Cardiff Times - April 2024

Llys

event

During this friendly and interactive session you’ll learn more about dementia, how it can affect individuals, and what you can do to help people living with dementia in your community. Book your free space and become an Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friend:

Tuesday 16th April at 11am

Thursday 25th April at 3pm

Tuesday 20th April at 3pm

Thursday 2nd May at 11am

Llys Herbert care home, Lisvane Typical signs of ageing or dementia

Thursday 23rd May, 2pm - 4pm

Listen to dementia specialist Linda Dawes discuss typical signs of ageing and how symptoms differ from dementia, and give guidance on how to live well with dementia.

Trusted to care

To attend please call 0330 822 6781

Cyncoed care home, Cyncoed Dementia Friends

Meet former Commonwealth and Team GB athlete, Sheree Phelps

Sheree offers everything from a relaxing, more holistic massage to the functional and fixing sports massage treatments. And is now the only qualified Clinical massage therapist based in Cardiff!

Based in Maindy, Sheree works from within the Cardiff personal training studio, where she offers a calm and tranquil treatment environment for people to take a break from the everyday stresses of life.

Understanding what an athlete needs, and the want to recover quickly is what sets Podium Therapies above the rest. Being a clinical massage therapist means cutting edge treatment techniques and modalities are used for each unique and personalised treatment.

An award-winning clinic, having just won Sports massage clinic of the year 2024 in the Prestige business awards, Sheree strives to offer the best and most up to date research, knowledge, and education for her clients to recover and help with rehab at home between treatments too.

As 2024 gets under way, Sheree is excited to offer clinical massage to her range of treatments, bridging the gap between sports massage and physiotherapy. Performing a range of orthopaedic diagnostic tests first and foremost, clinical massage can save the endless waiting on physiotherapy waiting times and get you on the road to recovery more quickly.

So, what does a clinical massage entail?

It is an in-depth treatment using a variety of orthopaedic testing for chronic pain or acute injuries, similar to Physiotherapists. This helps rule out and diagnose musculoskeletal

pathologies such as the common frozen shoulder or joint sprains. Or how clinical massage can help more systemic pathologies such as asthma and Parkinson’s disease.

Sheree specialises in Parkinson’s disease treatment, having just completed a research project on how myofascial release can help Parkinson’s related tremor as part of her clinical massage degree. Podium Therapies also has an interest in breathing conditions and mental health and offers a range of techniques to help with a range of relating conditions.

“Having had a 13-year career in sport, competing all over the world at a Commonwealth and World series level, I understand how frustrating an injury or chronic pain can be. I appreciate how today the levels of stress we are under from work life, family life, society pressures, most of us are living with elevated levels of anxiety. At the age of 25 I had a breakdown and going through this has left me with a new outlook on life and empathy for my clients. It allows me to utilize the biopsychosocial model and look past “just” the injury and see how my client may respond to treatments. I have developed distinct aspects of a treatment and often give out “homework” to continue the treatment at home.”

As part of a clinical massage treatment, it is not just the hands-on part that counts. To start, the orthopaedic testing is paramount. Only then can a treatment plan be brought to life and personalised to what injury or pathology is at hand. This and the rehabilitation programme are what changes an average sports massage, to an elevated elite clinical massage. Clients are given stretches, strength and conditioning plans and often leave the clinic with foam rollers, resistance bands and other gym equipment to help them at home.

“Clinical massage is a treatment plan to fix. Often, I have had a massage, felt great, left, and had the same problem occur a few days or weeks later. I always found it hard to find a treatment that was right for me or in-depth enough to look at my lifestyle and look at my body as a whole. I want to offer the highest level of massage in the UK, it makes me strive hard to give my clients the best possible treatment.”

Sadly, many people have heard the phrase “harder is better,” or “sports massage has to hurt.” This is NOT true and should not be the case. Often this is because the therapist is not properly trained or has an improper understanding of massage and the body. Using a mixture of Eastern and Western practices, clinical massage uses treatment modalities such as myofascial release, acupuncture and hot stones, things that you do not associate with a typical sports massage.

“Made an appointment to sort out a knee and shoulder issue that’s been affecting my exercise routine for a few months. Sheree assessed and diagnosed the issue within minutes and then treated the areas. 24 hrs on, pain has largely gone, and I was able to exercise as normal. I’d highly recommend Sheree, an expert in her field, empathetic, a

great communicator, and an all-round lovely person.” L. Evans 2024

Podium Therapies is here for everyone. Any lifestyle, chronic pain condition, pathology, or injury. To relax, restore and renew - Sheree will look after you as a whole and treat you as an individual and most importantly, listen!

If you would like to book in with Sheree to relax and unwind or fix that niggle that has been nagging, head to www.podiumtherapies.co.uk and book online using CARDIFFTIMES10 for 10% off!

Podium Therapies

135 Maindy Road

Cardiff

CF24 4HN

07540 864380

www.podiumtherapies.co.uk

Key to the door

by Wyn Evans

A few pictures for you all this month, in tribute to my daughter, The Girl, who turned eighteen yesterday at the end of March. We had a wonderful celebration, who’da thunk that she was only 3lb 9oz and could be held in the palm of The Boss’s (my wife’s) hand when she was born by way of an emergency caesarean. She has Down Syndrome (DS), which was a big scary unknown when it was confirmed after her birth. Scarier still, however, were the three holes in her heart, which were successfully operated on in Bristol Children’s Hospital before she was five months old.

The Girl had the same developmental milestones as every other child: eating without the aid of a feeding tube, first word (“dad,” natch!), first steps, first driving lesson, first backward somersault on the trampoline, first GCSE, Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards (with Gold to follow). Whoops, I’ve evidently jumped ahead a few years, in my excitement! She starts further education at the Cardiff and Vale College this autumn; The Boss and I are looking forward to that with a healthy mix of fear and dread. The Girl, on the other hand, can’t wait and is more than ready to take on new challenges and responsibilities.

There have been moments of sadness and frustration. The doctors and nurses who thought it appropriate to tell us how sorry they were that we had a “Down’s baby;” the bloody cheek of it. The Midwives who reminded us at every visit that abortions could be carried out in cases of DS up until full term. The battles with authorities to ensure that our Girl received the same opportunities as typically developing kids – making sure that people see her and not just her condition.

The ‘primary’ years were more or less straightforward. The Girl was mainstream educated in Marlborough Primary School with 1:1 support (a big thank you to Mary) and a weekly Speech Therapist we put our hands in our pockets for (and still do, fortnightly now) because the official service was so patchy (not a criticism of individual staff but of the uneven nature of provision and funding). Her friends were drawn

from her school-mates and from the kids that she met doing her activities. In no particular order she joined Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, Water babies, Tatty Bumpkin storytelling, judo, ballet, trampolining, climbing, athletics and so many more. We also ensured that she was a member of clubs and societies that were for typically-developing kids as well as those with special educational needs and who were non-typically developing. And, of course, all the various groups that catered for the DS community (including the fabulous 21Plus).

Things changed when the secondary years came around. For various reasons, she mostly lost the friendship groups that had been with her in Primary School. But she has attended two excellent secondary schools where she has had access to specialist provision alongside peers who have special needs. Cardiff High School and Whitchurch High School have each worked hard to identify and meet our Girl’s needs. Out of school, she sees friends regularly, particularly those drawn from DS-groups, trampolining, and ballet. She competes and often wins in UK and Regional trampolining competitions and will be sitting her Grade 7 ballet examination this summer.

In one of my very first columns, I cited Simon Barnes, a journalist, and father to Eddie, who has DS. As proof that all things come around full circle, Simon has this month posted a sort-of follow-up article to the one that inspired me years ago:

“And yes, sure, he has Down’s syndrome, but that’s a medical term and I don’t live with a medical term. I live with Eddie, and Eddie is not a syndrome. He has a personality, his likes and dislikes, his various passions, and a taste for spectacular jokes. Some stuff makes him happy, other stuff upsets him. I trust this won’t come as a shock, but he’s a human being.”

Well, I have watched our Girl grow into a beautiful and gifted young woman, Angharad is her name. She works hard, never gives up, loves maths! and delights in the company of colleagues and friends. Her first eighteen years have given us so much joy and pleasure. Here’s to the next eighteen, about which I promise to keep you all posted!

SAT 08 JUNE 2024

CALDICOT CASTLE MONMOUTHSHIRE

MYTICKET.CO.UK | THESTRANGLERS.CO.UK

A KILIMANJARO PRESENTATION BY ARRANGEMENT WITH X-RAY

‘And Another Thing...’ From the Sublime to the Ridiculous

by Vince Nolan

Exciting times in the Nolan world since we last met. We journeyed across “The Pond” to see Son and Heir and Wife and New Grandson in New York. What an adventure! They live in a beautiful beachside village called Breezy Point. Pretty idyllic. Would be residents have to be recommended, vetted and compliant as good citizens or they are bought out and physically removed. Security barriers and security patrols and their own beach. Quite how our Tom got in remains a mystery. Our adventures also included visits to: Tiffany’s, Wall Street, and another place opposite it. Hence the title of this article. By the time you read this Mr T may have been removed from all his alleged assets not just this one.

We were also lucky enough to be in town for St. Patrick’s Day or more like St. Patrick’s week. Every shop, bar and building was draped in the Irish Tricolour, or it could have been the Mexican flag, they are quite similar (apart from being different colours, so don’t look it up). Fast-forward to an Irish Bar in Central New York with a Tony Bennett/Frank Sinatra type crooner out on the sidewalk (see what I did there). He was very

impressive but got progressively worse as the punters kept buying him large Irish whiskies. He became more and more incoherent as the day progressed and more inappropriate with the ladies until he slowly slid down the wall to a standing ovation from some of us customers.

Saw this about Irish diplomacy: “The ability to tell someone to go to hell so that they will look forward to the trip.”

We also experienced a typical NY street vended hot-dog, hold the mustard. The onions were particularly good. Top tip for you from Jimmy Carr on this subject: “A lot of people cry when they chop onions. Apparently, the trick is not to form an emotional bond.”

I always thought that Vive la Différence was French for Vive la Différence, but it equally applied to our NY experience. Cannabis appears to be tolerated over there (not for us you understand but it was noticeably in use). We embarked on one of the most bizarre taxi rides we have ever experienced. We used a recommended cab company and our driver turned up high as a kite on weed, but he

will no longer be slapping each other as their routines unless they are given dispensation by our First Minister. this in a local pub on their specials board: Love Local and champion local farms fisheries.” All very laudable but the first on their menu was Mediterranean Olives. Overheard in the same pub: “Every time we here we come here.” You don’t say.

also had a computer screen mounted to the dashboard playing live TV footage of an Evangelist Preacher taking us through the Book of Revelations. All this as we weaved drunkenly through the downtown traffic. I felt at the time that no one would believe me if I told them this story and I see by your silence that I was right.

(meaty urologist, oh please yourselves).

tiny mistake and your whole post is urined.

capsule.

have not been directly observed but theoretical predictions based on their existence have been confirmed experimentally.” Oh please! And as for mesons and baryons, we could be here all night.

news and the others would butt in with constant interruptions and a stream of “furious debate.” With this in mind I have collated some quality put-downs which comics have used to deal with modern day hecklers:

Staying briefly with religion, I love this short quote from Billy Connolly on the subject. He said: “I don’t necessarily believe in God, but I believe in people who do.” What his views

pensioners who could barely stand were seen hanging onto a lamppost, for support, rather

“What size of shoe does your mouth take?”

Dacey (on the leS) who is the dynamic CEO of

It does not need me to suggest the uncanny Tomlinson or vice versa.

brewery got on a bus and sat

were only bettered by those of Oscar Wilde

ensure that we had properly warmed up since we didn’t want to pull any drinking Unfortunately, only six of us turned up and a minimum of ten were required or the off. I engaged four old-timers who were in the bar (could have been the aforementioned ones from the Taff Vale) and asked them whether they fancied having a tour and free beer for the afternoon. Fearing some kind of honey trap, they took convincing that my offer was genuine. Cautiously, they agreed to join us. Picture the scene, 5pm on a sunny weekday evening at the side entrance to the Brewery on Caroline Street where four pensioners who could barely stand were seen hanging onto a lamppost, for support, rather than illumination. An afternoon they would never…… remember.

How long have you had arthritis?” “I don’t have arthritis, Father,” the drunk said, “but just read in the paper that the Pope does.”

Continuing the rope theme: Soap on a rope Pope on a rope I once owned one of the chewed pencils which Shakespeare used to write his famous works. He used to chew on it so much that I couldn’t tell whether it was 2B or not 2B. Staying with the Bard, in days gone by, in order to attract women, I used to use this quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act III, Scene IV, line 82: “Hello.”

drink, there has always been attached to wine. Indeed, living from it, but I am making a the lockdowns. I’m giving up all month. No wait, that’s not Wine every day all month!

on a first date. “Do you like “Yes, but you don’t pronounce Ok.” Looks at waiter: “Two and Ammy.”

Wine every day all month!

dates before but a recent trip to my local supermarket perishables that would make the following Monday. In fact I would make it to the car for the journey home. What is going EU supply issues? Closer inspec@on of the packaging and veg like Tanzania and Argen@na. So these climes, picked, packaged, taken to the port or airport, then delivered to the shops and put on the shelves with

Until the next time Chums from Breezy Point, New York out the City hotels. The concerts were then cancelled and we found a City centre hotel £80, hurrah! However, the fickle finger intervened and cancelled the office lunch leaving us to wander lonely as some clouds around the Castle and its outdoor bar facilities until frostbite got the better of us and forced us back to a hotel we did not need. Much fun, but quickly found out that there is a limit to how much mulled wine one can drink before falling over.

The world has taken a strange twist – at least the parts I seem to occupy. I have been reading about a proposal for the 2027 Rugby World Cup which will prevent any team in red shirts and green shirts playing each other because colour blind people often struggle to distinguish between the two. Not criticising them of course but this would affect Wales, Canada, Ireland, Tonga, Russia, South Africa and Japan. This had me in mind of that quote from BBC snooker commentator Ted Lowe who famously said during one of his commentaries: “And for those of you who are watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green.”

drunk's shirt was stained, his face was full of bright red lipstick and he had a halfempty bottle of wine sticking out of his pocket. He opened his newspaper and started of minutes later, he asked the priest, "Father, what causes arthritis?" by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, and fellow man," the priest replied. "Imagine that," the drunk muttered. He reading his paper. The priest, thinking about what he had said, turned to the apologised: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had have arthritis, Father," the drunk said, "but I just read in the paper that

I was at the hairdressers the other day for my January scalping when the Jimmy Nail song “Ain’t No Doubt - She’s Lying” came on the wireless. Totally unscripted, we, the masked singers in the chairs and our masked stylists all started to sway and sing to the music in a scene reminiscent from The Full Monty when they all started dancing in the queue at the job centre. Fortunately all sharp implements were downed for a few short minutes and then without further comment, just like in a musical, everybody went back to their day job like nothing had happened. Lockdown has a lot to answer for but that was very funny.

“This is what comes from drinking on an empty head.”

Staying with the drink, there has always been much snobbery attached to wine. Indeed, people make a living from it, but I am making a stand because of the lockdowns. I’m giving up wine, every day, month. No wait, that’s not it. I’m giving up.

“I know where you were when they were handing the brains out………getting an extra helping of mouth.”

Two people out on a first date. “Do you like Merlot Tammy?” “Yes, but you don’t pronounce the “t.” “Oh, Ok.” Looks at waiter: “Two Merlots for me and Ammy.”

and Heir married into the Mackay family who

The Leader of the Opposition and I were sitting in our socially distanced local, The Funky Furlough, when a lady close by to us asked the Bar Manager if the toilets were still upstairs. He of course confirmed that they were but I thought this to be a very stupid question. I would have said something like: “I don’t know when madam was last with us but we moved them out to the car park many months ago as a direct consequence of Covid19.” Perhaps this is why I do not run a pub.

recent WalesOnline article bizarrely claimed GPs were working 40 months an hour overtime. I have no doubt they are ridiculously stretched at present, but 40 months an hour? over three years an hour. The only way this would be to time travel so maybe were referring to Dr Who. In my world this be like driving at 40 hours a mile which be quite slow but not unlike trying to negotiate the recent traffic carnage in Cardiff Centre as they impose bike lanes on the us.

Recent crossword clue: “Brush under the carpet 5 and 4.” The answer was “gloss over.”

Hasta La Vista Chums have questionable morels? deer who has lost both accident? No eye deer. when Trump dies, I will give “He is today how he was as President……….wearing make-up and lying in front the son of a good friend a urology for his Dad’s the heart to say eulogy meant. Anyway, here is (he was affectionately because of his likeness leader), involved a trip play France. We year relationship with played them home and international weekends. On (Mike’s first), we did it in the bus to Dover, ferry crossing was sitting next to him. At Customs Officer came onto hold up your passports along and count them and and said “I didn’t know and I haven’t got one.” I words to that effect. Then, in a World War 2 prisoner of war ducked down into the footwell his coat and mine on top of move, whilst we were both uncontrollably. The Customs the count, missed Mike

“Do you know, if you wore soundproof trousers one would hear a word you’re saying.”

being cops). As Nolans, we have proud Irish origins (this spellchecked as Irish organs which is probably funnier). Anyway, as a gift we ordered two flags online, one with the Mackay crest and tartan adorning it and one with the Nolan crest and tartan as souvenirs for their houses. The merchandise duly arrived, and we pitched up with these and they were well-received. However, I later noticed they were made in Nova Scotia, sent over to Wales and then flew back across the Atlantic with us, some two weeks later. Not too good for our green footprint methinks. In other Scottish/American matters: What’s the difference between Bing Crosby and Walt Disney? Bing sings and Walt Disney (sorry).

What a day out to go on board all of these. Remarkable and humbling at the same time. How crews can live in the small confines of a submarine for weeks on end is beyond me and I have nothing but admiration for them. Similarly, how anyone can land a jet on the rolling deck of an aircraft carrier, every day, is quite amazing. Anyway, talking of the Space Shuttle, reminded me that I was given a bit of moon rock once. When I broke it open it had “Moon” written all the way through it.

“Your bus leaves in 10 minutes... Be under it.”

Picture the poor student trying to learn English. Student – try it in a German accent: “If I understand zis correctly, in ze first place you are brushing benease your carpet and zen you add shiny paint over it. You British!”

Interesting lyric we heard on the wireless the other day: “Sports bra and a Maserati car.” Who would have thought of that combination? Apparently many have including a poet called Dave Cox whom I have just “discovered”. Intellectual property rules prevent me quoting any of his work here but I encourage you to look him up. A real comedy genius and hugely refreshing.

sell-buy dates before supermarket on a Friday that would make the some doubt whether the journey home. nothing to do with EU inspection of the packaging fruit and veg like these comestibles picked, packaged, distributed around UK the shops and put on the sell-buy date. It skill to supply goods spare. Waste levels doing some research manufactured in the UK. The small sample: Pringles Colman’s English Chocolate Orange Parliament) Sauce (The knock.” “Who’s there?” who?” “I had no idea my tolerance as it used to

one day leS on the sell-buy date. It takes an inordinate amount of skill to in-@me” with 24 hours to spare. Waste levels must be astronomical.

“Is that your real face or are you still celebrating Halloween?”

The Leader of The Opposition and I were listening to Michael Ball on the wireless. He was interviewing Donny Osmond who had been appearing in panto at the London Palladium. Donny was speaking about a former acting mentor of his who told him the following: “Theatre is the only place where you can dream in public. Your job as an actor is to deliver that dream” which we thought was rather good. Oh yes it is.

“I need you like Van Gogh needed stereo.”

Finally, I spotted this wonderful work from Scottish poet and novelist Andrew Lang: “O grant me a house by the beach of a bay, Where the waves can be surly in winter, and play With the seaweed in summer, ye bountiful powers! And I’d leave all the hurry, the noise, and the fray, For a house full of books, and a garden of flowers.”

I was reading about a court case where the accused was described as “having murderous intent.” I was quite disappointed to learn that this had nothing to do with camping.

A wife sent her husband a romantic text message. She wrote: “If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile. If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking, send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you.” Her husband texted back: “ I’m in the toilet, please advise.”

Staying with food, I have been doing some research into what is no longer the UK. The list is endless but here is a small sample: Pringles (Belgium), Colman’s English Mustard ( Germany), Terrys Chocolate Orange (France) Parliament) Sauce (The Netherlands). Staggering.

“Well, it’s a night out for him.. and a night off for family.”

Staying with word games, I completed a word puzzle on my phone and I correctly guessed that the word they were looking for was Hadron as in the Hadron Collider. Having no clue what this was really all about I decided look it up. I wish I hadront bovvered (see what I did there): “Any member of a class of subatomic particles that are built from quarks and thus react through the agency of the strong force. The hadrons embrace mesons, baryons and their many resonances.” Trouble then wanted to know what a quark was.

Our friend Dr H has trained her dog Daisy to bring her a bottle of red wine. No surprise really, she’s a Bordeaux collie. I was sat with She Who Must Be Obeyed the other day whilst she sipped a glass of wine and she said, “I love you so much, you know. I don’t know how I could ever live without you.” I said, “Is that you or the wine talking?” She said, “It’s me talking to the wine.”

Thanks to my cousin Lawrence for this joke. What do you call a Frenchman wearing sandals? Phillipe Flop! Quickly followed by a poem what I writ:

Roses can be red, Violets are purple. Just saying.

Finally, sad news, my friend David has lost his ID. Now he is just Dav.

A drunk who smelled like a brewery got on a bus and sat down next to a priest. The drunk's shirt was stained, his empty bottle of wine sticking out of his pocket. He opened couple of minutes later, he asked the priest, "Father, what causes arthritis?" caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, and for your fellow man," the priest replied. "Imagine that," the drunk muttered. He reading his paper. The priest, thinking about what he had said, turned to the apologised: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had "I don't have arthritis, Father," the drunk said, "but I just read in the paper that does."

Here’s one for you: “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “LiKle old lady.” “LiKle “I had no idea you could yodel.”

Sainted Mother-In-Law was looking for car insurance now that her stunt driving days are managed to find a reasonable policy, it out and paid for it. She in turn kindly reimbursed me with this immortal covering “Thank you, the Monet is in the bank.” I course countered this with “There was really need to give me a priceless impressionist painting but thank you anyway.” have observed when people type

Hasta la Vista. minimum of ten were required or off. I engaged four old-timers the bar (could have been the aforementioned ones from the Taff Vale) them whether they fancied brewery tour and free beer for the Fearing some kind of honey trap, some convincing that my offer was Cautiously, they agreed to join us. scene, 5pm on a sunny weekday side entrance to the Brewery Street where four pensioners barely stand were seen hanging lamppost, for support, rather than An afternoon they would remember. smelled like a brewery got sat down next to a priest. shirt was stained, his face bright red lipstick and he had bottle of wine sticking out of ones from the Taff Vale) and asked them whether they fancied having a free beer for the afternoon. Fearing some kind of honey trap, they took that my offer was genuine. Cautiously, they agreed to join us. Picture the scene, 5pm on a sunny weekday evening at the side entrance to the Brewery on

I have also been reading Bob Mortimer’s autobiography which I also strongly recommend. Funny, poignant and very clever, but enough about me. In it he recalls a tale about having chronic flatulence as a child which was both embarrassing and at times very painful. During one particular attack he went to the Doctors who managed to “release the pressure” for him. He quotes the Doctor as saying: “Better an empty house than a noisy tenant” which I thought was very good. Presumably this was in the days before the Doctors were working 40 months an hour.

Adios Amigos

I walked into our local bar, The Moaning Monet saw Van Gogh sitting at the end on a bar stool. shouted “Hey Vince do you want a drink?”

Happy New Year Dear Reader, the Year of the Ox. Apparently this year is going to be lucky with the Ox representing diligence, persistence and honesty. Not for going to be Trump’s year then is it?

Finally, a top bathroom tip: Never leave your pile ointment next to your toothpaste!

I am a man of a certain age so my tolerance threshold does work as well par@cularly when being asked to embrace new technology. I was therefore She Who Must Be Obeyed suggested I download a new app called What3Words. naviga@on aid which divides the World into 3 metre squares and gives each combina@on of three words. I s@ll drive about a lot for business, believe assured that this system would be much more accurate than using our sat the first @me the other day and the unique three word loca@on I was looking Are Lost!” Design fault or user error?

He shouted back: “No thanks, I’ve already got ear.”

Yamas Chums

Finally, a blessing for the drink: God, in his goodness, sent the grapes, to cheer both great and small. Little fools will drink too much and great fools none at all. My round. time it tried to other three shops I really and and sausage had enough of home school highlight of the it’s serious, excitement. phrase we 18th Century straight was and weft). Of the related call her Dr Dr R who We recently was pinned. door. Live Radio outdone we note: “Please was executed after the Supreme Court ruled he could turn it down if he wanted to. No pleasing some folk.

Meanwhile one of our Big Days Out (are you following all this), was to The Intrepid Museum Center on the Hudson River which housed an aircraft carrier, submarine, Concorde aircraft and a Space Shuttle

has trained her dog Daisy to bring her a bottle of red wine. No surprise Bordeaux collie. I was sat with She Who Must Be Obeyed the other day whilst

with Mark

Colleges.

Tomlinson

by Carl Marsh

April 2024

Happy Easter! Perhaps you’ve had or given lots of Easter Eggs and gifts, and rightly so! For most of us, it’s the second most crucial time of the year after Christmas; for some, it’s the first holiday away. So, whatever you did, I hope it was a lovely time, whether at home or away.

The interviews for your perusal this month range from a young new band [The K’s] to an old legend in the music business [Pete Waterman], with a couple of comedians [Emmanuel Sonubi & Paul Foot] thrown into the mix. There is a good variety; I hope you enjoy them.

TV REVIEW

Slow Horses - Apple TV+

It has been a show on my radar since series one and two aired in 2022; only this year, after series three dropped in November 2023 through to January 2024, I got to sit down and watch them all over a week.

Based on Mick Herron’s novels about MI5 rejects that have been carted out of the main building doing ‘proper’ security and intelligence work for some misdemeanor or another. The characters find themselves in a dull, dank building called ‘Slough House’. It’s sort of a middle-ground between employment and the Job Centre! This place is where the fun begins when the disgraced and unwanted agents stumble upon national security issues, often embarrassing the HQ at MI5 and beyond. I am told that season four will be released at the end of this year, and it’s also been renewed for season five/six. I love that this series depicts the world of espionage in a dog-eat-dog fashion, with everyone seemingly out for themselves. Based on one of my former careers, I can relate to this, so I did appreciate the realism, even though it is done in a dark-comedy way.

MUSIC REVIEW

All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade - The Libertines - 5th April

In what is only the band’s fourth album, the last, ‘Anthems for Doomed Youth’ a whole nine years before in 2015, with the band’s self-titled debut being in 2004, this new release is more of a surprise that it exists at all based on the personal issues of its band members over the years. Yet, here we are with a masterpiece. Whether you’re blasting out the high tempo track ‘Run Run Run’, or listening to the more sedate yet politically charged, ‘Merry Old England’, you’d be at fault trying to find anything on this record that isn’t class. For me, it’s the lyrics in some of the songs that I thought I’d never hear on a track. I even told Pete Doherty and Carl Barât this when I interviewed them backstage recently, and both sang the song back to me. I even got two alternative versions of ‘Shiver’ sung to me by Pete. This album is - and should be - on everyone’s purchase/ stream list for 2024.

And before I forget, the long-hoped-for sequel to one of the best movies from the 1980s is finally here. At the end of this year, we have Beetlejuice 2. No doubt it will be out circa Halloween. Do check out the trailer if you haven’t done so already.

Enjoy April!

Carl Marsh

Twitter - @InTheWordsOf_CM

YouTube - InTheWordsOf

Interview with Pete Waterman

Words by Carl Marsh

‘I Should Be So Lucky’ - the Stock Aitken and Waterman musical is coming to the Hippodrome Theatre in Bristol, Tuesday, 9th April to Saturday, 13th April. And yes, I know it’s over the bridge, but why not? I chatted with Pete Waterman, who, along with Mike Stock and Matt Aitken, played a massive part in pop music while growing up.

Carl Marsh

‘I Should Be So Lucky’, I’m surprised it’s taken this long for anything like this to appear on a stage and then tour.

Pete Waterman

Well, over the last ten years, we have been constantly chased by quite a few good writers. But the only one I ever really worked with who I thought might work, and he was very honest, was Peter Kay. And he just said that he just couldn’t do it. He said that the songs were too difficult to work into a narrative. And it was only when Debbie Isitt, because of (her work on) ‘Nativity’, that we got that she quite understood the feelings in the songs, and when we met, we’d just done a Channel Five documentary. So, sometimes, it just clicks. You just feel the time’s right. And this time, it just felt right. It really did. And I think, in all honesty, we’ve worked hard, for five years, to make this work. The last 18 months, and I’m not saying it’s not hard work. It’s incredibly hard work. But at least we all knew that everybody wanted it, which in itself is a massive thing.

Carl Marsh

With the songs in the show, had you always been dead set on which were to go in it, or has that list changed many times?

Pete Waterman

Oh, well, that’s… [Laughs] It’s still working. I mean,

that is obviously our input. They are our songs, so the treatment of those songs, any change in the lyrics, the choice of which songs to use, and how long you can use them for. We have all of that. So, we’ve had input from day one, in that respect. Since that opening night in Manchester, we’ve changed quite a lot. We had 12 days of previews, and it changed pretty drastically. It’s changed again since and will probably change again. And the reason is that I know this sounds silly, but you don’t know the public reaction until you actually see it. So, I thought I knew what it would be. But the producers, writer, and director had not done ‘The Hitman and Her’ [TV show hosted by Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan - 1988-1992: ITV]. So, they haven’t been in the clubs and seen the reaction. They see the songs as like, “Well, they were Number One”, but they don’t understand why. You know yourself, if you’re on a stage in a club and play a record, everybody sings along; that’s their moment. And it’s taken a while for the director and the writer to understand that ‘her story’ [main protagonist in the musical] is not important. Once the song starts, the audience is in their comfort zone. When the guy goes, “We’re not strangers to love”, the whole audience goes, “You know the rules, and so do I”. And the writer looked at us going, “Why are they doing it?” It’s because they know the songs better than you do! If you change them [the songs], you change the memory, which is another problem of why we’ve never allowed them to be used for commercials. Because you know that people fall in love with them. People fell out with them, and people made up with them. And they were always classed as lighthearted, fluffy pop songs. Of course, they’re not because there’s a hard lyric behind them. Getting somebody who’s not understanding of teenage culture to see them not as just pop songs… These are people’s memories. You know, these songs; people sang to people because this was their voice of sadness or happiness.

‘I Should Be So Lucky’ - Bristol Hippodrome Theatre9th-13th April 2024.

Words by Carl Marsh

Emmanuel Sonubi is a comedian who’s had many ‘very’ different careers before hitting the big time onto the comedy circuit. I asked him about a few ahead of his show at The Glee Club Cardiff on Wednesday, 17th April.

Carl Marsh

Your new tour is called ‘Curriculum Vitae’. Can I assume that it’s all about the jobs and careers you’ve had over the years?

Emmanuel Sonubi

Yeah, this is very much the journey to stand-up. And what each of those jobs did as an influence towards doing the stand-up as well. So, it’s a little more about each job I’ve done.

Carl Marsh

Can you give me an example of some of the crazy ones that you’ve done? I know you’ve been a doorman, but there has to be something you can tell me that’s more outlandish than being a comedian.

Emmanuel Sonubi

Oh, God, I mention them in the show, so I won’t go into too much detail. But I used to…. actually, the real story is that I owned a barber shop. And I’ve got no experience of cutting hair. This is the haircut I can do, the one you’re looking at [via the video link, I can see he has a shaved head], And the plan was because I started this as a business was to rent out the six chairs that I had in there to barbers. And then they would work in there as a profit share between me and them. But when it got towards opening, I’d underestimated how easy it was to find barbers. And about a week before I was ready to open, I hadn’t found a single barber! So, rather than delay the opening like a normal person would do. I said, “Do you know what? You can learn anything on YouTube!” [Laughter] and I just sat there for hours kneeling, watching YouTube tutorials, ensuring I had all the right equipment, and then opening the store. I now know how to actually cut hair, but it was trial and error! [Laughs]

Emmanuel Sonubi - The Glee Club Cardiff - 17th April.

There aren’t many comedians like Paul Foot, who is a trailblazer and can go off on a comedy tangent like no other. He’s ace. He’s hilarious. Check out his latest show ‘Dissolve’ at The Glee Club Cardiff on Sunday, 7th April.

Carl Marsh

I know you’ve - at times - been very observant about your comedy, as I recall a few years back when, in one of your routines, you made fun of those ‘BABY ON BOARD’ stickers. Whenever I see one, I can’t fail to think of you making fun of them.

Paul Foot

I suppose that was the idea of comedy, in a way, isn’t it? It’s like when other people say to me, “Oh, we had some cake. And every time we get a bit of cake, we always say it’s moist”, which is one of my things. I suppose one of the reasons for being reasonably successful as a comedian is if people can keep anchoring back to things. And every time they hear something, thinking, “Oh, yes, that reminds me of that joke by Paul Foot’.

So, the laughter isn’t just on that night, but spread out. The little things remind people of the show and make them laugh about things again. This (new) show, ‘Dissolve’, is different to any show I’ve done before. It’s very personal. And I’ve never done anything even remotely personal before. It’s basically about how 28 years of terrible depression just all disappeared in an amazing event that occurred on 20th March 2022.

It’s a show where I’m getting lots of people writing in or coming up to me afterwards and saying how they were affected by it. I think any people who have been affected either directly or indirectly by mental illness or mental health issues are finding a great resonance with it. They’re also finding the show uplifting because it’s got a happy ending about how all these problems have disappeared. I talk about quite personal things like depression and the anxiety that I had for so many years. Obviously, I’m a comedian, so I do find a way to make that funny. So, the sort of challenge for the show was to take quite serious subjects and work out how to make them funny or work out how to undercut things by pulling the rug from under people’s feet, and they never quite knew. It’s that balance between the funny and the profound, and it all ties in together.

Paul Foot - The Glee Club Cardiff - 7th April.

Interview with Ryan Breslin

Words by Carl Marsh

Every couple of years, I get introduced musically to a band that is a breath of fresh air for me. I listened to a few tracks by The K’s… and then listened to all they’d released over the last seven years. All are standout. I chatted with the band’s guitarist, Ryan Breslin, ahead of the release of their debut album, ‘I Wonder If The World Knows’, and their gig at Tramshed on Friday, 12th April.

Carl Marsh

Your first track - and still fan favourite - ‘Sarajevo’ came out in 2017, yet wasn’t that the year the band had only gotten together? That’s impressive stuff for a band with its first-ever track.

Ryan Breslin [The K’s]

Yeah, that’s when we first got together. So, Jamie [Boyle: Lead Singer] and me were out on different nights and ended up back at the same house party. We knew each other as we’d grown up together in school. Me, Jamie, and Dexter [Baker: Bass Guitar]. But yeah, we just met at the start of this after-party, and we sort of stood around and said, while drunk, “Shall we just start a band?” Then we got in the rehearsal room and wrote ‘Sarajevo’ that next week! [Laughs] When we released it, it did really well on playlists and stuff like that and was getting listened to in and around a few places. And then we were like, “We can do something with this (band)”.

Carl Marsh

From what I’ve read and the songs I’ve listened to,

it seems like it’s been non-stop for you guys. Yet, I, and maybe many of your fans, can only assume you’ve taken seven years to release your debut record because it wasn’t the right time any sooner.

Ryan Breslin [The K’s]

That’s it! And that’s the one question that we get asked all the time: “When’s the album coming out? When’s the album coming out?” We’ve got two or three albums ready, but you can release them yet waste them at the same time. I know COVID had a big play on it because just before, we were in talks about an album deal, and then obviously, COVID hit and messed everything up. So, I think everything happens for a reason, and now I’m sort of glad that the album is happening because it feels right, it’s the right time, and people are buzzing for it. The hype around it so far has been incredible.

Carl Marsh

Why did you only select songs from the last few years, along with some brand new ones, instead of the fan favourites from throughout the seven years?

Ryan Breslin [The K’s]

I don’t know. It’s just a question that everyone asks us. We felt that with the track listing and the album vibe, four or five of the originals fit the best. And we’re buzzing with every single track, and I don’t think we would change any of them, so yeah, we’re ecstatic.

Watch The K’s at Tramshed on Friday, 12th April, while they are still doing smaller venues!

Fast and Furious Food

by Sara John

Some Simple and Useful Recipes for All

A number of recent lunch and supper guests have, a few mouthfuls in, congratulated me on the combination of tastes and textures on their plates and have interrogated me about the ingredients before asking “please could they have the recipe.” My answer invariably is: “it is very simple; this dish is ready in minutes; the ingredients are all probably in your cupboard; if you can fry an egg, you can cook this!”

My boys were all taught to cook by me before they ventured out into the big world, so that they would not run off with the first person they met who could cook. Nowadays, having guests over, for us or for them, is no big deal.

I thought that perhaps some of these tried and tested dishes may be useful for readers and benefit their always hungry and eager families. So here are a few fast and easy recipes worth trying.

Cranachan

A proper posh and Scottish puddin.’

If you can stir your coffee with a spoon, you can easily make this 18th century recipe. No cooking required! Just stirring.

Ingredients:

1. Carton of plain yogurt

2. Tin of Ambrosia Devon custard

3. Fresh raspberries or blueberries or chopped up strawberries

4. Toasted medium oatmeal

5. A goodly big dollop of Honey (clear runny

6. honey)

7. The traditional dish should contain a wee dram of Scotch whisky. (Optional)

Put all the above ingredients into a large bowl and mix everything together slowly and thoroughly.

Serve in generous stemmed glasses, or ice cream dishes with dry wafer biscuits or thin oatcakes.

Note. There are at least three different categories of oatmeal, fine oatmeal is “dusty” and not suitable for toasting for this recipe. Medium oatmeal is perfect. Other oatmeal’s are better suited to adding to cereal dishes for breakfast.

To prepare the oatmeal, put a heavy bottomed fry pan on a lowish heat and cover with a light snowfall of medium oatmeal. Using a decent sized fish slice, turn the oatmeal over and over in the pan so that it smells toasted, looks toasted and is toasted. A word to the wise from Aunty Sara. If the phone rings - let it! The moment you leave the cooker the oatmeal will burn and will have to be thrown out. Stay in charge! Do not trust it, it is very crafty.

Cranachan will not be so good the next day. Finish it off tonight.

West Indian Chicken

Ingredients:

1. Left-over cooked chicken chopped up ready to use.

2. Two ripe bananas, peeled and chopped.

3. Good handful of purchased toasted ready cashew nuts.

4. Good handful of sultanas or raisins (leave in hot water to ‘fatten’ and drain before using)

5. Any leftover ready-to-eat fruits, tinned is okay.

6. Green vegetables, chopped up and cooked ready.

7. Tin of chicken soup.

8. Curry paste mixed with coconut milk.

Method:

1. Put soup into a saucepan and warm through thoroughly, stir well.

2. Add all the ingredients, numbers 1-6 as listed above to the hot and ready soup. Stir thoroughly. Serve, preferably with exotic breads.

Thai Green Curry

As an alternative this recipe can be varied as Thai Green Curry by using a desert spoonful of Green Thai curry paste instead of the curry paste with coconut milk From Thailand.

Chicken Stew with Cardamom and Apricots

Ingredients:

1. You will need chicken Breasts without skin or bones, just cut with kitchen scissors into mouth sized pieces. Wash and dry. Dust over with Powered Cardamom. Do not be stingy with the cardamom. Lay aside.

2. Open a packet of chopped and assorted

frozen vegetables.

3. Peel and cut potatoes into small pieces. Put these with the frozen vegetables in a saucepan of hot to boiling water and cook so they are ready to eat. Add the contents including about half of the juice, of a tin of apricots. Cut the half apricots again into quarters.

4. Put a quarter pint of water into a glass (if you have one) jug. Add a flat dessert spoonful of plain flour, (NOT self-raising) or, if you have cornflower use that. Add a goodly dollop of Heinz tomato ketchup and a smaller dollop of Blue Dragon Sweet chilli sauce. Mix carefully, stirring thoroughly. No lumps! Set to one side.

5. Put a splash of rapeseed oil in a frying pan or a sauté pan and as the oil heats up add the small chicken pieces. Stir and mix and ensure all pieces are thoroughly cooked through. Pour over the contents of number 4 above. Stir carefully. Add the vegetables to the chicken and sauce mix. Stir thoroughly. A goodly dollop of Kefir (a very pure simple and original plain yogurt) now available from shops everywhere and exceptionally good for you. This goes well on top of the portion.

Serve to your guests in what I call pasta dishes, with high sides.

Pretty Instant Pudding

1. You will need some Mars bars according to the numbers of guests or just one if you are new to all this and are just experimenting. You also need a decent sized carton of ice cream.

2. When everything else is almost ready, place a Pyrex basin into a saucepan of hot water and bring the water gradually to the boil. Cut up the Mars bars and drop the pieces into the Basin. No pinching and eating chocolate pieces. Stir, with a clean wooden spoon to help the mars bar pieces melt into an excellent chocolate sauce. You have just cooked your own homemade Bain Marie! Well done.

3. When all is ready place a measure of icecream into the pudding dishes and drench in warm melted chocolate sauce.

A fishy lunch

I suggest Salmon fishcakes available from most supermarkets or make your own.

While they are cooking or heating, try your hand at what cooks still say is the most difficult item to prepare - namely the sauce - and I offer a choice.

A. Lemon and Rose sauce

You will need:

1. A goodly dollop of Lemon curd, yes! Lemon curd, - Bonne Maman is the BEST!

2. A level dessert spoonful of plain flour

3. Half a pint or a little less of water

4. Decent dollop of Heinz tomato ketchup

Put everything (1 to 4) above into a decent sized jug and stir thoroughly. Warm gently in a small frying pan stirring all the time. It will thicken into a splendid sauce.

B. Orange Sauce

For a nice and mysterious change, prepare Orange Sauce for the fishcakes but equally appetizing with white fish.

You will need:

1. A goodly dollop of quality orange marmalade

2. A level dessert spoonful of plain flour

3. Half a pint of water or a little less

4. Hand squeezed juice from two halves of a decent size orange

Put everything (1 – 4) above into a decent sized jug and stir thoroughly. Warm gently in a small pan stirring all the time. Fry half inch slices of chicken breasts in a

shallow pan, until cooked through and douse in the previously prepared orange sauce, French fries, and green vegetables (broccoli, peas, green beans, or French beans all work well with the above). You can also use this sauce with fishcakes.

Latkes

Years ago, when I was travelling frequently to London, I often had lunch in Soho. It was central to all the suppliers I needed to visit, it was full of life and just a little bit frightening! It was also very affordable – in those far off days.

I was introduced to Latkes by a Jewish colleague, her name was Veronica, and I can hear her now saying loudly (she was loud), “you’ll love them, you’ll love them!” all down Wardour Street.

And I did. There are many variations. They take no time at all to prepare, and you can vary the ingredients according to taste. Try them and see.

Ingredients:

2 medium potatoes

1 beaten egg

¼ cup of flour

Vegetable oil

They are this fast to make!!!

1. Peel and coarsely grate the potatoes.

2. Mix with the egg and flour

3. Heat a heavy saucepan with a little cooking oil. Not olive oil!

4. Drop a dessert spoon full of the mix into the hot oil. Flatten it out and cook both sides until they are light brown.

The classic accompaniments are stewed cooking apples! Try them and see for yourself. Look them up on a computer, there are many variations to try.

(This recipe is not suited to cooks who cannot resist answering the phone.)

Florentines

This recipe is a real treat, fast and easy to make, make the day before if you have chums coming for coffee. Cut the large trayful into easy-to-handle pieces. They are a lovely surprise for guests who are tasting them for the first time.

Ingredients:

5-6 oz unsalted butter

5oz sugar

Half a box of dates i.e., 4ozs destoned and chopped up.

3-4 oz sultanas

3-4 oz of chopped glace cherries.

3-4 oz Rice Krispies

1-2 oz of flaked almonds

Dark cooking chocolate

Utensils required:

Flat bottomed nonstick saucepan of goodly size

Wooden spoon and pastry brush

Buttered baking tray 12” x 15”

Method:

Method:

1. Very gently melt the butter with the sugar in the warm to hot saucepan.

2. Add dates, sultanas, cherries, and almonds.

3. Spend enough time stirring this mixture gently over a lowish to medium heat until all the sugar has been absorbed in the melted butter, and all the ingredients are completely coated so they are hot and sticky. You should just be able to smell a slightly caramel smell as the sugar reaches that stage of heating up.

4. Add the rice krispies gently (you will think there is too much) and continue to stir so that the mix is consistent throughout, and all the particles are coated.

5. Carefully tip out onto a greased tray and pat well down with the back of a wooden spoon so that the surface of the tray is

covered with the sticky mix and there are no ‘holes’ showing through.

6. Leave to set for about half an hour in a cool place NOT the fridge.

7. When nicely set cut into squares or oblongs, lift out of the tray and place upside down on a flat surface. Paint the underside of the Florentines now revealed with melted chocolate using a clean pastry brush. Store in an airtight tin. They will keep well for two weeks or so BUT not if you eat them!

I hope you have enjoyed these recipes and are eager to try them out. I promise they are easy, and I hope the instructions are clear to follow. You must be patient. And willing to try. Enjoy!

All human history attests. That happiness for manthe hungry sinner, Since Eve ate apples, much depends on dinner.

Lord Byron, Don Juan ii xcix

A Milestone for Sports Nutrition in Wales

Nutrivend is proud to announce its acquisition of CSN Formulations, operating as CSN Supplements, marking a significant milestone in the Welsh sports nutrition landscape.

This strategic partnership merges the strengths of both entities, creating a formidable force dedicated to serving athletes and fitness enthusiasts throughout the UK.

This collaboration underscores the shared vision of both companies for growth and exceptional customer service. Scott Morgan, Founder and CEO of Nutrivend, expresses enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating:

“We are incredibly excited about Nutrivend’s acquisition of CSN Supplements. This move enhances our solutions offering by incorporating CSN’s established e-commerce platform and extensive product range. It signifies a significant leap towards providing our customers with an unparalleled online shopping experience and access to a broader spectrum of premium nutritional supplements. This marks a pivotal moment for us as we merge our strengths to better support everyone’s health and fitness aspirations.”

Nutrivend’s robust national distribution infrastructure and diverse product portfolio will merge seamlessly with CSN Supplements’ loyal customer base and commitment to quality. This integration promises a wider array of products, enhanced online shopping experiences, and exceptional service for all customers.

Marc Robinson, of CSN Supplements, sees the acquisition as a tremendous opportunity:

“By joining forces with Nutrivend, we can extend our

reach, diversify our product offerings, and elevate our level of service. We are confident that this combined force will emerge as a major player in the Welsh sports nutrition market.”

This strategic acquisition heralds’ positive developments for the Welsh business landscape. The amalgamated entity will create new job opportunities, foster growth within the sports nutrition sector in Wales, and establish a prominent Welsh brand as a leader in the UK market.

Looking ahead, Nutrivend plans to leverage its consolidated resources to invest in a robust online presence, expand its product range, and enhance customer service offerings. This commitment underscores a dedication to building upon the strengths of both companies and exceeding expectations within the sports nutrition industry.

Nutrivend stands as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Sports Nutrition Industry, achieving Fast Growth 50 status for five years and recognised as the Fastest Growing Business to Business in Service in Wales. Committed to supporting individuals in achieving their health and fitness goals, Nutrivend offers innovative solutions, products, and services designed to support every aspect of a healthy lifestyle and simplify operations for business owners.

CSN Supplements: Established as Cardiff’s premier destination for sports nutrition, CSN Supplements has garnered a loyal following by offering toptier sports nutrition supplements at competitive prices. Their team of experienced staff provides personalised advice, ranging from dietary guidance to training tips, ensuring customers receive tailored support on their fitness journey.

CHRISTOPHER McEWEN

PART ONE

by Ralph Oates

In this edition of the Cardiff Times I interviewed Christopher McEwen, who is the Chairman of the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Amateur Boxing club. Christopher should be congratulated for doing a great deal of valuable work through boxing. I feel you will find his views on the sport interesting and inspiring.

Ralph Oates

In which part of Wales do you live?

Christopher McEwen

I live in Pembrokeshire.

Ralph Oates

Where in Wales were you born?

Christopher McEwen

I was born in Portsmouth.

Ralph Oates

In which year were you born?

Christopher McEwen

I was born on the 27/10/1978.

Ralph Oates

Image courtesy of Christopher

What drew you to the sport of boxing?

Christopher McEwen

My grandad had cancer and he came to live with us my parents nursed him. They made a bed for him in our front room he had a little TV at the foot of his bed. Thus, between the ages of 8 to 10 years old I remember watching the big fights on his TV. When I got a bit older, I used to get bullied due to my height. So, at 12 years of age, I joined my first boxing club Leigh Park ABC.

Ralph Oates

Did you continue to box in your adult years?

Christopher McEwen

Yes, I continued to box when I joined the Royal Air Force.

Ralph Oates

Have any members of your family ever boxed?

Christopher McEwen

My grandad from my father’s side, boxed when he was in the Army.

Ralph Oates

How long have you been the Chairman of Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Amateur Boxing Club?

Christopher McEwen

Since 2013. I am also the Chairman of Great Britain Disability Boxing; we help support clubs to be more inclusive and run inclusion projects.

Ralph Oates

When was the club first formed?

Christopher McEwen

It was first formed in 1967 by Police officer Mr Bryn Phillips.

Ralph Oates

How many boxers do you have at the club?

Christopher McEwen

We have twenty carded boxers. We have thirty that use it for fitness. We also work with Duke of Edinburgh, The Princes Trust, Police working with young offenders, victims of violence, women’s disco boxercise and free disability boxing sessions attended by over seventy individuals of all abilities.

Ralph Oates

What plans are there for the club, going forward?

Christopher McEwen

We have a large facility so we are looking into the prospect of extending our back room so we can then hold our home shows in our own facility. We are also thinking about letting other local clubs run their home shows there too, to promote grass roots boxing. We are also thinking about putting in our coffee shop, this would help young people, people with disabilities hence helping the job centre. Teaching healthy eating and starting apprenticeship programmes. We are commu-nity club promoting and supporting all community projects.

Ralph Oates

How do you feel about the advance of women’s boxing.

Christopher McEwen

I saw a massive change in sport for women and inclusion from the 2012 Olympics, I have seen it spike even higher since the pandemic. The fact that these conversations are now taking place is a great thing. Change is happening and female boxers are becoming role models to girls and boys. There are many incredible female boxers out there and there are still more to come, who have the talent to do excellent things in boxing. I know World Boxing will help support the change as well. We see more promoters supporting women so change is happening before our very eyes, perhaps not always at a pace you would like but it’s happening and that’s the main thing.

Ralph Oates

At the moment the rounds in women’s professional boxing last for the duration or two-minutes while the men’s last three-minutes. Do you feel the rounds of women’s boxing should be increased to three or stay as they are at two-minutes?

Christopher McEwen

I think if you were to increase it to three-minute rounds their pay would have to reflect that. Women professionals have it far harder, without the recognition they duly deserve. Or indeed pay that reflects that very fact.

Ralph Oates

At the moment Women’s world title fights are scheduled for ten-rounds do you think they should be increased to twelve or remain at ten?

Christopher McEwen

If you’re not going to give them three-minute rounds, then they should 100% have the last two championship rounds when fighting for a world title.

Ralph Oates

Which would you say is your favourite weight division?

Christopher McEwen

I would have to say Heavyweight division.

Ralph Oates

Who is your favourite male boxer?

Christopher McEwen

Oleksandr Usyk who at the time of this interview is the reigning WBA, IBF WBO and IBO world heavyweight title holder and the former undisputed world cruiserweight world king. Not only is he a great champion, but he is also humble, respectful and his footwork is incredible. When you consider everything that is going on within his country at this present time you have to admire what he’s done for his homeland. I just think he’s an incredible role model. A credit to the sport of boxing.

The interview with Christopher will continue in next month’s edition of Cardiff Times.

For that early morning cuppa.

For when ‘7 across’ has you stumped.

For peace. For quiet.

For when a custard cream tickles your fancy.

For a hand to hold when it all feels too much.

For when you fall in love, again.

For that fit of giggles after a serious chat.

For “namaste”.

For that homely feeling, even though you just moved in.

For every moment, we’re here.

hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk

Thu 23 May

01633 656757

newportlive.co.uk/Riverfront for more Welsh dates visit barrysteele.com

Ditch the diet and achieve your healthy weight!

Would you like to be healthier, lose weight, be more confident and feel fabulous? I have been helping people to achieve their goals for over 10 years with hypnotherapy and healing. My Weight Loss sessions help you to change unhelpful thoughts, choose healthier food to nourish your body, lose weight consistently and feel more confident.

Examples of changes typically made includes:-

• Identifying other healthier coping and reward strategies

• Eating smaller portions

• Eating mindfully

• Wanting to eat healthier foods and drinks

• Stopping eating junk and processed foods

• Listening to your body and eating when you are hungry

• Recognising when you are starting to feel full

• Increasing your body confidence

If a significant amount of weight needs to be lost then a virtual gastric band may also be fitted.

I offer personalised one to one Weight Loss packages

Bronze 5 sessions

Silver 10 sessions

Gold 15 sessions

Additionally, new for 2024, I offer Group Weight Loss via Zoom over 5 weekly sessions.

To find out more just visit my website:

www.hypnotherapyandhealing.co.uk or get in touch now to arrange your complimentary 20 minute telephone or Zoom consultation:

lisapryce-jones@outlook.com

07427 451992

Dysgwch iaith newydd dros yr haf

Byddwn yn darparu amrywiaeth o ddosbarthiadau sgwrsio yr haf hwn, gan gynnwys:

◗ Ffrangeg

◗ Eidaleg

◗ Sbaeneg

◗ Chinese

◗ Wcreineg

Mae ein cyrsiau byr, dwys a diddorol yn cael eu haddysgu gan diwtoriaid sy'n siaradwyr brodorol, ac mae’r cyrsiau yn amrywio o lefelau dechreuwyr i uwch.

Cymerwch ran yn ein cystadleuaeth i ennill lle am ddim ar gwrs.

Mae'r telerau a'r amodau llawn i'w gweld ar ein gwefan.

www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/summer-languages

Ffôn: 029 2087 0000 language this summer

We will be providing a variety of conversation classes this summer, including:

◗ French

◗ Italian

◗ Spanish

◗ Chinese

◗ Ukrainian

Our short, intensive and enjoyable courses are taught by native-speaking tutors and range from beginners to advanced.

Enter our competition to win a free course. Details and terms and conditions are on our website.

www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/summer-languages

Telephone: 029 2087 0000

Beth am ddysgu iaith yr haf hwn?

Mae Dysgu Gydol Oes ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd yn cynnig cyrsiau iaith dwys ym mis Mehefin a mis Gorffennaf i roi hwb i’ch sgiliau sgwrsio.

Byddwn yn cynnal dosbarthiadau wyneb yn wyneb yn y Dsieinëeg, Ffrangeg, Eidaleg, Sbaeneg ac Wcreineg* dros wythnos neu bythefnos a fydd yn cael eu harwain gan diwtor arbenigol sy'n siaradwr brodorol, a hynny mewn ystafell ddosbarth groesawgar, llawn anogaeth.

Bob blwyddyn rydym yn cael adborth cadarnhaol gan ein myfyrwyr iaith “Rydw i wedi bod wrth fy modd â’r Ffrangeg ers ei hastudio ar gyfer lefel ‘A’ ddiwedd y 1960au. Ro’n i’n cymryd yn ganiataol fy mod yn weddol rugl yn yr iaith o hyd, ond tua chwe blynedd yn ôl, fe fu’n rhaid imi gydnabod bod safon fy iaith heb fod fel yr oedd yn arfer bod. Felly fy benderfynais i chwilio i weld sut y gallai Prifysgol Caerdydd fod o gymorth i mi. Wedi i mi fod ar sawl cwrs, a dau ymweliad â Nantes ar y rhaglen cyfnewid ar gyfer oedolion, sydd yn rhaglen na allaf ei chanmol ddigon, rwy’n hapus yn siarad yn agored yn y dosbarth unwaith eto.

Maggie Smales

I ddathlu, rydym yn lansio cystadleuaeth a gallwch ennill cwrs am ddim. I ymgeisio, mae angen i chi gwblhau arolwg byr iawn sydd ar gael ar ein gwefan, ac mae’r telerau ac amodau ar gael yno hefyd.

Gallwch ymrestru ar-lein. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at eich croesawu chi, a’r unig beth sydd ei angen arnoch yw eich diddordeb mewn iaith a’r brwdfrydedd i’w dysgu gydag eraill.

*Bydd y cwrs Wcreineg yn cael ei gyflwyno ar-lein.

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/cy/part-time-courses-for-adults

029 2087 0000

Learn a language this summer

Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University are providing intensive language courses this June and July to accelerate your language conversation skills.

We will be running Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish and Ukrainian in-person* classes over one or two weeks which will be led by an expert native-speaking tutor in a welcoming and encouraging classroom.

Every year we receive positive feedback from our language students ‘“I have always loved French since I studied it at ‘A’ level in the late 1960s. I took it for granted that I could maintain a level of fluency, but about six years ago, I had to acknowledge that standards were slipping. So I looked to the university to rescue me. Several courses later, and two visits to Nantes on the adult exchange programme, which I can’t praise too highly, I am once again happy to speak out in class.”

Maggie Smales

To celebrate, we are launching a competition for you to win a free course. To enter you need to complete a very short survey which is available on our website where terms and conditions can also be found.

You can enrol online. We look forward to welcoming you and believe all you need is an interest in a language and the enthusiasm to learn it with others.

*Ukrainian will be delivered as an online course.

www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/summer-languages

029 2087 0000

Mawrth 9 March –

Medi 15 September 2024

Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru St Fagans National Museum of History

With more than 35 different traders under one roof it is easy to while away an entire afternoon at this welcoming destination - you can even enjoy a coffee at the onsite coffee shop.

Here at The Pumping Station you will find so many wonderful examples of clothing, jewellery, antiques, furniture and home furnishings from the Victorian era right through to modern day, there really is something here for everyone.

A house is not a home without pawprints!

By Natalie McCulloch

Have you ever heard the saying “A house is not a home without pawprints”? if you are a pet owner you most probably understand this and hopefully agree.

Statistics suggest we are a nation who love our pets with an estimated 53% of UK adults owning a pet according to the PDSA’s 2023 PAW (PDSA ANIMAL WELLBEING) report. Further to this the research showed that 90% of people felt that having a pet improved their lives with 94% of pet owners stating pets made them happy and 44% citing their pets as being a lifeline during challenging times. And its not just cats and dogs either as people mention rabbits, birds, reptiles and even cows as being a special part of their lives.

It goes without saying that pets are incredible things…

Did you know that just by looking into your pets’ eyes it can help stimulate the chemical oxytocin which helps us feel more optimistic and even lowers our blood pressure?!

Some of the other benefits of pet ownership include, vital companionship, encouraging

social interaction (especially if walking the dog and chatting to others on your travels) and giving us an excuse to get away from social media/technology for a few moments to spend time fussing over them.

But, as with many things that give us solace, they can also cause concern to us at some points in our lives, especially when there is a level of dependency on us. Pets are not excluded from this concern, especially when we become unwell or unable to provide the level of care that our furry (and nonfurry!) friends require. And this is where The Cinnamon trust, a nationwide registered charity, can step in to help.

The Cinnamon Trust is a specialist national charity offering support for older people, the terminally ill and their pets. Nationally, The Cinnamon Trust helps over 150,000 people a year with over 158,000 animals.

They offer a range of services such as:

•Voluntary dog walking to provide essential support for owners who can no longer exercise their pets themselves due to terminal illnesses,

Image credit: Ylanite Koppens

disability or being over the age of 65.

•Practical support for those who find themselves unable to manage physical tasks relating to pet care such as cat grooming, transporting pets to the vets, changing litter trays, and picking up cat food.

•Short-term fostering for those that find themselves admitted to hospital on a temporary basis.

They aim to take a bit of the worry that life as a pet owner can bring when you’re facing health issues or mobility issues and offer support for the VIP’S (Very important Pets) in our lives, when it is needed most.

Equally, they want to help protect our pets, for example, for a pet that is used to the comforts of home and one to one care, kennels and catteries can be frightening and traumatising so The Cinnamon Trust aim to bridge a gap whilst the owner returns to good health.

“If you love them then so do we! Our goal is to match pets to a “like for like” home keeping things as familiar as possible.” (The Cinnamon Trust)

How do I find out more?

If you are a pet owner interested in support, please call 01736 757900 or complete the contact form on their website https:// cinnamon.org.uk/

And great news is it’s never too early to consider it!

Anyone of any age can make long term provisions with The Cinnamon Trust. They are proud to offer a Pet Profile service for any person(s) who have concerns that there will be no one to take on their pet in the event of their death or must move into permanent nursing care.

Amazingly, there is absolutely no charge, as this is a voluntary service, however, as the service is run by amazing volunteers

the trust cannot always meet the needs of multiple sessions or certain days. However, by raising the profile of this pet loving service, we can hopefully recruit more volunteers, so please don’t let that prevent you enquiring!

I am a pet lover, Can I help?

Absolutely!

As with many charities, they could not do this, without the kindness of their volunteers and supporters who offer their time and kindness at no cost.

As a charity they are also reliant on donations, bequests and fundraising that allows them to continue their work and help support the thousands of pets that are in their care.

The Cinnamon Trust is a national charity and cover the whole of the UK. However local availability is entirely dependent on having registered volunteers available to offer help with the task that is required and within the distance they are willing to travel. Could you be that person?

As the saying goes, the more the merrier, and if they can recruit more volunteers, they can help more people and more pets!

Animal loving volunteers go through a thorough but straight forward registration process to make sure the pet owners they support know they are in safe hands! All volunteers are well matched with the owners and pets they help. This ensures that the volunteer/owner experience works well for everyone, but especially the pets!

Please join them as a volunteer, without you they cannot help!

Ultimate Strongman are proud to host the UK’s Strongest Man in the mighty Welsh capital Cardiff!

Everyone is very excited to bring the iconic show to Wales!

Come and watch the strongest men in the UK pull trucks, flip cars and press crazy implements. They promise it to be the biggest, most exciting strongman show ever!

Something for the whole family to enjoy!

Tickets are available at Eventbrite or www.ultimatestrongman.tv.

There are 3 mighty Welshmen taking to

the UK’s stage this year, Matt Dimond of Bridgend came 2nd at last year’s event. Can the Welshman take the title this year?

They also have Wales Strongest Man Mark Jeanes trying his hand at gaining his first UK’s Strongest Man title and not forgetting the dark horse Luke Sperdutti of Newport. The youngster proves time and time again he’s a force to be reckoned with!

Who will be crowned the UK’s strongest Man? We will soon see!”

Fashion Done Your Way

By Molly Dutton

I am writing this on a fairly moody March Monday, tucked into bed with a cup of tea. Exactly how it should be on the first morning of the week. Selfcare has become a priority in the post COVID 19 era as many of us were faced with a lot of free time that then had to become incorporated into our new routines. One of the most prominent discoveries when everyone went back to work was that burn out is real, and horrible. Nobody deserves to be mentally or physically drained in their dayto-day life, but often it can’t be avoided. This article should be enjoyed from a comfortable location with your favourite snack or drink (hot chocolate or wine, there is no judgement here).

National Sleep Day falls on the 15th of March each year and I am mortified that I have only just found out about it. As a seasoned napper (3pm is my snooze time if I can fit it in), a day dedicated to sleeping sounds like something to be celebrated. If you, like myself, missed this glorious global holiday due to the pressures of work and general life, I am encouraging you to take five minutes to delve into the world of sleep.

LUSH Cosmetics have been promoters of

self-care since they first opened their doors. From their Book-a-bath experiences all the way through to their five-minute face masks, they dedicate themselves to providing accessible relaxation for everyone. To honour World Sleep Day, the handmade cosmetics company gave away their bestselling Sleepy Body Lotion to anyone (adults only) who popped into their beautifully scented stores wearing their pyjamas. Now it wouldn’t take a lot to convince me to venture out in my Primark pjs but for those of us who are less inclined to do that, their body lotion is worth the momentary face flush.

The Sleepy Body Lotion has had a place in my bathroom cabinet since it was first given to me to help me relax during my GCSEs. Almost five years later, it remains an essential in my bath time regime. The calming lavender oil and ‘tonka absolute’ combination has the power to send even the biggest night owls into a deep slumber, and the added ylang ylang oil just adds to the whole spalike experience. I am all for a viral product, especially one that has stood the test of time when new bath products seem to come out every five minutes. This beauty sold out in 2017 when it first hit the market and the

fabulous LUSH team now handmake over a million of them every single year. The best part is that this lotion was only supposed to be a limited edition, but it now has a permanent place on the shelves, accompanied by the other sleep-inducing items like the shower gel, soap and pillow spray.

We, as human beings, are notoriously good at pulling an all-nighter, and I am not just talking about a night on the town. It is easy to stay up and watch an extra episode of our comfort shows when we’ve had a tough day at work, and don’t get me started on the 24-hour study sessions that plague university students in their exam seasons. Whilst the Sleepy body lotion helps moisturise and cleanse, it also does the far more important task of soothing the mind, and we all need a little bit of that. To help set the scene, I thought I would share my ultimate night-time set up for a bit of inspiration.

Candles are an absolute essential to help create some ambience in your bathroom. If you’re feeling tired or stressed, the last thing you want is the dreaded big light wreaking havoc in your self care session. Everyone has different taste when it comes to scents; I love a warm, vanilla or a strong cinnamon whereas my mum prefers a lighter cotton fragrance or the smell of fresh linen. If we’re sticking with the theme of sleep, the Lush Twilight candle has the same dreamy ingredients as the body

lotion which accompany each other very nicely. For more of a fresh, clean smell, the Big Blue candle has a fragrance that feels like you’re floating at sea on a comfortable raft (I can see myself drifting off on my unicorn float as we speak).

One of the newest beauty crazes is a temple balm. We’ve all seen or used essential oils, but this is a subtle method to calm your mind and feel fully relaxed in your bath time setting. LUSH’s Dream Time temple balm is a new edition to the growing product family and comes with the lovely smell of ginger, sandalwood, and lavender. The reason I love this product so much is because it’s been a hidden secret within the walls of the Lush Spa and has now been made accessible to the shop’s customers. I love when a brand recognises their buyer’s needs and makes sure they’re met promptly with an affordable price tag. Moving swiftly on, it would not be a LUSH article without a mention of their famous bath bombs. Their vast selection of assorted bath bombs is what drew me in as a teen customer, and they have only got more colourful and exciting since. There are many sleepy themed ones to get your hands on; the Sleepy bubble bar, the Sleepy shower bomb (my favourite because it’s shaped like a cloud), the Deep Sleep bath bomb and the Big Bottle of Calm bubble bar. If that assortment doesn’t prove that LUSH loves sleep, I don’t know what will.

A final product that has caught my attention as an avid skincare fan is the Sleepy Face cleansing balm. It isn’t very often that you see a face cleanser that helps you get to sleep, and I am amazed that this one has encapsulated a feeling of relaxation. It can be wiped away with a reusable cotton pad or cloth which is a bonus for a quick night routine.

Even though World Sleep Day has passed, pop into your local LUSH store and get some goodies because good sleep is deserved every night.

LOOKAFTER YOUREARS

Ifyou’reinneedofearwaxremovalmakesureyouheadtothe expertsatVineyHearingtoavoidanypotentialsideeffects.

GPSARESTRUGGLINGTOOFFEREAR CLEANINGSERVICESORHAVELONG WAITINGLISTSLEAVINGPEOPLETOLOOK FOROTHERAVENUESOFHELP,HOWEVER IT’SIMPORTANTTOBECAREFULWHEN BOOKINGPRIVATEEARWAXREMOVAL.

AudiologistsandENTconsultantsarewarningthe publicagainstseekingearwaxremovalfrompeople withoutpropertrainingsayingitnotonlyrisks injurylikedamagetoaneardrumorcausing infectionsitalsomeansthatearlywarningsignsof seriousillnesscanbemissed.

Alotofthegeneralpublicareunawarethatunlike manyotherareasofthemedicalprofessionthereis littleofficialregulationoverwhocanactually performearwaxremovalprocedures.Thismeans thatthatsomeonewhohasnoear-related backgroundwhatsoevercanbetrainedtoperform earwaxremovalonedayandbeoutdoingitthe next.“Weareseeingawiderangeofpeopleand placesnowofferingthisservice.Theseso-called earwaxremovershavelittleornoknowledgeand withoutanyclinicalexperiencethiscouldprove quitedangerous.”saysMichelleatVineyHearing Care.

Everyone’s ears are unique, the person conducting the wax removal procedure needs to understand the anatomy and physiology of the ear and be able to spot referable conditions. Trained hearing professionals are qualified specialists that are able to perform these procedures safely due to their expertise and knowledge of the delicate structures of the ear

“Regular ear health checks and earwax removal plays an important role in catching far more serious ear conditions. At Viney Hearing Care we see up to 40 microsucution appointments a day and we regularly recognise ear conditions that need to be referred for further investigation and treatment. I wouldn’t expect a person with no background in ear anatomy to be able to identify these conditions that if left untreated could cause serious damage to the ear, your hearing and your balance. It is really concerning to us that someone could do this with such little training.”

ENT consultants and audiologists are working with governing bodies to try to bring these treatments under regulation so hopefully change is coming but in the meantime the public need to be aware who is looking in their ears. “At Viney Hearing Care we were the first in Wales to offer microsuction wax removal. In over 10 years of practice we have helped thousands of patients with their blocked ears. We have 7 qualified experts using the most advanced equipment to remove your wax safely and efficiently. We are then able advise you on any further help needed with the health of your ears. If you are having issues with dull hearing, ear ache, buzzing/ringing in the ears it could be wax blocking the ear canal.”

Visit vineyhearingcare.co.uk for more details or to book a free ear health check call 02920 250121

It’s good to know where to turn when the world throws you a curve-ball. At Harding Evans, it is our mission to provide clear, honest and high-quality legal advice in an environment that is approachable, inclusive and welcoming. When you need us, you can trust our experienced solicitors to be by your side; through the good times and the bad, in your personal life and your business dealings.

WELSH DIVING

Why not try a new hobby this spring by learning to scuba dive?

Welsh Diving is a PADI Five Star Scuba Diving School and Instructor Development Centre. We provide courses from complete beginner to professional dive instructor. From ages 8 years to adults

For more information please contact:

kmartin@welshdiving.co.uk

m 07753 691794

FIVE STAR ROOFING

Established over 35 years

Repairs & Re-Roof-Leadwork

Slating Tiling-Guttering-FasciasSoffits

Flat Roofing Systems

Felt, Liquid, Single Ply

EPDM Rubber Coatings

Moss Removal

Chimneys Rebuilt-Repointed

All Work Guaranteed

Tel: Joel 07798 637119

Email: jrj.11@outlook.com

Tel: Steve 07389 786466

Email: sphillpott29@gmail.com

Atlantic Recycling Ltd provides a range of waste and recycling services for both households and businesses. A family run business, Atlantic Recycling was established in 2006 and has built up a vast experience in handling waste from numerous sectors.

• PLUMBING

• FENCING

• CARPENTRY

• ELECTRICAL

• ROOF REPAIRS

• UPVC WINDOWS & DOORS

• DECORATING

• PAINTING

• ODD JOBS

• BATHROOM FITTING

• KITCHEN FITTING

• GARAGE CONVERSIONS

• EXTENSIONS

DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS

* Broken Glass

* Replacement

* Misted Glass

* Replacements

* Faulty/Broken Hinges

* Locks, Handles

* Pa�o Door Problems

* Draughty/Leaking

* Windows, Doors

* Conservatories

* Ca�laps, Le�erboxes

* New Door Panels

* Stained Glass Repairs and Replacements

* Glass/mirrors of all types cut to size

* uPVC New Windows/ Doors Installed

* Upgrades to Locks and Handles

* Fascias, Gu�ering, Clading

* Coloured Composite Doors

Email: Decostains@aol.com

Web: www.doubleglazingrepairscardiff.co.uk

Own a cat?

Get paid to test new cat food from the comfort of your home.

Over the next couple of months we are going to be running several cat food projects that you undertake at home over several weeks.

All the food will be provided and you will be compensated for taking part in the study.

Please visit the link below or scan the QR code to apply.

www.wssintl.com/pet-food-panel/