WI

THE DECEMBER meetings all had a pre-Christmas theme. The first week saw the welcome return of Jo Davies from Waunfawr, Aberystwyth. In her usual entertaining and humorous manner, she shared with members some ideas for Christmas cooking, including ways to use leftovers, interspersed with jokes and readings. Her dishes were then raffled and the prize-winners were Judy Lile, Maurine Edwards, Margaret Peel and Gillian Manton.

The following week, the group drew on the talents of three members, who gave craft demonstrations. First, Eirlys Jones showed the group how to make a Christmas wreath, made by pushing small pieces of colourful material into a polystyrene base, finished off with a colourful ribbon tied in a bow. She also demonstrated how she decorates cones and makes her own Christmas cards. Hazel Rimmer produced some small table decorations made of candles, holly leaves and cones, as well as a table centre-piece using garden foliage, live flowers and cones sprayed with gold paint. Finally, Betty Wakelin demonstrated how she makes cake decorations out of icing, in the shape of flowers (pansies, sweet peas, daffodils).Some of their exhibits were then raffled, with the lucky winners being Carol Evans, Cynthia Whiting, Cynthia Wainwright and Barbara Bartholomew. A party of WI members visited Abermâd Nursing Home and Cysgod-y-Coed Residential Home to share with the residents some Christmas cheer in the form of traditional carols, contemporary songs and poems.Following the December meeting of the WI’s book club, they and members of the craft club united for a meal at Pennau Craft and Coffee Shop.A good number of members attended the Christmas social, including party games organised by Barbara Awty and a feast of sweet and savoury items of food provided by members. Then, they delved into Santa’s sack to see what presents he had left. Raffle prizes were won by Margaret Davies, Brenda Mead, Pam Jennings, Eileen Cowen and Betty Wakelin, and first prize in the com-petition of a home-made cracker was won by Eirlys Jones. The group rounded off a most enjoyable evening by singing some Christmas carols. Weekly meetings will resume on Wednes-day, 6 January. New members are most welcome to come along to the community centre at 7.30pm.

FUGS

GENEROUS villagers donated a cracking £700 to the FUGS collection when Santa visited Cysgod y Coed residential home and all the housing estates in Llanilar.Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos’s Pili Pala section will re-ceive the money to fund a day out for children with special needs.FUGS chairman John Murphy was delighted with the contribution which can be made to Pili Pala, thanks to another successful evening.Santa’s sleigh was accompanied by FUGS members, while a number of enthusiastic youngsters added to the atmosphere for the carol singing around the village.John Murphy said: “Once again, Llanilar residents have made a superb contribution to the FUGS collection for Pili Pala, and we thank them all sincerely for their generosity.”