Lampeter Grapevine Issue 14 Nov 2013

cysylltwch â ni / contact us: lampetergrapevine@gmail.com

Tachwedd/November 2013

GRAPEVINE digwyddiadau, newyddion a barn Llambed bob mis / Lampeter’s events, news and views monthly

STOP PRESS

AM DDIM

A new rail-link for west-central Wales? Join the Campaign Thur 7 Nov, Victoria Hall. Details on pages 3 & 24

regular features ... 

listings



kids in action



events



seasonal snippets



letters



cookie’s corner



creative ideas



what’s on in the woods



clonc



reviews



small ads



making do & mending at ysgol trefilan



granny’s favourite knickers

FREE

in this issue...  

whatever happened to  a local yarn ‘make do & mend’?  upcycling tips lampeter food festival  village business AGM directory



custard queens



a nature tale continued



apple day photos

GRAPEVINE no. 14, November 2013 Post: c/o Victoria Hall, Bryn Road, Lampeter, Ceredigion SA48 7EE Email: lampetergrapevine@gmail.com Published by: Transition Llambed Development Trust, Victoria Hall, Bryn Road, Lampeter, SA48 7EE Printed by: TSD Reprographics, Lampeter, on paper from sustainable resources To list your event, submit an article, ad or letter or to make an enquiry, email: lampetergrapevine@gmail.com or post to address above Please include the reason you are contacting us in the subject box of your email (Ad, Listing, Article, Letter, Enquiry) Full guidelines for advertisers & contributors: see grapevine page on www.transitionllambed.co.uk Listings (events & courses) FREE. Display advertising rates: ¼ column £10; ¼ page £25; ½ page £40; full page £70 (back page £80) £25 off ads for one-off public events held in Victoria Hall Classified ads: £2 / 20 wds (min. £2) Therapists' section (max 35 wds): £10 for 6 editions in advance Copy date for Dec/Jan issue: Fri 8 Nov. Theme: ‘Hobbies & Pastimes’ Circulation: 1,500 copies distributed free in the Lampeter area

Croeso / Welcome … to the Grapevine.

The theme this month is ‘Make Do & Mend’ - and I must say I’m a bit of a fan. You only need to ask my family about my hoarding habits (which incidentally I think I inherited from my parents) to find out how reluctant I am to throw anything away - just in case it might be useful one day! I love saving all sorts of things from cardboard boxes, bottle tops, tubs & tubes, for making into space stations, robots or props for imaginative play. Fabrics from old clothes, curtains & quilts, buttons, ribbons and beads (to name a few) seem to take up rather a lot of space in our house too … but no-one complains when I can find just the perfect item to repair a favourite pair of trousers or create the latest costume for school! For me it all becomes a bit of a challenge and I can easily immerse myself for hours in the detail of the creation, gaining huge satisfaction from making something from nothing. A colleague, years ago, once described me as the original ‘Blue Peter’ woman in a job reference - something I always took as rather a compliment!

I have my parents to thank for my creative streak. They inspired me from an early age and led by example. I will always remember, aged 7 or 8, having a much loved red onepiece swimming costume with white daisies on, which was given a new lease of life as a two-piece costume, allowing a few more years’ wear. This would be considered to be ‘upcycling’ now. I also think one of my favourite Christmas presents as a child was a box my parents assembled, full of paper, glue, scissors and mosaics made from hundreds of old Christmas and birthday cards, carefully cut & sorted into colours. It must have taken them hours to prepare and I loved it. It was years later before I discovered that being thrifty had been an essential reality at the time, something which I can now appreciate more than ever. I don’t know about you, but I worry about the whole ‘throwaway’ culture that has developed and fear the effects this has not only on the environment but also in the loss of skills and motivation to fix things. Perhaps we can all be inspired by the articles this month to revive, learn or share some useful skills.

Darllen hapus / Happy reading

Angie Martin, Editor We reserve the right to edit all contributions for reasons of space & clarity.

The views expressed in letters and articles are not necessarily those of Transition Llambed Development Trust or the newsletter group.

Other contact details:  Transition Llambed: www.transitionllambed.co.uk email: transitionllambed@gmail.com  Victoria Hall: www.vichall.org.uk To make bookings for Victoria Hall contact: admin@vichall.org.uk or phone/text 07891 632614  People's Market: To book a stall contact: rhydygwinfarm@talktalk.net or ring 01570 471432 2

Energy Efficiency Event:

STOP PRESS

Thursday 21 November @ Victoria Hall, 5:30 to 7pm Drop in to this informal event, to hear how:  Some businesses are benefiting from lower energy bills;  Others are making money from renewable energy; and how  If you move quickly, you too could benefit from impartial advice from

Bring Back Our Railways?

Following a very well-attended, informative and inspiring 'Bring Back Our Railways' meeting held at Victoria Hall on Thursday 17th October, an inaugural meeting of an evolving campaign group will be gathering on

The event is open between 5.30 and 7pm, at the Victoria Hall, Lampeter.

Free energy monitor & compact fluorescent lamp for all businesses attending.

This is your last chance to book your energy report; surveys must be done before Christmas.

Thursday 7th November 7pm at Victoria Hall

Call now on 01654 703965 or email info@ynni-i-ffynnu.co.uk

Rob Phillips has offered to chair the first meeting and help formulate an initial strategy.

It became apparent during the meeting that the whole of West Wales would benefit from the reintroduction of a modern railway system and this would help us all.

There will be lots of different ways to contribute to this exciting project - so everyone is invited to join in.

Cacennau cartref, bara, cyffaith a bwydydd sawrus Ffrwythau, llysiau a phlanhigion tymhorol, cartref Cig a gynhyrchir yn lleol a dewis o waith llaw crefft Te a choffi

Come on, let’s make it happen!

Transition Llambed transitionllambed@gmail.com

Homemade cakes, bread, preserves and savouries Homegrown seasonal fruit, vegetables and plants Locally-produced meat and a selection of handmade craft Tea and coffee

See page 24 for full report

Copy date: Friday 8 November Dec/Jan Theme: ‘Hobbies & Pastimes’ Send your letters/articles/listings/adverts to lampetergrapevine@gmail.com 3

Annual General Meeting 7.00pm, Tuesday 12 November Black Lion Hotel (upstairs) All welcome

Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol 7.00pm, Dydd Mawrth 12 Tachwedd Gwesty’r Llew Du (lan stair) Croeso i bawb Maw Gŵyl Fwyd Llanbed yn anelu at hyrwyddo bwyd Cymreig ac arbenigol o’r ardal o amgylch Llanbed, gan wneud hynny ar draws Cymru a thu hwnt, at annog twristiaeth yn yr ardal, hyrwyddo bwyta iach, gwella lles y gymuned ac addysgu am fanteision prynu bwyd lleol.

Ar hyn o bryd, mae’r cwmni’n cael ei redeg gan bedwar cyfarwyddwr gwirfoddol, gydag eraill o dref Llanbed yn eu helpu i drefnu’r ŵyl flynyddol, ac rydym yn awyddus i gynnwys rhagor o bobl. Os oes gyda chi frwdfrydedd a syniadau ac os byddech yn hoffi rhoi help i gynllunio’r 17fed gŵyl flynyddol yn 2014, dewch I’r CCB neu cysylltwch ar bob cyfrif.

Mae’r cwmni’n un nid-er-elw gydag unrhyw incwm tros ben yn cael ei gadw ar gyfer gwyliau’r dyfodol.

Lampeter Food Festival aims to promote Welsh and specialty food from the area around Lampeter, across Wales and beyond, encourage tourism to the area, promote healthy eating and improve the well-being of the community, and educate about the benefits of buying local food.

The company is currently run by four voluntary directors, helped in the organisation of the annual festival by others from the town of Lampeter, and is keen to get more people involved. If you have enthusiasm and ideas, and would like to help in planning the 17th annual food festival in 2014, then do please come along to the AGM or get in touch.

The company is run on a not-for-profit basis with any surplus revenue carried forwards towards future festivals.

www.lampeterfoodfestival.org.uk info@lampeterfoodfestival.org.uk 01570 423200, 01570 422280

Photo: Jorge Martin

Having been inspired by the fabulous pumpkin on display in the Organic Fresh Food Company shop (left) recently, we decided to have a go ourselves and created this slight variation (right).

Searching on the internet later for other designs revealed hundreds of intricate and complicated works of art that are truly amazing.

If you have photos of any of your own designs - send them in to lampetergrapevine@gmail.com and we’ll print them in the next issue.

4

Don’t forget to dry out the seeds, paint them & use for collages or making jewellery too

LETTERS grapevine, victoria hall, bryn road, lampeter SA48 7EE email: lampetergrapevine@gmail.com

A decent public transport system is a

Dear readers, The flower display in Lampeter was excellent

community.

again this year. We have heard no end of

Dear residents,

pre-requisite for a civilised, modern

positive comments about the contribution the

As we go to press, Arriva has announced the

display makes to the experience of visiting

withdrawal of bus route 40, which links Lampeter

Lampeter for shopping, or just looking round

to our major towns, and the 585 which links the

and maybe sampling the delights of the cafes

villages along the Teifi valley and Aberystwyth.

and pubs.

Other routes are threatened in Ceredigion. The

So thank you to the Chamber of Trade, shops

prospect of Lampeter being cut off from the rest

in town, the Town Council, and Ceredigion

of the world, as well as local villages, for those

County Council for supplying and planting,

relying on public transport is looming. Pressure

and to Robert's Garden Centre for the upkeep

groups, local community groups, MPs, AMs and

and maintenance of the baskets and tubs.

councils will no doubt have been galvanised into

Please keep up the good work next year.

action.

Gary Thorogood

One of the reasons Transition Llambed exists is

Chair, Transition Llambed Development Trust

to help plan a future which is less oil-dependent.

LONG WOOD BREAK-IN

This means less car-dependent, although we

It was very sad to read of the break-in at Long Wood when a brush cutter and petrol generator were stolen. This was yet another attack on a project where volunteers work tirelessly for the good of the community, only to see their efforts compromised by people who obviously do not share that sense of community.

understand the car is even more essential in rural

Here in Cellan we had a similarly disheartening experience recently when the shed in our community garden was burnt down. Our shed was built over many hours by volunteers using traditional tools and techniques and locallysourced timber as a project led by local craftsman, Tony Eames.

But, just like the Long Wood volunteers will do, we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and

formation of a pressure group whose aim is

communities than urban ones. But a decent public transport system is a pre-requisite for a civilised, modern community. We are in the process of forming a Transport Group around the reintroduction of the rail link between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth. We would also welcome the maintaining our bus routes.

Transition

Llambed

Development

Trust,

who

manage the Victoria Hall, would like to offer the hall as a free public meeting space to whatever group evolves that wishes to campaign against the transport cuts or to develop alternatives.

Please feel free to contact us: transitionllambed@gmail.com or post a letter to Transition Llambed c/o Victoria Hall, Bryn Rd,

have moved on. Unfortunately, also like Long Wood, we will now have to pay an higher insurance premium and increase our on-site security measures, money which we could have spent on our community projects. Sad, indeed!

Yours sincerely

Lampeter SA48 7EE. In the meantime we suggest you join the campaigns of Mark Williams MP and Elin Jones AM, (see www.markwilliams.org.uk/wordpress for his petition).

Transition Llambed Development Trust

Chris Lambert on behalf of Cellan Village Improvement Society 5

LETTERS

Wow! High praise indeed. Thank you for your feedback Nigel. It’s always good to know that the Grapevine is appreciated. Eds.

grapevine, victoria hall, bryn road, lampeter SA48 7EE email: lampetergrapevine@gmail.com

Dear Editors, First and foremost can I congratulate you on

doesn't help except heat the house - it's hard to

Grapevine.

run lights off a wood-burner.

It

is

always

interesting

and

informative, just what a local paper should be.

My point is, of all the options to provide the

Over the years I have moved around the UK with

energy we all need and use, it appears every single

my work, and there was always a free paper in the

one is the Devil's work. There are opponents to

area I lived. I have to say Grapevine is the best I

everything, it seems.

have ever seen. Keep up the excellent work.

Coal: emissions.

On another tack:

Nuclear: fear and disposal of waste.

I like to think I am as "green" (I call it common-

Wind Power: ugly turbines (I actually like them).

sense and saving hard-earned money!) in my ways

Solar/PV: fine if you have the spare money to

as the next person. I always recycle, grow my own

install panels etc, but they don't work at night!

veg, make jam and chutneys etc, compost as much

Tidal Power (i.e. Severn Barrage): affects wildlife

waste as possible, turn off all power-using

adversely.

appliances when not in use, etc, etc.

Gas: dependent on other countries (like Russia),

Despite my best endeavours, I do like to be warm

which leads me to

in my house, eat hot food and have lights to see

Fracking: as discussed at length in the last

what I am doing.

Grapevine, once again "the Devil's Work".

To do this I need to use some form of "natural

Until such time as we all have Solar Panels/PV and

resource/s", be it wood, coal, gas, electricity or

we get 24-hour sunshine, where do we get our

whatever.

power from?

I

appreciate

wood

is

the

most

sustainable, but whilst we burn quite a lot, it

Just wondering.

Nigel Bird

Living La Vida Arriva Announcing the possible closure of its bus depot in Aberystwyth and stations in Lampeter, New Quay and Dolgellau, Arriva have left its workers and passengers in a hypothetical no-man’s land. In their seemingly empathetic public statement they claim to be under “unsustainable financial pressure” and it is these pressures (most probably high fuel prices and oscillating passenger numbers) that are forcing through the cutbacks.

Elin Jones AM labelled the whole scenario a “huge shock” and it’s the shock factor which has perhaps set the whole transitional process off on the wrong foot. The Welsh Government and its affected County Councils have only been left a two-month window in which to arrange a smooth changeover.

Over the years, our public transport has developed Lampeter’s economy, accessibility and popularity; it’s given the chance for tourists, shoppers, students and commuting workers alike to travel into the town and for local inhabitants to travel out. While I sound nostalgic, it’s not over as Arriva might yet retreat from this stance. Perhaps they’ll consider exhausting other avenues in order to maintain the service: to make do and mend.

If the cuts do come, we can but hope one of our local coach services catches the baton thrown at them by their potential predecessors.

Arriva once claimed that they were creating routes for the long-term; they said this after scuppering the ministerial concept of nationalising the ‘Traws Cymru’ system. Back then, the Welsh Government’s aim was to develop the long-distance bus service to finally paper over the cracks left by the closure of the railway service in the 1960s.

The cuts are meant to take place on the 21st of December so they obviously have an apt sense of comic irony, as the year’s shortest day could easily turn into the longest for public transport in Lampeter since the very closure of the railway all those years ago.

David Henry 6

Whatever Happened To "Make Do And Mend"? ready cut into convenient squares. Surely creating a patchwork from old, maybe cherished garments would add to the sentimental value of a piece of work.

And finally we come to those old duvet covers, sheets and pillowcases, to say nothing of curtains.

When I was expecting my first child, both my mother and mother-in-law rummaged through their airingcupboards for white cotton sheets. These sheets, though worn in places, were beautifully soft and were cut down to make cot and pram sheets. I then had a bountiful supply of white, soft cotton bedding for my newborn that could be washed on a hot wash, keeping them pristine.

This could still be done with old sheets; duvet covers could also be cut down and used. Another use for duvet cover material (or old curtains) is to turn the good parts into cushion covers. Curtains do have a habit of fading in places because of the sun, but there are often huge areas of useable material.

There are many things you can use bits of material for apart from the aforementioned, even if you only save some of the suitable material to use as cleaning rags; old sheets and duvet covers can be used as dustsheets. Don’t forget to save the buttons from any garments you dismember. There is nothing better than a well-filled button tin: giving you a plentiful supply for any new items you make that require buttons as fastenings. Buttons purely as decoration on garments or cushions are very popular at the moment.

Let us return now to the question "what has happened to make do and mend"? Perhaps it is partly due to our consumer society, where goods are in plentiful supply. Maybe it is also partially to do with the pace of life, where no-one feels they have time to mend, alter or adapt an item - that it is quicker and easier to throw it out and buy a new one. Perhaps we are also lacking the skills to undertake these practical tasks. I hesitate in making this point as I know there are a lot of very practical, creative and talented people among us, and practical craft skills are making a huge comeback. Perhaps we need to make sure those of us that have these skills endeavour to pass them on, at least to our children.

We talk a lot about recycling our waste: let’s extend it to our clothing, not by simply taking it to a clothing bank but by turning it into something else. What have we got to lose? It was only going in the bin anyway.

Remember:

In today’s consumer society I feel we must ask the question ‘Whatever happened to make do and mend?’ Whilst this subject covers a vast area of our daily lives, I will concentrate on the ‘art’ of making items from such things as old woollies, discarded clothes and old bedding/haberdashery.

Look at old or outgrown woollies. That cardigan you no longer wear because the colour has gone out of fashion; the jumper your partner has worn a hole in the elbow of. What will happen to those? The usual answer is the charity shop for the cardigan and the bin for the jumper. Okay, so there is merit in taking items to the charity shop: a) it helps the charity and b) someone else gets to cherish your cast-off. But have you ever thought about unpicking that cardigan and re-using the yarn to knit or crochet another garment? Our ancestors (not such distant ones either) used to do this: adult woollens were regularly re-used to knit into children’s pullovers or for socks, hats and scarves. You could even use the yarn to make cushion covers or a bag (both very in vogue now).

The same goes for that pullover with the hole in the elbow. Don’t bin it - re-use it. Patch the elbows and make it a ‘gardening’ pullover, or unpick it and re-use the yarn that is still good as suggested above. You could felt old woollen items and make bags or toys from the felted material. It is a very ‘in’ thing to do, so look at YouTube to find out how to do this.

I am an avid knitter and I have to confess that I am guilty of buying new wool to create some garments, especially for new-born babies or that special gift.

But reclaimed wool is excellent for those ‘play’ jumpers that children manage to trash so easily and regularly. Scarves, hats, gloves and cushion covers are also excellent items to re-use yarn on.

So what about other items of clothing? Our answer once again is to take it to the charity shop or bin it.

Have you ever thought of re-using the material?

What about using pretty materials to make a little girl's dress or using trouser or thicker skirt material to make trousers or dungarees for a toddler. You could use your reclaimed material to line a crocheted or knitted bag or to back a piece of patchwork. Talking of patchwork, why not cut your material into squares and make a beautiful quilt (also popular at the moment). Quilts of this type were once made from reclaimed material (I am not referring here to the beautiful Welsh quilts we see at the Quilt Museum in Lampeter).

It is far too easy to go and buy new material, often

MAKE DO AND MEND - RE-USE BEFORE RECYCLE

Go on - give it a try.

7

Pauline Bambrey

www.clonc.co.uk

Papur bro ardal plwyfi: Cellan, Llanbedr Pont Steffan, Llanbedr Wledig, Llanfair Clydogau, Llangybi, Llanllwni, Llanwenog, Llanwnnen, Llanybydder, Llanycrwysac Uwch gaeo a Phencarreg.

- The Welsh language community newspaper for Lampeter and the neighbouring parishes.

Papurau Bro Ceredigion There is a total of nine papurau bro in Ceredigion: Papur Pawb, Y Tincer, Yr Angor, Y Barcud, Y Ddolen, Llais Aeron, Clonc, Y Gambo and Y Garthen. For several years now a Forum for Papurau Bro in Ceredigion has been established to allow volunteers in the county to work together and share good practice.

Papurau Bro Ceredigion Mae cyfanswm o naw papur bro yng Ngheredigion: Papur Pawb, Y Tincer, Yr Angor, Y Barcud, Y Ddolen, Llais Aeron, Clonc, Y Gambo a’r Garthen. Ers sawl blwyddyn bellach sefydlwyd Fforwm Papurau Bro Ceredigion sy’n rhoi cyfle i wirfoddolwyr yn y sir i gydweithio a rhannu arferion da.

Eisteddfod Ddwl Ym mis Hydref cynhaliwyd Eisteddfod Ddwl rhwng papurau bro’r sir yn Neuadd Felinfach.

Noson hwyliog yn gyfuniad o gystadlaethau traddodiadol a chystadlaethau amgen oedd hi a Phapur Bro Clonc enillodd y nifer fwyaf o farciau ar y noson.

Dyma uchafbwyntiau Clonc: Dweud Stori Ddigri: 2. Rhys Bebb Jones, Llanbed; Darllen darn heb atalnodi: 1.

Hedydd Thomas, Llanbed; Sgets: Cydradd 1. Clonc a Yr Angor; Côr Chwibanu: 1.

Clonc dan arweiniad Elonwy Davies, Llanybydder; Peintio hoff Gymeriad: 1. Ioan, Ysgol y Dderi, 2.

Shivawn, Ysgol y Dderi, 3. Ben, Ysgol y Dderi; Blog: 1. Morgan Lewis, Cwmann, 2. Mari Lewis, Cwmann; Poster: 2. Dylan Lewis, Cwmann; Limrig: 1. Janet Evans, Llanbed.

Eisteddfod Ddwl In October an Eisteddfod was held for the papurau bro of the county in Felinfach Hall. It was a light evening consisting of traditional and alternative contests and Papur Bro Clonc won the highest number of marks on the night. Here are Clonc’s highlights: Storytelling: 2.

Rhys Bebb Jones, Lampeter; Reading a passage without punctuation: 1. Hedydd Thomas, Lampeter; Sketch: Joint 1. Clonc and Yr Angor ; Whistling Choir: 1. Clonc conducted by Elonwy Davies, Llanybydder; Painting a favorite Character: 1. John, Ysgol y Dderi, 2. Shivawn, Ysgol y Dderi, 3. Ben, Ysgol y Dderi; Blog: 1. Morgan Lewis, Cwmann, 2. Mari Lewis, Cwmann; Poster: 2. Dylan Lewis, Cwmann; Limerick: 1. Janet Evans, Lampeter.

Rhai digwyddiadau mis Tachwedd a restrir yn Clonc ~ Some local events in November as listed in Clonc Cymanfa Ganu Sioe Llanbed, Capel Shiloh - 17 - Lampeter Show Cymanfa Ganu, Shiloh Chapel Aelwyd Yr Urdd Llanbed yn Ysgol Bro Pedr - 19 - Lampeter Aelwyd yr Urdd at Ysgol Bro Pedr- Urdd Cyngerdd ‘Ar Wasgar’, Neuadd Bro Fana Farmers - 22 - ‘Ar Wasgar’ Concert, Bro Fana Hall, Farmers

Arwerthiant Blynyddol Capel Seion, Cwrtnewydd - 30 - Seion Chapel Cwrtnewydd Annual Sale Geirfa ~ Vocabulary Papurau Bro - Welsh Language Community Papers gwirfoddolwyr - volunteers Sgets - sketch limerig - limerick

Eisteddfod - a Welsh festival of literature, music and performance Eisteddfod Ddwl - an alternative eisteddfod Cymanfa Ganu - a Welsh festival of sacred hymns Dylan Lewis 8

A local yarn Growing up in a large, poor family in inner-city Leeds, I was always aware of making the best of every opportunity with materials and skills. I took it as perfectly normal to wear hand-me-down and jumble-sale clothes – I never had a new item of clothing apart from underwear and shoes until I was 15. Everything we did was with a view to making the best of the materials for the job in hand, while keeping an eye on future re-use. "Make do and mend" was a normal way wool, I made sure I learnt to be able to spin exactly the yarn I wanted from any particular fleece. Not for of life for us. me the spinning of yarn and wondering what to do What a brilliant start in life! Now I can make the most with it - waste not, want not! of the materials to hand without worry, nothing goes to waste. Never is a piece of paper, wood, cloth, Earlier this year I spun a length of yarn from one of leather wire or string cut into without care, and all left- my original foundation flock, still with us at 17 years over pieces are saved for a potential future use. True, old, for the International Longest Thread competition. it means we have more "stuff" around us than many; My thread won for Wales, and was fourth in the world it also means we are flexible and creative with the – 300.64 metres in 10 grams of 2-ply! This summer I completed the Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers materials to hand.

Certificate of Achievement, where all the wool I used When I moved to Wales 17 years ago, I became the was either from my flock or other local flocks. I was custodian of 20 acres of hill pasture and scrub woodawarded a distinction for my work. land. With the dream of being able to feed and clothe my family, we bought a small foundation flock of My early beginning of making the best of what is to mixed-breed sheep. My college-learnt animal hus- hand has stood me in good stead and led on to bandry skills and food production came in really use- amazing opportunities. I now teach spinning locally, ful, but I would have to learn to spin yarn from the at all levels. If anybody is interested in learning how wool – I didn’t want to only wear felt! I bought a spin- to spin and make ning wheel from an auction and set about teaching the best of this fanmyself to spin. The wheel was useless as it came to tastic and varied me (no wonder it ended up in the sale!) but I stuck to wool which grows it and my upbringing of making do and mending so well around us, meant I could sort it out. I’d be happy for I was rewarded with the them to contact me. amazing opportunity to spin yarn from my own sheep!

Ann Fisher Rhodes, 01558 650760,

Not wanting to waste any of my precious

woolwise@btinternet.com

Looking ahead to a bumper double issue for Dec/Jan: What are your ‘Hobbies & Pastimes’?

We would really like to hear from you.

Please contact: The Newsletter Team

lampetergrapevine@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you soon– please send your articles SOON

copy deadline for Dec/Jan double issue:

Fri 8 Nov!

Not keen on writing things down? We could arrange to pop round & have a chat instead.

9

Tee Re-style

Hann

ah’s

Upcy

This is a good little trick if you have tops that either have holes or marks or if the style is somehow not right but you’ve kept them, clogging up space, for some reason.

cling

Tips

Look over your tops to check if there are any marks, holes, or baggy necklines, as this will determine your new design 



For this re-style I have cut away the neckline of both tops and the sleeves of one top to reveal the colour of the bottom layer

As you make your cuts, take time to overlay the tops







 

When you are happy with the new look, check over the cutaway scrap to see if there is any material that could be used for embellishing

With the leftover neck fabric I have made some flowers and decorations.

I’ve also been left with the arms of the stripy top, which are just begging to become some leg warmers!



Check that you are happy with the amount and shape of the bottom layer showing through

Wear your new creation with pride. Happy upcycling!

Hannah Cutler 10

Ysgol Y Dderi Village Directory As the PTA of a busy and vibrant “community school” we are always looking for ways to both raise funds and strengthen the community that our school serves.

In 1976, in a fairly radical move at the time, five village schools were closed to form one area school.

The children from Llanfair Clydogau, Cellan, Llangybi, Silian and Bettws schools became pupils of Ysgol Y Dderi, with Llwyn-y-groes also joining in 1984.

Ysgol Y Dderi is an integral part of the local community and, as such, the PTA would like to help strengthen bonds between the residents by encouraging people to buy and support local.

Therefore we will be producing a local business directory for businesses either owned or operated within the Bro’r Dderi area, as well as businesses that are owned by parents/guardians of children attending the school. We have already identified an impressive 230 businesses within the six villages and are confident that there are many more.

For this to be successful we need as many businesses as possible to advertise with us. The cost will be £5.00 for a small box advert (or your business card) printed in its relevant category.

We will also be promoting any groups that meet within the six villages such as YFC, Wiwerod Bach, Welsh classes, Yoga, WI, Beekeepers etc and these listings will be included for free.

The final result will be a professionally produced A5 booklet with the front cover designed by the children and the title chosen from pupils’ suggestions. We are also keen to hear from any businesses who would be interested in sponsoring the printing.

Fel Cymdeithas Rhieni ac Athrawon fisi, digryniol Ysgol Gymunedol y Dderi, rydym bob amser yn chwilio am ffyrdd I godi arian a chryfhau y gymuned y mae ein hysgol yn wasanaethu.

Bu digwyddiad eithaf radical yn 1976 pa gauwyd pump ysgol pentref er mwyn agor un ysgol I’r ardal.

Daeth plant ysgolion Llanfair Clydogau, Cellan, Llangybi, Silian a Betws Bledrws yn ddisgyblion Ysgol y Dderi gyda Llwyn-y-groes yn ymuno a nhw yn 1984.

Mae Ysgol y Dderi yn rhan hanfodol o’r gymdeithas leol, a thrwy hynny hoffai y CRhA gryfhau y bondiau rhwng y trigolion trwy annog pobol I brynu a chefnogi popeth lleol. Felly byddwn yn cynhyrchu cyfarwyddiadur busnes leol sydd yn gweithredu tu mewn I ardal Bro’r Dderi, hefyd busnesau sydd yn perthyn I rieni/ ceidwad plant sydd yn bresennol yn yr ysgol. Rydym yn barod wedi dod ar draws 230 o fusnesau y tu mewn I’r chew pentre, ac efallai bod yna lawer mwy.

Er mwyn bod yn llwyddiannus yn y fentr yma, mae yn bwysig i ni gael cymaint o fusnesau a sy’n bosib I hysbysebu gyda ni. Bydd yn costi £5 am flwch bach hysbysebu (neu eich carden fusnes) wedi ei argraffu yn y gategori addas.

Byddwn hefyd yn hyrwyddo unrhyw ddosbarthau sy’n cwrdd o fewn y chew ardal, e.e. C.F.F.I, Wiwerod Bach, Dosbarthau Cymraeg, Ioga, Sefydliad y Merched, Ceidwadau Gwenyn ac yn y blaen, a bydd rhain yn cael eu cynnwys am ddim.

Y prawf terfynol fydd llyfryn A5 wedi ei gynhyrchu yn broffesiynol gyda’r clawr wedi ei gynllunio gan blant yr ysgol a’r teitl hefyd wedi ei ddewis o syniadau’r plant. Byddem hefyd yn falch I glywed oddiwrth unrhyw fusnesau a fyddai a diddordeb mewn bod yn gyfrifol am yr argraffu.

Please contact Ysgol y Dderi PTA via / Cysylltwch â CRhA Ysgol y Dderi: Alex Fox, Awelon, Llanfair Rd, Lampeter, SA48 8JZ, 01570 493127, pta.ysgolydderi@gmail.com

Alex Fox

Lampeter Family Centre

Table Top Sale

lampeterfamilycentre@gmail.com

Sat 16 Nov 2013, 12-3pm Victoria Hall

01570 423847

Lots of stalls selling Toys, Clothing, Bedding, Body shop, Cakes, Drinks, Candyfloss and much more

Come along for a look and pick up some bargains

11

Cookie’s Corner

lived on the boat. We had no functioning fridge, were away at work for long hours so cooking time was limited, and financially we had to stretch every meal.

This simple recipe would be a warming thick soup on day one, a topping for baked potatoes the next and, best of all, it would fill a giant Yorkshire pudding on day three.

Mushroom and lentil stuff (4 servings) Put the kettle on: you are going to need stock so might as well have it ready.  Take 500g mushrooms - don’t bother with the fancy expensive ones, you just want volume and bulk; we will add more flavour during the cooking.  Chop or slice the mushrooms however you prefer; I like big slices about the thickness of a pencil, but that works best with the large field mushrooms.  Heat your favourite large saucepan; get it hot because these mushrooms are going to benefit from harsh treatment. Fry them in hot butter with 3 sliced garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Go easy on the salt as we will be cooking lentils in this mixture later and they can respond badly to salt - refusing to soften, even when cooked.  Keep the heat high in order to boil off all the water that inevitably will escape from the mushrooms. We want them browned but to have retained their shape. When nearly all the water has boiled off, add a tablespoon of soy or Worcester sauce (or Henderson’s for the veggies). If using dry stock powder add it to the mix now. Keep all this moving in the pan for a minute or two - make sure the garlic doesn’t burn.  Now add 250g lentils. Any type, but the expensive Puy lentils are a bit fancy for this recipe and the green ones tend to soften too easily - so I go for the brown ones. Give it a good stir to get everything coated in the seasoning, garlic and butter.  Now add 750ml of stock (or water if you have already introduced the stock powder).  Bring to the boil and reduce the heat. Simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes - until the lentils are cooked but before they begin to disintegrate. You are aiming to create a thick soup, so adjust the water accordingly during cooking.  When the lentils have cooked through, add the chopped parsley, give it a good stir, and remove the pan from the heat, put the lid on and leave for at least 10 minutes. Serve with crusty bread.

Tim Martin

Apart from ‘making do’ with whatever I find lurking in the fridge and ‘mending’ the occasional over-cooked offering, I may struggle to make a direct connection with this month's theme of ‘Make Do and Mend’. I am not even sure it is possible to actually ‘mend’ food as I am not sure it is possible to ‘break’ it - although this is from a man who once burnt a hard-boiled egg!

Making Do can be about many things. I can think back to the breakfast I served a group of young boys on a weekend camping trip that consisted of bacon on Weetabix - buttered of course. That was all we had left and it was ‘eat it or go hungry’, however it did encourage them to plan the food a little better for the next trip - a good life skill. Or the time we were on one wage, living on a narrowboat (defined by the Oxford English dictionary as “a hole in the water into which you pour your money”) and we were living on baked potatoes and beans because we could cook them using the same stove that kept us warm and therefore saved fuel.

So it is with trepidation that I approach the fridge seeking inspiration for this month’s column. Pesto, mayo, mushrooms and milk - not much else - it’s full, but not much else that's useful. The vegetable basket has 4 onions and 4 potatoes and the freezer has coffee and ice-pops.

Then it comes to me - an old recipe, so old I can’t remember where I got it from but I have a suspicion it is a Rose Elliott. Anyhow, it is a long time since I followed a recipe for this one so I am sure it has strayed from the original. It has one of those ‘magic’ combinations - mushrooms, butter and parsley great in a crusty bread sandwich but on this occasion put to even better use.

This recipe always reminds me of autumn when we 12

Victoria Hall: regular activities and classes Bryn Road, Lampeter SA48 7EE To book the Victoria Hall phone: 07891 632614 Email: admin@vichall.org.uk Please note that room booking fees for Victoria Hall have changed E.G. for community groups & local small-scale commercial: Large hall is now £12/hour; Small hall £7/hour; whole building £18/hour.

See www.vichall.org.uk for more details.

Day

Weekly (W) Fortnightly (F) Monthly (M)

Time

Activity / Class

Monday

W

6.308pm

Tuesday

W

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Contact Name

Number

Yoga suitable for all

Cathy Crick

01570 421144

4.305.30pm

LYTSS: Lampeter Youth Theatre & Stage School

Annie May

01570 423080

W

7.308.30pm

Zumba keep fit session

Julie Lancaster

01570 470542

6 & 20 Nov

10-1pm

Hafan Cymru ‘Moving on Club’

Becky Turton

07875 272834

F 13 & 27 November

1.304.30pm

Young at Heart

W

7-8pm

Zumba keep fit session

Louise Evans

07584 199372

W

1-3pm

Welsh classes

Meryl Evans

01545 572715

M 3rd Thur each month 21 Nov

7-9pm

Transition Llambed ‘Big Gathering’

W

10-12pm

Welsh classes

Meryl Evans

01545 572715

W

4.306.30pm

LYTSS: Lampeter Youth Theatre & Stage School

Annie May

01570 423080

2nd & 4th Sat each month

10am1pm

People’s Market

M 2nd Sat each month (9 Nov)

4-6pm this month only

Sing Out, Harmony Song Workshop

Clara Clay

07929 018928

W

10am7pm

Lampeter Evangelical Church

Gareth Jones at the Mustard Seed café

01570 423344

W 17 Nov

7-10pm

New! Custard Queens WI

Jen Pink

07540 383835

courses_______________ Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, Betws Bledrws Mon 28 Oct: Wild In The Woods (for children age 6-12) Mon 4 -Tue 5 Nov: Phase 1 Habitat Survey Wed 13 Nov: Lacto Fermentation Fri 15 - Sun 17 Nov: Identification & Ecology of Fungi Sat 23 Nov: Monthly Volunteer Day

Tea, sandwiches & social for the wiser folk of Lampeter

A chance for all those interested in/involved with Transition Llambed to plan and co-ordinate activities. Everyone welcome!

Local food, produce and crafts. Plus café, live music and other attractions

Sat 23 Nov: Special WEA Woodland Skills & Coppicing Workshop - FREE Sun 24 Nov: Special WEA, - FREE, Stoolmaking Workshop

Coming soon: W EA 30-hour Bread Baking Bonanza / WEA Essential Skills Full Qualification. Probably on Sundays in Nov & Dec. Dry Stone Walling workshop/training

at Cors Caron - date/s TBC Plus a s eries of G ardening workshops in partnership with the National Botanic Gardens of Wales' 'Growing the Future' project.

Many more opportunities and further details: 01570 493358, www.denmarkfarm.org.uk

Send your listings to lampetergrapevine@gmail.com 13

what’s going on listings are free. send details of your event to lampetergrapevine@gmail.com

courses contd____________ Tool Sharpening. Sat 16 Nov, 9am4pm. Want to keep your own tools razor-sharp? Join tutor Peter Drake to learn a range of sharpening techniques for hand tools at Long Wood's workshop in the woods.

Covering axes, knives, chisels and lots more. £18 per person, over-16s only. To book: 07557 386755, info@longwood-lampeter.org.uk ‘First Aid At Work’ in the Outdoors.

Mon 18-Wed 20 Nov, Long Wood.

Essential 3-day training course for anyone who works in or leads outdoor activity. Delivered by CRT Medical at a discounted rate: £100 per person. Option for “+F” forestry add-on which covers forestry specific injuries. To book: 07557 386755, info@longwood-lampeter.org.uk Further course details: www.crtmedical.co.uk/forestry-fa

creative_______________ Cellan Quilters - Knit, Natter and Sew, Wednesdays 12noon-4pm, Cellan Hall. £10 per month or £4 drop -in fee. Informal group for all who enjoy quilting, sewing, knitting, socialising - & female chatter? All ages, all abilities welcome. Contact: Amanda, 01570 421338.

Spinning Lessons with Ann Fisher Rhodes at Ffarmers Neuadd Bro Fana/Village Hall. Improvers every Wednesday 1.30-3.30, £8. Beginners t.b.a. Contact Ann 01558 650760, www.spinwise.co.uk spinwise.uk@btinternet

events ________________ The Welsh Quilt Centre's 2013 exhibition, Kaffe Fassett Comes to Wales. Last chance to catch this exhibition, open until November 2 at the Welsh Quilt Centre, Lampeter.

Admission: £5, £4 concs, £2.50 students.

Women's Workshop Autumn Sale, Sat 2 Nov, 12 noon-3pm, St. Peter's Hall, Lampeter. To book a table (£3) contact Bella, 01559 370981 People’s Kitchen Sunday 3 Nov, 1pm at Llanfair Clydogau Village Hall - delicious vegan lunch!

Coedwig Gymunedol Long Wood Community Woodland: * Fungal Foray, Sat 2 Nov. Join us for a FREE guided walk through Long

Wood & learn about the myriad of woodland fungi. Led by local expert Penny David. Meet Long Wood car park 12 noon. Contact: 07557 386755 Open Public Meeting. Mon 4 Nov, 7.30-8pm. Long Wood welcomes you to attend our monthly drop-in public meetings at St. Thomas Church, Lampeter. Contact: 07557 386755  Woodland Wednesdays. Join Sarah, our Warden, for regular volunteering sessions at Long Wood every Wednesday. Develop your wood skills and feel the benefit of working in this beautiful environment.

No experience required; training provided for these supervised sessions. Meet 10am, in our car park (Llangybi end).

Contact: 07557 386755, info@longwood-lampeter.org.uk Lampeter & District Beekeepers' Association meets each second Tuesday of the month, 8pm at Cellan Millennium Hall. Non-members welcome! Guest speaker on Tue 12 Nov: Wally Shaw, Technical Officer, Welsh Beekeepers' Association, & m em ber of DEFRA / W elsh Government Bee Health Advisory Panel. An opportunity to question a scientist and experienced beekeeper on all things bee-related. £2 (includes tea & biscuits).

The Scientific And Medical Network Lampeter and West Wales Group. Wed 13 Nov, 6pm, Founder's Library, University of Wales TSD, Lampeter campus: Dr Bettina Schmidt on Spirit Possession In Brazil. Free admission to all.

The local SMN group co-ordinator is Eric Franklin, 01570 471367, erf678@googlemail.com Cymdeithas Hanes Llambed/ Lampeter History Society meets Tues 19 Nov, 7.30pm in the Old Hall of the University. Guest speaker: Quentin Drew, senior lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Wales TSD: The graveyard of Strata Florida, and some observations of an archaeologist.

All welcome/Croeso cynnes i bawb.

Season’s membership £5, casual visitors £1 per session.

Pumsaint Tenth Annual Crafts Fair at Pumsaint Hall. Fri 29 Nov 2-7pm and Sat 30 Nov 10am-4pm, in aid of Breast Cancer Wales.

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Celtic Myth and Landscape: a series of talks, discussion and presentations about myth, landscape, archaeology, spirituality and the sacred. Sat 30 Nov, 10am, Founder's Library, University of Wales TSD: Professor Ronald Hutton, 'Lugh the Shining One'. All welcome, free admission.

Contact: j.bezant@tsd.ac.uk Llanybydder Christmas Fair, Sat 30 Nov at Black Lion Hotel, 2-5pm.

Stalls selling Xmas presents, plus refreshments and entertainments.

Take the children to see Santa in his grotto and have their photo taken.

Candlelight procession from Black Lion, 4.30pm, to sing carols round the tree and switch on the lights.

health & well-being courses & classes ______ Yoga classes suitable for all, with an Iyengar-trained teacher: Mon 6.30-8pm Vic Hall, Lampeter Tues 10-11.30am Cellan Hall 6.30-8pm Ffarmers Village Hall Weds 5.30-7pm Tregaron Chapel Vestry. Contact: Cathy Crick Stanton, 01570 421144, 07748 031614, cathycrick@hotmail.co.uk Build Confidence to sound your note in the world. Do you want to express yourself clearly, honestly and appropriately, and say no when necessary? Do you want to stand the best chance of achieving your goals?

Contact: Shân (qualified with Redwood Institute), 01570 218138, 07940 375147, www.livingexcellently.co.uk Mat-based Pilates. Physical and mental toning; improve your posture and co-ordination; increase your energy levels; learn to live from your centre. Cellan Millennium Hall, Mondays 2.30-3.30pm. Shân Rees, OCR-qualified Pilates instructor with extensive experience of movement and exercise: 01570 218138, 07940 375147, www.livingexcellently.co.uk

kids______________ Ray Ceredigion offers free, openaccess outdoor play sessions.

Maes Y Felin play area, Lampeter, every Mon (term time), 4-6pm. Also at Rhydlanfair play area, Llangybi, Mon, 3.30-5.30pm. Contact: Helen Lewis, 01545 570686

kids contd_______________ Playsessions on Maes y Deri playing field every 3rd Sunday each month throughout the year, 11am-3.30pm, with Ray Ceredigion playworkers. On the right up hill beside St Peter's Church, all welcome.

Ray Ceredigion also host a 'Messy Play' session for babies and toddlers on the first Thursday of every month, 10am, in the Extension at Lampeter Students' Union. Come along and make a mess!

Little M’zzz new indoor soft play centre, Llanybydder (in old church Hall near Evans Bros market). Open Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm, 7 days a week in school holidays.

Birthday Party bookings welcome.

Tasty menu & free WiFi. Contact: 01570 480268, www.littlemzzz.co.uk NCT 'Move and Groove' is a music and movement group for pre-schoolers. Every Tuesday, 10am in the Catherine Stott room, upstairs in Lampeter Students' Union. Let your little one do what comes naturally by making noise and not staying still!

"Lampeter Little Ones" is a Facebook group for the parents of pre-schoolers in the Lampeter area. If you're wondering what groups and activities are available for your baby or toddler, then please join up and have a look: www.facebook.com/groups/ lampeterlittleones LYTss Winter Term has begun. All newcomers welcome to come to Victoria Hall Tuesdays 4.30–5.30 to enrol. £30 per child per term for tuition and entertainment. Contact: Annie May (director) 01570 423080, annie@themay.co.uk

markets______________ People’s Market, Victoria Hall, Lampeter, 10am-1pm every 2nd & 4th Sat each month.

Next markets: Sat 9 & 23 Nov. Lampeter Farmers' Market Market Street, Lampeter, 9am-2pm alternate Fridays Next markets: Fri 1, 15 & 29 Nov Ffarmers Market Neuadd Bro Fana/Village Hall, Ffarmers, 10am-12.30pm 1st Sat in the month Next market: Saturday 2 Nov Llansawel Market Llansawel Village Hall, 10am-12.30pm 3rd Sat of the month Next market: Saturday 16 Nov Lunar Market. Saturday 2 Nov, Llanfair Clydogau Village Hall, 10am-3pm.

Local produce and crafts and refresh- Flamenco Dance classes weekly in ments. Contact: 07920 063773.

Lampeter and Aberystwyth with Ruscelli. move your body ________ Dixey Tues 6-7.15pm, Sally Saunders Dance Lampeter Belly Dance and Belly Fit Studio, Lampeter Industrial Estate, classes will resume on Mon 4 Nov. Tregaron Rd, Lampeter (next to Mondays, Lampeter at Shiloh Church Organic Fresh Food Co) Hall (next to Police Station): Wed 6-7.30pm, Aberystwyth Arts Beginners' Belly Dance (all ages) 1.30- Centre, with live flamenco guitarist.

2.45pm (£5) Men and women welcome. Please Belly Fit for over-50s, 3-4pm (£4) bring strong chunky-heeled shoes.

There is space in both classes. First Contact: 01570 493138, class free. dixeyart@gmail.com Contact Rose Barter: 01239 851737, Footpath Maintenance volunteering rosebarter@btinternet.com with Ceredigion County Council rights Belly Dance & Yoga classes. Belly of ways staff every Friday. Trashing, Dance: Tues 7.30-8.30pm. £3.00. clearing, erecting stiles, footbridges Beginner Yoga: Thur 7-8.30pm, £5.00. and installing gates mainly in the south Crugybar Village Hall. Contact: 01558 of the county. Fun and cost toward 685321, elenamgilliatt@hotmail.com transport included. No experience BlackSheep BellyDance. Fortnightly needed, just join our team! Contact: W ednesday classes with Lyza James Williams, 01570 480743 Chthonia: 6.30-7.45pm. £5 per person Friday Walkers: meet up with us for per class (first class is free!) Open ambling rambling on a Friday morning.

Level (Adults, 14yrs+) Shiloh Hall, Easy access walking for about an Lampeter (behind police station). Join hour, depending on the weather and our Facebook group – ‘Chthonia the mood. Meet Friday morning, rain or BellyDance Classes Lampeter’. shine, 10am at Rookery Car Park. www.chthoniabellydance.co.uk Free, followed by coffee and more and Tribal Dance with Lyza. Alternate chat. Not able to manage the stroll but Wednesdays 6.30-8pm, Shiloh Church would like company? No matter, just Hall, High Street, Lampeter. meet up with others like you for coffee.

Contact: lyza_darkestwish@live.com Philip Lodwick 01570 480181.

Cerddwyr Ramblers, Lampeter, Do Yoga, Wednesdays 5.30-7pm Cellan you enjoy exploring the local Millennium Hall. Small friendly group countryside, discovering historic sites, led by Pat Beaton, 01558 650594. socialising and mixing, having fun and chit-chat? Lonely, low in mood, Send your listings to recently widowed? Need a change or lampetergrapevine@gmail.com inspiration to exercise enjoyably, meet up with people outside your usual circle? Do you have a passion to Canolfan Hamdden Llambed maintain and improve our footpath Leisure Centre. 01570 422552, network by surveying footpath Lampeter-leisure@ceredigion.gov.uk problems or legal diversion orders? Or Autumn/Winter activity programme as perhaps lead walks that you know and follows: would like to share. Then join  Cardio Circuit Training gyda/with Lampeter Ramblers, we have much in Sands & Paul Butch. £3.50. Mon 6.30common! Choice of varying walks 7.30pm. All-over body workout. throughout the year.

See our Conditioning. Resistance training. programme in Library or Creative Improve mobility, strength & stamina.

Cove. James Williams, 01570 480743. Ymarfer i’r corf i gyd. Cyflyru. Ymarfer Coedwig Gymunedol Long Wood gwrthsafiad. Gwella symudadwy, Community Woodland. Do you need cryfder ac egni. to get out and about more? Join our  J’s Workout 01559 362690.

FREE 1/2 hour Health Walks, held on Oedolion/Adults £3.90, Henoed/ the last Sunday each month. Next Myfyrwyr/Iau/O.A.P/Student/Junior date: Sun 24 Nov. Especially for peo- £3.20. Tocyn consesiwn/concession ple who find walking difficult. Please ticket (12 dosbarth/classes) Oedolion/ wear sensible shoes. Meet at Penlan Adult £39, Conc. £32. Mon 5.30Goetre, SA48 8NE, 2pm.

Contact: 6.30pm, STEP. Tues 5.30-6.15pm, 07557 386755, Zumba. W ed 12noon-12.45pm, info@longwood-lampeter.org.uk Ffitrw ydd Rhw ydd/Ease into Fitness. Wed 6.30-7.30pm, Kettlecise. Thurs 5.15-6pm, Dawns lampetergrapevine@gmail.com Aerobig/Aerobic Dance.

15

move your body contd_____ Canolfan Hamdden Llambed Leisure Centre contd  Yoga/Pilates Ann Inshaw, 01570 481319, 07826 692110. Mon 5.307pm, Yoga (pob lefel/all levels). Tues 6-7pm, Pilates (pob lefel/all levels).

Wed 5.15-6.15pm Pilates (canolol/ cynyddol/intermediate/advanced).

Thurs 6-7pm, Pilates (pob lefel/all levels).

Fri 10-11.30am, Yoga (pob lefel/all levels).  Spinning £3.90 sesiwn/session, £39 for 12 sesiwn/sessions. Bwcio gyda taliad yn unig!/Booking with payment only! Tues 5.30-6.15pm, Wed 7.158.15pm, Fri 5.30-6.15pm. Cofiwch ddod a photel o ddŵr a thowel/ Remember to bring a bottle of water & a towel.  Clwb Ymladd Cleddyfau Llambed/ Lampeter Town Fencing Club Sean Slater, 01570 493139, anpiobaire1@aol.com Croeso i bawb dros 10 oed. All aged 10+ welcome. £4.50. Os ydych am hwyl, ffitrwydd a her o frwydro yna ymladd cleddyfau yw’r peth i chi. If you want fun, fitness and a challenge of combat then fencing is for you. Tues 3.30-5pm & Fri 6.30-8pm. Darparir offer/equipment provided.  Clwb Badminton/Badminton Club Dydd Gwener/Friday 5-6.30pm. All players welcome.  Clwb Rhedeg Sarn Helen Running Club Thurs 6.15-7.15pm. Croeso i blant dros 8 oed/ All children over 8 years welcome. Ysgol Gymnasteg REES School of Gymnastics Islwyn Rees, 01570 422979. Sat 9.15-10am, Oed meithrin (dan 5)/Pre-school (under 5); 1011am, Dechreuwyr (6 oed i fyny)/ Beginners (6yrs+); 11am-12noon, Gwellhawyr (6 oed i fyny)/Improvers (6yrs+).  Disco Sglefrio/Roller Disco every Saturday 3-4pm. Oedolion/Adults £2.60, Plant/Children £1.90. ‘sgidiau i’w llogi/boots for hire £1.30

music_________________ Gig: Ouroboros, Sat 2 Nov 8.30pm, Castle Green pub, Lampeter. £5 entry.

Excellent and extraordinary interpretation of jazz, folk and soul standards from Ouroboros (Pete Stacey, Maggie Nicols, Sid Thomas) - not to be missed!

Mulberry Bush Café Nights at 2 Bridge St, Lampeter (7.30pm): * Sat 2 Nov: Smudger & Jim, plus Middle Eastern Vegetarian Feast.

* Sat 30 Nov: Pentan (Sioned Webb, Clara Clay & Lynne Denman), plus Mediterranean-themed veggie meal.

Meals are £16.95 (3 courses); entry £2.50. Bookings: 01570 423317.

Lampeter Music Club at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter campus.

Sun 3 Nov 2.30pm, Arts Hall: Scottish Trumpet Ensemble.

Sun 10 Nov 2.30pm, Old Hall: Mazeppa, violin duo, Rhys Watkins and David Worswick from the London Symphony Orchestra.

Sun 1 Dec 2.30pm, Arts Hall: The Farthingale Singers. Four distinguished Welsh operatic soloists perform one of the great 19th-century vocal masterpieces, Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes (Love Waltzes).

Tickets on the door: £10; concessions £8.50, students free with a Union card, 2 children admitted free with a paying adult. To join mailing list (post or email) contact: 01570 422436, cockburn.david@gmail.com Sing Out Harmony Workshop 2-4pm 2nd Saturday every month at Victoria Hall, Lampeter. Next date: Sat 9 Nov, please note one-off time change to 4 till 6pm. £5 full price, £4 self-assessed concession. Contact: Clara Clay, 07929 018928

photography ___________ Lampeter Photography meet on 1st & 3rd Friday of every month, 7.30pm at the Kings Head, Lampeter. Monthly competitions, exhibitions & workshops.

All welcome. FREE. Contact: Stef, 07958 772035, lampeterphotography@yahoo.co.uk Tracy Dove, Llanfair Clydogau-based photographer, has an eclectic selection of her photo cards available at the Town Hall Cafe/Deli in Lampeter. Open Mon-Sat 10-4 with free wi-fi, great food, drinks & regular art exhibitions.

religious services & groups ________________ Lampeter Parish St Peter’s Church, Lampeter. Main Sun Service: 10.30am (bilingual), Other services: 8am Holy Communion (English), 9.15am Cymun Bendigaid (trydydd Sul yn y mis yn unig, Cymraeg). Church Hall available for hire, £8.50 per hour. Kitchen facilities.

Enquiries/bookings contact: Beryl, 01570 422324, www.lampeterparish.org St Cybi’s Church, Llangybi. Main Sun Service: 9am (bilingual).

St Bledrws’ Church, Betws Bledrws.

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Main Sun Service: 10.45am (English or bilingual).

St Sulien’s Church, Silian. Main Sun Service: 2pm (bilingual /Cymraeg).

St Mary’s Church, Maestir. Main Sun Service: 2.30pm (2nd Sun in month only, English).

Times apply to the first four Sundays in each month. For the few fifth Sundays there will be a single United Parish Service at 10am: location will be published in the local newspapers.

St Thomas' Methodist Church Sun service 10.30am, creche & youth activity. Tuesday Coffee morning 9.3012noon. All welcome. See chapel notice board.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Lampeter Sunday Mass is 10am. For other services see church notice board.

Emmaus Christian Fellowship meets Sundays, 10.30am and 5pm, at rear of 78 Bridge Street, Lampeter. Contact: David Patterson 01570 422529 Interested in Buddhism?

A Study Group for Women. Exploring the underlying principle of Buddhist Practice and how we can apply this in our daily lives. Meets one day a month near Aberystwyth. Meditation, shared lunch. Contact: Lesley, 01970 617129 or Noel 07988 745364 Lampeter Evangelical Church meets every Sunday at Victoria Hall, 10am– 7pm. Contact: Gareth Jones at The Mustard Seed café, 01570 423344 Lampeter Quakers. Every Sunday at Canolfan Steffan, Peterwell Terrace at 10.45am. All welcome. www.quakersinwales.org.uk (English) Crynwyr Llambed. Cwrdd bob ddydd Sul, Canolfan Steffan, Rhodfa Peterwell, 10.45 yb. Croeso i bawb. www.crynwyrcymru.org.uk (Cymraeg) Contact / Cysylltwch: Deborah Rowlands, 01570 480083, deborahjrowlands@gmail.com Seventh Day Adventists meet fortnightly on Sat at Cellan Millennium Hall, 10.15am-3.15pm.

For more details: www.cellanmillenniumhall.co.uk

social ________________ CY D Llambed. Ym arf er eic h Cymraeg/Practise your Welsh. Dydd Mawrth 11 yb-12yh/Tuesdays 11am12 noon, Gwesty y Llew Du, Llanbedr P.S./Black Lion Hotel, Lampeter.

Croeso i bawb/All welcome. Croeso i unrhyw Cymro/Cymraes sy'n fodlon i ymuno â ni.

Cysyllt â/Contact: Mary Neal, 01570 470092

social contd______________ Golden Broth Lunch Club: a free lunch and social club for the senior citizens of Cellan and Llanfair Clydogau, offering a FREE light lunch of soup, roll and cake, plus tea/coffee.

Gather for a social and play cards or dominoes, or just relax and natter to friends. All ideas are welcome. Come along and join in the fun.

Fortnightly on alternate weeks at Cellan Millennium Hall and Llanfair Hall on Mondays, 11.30am-2pm.

Next dates: Cellan - Mon 4 Nov & 2 Dec. Llanfair - Mon 18 Nov & 9 Dec. Amanda (Cellan) 01570 421338, or Linda (Llanfair) 01570 493706 Coffee Stop, Thursdays 10.30am3pm at Emmaus Christian Fellowship, 78 Bridge Street, Lampeter. Soup, toasties, cakes. W arm friendly environment. Contact: David, 01570 422529 Lampeter Friends is a new SelfAdvocacy group for people with learning disabilities, set up by Eich Dewis Chi (Ceredigion Advocacy).

Every Wed, 2-4pm, CAMFA building, Lampeter. A welcoming and supportive space for people with learning disabilities to meet and talk about issues important to them. Free,

all welcome. Meet new friends, find support, take part in activities, build confidence, learn new skills & hobbies & have fun!

Contact: Rebecca, 07976 023486 Whist Drives, Wed 6 & 20 Nov at Hafan Deg, Lampeter, every fortnight.

All welcome. All Funds to Hafan Deg League of Friends.

Contact: Gwen Davies, 01570 481152 lampetergrapevine@gmail.com

DID YOU KNOW? If you place a paid advert for your local event in the Grapevine, you can also have it included on the Victoria Hall and Cellan Millennium Hall websites for no additional charge?

Please email your poster (preferably JPEG format ) to: admin@vichall.org.uk or admin@cellanmillenniumhall.co.uk Thanks!

CELLAN MILLENNIUM HALL CLASSES AND GROUPS Classes subject to change: please check www.cellanmillenniumhall.co.uk for updates & contact details.

See our website What’s On page for one-off events MONDAY Line Dancing 7-10pm Lunch Club 4 Nov/2 Dec11.30-2pm Pilates (mat-based) 2.30-3.30pm TUESDAY Healing Yoga 10-11.30am Lampeter Home Education Group 12-5pm Qi Gong 6-7pm Tai Chi 7-8pm Beekeepers 2nd Tues of month, 8pm WEDNESDAY Table Tennis 10-11.30am Quilting Club 12 noon-4pm Yoga 5.30-7pm THURSDAY Village Improvement Society Cttee1st Thurs of month 7pm W.I. 2nd Thurs of month 7.30pm Qi Gong & Meditation 6-7pm FRIDAY Art Group 10am–1pm Film Night fortnightly 7.15pm SATURDAY Seventh Day Adventists, fortnightly 10.15am-3.15pm

Fri 25 Oct “Behind the Candelabra” (15) Michael & Debbie Reynolds

Fri 1 Nov “Summer in February” (15) Dan Stevens

Fri 15 Nov “The Great Gatsby” (12A) Leonardo Di Caprio

Fri 6 Dec “Man of Steel” (12A) Henry Cavill

DOORS OPEN 7.15pm for 7.45pm start Admission by Donation £2.00 BIG SCREEN & DIGITAL THEATRE SOUND WWW.CELLANMILLENNIUMHALL.CO.UK

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complementary & alternative therapists Charlotte Allen RSHom Homeopath 14 years' clinical experience.

Homeopathy is a safe, holistic method of treating both emotional and physical conditions. Llanfair Clinic, 41 Bridge Street, Lampeter, SA48 8EG. 01570 493746 Val Allen, BACP senior accredited counsellor/psychotherapist. UKRC Registered. Offering counselling, ps yc h oth erap y, h yp n oth er ap y, EMDR. 23 High Street, Lampeter SA48 7BA, 01570 493522, valallen@surfanytime.net Rolfing - Structural Integration.

Res tore your bod y's natur al alignment and grace. Caroline Body, Lampeter, Carmarthen and Cardiff.

07917 360595, www.rolfingwales.co.uk.

Transformational Bodywork. Iain Cameron Watson Trauma Release, Alexander Technique. Relief from stress/anxiety, PMT, insomnia, neck, back, shoulder, period pain, headaches. By donation. 07852 626001, cameronbodywork@gmail.com, http://transformationalbodywork.co.uk Jo Camlin BSc WSHom. Homoeopathy. Empower your own healing (or your child's) by telling your own story. Then a vital, energetic remedy is matched to your unique, personal experience. 01570 421480 (a.m.)

The Light of Love, a short but powerful treatment harnessing and directing the power of the Universal Life Force, relaxing, healing by touching into the heart's gentle energy. Ceredwin (thirty years of energy work experience), 01570 421476 Cathy Crick Stanton. Yoga teacher / therapist (Iyengar trained) and Barbara Brennan Healer. For class details, or to book 1-2-1 yoga or therapy/healing sessions: 01570 421144 / 07748 031614,

Diary date: December /January double issue Copy: Fri 8 November Theme:

‘Hobbies & Pastimes’

cathycrick@hotmail.co.uk Glynis Florence, BA, Cert. Couples Counselling, Dip Psychosexual Therapy. Member of COSRT. Relationship counselling and therapy to address sexual concerns in Aberystw yth and Lampeter .

Contact: 07780 458763 The Art of Well-Being: Reflexology and Indian Head Massage. Glennis Gratwick, MAR, FFHT, fully qualified, insured, 10 years' experience. Stall at Lunar Market (see listings) selling aromatherapy products.

Contact: 01570 493288 Pearl Jebb. Bowen Technique and Reflexology relieves back, sciatic, neck and shoulder pain. FHT, AoR, fully-qualified. Contact Pearl 01974 299224, 07967 647920, www.bowen-reflex4wales.co.uk Alison Kaye MBAcC. Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. Llanfair Clinic, 41 Bridge Street, Lampeter, SA48 8EG. 07779 256388 Living Excellently: 'Build confidence to sound your note in the world.'

Assertion Training, ConfidenceBuilding, Positive Ageing, Mat-Based Pilates, Style Coaching. Qualified, decades of experience helping people towards fulfilled lives.

Contact: Shân Rees 07940 375147, shanharmony@aol.com Susan McAllister (Bsc Hons).

Transformational Teacher, Therapist & Consultant. Over 20 years of teaching, complementary therapy & healing experience. Available now for Crystal Healing Workshops & Angelic Tarot Readings. To book, contact: 01570 493006 / 07572 672986, sue@tranquillight.vpweb.co.uk Louise Nadim BSc Hons, Ph.D. Fully qualified, insured Brennan Healer.

Working in the Human Energy Field assessing, balancing and healing, to restore physical, emotional and

storytelling & books_____ Storytelling Group/Noson Storiau Croeso i bawb, Cymry, Saeson a Thylwyth Teg, dynion a merched, oedolion a phlant.

Everyone welcome from complete beginners to talented bards. Come to listen, come to tell. Friendly, informal group 7-9pm every 3rd Monday in the month, Denmark Farm, Betws Bledrws. Next meeting Mon 18 Nov. Please bring a small donation to 18

spiritual health. Contact: 01570 421144 /07920 112228, louise_nadim@hotmail.com Dr Colette Power. Mindfulnessbased Stress Management, MB Pain & Illness Management; Introduction to Mindfulness Courses; 1-2-1 coaching. For future courses, or to discuss ways of working with mindfulness for you/your group, Contact: 07890 835873, colette@mindfulnesscourse.co.uk

www.mindfulnesscourse.co.uk Wild Cherry Coaching. Battling stress, low confidence, or simply feeling stuck? Move forward with sensitive and holistic life coaching with Ros (BSc (Hons) Psychology, Diplom a Stress Managem ent, Advanced Diploma Life Coaching).

Free consultation. 07462 746248, www.wildcherrycoaching.co.uk Eva Ryan MTI. Wholistic massage to help rebalance and heal body, mind and emotions. Treatment tailored to your unique needs.

Registered, insured practitioner. At Taliaris, or arrange home visits.

Contact: 01558 822390 / 07792 748191 Christine Stephenson BSc MNIMH. Medical Herbalist at Llanfair Clinic, 41 Bridge Street, Lampeter. Contact: 01239 858946 Ashley Ward MAR GJC (Dip Reflex).

Dan cing T re e R efl exo log y .

Reflexology in the comfort of your own home, within 15-mile radius of Lampeter. Fully-insured member of Association of Reflexologists.

Contact: 01570 422985 / 07811 767563, www.dancingtree.co.uk Reflexology. Annie Zakiewicz MAR is a fully-insured member of the Association of Reflexologists and practises from Cellan. Contact: 01570 493295 / 07790 107521, www.reflexologywithannie.co.uk

cover room hire and refreshments.

Contact/cysyllt â: Rachel 01570 493222, rachauck@yahoo.co.uk Creative Writing Workshop. Sat 9 Nov, Tysul Hall, Llandysul, 2-4 pm. £10, refreshments available. Tutor: poet Tiffany Atkinson from Aberystwyth University. Sponsored by Literature Wales. Contact: Kelly, 01267 235336 Send your listings to: lampetergrapevine@gmail.com

Seasonal snippets - more garden & wildlife goodies

by Mara, Ian and Tomos Morris who live in Llangybi Summer crops still fill the beds, making the most of the mild autumn to ripen.

Winter crops have already been planted out and are getting their roots established into the still warm soil.

So my focus turns to stuff! Looking into the potting shed I am faced with a lot of stuff all in general disarray after the busy season of activity. When I begin sorting, cleaning and stacking this I feel fortunate to have access to all these resources, but I’m also aware that I need to appreciate them more and take better care of them.

Many of my tools are good ones but could do with a bit of care and sharpening, so this will be my main project for November. I have mountains of pots, bottle cloches, labels, pots of string, canes, crop coverings and drying seed-heads. All these will last for many years if kept clean and dry, stored tidily, folded neatly and kept out of direct sunlight. Plastic pots are the gardener’s equivalent of the plastic shopping bag. But we don’t need to be ashamed of having plastic: just make sure that we keep re-using it so that we don’t buy new again. If we really have more than we need, we can offer to friends and neighbours or on Freecycle networks.

Once my shed is in order again (which includes reinforcing a cracked window pane with some polytunnel repair tape) I can then go indoors and start dreaming about what to plant next year.

November Ian’s Tweet Starlings are scarce breeding birds in the Lampeter area. In contrast, they are probably the most abundant species in winter, perhaps by a long way.

The reason for this is that our tiny resident population is joined by vast numbers of migrants from northern and eastern Europe. Starlings gather in large, spectacular roosts, containing huge numbers of birds. The time at which they start to head off to these roosts depends on the time of sunset and whether the conditions are bright or gloomy. Their flight is fast and purposeful. In the hour before dusk I often see groups of a few dozen Starlings heading west over my home in Llangybi.

However, I have been lucky enough to witness flocks many thousands strong, flying north over Cwmsychpant, east over Rhydlewis and southwest over Talsarn. They are all heading to the same place; a huge roost near Talgarreg containing tens, maybe hundreds of thousands. Look out for these dramatic dusk flights this winter and check to see which direction they are heading. I’ll bet it’s Talgarreg!

Mara in the potting shed It’s mid October and a wet, cold and breezy day. I don’t feel that inspired to be working in the garden and there is not really a lot to do now.

Starlings - heading for Talgarreg

by Tomos (age 8) 19

The Custard Queens: Lampeter’s new, young, vibrant branch of the Women's Institute Last year I decided to join the Women's Institute (WI) locally, so that I could meet some new friends and improve my social life, being a relative newcomer to Lampeter. Going back to work this summer after a long, lovely period of maternity leave has, however, destroyed my chances of being able to attend the majority of my WI trips and coffee mornings, as they mainly happen during the week!

This has spurred me on to start my own new WI branch, in the centre of Lampeter, with a focus on attracting new members who want a youthful agenda which not only encompasses having lots of fun, but also fits around work and family commitments.

run further family sessions during weekends which members’ children and partners can also come along to.

Not wishing to forget husbands and partners, we aim to invite them along to every third or fourth meeting initially, with a suitable agenda, so that they too can build up their network of friends.

I really hope that our programme will appeal to women of all ages, as I feel that there is much that both younger and older women have to offer the WI, and certainly there is much for the WI to offer back.

We are keen to attract the next generation of WI members and also welcome new members of all ages who are young at heart.

The aim of the group is to bring local women together to share new and exciting experiences across a wide spectrum of activities and pastimes, whilst enjoying a cheeky cocktail or two along the way. We have plans to organise some more energetic events, such as burlesque dance and horse riding, mixed with some more sedentary wine, beer and cheese tasting events, curry nights and pudding parties. Being a big fan of craft, I will also be enthusiastically supporting us getting involved in trying our hand at the more well-known WI favourites of knitting, sewing, and traditional crafts, and hopefully start to enter some of the WI competitions!

Our first informal meeting is taking place in the bar at the Black Lion in Lampeter, on Sunday 27 October at 7pm. We would really love to see as many new faces there as possible, so that we can get our new group up and running, and start to look forward to a fun 2014.

If any Grapevine readers might be able to help us by running any interesting sessions, I would be equally delighted to hear from you, as we want to use the expertise of the local community to deliver the most fun and interesting sessions we can.

Please contact us for further information: 07540 383835 or custardqueenswi@gmail.com Jen Pink Stop Press: Also at Victoria Hall Sun 17 Nov, 7-10pm

The “Custard Queens” as we will be known, plan initially to meet on Sunday evenings. Then, hopefully if we gain enough interest, we can start to

Continued from September Grapevine, Issue 12,

A Nature Tale: Mending of the Ways

Part 2 of the 'round robin' story written by the

Time passed for Edafedd as in a dream, all the while the music in his ears drawing him closer to that flash of light. The little mermaid sang with all her heart and she knew that something very important was happening to her. With a crash the boat hit the rock and Edafedd was startled out of his dream-like state.

Looking up he saw the prettiest girl he had ever set eyes on, combing her long golden tresses. She smiled at Edafedd and held out her free hand to help him climb onto the rock; then, to his surprise, she wrapped her arms around him and dived into the swirling foam. Edafedd tried to hold his breath under the water as shoals of brightly coloured fish swam and played around him. He sank deeper and deeper into the depths, passing strange creatures and rocks shaped like domes of eastern palaces. At least, he thought, the last thing I saw before I drowned was

Storytelling group that meets at Denmark Farm on the 3rd Monday of each month.

the loveliest girl I could imagine. At last he was forced to take a gulp of what he thought would be sea-water; strangely he did not feel his lungs filling with brine, but found that he could breathe easily. I must be dead, he thought, and have come to some kind of water heaven. His feet touched solid rock under him and he straightened himself and looked around. He could scarcely believe what he saw.

To be continued…

Readers are invited to add to the story by sending their contributions to avriljacques@yahoo.co.uk

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Kids in Action LYTss News

theatre_______________ Lampeter Youth Theatre and Stage School (LYTss) Every Fri, 4.306.30pm, Victoria Hall.

Contact: Annie May, 01570 423080, annie@themay.co.uk

LYTss has had a busy summer! We put on a pilot of our planned Christmas Extravaganza. This is not even a working title, but having seen it, I can assure you that an extravaganza is what it is. Lea Wakeman will make her debut directing for LYTss in a sparkling mélange of circus performance, dance and singing guaranteed to cheer any cold December night!

As soon as the summer term was over we plunged into a two-week activity programme in Long Wood. What a fabulous place! You have already had a short outline of our hugely enjoyable, but for an oldie pretty exhausting, 6-hour sessions playing at being hobbits, building dens, improvising in the lovely open-air theatre and making natural palettes and other artefacts from what we found about us. There was a lot of interesting discussion between all ages at lunchtimes when everyone met up to picnic in Hobs’ Garden and its roundhouse. There is nowhere like the woods to foster a spirit of can-do and resourcefulness.

Just what LYTss is all about!

Then we went to France. As you may have seen in the last issue of the Grapevine, Denise Hicks reported for the Town Twinning Committee. But a LYTss report from LYTss, you have not yet had.

We had rehearsed very little the mime play we were planning to offer our French hosts, so we rehearsed at the first opportunity. This just happened to be in the departure lounge of the cross -channel ferry company! True to form, the LYTers launched into their routine without hesitation or apparent nerves, and raised appreciative applause from the people queuing at the check-in desk.

We had one more opportunity to rehearse under a large tree when we went on a picnic by the river.

Afterwards we went to look at the astonishing Chateau de Tiffauges, that belonged to Gilles de Rais of sinister repute.

This presented us all with theatre of another kind, with re-enactments of archery, tilting at quintains, demonstrations of the trebuchet, medieval building engines and a mini-opera about Gilles de Rais and Joan of Arc! All very satisfying and dramatic.

On the Friday LYTss presented their mime play before guests at a gala dinner where they got a standing ovation for their superb performance. Made all the more astonishing because of the shortage of rehearsals and the fact that I had decided to narrate the play in French.

I do wonder if anything fazes these fantastic young performers?

Our term started on Tuesday 8 October with our new beginners/new entrants’ class. We will be learning, polishing and rehearsing our acrobatic and circus skills, our dancing, our singing and our acting. And a good time will be had by all!

All newcomers are welcome to turn up on Tuesdays at Victoria Hall from 4.30-5.30pm to enrol with us. The cost of a term’s tuition and entertainment is £30 per child.

Annie May 21

Making, Doing and Mending at Ysgol Trefilan Here at Ysgol Trefilan, with autumn in full flow, we find ourselves in a very special situation. A couple of weeks ago all was rosy, then out of the blue the news comes that we are being recommended for closure by the end of the summer term 2014.

The County Council finds itself with a financial deficit of £8 million, which it must be seen to be reducing, and education seems to be in the firing line.

Demographics show that there are fewer children than ever before in our county and that there is not the need for small rural schools in Ceredigion.

Yet that is not the picture that we have as teachers, parents and governors. We have 8 new children starting school at the beginning of next year. Despite the rumours of closure, people are still committed to joining our friendly team. Why? Ysgol Trefilan has always been a small school, up until last year we had a capacity of 25. We are no different from any other school in the area, our classes are of mixed age groups; we have two classes, which range from 4-7 and 7-11.

The difference is that the class sizes are smaller and this is what benefits the child. Whoever the child is, whatever their needs, they are seen as individuals and provided for accordingly.

Our academic results are totally flawless with each and every child achieving 100% across the curriculum. This includes Welsh, Maths, English, Personal and Social Development, Well-being and Cultural Diversity, and Science.

Last year we enjoyed phenomenal successes culturally too, with many awards at the local Eisteddfod and the Royal Welsh Show. As well as enjoying being involved in the Urdd swimming gala and other clubs, the children had the opportunity, for two terms, to cook, play and learn outdoors with an independent Forest School Teacher.

Through doing gardening, working, crafting, playing, performing and celebrating festivals they make lifelong bonds with childhood friends. With the guiding hand of the experienced teachers, they grow in the way that they need to as individuals to become a strong community. There is no room for bullying, as the children have to accommodate their differences while they work and play next to each other every day.

At the County Council’s meeting last week, during

which the Scrutiny Group met to discuss the future of our schools (Trefilan, Dihewyd and Penuwch), it was suggested that our children and teachers are suffering because they are in small mixed-ability groups. I would like to suggest that these are exactly our strengths.

Once these schools have gone, that’s it. The council suggests that the children are dispersed into the other schools in the area. We have supported the notion of the area school since the offset, believing that when it was opened we would happily move the children en-bloc with all the other small schools in the area.

Now, there is no proposal for the area school, and we are forced to fragment the children to other schools which may indeed themselves be closed in the next few years. The future for primary education within Ceredigion is bleak.

Help us to mend the damage proposed. Maybe you’d like to be part of a strong, friendly and committed team of parents, supporting the teachers to do the best for our children. Please do come and visit us.

The council is banking on the rumours of closure putting parents off, thus further reducing the numbers. We have a strong case but need a few more to believe in us. Maybe at present you are one of the 80 home schooling but are wondering if your child would benefit from a small school? The time to act is now, before it’s too late, and small rural schools become a thing of the past.

Primarily we need more children and families to join us, and more individuals to join our Action Group, who feel passionately enough to meet with us and help us proceed.

We have an open day on Saturday November 9, from 10am-12noon, where you’ll be welcome to meet the teachers, parents and children of Ysgol Trefilan. Their work will be on display along with their award-winning crafts. The teachers are happy to meet with anyone with interest in the school at any time, even if you’re just curious!

Belinda Knott, 01570 470368 Ysgol Trefilan, Talsarn, Lampeter, SA48 8QZ

22

COEDWIG GYMUNEDOL LONG WOOD COMMUNITY WOODLAND What’s been going on in the Woods It’s been all go at Long Wood over the last few weeks, with the build on our visitor centre in full swing and the foundations in place on site.

It’s great to see this exciting project taking shape from timber which has been felled and processed in our own woodland – you can’t get more local than that.

member of our team, Kevin Rabbitt, who had joined us on placement through Tir Coed’s Branching Out scheme as our Woodland Management Apprentice. Kevin (from Brechfa) will be with us for 8 months and will learn a range of skills, with a view to giving him a solid grounding from which to go forth into the woodland sector. Long Wood will offer practical training in a wide variety of low-impact sustainable woodland management techniques, as well as wood product development.

What’s on in the Woods

We will soon be running volunteer sessions where we’ll be putting the call out to all green-build enthusiasts to join us for some “mass task” days. So watch this space and our website for details of dates.

On top of all this hive of activity our regular volunteer group, Woodland Wednesdays, is going from strength to strength, and the team have been putting their own touches to improvements to the Forest School and Volunteer Workshop.

This area will soon be ready to welcome groups of children and adults alike to come and learn in a beautiful woodland setting. We’d like to take this chance to say a big thank you to ALL those who have volunteered with us recently for all your contributions.

There seems to be a real sense of team spirit with this group currently and their positive “can-do” attitude has been reflected in the quality of the work they have done at Long Wood.

On the theme of make do and mend, I’d like to add a third “m” into the mix and that is maintain. We’ve been noticing a recurring theme surrounding our much loved and used hand tools: they need sharpening up and a bit of TLC. All tools should be valued, and there’s the old adage that “they don’t make ‘em like they used to.” We’ve all seen old axe heads, billhooks and slashers made with British steel getting snapped up in car boot sales - their worth as quality tools is well known.

So, with that in mind, later this month we will be hosting a Tool Sharpening course. The course, led by expert Peter Drake, is open to all, and will cover a range of tool maintenance and sharpening techniques with participants. You can even bring some of your own blunt tools along for refurbishment.

Further details of this course can be found in the listings section on page 14.

Don’t forget our Fungus Foray on Sat 2 Nov. We hope to see you there.

James Kendall

We’ve also been able to welcome the newest Join our mailing list or find us on Facebook. Contact: 07557 386755 or info@longwood-lampeter.org.uk 23

Recent Reviews the Valleys Road, and parts of the M4 corridor), a new West Wales rail link could well be a financially viable proposition.

If the scheme is to progress, it is vital that as many interested parties as possible, not only from Lampeter, but from all communities along the route of the line, become involved. A follow-up meeting has therefore been arranged for

A new railway for west-central Wales At a well-attended meeting in Victoria Hall, Lampeter on Thursday 17 October, a new railway system for west and central Wales was outlined, discussed and enthusiastically endorsed. It has long been considered that the Aberystwyth-Carmarthen line which, along with many other rural railways, fell victim to the Beeching Plan (1963), was an important transport link that should never have been closed.

Since the track was dismantled in 1975, there have been numerous proposals to reopen the line, but none have come to fruition. However, with rising transport costs, increasing concerns about road congestion and the carbon footprint of motor vehicles, and threats to rural bus services, there is a growing body of opinion that the time may be right to revisit this matter.

Thursday 7 November 7pm at Victoria Hall Bryn Rd, Lampeter It is hoped that more members of the public, plus elected representatives from Community, Town and County Councils and AMs, will come to take matters forward.

Reopening of new railway lines in Ireland and, especially in Scotland, where 30 miles of the old Galashiels-Edinburgh Waverley Route is scheduled to begin operations in 2015 (budget ÂŁ295m), have shown that new railways are not just a pipe dream, but a real possibility. However, we need everyone to be behind this, so if you are interested in (and in favour of) the proposal, do come along to support the 7 November meeting.

Mike Walker

Speakers, chaired by Councillor Greg Evans, included MP Mark Williams and Elizabeth Evans (Liberal Democrats), Mike Parker (Plaid Cymru), railway historian David Morgan, Sion Morel (Facebook) and Councillor Rob Phillips. After a brief history of the line, including events leading up to closure, examples from other parts of the country where railway lines have been re-opened were described.

Rob Phillips outlined a plan for the AberystwythCarmarthen line to be part of an extended and upgraded rail network for Wales, connecting the urban areas of South Wales via Carmarthen, Lampeter, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and through to Bangor and the North Wales main line. This would make it possible to travel directly from Aberstwyth to Cardiff in 2.5 hours, saving well over an hour on the present journey via Shrewsbury. Many might have thought that the cost of a new railway line would be prohibitive but, when compared with the levels of funding that the Westminster and Welsh Assembly Governments have allocated (and continue to allocate) to road-building projects (e.g. the Heads of

This is something we would all benefit from - so let’s see if we can make it happen! Eds.

24

Recent Reviews

Apple Day - 5 October 2013

Thanks to the Organic Fresh Food Company & Lampeter Permaculture Group for another successful Apple Day

Produce Update: November 2013 As the days shorten, and the temperature drops, we welcome the new season of autumnal vegetables. I always take so much pleasure in the first soups and stews of the winter…like old friends, these comfort foods ease us into the long dark winter and will be there to see us through to spring. Pumpkins and squash this year have been wonderful, and we will be enjoying the stored vegetables throughout the coming months. The first Brussels sprouts appeared mid-October, and we are all starting to think about Christmas…not long now.

New Bakery: Coming soon….

In other news, we are really excited that our bakery is almost ready to open. It has taken a few months to get it fitted, ovens chosen, and the space kitted out fully, but we hope to have fresh bread and other baked delights ready to enjoy in December. So stop by to see how things are going, and maybe we’ll be able to give you a taste of what we’re perfecting!

25

Follow us on twitter @organiclampeter Find us on facebook/OrganicFreshFoodCo

Visit our shop (and soon the bakery!) on the Industrial Estate in Lampeter. 01570 423099

Granny’s Favourite Knickers Some of my loveliest childhood memories involve my ever-so-batty and creative Granny. She never threw anything away and everything was stored in perfect order ready for the day it was needed. Little bundles tied up with string, old envelopes stuffed full and carefully labelled, and plastic yogurt pots full of assorted goodies.

Her fabric collection gave me the greatest pleasure.

Neatly folded, graded according to colour, texture and weight and piled onto shelves covering the entire wall of her cosy sewing room. She was an artist, and collage was one of her favourite mediums which matched her need to collect things. Her collages were amazingly detailed and a riot of colour and form.

Flowers and rows of houses were favourite subjects.

She also was the queen of patchwork quilts - her way of using up all those oddments of fabric too big to throw away. She made me a bed quilt when I was about 7 years old, and every square in this unique work of art told a story. From the khaki cotton square from my Granddad’s army shirt, to the cream silk square that was a piece of her wedding dress, to a

sky-blue flowery square which, apparently, was from her favourite knickers! I continued to use and treasure it until my early 20s when, battered and torn, it disappeared during a move.

Now at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre I am watching many others follow this tradition of utilising textile scraps of personal memories to create something of beauty as a gift for a loved one.

Patchworks are obviously very much in vogue at the moment, but we can appreciate them on a much deeper level than simply as a beautiful bed covering or wall hanging. Kate Murray has been sharing her knowledge and skills handed down from her Mother to make a simple and unique hand-sewn patchwork quilt. Her next series of workshops will take place early in 2014 on 21 Feb, 14 & 28 March. See our website for details: www.denmarkfarm.org.uk or ring 01570 493358.

It’s probably time for me to start making a patchwork quilt too, to replace that one lost so many years ago however, I'm not sure if I’ll be including my knickers.

Mara Morris

Lampeter Town RFC Senior Men’s 1st XV

Ladies’ XV

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Sat

2

Nov

2.30

Nantgaredig

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Sun

27

Oct

2.30

Kidwelly

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Sat

23

Nov

2.30

Fishguard

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Sun

3

Nov

2.30

Bargoed

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Sat

7

Dec

2.30

Penybanc

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21

Dec

2.30

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small ads & Classified

Ruth’s Cakes Advertise through the Grapevine?

Do you have things to sell?

Your dream cake designed, made and decorated for any occasion.

Can you offer a service?

Is there something you need?

lampetergrapevine@gmail.com

Contact the newsletter team

Contact: 01570 434503 ruth-mann@hotmail.co.uk Order Christmas cakes now People’s Market ,Victoria Hall

Re-opened under new ownership & newly refurbished.

Antony and Elizabeth invite customers new and old to

Tregaron Rd We stock all seasonal fruit and vegetables, a large choice of Pencader Bakery cakes, fresh free-range eggs, home-made coleslaw, 2-kilo packs of thick-cut bacon & gammon steaks at very reasonable prices.

If you don’t see what you want on our shelves, ask and we will endeavour to stock it.

Opening times: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm Saturday 9.00am to 4.00pm Sunday 9.30am to 12.30pm From now until Christmas: "Saving time, saving lives" Raffle in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance (surviving solely on donations) Prize - Christmas hamper of fruit & vegetables (which will include a bag of potatoes) 50p per strip of raffle tickets A warm welcome to everyone - Croeso cynnes i bawb

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small ads & Classified Cegin Pantygwin Outside catering provided for parties, agricultural shows,

Celebration cakes made to order Many years' experience and Council licensed Contact Rhonwen, 01570 423651

lampetergrapevine@gmail.com

Can't knit? No time?

You provide the pattern and wool, I will handknit it for you.

Price list available.

01570 218045, florriescrafts@gmail.com

LAMPETER TOWN FENCING CLUB

Wanted

Tues - 15.30-17.00 Fri - 18.30-20.00 LAMPETER LEISURE CENTRE Contact: Sean Slater Tel. 01570 493139

Handmade fabric bags

Email: Anpiobaire1@aol.com

Ask for Irene

Agent, to sell beautiful

ART STUDIO UNIQUE All my own unique, original designs, hand painted glass vases & suncatchers Visit my stall at The People’s Market Victoria Hall, Lampeter, every 2nd & 4th Saturday MERRY CHRISTMAS NADOLIG LLAWEN

01570 493139

Last chance to find that special present before Christmas…

14 Dec 2013!!

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01570 422346