EDITORIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR Christmas is a magical GETTING THE time. As children we love TURKEY READY the excitement of FOR CHRISTMAS Christmas. As adults we appreciate the focus of our lives changing to giving of DINNER ourselves to others. This Christmas Step 1: Go buy a turkey edition of the Bônau Cabbage Patch is for the young as well as the old as we Step 2: Take a large drink of whisky. celebrate the birth of Christ and our children's magical view of Christmas Step 3: Put turkey in the oven which most of us still carry deep down Step 4: Take another 2 drinks of whisky inside. Step 5: Set the degree at 375 ovens

We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas Step 6: Take 3 more whiskies of drink and a Happy New Year. Step 7: Turn oven the on

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Step 8: Take 4 whisks of drinky

Dda. Step 9: Turk the bastey

Step 10: Whisky another bottle of get

Christmas: The time when everyone Step 11: Stick a turkey in the gets Santamental. thermometer

Step 12: Glass yourself a pour of whisky

Step 13: Bake the whisky for 4 hours

Step 14: Take the oven out of the turkey

DATES FOR YOUR Step 15: Floor the turkey up off the pick

DIARY Step 16: Turk the carvey

Step 17: Get yourself another scottle of botch

Step 18: Tet the sable and pour yourself Dec 22 First Day of Winter a glass of turkey Dec 22 Shortest Day Dec 25 Christmas Day Step 19: Bless the saying, pass and eat Dec 26 Boxing Day out!

Jan 01 New Year’s Day Step 20: Cherry Misstmas! Jan 25 Burns Night Jan 29 Chinese New Year Jan 30 Muslim New Year

Feb 14 St Valentine’s Day Feb 28 Shrove Tuesday DID YOU KNOW

Mar 01 Ash Wednesday Christmas 2004 - Two Mar 01 Lent begins Michigan robbers entered a Mar 01 St David’s Day record shop nervously waving revolvers. The first one shouted, "Nobody move!" When his partner moved, the When yo u meet temptation, turn to startled first bandit shot him. the right. driven at 31 mph, sipped a beer out of MEXICAN CHRISTMAS MIRACLE PRIZE licensing hours, let their dogs foul the LETTERS TO THE A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor WINNERS pavement or public place, or drop litter, all EDITOR Mexican girl who had no gift to present Here is a list of criminal offences, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. the Christ Child at Christmas Eve all the winners in Why is it that Pwll Park Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the the Pwll Action hasn’t got any seats or play If anyone can hear unacceptable bad chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart Committee second autumn draw. facilities for the toddlers? I think we are language at the park during training was filled with sadness rather than joy. Congratulations to all the winners and a the only park in the Llanelli district where very big and heartfelt thank you to all the sessions, please contact a member of the "I am sure, Pepita, that even the most Gran and Grandpa have to sit on the people who supported the raffle so committee so that we can see that the humble gift, if given in love, will be grass watching their little angels play. generously. Your generosity will ensure matter be dealt with appropriately, and it acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro (And I’m afraid my days of grass stains the future of the Bônau Cabbage Patch on my clothes are long gone). would also be helpful if anyone has seen consolingly. magazine for a little longer. who burnt the nets, rode a Years ago the people of Pwll worked long Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt motorcycle over the football pitch, broke st and hard to build the Park. Today there windows at the pavilion, ripped out the by the roadside and gathered a handful 1 4424 D Thomas (TV/DVD Combi) of common weeds, fashioning them into a isn’t even a seat to sit on or a swing or a tennis nets, lit a fire in the council shed or nd see-saw for the toddlers. What a state to small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly 2 0299 Janet Smith (£50 Marks & vandalised the cricket score box, so that Spencer Voucher) get into! What a Park! What a Council! the park can be a safe place for all bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened

members of the community. and embarrassed than ever by the 3rd 0077 Pam Mowbray (£25 ASDA Last summer the Park was very busy, humbleness of her offering. She fought between the children living in the village Voucher) Yours sincerely, back a tear as she entered the small and the people stopping off to have a rest th Committee of Pwll A.F.C. village chapel. 4 0557 Christine Thomas (£25 Tesco from the cycle track, so surely the council Voucher) in their wisdom, could come up with a As she approached the alter, she th couple of seats for Pam and a few swings remembered 5 3605 Dorothy Lloyd (Sunday Lunch Dear Sir, Pedro's kind words: and a see-saw for the kids. for 2 in Colliers Arms) Thank you for the copies of The Bônau "Even the most PW th Cabbage Patch you sent back in August. I humble gift, if given 6 4542 M Haddock (Malt Whisky) Maes-yr-Haf in love, will be greatly enjoyed the article concerning the th acceptable in His 7 0380 Byron Jax (6 Bottles Wine) crash landing of the Marauder during the eyes." She felt her It was with great disappointment that Second World War, but I also enjoyed 8th 4608 Sandras Dad (Standard Car spirit lift as she supporters of Pwll A.F.C. read the only reading the rest of the magazine cover-to- Valet at Cawdor Cars) knelt to lay the th anonymous article printed in the autumn cover. 9 4534 Barrie Rudall (£15 Meal bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene. Voucher at Halfway Hotel) edition of The Bônau Cabbage Patch. After deploying to Daws Hill, England in The content was offensive to everyone Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst th 1942 (only a few weeks after our activation 10 0575 Rhian Davies (Tin Quality connected with the club, players past and as the VIII Bomber Command) we began into blooms of brilliant red, and all who Street) present, committee and supporters alike. the epic campaign against the Third Reich saw them were certain that they had The Elgin Road resident has allegedly that resulted in our title, “The Mighty witnessed a Christmas miracle right 11 th 24725 Mrs Saunders (Bottle Cava) heard bad language at the park. The Eighth.” With the unwavering support and before their eyes. 12 th 3111 Kerrie (Mail Box) words “disgusting” and “do not appreciate sacrifice of our great Allies in Britain, we From that day on, the bright red flowers the presence of the general public” bring persevered. Today, then residents of Pwll were known as the Flores de Noche to mind the words slander and solicitors. and America alike enjoy freedoms that Buena , or Flowers of the Holy Night, for Does the Elgin Road resident have times, All that remains is for us to thank all the could not otherwise have been retained. they bloomed each year during the kind hearted people who donated the dates, names, photos, voice recordings Thanks again for your thoughtfulness and Christmas season. prizes. Your generosity is very much so that the club can investigate the matter further? It is disappointing that the for producing a fine publication, which Today, the common name for this plant is appreciated. We would also like to give letter was worthy of printing, surely the includes a wealth of useful information and the poinsettia! our special thanks to all those people who purpose of the magazine is to provide much sound advice! gave up their valuable time selling the tickets. Thank you all. Diolch yn fawr. information and light hearted stories of Sincerely, the community, not to give the voice of an Kevin P Chilton, Lieutenant General, Christmas is a time when people get individual who has a grievance towards Eighth Air Force, USAF emotional over family ties, particularly if an organisation within the village, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana they have to wear them. otherwise, where will it end? Will we have alleged reports of motorists who have YES VIRGINIA – which childhood fills the world would be CRACKER THE WALRUS DIP extinguished. Now in its 19th year, the infamous Walrus THERE IS A JOKES – FOR SANTA CLAUS Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as THE KIDS Dip sees people well not believe in fairies! You might get entering the sea in Francis P. Church’s your papa to hire men to watch in all the a wide variety of editorial, “Yes chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa fancy dress Virginia, there is a Claus, but even if you did not see Santa ranging from Santa Claus” was Claus coming down, what would that What did one Angel say to the other? Vikings, fairies, an immediate prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that Halo there! pantomime horses sensation, and became one of the most & various super is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. How to cats greet each other at famous editorials ever written. It first heroes. With all money going to charity, The most real things in the world are those Christmas? appeared in The New York Sun in 1897, thousands of people turn out to watch and that neither children nor men can see. Did "A furry merry Christmas & Happy mew over a hundred years ago, and was you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? to take a Boxing Day stroll along the 7- year!” mile award winning Cefn Sidan beach. reprinted annually until 1949 when the Of course not, but that's no proof that they What do elephants sing at Christmas? paper went out of business. are not there. Nobody can conceive or TH imagine all the wonders there are unseen No-elephants, no-elephants! Date: 26 December 2005 It gives us pleasure to reprint the editorial Location: Pembrey Country Park and unseeable in the world. Organiser: Carmarthen County Council here. What do angry mice send to each other Contact: 01554 747500 You tear apart the baby's rattle and see at Christmas? Dear Editor, what makes the noise inside, but there is a Cross mouse cards! I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends veil covering the unseen world, which not say there is no Santa Claus. How do sheep greet each other at Christmas is in my heart twelve months a the strongest man, nor even the united Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's Christmas? year and thanks to credit cards, it's on strength of all the strongest men that ever so. Please tell me the truth, is there a A merry Christmas to ewe! my Visa Card Statement twelve months lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, Santa Claus? a year also. poetry, love, romance, can push aside that What do monkeys sing at Christmas? Virginia O'Hanlon curtain and view and picture the supernal Jungle Bells, Jungle bells! 115 West Ninety-fifth Street beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Why are Christmas trees like bad Virginia, in all this world there is nothing Dear Virginia, knitters? PARISH Your little friends are wrong. They have else real and abiding. They both drop their needles! RECORDS been affected by the scepticism of a No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives, and What did the bald man say when he got a sceptical age. They do not believe except he lives forever. A thousand years from comb for Christmas? 1329 - Dispute they see. They think that nothing can be now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand Thanks, I'll never part with it! between Walter which is not comprehensible by their little years from now, he will continue to make de la Boxe, minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they Why is a burning candle like being glad the heart of childhood. parson of be men's or children's are little. In this thirsty? Llandafaelog, and Thomas Robert, parson great universe of ours man is a mere Christmas is not a time nor a season, but Because a little water ends both of them! of Pembrey, on the limits of their land, insect, an ant, in his intellect, as a state of mind. To cherish peace and What do you get if you cross an apple decided in favour of Llandafaelog, and compared with the boundless world about goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to with a Christmas tree? confirmed by Bishop Gower, St Davids. him, as measured by the intelligence have the real spirit of Christmas. A pineapple! capable of grasping the whole of truth 1819 - The Rev. Mr Pemberton and knowledge. What do you give a train driver for A CHRISTMAS POEM Christmas? bequeathed a home and garden, and £50 Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He Platform shoes! per annum to a master for the gratuitous exists as certainly as love and generosity England was merry England, when instruction of the poor, children of whom and devotion exist, and you know that Old Christmas brought his sports again. What did the big candle say to the little there are now twelve on this foundation. they abound and give to your life its 'Twas Christmas broach'd the mightiest candle? ale; I'm going out tonight! highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary Some of these new toys are so creative would be the world if there were no Santa 'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; What happens to you at Christmas? and inventive. This year they have a Claus! It would be as dreary as if there A Christmas gambol oft could cheer Yule be happy! Neurotic Doll. It's wound up already. were no Virginias. There would be no A poor man's heart through half the year. How do you make an idiot laugh on child-like faith then, no poetry, no boxing day? romance to make tolerable this existence. (Sir Walter Scott) Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve! We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with SOME for short distances at speeds up SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH WYNNE’S XMAS COLLIERS QUIZ to 55 miles per hour. They can TURKEY Wynn’s Christmas Quiz in the Collier’s Arms also reach speeds of 25 miles per Whilst on holiday in Florida we were FACTS will this year take place on Tuesday 27 th hour on the ground. fortunate enough to watch the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery at 10:30am December starting at 8:30pm. Teams of 4 • Turkeys sometimes spend the th on 26 July from Kennedy Space Centre. members are invited to enter at a charge of night in trees. This was the first shuttle to be launched £1 per player. All the proceeds of the quiz as • There are Turkeys can drown if they look up since the Columbia disaster in February well as the proceeds of the Christmas a number when it is raining. They can also 2003 when all the crew were lost. Hamper draw and Wynn’s Pickled Eggs of explanations for the origin of the name have heart attacks: turkeys have sales will be donated to the charity of the of Christmas’s favourite dinner guest. been known to drop dead with We set out from winning team’s choice. our hotel in Some believe Christopher Columbus shock when a jet passed over There should be quite a pool of money to thought that the land he discovered them breaking the sound barrier. Orlando at 3am fight over so why not join us there on the and arrived At the (America) was connected to India, and • The ballroom dance known as night and slog it out for your favourite charity. Kennedy Space believed the bird he discovered (the the Turkey Trot was named for I expect Wynn will also have his usual raffle Centre an hour turkey) was a type of peacock. He the short, jerky steps a turkey on the night to raise even more money! later. A large therefore called it 'tuka,' which is makes. screen was set up 'peacock' in Tamil, an Indian language. for us to view the pre-launch coverage While we are postponing, life speeds by. (The turkey is actually a type of where we saw the crew of Discovery pheasant). CRACKER JOKES prepare for the mission. NASA personnel - FOR THE KIDS The Native American name for turkey is and astronaut Charlie Walker (who had PLANNING COMMITTEE 'firkee'; some say this is how turkeys got been on a previous space mission on the their name. Simple facts, however, shuttle Discovery) provided full The Pwll Action Committee, at the request of a considerable number of residents of Pwll, sometimes produce the best answers— Who do you call when commentary. As the moment when a turkey is scared, it makes a "turk, approached, we could feel the tension in has written to Carmarthen County Council your parrot falls off his Planning Department and other turk, turk" noise. perch? the air as staff and visitors alike prepared organisations and individuals complaining of for the launch. When the countdown Some Turkey Facts The Parrot-Medics the lack of Planning Control on new building finally reached zero, it was truly amazing • Why did the horse cross the road? projects planned for Pwll. Age is a determining factor in to witness the Space Shuttle clearing the taste. Old, large males are Because he wanted to visit his neigh- launch pad and hurtle towards space at The main concern was for an application that bours! was refused outline planning permission last preferable to young toms an incredible speed – a sight we will (males) as tom meat is stringy. Why did the teachers at schools wear remember for years to come. year, yet just 12 months later identical full The opposite is true for females: sunglasses? planning permission was going to be Some Facts & Figures: recommended for acceptance by the old hens are tougher birds. Because their students are so bright! chairman of the Planning Committee. • A turkey under sixteen weeks of Discovery arrived at the What did the right eye say to the left eye? age is called a fryer , while a Kennedy Space Centre In the Pwll Action Committee’s eyes the Between you and me, something smells! young roaster is five to seven in November 1983. Its county planners have recently made some months old. Why would you want a Giraffe as your first mission took place disastrous planning decisions in the village th that has now set the precedence for future • Turkeys are the only breed of brother? on 30 August 1984. planning applications. Such mistakes cannot poultry native to the Western Because you can really look up to him! Discovery was NASA’s third space shuttle be allowed to happen again or Pwll will Hemisphere. How can you tell if a policeman is strong? orbiter to join the fleet. completely loose its individuality and charm. • Turkeys have great hearing, but He can hold up traffic with one hand! The mobile launcher no external ears. They can also Carmarthen County Council once told us that What kind of train can sneeze? platform used to they wanted to listen to and act upon the see in color, and have excellent A choo choo train! transport the shuttle to recommendations of the local individuals. visual acuity and a wide field of the launch complex This is their chance to prove that this policy vision (about 270 degrees), How do you catch a unique monkey? stands 20 feet high, is is not a figment of our imagination. which makes sneaking up on You neak up on him! 131 feel long and 114 feet wide. It travels them difficult. However, turkeys th How do you catch a tame monkey? at a speed of 1 mile per hour when Update: On Tuesday 18 October the have a poor sense of smell Tame way you the other one! loaded and uses 150 gallons of fuel every Planning, Committee decided to refuse (what's cooking?), but an mile. It is the largest track vehicle in the planning permission. excellent sense of taste. How does a farmer count his cows? On a cow-culator! world weighing in at 2721 tonnes. • Domesticated turkeys cannot fly. (Stuart Messer) Wild turkeys, however, can fly THE TWELVE DAYS 12. Twelve drummers drumming VILLAGE MAN’S maily from the husks of any wheat or cort symbolize the twelve points of belief in the that was given to us by the Germans. OF CHRISTMAS MEMORIES OF Apostles' Creed. People often think of the THE We have very little meat: only the odd twelve days of Christmas There you have it...the hidden meaning of LIBERATION OF rabbit if it happens to stray into the garden. as the days preceding the Twelve Days Of Christmas and the SARK IN THE All the fields are mined and we cannot get the festival. Actually, secret behind the song. CHANNEL to the harbour as tank traps are erected along the whole length. Christmas is a season of I had never heard this before, and I ISLANDS. the Christian year that begins December thought maybe a lot of you haven't either. I have never seen a sweet and when I was 25 and lasts until January 6th - the day of Now the song has so much more meaning Today is the 10th May 1945 and I am 4½ given one I tried to eat it with the wrapper Epiphany - when the church celebrates when I do hear it. - Ed years old. My sister is 17. I hear my on. The same with an orange – I started to the revelation of Christ as the light of the mother and father talking quickly and bite through the skin until my mother told world and recalls the journey of the Magi. sounding so happy. Why? Because they me to peel it. When I hear someone sigh, “Life is hard”, have just heard that we are to be From 1558 until 1829 people in England I am always tempted to ask “Compared to were not allowed to practice their faith liberated On the 50th anniversary of the liberation of what?” Sark my wife and I, accompanied by our openly. It is believed by some historians The war in Britain in ended. Hopefully children, returned to the Island and met that this is the time that someone wrote there will now be peace. 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' as a kind HRH The Prince of Wales. of secret catechism that could be sung in PWLL ACTION COMMITTEE Britain, Guernsey and Jersey have already become free. We have had to public without risk of persecution. The The Pwll Action Committee held their th wait for an extra day. song has two levels of interpretation: the Biennial General Meeting on Tuesday 11 surface meaning plus a hidden meaning October in the Pwll Community Centre. There is a meeting in the Island Hall and known only to members of the church. Considering the very poor weather conditions someone has found an old vale radio Each element in the carol is a code word of the day the meeting was extremely well which has been hidden for the duration of for a religious reality. attended. the war and we listen to Chrurchill giving

The chairman read his report, which his speech. 1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ. emphasised that although the committee had It has been decided that on the 12th we had some good successes within the village 2. The two turtledoves are the Old and are going to have a festival day. other projects were progressing slowly New Testaments. I have been chosen to celebrate all the because of the financial and manpower 3. Three French hens stand for faith, constraints of the relevant County Council good things that we have missed (all of Department. which I have never seen before) and my hope and love. sister Little Glad is to have all the items (Photo is of me (Edward), my sister Little Glad All members of the current Committee were 4. The four calling birds are the four that we actually had during the and the Sark Fieremen. My father (James) on Gospels. re-elected with two new members being right behind tall man in front. 12th May 1945 occupation. elected to join the committee – Mr & Mrs Walking along Rue Lucas, Sark) 5. The five gold rings recall the Torah Cooper (Post Office) My father and Uncle Eddie have also (Law) the first five books of the Old The meeting was also presented with the been asked if they can arrange a This year my son and daughter-in-law Testament. accounts, which covered the period from the procession of Firemen to march behind came with us. HRH The Queen visited 6. The six geese of laying stand for the inception of The Pwll Action Committee to us and my mother to help cook a few Guernsey and Jersey but as she was six days of creation. the end of June 2005. Obviously the most Guernsey Wonders. It is to be a real flying out to Canada soon afterwards she income was raised from the Bônau Cabbage family day. did not have time to visit Sark. 7. Seven swans a swimming represent Patch advertisements. Conversely the the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit. greatest expense was the cost of printing the In my wooden cart I have items from the I wrote to Her Majesty and received a very Red Cross parcel which the ship “The thoughtful letter in return, saying how 8. The eight maids a milking are the eight magazine. Vega” brought two days ago – sugar, tea, pleased she was to know how Sark had Beatitudes. After a lively session of Questions from the tinned milk, tinned fruit, chocolates, spam celebrated the freedom from occupying 9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits floor and answers from the Committee, Mr and bananas, to name just a few. forces. of the Spirit. David Webb held the Grand Autumn Raffle - My sister’s perambulator has salt made the results of which you will find on Page 3 (Edward Le Feuvre, Pwll Road) 10. The ten lords a leaping are the Ten from sea water, coffee from acorns,

Commandments. We would like to thank all the members of tobacco made from bramble leaves, What does not destro y me, makes me

the public who attended the meeting and clothes made from old curtains, clogs 11. Eleven pipers piping stand for the stronger. made the evening such a great success. mended with tree bark and bread made eleven faithful disciples.

ADVENTURE OF THE FEARLESS picturesque pub, drinking a pint of beer, PWLL CRICKET a brilliant achievement and a credit to the FIVE – The Conquest of the Worm reminiscing and planning our next CLUB coaches. The under 12’s performed well adventure. I feel I must add that being the and next year the club will enter an under Our adventure started one bright sunny only female in our team of five I felt well A late winning run saw 11’s in the league for the first time in a few Saturday in early September, myself and chuffed to have been asked to join in. Pwll comfortably retaining years. If we manage to hold on to these four lads – Jeff, Ian, Huw and John set off th (Anne Smith) their 4 Division status in youngsters the future will look after itself. from The Colliers Arms, over to Rhossili the S.W.C.A. This run We now look forward to our end of season on the Gower Peninsula, in order to cross included a resounding victory over local presentation night and the start of indoor over the causeway to Worms Head. The The world is divided into people who rivals South Llanelli who were eventually nets in February. day had been planned carefully – tide do things, and people who get the promoted. In this match it looked as if times and so on. On reaching Rhossili, credit. Try, if you can, to belong to Pwll were the team going up, such was after crawling behind tractors, sheep and Most people never run far enough on the first class. There's far less their superiority and it only served to the like the weather turned quite nasty, their first wind to find out the y've got a competition illustrate what might have been. The black storm clouds appeared and the second. Give your dreams all you've Club’s focus is now firmly on got and you'll be amazed at the energy wind was very gusty. But were we put strengthening the squad in readiness for that comes out of you . off? Definitely not! Determined to carry on PWLL SOCCER CLUB next season. as we were on a mission! On went our walking attire, sensible shoes (no flip Even in a mediocre season there were SOME FAMOUS PEOPLE WITH flops) and off we set. A satisfactory start to some notable performances, particularly WELSH ANCESTRY the season with both in the bowling department. We were The causeway was rather dangerous, it Pwll teams in the top strong throughout the season, bowling needed our full concentration, amidst half of the division and most teams out fairly cheaply. Leading Russel Crowe laughter, a few fears and I’m glad to say among the early pace taker was leg spinner David Cary Grant no mishaps we reached our destination. setters. Richards with a haul of 42 closely Burt Lancaster Worms Head had a sense of eeriness followed by Gareth Griffiths with 32. about it, we climbed to the top, and I Bette Davis Pwll first Team must show more Unfortunately the was not of the hasten to add nearly blown away at Harold Lloyd consistence having beaten top of the table required standard, although David times. “Gosh! Huw. Was that your toupee Leslie Nielsen Tralllwm but lost to both Tumble and Williams scored over 400 runs which I saw whizzing yonder into the deep blue Samuel Pengelli – a very young team.capable of included two scores of over 80 and an waters way below us?” Dean Cain very exciting football, have already amazing 24 sixes! A special mention

defeated St Ishmaels, one of must be given to Huw Thomas who took Joan Collins Pembrokeshire’s leading teams in the over the captaincy halfway through the Susan Sarandon West Wales Cup. season and did a great job in keeping the Ginger Rogers team up. Myrna Loy Pwll reserve team with a blend of youth In contrast the 2 nd team enjoyed a very Glenn Ford and experience, have also made a good John Adams start loosing only once in 7 starts (a 2-0 successful season, just being pipped at Calvin Coolidge away defeat) to top of the table Llandeilo the post for the championship by

and among them a 5-1 home thrashing of Margam. Skipper Tim Mann led the Hilary Clinton second placed Bwlch. batting and top bowler was Mark Miller Jefferson Davis with over 30 wickets including a hat trick Andrew Jackson (Above: Worms Head) in one game. Three local youngsters Thomas Jefferson

stepped up from the juniors to enjoy their Abraham Lincoln The paths surrounding the Head were PWLL SCHOOL DVD first season in senior cricket – well done James Monroe very narrow and treacherous, none of us to Kevin Evans – who had a 50 against ventured close to the edge, but having Pwll Primary School recently launched th his name, Ashley Davies and Nathan said that it was well worth the effort, their DVD to celebrate the 75 Birthday of Davies. DID YOU KNOW views were fantastic, and it made us feel their current school building. To finish on a high note, the club’s junior When visiting Finland, Santa proud to be living so close to this Copies are available from the school at £8 section, under junior organisers Neil leaves his sleigh behind and beautiful part of Wales. After a brew (not each. Call 773962 to order your copy. Davies and Mark Miller, enjoyed a very rides on a goat named Ukko. the hard stuff) and a bite to eat we said a fond farewell to Worms Head and started successful season. The under 11’s Finnish folklore has it that Ukko is made of (This DVD is well worth the money. The nostalgia is finished as champions in their league, our trek back, all of us feeling rewarded. gratifying and most rewarding. – Ed) straw, but is strong enough to carry Santa Our day ended sitting outside a which included clubs such as Dafen, Claus anyway. Gowerton and Carmarthen Wanderers – 1914 AND THE Almost everywhere the truce was A WALK ON THE hemisphere. Perhaps it had left a few SOLDIER’S TRUCE observed, it actually began on Christmas WILD SIDE suitcases behind! Eve, the high point of the season for the - by Jeff Williams One sunny afternoon that month a grey Germans. In many places, it lasted Nobody knows where squirrel had crossed the main road and through Boxing Day, the day after the Christmas Truce of was heading toward the pavilion. Oh! I Christmas observed by the English as a 1914 began. Nor is it The warm August know, it was probably going for an holiday. In a few parts of the line, certain, even today, weather brought an afternoon tea at the café. hostilities didn't recommence until after whether the truce abundance of butterflies to the area New Year's Day, a holiday with special began in one spot and especially that pest, the cabbage white. Another winter beckons us and already we meaning for Scots and, to a lesser extent, spread, or broke out simultaneously in Never before can I remember such an have had several reports from the Met the French. many places, the convergent evolution of infestation of caterpillars on various Office stating that we are going to endure numberless human hearts. War did resume, though. It was a truce, brassicas. Unless you checked the plants the coldest winter since 1995/1996. But as daily for these grubs they would devour What is known is that at Christmas 1914 - not a peace. What followed was misery, we all know they never get it right! We will the entire foliage and be you’d be left with four months into what would eventually waste, loss and degradation on a scale just have to wait and see. difficult to imagine. just bare stems, which I witnessed in one be called World War I -- thousands of Wishing all readers a Merry Christmas and nearby garden. British, French and Belgian soldiers spent Research suggests that in 1914 at least a prosperous New Year. I’ll see you all in a cold, clear, beautiful Christmas 100,000 people participated in the With fantastic aerial acrobatics, once the spring. mingling with their German enemies Christmas Truce, directly or indirectly. again a gannet was spotted offshore on th along the Western Front. the morning of 28 August. But I wonder, maybe a coincidence a Sunday, was it The mysterious beginnings are fortunate. spying on the greedy locals at the For want of the name of the first person OLD CLASS Colliers or eyeing Stan and Barbara’s (probably German) who proposed RETURNS delicious Sunday lunches! fraternization, or the place where it NEW TRAIN THROUGH PWLL th occurred (probably somewhere in Just a few days later that On September 24 Flanders), the Christmas Truce has Some of you might have noticed a new month I was startled by a the Class 52 diesel acquired the aura of a miracle. In lacking type of train passing through the village – flock of egrets springing locomotive “Western Champion” returned a hero or sacred site, it has kept a single a class 175 Coradia diesel multiple unit from the water’s edge. after an absence of 30 years, with a emotion at its core -- the desire for peace built at Alstom works, Birmingham in 1999- Twenty-three in all! Paddington to Fishguard special of the most literal and personal kind. 2000. Formerly owned by the First North Probably the highest excursion. Originally 74 locomotives were number seen in this It began in most places with nighttime Western Train Company, some units have built between 1961 and 1964 and once locality. singing from the trenches, was followed been transferred to Arriva Trains Wales they were a regular sight through the by shouted overtures and then forays and can be seen as a two or sometimes village performing their freight and But surely the weirdest report to date was between the lines by a few brave men. three carriage units. passenger duties. that of a terrapin in There followed, in daylight, a burying of one of the local the dead that had lain for weeks on the lakes, seen by denuded ground called no man's land. Gaynor Rees of After that, large numbers of soldiers Penllech. I wonder THE FOUR AGES OF MAN poured over the front lip of the trench. where that came from? Throughout the day they exchanged 1 – He believes in Santa Claus September 21 st saw the autumnal food, tobacco and, in a few places, 2 – He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus equinox where the daylight hours are alcohol. Some chatted, usually in English, 3 – He is Santa Claus shorter. However, high temperatures still a language enough German enlistees 4 – He looks like Santa Claus persisted that month and well into spoke to make small talk possible. In October resulting in many pleasant views several places, they kicked around a of various butterflies and dragonflies for soccer ball, or a stuffed bag functioning the time of the year. as one, although contrary to legend there I’ve learned that what sounds like A sandwich tern was appears to have been no official, scored I’ve learned that if you wait until music to teenagers sounds like a seen, still patrolling matches. retirement to really start living, you’ve train wreck to me. the sea on October Mostly, the soldiers survived, which is left it too long. (Quoted by 67 year old) (Quote by 44 year old). 11 th and it was not what they wanted from the day. They did on its migration to not shoot each other. the southern CAPEL LIBANUS aelodau Libanus, wedi bod yn gweithio yn PWLL SCHOOL CHAPEL ystod y flwyddyn, yn gwae, gwnio a Mr Wayne Thomas managed the DVD and chasglu tegannau, mawr a bach ar eu A Visit to the old school building every child helped out. The DVD was Oedfaon y Sul am cyfer. Daeth nwyddau ag arian oddiwrth by Kerris Chainey and Emyr Rees produced by Mr Richard Lewis and his 10.00 y bore aelodau Libanus a Bethlehem, eu pupils at the media centre at the CCTA. Ysgol Sul :- teuluoedd a’u ffrindiau. Mae pump sach o Today we went to the old school to find Y plant yn ystod yr oedfa. “furry toys” mawr wedi mynd hefyd eleni out more about it. We know it was built The subjects covered in the DVD are – Yr oedolion wedi’r oedfa. for 176 children but 228 children went, so drwy “Helping Hands” - Cymdeithas Head masters, past pupils, the old school Un Oedfa Gymun y mis a’r Suliau yn Ddyngarol sy’n ymweld a theuluoedd tlawd it was so over crowded. It wasn’t very building, activities and games, Changes to amrywio. ynRomania a gwledydd Dwyrain Iwrop o safe because as you came out of the the school building, World War 2, the Oedfa bore Nadolig am 9.00am leuaf dwywaith y flwyddyn. school you came on to a road because Stepney family, The family portraits Diolch o galon am eich haelioni eleni eto there were no paths, one boy was really Cynhelir Cyfarfodydd arbennig :- drwy roi o’ch amser yn ogystal a phrynu unlucky because he got run over by a Diolchgarwch a’r Nadolig. nwyddau a chefnogi yn ariannol. car. The toilets had to be empty every Sul y chwiorydd yn flynyddol. Casglwyd digon o arian i anfon pob bocs week because they had no drainage. Sul y dynion yn flynyddol. hefyd. Diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb. Now from 1930 onwards there is a Suliau plant ac athrawon yr Ysgol Sul. Os ydych yn dymuno cewch rhagor o pottery club, a library, a youth club and a Suliau dan arweiniad yr aelodau. fanylion oddiwrth Ann Jones, Libanus. polling station. Evidence of how the Suliau o Fawl. building has changed - some of the Gweithgareddau’r flwyddyn :- windows are blocked off there are Cymdeithas Ddiwylliadol - Pob different types of bricks and roof tiles and pythefnos am 7 o’r gloch rhwng mis Medi some of the doors are blocked off. ac Ebrill. Dewch i fwynhau nosweithiau amrywiol a (Past pupils of Pwll School who attended the DVD launch) chwrdd a’r Gwesteion gwadd. Cyfle i gymdeithasu dros gwpaned o de. The DVD included John Gower from the Dosbarth Llenyddiaeth - Pob nos BBC news during the introduction. The

Fercher am 7 o’r gloch am 20 wythnos. DVDs are still on sale for £8.00 at the ‘HELPING HANDS’ is a registered charity Rhwng Medi a Mawrth mae’r dosbarth school now. that takes many types of goods to poblogaidd hwn wedi bodoli am dros 25 mlynedd. Dewch i ddarllen a thrafod underprivileged families in Eastern Europe Llenyddiaeth Cymraeg mewn awyrgylch at least twice a year. This year 150 shoe Unit visits Plantasia boxes have been filled with gifts and gartrefol dan arweiniad Bethan Clement. Pwyllgor Cymorth Cristnogol yn cwrdd necessities for children who would th Above: Here we are in the playground of the old On Friday 14 October the unit visited yn y Festri. otherwise NOT HAVE ANY gifts on school. Plantasia in Swansea. First stop was the Hyd/Tach – Paratoi bocsis esgidiau i Christmas day. These boxes are a gift Aquarium, the children enjoyed this, but it Operation Christmas Child. from the members of Libanus and took a while for them to adjust to the new Bethlehem, their families and friends. 04 Rhag - Oedfa Undebol Cymorth Launch of School DVD and unfamiliar surroundings. The children Cristnogol yn Eglwys y Drindod During the year members knit, sew and By Matthew Treharne and Lowri Bevan enjoyed watching the piranhas and the Sanctaidd am 10.30. gather soft toys etc. ready for the boxes. th snakes. At the end of October we came together in On the afternoon of Thursday 20 Estynnwn groeso cynnes i chwi i ymuno Libanus vestry to pack the boxes. You October we invited past pupils to see the yn yr oedfaon a’r gweithgareddau. In the tropical area there were lots of can see from the photos how happy and launch of our new DVD, about the history Mae gwybodaeth yn wythnosol yn y different plants and trees. Robbie enjoyed industrious everyone was during that of our school. The visitors started to Llanelli Star dan “Adran Addoliad yr touching the giant leaves. At the pond we special afternoon. This was Christmas in arrive at about quarter past one. And Eglwysi”. fed the Koi Carp and some of the fish even the true sense of the word . We watched every one was seated and ready to watch came out of the water to take food from short videos on the plight of these families. the DVD by 1:30 PM. Amongst the OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD visitors were last years pupils now in year Sean and Jay. Tear-jerking images that will stay with us When we had finished our tour of Eleni eto ‘rydym wedi paratoi bocsis always. The poverty is horrendous but the seven. Plantasia, we went to the learning room, esgidiau i blant bach difreintiedig Dwyrain joy on the children’s faces when they Mrs Betty Houghton-Jones the oldest where the children could colour, play with Iwrop. Y nifer fwyaf eto - 150 o focsis receive their gifts is overwhelming. Think past pupil of Pwll School also came along giant cuddly toys and look at different eleni - i blant heb obaith o anrheg about joining the effort next year. to view the launch. 30 - 40 visitors turned artefacts. This was a calming end to a Nadolig onibai am y bocsis. Mae Everyone is welcome. up and enjoyed the first showing. lovely day. Fire Safety We had an exceptionally high standard of 23 rd DECEMBER (Extract from Pembrey Church records). th paintings and drawings and it took some On Wednesday 19 October, we had a 1843 considerable time judging them. PWLL W.I. visit from Eleanor Thomas, a fire lady, rd who talked to us about a fire plan. We eventually narrowed the selection On the 23 December The President Heather Eleanor explained that a fire plan was a down to six from the infants and six from 1843, about four o’clock Darby welcomed members plan to get out of the house if there was a the juniors. Choosing a winner and a in the morning, a young to the first meeting after fire. runner up was going to be so very difficult. man of the name Thomas Williams was the summer holiday break. Three new

returning home from Llanelly to Pembrey, members have also joined the group. In We watched a video about fire plans. It In each section the winners would win a and, instead of taking the road as he was very good. After the video Lowri, a £10 gift voucher for themselves as well as September Rod Belcher gave an excellent should have done at such time, he took talk on ‘History through banknotes.’ girl from year 6 had to dress up as a fire their school. The runners up would win a to the sands for the sake of shortening lady. It was very good. I really enjoyed £5 gift voucher for themselves as well as Members were reminded of the different the distance. It was at the time extremely types of banknotes they have used the talk. for their school dark, and it is supposed he became through the years. In October Peter Eventually we decided that the winners bewildered, and went to the water instead Goodall gave an informative and were: of keeping more to the right. He then interesting talk on ‘Prisons in bygone found out the danger into which his Infants - days.’ In December Mair Cairns from Pwll indiscretion had exposed him, and began Winner: Lara Griffiths (Age 5) will be giving members novel ideas for to call out for assistance more seriously. Runner Up: Alisha Wood (Age 5) wrapping Christmas presents.

Juniors - His cries were heard for miles by the The members had an enjoyable evening at Winner: Kate (Year 4) surrounding neighbourhood, for it was Theatre Elli watching the production of Runner Up: Emma Williams (Year 6) very calm. Many people flocked down ‘The Corn is Green.’ In November a trip immediately, but before they were near Because the standard of entries were so was arranged to spend the day shopping the place from whence the cries high we have decided to give small in Cardiff. Members will also be visiting proceeded, they perceived that he was Poem of the month consolation prizes to the eight children that Bath in December to see the Christmas drowning, for the cries became more and (By Yasmin Finnigan - Year 5) came so close to winning. Congratulations Markets. The annual Christmas dinner will more feint and at last ended. A pilot boat Harvest to the eight consolation prize winners. be held at the Ashburnham Hotel on was coming up the river at the time, and th Thursday 15 December. Harvest is here again Thanks to all the children for entering the when near the spot, instead of going for Apples are falling of the tree competition and special thanks to the staff assistance, one said to the rest, “It is the Two members attended a Craft Day in Radishes are fresh and yummy and the Headmaster for organising the voice of a Ghost, and it is too dangerous Pembrey Community Centre to try their Vegetables are as fresh as a pumpkin competition. Congratulations to the for us to go near it!” and off they went, hand at pewter work and silk painting and Eat healthy and keep strong winners and the runners up. We hope you leaving the poor fellow to his fate. the Autumn Group meeting was held in choose wisely with the gift voucher you Llansaint. Other county events include ‘A Seeds growing like flowers Who could have imagined that, in the have won. It gave us a lot of pleasure in Punch, Pies and Panto Evening’ in Thank you for all the food we eat middle of the 19 th , experienced presenting the winning prizes and Bronwydd Hall and a Christmas Coffee mariners would have acted in such a presenting the school with their £30 gift Morning in the W.I office in Carmarthen. OUR CHRISTMAS COVER superstitious manner, particularly when vouchers. COLOURING COMPETITION we reflect that the humanity of the British

Tar under such circumstances is well Once again, the Bônau Cabbage Patch DID YOU KNOW know. Surely a boat’s crew of savages asked the pupils of Pwll County Primary would have scorned to pass by a fellow School to design the cover of the There are 6,000 species of creature on such occasion without at Christmas edition of the magazine. This reptiles, 73,000 kinds of least attempting to rescue him from a year we asked them to paint a scene that spiders, and 3,000 types of lice. For each person there watery grave. would be suitable for a Christmas rd postcard that readers of the magazine is about 200 million insects (Extract from local newspaper dated January 3 1844) could send to relatives who live away from Pwll. Sometimes I get the feeling that if Thomas Williams drowned or died of exhaustion the day before he was due to If you haven’t already noticed, the colour Christmas, Father's Day and marry his fiancée whose home he was cover of the magazine can be separated birthdays did not exist, then returning from on that fateful day. It is (Above: Members of Pwll WI) from the rest of the magazine and cut into aftershave too, would not exist. said that his cries for help were heard for 4 individual post cards for you to send as two hours. He was buried at Pembrey He who angers you, conquers you. a Christmas Postcard. st Church on January 1 1844. No 13 available in their support for it. Having GARDENING CLUB – before using them. common sense and a desire to serve the HERBS Wrapped in a paper I believe that community are also important. towel and placed in a plastic bag, herbs stay most people Normally no one may be a governor of fresh for several days. would pass on more than two governing bodies. Those that still have being offered No Description For further information please contact the their roots can be kept 13, but you don’t Herbs are divided in to two broad Head teacher Mr. Roy James 01554- longer, place them in pass if it families: Labiatae (basil, marjoram, balm, 773962 or the Chairman of Governors Mr. fresh water at room temperature, like cut represents your mint, oregano, rosemary, summer th Ian Etherington 01554-778706. flowers. You can also wrap the roots in a 13 selection to savoury, sage, thyme), which owe their damp cloth and store the herbs in a plastic run for Wales. Further information on becoming a Latin name to the fact that their petals bag in the warmest part of your This is Pwll governor is available on 01267-224508. form two lip-like lobes; and Unbelliferae Governors Support Unit refrigerator. resident Jon (dill, aniseed, caraway, chervil, coriander, Kersting’s 13 th Lifelong Learning Headquarters cumin, fennel, parsley), whose flowers You can freeze them whole or chopped, selection, but as Pibwrlwyd, Carmarthen, SA31 2NH grow in, flat or rounded clusters. without blanching; if you wash them, be sure to dry them thoroughly. he pulled out of Serving Ideas CONGRATULATIONS GEMMA the 2000 Navan There are virtually no limits, other than International through injury, feels this is th personal tastes and preferences, for the really his 12 selection. We extend our congratulations to Gemma uses of herbs. Don't be afraid to be AN OLDE COLONIAL CHRISTMAS Aitken of Bassett Terrace in her GCSE This November the British and Irish innovative. Although certain herbs are Examination results this summer. In colonial America, Cross Country International takes place associated with particular foods; for the Christmas at Santry Demesne to the rear of Morton Gemma received a letter from The example, basil with tomatoes, tarragon season was a week Athletic Stadium, Dublin. Assessment and Qualifications Alliance for with vinegar or chicken, mint with lamb her exceptional and peas- these combinations are far of reveling and The Welsh Masters Athletic Association results in Leisure from exclusive. rowdiness, of wine, is sending a team of 58 athletes and Tourism. In all a total of 4685 Food temperature also has a significant wassailing and representing the best in their age candidates sat the examination and impact on the amount of flavour released wantonness. It was categories throughout Wales, plus Gemma was amongst a group who scored by herbs. Although heat frees essential a time when the reserves. We wish them all well. poor were allowed to blow off steam, to the top five marks. To come within the top oils, the resulting taste and aroma quickly (Good luck Jon – Ed) five of a group of almost 5000 is indeed fade. Prolonging cooking particularly rouse their wealthy neighbours and very exceptional. vigorous boiling and cooking without a lid, demand some Christmas cheer. Talk is thus inappropriate for most herbs. about a merry little Christmas! I’ve learned that my piano teacher gets a Gemma also did extremely well in her Generally speaking, you should add funny look on her face when she notices I other GCSE exams attaining the following haven’t practiced. herbs at the end of Christmas used to get so out of hand in results: the colonies that the Puritan government (Quote by 11 year old) cooking, particularly Leisure and Tourism A*A* in the case of more outlawed its celebration in 1659. The fine Physical Education A* fragile herbs. was five shillings for anyone "found Are you interested in becoming a Mathematics A Rosemary, thyme, observing any such day as Christmas or Governor at Pwll Primary School? English Language A sage, bay leaf, and the like, either by forbearing of labour, There is a vacancy for a co-opted Spanish A savoury are feasting or any other way." Among the governor at Pwll Primary School. There Welsh A nevertheless ideal acts that scandalized religious authorities are no formal qualifications needed to Science BB seasoning in simmered dishes. When was the tradition of Christmas "mumming." become a school governor. The one English Literature B preparing cold dishes, add herbs well Writing in 1725, the Rev. Henry Bourne essential requirement is an interest in, before serving to give them time to impart was most upset that the pastime included and commitment to, the education of (Congratulation Gemma from everyone in Pwll) their flavour, as the cold temperature "the changing of clothes between Men and children. Governors have to be over 18 slows down the development of aromas Women," a practice that was "a scandal to years of age and the term of office is four and lessens their intensity; increase the Religion and an encouraging of years. BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THIS! amount of seasoning when preparing Wickedness."

Governors are ordinary people, drawn cold foods. Moths are not attracted to light. They fly Ideas are like rabbi ts. You get a from many areas of society. They need to towards the blackest point, which is Storage couple, learn how to look after them, be able to devote time to getting to know Keep fresh herbs in the refrigerator. If immediately behind the light. and pretty soon you have a dozen. the school well and to be active and they are dirty, rinse them gently just Hen ddywediad yw hon a ddefnyddir i DAFFODILS IN PWLL ONCE AGAIN CASGLIAD O YMADRODDION rybuddio dau blentyn sy’n ymddwyn yn TAFODIEITHOL ddrwg. MAE E FFAELU CADW’I FACHE’N Ma tarddiad rhai LLONYDD

dywediadau yn Ystyr yr ymadrodd olaf yw bod y person

rhwydd i ddeall, ond sy’n cael ei gyfeirio ato yn dwyn pethau yn

ma rhai eraill yn amhosibl i ddatrys ee ddibaid ac yn methu anwybyddu’r

demtasiwn o fynd ag eiddo rhywun arall.

YN RHACS JIBLDERS (Ieuan Thomas)

Ma’r ystyr yn syml – rhywbeth sy’ wedi torri’n yfflon a thu hwnt cael ei rhoi nôl yn gyflawn – ond o ble daeth y gair JIBLDERS ? Nid gair sy wedi cael ei fenthyg o’r Saesneg yw e, a does dim y TONGUE TWISTERS llythyren J yn y wyddor Gymraeg !!

Dyma un arall sy’n peri dryswch. Seventeen slimy slugs in shiny sombreros sat singing short sad YN FEDDW GAIB songs.

Ma’r uchod yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ddisgrifio person meddw iawn….ond pam Some twelve years or so ago the children of Pwll Primary School planted daffodil bulbs on CAIB ? Beth sy gan y twlsyn garddio Mae Llewellyn y llyfrgellydd o Lanelli wedi the grass verge opposite Tir Waun. Two years later the Gas Board dug them up to lay a hwn i wneud a bod yn feddw ??? llyfu llawer o lyfaint new gas main. The Pwll Action Committee r ecently wrote to Transco and asked if they were prepared to help replant the bulbs. Transco responded positively. Ma’r nesa yn ddywediad i ddisgrifio th On Friday 14 October 2005, with the help of 48 young students of Pwll Primary School, person cwerylgar iawn, un sy’n barod i teachers and support staff, hundreds of daffodil bulb s were replanted in Tir Waun ready to ffraeo gyda rhywun am ben y peth lleiaf. COBLYNAU flower again next spring. Thank you Transco and members of Pwll Primary School for helping us. GALLE FE GWMPO MAS DA’I LUN A Coblynau is a

Dyma ddywediad poblogaidd yn ardal Welsh mine spirit Llanelli who is relatively good-humoured. DIM GWERTH TATEN BÔB They would help miners by knocking in places with rich …..hynny yw rhywbeth sy ddim o werth o lodes of mineral, or metal. The Coblynau gwbwl. Dyw’r dywediad ddim yn taro dressed in miners' attire, and stood at deuddeg yn fy marn i oherwydd bod ‘na around 18 inches in height. dipyn o werth mewn taten bôb, mwy na sy mewn tato wedi berwi neu ffrio yn aml Belief in these mine spirits was once widespread especially in Celtic areas, achos bod rheini fel arfer yn cael eu pilo cyn coginio a ma lot o rinwedd yng which were heavily mined, for example Wales and Cornwall. In Germany these nghroen y daten. Serch hynny, ma’r dywediad yn adlewyrchu’r ffaith bod taten mine spirits were known as Kobolds. It is easy to surmise that the dark, cramped, bob yn fwyd rhad yn y gorffennol, yn rhwydd I’w choginio ac felly yn fwyd dangerous conditions of a mine, would be conducive to creating belief in cyffredin iawn gan y werin. supernatural creatures, and other Ma’r ymadrodd nesa yn nodweddiadol o superstitions. ardal Llanelli Fairies were often thought to live BYDDAI’N RHOI WAD I UN SBO’R underground in caves and in crevices. LLALL YN CAEL OFON

DIAMOND Sunday mornings at the church hall. For CAPEL Ask anything. ALPHA is a place where NO WEDDING further information contact Helen on BETHLEHEM question is regarded as too simple or too 752025 hostile. CELEBRATIONS CHAPEL

The SISTERHOOD have met regularly every Pat and Margaret Doyle celebrated their How far is it to Bethlehem? Tuesday morning throughout the year. They OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND have worked, and are still working extremely Diamond Wedding on th THE TRUTH Families are precious – we should all love hard to raise money for Bethlehem through 13 October. They had our families – even with the ups and downs We feel that some recent reports printed in holding open coffee mornings, spring fairs, a wonderful day with of every day life. holding a market stall (a new venture last their family and friends the local newspaper need some In Bethlehem Chapel, Pwll we have a October) and they are at present preparing and had cards from the clarification. precious family. Although not all are related for Christmas. On the last Tuesday of every Queen, Welsh Office The first concerns the objections raised by through blood ties, we are all “related” month at 10:30am we hold an OPEN coffee and Welsh Assembly. Numerous cards The Pwll Action Committee concerning through our belief in Jesus as our Saviour. morning in the vestry of Bethlehem for and presents were received from people some of the planning issues pertinent to everyone. Why not join us for a friendly chat. they hadn’t seen for many years. It was a As a church we are growing – the village. Will you visit Bethlehem this really nice day for both of them. Our Welsh language services which are The Committee has raised an objection st nd th th Christmas? held on the 1 , 2 and 4 /5 Sunday of (Congratulations to you both! Quite an achievement!) concerning only ONE application – the one every month at 3:30 pm are well attended, Carol Singing – Rather than go round the intended for Stradey Hill. This was done but there is still room in the chapel. So as a village, it is our intention to hold a carol because the residents of that area family we invite you to come and join us. singing evening (around 6:30pm) outside Whenever I think of the past, it brings approached us and asked for our support. You can be assured of a warm welcome – Bethlehem Chapel followed by hot tea/coffee back so many memories. Indications in the report that we, as a and who knows whom you may already and mince pies in the vestry. Keep an eye open for the notice and please bring a Committee, have objected to numerous know there! lantern or torch or candle – although there other planning applications in the village Our English language service is held on the rd will be light in the church lobby. are completely untrue. 3 Sunday of every month at 3:30pm. This HOLY TRINITY service is also well attended and is growing We live in an age where a great deal of The second concerns the report in numbers. A Sunday school was the daily news is ‘bad news’, and people The last three months concerning the action that we are allegedly introduced 12 months ago, and children are get despondent. If you feel like this why have seen the end of going to take to make the County Council faithfully being nurtured to learn about not spend an hour once a week with the another chapter in the listened to our demands for a by-pass. Jesus and are encouraged to let their family of Bethlehem. life of Holy Trinity with The newspaper mistakenly printed that voices be heard, and it’s far from boring. the retirement of our Vicar, the Rev certain actions were going to be taken by As we approach Christmas look for the Our ALPHA evenings were very successful sign, as the shepherds and wise men did Canon David Harries. We had a very the Pwll Action Committee and the – plenty of refreshments – and lots of joy – when Jesus was born. No, we don’t have pleasant presentation evening for him residents of Pwll. The action indicated in it was wonderful to meet strangers who a star to follow, but there is always a despite the terrible weather. the newspaper is the course of action became friends and part of our church proposed by the residents of Sandy and notice on the board outside the vestry. Our services continue as normal under family. We hope to begin a new series of their Action Committee. video talks and suppers in the New Year We look forward to greeting you, both the guidance of the Area Dean, the Rev (when the evenings start getting lighter) - adults and children to join in our Hugh James, Vicar of Cydweli who has We fully support the residents of Sandy and their Action Committee in the legal why not join us? celebration, remembering that many years arranged a schedule of officiants to take ago a small family lived in a town call all the services. petitioning for a by pass but we cannot Many people have asked what ALPHA condone any act that is illegal nor any stands for. This is basically it: - Bethlehem with their newborn son – We look forward to hosting the Christian Jesus. He knew the love of His family, th course of action that would put any Aid Carol Service on 4 December at member of the public at risk. Anyone interested in finding out more both close relatives and the ‘extended 10:30 am. It is good to join with the two about the Christian faith. People of all family’. chapels for these united services. Our The villages of Sandy and Pwll badly need ages are welcome. th Let us, at Bethlehem, Pwll be your Christingle will be on 11 December at a by pass. It is time the County Council Learning and laughter. It is possible to extended family. Why? Because Jesus 5:00pm and the Service of Nine Lessons acknowledged this and started to plan learn about the Christian faith and have th loves you, and He told us ALL to love one and Carols at 5:00pm on 18 December. what course they need to take to preserve fun at the same time. both villages for future generations. another. Christmas Day communion is at 9:00am. People meeting together. An opportunity If you would like more information or The Sunday school re-started after the to get to know each other and to make simply an informal chat then please ring summer break with some ‘new’ children I believe I shall live forever and I will new friends. me on 01554-771252. and we hope the increase in number will continue in this belief until the day I die. Help one another. An opportunity to raise continue. It is held at 10:30 am on issues and to seek help. Carys Awen Jones (Reverend)

HISTORY OF There are many traditions and THE superstitions surrounding the Christmas CHRISTMAS pudding. Some traditions say to make the PWLL CARNIVAL OF YESTERYEAR pudding by the 25th Sunday after Trinity, PUDDING with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and

His Disciples. Every member of the family Does your is to take a turn stirring the pudding with a Christmas dinner include a wooden spoon from east to west, in Christmas honour of the three kings. It is said that pudding? The absence of this delectable setting the brandy aflame represents dessert from the Christmas Dinner table Christ’s passion. A sprig of holly as would raise a few eyebrows. The pudding is garnish is a reminder if His ‘Crown of the most special part of the meal, although Thorns.’ Holly supposedly brought good families alter the way it’s cooked and luck and had special healing powers. It presented to create their own unique was often planted near houses in the traditions. Originally the Christmas pudding belief that it protected the inhabitants. was referred to as hakin because of its Some families add coins to the pudding for multitude of ingredients. luck. Everyone then stirs the pudding and The first recipes of this pudding came from makes a wish. Those who get the coins in the Middle Ages. The ingredients for mince their serving get wealth, health, happiness, pie , as it was then called, were chopped and their wish will come true. Some poultry, pheasant, partridge, and rabbit. people even add gold rings to the mix to Later sugar, apples, raisins, and candied indicate the finder will get married in the oranges and lemons were added. Another coming year. A tradition that died out due form of Christmas pudding called porridge to its depressing nature was the addition or frumenty surfaced in the 14th century. Ingredients included beef, mutton, raisins, of thimbles or buttons to the pudding. This signalled that the finder would remain a currents, prunes, wine, and mixed spices. It spinster or bachelor forever. One last was a soup-like fasting dish eaten before the Christmas celebrations commenced. In interesting fact about Christmas pudding is that the largest batch ever made weighed 1595, spirits, dried fruit, eggs, and breadcrumbs were added to the recipe and in at 7,231 pounds and was made in it became plum pudding . In 1664, it was Aughton, Lancashire on July 11, 1992. banned by the Puritans as a lewd custom Imagine trying to finish that plate! unfit for people who followed the ways of God.

In 1714, King George I re-established the FAMOUS LAST WORDS pudding as part of the Christmas feast even Richard Halliburton was a though the Quakers strongly objected. Meat was eliminated from the recipe in the 17th "swashbuckling" global century in favour of more sweets, and traveller and best-selling people began sprinkling it with brandy and adventure writer during the setting it aflame when serving it to their 1920s and 1930s. In 1939, guests. The Christmas pudding was not a Halliburton and a crew tradition in Britain until it was introduced to attempted to sail a Chinese junk, the Sea Lavina Williams & Fred Phipps in Carnival Mood - Mid 1950's the Victorians by Prince Albert. By this time Dragon, from Hong Kong to San Francisco the pudding looked and tasted as it does as a publicity stunt. The vessel was un- today. The traditional cooking time takes seaworthy and went down in a storm. Just about eight hours, with preparation taking before the sinking Halliburton sent his last even longer due to extensive marinating. signal. "Southerly gales, squalls, lee The longer the fruit is marinated in brandy, Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets and then rail under water, wet bunks, hard tack, cider, or both, the better it tastes and this teams up with three complete strangers to kill again. bully beef, wish you were here…instead could take weeks! - A newspaper's TV listing for "The Wizard of Oz" of me!" No one survived.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER virtually impossible to identify the actual FOUR ALL The earliest boxes of all were not box date. WHO REED shaped, as you might imagine, nor were they made of wood. They were, in fact, Let us pray ... This situation is further complicated by the AND RIGHT: earthenware containers with a slit in the fact that the Christian scholar Dionysius That strength and Exiguus was asked by the Pope in AD 525 top (rather like piggy banks). These courage abundant be to calculate new cycles for fixing the date earthenware ‘boxes’ were used by the Romans for collecting money to help pay given to all who work of Easter. However, he decided to base We'll begin with a box, and the plural is for the festivities at the winter Saturnalia for a world of reason his calculations on the date of Jesus's boxes; but the plural of ox became oxen and understanding. birth. Unfortunately, it wasn't discovered not oxes. celebrations. th until the 9 century that he got it badly That the good that lies One fowl is a goose, but two are called in each of our hearts wrong, by which time it was too late to geese, yet the plural of moose should change the calendar. may day by day be never be meese. magnified. He fixed the birth in the year 1 BC or AD 1 You may find a lone mouse or a nest full (Historians apparently can't agree which.) That we will come to see more clearly not of mice; yet the plural of house is houses, that which divides us, but that which and began counting from the latter. But not hice. unites us. both earlier and later scholars agreed that Jesus was born at an earlier date. Indeed, If the plural of man is always called men, That each hour may bring us closer to a it was eventually established that Herod why shouldn't the plural of pan be called final victory, not of nation over nation, but the Great died in Spring of 4 BC. If Jesus pen? of ourselves over our own evils and had been born at the start of AD 1, as we If I spoke of my foot and show you my weaknesses. currently have it, then Jesus would have feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair That the true spirit of this Christmas been born some 4 or 5 years after Herod be called beet? Season, its joy, its beauty, its hope, and died. There is no way of accurately above all, its abiding faith, may be among establishing the actual date of his birth, but If one is a tooth and a whole set are us. it is most likely to have been between 5 teeth, and 6 BC. why shouldn't the plural of booth be That the blessings of peace be ours, the called beeth? peace to build and grow, to live in The important thing is that he was born, Then one may be that, and three would harmony and sympathy with others, and and his nominal birth date of December 25 th seems as good as any to celebrate be those, yet hat in the plural would Picture: Drawn by A S Boyd to plan for the future with confidence. © Gutenberg Organisation his birth and his message. It also a never be hose, and the plural of cat is

wonderful catalyst for enjoying the cats, not cose.

THE BIRTH OF precious and simple pleasures of being, if We speak of a brother and also of During the seventeenth century it became JESUS only for a brief time, close together in the brethren, but though we say mother, we the custom for apprentices to ask their warm familiarity of friends and family, never say methren. master’s customers for money at renewing relationships and sharing In the western world Christmas time. They collected this money memories. Then the masculine pronouns are he, his, the birthday of in earthenware containers, which could be Jesus Christ has and him, but imagine the feminine as A CHRISTMAS POEM being she, shis, and shim. opened only by being smashed, and on been celebrated on th Boxing Day the apprentices would eagerly December 25 since AD 354, partly to 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all have a ‘smashing time’, (hence the replace the pagan worship that was through the house BOXING DAY expression), seeing how much they had commonplace in those days. However, Not a creature was stirring, not even a Boxing Day takes its name from the collected. we can be fairly sure that Jesus wasn't mouse; ancient practice of opening boxes that A later tradition, and the one which has actually born on that date. The stockings were hung by the chimney contained money given to those who had survived to this day, was the distribution of with care, given their service during the year. It was The Bible tells us that shepherds were Christmas ‘boxes’, gifts of money to In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be also the day when alms boxes, placed in staying out in the fields overnight when people who had provided services there. churches on Christmas Day, were Jesus was born (Luke 2:8), but in that throughout the year – the postman, the (Clement C. Moore) opened. The money was then given to part of the world it would have been far lamp-lighter, parish beadles, parish the priest or used to help the poor and too cold at night to do so in December. watchmen, dustmen and turn-cocks – needy. Another name for Boxing Day What is more likely is that He was born in Christmas: When you exchange hellos which happened on the day after used to be Offering Day. the Spring, perhaps between March and with strangers and good buys with Christmas Day.

May. Whatever the time of year, it is friends. THE ANSWERS ARE IN THE Evan Joseph WILLIAMS / S / 10 / Liverpool / OFFICER Works well when under constant GENES Sch FITNESS supervision and cornered like a rat in a David Walter WILLIAMS / S / 6 / Liverpool / trap. Continuing our walk through Pwll in 1881. We Sch REPORTS have a location for you folks! The Blue Anchor ------Pub is mentioned so at least we know where The British Military writes Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) OFR's (officer fitness THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY we are! We are heading east along Pwll Road. David LEWIS / Head / 39 / Pembrey / Miner reports). The form used for Some Words of Wisdom from British Politicians of Royal Navy and Marines D = Daughter / S = Son / U = Unmarried / B = Hannah LEWIS / Wife / 33 / Pembrey the Conservative Party! fitness reports is the S206. The following are actual John LEWIS / S / 8 / Pembrey / Sch Born / W = Widow(er) / Sch = Scholar excerpts taken from people's "206's".... "Suicide is a real threat to health." - Betsy LEWIS / D / 1 / Pembrey Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) ------His men would follow him anywhere, but Virginia Bottomley

Thomas WILLIAMS / Head / 38 / Pembrey / Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) only out of curiosity. "Anyone would think we were living on Coal Miner Henry ROBERT / Head / 36 / Pembrey / Miner I would not breed from this Officer. some island somewhere." - George Hannah ROBERT / Wife / 30 / Pembrey Mary WILLIAMS / Wife / 31 / Pembrey Walden Mary Ann WILLIAMS / D / 5 / Pembrey / Sch David ROBERT / S / 9 / Pembrey / Sch This Officer is really not so much of a Elizabeth W ILLIAMS / D / 3 / Pembrey / Sch William ROBERT / S / 6 / Pembrey / Sch has-been, but more of a definitely won't- "It's not the future I'm talking about, I'm John WILLIAMS / S / 6 m / Pembrey Henry ROBERT / S / 3 / Pembrey / Sch be. talking about tomorrow." - John Gummer ------John ROBERT / S / 1/ Pembrey Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) David ROBERT / Father / W / 82 / Pembrey When she opens her mouth, it seems "The trend in the rise in unemployment is that this is only to change whichever foot downward." - Gillian Shepherd David EVANS / Head / M / 55 /Pembrey / ------General Labour' Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) was previously in there. "The more important things are more Ann EVANS / D / U / 29 / Pembrey William JENKINS / Head / 33 / Llangendeirne, He has carried out each and every one of important, than the less important things." Labourer Under Board Of Health (Road). ------his duties to his entire satisfaction. - Stephen Dorrell Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) Rachel JENKINS / Wife / 35 / New Church David WILLIAMS / Head / 30 / Kidwelly / Finer William JENKINS / Cousin / 10 / Aberdare He would be out of his depth in a car park "When the IRA plant such bombs, it At Tinworks. Emily JENKINS / D / 7 / Llanelly / Sch puddle. proves they can scare people, it proves Jane WILLIAMS / Wife / 32 / Carmarthen Catherine JENKINS / D / 5 / Llanelly / Sch they can kill people, it proves nothing." - Technically sound - socially impossible. Town Mary Ann JENKINS / D / 3 / Llanelly Peter Bottomley William J. WILLIAMS / S / 8 / Kidwelly Margretta JENKINS / D / 1 / Llanelly This Officer reminds me very much of a "We said zero, and I think any statistician Henry WILLIAMS / S / 6 / Kidwelly ------gyroscope - always spinning around at a will tell you that... zero must mean plus or Mary WILLIAMS / D / 4 / Kidwelly Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) frantic pace, but not really going Margaret WILLIAMS / D / 2 / Llanelly. Richard JOHN / Head / 32 / Pembrey / Miner minus a few." - William Waldegrave anywhere. ------Elizabeth JOHN / Wife / 30 / Pembrey "Who Sadam Hussein kills, dies." - Jeffrey Dwelling - Blue Anchor Thomas JOHN / S / 1 / Pembrey This young lady has delusions of Archer William M ORGAN / Head / 75 / Pembrey / ------adequacy. Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) "There's no smoke without mud being Licensed Victullar This Medical Officer has used my ship to Mary MORGAN / Wife / 74 / Llanelly Thomas EDMUNDS / Head / 27/ Pembrey / flung around." - Edwina Currie Coal Miner carry his genitals from port to port, and Richard MORGAN / S / U / 33 / Pembrey / "I will never forget the 1981, -- or was it Coal Miner Sarah EDMUNDS / Wife / 29 / Pembrey my officers to carry him from bar to bar. 1982? -- honours list." - Julian Critchley Joseph MORGAN / S / U / 31 / Pembrey David EDMUNDS / S / 7 / Pembrey / Sch Since my last report he has reached rock Watch Keeping (Mfg) Margaret Ann EDMUNDS / D / 4 / Pembrey bottom, and has started to dig. "All those people who say that there will Catherine HUGHES / Niece / 12 / Pembrey / Betsy EDMUNDS / D / 3 / Pembrey never be a Single European Currency are She sets low personal standards and Sch Thomas EDMUNDS / S / 1 / Pembrey trying to forecast history." - Kenneth Clark ------then consistently fails to achieve them. "The British public sees with blinding Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) He has the wisdom of youth, and the Isaac MORGAN / Head / W / 46 /Llanelly / John BRAZEL / Head / 39 / Pembrey / Coal clarity." - Michael Heseltine energy of old age. Coal Miner Miner "You know what they say-don't get mad, This Officer should go far - and the Mary Ann MORGAN / D / U / 18 / Pembrey Mary BRAZEL / Wife / 40 / Llangyndeyrn get angry." - Edwina Currie Margaret MORGAN / D / 15 / Pembrey Thomas BRAZEL / S / U / 15 / Pembrey sooner he starts, the better. Joseph MORGAN / S / 9 / Pembrey / Sch Shearer At Tinworks "We are not wholly an island, except In my opinion this pilot should not be Evan MORGAN / S / 5 / Pembrey /Sch Ann BRAZEL / D / 12 / Pembrey / Sch Johnny geographically." - John Major authorized to fly below 250 feet. ------BRAZEL / S / 8 / Pembrey / Sch Dwelling-Pwll (Pool) David BRAZEL / S / 5 / Pembrey / Sch The only ship I would recommend this Jane WILLIAMS / Head / W / 38 / Liverpool / William BRAZEL / S / 2 / Pembrey man for is citizenship. Every year, Christmas becomes Dressmaker ------less of a birthday and more a This man is depriving a village John Henry WILLIAMS / S / 11 / Liverpool / (Article by Pwll Genealogy Fan) Clearance Sale. Sch somewhere of an idiot.