Gwynfe summer social and Garnant walk

Colin and John had told me many times of the various social events they had put on in their Village hall for their Gwynfe residents, so one day I suggested we put on a summer social for our GOC group.

Without any hesitation the boys thought it a great idea and they were up and running, sorting a date, booking the hall and as it turned out on the night, arranging a most fantastic night of entertainment that appealed to everyone.

The Saturday social started with an optional circular walk around the village.

None of us had walked around Gwynfe before and Colin and John led 9 of us plus 5 dogs, along the main road which forms part of the Beacons Way and down a lane passed a lovely chapel, across a bridge over the River Clydach, and back through greenery and fields.The views of the mountains in the distance were absolutely stunning.

As we walked back along the road back to the village hall we met a few of our friends driving passed, arriving for the evening social so Colin and John went on ahead to open the hall and greet the new arrivals.

Everyone arrived with drinks and an abundance of food to share, which was displayed on the tables and people kept on arriving bit by bit, including some villagers who had been invited, and others who had travelled from all directions.

One woman Ellie who was new to the group had come from Llangollen!!!---well she'd been travelling on route via Shropshire having a few days away, aiming to meet up with us for the social weekend.She was understandably shy at first not knowing anyone, but by the end of the weekend,-- she joined in the Sunday walk too--it seemed as if we'd all known each other a long time.

After the lovely stroll we were all ready for the scrummy refreshments and the conversation flowed almost as much as the alcohol!!

After we'd chatted, chilled and sampled the tasty banquet it was time for the long awaited "Colin's quiz." This turned into 4 rounds of questions on different subjects, one of them being jingles from old tv adverts and we had to guess the product it was advertising--it did bring back some lovely memories.2 teams tied in first place and there was a tie breker question and my team lost---Russ reckoned we'd been robbed but we bowed out as good losers, next time we'll be the champions?!

Next on Colin and John's list, to keep us all entertained, was the karaoke and we did a few group singalongs, and then Colin and John sang a duet and a few brave souls Gail, Don and Lecky got up and sang solos, with Neil and Steve singing another duet before more group singing.

Then a lovely treat as Karen and Dee got up and sang some really funny ditties, which brought smiles and louder guffaws from almost everyone.

Then it was time to get those dancing shoes on, and the choice of music was excellent getting many up onto the dance floor strutting their stuff a la John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, and shaking their booties, in perfect time or NOT to the music.

There seemed to be no ending to the lovely evening but little by little people were starting to drift off to make their ways home with a few staying nearby.

This type of social was a first for our group and turned into such an enjoyable evening.

Many thanks to everyone who came, travelling from all directions to support this event, which would not have been possible without Colin and Johns huge input which was fully appreciated by all the attendees.

What a fabulous evening, well done everyone.

A walk had been arranged for the following morning Sunday at Garnant so after a bit of a tidy up at the village hall, it was time for the walkers who had stayed in Gwynfe to depart and make their way to the start of the walk.

It was unfortunately very wet and misty and the car journey up and over the narrow mountain road was a bit hazardous but soon 5 of us, determined not to be put off by the great Welsh weather, assembled at a car park in Garnant.

Russ produced a designer poncho which he wore over his normal jacket.

Unfortunately by the end of the walk it was in tatters and only fit for the recycling bag!!!

We set off along the cycle track to the next village Cwmamman and passed a lovely old house which now seemed to be home to some beautiful horses and then through a rather boggy section to a lovely old chapel.

In the graveyard Ryan Davies, one half of the welsh comedy duo Ryan and Ronnie, who died at the tender age of 40, is buried and we stopped at his grave.

Then we made our way through greenery and up onto a ridge where normally great views are to be had, over to the nearby villages of Cmwgorse, Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Brynamman and even down the valley to Ammanford.Sadly today there was not much to be seen through the thick mist and we managed to keep on track in the poor conditions and descended to a dilapidated house where we stopped for lunch.It wasn't a day to dawdle over our sarnies so soon we were off again this time on a narrow path through high ferns and with quite a big drop on one side where the almost black coloured water of the River Amman flowed.

Proceeding through another boggy area we came to a field of llamas who looked at us rather quizzically, wondering just why we wanted to be wandering about in the awful, never ending drizzle.

We were all glad to see the housing estate appear, a wander through which, marked the end of the walk with us arriving back at the car park.

This was such an awfully wet day that it would have been easy for people to have pulled out and not turned up so BIG thanks go to everyone who came and supplied the good company and supported this event which was very much appreciated by myself.

Everyone agreed it was a lovely walk and maybe one to be repeated in better weather.

What a fantastic weekend this had been, with something for everyone including non walkers.It would be great to do a similar summer social next year. 

If anyone who has a local village hall or community centre would like to host a similar evening next year please get in touch. 

 

 

 

 

 

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