Llwyn yr Ynys Christmas Dinner

On Thursday 20 December the young people of Llwynhendy Youth Group prepared and served Christmas Dinner for the residents Llwyn yr Ynys and their guests. This event has now been running for a few years.

Setting the tables

Taking care of the raffle prizes

With a table each to wait on, the team are ready

Ryan and his table. "Best waiter in the west" was the compliment

Geraint and his table, which included Cllr. D J Davies, Chairman of Llanelli Rural Council

Daniel and his table

Megan and her table

Jodie and Amber's table

Michael and his table

Matthew and his table

Jamie and his table

Drawing of the raffle. Plenty of wine was won.

Also a meal for two and a carpet clean!

Click on the links below to hear what some of the people who were at the evening though of it all.

Clip 1

Clip 2

Clip 3

This great event was down to the efforts of Llwynhendy Youth Group, Llwynhendy Communities First and staff at Llwyn yr Ynys Complex.

Upper Amman Valley Christmas Experience

On December 20^th, Upper Amman Valley Communities First Partnership hosted a Christmas Experience at Cwm Gors Rugby Club. This was a chance for the community to look back at the history of Communities First in the area, look forward to developments in the future and celebrate all the good work community groups are doing in the area.

Tom Williams, Communities First Co-Ordinator, told the crowd about his personal highlights from working with Communities First from the very beginning. Adele Evans, Voluntary Sector Communities First Liaison Officer explained the future development of the Communities First programme.

Alex, Peter and Peri of Mess Up The Mess Theatre Company

The evening was also an opportunity for many of the community groups of Upper Amman Valley to meet up and let each other know about what they are doing for their communities. There were presentations from the Gwaun Cae Gurwen Happy Wanderers walking group, BASE (Brynamman Street Elite) and the Amman Valley Trotting Club. Mess Up The Mess Youth Theatre Company spoke about their recent Play In A Day project and their forthcoming production, Strangers, a collaboration with groups in Slough and New Zealand. ABSO (All Skateboarding Outcasts), explained how they had adopted the Ynys Dawela Nature Reserve as a project and were committed to carrying out 3 jobs a year to enhance the environment. Cwm Gors Village Forum presented an update on their plans to restore a local park as a community heritage garden.

Other local groups brought along displays and were happy to discuss their work over a seasonal mince pie and glass of mulled wine.

Brynaman Swimming Pool Association

Carmarthenshire Connect met up with Jackie Bird and Tracy Davies of the Brynaman Swimming Pool Association at the Upper Amman Valley Christmas Experience on Thursday.

Tracy Davies and Jackie Bird

Brynaman’s open-air pool was first opened in 1934, built and paid for by the local miners. It is now the only surviving lido in Wales. The Brynaman Swimming Pool Association was started to ensure the survival of the pool. They have set up a shop and a games room for the children, and organise a volunteer clean up of the facility before it opens each summer. Their work in ensuring the survival and popularity of the pool is much appreciated by the local community.

Black Mountain Produce and Craft Market

On Saturday 15th December, Carmarthenshire Connect attended the monthly Black Mountain Produce and Craft Market in St. Catherines Hall, Brynaman.

Terri Darnbrook and Co-Founder Tamsin Dickinson were very proud to have many local stalls attending selling local crafts and food from hand made jewellery to home made jams!

(Founder Terri Darnbrook and Husband Ian serving some very tasty cakes)

The morning was a great success and received much support from the local people of Brynaman along with a festive performance from Gwaun Cae Gurwen local band who kept everyone in the Christmas spirit.

(Festive Pam Holden from the Lluest Horse and Pony Trust)

Pam Holden is a local volunteer for the Lluest Horse and Pony Trust who spent the day promoting the trust and running a Christmas raffle with a large selection of prices (pictured below) with all the proceeds going towards helping the animals at the Trust. You can find more information on the Trust at http://www.lluesthorseandponytrust.org.uk

(Raffle Prizes)

Pictured above is Dianne Gill (secretary of Brynaman Garderning Club) selling some lovely hand made Christmas Cards.

Local farmshop residents, Tamsin Dickinson and her husband (pictured above) selling their fabulous home-made jams and curds. All their products are made from local produce (where possible) and are hand made by them at their farm and farmshop a couple of mile outside of Brynaman.

Ann Cozens (pictured above) selling hand crafted Christmas wreaths.

(Nicola Kelly selling unique glass fired jewellery)

Nicola Kelly first began creating these fantastic pieces of jewellery when she started studying kilm fused glass one day a week at Gorseinon College. She highly recommends the course and says "It's definitly a great hobby to take up".

If your interested in glassed fired jewellery then why not come along to the next Black Mountain Produce and Craft Market to have a chat with Nicola.

Christmas Tea

Tirynys's Christmas Tea event was held on Tuesday afternoon. A super buffet was laid out. It included Shelia's very tasty home made fruit cake (Sheila's top baking tips were shared)

The Tea was also an opportunity to celebrate Harold Protheroe's 90th Birthday (Friday)

Harold with his family.

Happy 90th Birthday Harold!

Birthday cake was enjoyed followed by a raffle.

Brynaman Gardening Club's December Meeting

December's guest speaker was Mr Steve Hopkins. He gave an amusing talk called 'The Dry Garden'. In light of climate change, water shortages and hose pipe bans, Steve shared many practical ideas and tips on designing gardens that don't need much water, collecting rain water, and ways of making water last longer and go further.

Steve is a Specialist Parks Development Officer for Swansea City Council.

Armchair Aerobics

On Wednesday afternoons at 2.30 an Armchair Aerobics class is held for Felinfoel Senior Citizens at the Tirynys complex. The classes, run by Mike Hart of Chanquanshu Wales (www.taichiwales.com) are based on Qigong breathing exercises.

Enid and Joan enjoy the exercises.

The class is open to members of the Felinfoel Senior Citizens Group, and their friends and family.

'The Tasty Turnip' Food Co-operative

(Above - Local resident Mr Phillips and volunteer Angela Rees)

The Tasty Turnip food co-operative is a fantastic service that offers access to fresh fruit, salad and vegetables on a weekly basis to the residents of Felinfoel.

What is a food co-operative?

A food cooperative is a simple system through which people access fresh fruit, salad and vegetables on a weekly basis at wholesale prices. A £2.50 bag of fruit, salad and vegetables can aid a familywith achieving the "5 a day" target as recommended by the Welsh Assembly Government, plus providing better value for money than large supermarket.

The Tasty Turnip is held every Wednesday with help from volunteer Angela Rees at the Tirynys Complex, Felinfoel.

Swansea Bay Woman of the Year Awards 2007

Congratulations to Marianne Thomas and Eiriol Lewis on being Finalists in the Swansea Bay Woman of the Year Awards 2007 - Community Award.


Marianne and Eiriol were recognised for the extensive effort they put into Felinfoel Senior Citizens Group. Eiriol is the group Chair and Marianne is the Secretary. Both had a very enjoyable day at the Black Tie event at Brangwyn Hall in Swansea.

Bingo

Monday night at 6.30 is Bingo Night for Felinfoel Senior Citizens Group. It's a very popular group. Ran played a couple of bingo games (great fun!) with the group and asked a few members 'why do they love bingo?'

Joan and Phyllis. Joan says she loves bingo because "it's nice to get out of the bungalow and meet a lot of friends".

Some of the bingo team.

Switch On At Pantyffynnon

The community of Pantyffynnon turned out in force to watch the switching on of their Christmas lights on Friday 7th December.




Despite the cold and the rain, a happy crowd counted down to the important moment when Carol Cadman, Secretary of the Action group, switched on the lights.

Carms Connect Meet 'Scribes R Us'

Karlis Ozolins met with Jan Slade (pictured above) from 'Scribes R Us' Writting group in Brynaman Community Centre today to introduce Carmarthenshire Connect to their Community Group.

The group are very keen to get involved to let others know what they are doing and Carmarthenshire Connect very much look forward to working with them in the future.

Ystradowen Christmas Tree and Lights

Ystradowen Residents Association have organised and set up some super features to add to the Christmas magic.

The colourful Christmas Tree on the Village Square

Christmas Lights over the entrance to St Margaret's Church.

You can almost hear the carol singers!

Felinfoel Christmas Festival

Felinfoel's Christmas Festival was held on Friday 7 December. The festival featured the switching on of the lights, fireworks, stalls, Furnace School Choir, food and drink and a visit from Santa! It was organised by Felinfoel Events Committee and Felinfeol Communities First.

There were stalls from Felinfoel Events Comittee, Llanelli Heritage Group, Ty Haul Family Centre, Felinfoel Senior Citizens, Frindiau Felinfoel/Friends of Felinfoel. Radio BGM provided excellent commentary during the event.

The lights go on

The first time Chloe met Santa

Kaitlyn and Alisha. Kaitlyn is hoping for a doll and pram for Christmas, while Alisha would really like an MP3 player.

Luke and Joshua hangin' out with Santa. Both would like a PSP for Christmas.

Felinfoel Senior Citizens and their stall.

Frindiau Felinfoel / Friends of Felinfoel collecting for local charities with their stall and tombola.

Pantyffynon Youth Group

We were asked our favourite place in the world is and why

gavin jonse 19

Pantyffynnon Youth Group

We were asked what our favourite place in the world was and why?

I've chose cypris because it is sunny and you can go jetskiying.

My name is lee and i am 15 years old.

Pantyffynnon Youth Group

We were asked what our favourite place in the world is and why?


audio clip of siobhan gibbons age 19

i am siobhan gibbons and im 19.

Pantyffynnon Youth Group

We were asked what our favorite place in the world was and why?

Hi.I am codie i am 16 and i have chosen lanzarote because it is one of my dreams to go there and see my auntie who i have not seen in more than two years and i want to see her and i want to see my cousins.

Morfa Christmas Lights Switch On

Morfa Residents and Tenants Association held its Christmas Lights Switch On at 5.30 on Monday 3 December.

The Christmas Tree Lights. (Yes, there is a tree in there somewhere!)

At the event, the Carmarthenshire Connect Team caught up with some the attendees to find out what the best thing about Morfa was.

From left to right Mrs Page, Mrs Davies and Mrs Jenkins. Mrs Page said the best thing about Morfa is the "really wonderful people".

From left to right, Gerald, Pat and Terry. Gerald, a key figure in making the Switch On happen, was pleased with the way the community came together for the event. It was a shame to hear that vandalism attempts has been made on the tree though.