NOVEMBER 2020
VOL. 5
O'R GALON Evergreen's monthly newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE
CRAFT IDEAS FOR COSY WINTER NIGHTS HOW TO COPE WITH NEW RESTRICTIONS THIS WINTER IN SEASON - TIME TO MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS CAKE
A warm welcome to all! Put your feet up and settle down to enjoy edition five of "O'r Galon", From the Heart. At the time of writing, we are in the midst of Wales' "Firebreak" lockdown. There's a distinct chill in the air and the dark nights are well and truly upon us, but we can still find things to look forward to. Now, more than ever, we need to connect in whatever ways we can and we hope that this newsletter may help, even in a small way. We'd love to hear from you and will publish selections of your letters and photos for everybody to enjoy, so please get in touch. You'll find our contact details on the back page.
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Stir it up... You may think it's too early to think about Christmas, but the traditional time to make a Christmas cake is on "Stir-Up Sunday" in November. This year it falls on the 22nd so get your apron ready and roll up your sleeves! For the cake 175g/6oz raisins 350g/12oz natural glacé cherries, halved, rinsed, and dried 500g/1lb 2oz currants 350g/12oz sultanas 150ml/¼pt brandy or sherry, plus extra for feeding 2 oranges, zest only 250g/9oz butter, softened 250g/9oz light or dark muscovado sugar 4 large free-range eggs, at room temperature 1 tbsp black treacle 75g/3oz blanched almonds, chopped 275g/10oz plain flour 1½ tsp mixed spice
1) Place all the dried fruit, including the cherries, into a large mixing bowl, pour over the brandy and stir in the orange zest. Cover with cling film and leave to soak for three days, stirring daily.
For the covering About 3 tbsp apricot jam, warmed and sieved Icing sugar 675g/1lb 8oz marzipan For the royal icing 3 free-range eggs, whites only 675g/1½lb icing sugar, sifted 3 tsp lemon juice 1½ tsp glycerine
2) Grease and line a 23cm/9in deep, round tin with a double layer of greased greaseproof paper. Preheat the oven to 140C/120C Fan/Gas 1. Measure the butter, sugar, eggs, treacle and almonds into a very large bowl and beat well (preferably with an electric free-standing mixer). Add the flour and ground spice and mix thoroughly until blended. Stir in the soaked fruit. Spoon into the cake tin and level the surface.
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3) Bake in the centre of the preheated oven for about 44½ hours, or until the cake feels firm to the touch and is a rich golden brown. Check after two hours, and if the cake is a perfect colour, cover with foil. A skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean. Leave the cake to cool in the tin.
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4) When cool, pierce the cake at intervals with a fine skewer and feed with a little extra brandy. Wrap the completely cold cake in a double layer of greaseproof paper and again in foil and store in a cool place for up to three months, feeding at intervals with more brandy. (Don’t remove the lining paper when storing as this helps to keep the cake moist.)
5) Cover the cake a week before serving. Brush the sides and the top of the cake with the warm apricot jam. Liberally dust a work surface with icing sugar and then roll out the marzipan to about 5cm/2in larger than the surface of the cake, being careful to prevent the marzipan from sticking. Carefully lift the marzipan over the cake using a rolling pin. Gently level and smooth the top of the paste with the rolling pin, then ease the marzipan down the sides of the cake, smoothing it at the same time. Trim excess marzipan from the base of the cake with a small sharp knife. Cover the cake loosely with baking parchment and leave for a few days to dry out before adding the royal icing.
6) For the royal icing, whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until they become frothy. Mix in the sifted icing sugar a tablespoonful at a time. Stir in the lemon juice and glycerine and beat the icing until it is very stiff and white and stands up in peaks. To ice the cake, place all the icing on to the top of the cake. Spread evenly over the top and sides of the cake with a palette knife, roughing up the icing for a snow peak effect. Leave the cake loosely covered overnight for the icing to harden a little, then wrap or store in an airtight container in a cool place until needed.
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Winter Sparkle
Create a little festive magic with these simple candle lanterns, all for the cost of a can of soup! You will need: A tin can, cleaned A hammer A nail Optional: Spray paint Decorative Ribbon Wire Wire cutters
2) Once frozen, remove the can from the freezer and place on a table. Put a tea towel 1) Clean your can and remove the label. under your If the edges are rough, sand with can to protect sandpaper. Fill with water almost to your table the top and freeze until the water has and keep the completely turned to ice. can steady.
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3) Decide on your design. We chose a heart in keeping with our magazine title! This also means that this lantern isn't just for Christmas and can even be used in the garden in summer (but don't leave it out in the rain!) You can draw your design on paper or mark with a felt tip on the can and wash off later if it helps you to place the design. 4) Using the hammer and nail, gently tap holes in the can following your pattern. Be careful that the nail doesn't slip around or that your fingers don't stick to the frozen metal!. Tap holes on either side near the top if you'd like to attach wire to hang the lantern up. Once finished, place under a warm running tap until the ice can be removed. Dry off, place a tea light inside and light! Make sure there are no flammable items anywhere near your lantern. If you'd like to decorate your lantern further, spray with spray paint or glue on some ribbon. These make great gifts or you can make a big batch to decorate your entire house. Don't forget to send us pictures of any you make! Remember, never leave a burning candle unattended.
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Switch on the news and you'd be forgiven for thinking "here we go again". Tighter restrictions and the fear of the NHS struggling to cope are very difficult to deal with. So what can we do to get through it? Get in touch to let us know what's keeping you going right now. 1) It's OK not to be OK Modern society demands that we are cheerful, productive and positive all the time, but humans are complex creatures with a whole range of emotions built in which are designed to protect us. It's totally natural that we are feeling less desirable emotions right now. When an uncomfortable emotion manifests itself, avoid fighting it off and just let it be. Name it. Is it fear, sadness, anxiety, grief, frustration, hopelessness? Write it down. What does it feel like, look like, or even taste, sound or smell like? Paint it, draw it, give it a sound, sing it, dance it whatever it takes to help you identify and express what you are feeling. (By now, if you are "dancing hopelessness" you may be grateful that you are on your own!) The emotion will eventually pass, perhaps with some release such as crying or laughing. Learn to celebrate the complexity of your emotions and to identify when they change.
2) Look after the basics When your brain is going into overload, it's easy to overlook your body's basic needs. We know that we need healthy food, plenty of water, exercise and good sleep but this can be a challenge when we feel anxious. Remember though that these things will make you feel better.
3) Turn off the news Keep yourself informed, but if the news starts to make you feel anxious, move on. Put down the paper, change the channel and enjoy something more positive.
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4)Self-care Sometimes, we need a break. If things get too much, do something that is purely for yourself. A long bath, listening to music, going through old photographs or reading a book will help you to relax and escape. 5) Reach out Pick up the phone. There's nothing like having a good chat with somebody else and it will make them feel better too. It doesn't matter whether you share a laugh or have a good moan, it will help you remember you are not alone. For more specific help and support, contact one of the organisations listed on our directory page.
6) Live in the moment and let go a little Take time to notice things around you and avoid projecting into the future or dwelling on the past. Observing the view from your window or listening to birds singing will keep you connected to the present. This pandemic has reminded us how little control we have of the future, so enjoy the moment and let tomorrow bring what it will. This is one of the 7) Look for hope in the little things hardest things for humans to grasp so don't Our routines have been disrupted worry if you can't do it all the time! but that shouldn't mean we have nothing to look forward to. Arrange your day so that there are moments that you anticipate and relish. This could be doing a crossword, speaking to a neighbour or going out for your daily walk. 8) Exercise outside Whatever restrictions are enforced, we are still allowed to go outdoors. You may not feel like it, but even a few minutes outside will raise your spirits and make you feel better. Thermal layers and good waterproofs will make you more comfortable in the worst weather, or even sit by an open window for a few minutes.
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Much has been made of the devastating flood of 1960 when the town centre was knee deep in water but it is important to realize that 1960 was simply the culmination of a series of floods which had been occurring regularly as far back as records exist. In 1779 the torrential floodwaters of the Ogmore washed away two arches of the old bridge, which would have been the only way of crossing the river in the town and its environs. Flooding occurred on many occasions, each time it was hoped that the Board of Health would take action. Needless to say nothing was done and next we had the great flood of August 1877 which was extensively reported in the Western Mail: “It would be almost impossible now to describe the damage done to the Wyndham hotel, in some of the rooms of which the water was between 6ft and 7ft high... Doors, windows, and even the woodwork outside the houses, were torn away and carried off by the overwhelming mass of water, and the wreck created was most pitiable to behold.” Following this flood Captain Douglas Galton was asked to report on the state of the river and to make recommendations for the prevention of further flooding. The flood prevention scheme under construction, 1984
Copyright Colin Simper
Copyright Natalie Murphy
Galton was a much-respected engineer in his day. In his report he advocated the raising of the walls alongside the river and the ‘remodeling’ of the old stone bridge. There were floods in November 1877, January 1894, 1909, 1944 and then we arrive at the defining flood of December 4th 1960 when the damage and losses were considerable. This time action was forthcoming and a major flood defence scheme was promoted and construction commenced in early 1984. The flood prevention scheme was severely tested in both 1992 and 1994 as it has been most recently in the early months of 2020 with floods across South Wales but the town centre has remained unflooded and perhaps it could be said, with fingers crossed, that the river Ogmore has finally been tamed.
Editor - Ian Price. Abridged by Karen Steadman. Project participants - Anthony Crocombe, Dawn Storie, Ian Price, John Conybeare, Julie Cooke, Natalie Murphy, Rowena Williams, Ruth Griffiths, Ian Hutchinson
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We are very grateful to the Bridgend and District Local History Society for sharing with us their annual journal "The River Ogmore - Floods and Bridges 2019-20". Here is an abridged version of the "Floods" section and we will bring you "Bridges" next month. Do you have any memories of the floods? This edition of the journal is based on work carried out by those involved in the Under the Bridge project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project covered the whole of the river but for this journal we join the Ogmore below Aberkenfig.
Copyright Natalie Murphy
Copyright Natalie Murphy
Rivers have always been an essential element in settlement, providing vital resources and enabling easy movement of goods and people. H J Randall, in his excellent book "Bridgend The Story of a Market Town" remarked that the Ogmore differed from other rivers in South Wales in that it was not navigable and therefore, in our case not used for the commercial transport of goods or people. Our town takes its name from the bridge, which has defined it since 1425 although Newcastle and Oldcastle, facing each other across the bridge were only formally connected with the establishment of the Bridgend Board of Health in 1851. As we shall see, the growth of trade in Bridgend in the 19th century was marked by frequent incidents of flooding and mounting pressure to resolve the problem but it took until the end of the 20th to see a solution.
Copyright Natalie Murphy
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Puzzle Page
It's time to give your brain a workout! Answers at the bottom of the page (but no cheating...)
Define each word then add each one together to create a new word e.g. To shout + what you say when hurt = a colour = Yellow The ocean + a father's boy = a part of the year Another name for father + a yellow vegetable = a cinema snack A light brown colour + to leave = a type of dance A vehicle + an animal friend = a floor covering
Answers
Banana Assess Revive Uneven Dresser Grammar Potato
Word Games
One + one...
Word Games What do the following words have in common?
If you take the first letter and put it at the end of the word, you get the same word written backwards
Riddle What lives in Winte grows r, dies with it in Spr s root ing an upwar d ds?
Riddle An icicle One + one Sea + son = Season Pop + corn = popcorn Tan + go + Tango Car + pet = carpet
DIRECTORY OF USEFUL CONTACTS The following organisations may be able to help you with your day to day needs or provide necessary information Bridgend County Borough Council For general support information
01656 643 643 talktous@bridgend.gov.uk
BAVO To direct you towards appropriate support
01656 810 400 Out of hours 07851 248 576 bavo@bavo.org.uk www.bavo.org.uk
Age Cymru Check in and chat for over 70's
08000 223 444 (9.30-4.30) www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru
Mental Health Matters Wales For mental health support
01656 651 450 www.mhmwales.org.uk
Mind Cymru For mental health support
0300 123 3393 Text 86463 www.mind.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau For general support
01656 762 800 www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Stronger Together Bridgend For activity packs and a free DVD of creative things to do
07591 200 119 (Tue-Fri 10-5) www.StrongerTogetherBridgend.co.uk strongertogetherbridgend@gmail.com
Bridgend Carers Centre Support for unpaid carers
01656 658 479
This month's colouring picture is a cosy, indoor scene from favoreads. Once you've finished, you can put it in your window or post it to us to feature in a future edition.
We hope you have enjoyed edition five! We'd love to receive your letters, photos, stories or anything else you'd like to share. Don't forget to send us your "Postcard to my younger self" as mentioned in Edition Four. If you'd like to receive a copy of "O'r Galon", or know somebody who would, please contact us. Until next month, stay safe and we'll see you soon. Please send all your correspondence or enquiries to Evergreen, c/o 11 Acland Road, Bridgend, CF31 1TF email evergreenhallbridgend@gmail.com Telephone 07470 895 820