Christmas festivities began early here for us in Llangynog W.I. with our celebratory Christmas meal, enjoyed in cosy surroundings at the Cain Hotel in Llanfyllin. The Christmas spirit was carried on during our December meeting with an exchange of cards and greetings. We welcomed our talented, local bee-keeper, Rob Broome, who arrived laden with a selection of winter greenery, logs, and perhaps most intriguingly, large sheets of coloured beeswax. All of these items were to be used to make a Christmas table decoration. We were soon to learn that the beeswax was for making candles. However, we had a problem... The wax was too cold! Undaunted, our resourceful members sat on their sheets of beeswax until they were warm and pliable, before making them into beautiful tapered candles. These were to form the centre point of our decoration.

Bee-keeper Rob presided over a noisy ‘hive’ of activity. Members were delighted with the results, which now undoubtedly adorn homes throughout the village. Cathleen Williams’ decoration was judged to be the most outstanding. A fun-filled evening was rounded off with mulled wine and a fine spread of festive food. The raffle prize, an amusing ‘Santa’ tray, was donated by Edwina Jones and won by Jan Gill.

Finally, very many thanks go to Hazel Owen and Pauline Wilson, the out-going President and Secretary, for all their hard work and commitment. Seasons Greetings to them both!

Members, with Rob Broome, proudly showing their festive table decorations