POETRY IN THE PARK

The next gathering of poetry enthusiasts will be on Sunday, January 16 at 3 pm. As the weather is still likely to be inclement, it will be held in the Old Chapel on Lower Frog Street, Tenby. Remember it is actually closed on a Sunday, so we will be going in through the side entrance. Everyone is welcome to join us… with or without poetry to share!

TWELFTH NIGHT

Hopefully, everyone’s decorations are down now as it was the 12th day of Christmas on Wednesday, January 5, and this is traditionally the end of the Christmas celebrations. In medieval times, the feasting and celebration lasted for twelve days with a final feast on the twelfth night after Christmas … which is what Shakespeare wrote his play called ‘Twelfth Night’ for.

TENBY COMMUNITY FRIDGE

This is open Tuesday to Saturdays from 10 am till about 4 pm at the Old Chapel on Lower Frog Street, and is a good place to drop off any food that you will not be able use up in time – either from your home or business, so that someone else can use it up. Between us the amount of food wasted in Tenby should go down! Please also can people call in to pick up any food they can use – there is more coming in all the time and help is needed to keep on top of it and use the food up before it has to be thrown out.

WINTER GHOSTS

There are five species of owl regularly in the UK, of which the barn owl is the most famous. Winter is the best time to see them. As days are shorter, they are more likely to be seen looking for food in the daytime. They are completely silent when they hunt, and can see the slightest movement. Try the edge of a field at sunset where voles and mice might be common. It’s a haunting experience to see one glide past.

FILMS4TENBY

The De Valence is hoping to be able to start having films again soon - watch this space – so please could you give suggestions for which films you would like to come and see. You can let me know on [email protected] or pop in and leave a note with the council officers in the De Valence. One suggestion is to start with the new James Bond film…

LOHRI

This coming Thursday, January 13, is the celebration of Lohri. This is a midwinter festival in India and Pakistan. Bonfires are lit, and people dance and have a special meal to celebrate the lengthening days. You could celebrate by making a bonfire painting using red, yellow and orange paint. If you use a piece of scrunched up tissue paper to spread the paint up from the bottom of the page, it can look really effective!

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE...

A good way to get to know a place you think you know well even better is to draw a map of it. Draw the area around your house, or draw the town. Don’t just put in the things that everyone knows about. Put in places that are special to you in some way. This could be places where people in your family or your friends live, your favourite shops or cafes, the best place to hide out of the rain, the place to get the best view, or the route of your favourite walk. You could also put warnings in – the place where there is often stinging nettles, or the place where it is often icy in cold weather. You could mark the places where things have happened to you – where you have fallen, or where you had your first kiss, maybe. It is your map – put what’s important or interesting for you on it!

PICK UP PASTA

This is like pick-up-sticks, but instead of sticks, you can use spaghetti. Drop a pile of spaghetti on the table so it is all in a jumble and take turns trying to pick up a piece of spaghetti without moving any of the other bits. As soon as another piece of spaghetti moves, it is the next player’s go. Whoever has the most pieces of spaghetti at the end wins.

THINGS TO MAKE WITH OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS

These can be recycled, but you could also use them to: make a sewing card by choosing a card with a clear picture on it and punching holes into it around the picture. Then someone can practise their sewing skills by sewing through the holes with different coloured wool. Or, make a Christmas table mat by cutting up the pictures from Christmas cards and arranging them on an A4 piece of card so they completely fill it up – a collage. You can use it as it is or laminate it first. Now all you have to do is find somewhere to keep it so that you remember to use it next year!