Dr Chris’ Monthly Blog - November 09
Guy Fawkes night was a bit wet but the bonfire and the fireworks were great. Mrs Bennett’s gingerbread men were delicious (as always). The dogs and I retired to watch the fireworks from the car as they were scared (it took them two hours to stop shivering!). This is where a deaf dog is an advantage. Thanks to all the hard working Bonfire Committee, who work hard for months to organise the event every year.
The new CEO of Denbighshire County Council, Mohammed Mehmet, came for a ward visit on the 4th November. I took him to all the villages in my ward via the especially scenic areas like Pen Barras car park and the Horseshoe Pass. He was impressed by the beauty of our area. Llanferres community council met him at Loggerheads, where we had a civilized talk over tea and home made cakes. Then to Llandegla visitors centre to meet a large group from the village, who were more vociferous, especially about the new houses to be built, but some sensible discussion took place. I then drove him in the pouring rain along the narrow road to Hafod Bilston passed Graig Farm and the Patchwork Pate place to The Ponderosa. This is a spectacular view, if you can see it, but there were 3 gates to open so he got soaked especially with his feet in his city shoes!
Finally to the Hideaway Café, Gweryd Lakes for delicious pancakes. Not to worry about the bacon pancakes, Jeanette, Mohammed is a non practising Muslim. He came over from Cyprus at the age of 9 years, when the Turks and the Greeks were fighting a civil war and the island was partitioned. At this gathering not much could be heard except the views of one person, whom I call the oxygen thief, despite protestations of the others, especially the CEO and the owners. The suggestion that local planning issues especially for smaller items; conservatories/porches and house conversions could be done at a community level was well received at Llanferres less so in Llandegla and poo pooed in Llanarmon-yn-Iâl. Personally, I think it is a good idea as we know our area and the sites better than planning in Denbighshire County Council.
The mobile Youth Club is having a visit for a viewing in the Raven carpark
on Wednesday 11th November 4 to 6 pm. Come and visit see the facilities as we will get the mobile youth centre if enough enthusiasm is shown, for the three villages of Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, Eryrys and Graianrhyd. I need a few adult volunteers to help with the overflow into the games room at The Raven. The start date is soon and the likely times the centre will be in Llanarmon-yn-Iâl is Wednesdays 6.30 to 8.30pm, for age 11 to 18, although I expect 16 plus will consider themselves too old.
I am doing some radio programmes on BCC Wales on; homelessness & psychiatric illness, Caesarain sections or not, Alzheimers & assisted suicide and finally NHS or Private Health Care? So I am scarpering around North Wales and even to Cardiff in the next 3 weeks speaking to AMs, Midwives, patients and psychiatrists.
Your views on these subjects would be interesting too, so collar me in our wonderful Raven Inn if you have an opinion. Continued thanks to the Raven Mad committee, the new Saturday menu is looking fabulous. I did my first stint behind the bar on Sunday, enjoyed it very much.
Have a good November, Christine