and of course not forgetting the mini Easter Fair Trade Easter Eggs given to the congregation as they left church. A special thank you to all who came to decorate the church, to those who clean the church week by week, and to Jon who prepares the service leaflets.

The Easter Vestry met prior to Easter Day, when the Parish report was presented to the parishioners who remained after the 9.30 am morning service. The churchwardens remain in office for another year and the members of the P.C.C. were duly elected, with some new faces to welcome and to say a thank you for those who did not wish to serve any longer. The church’s financial affairs are in good order and once again a thank you to the Treasurer, Ray Harris, for all the work he does in keeping track of all the payments and receipts during the year.

The work in the churchyard is almost complete with the East Window having been cleaned and the new window guards fitted. The hawthorn trees along the path to the porch have been replaced, slightly shorter than the original trees that had died, but they will grow, all that remains is the replacing of the lime mortar on the boundary walls which failed during the frosts of last Winter.

Fair Trade and Traidcraft continue to be well supported week by week and the appeal for Easter Eggs for the food Bank brought in a large variety of chocolate eggs, for the children of needy families in Barry and the Vale.

The sad news of the resignation of the Assistant Bishop of Llandaff, the Rt Rev. David Wilborne was received before Easter and his final service in the Cathedral was on Easter Day. A presentation was made to him in appreciation of all the help and support he had given to the Diocese during the eight years since he was appointed. The Parish made a contribution of £100 towards his leaving in recognition of the support he gave in Wenvoe during the last vacancy, and also the support that Jon received from David during the early part of his ministry.

The East Africa Appeal at St Mary’s raised £400 with help from the congregation and church funds, and this has been forwarded to Christian Aid. We have a good record of raising money for worthy causes, and help is required in May for the annual Christian Aid Week street collections, see the lists in church in early May.

The magazine continues to be taken up slowly each month. On Easter Sunday we invited the congregation

to take a copy FREE of charge, and they disappeared like snow in summer. The May edition will be in church on the first Sunday of the month.

By the time you read this the Summer House Group at The Rectory will have already began meeting to re-visit the teaching of the Apostles and Nicene creeds. The other dates to meet are the 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th of May. The sessions take place between 7.30 – 9.00 pm.

The May screening of the film “A United Kingdom” takes place in The Rectory on Friday 5th May at 7.30 pm. The film is based on the true story of the heir to the throne of Bechuanaland. Seretse Khama who studies in London immediately after World War II meets Ruth Williams whom he eventually married, despite the protests of their families. They overcome the many difficulties they faced especially about relations with South Africa and the stability of the entire region of southern Africa.

Messy Church again met in the Wenvoe Community Centre on Saturday 8th April. Many craft activities, worship and a party tea was enjoyed by a goodly crowd of parents and children. The theme was on the events of the first Palm Sunday so long ago in Jerusalem. Future dates to meet are planned, so keep an eye on the church notice board.

Greeting to all our readers of “What’s On in Wenvoe”

Parry Edwards

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