JUNE'S MEETING UPDATE

June's meeting was held on Tuesday 11th in Llanarth Village Hall. Our President Isabel introduced and welcomed Eleri Davies who gave the group a very interesting talk on old remedies, many of which go back to the 13th century and the works of the Myddygion Myddfai/Physicians of Myddfai. Most of the recipes for old remedies have disappeared as

they were handed down in an oral tradition from mothers to the youngest daughter and were kept secret - these wise women were often thought of as being witches.
There are different recipes for remedies in different areas. An old remedy for 'keeping fit' was:-

Get up early and do not stay up late. Wash in cold water and dry off with a coarse towel. Drink water and no alcohol. Eat early in the evening. Walk 10 miles a day. Eat plain food. One treat at a time i.e. bread and butter or bread and jam or bread and cheese but never put bread, butter and jam. Eat slowly. Stay in the open air. Go to work with a smile on your face.

One of the stories Eleri told us about was of a boy from this area that had bad psoriasis - the boy helped his father with a cow that was calving and while this was happening some of the placenta from the cow fell on his arm that had the psoriasis, which helped his condition get

better.


Some other old remedies were:-
Colds - soak feet in hot water with mustard.
Bad chest - goose fat and a red flannel.
Sore throat - take off your woollen sock, fill it with bacon fat and wrap it around the throat.
Hooping cough - drink more milk or go down a tunnel after a train (would no longer work now - very few steam trains these days!).
Worms - wear a necklace of garlic.
Arthritis - eat two sticks of celery every day.
Dust in the eyes -  lick the dust out with tongue.
Bleeding profusely from a wound - wrap cobwebs around the wound.

If you had a toothache and there was no local dentist, you would go and visit the local smithy and he would extract the tooth for you - ouch! 
A good tip for a cream for aftersun, cuts, dry skin and wounds - pick as many elderflower blossoms without the stalks as you can - in an old saucepan melt petroleum jelly but do not boil and add two big handfuls of the elderflowers to the melted petroleum jelly - leave to infuse for some time and then strain the mixture back into the jar. A similar cream for back or neck pain uses melted petroleum jelly with comfrey leaves.

We all found Eleri's talk most interesting and informative - Margaret V gave the vote of thanks. The competition for an old remedy for a cold was won by Denise and the raffle was won by Margaret V. Refreshments were provided by Isabel and Dianne.


 

JUNE'S MEETING

June's meeting will be held in Llanarth Village Hall on Tuesday 11th June at 7:30pm.

This months guest speaker will be ELERI DAVIES who will be giving a talk on OLD REMEDIES. Many of us no doubt have memories of remedies our parents and grandparents would give us when we were ill as children....who can forget the taste of Castor oil and malt.

 To continue the theme this months competition is OLD REMEDIES FOR A COLD - so bring along your remedies for a cold to the meeting to see if you can win.

If you'd like to know more about Llanarth WI or would like to join, please send us an email - email link can be found on the right hand side of this page. More contact details can be found on our posters in Llanarth Village notice board at the school or in the shop window of 'Awsome Pork' butchers.

MAY'S MEETING UPDATE

Our meeting was held on the 14th May, with Isabel our President introducing and welcoming Delyth Morris Jones as guest speaker to the meeting.

Mourning hankies

Delyth gave us a background to her talk on how her mother became a district nurse in the Devil's Bridge area in the 1930s. At the age of 13, Delyth's mother went to work in a dairy in the East End of London and found the poverty in that area so hard to come to terms with that she would give a little extra milk and butter to the families that had nothing. She soon realised that this life was not for her - she wanted a better life and also wanted to help the poorer families and people. She thought about nursing and started her training at the Plaistow Hospital. There she trained as a midwife and found the poverty of the area distressing - babies would be wrapped in newspapers and on many an occasion she was asked not to deliver the baby properly, which she resolutely refused to do. However she did try to help these poorer families by making little blankets for the babies. 

Delyth showing her

             mother's gloves

The poverty got too much for her and she longed for the Welsh countryside and so she applied for a post as District Nurse in the Devil's Bridge area and successfully got the job. It was a large area and she had to cover it just using a bicycle and in all weathers. She had five schools to visit - which meant it was one school a day.

Hat brushes

Delyth showed us some of the objects her mother brought back from London, they included mourning hankies and scarves. These would be worn for one year after a close relative had passed away - after the year you would then wear the purple coloured scarves. She showed us belts, gloves, handbags, one of which contained a small purse with a train ticket from Talsarn to Aberaeron inside. Also a dancing handbag, which was worn on top of the arm, two hat brushes and various items her mother would wear on her uniform. 

She could not afford a watch, so she used a small egg timer. Her wage was £1 a month and she would have to purchase her own uniform and equipment - there was one occasion when she broke three thermometers, which had to be replaced and the chemist Taylor Lloyd in Aberystwyth let her pay for the replacements over time. She showed us 'Thermagen Medicated Wadding', which would have been placed over a chest covered in 'Vicks' before wearing a vest and Liberty bodice! She also had two packs of the old 'Player's' and 'Senior

Player's & Senior Service packets

Service' cigarettes, as well as surgical gloves that would be used for more than one patient!
In 1936 she decided to buy a car, an Austen 7 - brand new for £50 - it took her eight years to pay for it. She worked for twelve years but gave it up when she got married and became a farmers wife.
Melda thanked Delyth for her interesting talk. A beautiful spread of refreshments was given by Denise and Audrey. Betty won this month's competition which was 'Family Baby Photo', Isabel came second and Melda third. Audrey won the raffle prize. 

MAY'S MEETING

May's meeting will be held in Llanarth Village Hall on Tuesday 14th May at 7:30pm.

This months guest speaker will be DELYTH MORRIS JONES who will be giving a talk on Midwifery in the 1930s. Many no

doubt have watched the wonderful BBC series 'Call the Midwife' and it will be interesting to hear if Delyth thinks the series was true to life.

 To continue the theme this months competition is FAMILY BABY PHOTO - so bring along your cute baby photos to the meeting to see if you can win.

If you'd like to know more about Llanarth WI or would like to join, please send us an email - email link can be found on the right hand side of this page. More contact details can be found on our posters in Llanarth Village notice board at the school or in the shop window of 'Awsome Pork' butchers.

APRIL MEETING UPDATE

April's meeting was held on the 9th April and out guest speaker was Mr Lyndon Lloyd who

gave us a very interesting talk about Age Cymru and how the seeds were sown by D O Evans, a Liberal MP from Llanbarth Farm, Penbryn Beach. He was a colleague of David Lloyd George and it was D O Evans who drew up plans for the Pension scheme.
The 'Old Peoples Welfare Committee for Wales' was set up in 1947 as part of the National Council of Social Services, with the aim of supporting older people in Wales. This organisation was later to become Age Concern Cymru.
The Old Peoples Welfare Committee provided grants to help the aged and changed its name to 'Care for the Elderly in Wales' in

1962. In 1969 it changed its name again to the 'National Council for the Care of the Elderly in Wales' and in 1973 'Help the Aged' became an independent charity.
 During the 1970s they developed a range of pioneering projects including 'good neighbour' schemes. Due to increasing loneliness and isolation of the elderly, Day Centres were established and lunch clubs were set up. There is also a cleaning service available, as keeping the house clean makes a happier elderly person. There is also a service called 'Dial a Ride' for transportation help and also a Trade Persons register. They also help with form filling and checking benefit eligibility. Also a new scheme is on the way to help those with dementia - offering respite to those who care for people with dementia. Age Cymru will also look into claims of elderly abuse and one of their prime goals is PAL - Prolong Active Life.

Refreshments were provided by Melda and Margaret V.

Mr Lloyd won the raffle prize and Audrey won the competition for 'Most interesting walking stick'.

APRIL'S MEETING

April's meeting will be held in Llanarth Village Hall on Tuesday 9th April at 7:30pm.

This months guest speaker will be LYNDON LLOYD from Age Cymru, the largest charity working for older people in

Wales. It's also the Welsh division of Age UK, which formed from the merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged. We look forward to finding out more about their vital work and support they offer.

 The competition this month will be the most interesting/unusual walking stick - bring a walking stick along to the meeting to see if you can win.

If you'd like to know more about Llanarth WI or would like to join, please send us an email - email link can be found on the right hand side of this page. More contact details can be found on our posters in Llanarth Village notice board at the school or in the shop window of 'Awsome Pork' butchers.

HELYG GROUP MEETING

Tuesday 19th March saw Llanarth WI host the Helyg Group Meeting in Llanarth Village Hall. Our President Isabel Jones opened proceedings by welcoming the other WIs in the group. Apologies for Penrhiwllan and Cwmcoi WIs were given by Dorothy Cox, Group Convenor. Congratulations to Ann Jones County Chair now to be Chair of the Federation

for Wales was given by Kathy Woods, Vice County Chair. Brenda Wright, County Treasurer stressed to the meeting the need to recruit new members. As Helyg group is a small group, letters have been sent to other larger groups to see if they wish to merge with Helyg Group.

Event organisers from each of the WIs within Helyg Group gave an account of their most interesting and entertaining evenings. There were some very interesting speakers mentioned. A list will be compiled and sent out to each WI within Helyg Group.

Isabel Jones introduced Denise Lavis, the evenings guest speaker, who is a member and Secretary of Llanarth WI. Her subject was 'Wales around the World'. She showed us the influence Wales has had around the world by picking three regions – America, Australia and Patagonia (Argentina). It was good to hear that America might have been named after the Welshman Richard Amerike (or Ameryk). We also learnt the 16 signatures of the Declaration of Independence were of Welsh descent. Wales has had a very high influence on the growth of America. There is a Welsh inscription on imported Welsh stone attached to the Washington Memorial - 'Fy iaith, Fy ngwlad, Fy nghenedl – Cymru am byth' donated by Welsh citizens of New York.

There were mining immigrants to Australia in the 1800's, with the prospect of hitting it rich in the gold mines being a big attraction. And we all remembered the 'Ten Pound Poms' – some of us had relatives that took up that scheme, set up to increase the population of Australia.

In the 19th century a colony was set up in Patagonia (Argentina) in order to keep alive the language and traditions of Wales. It was a hard struggle full of difficulties – very unlike the Promised Land the early settlers had been promised. But through the work of people like Rachel Jenkins, who used simple irrigation and water management systems, the colony was able to survive and flourish.

It was a very interesting talk and gave us all an insight on how Wales and her people have influenced the world – good on us!

A sumptuous spread was laid out of many varieties of sandwiches, sausage rolls, cheese/sausage/onions on sticks, pate and bread, sponges, cupcakes, bara brith, whiskey soaked tea cake, scones and a beautiful arrangement of fruit in a pineapple, all washed down with tea and coffee.

Thanks was given by Delyth Esau. A good night was had by all.

February meeting update

February 12th 2013

The meeting started with a welcome from Isabel our President to Dorothy Cox Regional Coordinator, who came to advise us on the forthcoming Group Meeting, which this year is being held in Llanarth.
 A congratulations card is to be sent to Ann Jones who has been elected to the position of Chair of the Federations of Wales.
Four members were absent from the meeting - Audrey, Joy, Margaret V and Wynne - we wish them all a speedy recovery. We were all pleased to see Margaret W join us after having recovered from her recent operation. 
An invitation was received from Cross Inn WI to join then on Monday 11th March for a 'Welsh Tea'. Four members will attend this event. Knowing the abilities of Cross Inn for holding events, we are in for a very enjoyable evening.

A warm welcome was given to Melda Grantham, Ceredigion County Council Registrar. Melda gave an interesting and amusing talk on her work as a Registrar.  She began with the registration of births and told us about the odd names given to children back in the 1970s.  We didn't realise that parents can pick any surname they like and it does not have to be the family name. Registrars prefer to see the mother registering the baby, as the father tends to get things wrong and the names cannot be changed once the baby has been registered.
Melda then explained the complications that can arise when registering a death, sometimes causing great distress. Ending her talk with marriage, we didn't realise how expensive it has become to get married. Those of us married in the 1960s were only worth 7s/6d (or 37 1/2 pence), whereas now it's in the hundreds of pounds. The most unusual place she has issued a licence to was a sheep shed, which became an enchanting venue for a wedding. 

Denise thanked Melda for her amusing talk. Refreshments were provided by Betty and Linda. The competition "Old Book" was won by Betty and the raffle was won by Linda.
Mydroilyn Young Farmers were using the main part of the hall to rehearse a short comedy sketch and they invited us to view their performance after our meeting. It was very amusing sketch and a great ending to a very enjoyable evening.

FEBRUARY MEETING

February's meeting will be held on the 12th February at 7:30pm in Llanarth Village Hall.

The guest speaker will be MELDA GRANTHAM from Ceredigion Registration Services who will be giving an insight into this vital service provided by the Council.

February's competition is an OLD BOOK - so bring along an interesting old book to the meeting for a chance of winning.

If you'd like to know more about Llanarth WI or would like to join, please send us an email - email link can be found on the right hand side of this page.