Month: January 2019
Reflections on the Past Year
Reflecting on the past year has been incredibly hard, but also somewhat of a blessing in disguise. I can easily confirm 2018 to be the hardest year so far for me emotionally and mentally. Exams all but broke me and the wait for my results was heart-wrenching. My first term at university has just come to an end; the beginning was rocky, and I was worried that the feeling of faliing would mean I would never find my own feet amongst the feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. 2018 was rough mentally and by this point of the year, I’m practically a mess. But when I began to reflect on the social aspect of my 2018, I saw a very different side to the story.
2018 has been the year of me. Absurdly cheesy and cliché, I’m very much aware. But I really feel I’ve come into my own this past year in a way I don’t think I had before. I became published officially this year in ‘Buzz Magazine’ whilst I was working there on a work experience placement. I’m a full-fledged journalist now, ladies and gentlemen – I did my first ever interview and everything! The experience allowed me to explore journalism and expand my skills, as well as explore the environment I may hopefully work in some day. I got the chance, thanks to a family friend, to shadow her when she was invited to be interviewed on BBC Radio Wales; the staff were incredible and took the time to explain to me the different aspects which surrounded the workings of a radio show, for which I’m forever grateful. I was also on BBC Radio Cymru myself on International Women’s Day with some of my friends, which was an experience and a half!
Although I may be one of the only people to ever quote Joseph Stalin in my personal statement (don’t worry! It was in order to mention how I aim to refute the quote ‘A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic’ in my lifetime), I received five university offers! The university I had my heart set on offered me the lowest grade of all the others, and despite the fact it made the emotional aspect of A Levels that much harder because I was so desperate to earn my place, it worked out perfectly in the end. Since being at university (I’m studying Welsh and Journalism) I’ve learned so much about Journalism and the fact I’m so incredibly excited to potentially become a Journalist just proves I made the right choice. Since being at university, I’ve appeared on the Welsh radio show ‘Cicio Sodle’’ and it feels like I’m really coming in to my own! I’ve also filmed an advert for the Welsh Government in support of ‘Having a Chat’ about Organ Donation in Wales – a matter I believe very strongly in (I Opted-In this year and I feel it was the best decision for me!).
Reflecting on this year means reflecting on my friends and on my own personal growth. At the beginning of 2018, I felt as though I had a complete lack of self-esteem concerning my appearance. With the help of my incredibly supportive friends, and the ‘I Weigh’ online movement, I’ve become far more confident in my own skin. It was once a rarity to see below my shoulders in a photo, but now it’s common place to see a full-length picture of my body. I’ve learnt to embrace my body and understand that being skinny doesn’t define beauty. Okay, I’m not completely healed of hating my body. HOWEVER, this past year I’ve learned to stop caring, and I’ve realised that I worry about people looking at my stomach when I sit down. I don’t care what other people’s stomachs look like when they sit down – which means no one’s going to care about me and my little tummy. Wearing bikinis has never been my thing, but this year I embraced it, and I felt more in my element wearing bikinis and form-fitting one pieces than ever before.
I’ve found myself surrounded by a support system of sensational people this year. My best friends are the people who are always there to listen to me and who don’t care if I say something stupid. I mean, yeah, they’ll bring it up for the rest of my life, but that’s true friendship – I know they’ll be around for the rest of my life. Two of my best friends moved to a completely different city this year; they’ve both found this first term difficult but considering they’re two of the people who’ve taught me the most about strength, I know they’ll be fine. If it’s not fine it’s not the end (thanks Mam and Dad for being so great this year). Finding new friends when you’ve become accustomed to people you’ve known since you were eleven, or even four is incredibly hard. To everyone who’s made it easy to be friends with at university: I thank you all.
This year I’ve changed. 2018 was the year of me; I learned a lot about myself and despite it not being my best year, it’s by far not my worst. To everyone reading this, I thank you for following my journey. I’m not sure you understand how thankful I am to you. I’ve changed, but I’m still me.
By Tirion Davies
2018 Roundup
A Happy New year to all our Readers…
January is called after the Roman god Janus who was the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces, one looking to the future and one looking back to the past. This month is the time when looking back into the year that has ended, reminds us of what has happened in St. Mary’s Church and what we are hoping and looking forward to in 2019. It is a time of reflection, a time of recalling events in the year of 2018, a time of taking stock of the position we find ourselves in the life of the parish church in the community of Wenvoe.
There have been times when our church has been bursting at the seams with the nave and transept full and people standing in the tower vestry. The Remembrance Sunday service when we marked the 100 years since the signing of the Armistice in the 1st World War, was one such occasion. The services and Carol Concerts during the Christmas celebrations always bring in the crowds. We have conducted some very large funerals, with many standing in the churchyard, unable to get a seat inside the church. The Scarecrow Festival and Harvest Celebration in September, despite the bad weather, brought hundreds of visitors to the church. Our Parish Priest Jon works tirelessly in producing services that catch the mood of the seasons throughout the year, and the congregation really appreciates all that he does to enliven the message of salvation that he brings to each and everyone in the community.
He is supported in his work by the many volunteers, who give cheerfully of their time, who see to the daily running of the church. The two Churchwardens, the men and women who are on the church cleaning rota, the men who wind up the church clock, week by week, those who raise and change the flags flying on the flagpole on the tower, the ladies who arrange the flowers, the members of the Social Committee for catering and providing delicious cakes etc, at the many times during the year when hospitality is offered to visitors, and to all who donate cakes and biscuits so willingly during the year. Mention must be made of the members of the Music Group who play at the all Age Service on the 4th Sunday of the month. This informal worship is enhanced by their playing, and the hymns and songs often go with a swing and much clapping. The Chattery meets in the Church Hall on the 2nd Thursday of the month, offering a time for Tea/Coffee and a chat, with a raffle and a Tradecraft Stall. There are many regular customers but there is always room for more with a great welcome thrown in. Our 200 Club continues to grow and there are now more than 300 shareholders at £12 per share. The prizes are drawn at the Coffee/Tea in the church hall following the morning service on the 4th Sunday of the month. Dickon Oliver is pleased to welcome more shareholders as the proceeds are a major
contributor to our Building Fund, which is used to fund many of the day to day repairs to the fabric of the church building.
Mention must also be made of the two services recorded for BBC Wales in October with one broadcast on Advent Sunday and the other will be broadcast on Epiphany – Sunday the 6th January 2019.
Our churchyard is often commented upon as to how well it is being kept, thanks to Mike Tucker who keeps an eye on it, and who also works in areas not seen such as the tower, roof and gutters. Our electrics are kept in order by Neil Bainbridge, who for a number of years has replaced fittings and bulbs when necessary. All these people and many more all work together to keep the doors of St Mary’s open, to offer a welcome into God’s house that is sincere and caring for everyone’s wellbeing.
During the year our Pebbles Group, who meet in the Church Hall, join with the 9.30 am congregation and what joy and happiness they bring with them. Leaders and parents we thank you for being with us and sharing the activities they have been working on during their Sunday morning session. There is always room for more and Alyson Williams and her team are ready to welcome new children at any time. Likewise the Messy Church sessions on selected Saturday afternoons are well supported. These are run with the Vale Church and are great fun with worship, singing, craft activities and at the end a meal is shared and all of this is FREE.
So much for what has been happening, now we look forward to seeing the plans for relaying the chancel floor into a gradual gradient, to take away the chancel step, which is considered a hazard to the congregation and wheelchair users alike. We also await the revised plans for our proposed church extension on the North side of Nave; they will be different from the previous plans we were considering, but will be more user friendly. So we welcome 2019 in, knowing that the future looks bright, and that there remains much work for willing hands.
A date for your diary The Family Fun Quiz will take place on Saturday 16th February 2019 in the Community Centre, Wenvoe at 7.00pm for a 7.30 start with our quiz master Ian Moody ably assisted by his daughter Kim. Raffle and nibbles available. Tickets on sale NOW..
A Blwythyn Newydd Da. Happy New year 2019 — bring it on!
Christmas Celebration
President Madeleine welcomed everyone to our Christmas Celebration Meeting on 6th December. The evening commenced with WI Business which included final arrangements for our Christmas meal at the Wenvoe Arms on 10th December and the Link Carol Service at St Mary’s Church, Wenvoe on Thursday, 13th December.
Janet read out some poems so that we could have a taste of the Christmas Miscellany that we were unable to attend at Wenvoe Castle Golf Club. This was followed by a delicious buffet donated by all members. During “buffet time” we all tried to recall those “panto times” of early childhood as we searched our brains for the answers to Pam’s “Panto Quiz”. We are very grateful to Pam and to Janet for providing our entertainment. The evening concluded with good wishes to all for Christmas and 2019, followed by details of January’s meeting.
This will be on Thursday, 3rd January at 7pm in Wenvoe Church Hall. Our speaker will be Julia Wylie who will be encouraging us to “stretch and relax”, with something to suit all fitness levels. Julia is a new resident of Wenvoe and we are looking forward to welcoming her to our very first meeting of 2019. Visitors will be most welcome and there is no charge.
Members are reminded that subs are due in January. (Please place payment in a sealed envelope with your name on the outside; cheques should be made payable to “Wenvoe WI”.)
The President and Committee would like to wish all members and their families a healthy and peaceful 2019
The Final Walk of 2018
The living with cancer strollers had an unusual and unprecedented experience on their final walk of 2018. The walkers got wet! Since its inauguration the walkers have been fortunate every month to walk in dry, sunny conditions. The weather did not dampen our enthusiasm, although our Christmas hats wilted in the drizzle!
After a long stroll through the trees the walkers were treated to a wonderful Christmas lunch at the lakeside cafe. Crackers pulled, jokes told, turkey eaten, the group disbanded until January’s walk. If you want to join a sociable, friendly group for a short stroll, meet at the Cosmeston Information Centre the first Thursday of every month at 10:30
A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks
As the Page Turners gathered for their final meeting of 2018, they received a warm welcome from their hostess and discussions were started whilst sipping mulled wine or buck’s fizz. The book on offer in December, A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks was not so warmly received by the majority of the book club members.
A Week in December is set in London, over a period of one week in December. It is a story of contemporary London and introduces many characters and themes including an examination of Islam, football in London, drugs, financial dealings and journalism. Phew!
The mince pies that were available did not sweeten the comments that were made, most of which were unfavourable. The story was considered too long, with particularly boring descriptions of the financial plotting of one of the characters, John Veals. It was felt that the book did not reflect the characters and lives of real people in the city of London. Most people wanted to finish the book, but found the ending a disappointment. The overall score was 6. After the discussion, the group got on with the real business of the evening: pulling crackers, sharing cracker jokes, eating festive food and discussions about the Archers.
Happy reading in 2019….and remember, ” the more you read, the more you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr Seuss. So. off you go!
THE TWELVE THANK YOU NOTES OF CHRISTMAS
Dec 25 – My dearest darling Edward, What a wonderful surprise has just greeted me! That sweet partridge, in that lovely little pear-tree; what an enchanting, romantic, poetic present! Bless you, and thank you.
Your deeply loving
Emily xxxxx
Dec 26 – Beloved Edward, The two turtle-doves arrived this morning, and are cooing away in the pear-tree as I write. I’m so touched and grateful!
With undying love, as always,
Emily xxxxx
Dec 27 – My darling Edward, You do think of the most original presents! Whoever thought of sending anybody three French hens? Do they really come all the way from France? It’s a pity we have no chicken coops, but I expect we’ll find some. Anyway, thank you so much; they’re lovely.
Your devoted
Emily xxxx
Dec 28 – Dearest Edward, What a surprise! Four calling birds arrived this morning. They are very sweet, even if they do call rather loudly – they make telephoning almost impossible – but I expect they’ll calm down when they get use to their new home. Anyway, I’m very grateful, of course I am.
Love from
Emily xxxx
Dec 29 – Dearest Edward, The mailman has just delivered five most beautiful gold rings, one for each finger, and all fitting perfectly! A really lovely present! Lovelier, in a way, than birds, which do take rather a lot of looking after. The four that arrived yesterday are still making a terrible row, and I’m afraid none of us got much sleep last night. Mother says she wants to use the rings to “wring” their necks. Mother has such a sense of humor. This time she’s only joking, I think, but I do know what she means. Still, I love the rings.
Bless you,
Emily xxx
Dec 30 – Dear Edward, Whatever I expected to find when I opened the front door this morning, it certainly wasn’t six socking great geese laying eggs all over the porch. Frankly, I rather hoped that you had stopped sending me birds. We have no room for them, and they’ve already ruined the croquet lawn. I know you meant well, but let’s call a halt, shall we?
Love,
Emily xx
Dec 31 – Edward, I thought I said NO MORE BIRDS. This morning I woke up to find no more than seven swans, all trying to get into our tiny goldfish pond. I’d rather not think what’s happened to the goldfish. The whole house seems to be full of birds, to say nothing of what they leave behind them, so please, please, stop!
Your Emily xx
Jan 1 – Frankly, I prefer the birds. What am I to do with eight milkmaids? And their cows! Is this some kind of a joke? If so, I’m afraid I don’t find it very amusing.
Emily x
Jan 2 – Look here, Edward, This has gone far enough. You say you’re sending me nine ladies dancing. All I can say is, judging from the way they dance, they’re certainly not ladies. The village just isn’t accustomed to seeing a regiment of shameless viragos, with nothing on but their lipstick, cavorting round the green, and it’s Mother and I who get the blame. If you value our friendship, which I do (less and less), kindly stop this ridiculous behavior at once!
Emily
Jan 3 – As I write this letter, ten disgusting old men are prancing up and down all over what used to be the garden, before the geese and the swans and the cows got at it. And several of them, I have just noticed, are taking inexcusable liberties with the milkmaids. Meanwhile the neighbours are trying to have us evicted. I shall never speak to you again.
Emily.
Jan 4 – This is the last straw! You know I detest bagpipes! The place has now become something between a menagerie and a madhouse, and a man from the council has just declared it unfit for habitation. At least Mother has been spared this last outrage; they took her away yesterday afternoon in an ambulance. I hope you’re satisfied.
Jan 5 – Sir,
Our client, Miss Emily Wilbraham, instructs me to inform you that with the arrival on her premises at 7:30 this morning of the entire percussion section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and several of their friends, she has no course left open to her but to seek an injunction to prevent you importuning her further. I am making arrangements for the return of much assorted livestock.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
I. Creep,
Attorney at law.
December Activities
WENVOE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours. or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com
Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary
For general enquiries email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com
Johnny Tudor, Wenvoe entertainer, actor and author, drew the Library Raffle on 15th December. We raised the grand total of £307, which will go towards the running costs of the library. Well done everyone and special thanks to Clare Ellis for donating the two M&S Hampers.
The lucky winners were Bert and Gwyn Bates, of Vennwood Close, and Jenny Scott of Burdons Close.
Bath Bus trip
We had a full bus for our day trip to Bath last month. Our passengers took full advantage of the Christmas Market and had a great time.
Future trips
Look out for future trips. As well as a summer trip to London, we intend to organise a variety of shorter day trips. We have received a range of suggestions to include: the Hay Festival, the Cotswolds, The Botanical Gardens, Llandeilo and so on. Please contact us with your preferences.
Clwb Clonc
Our weekly meetings on Monday mornings at 11 in the café at Pugh’s Garden Centre continue to be popular with more Welsh learners and speakers attending each week. We have received requests from other learners who would like a similar opportunity to practise their Welsh in the evenings. As such we’re suggesting that we also meet on the second Thursday of each month in the bar of the Wenvoe Arms at 7 pm. So join us on Thursday 10th January for a clonc.
New books for January
We have received a range of great new books this month. As well as a number of new crime novels, you’ll find new titles on history, language, travel and general fiction.
Off the Shelf
This month’s book was The Invention of Wings by the American author Sue Monk Kidd probably best know for The Secret Lives of Bees. The Invention of Wings was set before the American Civil War and is based on the fictional life of the Grimké sisters, the well-known 19th-century abolitionist and women’s rights pioneers. Sarah Grimké is acutely intelligent and her father’s favourite. On her eleventh birthday Sarah is given the gift of Hetty -a slave girl. Sarah strongly objects to ‘owning’ another human being and draws up a legal document rejecting her gift. Sarah’s childhood plans to follow her father and her brothers into a legal profession are then crushed when she is banned from the library and her access to her father’s law books. Hetty, known as Handful was born into slavery, as was her mother Charlotte who also works for the Grimké family. Mrs Grimké habitually beats her nine slaves and horribly punishes Charlotte who refuses to be enslaved in her mind. The novel follows the lives of Sarah and Handful and demonstrates the oppression that both slaves and women of that time faced and endured. The original idea of the “wings” came from black folklore where Charlotte explains to Handful that her African ancestors were once thought to fly but then lost their wings when captured as slaves. The Invention of Wings reveals how these characters came to find their personal freedom through abolition and women’s rights. We all found the book to be an excellent read and gave the book a score of 9/10.
Fungi Competition
A big thank you to all who took part in the Fungi competition and to the judges who decided which should receive an award. Over 100 entries were submitted, most of these were in the photography and art categories with only two craft entries. The Primary School took part enthusiastically with both younger and older children involved. 14 prizes representing £150 in cash and vouchers have been distributed – one of the prizewinners is shown in the photo.
A display of some of the entries can be seen in the Wenvoe library starting during January. This project was funded by Grow Wild and Kew Gardens.We have been fortunate to be granted 60 native hedging shrubs which will be used to create a hedgerow around the new orchard at Goldsland Farm. We are not sure when these will be delivered but we will then need to get them planted or heeled in as they will be bare-rooted. These have been donated by the Woodland Trust
Leftover Turkey Jambalaya
Leftover Turkey Jambalaya
4 tsp garlic olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 red and green pepper, de-seeded and chopped
4 sticks of celery, chopped
4 large cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
4 spicy sausages or chorizo, cut into chunks
450g leftover Christmas meats [turkey, ham, pork] cut into chunks
2 large red chillies, de-seeded and finely chopped
500 long grain rice
2 tbsp. turmeric
2 tbsp. Cajun spices
1 tsp Tabasco
2 pints chicken stock [use two oxo cubes]
3 med tomatoes, chopped
4 tbsp. frozen peas
450g prawns
sea salt and fresh black pepper
Heat the oil in a large pan or a deep Wok. Fry the
onions, peppers, celery, garlic and sausage for about
10 minutes.
Add the cooked meats, chillies, rice, spices and Tabasco,
stirring well so the rice is well mixed in. Pour
in the stock and bring to the boil. Then add the tomatoes,
peas and prawns. Reduce the heat to simmer
for about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste
for seasoning, adding salt, pepper and more spices if
required. Serve, enjoy with a good chunk of fresh
bread and a cool glass of wine