Cardiff Times June 2025 by Cardiff Times Magazine

CARDIFF TIMES

June 2025

Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd

Eicon o’r Ugeinfed Ganrif

Twentieth Century Icon

Picture Post: A Twentieth Century Icon

An ethnic mix of Arab, Somali, West African, West Indian and Greek families make up the population of the dockland area of Cardiff, known as Bute Town or Tiger Bay, April 1950.

Before 24-hour news and social media, how did people see the world?

In the 1930s, Picture Post revolutionized the way Britain understood itself. This groundbreaking photo-magazine captured everyday life, major events, and shifting social attitudes, reaching 1.7 million readers at its peak.

This exhibition brings Picture Post to life through striking photography, revealing Britain’s transformation from the 1930s to the 1950s. From war and politics to cultural change, discover the moments that defined a nation.

Experience the power of photography to inform, challenge, and connect—just as Picture Post did for a generation.

The exhibition has been developed in partnership with the Hulton Archive (Getty Images) and the Tom Hopkinson Centre for Media History (School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University).

The exhibition is free and you can pre-book your tickets before visiting here:

https://museum.wales/cardiff/whatson/12572/ Picture-Post-A-Twentieth-Century-Icon/

© Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

“A useful little chap!”

I have been writing these columns for over thirteen years. The one constant through it all will have been my grammatical usage: tropes that I have sworn by since primary school (e.g. whether or not to split infinitives); commonly misunderstood meanings (e.g. fulsome); the use of punctuation; and the often contradictory shibboleths proffered by authorities who, frankly, ought to know better. Today, I want to unpack some of these.

The semi-colon and the comma. A study by Lancaster University suggests that semicolon use has fallen by a quarter in the last 30 years. In books written in English in 2000, it appeared once in every 205 words; today it is down to one in every 390. Why is this? After all, Austen and Dickens swore by it and Abraham Lincoln called it “a useful little chap”; whereas Kurt Vonnegut Jr abhorred the thing, saying its only purpose was to show that you’d been to college. I agree with Abe Lincoln.

Simon Heffer, in the Telegraph, blames the ‘dismal’ teaching of English in our schools in recent decades. “There is little attempt to teach grammar seriously, and therefore punctuation becomes disregarded.” He offers a practical example. “Reading good prose should be like listening to a well-constructed piece of music: it should have rhythm; it should have cadences; in short, it should have style”. In that sentence Heffer has used the four principal marks of punctuation: the colon, the semi-colon, the comma and the full stop. He suggests that using the semi-colon effectively can enhance the meaning and the musicality of a particular phrase. He cites the well-known example of the Panda that “eats, shoots and leaves”.

Incorrect punctuation changes the meaning. Omitting the serial comma may create ambiguity; writers who normally avoid the comma often use one to avoid this. Consider the apocryphal book dedication as follows:

by Wyn Evans

“To my parents, Mother Teresa and the pope”. There is ambiguity about the writer’s parentage as “Mother Teresa and the pope” can be read as a renaming of “my parents”, leading the reader to believe that the writer claims that Mother Teresa and the pope are their parents. A comma before the and removes the ambiguity: “To my parents, Mother Teresa, and the pope”.

S - ‘s - s’. Incorrect use of apostrophes. This drives me scatty! BBC Bite-size notes that it’s always worth checking the apostrophes in a piece of writing, as missing one – or adding one that isn’t needed – is the most commonly made punctuation mistake. I could write a whole column about this, but will spare you!

Disinterested, uninterested. “Disinterested” generally means unbiased and impartial, while “uninterested” means not showing interest or concern. In essence, “disinterested” relates to objectivity, and “uninterested” relates to a lack of engagement.

Fewer, less. Fewer is used when a number of

things can be counted (“fewer problems”) and less is used when an amount is measured (“less trouble” or “less time”).

There - they’re - their. Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. They also have different spellings. These often confuse people. “Their” is used to indicate possession, “there” refers to a place, and “they’re” is a contraction of “they are”. Here’s a more detailed explanation: “Their” is the possessive form of “they” and shows that something belongs to them. For example, “I saw their car parked in front of the house.” “There” is used to indicate a place or location. For example, “Put the books over there on the table.” “They’re” is a contraction that means “they are”. For example, “They’re going to the party tonight.” Essentially, if you’re talking about something belonging to them, use “their.” If you’re talking about a location, use “there.” And if you’re referring to “they are,” use “they’re”.

Decimate. According to Merriam-Webster, there are two definitions of decimate: “to cause great destruction or harm to” and “to select by lot and kill every tenth man of”. Decimate was first used in 1600 and was derived from the Latin word decimatus, which meant “the removal or destruction of one-tenth”.

Fulsome. Too generous in praising or thanking someone, or in saying that you are sorry, so that you do not sound sincere: “a fulsome apology”He was fulsome in his praise of the governor.

Supersede. The spelling of “supersede” is supersede in the UK, just as it is in the US and other English-speaking countries. While the word “supercede” also exists, “supersede” is the more common and generally accepted spelling.

Practical - Practicable. Practical: This word emphasizes the usefulness or effectiveness of something in practice. It can describe a person, an idea, a plan, or an object. For example, a “practical solution” is one that is likely to work in a real-world setting. A “practical person” is one who is good at dealing with practical matters.

Practicable: This word focuses on the possibility of something being done or put into practice. It’s often used to describe a plan or idea that is feasible or can be implemented. For example, a “practicable plan” is one that can be carried out successfully. A “practicable course of action” is one that is possible to undertake.

Who, whom. When to use who or whom? “Who” is used when referring to the subject of a verb (the person doing something), while “whom” is used when referring to the object of a verb or a preposition (the person being acted upon or the recipient of an action). Here’s a simple way to think about it: Who: If you can replace “who” with “he,” “she,” “they,” or “we,” use “who.” Whom: If you can replace “who” with “him,” “her,” “them,” or “us,” use “whom”.

Different from, than, to. ‘Different from’ and ‘different to’ are standard in British English. ‘Different than’, meanwhile, is primarily used in American English.

Could of, should of. “Could have” is the correct spelling of this phrase. It often gets misspelled as could of because of how the contracted version of could have (could’ve) sounds when pronounced aloud. I could have completed that in less time.

That, which. “That” and “which” are relative pronouns, but they are used differently in sentences. “That” is used to introduce restrictive clauses, which are essential to the meaning of the sentence. “Which” is used to introduce non-restrictive clauses, which provide additional information that isn’t essential. If the clause can be removed without changing the fundamental meaning of the sentence, use “which”. If the clause is essential to the sentence’s meaning and can’t be removed, use “that”.

Split infinitives.

“To boldly go.” Merriam Webster says, split infinitives like “to boldly go” were considered improper—even though some usage experts questioned whether the infinitive was being split at all. There’s no logical reason for the rule, and most modern usage guides say it’s fine to split one in the interest of clarity.

‘And Another Thing...’ 80 Years On And Still None The Wiser

by Vince Nolan

These were two scenes from our family history taken on VE Day, 8th May 1945. My Mum is on the far right of the line in Cathays Park with her girlfriends, aged 19. Meanwhile, this was Dad (Corporal centre picture) when he was in charge of a training platoon at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire, having returned from the fighting in Italy (Battle of Monte Cassino). He was only 25 in this picture and had fought at Dunkirk, Tobruk and El Alamein. He and Mum had yet to meet despite having grown up within a few streets of each other in Cardiff and going to the same church.

All good stuff for our family perspective but I have previously said in this article that ‘if we ignore the lessons from history, they will repeat themselves’ and they are. Apparently the writer and philosopher George Santayana is credited with this phrase which he penned in 1905. However, I lose it a bit with him when he went on to say ‘history was a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren’t there’. Hmm, a bit of a dichotomy there wouldn’t you say George. Incidentally, Dai Cot O’Me is not a Welsh-Irish kiddies bed salesman.

Away from warfare per se, She Who Must Be Obeyed, the Sainted Mother-in-Law and I recently attended a pub quiz. Alas, we lost by a single point. However, on another team was an old mate of ours, Squadron Leader Frank Lovejoy (honest), 28 years in the Royal Airforce during the Cold War period. Anyway, Frank was courting a young lady when he was called overseas some 50 years ago and never saw her again. He was subsequently happily married for many years to another. Sadly his wife passed away and quite by chance (and detective work by others) he met his former love interest recently and feelings were rekindled between them. They are off to Italy on holiday and he is a changed man since meeting her again. I like a happy ending, don’t you? Perhaps Love Joy is quite apt.

All of which reminded me that my exgirlfriend’s dog died so I tried to cheer her up by getting her an identical one. It just made her more upset. She screamed at me, “What am I supposed to do with two dead dogs?” No pleasing some folks eh?

So, much rejoicing recently at Vatican City

long.

with rich tea biscuits. When asked why the egg from Amazon………I’ll let you know.

The story continues. Most recently I said to

maintenance, water abstraction and no (Wheel/Bike see).

lion man for the county and I particularly love the line in it - I really don’t mind Lorraine.”

In The Words Of by

Carl Marsh

June 2025

June is a glorious month free from school holidays, giving us a breather from the work-life juggle— though July and August are lurking just around the corner! So, let’s toast to June, the month that keeps workplace employers humming with delight. I’ve got three cracking interviews lined up this month, and I’m certain at least one will spark your interest, dear reader! First, I had a lively chat with the one and only John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), who’s hitting the road with his band PiL—catch them at The Depot 26th July! Then, I sat down with director Neal Foster from ‘Horrible Histories’, discussing the epic double shows at the New Theatre over three days. Finally, I caught up with Ryan Breslin of The K’s to talk about their shiny new second album, ‘Pretty On The Internet’, dropping June 27. Dive in and enjoy!

Concert Review: ‘Sir Tim Rice: My Life in Musicals – I Know Him So Well’

On a lively Sunday, May evening, Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre buzzed with excitement for ‘Sir Tim Rice: My Life in Musicals – I Know Him So Well’. This joyful show was a brilliant dive into the legendary lyricist’s career, leaving everyone grinning from ear to ear. With his cheeky humour and warm charm, Sir Tim shared fun stories about writing iconic songs like “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from ‘Evita’ and “Circle of Life” from ‘The Lion King’. He even poked fun at his flops, making the crowd laugh along with him.

The music, led by the super-talented Duncan Waugh, was pure magic. West End stars belted out hits like “I Know Him So Well” from ‘Chess’ and “A Whole New World” from ‘Aladdin’ with such heart that the audience couldn’t help but cheer.

Tim’s storytelling felt like a cosy chat with a friend,

turning the big venue into an intimate space. Every song reminded us why his lyrics are so loved. This fantastic celebration of his musical legacy had Cardiff humming and smiling all night—a truly unforgettable evening!

Movie Review: ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’

‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ is a riotous, death-defying rollercoaster that proves Tom Cruise, at a spry 62, is still the planet’s most gloriously unhinged stunt lunatic. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, this eighth escapade is a preposterous jamboree of explosions, espionage, and Ethan Hunt’s patented “run-like-the-world’s-ending” sprint. Cruise flings himself into submarine innards and dangles from a biplane like a man allergic to sanity, culminating in a side-splittingly bonkers aerial chase through South Africa’s canyons that’ll have you snorting popcorn in disbelief.

The plot, a convoluted kerfuffle involving a diabolical AI called The Entity, occasionally feels like it’s trying to explain quantum physics through interpretive dance. But who cares when the screen’s ablaze with ludicrous set pieces? Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg bicker like an old married couple. Hayley Atwell’s sly thief adds zesty panache and newcomer Tramell Tillman’s submarine commander swaggers like he’s auditioning for ‘Captain Charisma’. The film’s nostalgic nods to past missions are as subtle as a sledgehammer, but they land with the gooey charm of a high school reunion.

Clocking in at nearly three hours, this beast could trim some flab, but its infectious, over-the-top glee keeps you hooked. It’s a cacophonous love letter to Cruise’s relentless showboating—a cinematic sugar rush that’ll leave you cackling and dizzy. See it on the biggest screen, preferably with a seatbelt. Your funny bone and adrenal glands will send you a thank-you note.

Thanks so much for reading, everyone! See you next month in July!

Carl Marsh

Interview with Neal Foster [Horrible Histories]

Words by Carl Marsh

Spread over a few days at New Theatre in Cardiff, with various times on each given day, you can choose two fun-packed shows from ‘Horrible Histories Live on Stage’: Terrible Tudors or Awful Egyptians. You can do both, but obviously, that will cost a bit more and won’t be straight after each performance of whichever you choose to watch first! I asked the director, Neal Foster, about anything that went wrong during a tour…

Carl Marsh

I know the aim of ‘Horrible Histories’ is to highlight the bad and the ugly from history, albeit with somewhat of a comedy spin most of the time, but when it comes to the live shows, has there ever been a time when something has gone so badly that it can be classed as a ‘Horrible History’ that you care to forget?

Neal Foster

Well, the one thing that we never did want to happen did happen! We were 20 minutes into the ‘Terrible Tudors’ [in 2006] when my stage manager approached me and said, “We’re doing the wrong show”. I said, “What do you mean?” He said, “They’ve all come to see the Egyptians”…

Carl Marsh

What! The completely wrong show?

Neal Foster

The whole thing! This is the stage manager who was not employed again. [Laughter] He was told at the beginning of every week: “Go to the box office, no matter what it says on the leaflet, go to the box office and find out what they’ve been selling”. Because what would happen is, although we’d start off with the leaflet saying, ‘at 10:30 am, it’s Tudors. 1:30 pm it’s Egyptians’. But if a school phoned up and said,

“You’ve only got Egyptians left, but we want to come and see the Tudors”. We gave the theatres the option and would say, “Okay, well, that show will be a Tudor show then, if you want to pay for it”. Back then, you could have that show as a Tudor show because we obviously don’t get individual public coming into the school shows. A whole school would buy out the theatre.

What had happened is that the Tudor show had been changed to Egyptians (by the theatre and the school), and despite being told numerous times that he must check, he hadn’t checked. So, we were 20 minutes into the Tudors when a teacher got up, went to the usher and said, “This isn’t the show that we paid to see”. So I had to come on stage as Henry the Eighth, stop the show, and tell all my fellow actors that we should stop now and go back as Egyptians. They thought for a few seconds that I’d lost my mind. They thought that I was doing some bizarre improvisation. And they wouldn’t. They just stood there, and I said, “No, I’m really serious. Let’s go and come back as Egyptians.” We had to stop the show and get into the new costumes and all the props. It took about… I think it took about 10 or 15 minutes to change everything around. Of course, by the time we got to the end of the show, the schools had to leave because the coaches were waiting for them. So that was, yes, of all the mishaps that could ever happen, that was the most extraordinary. I hope that never happens again.

It’s folklore in ‘Horrible Histories’, the day we did the wrong show. Not too many actors can say that they were in the wrong show. I mean, there’s the play that goes wrong, but not the show that goes wrong!

Horrible Histories - New Theatre, Cardiff - 12-14th June 2025. Few tickets remain.

Words by Carl Marsh

Who doesn’t like discovering new music? Hailing from Newton-le-Willows in Lancashire, The K’s have been touring the UK since their debut single ‘Sarajevo’ came out in 2017. Their debut album ‘I Wonder If The World Knows?’ was released last year, and now the second record, ‘Pretty On The Internet’, is out in June.

Carl Marsh

Your music is - with me basing on the last album and your EPs - usually always very upbeat, but are there any tracks on this new album that are slower in tempo, as I have not been able to get a full copy of the record to review at the time of our chat… and how does this differ from the last album?

Ryan Breslin [The K’s]

There are some slow-tempo ones, and one is my favourite on the album. And (with this album) I think we’ve just developed and grown, and we’ve got better; the songs sound better. It shows a natural development on the album as we’ve come through the process of album two; it’s been difficult. But yeah, there are two songs… I think there are two, or are there a few on there? Oh yeah, there are a few; I’m just refreshing my memory! A few have a bit of a slower tempo, while some have a faster and middle tempo. So yeah, you can expect all kinds of it.

Carl Marsh

Was it always the plan for this new album to have a good mix of tempo tracks?

Ryan Breslin [The K’s]

Yeah, I think it shows some depth in what we’re about. Like, you can do the fast stuff, we can do the slow stuff, and the middle stuff, but it also gives us a breather on stage! [Laughter]

Carl Marsh

Yeah, that’s true. That’s why I asked the question,

as you’d be exhausted if every track you played live were all the energetic, high-paced ones that anyone new to your music would initially know from those early tracks!

Ryan Breslin [The K’s]

I mean, it’s also lovely because people have different tastes, and they like fast ones and slow ones. So there’s kind of something for everyone. But it’s not something that we do for that reason. It’s just because they are great songs, and whether they’re fast or slow doesn’t matter.

Carl Marsh

With this new album versus the debut that came out last year, for that one, you’d have had material that’d been written for a good few years, but with this second album, did it contain any material intended for last year’s debut?

Ryan Breslin [The K’s]

Not particularly. It’s like 90% new stuff. So, we started it in the summer of last year… well, we knew an album was coming, but we were in festival season. And then we went on a winter tour from October to December, Christmas Eve! Then the deadline was moved to the end of February because of the vinyl pressings and all that stuff [2025]. So we had a bit of December in the studio, and then all of January and a bit of Feb to get this deadline. We were pulling all-nighters and everything to pull it out of the bag! [Laughter].

It was like cramming. As you said in your first album, you have five, six years, seven years, whatever, to get everything together and develop over time. And this one is boom, it’s happened, but we’re really happy with how it’s come up, and it’s ####### amazing. Pretty On The Internet by The K’s is out June 27th 2025.

Interview with Ryan Breslin [The K’s]

Interview with John Lydon [PiL]

Words by Carl Marsh

Once the lead singer of the Sex Pistols, more commonly known as Johnny Rotten, but these days, John Lydon. PiL (Public Image Ltd) are performing at The Depot, Cardiff on Saturday, 26th July, where they will be showcasing the last album, hits from the previous five decades… and this tour being called: This Is Not The Last Tour. It won’t be!

Carl Marsh

Do you recall back in 1978 if it was quite easy getting that recording contract for PiL, as you left the Sex Pistols, got a new contract, and released your debut PiL album that year?

John Lydon

Well, there was a clause in the contract for the Pistols that if there were any offshoots, they would get the first shout. So I was lucky for that because I shouted! [Laughter]. And, of course, they were very eager, but they didn’t realise what PiL was, didn’t know the people I was procuring, and were horrified. “But they’re all amateurs… and nobody knows them” (yet) that’s what they said about the Sex Pistols. So there you go. And you could say that’s the luck of the draw, but of course, those contracts turned out to be absolute lemons to us. You know, there were lots of ridiculous restrictions that caused problems later on down the line. It was very hard to raise money and keep people in PiL because wages couldn’t be met because the record company held the purse strings and constantly reminded you… us, that what we were doing wasn’t quite what they expected. Comments like:

[Record Label] “Well, why don’t you write a hit single?”

[John Lydon] “Well, hello, let’s call Public Image the first single. Isn’t that ####### good enough for you, dumb #####!”

[Record Label] “Well, can we have another one that sounds just like it?”

[John Lydon] “You’re messing with the wrong boy here!” [Laughter]

Carl Marsh

I’m so glad you’ve never toed the line, John. After all, that’s what people love about you.

John Lydon

But what’s the point… with all the hangovers I’ve had in my life, I want to wake up and remember. [Laughs]

Carl Marsh

I once read in an interview you did that where you said, ‘There’s a Johnny Rotten in all of us’. I agree with you, but 99% of people wouldn’t like to admit that openly.

John Lydon

Many of us are control freaks. And many of us are narcissists that can’t admit to flaws. That’s why I live on one floor without a staircase! Jesus, where does it all come from? [Laughter]

And many other people are very open and a bit too bombastic and too challenging dealing with their aspects, but it’s a fine line. Know all the fireballs and pros and cons of your personality before you go out and start presenting yourself as something you’re not. Cut out the bit you’re not, and be what you are. And that is such a valuable tool from there on in your life because your experiences are what you’re sharing, and you really can’t be found at fault for any of that because it’s the truth. And it’s much more exciting than sitting at home and making up situations for songs that don’t actually exist.

PiL - The Depot, Cardiff - Saturday 26th July 2025. Few tickets remain.

Can You Sue For Defamation On Social Media?

Defamation on social media is becoming more prevalent...

Social media has become a big influence on society, with 56.2 million active users in the UK alone. However, in the wake of its growing popularity, defamation on social media is happening more regularly than ever. In a viral world, words can be extremely damaging. In this guide, we’ll cover some key information on social media defamation. But before we answer whether you can take legal action against it, let’s first break down what social media defamation is.

What Is Social Media Defamation? In short, social media defamation is when someone makes a comment or statement about an individual or business that’s likely to harm their reputation.

If You Feel Threatened, Contact The Police The first thing we have to say is that if you feel threatened, or in fear of your safety, it is possible that a crime could have been committed. If you feel this way, the first thing you should do is contact the police.

Can You Sue For Defamation On Social Media? In theory, yes, it is possible to sue for defamation on social media in England and Wales. When someone publishes unfair, untrue, or harmful content on social media, they could be held liable for defamation. However, each case is unique, and to establish whether a defamation claim is possible in your circumstances, you should speak to a solicitor at your earliest opportunity.

Under the Defamation Act 2013 and the Court’s rules, you must prove that the defamatory statement is false, has caused serious reputational damage, and has caused or is likely to cause serious financial harm.

What’s more, compensation can vary depending on what the used words are, what the meaning is, how badly the defamatory statement has impacted your business reputation, and other variables, emphasising the importance of speaking to a legal professional about the best course of action.

Defamation On Social Media: Steps To Take

If you are dealing with social media defamation, there are many steps to consider. They include, but are not limited to:

1.Open a line of communication

2.Report defamation to the platform providers

3.Seek legal advice

4.Gather proof

5.Take legal action

1. Open A Line Of Communication If you believe someone has made a defamatory statement about you, the first step is to open a line of communication with them. While this might be the last thing you want to do, it’s better to try to resolve the issue before it escalates. Politely ask the individual to remove the defamatory statement from their social media account.

When having the conversation, it’s best to remain pragmatic and leave emotion at the door. Don’t retaliate. While emotions can run high, this could later damage any action you take.

2. Report Defamation To The Platform Providers If speaking to them is unsuccessful, you can report the defamatory statement to the platform provider. You can report social media content, be it a post, image, or comment and social media platform providers, such as Meta, are more likely to take action when the content violates their community standards. If this doesn’t work, your next best step is to seek legal advice from a solicitor.

3. Seek Legal Advice Seeking legal advice is essential to establish whether your case is genuinely social media defamation or a lost cause. An experienced litigation solicitor will explain what your options are to help you better understand the next steps forward.

4. Gather Proof You will need to gather evidence to support your defamation claim. Sometimes, this is easier said than done, so it’s best to start gathering evidence as soon as you’re made aware that the defamatory statement has been posted online. This will likely include proof of the defamatory statement and any correspondence you’ve had regarding it. The easiest way to do this is to take screenshots.

5. Take Legal Action Taking legal action should be used as a last resort. This comes down to the fact that litigation can be incredibly costly, and there’s potential for a Judge to Order that you pay a substantial amount if you lose the case. However, when all other options have been exhausted, your solicitor will be able to advise you on what taking legal action will entail and can help you get the matter taken to court if necessary. From sending a Letter of Claim, which can work to get the individual to delete the defamatory post and prevent court proceedings, to submitting a defamation claim, there are many steps and considerations that your solicitor will be able to walk you through.

How We Can Help

If you, or your business have suffered as a result of defamation, please get in touch with Harding Evans, who have solicitors who are specialists in defamation law.

They will work closely with you to ensure that the defamatory content is removed and will support you in taking legal action for damages, compensation, and more. You can contact their office in Whitchurch on 029 2267 6818.

Happy Pride Month!

At Harding Evans it is important to us that we are inclusive to all and that we welcome everyone as an individual,both as clients and as colleagues.

We are proud to be able to stand by the side of the LGBTQ+ communities across South Wales, by providing not only our day to day legal help and advice, but also legal services that are specifically tailored to the needs of those who identify as LGBTQ+.

To find out more, please scan the QR Code, or visit our website. You can also meet our team on our engagement stand at the Pride Cymru weekend on 21st - 22nd June!

Experience quality dementia care, led by experts

At Care UK’s Llys Cyncoed care home in Cyncoed and Llys Herbert care home in Lisvane, our teams are passionate about supporting your loved one to maintain independence and make choices, whilst receiving the very best dementia care in a place they can call home.

Care you can trust

We work with academic partners and respected leaders in the field, to ensure we stay up to date with the latest approaches to dementia care. We have worked closely with the Association of Dementia Studies to create bespoke programmes of dementia training. Whilst Dr Nori Grahama renowned dementia expert and Vice President of Alzheimer’s Disease International – supports the development of our dementia strategy with Suzanne Mumford, a Queen’s Nurse and Head of Nursing, Care and Dementia at Care UK.

Living well with dementia

Our dedicated teams will work with you and your loved one to deliver a care and lifestyle plan entirely tailored to their unique needs and preferences and our busy activities schedule is always packed with meaningful activities that support them to live life to the full.

Recently, residents have enjoyed a mini music concert, making fruit salads and their regular Thursday tea parties.

Purpose-built facilities

At our purpose-built homes, everything from colour schemes, signage, and furniture to the design of our crockery, has been carefully chosen to support residents living with dementia to be as independent as possible.

Each floor at Llys Cyncoed and Llys Herbert are divided into smaller suites that create a calm atmosphere, keeping hustle and bustle to a minimum.

Llys Herbert also has a Namaste care room and trained Namaste care practitioners, who provide a

calming sensory experience using soothing lighting and gentle hand massage, for people living with advanced dementia.

Our Cardiff care homes are part of Care UK, the country’s most awarded large care provider. We’ve been delivering high-quality, person-centred care for over 40 years. That’s why over 9,000 families trust us to care for their older loved ones.

To find out more about Llys Cyncoed and Llys Herbert, call 0330 822 6781 or scan the QR code.

Llys Cyncoed 127 Cyncoed Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff CF23 6AF

Llys Herbert Ty-Draw Road, Lisvane, Cardiff CF14 0AW

careuk.com/cardiff

A

SPIRITUAL

JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND PLACE

Part two

by Sara John

[The first part of this article appeared in last month’s issue. It told the author’s tale of her early childhood and the effect the landscape, people and customs of the Rhondda had on her upbringing and development. It left us stranded on a mountaintop. Now read on.]

When the Bus reached Porth Square all hell let lose. The bus was going no further, if you did not get off you would be locked up in the nearby bus depot till early next morning. Even worse, you would be trundled back up through the narrow valley streets, through Dinas, Tonypandy, Ton Pentre, Treochy and Ynyswen and might even disappear through the railway tunnel to Blaengwynfi, excavated in the 1870’s, at the top of the valley in Blaenrhondda.

These postal areas are frequently, and quite wrongly referred to as villages by outsiders, commentators, people from away, the press and other media outlets. The village is a Saxon concept,

a manorial arrangement, a scheme totally alien to the people of the valley communities. The Welsh are tribal, not manorial, not feudal. As D. Parry-Jones explains in ‘A Welsh Upbringing’, “The Welshman relies on his own resources and works out his own salvation”. Treorchy blends seamlessly into Ynyswen, Gelli is subsumed into Ton Pentre, Penygraig melts into Tonypandy. But, in reality, they do not. If you are a resident you know whether you are in Trealaw or Dinas and what a difference it might make.

Saturday morning and sitting next to my mother on the steam train going down the Valley to shop in Pontypridd, I was looking forward to dancing down the wide stone staircase at Brunel’s railway station of genius. That staircase was pure Hollywood. On the way, I always looked out for the Albertine roses clambering over the rusty iron bedsteads that defined the boundaries between two houses abutting the downside of the track of the once mighty Taff Vale Railway. Precisely where? At a railway station, a neat and tidy outpost of the GWR called ‘Tonypandy and Trealaw’. It was neither in Tonypandy nor in Trealaw, more like Dinas. But nobody would say so.

Another way of defining place within landscape is by visiting, admiring, drawing and worshipping in the overlapping chapels: the homes of diverse non-conformity with as many forms of dissent as there is choice of cheeses in a hypermarket. Surrounded by the dank odour of prevailing sanctity many are still standing today; Bethany, Horeb, Moriah, Ebenezer, Bethel, Eliat, Jerusalem, Caersalem. A journey through the troubled Holy Land? No. Tonypandy to Treochy, chapel to chapel. Attended in the present day by many who cannot remember why they go. If asked, they respond with, “to get out of the house”, “for a little bit of a change”, “to get away from dad for five minutes”.

In the eighteenth century, when dissent was blowing across rural Wales like the Mistral, many areas still held on to the beliefs and customs of the Old Religion; Anglicanism had hardly received a nod of recognition in the interim. “Seimun-yr-angen” quoted in the Rev. W.Meredith Morris’s ‘Glossary of the Demetian Dialect’ published in Tonypandy ‘for subscribers only’ in 1910 throws light on a still-heard popular expression. “Beyond”. “Oh! she’s beyond she is”. The Reverend writes, “A term of extreme reproach and contempt. It would appear that the term originally signified a person that, for heinous sin, was deprived of the rite of extreme unction. With the decay of Catholicism, the original signification was lost, but the word has survived”.

The cause of the Baptists, Welsh and English, flared into flames and invigorated communities with its fire and revolution. The chapels, funded and built by the worshippers themselves with their chosen preacher spreading the word and leading the singing, played a greater part in the early migration from rural areas to the Valley communities than might be imagined. “The chapels strengthened the social self-sufficiency of the countryside” according to Alwyn D. Rees in his book, “Life in a Welsh Countryside”, they certainly did that and I can offer personal evidence to support that claim.

My paternal great-grandparents, Sarah Morris of Blaencwm, near Crymmych and Joseph John of Tre Dyrch, respected members of Bethel, Welsh Baptist Chapel in Mynachchogddu, Pembrokeshire, married there in 1866. Joseph was the eldest son of Daniel John of Tre Dyrch, said to be “a man ahead of his time” and a local school master of repute. Joseph, Jacob, and their siblings were first cousins to Gwen John, Augustus, Winifred and Thornton who were born into more comfortable surroundings: as their father Edwin was practising as a solicitor in Haverfordwest.

Life was hard in the areas around the Preseli Mountains, wages were poor, agricultural depression followed agricultural depression, the countryside could not find the means to recover from the combined effects of the Napoleonic wars, the Corn Laws, the imposition of tolls and the disgrace, it was felt by many, of the numerous government reports on rural poverty and conditions at that time in Wales. The greatest anger had been engendered by the Report on Education in the mid 1850’s [the Blue Books]. The report published as three volumes bound in blue paper is still generating controversy in books and articles.

Joseph John’s younger brother, Jacob had attended the Baptist College in Haverfordwest and was fast gaining a reputation as a preacher. Through his links with Hebron Baptist Chapel in Ton Pentre in the Rhondda Valley, work was found for his eldest brother, Joseph, along with clean lodgings and good food. All provided by chapel people with a room to spare, themselves not that long moved there from the countryside. By this time in the early 1880’s Joseph and Sarah had a growing family. Eventually Sarah and the children could be sent for and, thanks to savings in a Friendly Society, a house could be purchased in Ton Pentre near the Maindy and Eastern Colliery where, at Christmas in 1899, Joseph, widowed after the birth of his last born child, was killed underground leaving a family of children orphaned.

Thanks to ‘kinship’ in the first degree, his unmarried twin sister Charlotte came to Ton Pentre and attended to the needs of the young family. Naturally not one penny of compensation was paid after the accident, in fact a stoppage was made for not completing the day’s shift. The coroner’s report consisted of one line, ‘killed by the fall of a clod of earth’.

By the 1950’s, following the nationalisation of the coal industry, much had changed in the workplace, schools, the home and in the chapels. There was a small degree of affluence and people seemed a little better off.

In those days, May and June were the months of the Chapel Anniversary, a celebration of the founding, building and re-building. On the selected Sunday, always hot, sunny and by midafternoon still and sleepy, there would be a triple programme of music, verse and action song. Infants in the morning, juniors in the afternoon and adults in the evening. The existing air of excitement and expectation was completed when the Minister, during a few or usually

a lot more, words would include explicit instructions for the forthcoming trip to Barry Island or Porthcawl. These included, the exact time to begin queuing for the big red buses hired for the day, which end of the street to wait, which long street and which bus. It would have the word ‘Excursion’ hand written on a piece of cardboard displayed inside the driver’s cab, and the bus number, important for the journey back home The Minister would lay down, there and then the official time of return so that everything would be clear for those unaccustomed to travel. For many in the 1950’s this would be the only trip out of the valley for that year.

My parents, both being keen musicians, had, before they met and unbeknown to each other, shared the same music teacher, Mr Samuel Kingdom of Ystrad, Rhondda. When they started going out together their outings included worship at the Anglican Church in Ystrad, St Stephen’s where Mr Kingdom was organist. Both their mothers, to be my future grandmothers, were Baptists. My father was so entranced with good music, that the old Baptist Cause did not stand a chance against the outstanding playing of Bach’s finest music by Mr Samuel Kingdom on a very fine organ indeed.

For that reason, by the time I was old enough to attend Sunday School, without any discussion, I attended Church not Chapel. Fortunately, at Bethany Chapel in Gelli, spare seats were always made available for non chapel members to join the annual trip to the coast. I was already aware that many of the grand and grown-up ladies of the Church, confused spirituality with flower arranging. No trips were ever organised by the Church for children, like me, who prayed for the cool clean breeze of Rest Bay to blow over them once more, before they died of measles, scarlet fever or T.B.

For many, myself included, during many long summers of childhood, that was the only chance to be at the seaside. Years later I understood that quite ordinary working people actually lived in Porthcawl and could see the sea everyday if they wished. They breathed clean air, lived on flat territory and could play ball in their gardens, their marbles would not run off down the hill, into the gutter and down through a drain to the river and eventually to the sea. The marbles, spinning tops, small toys and tennis balls all ran down the hills of the Valley and were lost forever. Like so many Rhondda children, up and away to University and then gone for good.

There were no sheep in either Porthcawl or Barry as I recall. If there were no sheep in the Rhondda

during the warmer months, it was because they had returned to their hafods; their summer homes up the mountainsides. I used to worry that there were no signs of mountains either, in these exotic coastal resorts. Maybe the sheep had all gone to the park. At home they visited there regularly and dodging the park-keeper in Gelli Park they headed straight for the verdant bowling green although they were never made to feel welcome there.

Years later, when I could go to any beach I wished at any time, I would have the deepest longing to ‘go up the mountain’ again in the Rhondda Valley. By the 1990’s the heavy pall of grime, steam, rust, coal dust had all but disappeared. Ruined colliery buildings and old pit winding gear had been removed and transferred to a Heritage Park site further south in the county. All the memories, the pictures, the tales, the anecdotes, some too sad for my late father ever to relate to me without a tear appearing in his eye, were all lodged safely inside my head, like the manuscripts in the National Library.

I lived in Pembrokeshire for a decade. I lived near the sea. I heard it crashing about on the beach when I went to sleep. My bedroom window was left wide open. There were no dirty tips nearby covered in fine black dust that, with the change of wind direction, could destroy the laundry work of local women on a Monday morning.

Sarah and Joseph John’s daughter, also named Sarah as was customary, was my Mam-gu. Dying when she was in her eighties and I was still a small child, she spoke only in Welsh and imagined she, too, was back in Pembrokeshire. She imagined she was at her maternal grandmother’s house where her mother had gone when her baby was due, as was customary. The house, a farm with a few hundred acres, situated close to the Preseli, was a self-contained homestead for the family and the servants. They were, in the decades after the Great Reform Act, virtually self-sufficient. The property recently came on the market and I was lucky enough to have a chance to visit.

Sitting on the top stone step of one of the farm outbuildings on that Spring day; wishing myself back in time, I was struck with the similarity of the distant horizons with those of the upper Rhondda. Clearly the mass of mountains were created at the same time and at the beginning of time; the hardy, crafty, clever mountain sheep were of the same breed; the building stones and the method of dressing the stone were the same as my family home; the speech of local people moved easily from Welsh into English

and back again. I could have been sitting in the yard of Penrhys Farm, in Ystrad or Maindy Farm in Ton Pentre.

Both landscapes, the Rhondda and North Pembrokeshire, it seemed to me while offering shelter in difficult and challenging environments, engendered in the communities strong independence of spirit and profound belief in right and wrong.

At times during a busy and crowded life away from these places I forgot these matters, laid aside memories, neglected old friends and got on with other seemingly important things. But, from my pleasant, perspective in Pembrokeshire I realise now that the three landscapes I have inhabited have not only affected me deeply but have formed who I have become. I have also recognised that there is no escape from the past. It was my thirty years of living on the flat river plain of the Taff, the Ely and the Rhymney rivers that was different. I realised that I had never adjusted to or accepted that there were no mountains to clamber up ten minutes from home.

Living in Cardiff for so long I had learnt not to ask ‘the direct Welsh question’ anymore. “Where are you from then, exactly?” “Are you married then?” or “Are you happy?” Except when I caught the lilt of a Valley voice. I had learnt how to keep a secret. In the Rhondda of my childhood nothing was confidential. Confidential meant you could tell one other person. Living in the big city, I rationed my use of words when speaking. My natural instinct was never to use one word when three would do the job better. Be brief, said city folk, we are very busy.

It was the post Industrial Revolution world of Cardiff that was the seducer in my life. Easy living. Take away foods from all the countries you would wish to sample produce from. Active competition in the workplace and in society, everything became competitive and a race for the latest fashion: And the race against the clock. The Clock outside Howells department store, the clock outside the station, the clock on the City Hall, the clocks in the myriad jewellers shops in every street and arcade. Who you were mattered at the receptions in the St Asaph Room in St David’s Hall, not what you could do. Individuals were subsumed into the corporate identity of their employers, shunning family and kin in their adoption. Cash was the driving force. Ambition was measured by tests drawn up by European academics working on America’s west coast.

What could they know of Carningli in North Pembrokeshire? They had never seen or heard of the massive Seven Giants faces on the rocks above Y Gelli. Never smelt the mountain grasses, after rain, on a May evening on Pen Pych.

And they would never walk the Golden Road from Crymych to Newport, as I have, a spiritual journey if ever there was one, following the Celts who laid it and the Romans who used it, and witnessing other dimensions of time, glimpsing another world, noticing people and animals from somewhere else, learning a little of the esoteric and becoming totally unafraid.

--------- End of Part Two. --------

FAREWELL: A Brief Postscript.

Long ago in May of 2018 my husband was enjoying coffee with an old friend in Chapter Arts Centre. His friend passed him a copy of a magazine with Cardiff Times across the front to him explaining, “they are monthly, free and a good read, you can take it home for keeps”. My husband obeyed the offer directly and placed it carefully in his warm, dry, immaculate briefcase, where my curious hands did not dare venture.

The evening’s television was coverage of an important football game so I was not surprised to be offered a “first full read” of the shiny new magazine. I accepted and collecting a sleepy cat on the way, headed for the comfy sofa, cushions and catrug (for the cat).

I enjoyed the coloured pictures, clear print, Editor’s Letter, intriguing advertisements, events information and tempting article titles. By next morning I had a plan which I introduced along with our dishes of porridge at the breakfast table. My husband, who is a Scot, frequently becomes almost hypnotised when devouring his oats.

I introduced my plan that I had been adjusting and reading through in my head most of the night. He agreed.

It went like this: I telephone the editor at the number printed on page one of the Cardiff Times. I offer to send a sample story or two, along with a very brief word about my background as a published writer.

It worked, the editor warmly welcomed my offer. A few stories later and they became a regular feature.

Now, I have decided, for the present to take a break from monthly story-telling, but I hope to present my views on this and that, and be able to contribute occasional articles of truth, fun and fantasy in the not too distant future.

On departure I must thank you, the readers and pay tribute to the very hard-working and gracious Editor, Louise. It has been a real pleasure!

If you need to get in touch please drop a line to the Editor.

Fanmail is always most welcome !!!

Sara John

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GEORGE FOREMAN by Ralph Oates Part one

In this edition of Cardiff Times, we pay tribute to heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, who sadly passed away on 21 March 2025, at the age of 76 years, 2 months, and 11 days.

George Foreman was born on the 10 January 1949 in Marshall, Texas, USA. He caught the eye of the boxing public at the 1968 Olympic games which took place in Mexico. He fought his way to the finals and won the heavyweight gold medal in fine style when he stopped Lithuania born Jonas Cepulis, in the 2nd round of 3. It now looked as if a big future waited for him in the paid ranks.

Foreman who stood at a reported height of 6ft 3inch made his professional debut on the 3 June 1969 at Madison Square Garden, New York against Don Waldhelm. The bout scheduled for 6 rounds. He was expected to win and win he did, when he halted his opponent in the 3rd stanza. Waldhelm didn’t stand a chance against the man who stood in front of him. Foreman walked through him with ease. He couldn’t have wished for a better debut. Foreman was a fighter with a big future and was clearly heading to the top tier of the division.

During 1969 Foreman stayed busy and took part in a further 12 bouts, all of which saw him leave the arena victorious. Foreman was cutting through the opposition in double quick time. The man was a powerhouse, a wrecking ball, a destroyer of all who dared to stand in front of him. Once Foreman connected with his powerful punches it was often all over for the man who shared the ring with him. A case of hello and goodbye.

On the 4 August 1970 in his 22nd bout, Foreman was given his first major test. He was matched with Canadian George Chuvalo at Madison Square Garden in New York, on the 4 August 1970. Chuvalo was an experienced fighter who had been in with the very best in the division and in doing so compiled a resume of 76 bouts, consisting of 59 victories, 15 defeats, with 2 drawn. If Foreman had any flaws in his boxing makeup Chuvalo would most certainly find them, but this he was unable to do. Foreman stopped Chuvalo in 3 rounds, despite the contest being scheduled for 10. This was an impressive victory. The man looked unbeatable and was ready for more action. Foreman continued to be a regular visitor in the ring adding to his boxing know how. In each bout he looked special, his heavy hands often sending opponents back to their dressing rooms early. He was given an opportunity to compete for the world undisputed heavyweight title on 22 January 1973 against the reigning champion Joe Frazier. By this stage only three opponents had lasted the distance with Foreman: Roberto Davila 8 rounds on the 31 October 1969, Levi Forte 10 rounds on the 16 December 1969 and Gregorio Peralta 10 rounds on the 16 February 1970.

The venue for the Frazier-Foreman contest was the National Stadium, Kingston in Jamaica. The fight had captured the interest of the world media. Going into the contest Foreman looked to have a difficult night ahead of him despite the power he had in his punches. Frazier too had punching power and was not a fighter past his best, he was on top of his game. He was the first boxer to defeat Muhammad Ali in the professional

Photograph courtesy of Derek Rowe

George Foreman with promoter Jack Solomons

ranks while defending the world title at Madison Square Garden, New York, on 8 March 1971, winning by a 15-round points decision.

So, while Frazier may have had respect for Foreman, he clearly felt that he had the ability to defeat him. Going into the bout Foreman had an undefeated tally of 37 bouts, and Frazier’s resume read an unblemished 29. While Foreman had participated in more bouts than Frazier, the champion had fought a higher calibre of opponent than had his challenger.

Foreman might struggle when the fight became tough for him. Frazier had every intention of bringing the heat to the contest, hence sending Foreman home a loser with the first defeat on his record. It was an exciting moment for the sport. The fight provided a shock when it was all over in round 2 of 15 with Foreman stopping Frazier in explosive fashion.

Foreman was highly effective in the fight and defeated Frazier with relative ease. Frazier could not get going, he was out punched from the first bell. At this stage it looked as if Foreman would remain champion for a very long time. All eyes were now firmly set on the new heavyweight champion of the world, the man looked to be unbeatable. His first defence of the title took place on the 1 September 1973, against Puerto Rican born Jose Roman in Japan, the venue being Nippon Budokan, Tokyo. While Roman was a good fighter he did not look to have the tools to defeat Foreman and his chances of taking the championship looked very slim. In fact, to be brutally honest he had no chance whatsoever. The fight was set for the duration of 15 rounds, but no one truthfully felt it would last that long. The contest as expected was over quickly, it ended in the first stanza when the challenger was counted out. It was a case of if you blinked you missed it. The fans may have been a little disappointed that the fight was over so quickly, but that’s the way it is when a big puncher is in the ring. An early conclusion was always a possibility. The Foreman tour continued, with his next destination being the Poliedro de Caracas in Venezuela on March 26, 1974. There he faced his next challenger, fellow American Ken Norton, who posed a significant threat. Norton was no soft touch, he had fought Muhammad Ali twice, winning once, and losing one, and in doing so had shared 24 rounds with him. This was clear confirmation that Foreman held little fear for him. So, it looked as if Foreman was going to be involved in a hard-fought contest. Foreman once again showed his immense power when he stopped Norton in round 2 of 15 without working up a sweat. It was all too easy for him. The question now is whether anyone can stand up to Foreman.

The subsequent contender for Foreman was Muhammad Ali, a man who was a boxing master who had thrilled the fans over the years with his skills inside the ring. He had fought his absolute best and

had defeated them. It was felt that the former world heavyweight king was now past his best and would be destroyed by Foreman. In fact, many felt that Ali was making a big mistake by taking on Foreman; a fighter who could end his career. Ali however was more than confident leading up to the fight of victory and stated that he would take Foreman’s crown. This looked like a bold boast, one he could not live up to. The contest took place on the 30 October 1974, the venue being Stade du 20 Mai, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The bout was tagged The Rumble in the Jungle. The air was full of both tension and excitement as the two boxers met in the middle of the ring to exchange punches. Foreman attacked from the off looking for the knockout punch which had felled so many opponents before. Foreman was confident that he would land the punch which would say goodnight to Ali and see him retain the crown. In the early rounds Foreman pinned Ali on the ropes unloading with heavy blows to both his head and body. It looked as if Foreman was heading for another quick win but the man the champion was fighting was a special kind of fighter and he wasn’t going away easy. In fact, he wasn’t going away at all, he wanted that title. Ali used a ploy which became known as ‘rope-a-dope’ where he let Foreman punch him while he remained on the ropes. It soon became apparent that the champion was exhausted and in the 8th stanza of a scheduled 15 Ali knocked out Foreman to become champion for the second time in his career. This was a massive shock, Foreman who looked unbeatable was beaten. A man whom it was deemed would remain world champion for a number of years was now a former title holder. Foreman now had to plan his way back to the top, a task which would not be easy for him. He would need to rack up a few impressive victories to get back into contention.

PART TWO IN THE NEXT EDITION

Image Muhammad Ali

Photograph courtesy of Derek Rowe

›

“All the lonely people, where do they all come from? All the lonely people, where do they all belong?”

by Natalie McCulloch

You may be familiar with these famous lyrics from the sensational 60s group, The Beatles, which explore themes of loneliness, isolation, and the unobserved existence of ordinary people. Well, despite the songs being nearly 60 years old, the sentiments undoubtedly carry over to modern day life. Hidden loneliness is still very much a modern-day dilemma.

But what about the feeling behind the lyrics? Is loneliness a feeling you can relate to as well?

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 1 in 4 adults reported feeling lonely often or always. Moreover, research indicates that it is a significant global health concern. For instance, the World Health Organization posits that loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day.

In a busy society with advanced

technological ways of connecting to people through the internet, and with an abundance of groups, clubs, and activities you can join, it’s bamboozling that loneliness is such an issue. Nevertheless, stats speak for themselves.

Isolation and loneliness can manifest in various forms and intensities. For instance, social isolation refers to the absence of relationships or supportive contacts, whilst loneliness is characterised by the subjective feeling of being alone or disconnected. Both put people at risk of developing serious mental and physical health issues.

However, all is not lost thanks to incredible initiatives like ‘StoriBoard’.

StoriBoard is an innovate venture with a heartfelt community twist. It aims to create small meaningful moments where people can connect over shared experience offering opportunities for individuals to meet their ‘people’ and build communities of unconditional, mutual support.

Karen, the inspirational founder of StoriBoard told CT she initially started it off as a small business venture involving an online community for people to connect with other like-minded locals.

However, she quickly discovered the need for these opportunities to help adults form meaningful friendships was far greater than just online, people craved social contact and community connection regardless of age, gender, or social status.

Karen now feels it’s far more than just a business; it’s her purpose in life. StoriBoard has expanded to 10 cities, including Bristol, London, and Cardiff, and continues to grow.

“Life gets busy, routines take over and suddenly forming real connections feels almost impossible. We, at StoriBoard, want to change that!” Karen states. From the short conversation I was lucky to have with the energising, knowledgeable and caring Karen, it’s clear to see this is far more than just a job for her; this is her calling.

Sound good? Why not get involved! …

StoriBoard asserts that the most meaningful connections occur within small groups, as this mitigates the oftenoverwhelming sensation of entering a larger gathering and the subsequent deflating experience of leaving without forming genuine relationships.

As Norman Cousins once deduced, “loneliness is not the absence of people, it’s the absence of connection; you can be in a room full of people and still feel alone”.

Signing up is simple – simply log onto their website and take a short quiz aimed at

finding like-minded people. Let the system work its magic and wallah! You’re halfway there!

Then you choose your location and night of choice: are you more interested in having a dinner in one of the registered restaurants or is a game of social darts (with 25% off food and drink) more your calling? The choice is yours.

Safety is a priority, so all the restaurants are verified for health and safety standards and suitability and ‘WhatsApp’ messages are sent to participants after the event to check on how it went and ensure it is continuing to run to its full potential; continuously developing for the participants benefit. There are options for payment and exclusive offers for those who get involved. Sounds too good to be true but it really is that simple! Then you can go, meet your people and hopefully form valued based friendships to continue to mix and mingle with!

Loneliness is said to be extremely detrimental for the health, wellbeing and welfare of our community, so why not get involved to help change that? Whether that be first hand by accessing it yourself or third party by signposting someone who may benefit from it themselves. Why not let StoriBoard help add some characters to your own life story?