CARDIFF TIMES JUNE 2026 by Cardiff Times Magazine

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Duke of Edinburgh Award (the seven

ages).

This week, The Girl went to London to be presented with her Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) scheme gold award at Buckingham Palace. She worked hard to get it and we are very proud of her, as she is of herself. The Boss travelled up with her, and they made a day of it by taking first class return rail tickets. It was a cold, wet and windy day for them and they were glad they had taken their umbrellas.

In the post-war era, His Royal Highness wanted to help boys bridge the gap between leaving formal education at 15 and

by Wyn Evans

starting National Service at 18. He also wanted them to build self-confidence and a sense of purpose to support them into their future. A youth programme, he believed, would improve their skills and equip them to make valuable contributions to their communities and society. By 1980, one programme for all young people was launched. The new programme format means all young people complete the same four sections: Service, a 4-day/3-night expedition, Skills, and Physical Recreation – and an additional Residential Project at Gold. By 2004, the Expedition section was completely overhauled to be accessible for all.

As noted, the Gold award involves, a residential, volunteering for 12 months, learning a new skill and improving in a physical activity. This synopsis doesn’t make it look that hard. The reality is that it’s difficult. The levels of competency required for the physical activity and new skill are very high, and the expedition is not for the faint hearted. It’s a hard award to do, and even more so for those with any sort of disability. The Girl has done exceptionally well to be able to complete an award that many able-

bodied people struggle to do. She wishes to thank staff at both Cardiff and Whitchurch High schools for their support and encouragement.

The Girl has turned 20 now and she has passed through a complete cycle of many of her favourite activities. As Shakespeare’s Jacques noted in As You Like it: “all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages”. The Girl has left behind the school age and is coming to the end of her college years. She has left many of her much-loved activities – only ballet remains of her teenage hobbies and that comes to an end with a final concert at the end of May. Luckily, she is continuing with her trampolining, which will keep her fit. And now The Girl enters the Age of Work and the Age of Relationships.

This month, my daughter was interviewed for a place on the Supported Internship Scheme, at the Parkgate hotel. A combination of training room-based development sessions and ‘real life’ internship placement opportunities within the host business, we hope that this will offer her invaluable experience and truly prepare her

for the world of work and life-long independence. “And then the lover, sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress’ eyebrow.” Which is to say that The Girl and The Boyfriend are still going strong and that I’m no longer the only feller in her life. For my part, “the sixth age shifts into the lean and slippered pantalon, with spectacles on nose and pouch on side; his youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide for his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, turning again toward childish treble, pipes and wishes in his sound. Last scene of all, that ends this strange eventful history, is second childishness and mere oblivion, sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything”.

Well hopefully I’ll succeed in keeping that last scene of all some distance away from me yet!

‘And Another Thing...’

What Was The Point?

A few weeks ago it was suggested by our Friday Pub Club Chums that we attend the local Point-to-Point Horseracing Event which seemed like a good idea at the time (we enjoyed it really). The Current Mrs Nolan and I went fully armed with cooler bag for our snacks and our newly purchased folding chairs. We are not equestrian people despite some of our crew being experts in the field, well not that particular field, but you know what I mean. Five races for us, five horses, all picked scientifically (because we liked their names) and all backed on the nose to win amidst so much pre-race excitement.

Our horses performed as follows: Last, strolled over to nearby river during the race, badly damaged leg and put down by the vet, did not finish and third! This had me in mind of Henry VIII’s wives: Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. In fact our horse racing successes were like jockeys legs……few and far between. Of course horse meat used to be sold in our local butchers shop, but they were flogging a dead horse. Horse meat was about the only option for our choice of nags. Quite tasty though as you can see.

Staying with matters equestrian, a string of racehorses were stabled together. One of

by Vince Nolan

whom started to boast about his track record. “I’ve won eight of my last fifteen races!” Another horse chipped in: “Well I’ve won 19 of my last 27 races!” “Oh that’s good, but I’ve won 28 of my last 36 races” said another. The horses then noticed a greyhound who had been sitting there listening. “I don’t mean to boast,” said the greyhound, “but I’ve won 88 of my last 90 races!” The horses were clearly amazed. “Wow!” said one, after a hushed silence. “A talking dog!” It occurred to me that pets and pest have the same letters. Before you all start writing in, I was just saying. Whilst we are looking at word structures, why is there a fist in pacifist?

Anyway, as part of the above visit to the races we had need of two folding chairs. I took myself off to a well-known DIY centre to purchase said portable thrones. However, it was Sunday morning and 09.30 and they did not open until ten, or so I found out! I waited. At the appointed hour a “jobs worth” reluctantly opened the shutters and in filed about half a dozen of us. The employee then announced over the Tannoy system that under Sunday Trading Laws they were allowed to open at 10.00 but not allowed to trade until 10.30. We were allowed to browse but not buy until then. Well, you can only imagine the rich Anglo-Saxon expletives that sprang forth from my mouth. I have since found out that Sunday Trading restricts large stores over 280 sq. metres to a maximum of 6 consecutive hours of trading between 10am and 6pm. Small shops (under 280 sq. metres) have no restrictions. The 10.30 trading point was the store’s own choice. Fancy me not knowing all this. Guess what, Scotland and Northern Ireland do not have such restrictions.

Whilst in the said joyful retail emporium I took the opportunity to buy some new electric garden trimmers. They were badged as cutting-hedge technology. We were then informed over the Tannoy that a ladder had been stolen from the store and that the manager was sending out a general warning that further steps would be taken. I also wanted to buy a curtain rod and the same manager asked me how long I wanted it. I told him I wanted to keep it.

In parallel to the racing disaster and retail high jinks we also had a burst tyre caused by swerving to avoid yet another pothole and driving over a lump of wood which we think was studded with nails. We called out our emergency tyre guy who was excellent and £200 later we were back in the saddle (which was more than most of our jockeys). The cost of the weekend was mounting with the car, chairs and horse racing but a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. We had only gone and won a prize in the EuroMillions which at the time topped out at some £126m. Well, you’ve guessed it, we won £2.80. Hurrah!

He said: “Come up quickly, I fought with my wife and now she wants to throw herself out of the window.”

The manager replied: “Sir this is a personal matter and we can’t get involved.” The man interrupted and said: “No! This is a maintenance issue. I can’t open the window!”

I was listening to a radio news report the other day (I know, life in the fast lane) and heard this: “A man who was shot dead in London on Sunday has now died.” All very sad of course but this was the following Tuesday!

I went to the local hair emporium to have the Nolan bouffant cut down to size and whilst waiting was sat next to a two year old little guy and his mum. A bloke walked in and the boy shouted “Daddy.” Mum quickly explained to him and to us that it was not his Daddy but a man who had the same coat that Daddy wore. My how we all laughed. The bloke looked scared!

to use the bathroom and two fingers for a longer visit. Of course two fingers means something entirely different over here.

My award for Dad of the week goes to a guy I saw the other day walking along Allensbank Road having picked up his two young daughters from school. He walked in front of them carrying a long thin piece of wood like a broom handle in each hand. His daughters fell in line behind him, one behind the other and also held onto the wood, one piece in each hand. He then started to mimic a train by moving his hands and the poles, ahead and behind him in a circular motion. As they had held on too they copied Dad and they had a pedestrian train. “A Brief Encounter” as per the film and just as delightful.

French and very good English/Welsh. On New Years Eve their leader Franck sent this message to us: “Blwyddyn newydd dda” His French mate quickly followed this up with: “Don’t tell everyone your computer password Franck.”

I have been reading a very good New York based detective thriller from whence this story came. An eight year old girl said to her mum: “Mom, I just weighed my poo.” Fearing the worst Mom asked her how she had gone about this. Her daughter said: “I weighed myself before and after I went to the toilet and took one number from the other.” “Thank God for that” said Mom. No talk of number twos though which was a shame as this phrase is widely used in the USA too. Apparently, this is often attributed to 1950s/60s classroom culture where students would raise one finger

Whilst the New Year hostilities are now long faded into the distance, I have two tales from that time which I should like to share with you. The first involves the bar manager at our local alehouse, The Fisherman’s Ar - - . That should be The Fisherman’s Arms but the last two letters fell off in the recent high winds. We

Two drunks were stumbling home (illegally, of course) along a pair of railway tracks. The first drunk complained: “There’s a hell of a lot of steps here.” The second drunk replied: “I’ll tell you what’s worse, this hand rail is awfully low down too.”

And finally, an Englishman, a Frenchman, a Spaniard and a German are sitting in a room, when a man enters and asks, “Can you see

Staying with rugby matters, we recently lost a much-loved member of St. Peter’s Rugby Club, Bart O’Brien. He lived to the fine old age of ninety, was a former Club Captain and a great wit. I had the honour of playing alongside his three sons and he was an avid reader of this publication. As part of the eulogy, his son Bernard shared the following with us: “Bart was very much on the ball and retained his humour and enthusiasm to the very end. He was asked to attend a Doctors appointment as his memory was apparently showing its age (understandably so). The Doctor said to him: “I want you to give me a list of as many animals you can think of. Take your time” Bart thought for a second and said: “Ten cows, twelve sheep and twenty horses.” Brilliant! At the other end

played each other and we now communicate with each other regularly via WhatsApp in schoolboy

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In The Words Of

June 2026

I hope everyone is coping with all this impromptu sunshine and heat because, honestly, I’m struggling. I’ve reached the point where every fan in the house is on at once, and I still can’t sleep properly. I have even bit the bullet and purchased a bigger one online last night, before they all sell out! Am I the only one who cannot function in the UK heat but does perfectly fine when on holiday?

This month was quieter interview-wise, though I did speak with Rosalie Minnitt about her wonderfully chaotic alter ego, Clementine, ahead of another run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year. Sadly, the Cardiff date ended up being cancelled, which felt a shame because it sounded like exactly that kind of awkward comedy that would’ve found its audience here. A real shame.

Live Music — Kiefer Sutherland

Last Friday at Tramshed genuinely caught me off guard — and I mean that as a huge compliment.

I already knew Kiefer Sutherland could sing, and I knew this wasn’t some novelty side project, but I still didn’t expect to enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did. From the opening moments of Down Below, the whole thing felt authentic. No ego, no trying too hard, no actor pretending to be a rock star. Just a really solid live band and somebody who clearly loves music.

Songs like Chasing The Rain, American Farmer and Two Stepping In Time carried that dusty-road Americana feel throughout the set. At the same time, Goodbye California absolutely stood out on the night — one of those songs that suddenly clicks live in a completely different way. The Tramshed crowd really warmed to it too, and by the second half of the set, you could feel people fully buying into the atmosphere.

I loved how the covers landed brilliantly. I’m Only Happy When It Rains got a huge reaction early on, while In The Air Tonight somehow felt surprisingly at home in the set instead of gimmicky. What stayed with me the most, when I reflected on the evening, was how grounded the whole performance felt. No massive speeches. No overdone theatre. Just stories, songs and letting the music do the work.

By the end of Starlight, the band had already left the stage when Kiefer unexpectedly wandered back out alone for one final short song because, as he explained, he’d enjoyed the Cardiff crowd and atmosphere so much that he wanted to do one more. It was

by Carl Marsh

a small moment, but probably the one that summed the night up best. Genuine, relaxed, and completely unforced.

Food — The Ivy Cardiff Midweek, I finally made it to The Ivy in Cardiff to try The Ivy Edition menu — £42.95 for three courses —, and honestly, it was exceptional from start to finish.

The décor immediately stands out. Elegant without becoming stiff, lively without becoming chaotic. The sort of place where you instantly feel like you’re properly out for the evening. What really elevated it, though, was the staff — attentive, welcoming and genuinely friendly throughout.

Food-wise, the Severn & Wye smoked salmon on dark rye bread was excellent, especially alongside the hand-picked crab and chive cream add-on. The grilled 8oz beef sirloin with Béarnaise sauce and triple-cooked chips was spot on, paired perfectly with Tenderstem broccoli finished with lemon oil and sea salt. Then came the apple tart, fine with Calvados caramel and vanilla ice cream, which, honestly… wow. Just wow.

That’s June done. More gigs are coming thick and fast too, especially with another huge summer ahead at Cardiff Castle and again at Blackweir Fields, which should make the next few months a very good time for music fans across the city.

See you next month,

Carl Marsh

INTERVIEW: ROSALIE MINNITT

Words: Carl Marsh

Comedian and writer Rosalie Minnitt discusses her acclaimed character-comedy show, Clementine, modern romance, self-delusion, and her return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year.

For people who haven’t seen Clementine yet, what first drew you towards building this chaotic perioddrama antihero?

I’ve always loved history, and I’ve always thought that the world was funny. During lockdown, I became obsessed with the idea of there being a very uninspiring woman hidden inside one of these grand romantic period dramas. It also became a really useful way to talk about modern anxieties indirectly. We’re constantly romanticising the past, even the 2000s, because culturally it feels like people can’t really bear to look forward anymore. There’s comfort in these imagined versions of life that probably never really existed.

Clementine explores complex aspects of womanhood, but it never feels heavy-handed. What did comedy let you express that drama perhaps couldn’t?

I think the absurdity of a lot of it. Particularly on the dating side, when something feels too real, it can get sad quite quickly. There’s a fun power in making things funny, especially if it’s about beauty standards or makeup or all these ridiculous things people live with. You don’t necessarily realise you’re laughing at something quite pointed underneath it all. I wanted people to leave feeling lighter, not crushed by it. The whole thing is meant to feel like a ridiculous roller coaster.

Did the comedy arrive first, or did the sadness underneath it come before that?

It definitely came from real feelings first. I’d gone through a breakup when I started writing it, which is always slightly embarrassing to admit because it sounds like making a breakup album. But the character

also became a way for me to learn comedy properly. I didn’t formally train in it, so the show became this strange training ground where I was figuring out joke writing, audience interaction and what my own voice actually was. The feelings came first, and then I learned how to make them funny afterwards.

Modern romance often feels transactional now, whereas period dramas sell the idea of destiny. Was that tension something you wanted to explore?

Yeah, completely. Romantic love has such a strange place in culture now. Dating apps can feel so bleak, but at the same time, people still desperately want magic, romance, and certainty. Women, especially, are constantly being told contradictory things — be independent, successful, empowered and self-aware, but also effortless, desirable and romantic. Clementine is collapsing under all those impossible expectations while still desperately trying to meet them.

Clementine feels trapped inside modern selfawareness, almost analysing herself in real time. Was that intentional?

That developed as I went along. I became really interested in the way people now live their lives as though they’re constantly being watched. Everyone’s constructing this version of themselves and narrating their own mythology all the time. It’s fascinating but also slightly terrifying. The character became a really fun way of talking about that modern obsession with performance and self-awareness without directly spelling it out.

After living with Clementine for so long, what’s your relationship with her now?

It changes all the time. Sometimes going on stage as her feels really therapeutic because I’ve suddenly got absolutely no filter and no self-consciousness at all.

Other times, the magic disappears, and I have no idea why. There are shows where I come off stage barely remembering what happened because it felt so instinctive. It’s almost like putting on a different version of yourself for an hour and then having to come back down to reality afterwards.

Rosalie Minnitt returns to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

Celebrate your special occasion with us and the guest of honour eats free. A minimum party booking of 8 to apply to this special offer.

Celebrating 30 Years of Cardiff Families

Changing Lives Through Fostering

For 30 years, Calon Cymru Fostering has helped children across Wales find somewhere to belong, and as more children across South Wales require foster care close to their communities, the organisation is encouraging more local people to discover the rewarding difference fostering can make.

Since its beginnings, Calon Cymru has remained committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, nurturing and supportive home.

Today, around 7,200 children are looked after in Wales, with approximately two thirds living with foster families.* Foster carers play a vital role in providing stability, encouragement and care to children and young people during some of the most important moments in their lives.

Across Wales, foster carers support children of all ages, from babies and sibling groups to teenagers and Parent and Child placements. Statistics also show that around 68% of children looked after in Wales are cared for through fostering arrangements.*

As Cardiff and the wider South Wales region continue to see growing demand for foster carers, agencies like Calon Cymru are encouraging more people to consider whether they could make a difference. Local foster carers help children remain connected to the people, schools and communities that matter most during difficult times in their lives.

Despite the growing need, many people still rule themselves out because of outdated myths surrounding fostering. In reality, foster carers come from all walks of life. You do not need to be married, own your own home or have previous parenting experience — what matters most is compassion, patience and a willingness to support a child or young person.

Many carers say one of the most rewarding aspects of fostering is seeing children grow in confidence and feel safe enough to simply be themselves. While fostering can bring challenges, carers are supported every step of the way through training, guidance and ongoing support from experienced teams.

“As we celebrate 30 years, we are incredibly proud of the difference our carers, staff and wider community have made to the lives of children across South Wales,” says Director Scott Ruddock. “While this milestone is an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, it is also about looking ahead. We remain committed to providing exceptional support and training, ensuring every child receives high-quality care and continuing to recruit foster carers across South Wales so children stay connected to their local communities.”

Across Wales there are around 3,800 foster families, but continued recruitment remains essential to ensure children can be cared for within their local areas and support networks.**

If you have ever considered fostering, there has never been a better time to find out more as the agency is inviting more people across Cardiff and South Wales to get in touch and become part of the next chapter in its story.

029 2081 1173

caloncymrufostering.co.uk/cardiff-times

* Gov.wales, Fostering Statistics Wales

** The Fostering Network Wales / Foster Wales Statistics

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THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

The heavyweight division is the poundage which always captures the interest of the public. whenever a new heavyweight with potential emerges, he will be the focal point of attention. The weight has produced a number of top world heavyweight champions who have been regarded as great.

The world heavyweight title is an outstanding championship to win. No matter which version of the title you hold. Be it the World Boxing Council (WBC) World Boxing Association (WBA) International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Boxing Organisation (WBO) or the International Boxing Organization (IBO) When a fighter holds all the versions of the championship at the same time, he is of course the undisputed title holder.

There was a time when the USA ruled the division producing one world heavyweight champion after another. It appeared that no one could compete with the big boys across the pond. They were on another level.

Today, the landscape is very different: the USA no longer has the strength in the division that it once did.

There are a number of up-and-coming heavyweights still on the rise in the UK which is good news. Which begs the question will Wales ever produce a heavyweight who looks able to go all

by Ralph Oates

the way to a world heavyweight title challenge? In the past there have been good Welshman who have made their mark on the domestic front winning British heavyweight titles and looked at the time able to go on to greater honours. Boxers like Jack Petersen, Tommy Farr, Johnny Williams, Joe Erskine, Neville Meade, David Pearce and Scott Gammer. Let’s not forget Dick Richardson who became the first boxer from the UK to win the European heavyweight crown abroad. He did so on the 27 March 1960 when stopping

Lennox Lewis the former undisputed world heavyweight champion courtesy of Les Clark.

home fighter Hans Kalbfell in round 13 of 15 in Dortmund Germany. He also scored some good wins during his time in the professional ranks.

When taking a look at the list of Welsh heavyweights one cannot help but notice that only Tommy challenged for the world heavyweight title.

Farr, born in Rhondda on 12 March 1913, was known as the Tonypandy Terror, and inside the ring he lived up to the name: win or lose, he gave his opponents a torrid time.

Farr worked his way to the top and was eventually given the opportunity to fight for the world heavyweight title. Though “opportunity” hardly seems the right word, as he was facing the reigning champion, Joe Louis, a great fighter whose reputation in boxing endures to this day, whenever fans discuss the sport.

Farr faced what looked to be an impossible task, in fact it could be called a mission impossible. The Welshman ventured to the USA to make his challenge. Frankly he wasn’t given a hope of returning with the title. Many felt that Farr wouldn’t even hear the final bell, he would be out punched and outworked and either stopped or knocked out.

Louis could really punch and was capable of taking his man out once he connected. He also wanted to look good. This was his first defence of the

title and he wanted to make a statement to show that he really was the king of the division, and there was no one that could touch him.

Louis had won the championship from fellow American James J. Braddock on the 22 June 1937, in Chicago by a knockout in the 8th round of 15. It was a mistake by the boxing pundits to think that this was an easy outing for Louis. Farr was a tough man who had the heart of a lion, he didn’t come to the USA to lose, he came to win. When the bell sounded to start the fight the two soon got down to work landing damaging punches. As the rounds rolled by Louis looked to have the edge over Louis. However, the Welshman earned the respect of all who watched him fight that night. Farr pushed the champion all the way to the finish. When the bell sounded to end the contest the spectators applauded the two men, they had given their very all. True Farr didn’t win but he lost with honour and dignity. Losing to Louis was no disgrace, Farr also became the first heavyweight from the UK to last the full 15 rounds in a heavyweight world title bout.

It is hoped that in the not-too-distant future a heavyweight from Wales will emerge who will emulate Tommy Farr and contest a world title in the division. Perhaps even going one better than Farr and win the title. Now that would really be something. He would be the toast of Wales.

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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.

That is why, alongside our day-to-day legal help and advice, we also offer legal services specifically tailored to the needs of those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Scan the QR Code, or visit our website for more details. You can also meet our team at Pride Cymru on 13th & 14th June.

The Summer Paradox Why Sunshine Doesn’t Always Bring Happiness

The first warm day arrives and, almost by instinct, we begin telling ourselves a story.

This is the season when everything gets better.

The evenings stretch out before us. The parks fill. Beer gardens overflow. The scent of freshly cut grass drifts across suburban streets. Holiday brochures emerge from drawers. Barbecues are dusted off. Somewhere in the distance, someone is already mowing a lawn.

Summer, we are told, is happiness.

Yet every year, quietly and often invisibly, many people discover something rather different.

As the temperatures rise, so too can anxiety, loneliness, pressure and emotional exhaustion.

For some, summer is not liberation. It is exposure.

The season that appears so carefree from the outside can feel surprisingly complicated on the inside.

This is not simply anecdotal. Research consistently shows that while increased daylight and sunshine can improve mood for many people, human wellbeing is considerably more nuanced than a weather forecast.

The relationship between happiness and summer is real.

So is the relationship between summer and distress.

The truth, as so often in psychology, lies somewhere in the middle.

More Light, More Life

Let’s begin with the good news.

Human beings evolved outdoors. For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors rose with the sun and slept beneath the stars. The rhythms of daylight became woven into our biology.

When sunlight reaches the retina, signals travel deep into the brain and influence the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood, emotional regulation and feelings of wellbeing.

Longer days also help regulate our circadian rhythms, the internal body clocks that influence sleep, energy levels and hormone production.

Many people notice this instinctively.

They wake more easily.

They feel more energetic.

They spend more time outdoors.

They reconnect with neighbours.

They move their bodies more frequently.

The world simply feels more alive.

Walk through Cardiff Bay on a bright June evening and you can almost feel it. Conversations spill onto pavements. Children race along waterfronts. Cyclists appear in numbers unseen during February drizzle. The city seems to exhale.

Summer creates opportunities for connection.

And connection remains one of the strongest predictors of human wellbeing.

The Pressure to Be Happy

Yet this is where the paradox begins.

Because alongside summer’s genuine benefits comes something less helpful: expectation.

Winter allows a degree of emotional camouflage. Staying indoors feels normal. Quiet weekends are socially acceptable. Nobody expects January to be particularly exciting.

Summer changes the rules.

Suddenly the cultural script demands enjoyment.

You should be making memories.

You should be travelling.

You should be socialising.

You should be grateful.

You should be happy.

Social media amplifies this pressure relentlessly.

Scroll through your phone on a sunny Saturday afternoon and you may encounter a carefully curated parade of beach photographs, festival selfies, family gatherings and holiday sunsets.

What you are rarely shown are the arguments, the financial worries, the loneliness, the exhaustion or the anxiety that often sit just outside the frame.

Comparison, psychologists have long observed, is one of the fastest routes to dissatisfaction.

And summer provides an abundance of opportunities to compare ourselves unfavourably with others.

Someone appears to be having more fun.

Someone else seems fitter.

Someone else is travelling further.

Someone else’s family appears happier.

The result is a peculiar emotional contradiction.

At precisely the moment we are supposed to be enjoying ourselves, we can find ourselves feeling inadequate.

Loneliness in the Crowd

One of the least discussed aspects of summer is how difficult it can be for people experiencing loneliness.

Loneliness does not simply mean being alone.

Many people live alone and thrive.

Loneliness is the painful gap between the social connection we desire and the connection we actually experience.

Summer can widen that gap.

When society becomes more visibly social, isolation becomes more visible too.

The neighbour hosting a barbecue.

The colleagues discussing holiday plans.

The families gathering in local parks.

For those grieving a bereavement, navigating relationship breakdown, living far from family or struggling with mental health challenges, these reminders can be surprisingly painful.

What appears festive to one person may feel alienating to another.

The emotional sting often comes not from being alone, but from feeling left behind.

Body Image Season

Then there is the annual phenomenon many therapists know all too well.

Summer is body image season.

As layers of clothing disappear, self-consciousness often increases.

Advertising industries have spent decades convincing us that our bodies require urgent improvement before we deserve to enjoy ourselves.

Summer becomes a deadline.

Get beach-ready.

Get holiday-ready.

Get swimsuit-ready.

The implication is clear: who you are right now is somehow insufficient.

This narrative fuels anxiety, shame and self-criticism.

Yet from a psychological perspective, self-acceptance is generally a more reliable foundation for sustainable wellbeing than self-rejection.

People rarely hate themselves into lasting happiness.

The pursuit of health can be positive.

The pursuit of worthiness rarely is.

The Cost of Summer

There is another pressure hiding beneath the surface.

Money.

For many families, summer has become expensive.

School holidays bring childcare challenges.

Day trips cost more.

Energy bills remain high.

Holiday prices surge.

Even simple social activities can strain already stretched household budgets.

Financial anxiety rarely takes a holiday.

Indeed, for some people it becomes more intense during the summer months precisely because spending expectations increase.

The pressure to create a perfect summer can collide painfully with economic reality.

And when expectations exceed resources, stress often follows.

Permission to Be Human

So what should we do with this knowledge?

Perhaps the most helpful response is surprisingly simple.

We can stop treating happiness as an obligation.

The pursuit of happiness has become one of the strangest modern pressures.

We chase it, measure it, compare it and perform it.

Yet genuine wellbeing tends to emerge indirectly.

It grows through connection, meaning, purpose, community and presence.

Not perfection.

Not performance.

Not constant positivity.

A good summer does not require endless sunshine.

Nor does it require expensive holidays, flawless bodies or a calendar packed with social events.

A good summer might be much smaller.

A conversation on a garden bench.

An evening walk.

Fish and chips on a breezy promenade.

A picnic in a local park.

Watching the sunset from a hillside.

Reading a book with the window open.

Sharing a laugh with someone who matters.

These moments rarely appear on Instagram.

Yet they are often the moments we remember.

The Real Gift of Summer

Perhaps summer’s greatest gift is not happiness itself.

Perhaps it is opportunity.

Longer days invite us back into relationship with the world around us.

The challenge is not to make every moment extraordinary.

The challenge is simply to notice what is already here.

The warmth on your skin.

The laughter drifting across a garden fence.

The scent of rain after a hot afternoon.

The evening sky lingering long after dinner.

These experiences do not eliminate anxiety, loneliness or sadness.

Life remains complicated, whatever the season.

But they can remind us that joy is often quieter than we imagine.

Not a grand achievement.

Not a perfect photograph.

Not a life that finally matches someone else’s.

Just a moment of genuine presence in the middle of an ordinary day.

And perhaps that is enough.

As summer arrives in Cardiff once again, maybe the healthiest aspiration is not to be relentlessly happy.

Maybe it is simply to be fully human.

To welcome the sunshine when it comes.

To acknowledge the shadows when they appear.

And to remember that both belong to the same season.

Cardiff Times partners with The Brain Gym for mental health support.

You can access any of these self-study, online courses for free by using this code on registration: CARDIFFTIMES1.

Readers can enter it at checkout on any course to get one free course (worth up to £29.99 RRP), one per reader/ email address

THE BRAIN GYM COURSES RELEVANT TO THIS ARTICLE

Seasonal mood (the core “paradox”)

Seasonal Mood Management: Practical tools for managing how the changing seasons affect mood and energy. www.thebraingym.org/courses/seasonal-mood

Loneliness in the crowd

Loneliness: Understanding and easing the gap between the connection we want and the connection we have. www.thebraingym.org/courses/loneliness

Loneliness Reset: A short, structured reset for reconnecting when isolation has crept in.

www.thebraingym.org/courses/loneliness-reset

Loss of Community: Rebuilding belonging after community ties fall away. www.thebraingym.org/courses/loss-of-community

Body image season

Body Image and Self-Compassion: Replacing body shame with self-compassion. www.thebraingym.org/courses/bdd-course

The pressure to be happy / comparison

Inner Critic: Quietening the harsh internal voice that says you’re not enough. www.thebraingym.org/courses/inner-critic

Perfectionism: Letting go of performance and “perfect summer” standards. www.thebraingym.org/courses/perfectionism

Social Media and Mental Health: Navigating comparison and curated feeds. www.thebraingym.org/courses/teen-social-media

The cost of summer

Financial Calm and Confidence: Reducing money anxiety and building a calmer relationship with spending. www.thebraingym.org/courses/financial-calm

Financial Strain: Support for coping when money is genuinely tight. www.thebraingym.org/courses/financial-strain

Permission to be human / presence

How to Meditate Mindfully: A gentle intro to presence and noticing the ordinary moment.

www.thebraingym.org/presenting-mindfulness/meditation-course

Identity and Purpose: Finding meaning beyond achievement and performance. www.thebraingym.org/courses/identity-purpose

By Gareth Strangemore-Jones (Alchemy Life Therapy & The Brain Gym)

MHFA, DCST, PDPCP, HPD, DSFH, DMH, AHD, MNCPS (Reg.), MNCH (Reg.), MAfSFH (Reg.), MCNHC (Reg.), FSE (Fellow), IFfS (Assoc.), NCTJ, MSC-CPA, PGCE I & II

Advocate for Mental Health, People & Planet Website: www.alchemylifetherapy.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/garethsj/

ALCHEMY LIFE THERAPY

Clinical Psychotherapy & Counselling for

Fear, Frustration, Anger

Grief & Bereavement

Insomnia & Sleep Issues

Smoking & Vape Cessation

Confidence & Self Esteem

Panic Attacks & Nerves

Motivation & Inspiration

Phobias & Blockages

Busy Business Executives

Sport & Stage Performance

Child & Teenager Issues

Academic Studies & Exam Stress

ADHD Teens & ADHD Adults

Neurodiversity MH Support

Post Traumatic Stress

OCD & Compulsions

Carer Support & More

Baby Cwtch – Big Impact!

by Natalie McCulloch

Your preloved baby items can make a real difference to families in need — here’s how.

In 2016, Hilary Johnston retired after 20 years as a foster carer — a remarkable achievement. But her commitment to helping others did not end there: she went on to found the Cwtch Baby Bank, a truly unique charity.

The Cwtch Baby Bank is Wales’ first charity of its kind. Founded in Taffs

Well, it operates entirely through referrals from frontline organisations and health professionals who support vulnerable families and identify those most in need.

Hilary, the founder of the charity, transformed her own preloved baby items which had mounted up over the years of being a foster carer, into a lifeline for families in need and she would greatly appreciate your support to do the same for many more.

L-R

Delyth Jones and Berni Brown (volunteers), Hilary Johnston (the founder), and the day-to-day operations team Helen Samphire and Clare Bird

It really is a worthwhile way to have a spring clean of unwanted items as every single donation that the charity receives goes directly to those families who need it.

Clare Bird who works for the charity told CT “Our charity simply couldn’t survive without the generosity of the public. Every donation helps us provide essential clothing and equipment for children up to two years old. We also have a fantastic team of volunteers who support us every week — we truly couldn’t manage without them. The support we’ve received over the past ten years has enabled us to help thousands of families, and we’re deeply grateful for the community that makes our work possible.”

If you have good-quality preloved baby items, such as clothing, equipment or toiletries for babies aged 0–24 months, please consider donating them to the Cwtch Baby Bank. They could make a huge difference to a family in need of extra support.

You could also become a community champion in your workplace, gym or local area by organising a collection of essential items for the Cwtch Baby Bank. It’s a simple way to encourage others to support families in the community who are facing hardship.

If you would like to help the charity, but do not have any items suitable to

donate, why not check out their Amazon Wish List by scanning here

There are many ways to get involved, and every contribution is greatly appreciated.

On a final note, this year marks the Cwtch Baby Banks 10th birthday and on behalf of everyone at Cardiff Times magazine, we want to wish the team many more years of success helping those in need in our community and are grateful to have had the opportunity to share your incredible work with our readers.

To find out more please visit: https://cwtchbabybankwales.wixsite. com/cwtchbabybank

Donations can be dropped off at their Taff Well depot:

Unit16 a/b Moy Road Industrial Centre, Taffs Well, CF15 7QR - by arrangement only.

Please contact us by email on cwtchbabybank@gmail.com for a convenient time.