Month: March 2022

News Update for February

The Inaugural Service of the Ministry Area of De Morgannwg took place on the afternoon of Sunday 6th February, with Bishop June presiding at St. Peter’s church in Dinas Powis, with the congregation made up from representatives of the nine churches present. The MA Lay Chair, Mr Howard Rees, was commissioned to lead the new charity forward, bringing the nine churches into one to support the mission and the ministry of the church. Then followed the Licencing of the Reader and the Clergy. The first meeting of the MAC (Ministry Area Council) will now meet with the representatives from each of the nine churches together with the MAC Treasurer, to discuss how the Local Church Councils will be formed. Here in Wenvoe, we will have a Joint Church Council as St. Bleddian’s church at St. Lythan’s have decided to join with us, as we lay plans for the years ahead.

St. Mary’s remains in the care of the Area Dean, Rev. Andrew James of Dinas Powis until a new Vicar is appointed for Wenvoe, St. Lythan’s and Sully. The advertisement has appeared in the press and on line and the applicants have been short listed for a selection panel on the 9th March. The successful applicant will then need to give three months notice where he/she is at the moment, so we should be able to see a new priest installed sometime in the summer. In the meantime, Kevin, our curate, has been ordained and celebrated his first Eucharist with us on Sunday 6th February. This means that we will see fewer visiting priests at our Sunday morning services as Kevin will lead us until the new Vicar is in post.

The Welsh Government COVID regulations have been relaxed and there is now no need to book for attendance at our worship on Sunday mornings. Gradually we are getting back to as near a normal pattern of worship as we can. Attendance numbers in church are improving and our “Pebbles” children group, recommenced following the Half Term break in the church hall, and were welcomed back into joining in the worship. Singing is now allowed, and we have welcomed a new organist, Gareth, to the team, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to sing the hymns that reflect the times of the year.

Good news on the tower, we can now close the appeal having reached our target figure of £61,000

It is with grateful thanks to the wonderful response to the Tower Appeal from our congregation and friends of St. Mary’s who have raised over £25,500 with contributions from the “Tucker stones for the Tower”, Funeral Offerings for two of our well respected church members, and many other most generous gifts from those who wish to see St. Mary’s kept in good repair for future generations. We are very thankful for the help from the grant aiding bodies, ie. The Representative Body of the Church in Wales, the Pantyfedwen Trust, the Welsh Church Act, the Garfield Weston Trust and Breedon Quarrying

We have a start date for the work on the tower with Taliesin Conservation for March 1st. Scaffolding will be in place with security fencing etc. There will still be full access to the paths in the churchyard, and the work is scheduled to last for 16 weeks, with completion in mid June. Work to remove the “snail creep” mortaring within the porch will be carried out at a later date as part of our general planning to improve the stonework of the fabric of the church. There should be no inconvenience in the use of the church during this time for Sunday services. The faculty for the “Church lighting Scheme” has been granted and we have a provisional start date of May 9th from the contractor as to when the work will begin. The cost of this work will be covered from the Ron Thomas Bequest made to the church and will be a lasting tribute to the great affection he and his wife had for the church during the time they lived in Wenvoe.

We continue to support the Barry Food Bank with items collected from the porch on Thursday mornings. The need for food and other items is greater than ever with the increasing cost of energy bills and foodstuffs in the shops, and again thanks to Jude Billingham, who organises this work, we are reaching out to those in greater need at this time.

H.M the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Plans are being made to celebrate this event with an open air service around the preaching cross in the churchyard, on Friday June 3rd with games for the children and a “bring your own picnic and chairs”. This is a community party to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne and is open to all. More details to follow, and suggestions and offers of help would be appreciated.

Christian Aid Week

Begins on week commencing 15th May, and we are hopeful of having a house to house collection this year, as in previous years before COVID 19. More news of this event will be published in “What’s On” nearer the appeal week.

Lent 2022

The observance of the solemn season of Lent has not been finalised at the time of writing. Ash Wednesday on March 2nd marks the beginning of the observance for six weeks before Easter. Please refer to the notice board in the church porch for any further details.

 

Look forward to see you in church. You are all welcome

Parry Edwards

 

 

Sorrento Chicken

Sorrento Chicken

3 tbsp olive oil

2 onions thinly sliced

100g streaky bacon, diced

2 cloves garlic crushed

8 chicken thighs

2tbsp of plain flour

1tsp plain or smoked paprika

300ml chicken stock [cube]

400g can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

400g can chopped tomatoes

1 thyme sprig, leaves only, finely chopped

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onions and bacon and fry for about 7 mins until golden. Add the garlic for the final minute of cooking. Remove everything and set aside. Toss the chicken in the flour. Heat the remaining oil in the pan, add the paprika and chicken and fry over a medium heat until evenly browned all over. Return the onions, bacon, and garlic to the pan. Add the stock, beans, tomatoes, thyme and seasoning. Bring to the boil, turn down, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes until the chicken is tender. Remove the lid and cook over a medium heat for about 10 mins until the sauce is thickened. Serve with freshly cooked garlic bread and a selection of green vegetables

 

 

Jaffa Drizzle Cake

Jaffa Drizzle Cake

140g butter, softened

200g SRF

11/2 tsp baking powder

200g golden caster sugar

3 large eggs

6 tbsp whole milk

finely grated zest 1 large orange

Topping

3tbsp orange juice

50g golden caster sugar

50g dark chocolate

Heat oven to 180C fan. Butter and line the base of a 1.2 litre loaf tin. Put all the cake ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat for about 3-4 mins until light and fluffy. Spoon the mixture into the tin and level the top. Bake for about 40 – 50 mins until golden brown and firm to touch, Check with a skewer. Heat the orange juice and sugar gently in a small pan until dissolved. When the cake is cooked, remove from the oven, pierce with a skewer and spoon over the orange mix. Leave to cool in the tin, then remove to cool completely on a wire rack. Break up the chocolate and melt in a bowl over simmering water, or in the microwave. Drizzle over the cake and leave to set.

 

 

Huge Cycling Challenge

 

RIDE FOR JAYNE

We are taking on the huge challenge of cycling the length of Wales, 220 miles from Holyhead to the Vale of Glamorgan, to raise money for Cancer Research Wales in memory of our mum Jayne Fallas. Our mum was a kind, caring and warm person whose smile lit up every room she entered. She was a devoted mother and wife and a friend to all who met her.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. She was very scared and nervous but she overcame this and beat the disease and we saw a level of strength, determination, courage and bravery which made us see our mum in a completely different light. We saw a side of mum which we didn’t realise she had. She was an absolute warrior taking all of the treatment they offered her and fighting through the hard days for the good days which were to follow. We cannot put into words how proud of our mum we are. That was undoubtedly the hardest thing she had ever faced and we as a family were there with her every step of the way but she had to walk the journey and goodness me she didn’t just walk the journey she flew through it showing the bravery and courage in her heart each and every day.

Sadly, after 4 years the cancer returned and our mum lost her battle with cancer. She passed away on the 6th of December 2021. This was and still is devastating for us as a family. However, as we know our mum would have wanted, we decided to celebrate her life and raise money in her name. We hope to carry on her legacy and ensure that this money will help and support individuals and their families with a similar story to ours.

There is a team of 20 of us taking part in this ‘Ride for Jayne’ We plan to have an event on the 31st of July at the finish line of our cycle. There will be raf-fles, food & drink as well as some more opportunities to donate to Cancer Research Wales. The finish line will be at St Cyres School in Penarth, we hope to see as many of you there as possible!

Thank you so much for your support!!

To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/rideforjayne

You can follow our journey on instagram – @RideforJayne

The Ride For Jayne Team

 

 

Gardening Tips for March 2022

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Must Do Gardening Tips for March

St Mary’s Church florist Sandra Jones tips for the month

1. Start feeding shrubs with slow-release fertiliser.

2. Trim winter flowering heathers.

3. Clean up paths and patios.

4. Put supports in place before plants start to grow.

5. Dead head daffodils but don’t touch leaves

Ray of Church Rise and the perfect lawn.

1. Always brush away worm casts or weed seeds will find a home.

2. Cut as often as needed but not too low.

3. Spend time on edging as finish is everything.

4. Clear thatch annually.

5. In dry weather don’t attempt to water the lawn unless you have enough time to do it properly.

Here we go then, Spring is here, and we look forward to the growing season. We will see what plants have survived the Winter in the greenhouse and shed. What we can be sure of is that hundreds of slugs and snails will be gearing up to eat anything tender that pokes it head above the soil. After listening to gardeners over the years slug pellets were always the favourite form of eradication but the most popular now is a margarine tub sat in the soil with some beer in it. The little blighters can’t resist it. You must empty it often because they will stink if you leave them. As slugs and snails are mainly nocturnal, you can catch them in the act by taking a torch and removing them as they forage. For pots on a path or patio a ring of salt around the base of container will sort them out.

We often have some inclement weather in March, so don’t be tempted to put tender plants out. Once the warmer days come things will soon catch up. Going by last year’s weather when there were roses blooming in the garden on Christmas Day and daffodils in flower on the village green by mid-January, I will be staggering the sowing of seed to have a longer season. The one plant that does well by planting now is the snowdrop. Buy them in the green just after they’ve flowered, and you will be guaranteed a good display next year. If you just plant the dried bulbs they don’t often multiply. With Spring bulbs such as daffodils, take the flower head off as soon as it starts to go over so the plant can put its energy back into the bulb for a good display next year. Remember to make a photographic diary of your garden as it comes into life so you can make adjustments for the following season and not put the spade through dormant bulbs later in the year. You need to give the roses a prune now if you haven’t already done so. We are trained to cut them back to an out facing bud like rose experts Mr & Mrs Cottle of Gwenfo Drive but don’t worry as they are tough plants and can take a lot of misplaced secateurs. Clematis is another plant that needs cutting back before growth starts. There are so many varieties that flower at different times of the year, so you should check before you cut into it. If you have a problem with this plant, then Mrs Clare Ellis is the lady you need to speak to as she is very knowledgeable on these plants. You can usually find Clare working in the library on a Saturday.

There will be a plant sale on Saturday 30th April in Vennwood Close, where local growers will have stalls showing off their wares. There will of course be loads of free gardening advice, a few local crafters, cakes and a raffle with proceeds going to the Wildlife Group.

Take care and happy gardening.

 

 

Get Tough With The Fly-Tippers

.  Time to get tough with the Fly-tippers

There were over 35,000 fly-tipping incidents in Wales last year and fly-tippers leave some pretty bizarre rubbish.

Fly tipping seems to be on the increase and the lanes around Wenvoe have recently witnessed the dumping of all manner of rubbish, including old mattresses, paint pots and even fridges. The widespread anger this practice generates seems to have little impact on the perpertrators One morbid litter bug dumped a coffin in the street in Redbridge, north-east London, along with a pile of tyres. Redbridge Council clean-up crews were relieved to discover that there was no body inside. Other bizarre examples have included a mattress hanging from a telegraph pole and live turtles left in a shoebox.

Fly tipping is not only a blight on our community but the environmental and financial costs are high. Every year clearing up after fly tipppers costs the Vale of Glamorgan Council about £20,000. Fly tipping is in fact a criminal offence. In the worse cases convictions in a crown court can result in unlimited fines and lengthy prison terms. The Vale of Glamorgan Council are in fact part of Fly-tipping Action Wales, a partnership initiative, sponsored by the Welsh Government and made up of 50 partners including the 22 local authorities in Wales, the national police and fire services, the National Farmers Union and others. As well as the recycling centres in Barry and Llandow, the Vale Council, like all local authorities in Wales, offer at a reasonable cost, a bulky item collection service.

You might be surprised to learn that over two-thirds of fly-tipping contains waste from people’s homes and often unscrupulous culprits are hired in good faith by members of the public to remove rubbish. But be warned! That cheap offer you found on social media might well be a scam! It’s so important to check with Natural Resources Wales that the person or company you are using is a registered waste carrier. If not and waste is identified as belonging to you, a heavy fine is the likely outcome. Incidentally, if you refuse to pay because you feel the problem was caused by the person you hired in good faith, think again. The matter will likely be taken to court and lead to an even higher fine. Incidentally, it is illegal to dump waste near any full bin. Apart from being unsightly this practice can be a health hazard, attracting rats etc.

A lot of charities like the British Heart Foundation are happy to collect donated items for free. One Cardiff based project set up by Cadwyn Housing Association, Nu Life Furniture upcycle unwanted household items, including furniture and white goods, to sell on to those who need them, at an extremely affordable price. If you live in Cardiff or surrounding areas and would like to donate your unwanted items to help people furnish their homes affordably, fill out the booking from on the Nu Life Furniture website: http://nulifefurniture.co.uk/donate. NuLife Furniture collections are free and the organisation is currently searching for the following priority items: fridges, fridge-freezers, wash machines, cookers, bed frames, mattresses, wardrobes, sofas, tables and chairs.

Shop a Tipper

It could be time for all of us to get tough with fly tippers. Fly-tipping fell by half in Wolverhampton after its council launched a “shop a tipper” campaign, where residents received a £100 gift voucher for information leading to a fine or successful prosecution. The council crushed two transit vans and two cars caught fly-tipping on CCTV. “We do not want fly-tipping in our city. If you don’t pay the fine, we will seize your vehicle and if you don’t come forward to claim it, it will be crushed,” said one councillor, Steve Evans.

You can check whether operators are licenced online at naturalresources.wales/checkWaste or by calling 03000 65 3000.

If you witness or see a case of fly-tipping you can report it online using a simple form on the Vale of Glamorgan Council website found at: https://forms.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/Flytipping

 

 

 

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