Book gift
	3:24pm Wed 7 May 08
	Usk Castle Friends have recently presented more books to Usk Library, to add to the Usk Castle Friends Collection started two years ago. All the books in the collection relate to Usk in some way and are available to all borrowers and also on inter-library loan ..

	Fashion show
	3:21pm Wed 7 May 08
	A recent fashion show given by The Copper Tree of Usk was a huge success and raised more funds for the Usk Tapestry Group.

Meet the author

3:19pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

An evening with exciting new young writer Owen Sheers is to be held at the Sessions House, Usk, on May 28 at 7.30pm, courtesy of Mandalay Books.

Aladdin in Garway

3:18pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

On Thursday, April 24, Garway and Friends "Av a Go Panto" Aladdin opened in Garway Village Hall. My grand daughter and five year old great granddaughter had arrived from Ireland in the late afternoon, so after a quick bite to eat, we took ourselves off to Garway. We were among the first arrivals so we took seats at the front. It was a wonderful evening - for the first time in years I was seeing the performance through the eyes of a delighted child! As it was the first night, things moved a bit slowly through the first half - but this didn't matter at all to Chloe. She was enthralled. She laughed and chuckled and hissed and booed in true pantomime form. The camel was lovely and the Arab Traders very purposeful. Everyone put so much into the performance and the costumes were spectacular. Tea, squash and biscuits were served during the interval and the raffle was drawn then. Chloe's ticket was the first pulled out of the hat and off she went to choose her prize. She came back to her seat with a box of Maltesers, absolutely thrilled.

Cuckoo!

3:17pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

Last week I asked if anyone had heard the cuckoo yet this year. I certainly haven't heard it in my area. I was delighted when Roger Rudge from Talywaun rang me a few days ago, to let me know that he heard the cuckoo, near his home on Wednesday April 23. This is quite late for the cuckoo, but I am very glad that someone has heard him. It would not be Spring without the cuckoo - and I'm very grateful to Roger Rudge for his telephone call. Incidentally it was he who called me last year when he heard the cuckoo on April 20.

What's cooking

3:16pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

There have been delicious smells wafting through local homes as the Ladybird's children have been very busy producing their own cook book (with a little help from one of the Ladybird pre-school playgroup mums Susan Woodley, a qualified food technology teacher). All the recipes have been tried and tested at home or often in Ladybirds itself with the children really eager to help stir, mix, roll and of course sample the end results! So the next Jamie or Delia may come from Pandy!

Show fundraisers

3:10pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

The ever popular LlanthonyValley and District Show will be held at Court Farm Llanthony on Saturday August 2. Serious fundraising for the event continues with two events at Mark Morgan's Maes-y-beran farm near Llanthony. These take place on Saturday May 31 and tickets can be booked in advance.

	Young rugby fans
	3:06pm Wed 7 May 08
	The Junior pupils of Llanvihangel Crucorney Primary School were invited by the Friends of Newport Rugby Trust' to provide the Guard of Honour at last Saturday's fixture at Rodney Parade. This game was the last home fixture of the season for Newport R.F.C. and the children were there to cheer them on. Children from the school's rugby, football, netball, gymnastics and country dancing teams all lined up to welcome the players onto the pitch as they took on Bedwas.

	Calling time
	3:02pm Wed 7 May 08
	After almost two decades of impeccable service Joy and Merlin Thomas have retired from their employment as house management team at Chepstow Athletic Club.

Plant sale

2:58pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

The Annual Grand Plant Sale organized by the Chepstow Group of Gwent Wildlife Trust will be held at the Senior Citizens' Hall, Cormeilles Square, on Saturday 17th May between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm.

More ...