Cardiff Times - April 2022

April 2022

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Popular restaurant group Rosa’s Thai has opened its much-anticipated restaurant in Cardiff Interview with Saiphin Moore plus reader offer can be found on page 28

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Cyrsiau byr, dwys a difyr yn cael eu haddysgu gan diwtoriaid iaith gyntaf mewn dosbarth rhyngweithiol ar-lein. Yn amrywio o lefel sylfaenol i uwch.

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CARDIFF TIMES

PUBLISHER Cardiff Times

EDITOR Louise Denning FEATURES EDITOR Mark Denning

EDITORS LETTER

Welcome Hi All, and welcome to our April edition.

Spring definitely arrived last month with some unusually warm temperatures for the time of year, let’s hope this is a sign of things to come for the next few months!

We have all seen or heard what has been happening in Ukraine for the last month, and if you’re like Mark or myself, cannot have failed to be affected by the images and stories emerging from this devasting war with Russia. Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine, and pray that sooner rather than later this conflict can be resolved.

SALES & MARKETING Beth beth@cardiff-times.co.uk

We have our usual array of fabulous articles this month, including a fascinating and inspiring interview with Saiphin Moore, owner and founder of Rosa’s Thai. Saiphin, originally from Thailand, opened her first noodle shop at the age of 20, and has gone on to open over 30 restaurants in the UK, including her latest one here in Cardiff.

CONTRIBUTORS Wyn Evans, Vince Nolan, Sara John, Carl Marsh, Ralph Oates, Molly Dutton Natalie McCulloch

Finally, the men’s Six Nations did not go well for Wales, but this month it is the turn of the Wales women’s team to compete in the Women’s Six Nations Tournament. At the time of writing they have already played one match, and came away from Ireland with a magnificent victory. We wish all the players and coaches the best of luck for the rest of the tournament.

Until next month, happy reading!

Louise & Mark

EDITORIAL 029 2046 3028 ADVERTISING 07903 947594 EMAIL info@cardiff-times.co.uk WEB www.cardiff-times.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @CardiffTimes www.facebook.com/Cardifftimes Instagram

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cardifftimes

April CONTENTS 6 A few thoughts about dogs

by Wyn Evans 8 April at St David’s Hall 10 Cardiff Animation Festival Returns 12 Ice Dancers and the Car Wash

by Vince Nolan 16 In The Words Of

by Carl Marsh 22 SUPERSTITIONS: Some strange, some sinister, some simply silly

by Sara John 28 Chu Chi Curry – Tempeh (vegan) 29 Interview with Saiphin Moore

Chu Chi Curry - Tempeh (vegan)

32 Eddie Thomas – A True Boxing Man

by Ralph Oates 35 Getting ready for a superhuman experience at Techniquest 38 Fashion Done Your Own Way

by Molly Dutton 42 Nish Kumar: Control 48 A floral display with feeling

by Natalie McCulloch

Ingredients (serves 2): • 3 tbsp red Thai curry paste (we make our own) • 300ml coconut milk • 200g tempeh (we recommend Club Cultured!)

• 2-3 lime leaves, finely sliced • 1x long red chilli, sliced • 1x long green chilli, sliced • Vegetable oil for frying • Steamed rice, to serve

2. In a frying pan or wok, add the curry paste and fry for 2 minutes until fragrant.

Method: 1. Fry the tempeh in oil until golden brown then set aside.

5. Pour the hot curry sauce over the tempeh, garnish with more lime leaves and serve immediately with rice.

3. Add the coconut milk, mix and cook until it thickens and starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, then add the chillies and lime leaves.

4. Cook for 2-3 more minutes then turn off the heat.

Rosa’s Thai would love to offer one lucky reader a dinner for 2 at the new Cardiff site.

To enter please visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Cardifftimes Winner will be notified on the 20th April 2022.

A few thoughts about dogs byWyn Evans

My first dog was a smooth-haired Jack Russell terrier, Carlo; named by my mother in honour of Charles Prince of Wales. Alternatively, he was named by my father in honour of Dafydd Iwan, who wrote the song ‘Carlo’, a cheeky little riff pointing out that “at last, we have a true prince, a truly Welsh prince of Wales”.

This was in 1969 at the time of Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales. As an aside, the soccer fans amongst you who watched Wales beat Austria last week will have noticed that the pre-match singalong was led by Dafydd Iwan, singing another of his own compositions, “Yma o Hyd” (“We’re still here”), a paean of praise not only to Welsh footballers, but to the Welsh in general.

Now, where was I? Ah yes, Carlo. The dog, not the prince. Dad, with a yen to be a farmer, uprooted us from Cardiff’s beautiful Lakeside for a smallholding in even more beautiful Sir Benfro – a village in the

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Preseli hills called Mynachlogddu. Finding ourselves almost overnight ersatz sheep farmers and turkey rustlers, my younger sister and I told my parents that if we were going to live the life of farmers we needed to get a farm dog. Quite how we ended up with a Jack Russell rather than, say, a sheepdog, continues to escape me. Still, Carlo was adept at having to be dug out of rabbit holes and playing Tonto to our tabby cat, Jaco’s, Lone Ranger When we moved away from the farm some five years later (we weren’t very good sheep-shearers or turkey-pluckers!) I performed my final service to Carlo: burying him in the back garden of our new home in Kidwelly. He had run out into the main road and discovered he wasn’t as robust as the hourly Kidwelly to Llanelli bus. And therefore he died.

The years passed. I got a couple of degrees and married Not The Boss. Not The Boss and I ended up

with three cocker spaniel bitches. But we didn’t end up together. This led to Not The Boss’s parents taking one bitch and my parents taking two. My dad reckoned they had gotten off easily and were quite pleased with their two new bitches.

A couple of poochless years went by until I met The Boss. Not that she was The Boss at first. No, she was Potentially-The-Boss for some months before we actually tied the knot. But once we did tie it The Boss brought her Old English Sheepdog into our nascent family. Star was lovely but, sadly she was allergic to her own white blood cells. And therefore she died.

We decided that we needed a dog that was a decent enough size that we’d all get a proper workout twice a day, and one big enough that you’d not have to wear it as a slipper. Thus we bought two SmoothHaired Hungarian Vizslas into our midst. And we have followed those up with four Wire-Haired Hungarian Vizslas.

Now, regular readers will remember that I have gotten into a fist-fight because a fat bald man kicked my perfectly well-behaved puppy, then hit me when I remonstrated, and others may recall how my dogs have twice pulled me into rivers (my fault – a mixture of poor commands and forgetting that I have Parkinson’s). You may remember how on my first date with The Boss her Old English draped itself across my shoulders like a stole (I was driving!)And said dog was sick as soon as we got out of the car (The Boss wants me to write once again I was driving!)

Last month, a baby aged seventeen months, was killed at home by an American bully XL dog. It savaged the little girl as her mother screamed(1). This dog is a member of the Pitbull family. I imagine that the little

girl’s family would now think again about introducing the bully XL into its midst. This is one of the fiercest legally-available dogs. Breeders usually say that it’s all the fault of the owners; that their dogs are no different from any others. This is not so. Only six per cent of pet dogs in America are Pitbulls, but they are responsible for sixty-eight per cent of attacks on humans. So far in the present century forty-three people — many of them children — have been killed in the UK by dogs.

Of that number, Pitbulls, Staffies and similar breeds were implicated in no fewer than thirty-one cases(2).

Surely, licensing ought once again to be considered, with lessons being learned from previous licensing schemes. Some dogs ought to be prohibited from common ownership. Some people ought never to be allowed to own dogs, or never allowed to own certain breeds of dog.

I believe that every dog is trainable but not that everybody is capable of training a dog. You would totally accept that the forwards coach of the Wales rugby team needs to be familiar with all aspects of forward play, of the rules of the game, of physical, psychological and physiological factors, etc. Not every player is going to be able to make the transition to coach or manager. That’s why there are national and local tiers of coaching, allowing everyone to find a level commensurate with their skills and inputs. Why do so many dog owners either just not care that they haven’t the skills to train any dog or totally fail to differentiate why this particular animal or breed is beyond my/their particular skill set.

Footnotes 1&2. Taken from Rod Liddle, The Sunday Times 27.03.2022

CARDIFF TIMES 7

Cardiff Times April - Page 1 Editorial_Layout 1 24/03/2022 11:33 Page 1

APRIL AT ST DAVID’S HALL APRIL starts in style with the eyes of the UK on St David’s Hall and the Welsh capital as the BBC 6 Music Festival (Fri 1 - Sun 3 April) comes to Cardiff for the first time ever!

We are delighted to be part of such a diverse line-up across the city, and at the National Concert Hall of Wales we are so excited to host Welsh huge, home-grown artists like Gruff Rhys, audiobooks and 2020 Welsh Music Prize winner, Deyah. Plus, there are several internationally renowned acts gracing our stage including Little Simz, Khruangbin and Cat Power before a festival weekend finale of Father John Misty with BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

BBC NOW (Sat 9 April) return with a powerful performance of St Matthew Passion as part of our Cardiff Classical season, which also features the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Thurs 28 April) playing an evening of orchestral masterpieces by Walton, Beethoven and Vaughan Williams. There’s also an inspiring afternoon of arias as Rebecca Evans, Catrin Finch and BBC Singer of the World 2019, Andrei Kymach lead a stellar cast uniting for a Voices for Ukraine (Sun 10 April) charity concert. Opera fans are in for a treat too as Puccini: Tosca (Thurs 21 April) and Bizet: Carmen (Fri 22 April) offer a pair of breathtaking performances accompanied by the Ukrainian National Municipal Opera Kyiv.

Talking of which, there’s also a double-header of Strictly shows with 2021 winner, Giovanni Pernice (Sun 24 April) and runner-up, Johannes Radebe (Mon 25 April); and if that wasn’t enough there’s Aljaž and Janette in Remembering the Oscars (Tues 19 April).

As ever, there’s a healthy helping of hilarious comedy at the Hall starting with Nina Conti (Fri 8 April) and her trusty sidekick, Monkey in The Dating Show. Nish Kumar (Sun 17 April) reels off incisive political zingers with aplomb in Control, while tickets are selling fast for Ed Gamble (Fri 15 April) with his Electric tour date. Fans of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps will love the Two Pints Podcast Live (Sat 16 April) with Will Mellor and Ralf Little, while TOWIE addicts won’t want to miss Gemma Collins (Weds 13 April) in The GC’s Big Night Out. The Searchers’ frontman Mike Pender headlines a legendary line-up celebrating a golden era of music in The Sensational 60s Experience (Fri 29 April). Prog-rock icon, Nick Mason (Weds 27 March) returns for a sold out Saucerful of Secrets show, and Marti Pellow (Weds 20 April) sings solo and Wet Wet Wet classics on his Greatest Hits tour. Our nightmusic season resumes as Héloïse Werner & Anne Denholm (Tues 5 April) join forces, and next up in Roots Unearthed is American Western swing trio, Hot Club of Cowtown (Tues 26 April). Plus, there are two Lunchtime Concert with the UK’s leading under 30s orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru (Tues 5 April) and acclaimed organist, Elin Rees (Tues 26 April).

Cricket legends Jonathan Agnew and Phil Tufnell share an evening of insight, analysis and anecdotes in Test Match Special (Thurs 14 April) with special guest, Vic Marks. Lastly, if you’re after Easter holiday family fun then look no further than Zog and the Flying Doctors (Mon 11 - Tues 12 April), and Toy Story in Concert (Mon 18 April) as the classic film is accompanied by Randy Newman’s Oscar and Grammy award-winning score performed live by the Novello Orchestra.

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Cardiff Times April - Page 2_Layout 1 24/03/2022 11:36 Page 1

BIZET: CARMEN 22.04.22

TOY STORY IN CONCERT Film with Live Orchestra 18.04.22

PUCCINI: TOSCA 21.04.22

NINA CONTI The Dating Show 08.04.22

ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS 11am, 2pm & 4.30pm 11.04.22 - 12.04.22

GEMMA COLLINS The GC’s Big Night Out 13.04.22

REMEMBERING THE OSCARS with Aljaž & Janette 19.04.22

TEST MATCH SPECIAL Jonathan Agnew & Phil Tufnell 14.04.22

TWO PINTS PODCAST LIVE with Will Mellor & Ralf Little 16.04.22

NISH KUMAR Control 17.04.22

THE SENSATIONAL 60S EXPERIENCE 29.04.22

MARTI PELLOW Greatest Hits 20.04.22 CARDIFF TIMES 9

Cardiff Animation Festival Returns to Chapter 7–10 April

Events include masterclasses with BBC & HBO’s His Dark Materials, Aardman Animations, Netflix’s City of Ghosts, Nickelodeon’s It’s Pony and Oscar® nominee Joanna Quinn – plus animated karaoke!

The team behind Cardiff Animation Festival have been running animation events in Cardiff since 2014. After taking the festival online in 2020–21, this year the team are back in Cardiff, presenting an incredible line-up of animation events for everyone to enjoy.

From 7–10 April, Chapter will be taken over by film screenings, workshops, masterclasses, parties and more. Special guests will include the Heads of Creature Effects from the BBC and HBO series His Dark Materials, the team behind multi Oscar®-nominated feature Flee, and Walesbased Oscar®-nominated animation legend Joanna Quinn, who will be animating live on stage.

Younger animators might be particularly interested in a hand-picked selection of Family Shorts, playing on Saturday and Sunday, and family-friendly talks by Aardman animator Carmen Bromfield-Mason and creatives behind Nickelodeon’s It’s Pony. For the youngest animators of all, there will be a baby-friendly screening of indie Japanese film On-Gaku (as well as a 12+ screening for those without little ones).

There will be many opportunities for attendees of all ages to draw, chat and

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meet fellow animation fans, including casual drawing sessions, tutor-led life drawing, and a relaxed dog life drawing session at Corporation Yard.

For adults, there will be parties including a free animated music video discotheque at Chapter’s First Space, a ‘Cardiff Animation Nights’ evening of street food and short films at Depot, and a 360º animated karaoke party at the immersive Cultvr Lab. To top it off, there will be a selection of online events available to watch, including panels, all-ages workshops, and a chat with Elizabeth Ito, the creator of Netflix’s City of Ghosts.

Online attendees will also be able to catch up with recordings of some in-person events they may have missed!

More information about the huge range of things happening at the festival – plus tickets and passes – is available on cardiffanimation.com.

Ti cket sons al enow atcar di f f ani mat i on. com CARDIFF TIMES 11

‘And Another Thing...’

Ice Dancers and the Car Wash byVince Nolan

I recently pulled up at our local car wash for the weekly removal of grime from the old jalopy. There was a queue. A car was in the process of being cleansed. Behind it, a lady was waiting her turn and I was next in line. The lady appeared to be fiddling with the machine to select her programme of choice. She then commenced to reverse towards me so I advised her in the time honoured tradition not to crash into me (or words to that effect). She got out of her car and told me that the machine did not work even though the evidence of the soapy car in front of her told a different story. I drove off to find another facility but could not help but wonder how the lady knew the wash did not work since she couldn’t have used it as it was already providing suds heaven for another motorist.

Back I came and parked behind a new arrival who couldn’t crack the Enigma Code of using a bleeding car wash either. This guy kept waving his barcoded ticket at the machine like some demented Morris Dancer’s handkerchief. He was totally perplexed when nothing appeared to be happening.

How he managed to miss the two metre 12 CARDIFF TIMES

long flashing LED signs, which were visible from space, saying “Forward,” I will never know. However, unperturbed, forward he went, straight through the wash and out the other side and away. I then drove into the machine which worked perfectly on his ticket.

Marvelling at my eventual good fortune, I noticed that “Morris Man” (the guy who had just driven off) had returned and was now parked behind me, next in the queue. I had a decision to make. The devil on my one shoulder said “Drive off once you have finished because now his ticket can’t work cos you have just used it.” The angel on the other shoulder told me to explain to him what had happened and offer to pay for his wash.

The angel won Dear Reader. I went back, explained how stupid he was and paid for the cheapest wash I could find for him. He is probably still there, trapped and with his sunroof open.

Whilst I was at said garage I put some fuel in and the bloke at pump 3 put £10 in. Where was he driving to? Pump 4?

A couple of times a week I pop into a local supermarket having dropped the Leader of the Opposition off at her secret place of employment. I buy a newspaper and a cup of tea and take a little while catching up with world events prior to commencing my working day. I know, living the dream. As part of this ritual, I have taken to sitting at the same table by the window overlooking the car park. Each time I have been there (no set day and no set time), a bloke, about my age, occupies an adjacent table although many others are vacant and stares at me over his laptop which I suspect is his only friend. The very millisecond that I stand up to leave he pounces and moves into my

term heckler originated from the textile trade, where

stealing mail at gunpoint guessconvicted but it wouldofcertainly have caused a major him back into the wild. No harm something wrong is called a typo.

So hemp if smacking kids law introduced in Walestoforheckle was to tease oritcomb-out flax or and was sentenced to death by diplomaticI say incident. …..well, until next door’s cat got 2022.

Whilst being welcomed by most something wrong is it called a talko? nsure that we had properly warmed up sincefibres. we didn’t wantmodern to pull anymeaning drinking The was coined in Dundee realised that our celebration coincided with to So: “Any of you awould number of subatomic particles right-minded people it us will of course bea minimum nothing Furthermore, a typo on the a headstone be Just beten clear: Did hear about urologist hanging.

He refused a pardon in 1833 Unfortunately, only six of turned up and of were required or the in thedue earlya carrying 19th century.

As the hecklers toiled in the Stereophonics and Tom Jones being a fractional electric charge, postulated you cannot now drive through aand redautocorrect light. but bad news for the Cardiff under 14’s grave error?

Between typos ff. I engaged four old-timers who were the sold bar have been who(could was eaten bythe aharder bear?

He was a these meteorologist ting, if Ithe were illegally hunting for inhad as building blocks the hadrons.

Quarks at Principality Stadium which from President Andrew Jackson and Seems me that none of this is new and Lederhosen Formation Slap Dancing Ensemble it’s getting toof post stuff days.

One the factory, one of to the team would read out the days’ tionedout ones from the Taff Vale) and asked them whether they fancied having a have not been directly observed but theoretical City hotels.

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Fearing some trap, they tookon predictions based their existence have cancelled weunless found athey City centre hotelkind of honey for many drivers, much good may this do. ofa their routines are given The Leaderto of the Opposition and I were sitting in upart callfor deer whowas has lost both vincing that myhurrah! offer genuine.

Cautiously, they agreed join us.

Picture theremember interruptions and a stream “furious debate.” been confi rmed experimentally.”

Oh £80, However, the fi ckle fi nger The world taken a down strange twist –please! at leastWith Some ofhas youturn may road safety ruled he could itof ifthe he wanted special dispensation by our First Minister. scene, 5pm onasa for sunny ourinsocially The Funky Furlough, g accident?

No eye deer.

And mesons and baryons, we could be of fate (presumably the middle one),this then the parts I collated seem to1970s occupy.

Iquality have been campaign oflocal, the with the strapline: mind Idistanced have some put-downs to.

No pleasing some folk. weekday evening at an theayou side How long have had arthritis?”

“I don’t here all night. intervened and cancelled the offi ce lunch Saw this in a local pub on their specials board: reading about proposal for the 2027 Rugby “Don’t be amber gambler.”

In other words, whencomics a lady close byused to usto asked Barmodern Manager hat when Trump dies, I will give which have dealthe with day entrance to the Brewery onwill an us toand wander lonely as some clouds “We leaving Love Local champion local farms World Cup which prevent any team in “but red I don’t drive through amber traffic light. have arthritis, Father,” the drunk said, iffacilities theCaroline toilets were still upstairs.

He ofother course say: “He it isthat today how he aswarmed hecklers: IStreet was at the hairdressers the day for my where four the time tried to around the Castle and itswas outdoor bar and fisheries.”

All very laudable but the first shirts and green shirts playing each other Time has moved on to now and they should reto ensure we had properly up since we didn’t want pull any drinking just read in the paper that the Pope does.”

Continuing January scalping when the Jimmy Nail song pensioners who could barely until frostbite got the better of us and forced us confi rmed that they were but I thought this to be a .wearing make-up and lying in front item on their menu was Mediterranean Olives. because colour blind people often struggle to run the campaign with something catchy like up and aof minimum of- She’s ten were required kles. theUnfortunately, other three only six of us turned “Ain’t No Doubt Lying” came on or thethe “What size shoe does mouth take?” stand were seen hanging ontoyour back toina the hotelsame we did not need.

Much fun, but Overheard pub: “Every time we distinguish between the two.

Not criticising “Red is Dead.”

Staying with the drink, there has always the rope very stupid question.

I would have said something Tomlinson was off.

I engaged old-timers who were inthem the bar (could have been the wireless.

Totally unscripted, the Wales, masked ahow lamppost, for rather we quickly foundfour out that there is asay. limit to come here we come here.”

You don’t of support, course but thisattached wouldwe, affect been much snobbery toknow wine. like: “I don’t ked by themulled son ofwine a good friend singers in the chairs and our masked stylists Mindful of thefrom Highway Code, three drunk theme: “This is illumination. what comes drinking on an empty mentioned ones from the Taff Vale) and asked them whether they fancied having a much one can drink before falling than An Canada, Ireland, Tonga, Russia, South Africa sell-buy dates before Indeed, people make a living from it, blokes did not want to drive home and all fell all started to sway and sing to the music in a over. afternoon they would and Japan.

This had me in mind of that quote when madam was dout write a urology for his Dad’s ery tour and free beer forSoap the afternoon. some kindofofahoney trap, they took onhead.”Fearing into the back taxi.

The driver saw that scene reminiscent from The Full Monty when butfrom I am making a stand because thewho al on offer aeulogy Friday yconvincing 3supermarket shops I that really BBC snooker commentator Ted of Lowe never…… remember. with us butat we the heart to say ehave my was genuine. Cautiously, agreed tolast join us.

Picture the theythey very inebriated so he started the they allwere started dancing inof the queue the a rope famously said during one his commentaries: lockdowns.

I’m giving up wine, every day, all “I know where you were when they were handing hables that would make the all with Mark Dacey (on the leS) who is the dynamic CEO of Boots and engine &scene, turned it5pm off again few minutes job centre.

Fortunately all sharp implements onare aathem sunny moved out to he meant. Anyway, here is “And for those of you who watching in black A drunk who smelled like a Pope onand a furniture month.

No wait, that’s not it.minutes I’m giving the brains out………getting an extra helping ofup.

Iolleges. hadand some doubt whether later and then ‘’You have your were forsaid: a is few short and then Itsausage does notsocial needdistancing me to suggest the uncanny seat ignoring and white, the pink next to the green.” ugs weekday evening atreached the side brewery got ondowned a bus and sat the car park many destination.’’

The 1st guy gave him money Wine every dayThe all month! without further comment, just like in a musical, car for the journey home. cleaning norms.

This has begunmouth.” to annoy rope down next to a priest.

Ricky Tomlinson or of vice versa. entrance to the Brewery ave had enough months ago asThe aon3rd e tale, (he was affectionately and the 2nd guy said you!.’’ everybody went back to‘’Thank their day job like Interesting lyric we heard on the wireless the me, so being a true Scorpio, I have started e it’s nothing to do with EU drunk's shirt was stained, his Two people out on a first date. you Caroline Street where four guyday: slapped him.

The driver was“Do shocked nothing had happened.

Lockdown has a lot to no other “Sports bra and a Maserati car.”

“Do you know, if you wore soundproof trousers to mess with his mind. I sometimes stand direct consequence afi because of his likeness ave to home school facelocal was full of bright red ell-buy dates before but a recent trip to my supermarket pection ofmake the packaging thinking the guy had rumbled him. ‘’What answer for but3rd that was very funny.

Merlot Tammy?”

“Yes, but you don’t Who would thought of that combination? up, to leave then sit down again.would Orlikeof pensioners who could barely I once owned one the chewed pencils which one hear a word saying.” lipstick and he had ahave half-you’re ofthe Covid19.”

Perhaps yan leader), involved a trip ghlight the was thatInfor?’’ asked driver. aThe 3rdcalled no perishables that make the Monday. fact I in for fruit and veg like another Apparently many have including poet I of stand up andwould order cup following of tea empty just pronounce the “t.”

“Oh,seen Ok.”hanging Looks atguy stand were onto bottle of wine sticking Shakespeare used to write his famous works.

He used The Leader of The Opposition and I nearly were replied: “Slow down next time, you this is why I do not run Wales play France.

We to spin out his angst.

I also try to leave a bit Dave Cox whom I have just “discovered”.

Sothen these comestibles ey would it to the car for the home.

What is going one journey day“Is leSthat on the sell-buy date.

It takes an inordinate amount of skill to supply T it’smake serious, real face or are you still celebrating out ofyour his pocket.

He opened waiter: “Two Merlots for me and Ammy.” listening to Michael Ball on the wireless. aproperty lamppost, for support, rather killed us.’’ of a mess for him to have to clean up before Intellectual rules prevent me quoting to chew on it so much that I couldn’t tell whether it was a pub.

20 year relationship withCloser in-@me” withhis 24newspaper hours towas spare.

Waste levels mustOsmond be astronomical. and started mes, picked, packaged, Halloween?”

He interviewing Donny who with issues? the packaging or theEU excitement. minimum ofcan ten or than illumination.

Andog hesupply sit were down. required This is theinspec@on same type ofof any of hisDr work here but I encourage you to Our friend H has trained her Daisy couple of minutes later, he asked the priest, "Father, what causes arthritis?"

I was listening to the wireless the other day to A wife sent her dAdistributed played them home and had been appearing in panto at the London 2B or not 2B. Staying with the Bard, in days gone by, t, around UK bloke wholike parks next to you inArgen@na. aclaimed car park recent WalesOnline article bizarrely look him up.

A real comedy genius and hugely or fruit and veg Tanzania and So these Staying with food, I have been doing some research into what is no longer manu was off.

I engaged four old-timers afternoon they would anmuch interview withminutes... the late comedy writer and 's caused when by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too and to bring her alcohol, a bottle ofhusband red wine.

No asurprise Palladium. was speaking about “Your bus leaves inDonny 10 Be under it.” there are 1,000 other vacant spaces towomen, aquote romantic international weekends.

On that GPs were working 40 months anUK. hour refreshing. d to the shops and put on in order to attract I used to use this from the The list is endless but here is a small sample: Pringles (Belgium), Smar@ re in the bar (could have been the to to exo@c climes, picked, packaged, taken the port or airport, performer, great Barry Cryer. was for your fellow man," priest replied.

"Imagine theformer drunk muttered.

He remember. never…… acting mentor of his who told him the really, she’s a the Bordeaux collie.

I He was sat A phrase park in.

I have devised a are solution allthat," this overtime.

I we have nothe doubt they ridiculously text message.

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CARDIFF TIMES 15

In The Words Of

by Carl Marsh

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. As I write this, I hear from a music radio station that Comrade Drakeford has lifted the mask restrictions for this coming Monday, 28th March.

Hurrah for those that still listen to what he says! This will probably be the last time anyone cares what this man announces, but at least it is some welcome news.

Last night I watched Wales beat Austria on the TV, and I have to say well done to Gareth Bale for giving the team hope of making their first World Cup in 60 odd years - if they win the game against the winners of the Ukraine v Scotland match. He might not be that fit or playing for Real Madrid, but he only needs two chances (all game) to win it for his nation.

Talking about Gareth Bale, I was invited to his new venture in Cardiff last week…

Par 59 - Review Situated on the street with the most drinking dens in Cardiff [St Mary Street], this joint venture with Mr Bale’s ‘Elevens Group’ and The DEPOT hopes to tempt people into its basement location with a round of mini-golf and drinks/food.

Money has been spent well on the design and mini-golf, yet one can only show concern at how clean those artificial greens will look after a load of stag or hen parties (mass) drinking on their rounds of golf! Yet, I wish them well as the bar industry needs as much support in these testing times.

I did not sample the golf as I was told ahead of the event that the press night would be food and drink provided. So, I went on an empty stomach. The door staff and cloakroom attendants were very welcoming; so were the bar staff. The latter politely told me about the selection of five or six drinks.

And that was it! I don’t drink beer, so that left wine and prosecco. With the food, the bar staff told me that it would be brought out as nibbles for all to enjoy so I waited… Thirty minutes later, I then asked the food waiter. He told me they would be bringing food out shortly. I gave up after 15 minutes and just asked the barman if I could buy some food; he said no need, as it would be brought out. 40 minutes later… I asked one of the cooks, who then told me I had to pay! And worse still, to use some digital app after logging onto the venue’s wifi! And could I get the damn thing to work? Hell no, so I gave up. I think the owners need to reassess any future press nights offerings.

I left the venue moments afterwards to get some tacky street food on the way to my next event…

The Skinner Brothers - Live Music Review I interviewed Zac Skinner last month for this column, and I had not been out for a while, and as I now love this band’s music, I thought, “Why not!”

I don’t have much space to say that I loved the craziness of the band’s performance: stage diving is very much alive with The Skinner Brothers. It was so lovely to see as it reminded me of the 80’s era. The band played all the tracks off the new album - bar a few and a few earlier tracks. This band is immense. The tour is now over, so check them out at festivals and the like this year, or just buy or stream the new album.

Carl Marsh Twitter - @InTheWordsOf_CM Facebook - @InTheWordsOf YouTube - InTheWordsOf

16 CARDIFF TIMES

Steve Backshall is on tour with his new show ‘Ocean’ at the New Theatre in Cardiff on the 24th of April. There will be two shows, one at 2 pm and one at 6 pm. I believe a few tickets might be still available.

Carl Marsh You’re doing two events on the same day in Cardiff, so, what’s made the cut for your tour, ‘Ocean’ - as you could talk for months/years on such a subject?

Steve Backshall What I’ve really concentrated on is how do I bring the ocean to life on the stage. That’s a really tricky one. And what I’ve focussed on getting to the stage is the scale replicas of some of the largest animals that have ever lived and try to illustrate some of their physiology; some of their techniques for encountering their prey or interacting with others around them using live science experiments, many of which I’m sure will go horribly wrong and make me look utterly ridiculous on the stage. [Laughs] Which could end up being people’s favourite bit!

I think I’ll be focusing a lot on some of the most iconic and exciting marine creatures, many of which we have here in our own seas. But also - hopefully - some animals that people will simply never have heard of before. And you know, I think our oceans are such a poorly appreciated environment. There’s still so much that we have left to learn about them. But I’m confident there will be at least one thing that no one in my audience would have heard of.

there’s so much about sharks that are surprising, such as they are super-sensitive, how they are feeding the world around them, and their way of targeting prey, yet at the same time, being one of the most threatened of vertebrate groups.

Carl Marsh They get such a bad reputation, don’t they - even though only around a handful are deadly to humans?

Steve Backshall

Carl Marsh Many of the young swimmers that I teach are big fans of your shows, especially ‘Shark’, which they never stop talking to me about! So, they wanted me to ask you if many sharks will be appearing on your tour?

Steve Backshall There’s going to be a lot of stuff on sharks. Sharks are one of my great passions and have been as it happens for 30 years now. I’ve been lucky enough to dive with all the significant and iconic species of sharks: bulls, tigers, great hammerheads, and (even) great white sharks outside the cage. So, I think it is inevitable that they will have a really heavy part to play in this. And as much as anything else,

Well… to be fair, when you look at the statistics, no sharks not even Great Whites, are of any significant cause of human mortality. Sharks around the world kill perhaps ten people a year. On the other hand, you are significantly more likely to be killed by falling vending machines! Or by taking a ‘selfie’.

You are hundreds of times more likely to be killed by being struck by lightning than you are by a shark. So, while these species need to be treated with great respect, they are not “dangerous to us” in inverted commas.

Carl Marsh I understand that, and I get you. However, I believe the mainstream media like to romanticise any shark deaths as if they are happening all the time.

Steve Backshall It happens so impossibly infrequently that it’s very difficult just to put the finger on why there are very, very few shark attacks that have happened. But, you know, their frequency is so-so small, even in cases where there is; I guess there is more of a media anticipation near places like the West Coast of Australia and South Africa. But, still, even there, not a significant cause of human fatality.

Steve Backshalls ‘Ocean’ is coming to the Cardiff New Theatre on April 24.

For tickets please visit: STEVEBACKSHALL.COM

CARDIFF TIMES 17

Cardiff University Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, one of the world’s most respected and knowledgeable peers on Ancient Persian history, I talked to him about his new book, ‘Persians - The Age of the Great Kings’.

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

Carl Marsh

Look at the way - at the moment - where we are villainising the Russian people, for instance, rather than the Russian state: the Russian government. You probably know about this, but some Welsh orchestra pulled Tchaikovsky from its programme the other night because it doesn’t suit the narrative. That gets us nowhere.

It brings us absolutely nowhere to do that. And the Persians have been tarnished because of this and continue to be the bad boys of history, and constantly with this unchanging perception of them. You see it when it comes out in films like ‘300’ and ‘300: Rise of an Empire’. It’s all there. All of those cliches, lazy cliches, are all there.

Would I be correct in saying that the Persians didn’t like to force any changes to religion, languages, or the like whenever they conquered any new place, unlike the Romans, Spanish, Portuguese, and English throughout the centuries?

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones That’s absolutely right. If you think of how different the Romans were, for instance, when the Romans conquered, of course, they imposed Latin on everything. So, to be anybody in the Roman Empire, you had to speak Latin. They imposed their architecture everywhere. So, you can go from the north of England, right through to Syria, and you can see a Roman town or a Roman city, you know it straight away. The Persians did none of that. The Persians didn’t force any religious concepts on people. They didn’t force any ethnic hierarchy on people, dress codes, or anything like that. And, of course, what’s happened in Western history is that the Romans became the touchstone for how empires should operate. So, of course, the British just took that. And the Americans have done it as well with the Founding Fathers; it’s all about Rome.

What I’ve tried to say in the book is that given that empire is an awful thing - I don’t like it, it’s a horrible thing - if the Persian past had been studied in our schools, and at Eton, and in Sandhurst, and places like that, then at least the experience of empire for millions of people around the world might have been more dignified than it has been in the model that we accepted from the West. So, I think there’s a big learning thing to be had from studying the Persians. They are not perfect. They’re not perfect at all.

They just did things differently.

Carl Marsh I think the Persians’ way of life and the Persian Empire doesn’t fit the narrative as history is not repeating itself from their point of view compared to the Romans or the Greeks.

18 CARDIFF TIMES

Absolutely. Yeah, you’re right. Persian history does not fit that narrative, you know, because we always need an ‘us and them’.

I’ve done a few articles on ‘300’, criticising it. And Frank Miller, who was the author of the original graphic novel, made a speech after 9-11, which had nothing to do with the Iranians whatsoever. They were one of the first to condemn what happened. He said, “These planes were flown by extremists who would never have the technology to build them themselves, and I’m speaking to you now in a microphone, which they wouldn’t understand how to work.” And I mean, it’s just incredible. So that’s the kind of vision that we have of the Middle East, generally. It’s what Edward Said calls’ Orientalism’, in that the Orient is a place of Western imagination, where it can either be ‘Turkish delight’, sexy and Persian kittens and all of that kind of stuff. Or it is fundamentalists and gun-toting and women with veils over their faces, and terrifying.

But it’s never taken seriously on its own terms. And the history of Persia is just part of that huge jigsaw puzzle of Orientalism that we can’t afford to continue with any longer. So, it’s dangerous if we keep on doing that.

Persians: The Age of Great Kings by Lloyd LlewellynJones publishes 14th April in hardback, priced £25.00 (Wildfire)

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SUPERSTITIONS: Some strange, some sinister, some simply silly Part One

by Sara John

Talking to my oldest friend, Diane (it’s the ‘friendship’ that’s the ‘oldest’ not the friend!) on the phone last week we fell into conversation with the emphasis on ‘remembering’. We are the same age, lived in the same street, went to the same schools and, being only children with no siblings, we naturally spent a lot of our childhood time together sharing so much, - sums, swimming, pretending, exploring, playing brides, the list goes on.

We enjoy our weekly catch-ups but tend to fall back on the past, shared memories, and try to fill in the details of events long ago by reminding each other of matters which meant much to us at the time.

We talked about walking to junior school together avoiding the cracks in the paving without knowing why we were doing it. Bad luck was mentioned, but we were too young at the time to comprehend such an abstract concept.

This led to a discussion of other superstitions, and questioning where had they come from? What did they really mean? And are any other readers of this magazine still avoiding the cracks in the pavement?

Consulting ‘The Readers Digest Universal Dictionary’ cleared up my confusion regarding ‘superstition’.

What did it mean? Where had it come from? This is what the Dictionary had to say of the word, Superstition:1. An unfounded belief that some action or circumstance completely unrelated to a course of events can influence the outcome.

2. Fear of the mysterious or the unknown.

3. Any belief, practice or rite unreasonably upheld by faith in magic, chance or dogma.

4. Fearful or abject dependence upon such beliefs.

The Celtic Nations and many others have enjoyed listening to storytellers since, and likely before, the Romans arrived. The oral tradition continues to be very strong but perhaps today the later generations prefer small magic boxes with buttons to press?

Personally, I think that words heard are words better 22 CARDIFF TIMES

remembered.

This continuing tradition was evidenced some years ago when I was involved with a project which involved attending a serious, monthly meeting. All chaps around the table, as usual, so I was the only woman. At the end of one of the meetings, I was asked to read out an article I had written for The Mining Times. The article was an update and a plea for those responsible to hurry up and get on with it, the project that is. I had decided the safest way to write it was from the point of view of the colliery cat.

The coffee was brought in, chairs were pushed back from the table edge, ties were very slightly loosened.

I had a captive if not a captivated audience.

A month later, as the next meeting was drawing to a close, the chairman leaned over to me and whispered to me, “We are all hoping for another story today?”

Professor Anne Ross writes in ‘Folklore of Wales’ that in ‘Celtic storytelling both early and late the Druids passed on their learning by word of mouth, as did the early bards, and this tradition was also current amongst those who tilled the land and did not have the benefit of a fundamental education’.

Throughout the Dark Ages the establishment of Llans or parishes, the growing monastic settlements and the topography of Wales created the landscape of Wales. That landscape changed little for centuries.

Farms were spread out across the country not clustered around villages. There were no village greens, no village ponds, few signposts. However, events and there were probably very few of them, were clearly recalled, in particular, if they resulted in good fortune or disaster. There was also the tradition of travelling pedlars, drovers, and, wandering troubadours and minstrels. They carried Tales and spread any News that was to be had. Nothing was written down. Few people in remote areas were literate. The oral tradition reigned. I would therefore suggest, that storytelling folk are, traditionally, very knowledgeable about superstitions.

Gradually over the decades belief systems established themselves. They only started to fall

away in the late 1800s when there was a major migration to the valleys of South Wales with the promise of paid, regular employment. The younger men who travelled and sought employment would have heard tales of rites and superstitions from their families during their childhoods, but much must have been forgotten, set aside or simply ignored when they settled into their new environments.

However, superstitions still linger on. In particular, for children who lived in a household with both parents and grandparents, the youngsters were more likely to be made aware of the strong beliefs and superstitions of the older generation who had lived during the late 18th and early 20th centuries.

My own grandmother had a particular dread of thunderstorms. If after a hot summer’s day the clouds gathered, the light changed, the sky darkened and we heard distant sounds of thunder, she insisted on the following; -The curtains had to be drawn. All cutlery had to be put away.

-Everything electrical had to be switched off and covered over.

left open. A wise form of protection, perhaps, as her concern was that if a thunderbolt arrived at the front door it would travel (roll?) through the house and out via the backdoor onto the garden, devastating all before and after it including humans.

Sabbath rules were also very strict. No newspapers.

No recreation of any sort. The use of scissors was forbidden. You were not permitted to look in a mirror as you might see the devil looking back out at you.

Playing board games was not allowed. Playing cards were not even permitted in the house! Church attendance was mandatory. Naturally, you walked to church, notwithstanding the weather. Knitting, sewing, crochet, tatting, drawing, jigsaws were all considered the Devil’s work.

I am glad to report that surveillance by and appearances from the Devil appeared to ease off through the week! Only to return the following Sunday.

Perhaps as mentioned earlier, being brought up in remote farmhouses with no near neighbours, low levels of literacy and a serious shortage of ‘outside influences’ encouraged superstitions, belief in the Devil, and decades of generations fearful of the dark, the unknown, pain, punishments and death.

-The front and back doors had to be opened, and

CARDIFF TIMES 23

Mr Gladstone removing the tax on newsprint, the laying of railway lines across the country and major rows after the publishing of the report on the provision of education (or rather the lack of provision in Wales in particular) known as The Disgrace of the Blue Books, then the passing of Education Acts, all in the mid to later 1800s, brought a dawn of daylight and at least, a stiff breeze of change if not a wind.

Times were changing.

Concerns with superstitions reminds us of a related topic, that of luck. Good Luck. Bad Luck. Where does it come from? Where does it go? Man has always tried to discover a consistent pattern in the ways of the world. Man constantly fails to do so.

I am reminded of a Tale from the past said to have emanated from Cardiganshire way before the coming of the railways. Referring to the people of Aberystwyth the belief was reported as, ‘Their custom was to begin dinner with the pudding ever since a member of one of the families had chanced to die before reaching that course. The change was introduced by people who rarely tasted pudding so as to embody a habit of securing the best thing first’.

Objects that were thought to bring good luck included talismen, small stones, precious stones, a small piece of parchment with a symbol on it, a piece of paper with a signature, ribbons, small pictures of a loved one, a small item of jewellery, even a piece of coal as this was considered a lucky charm in places other than the mining areas, and items described when lost as being of ‘sentimental value’.

Spending some time in Dar es Salaam, some years ago, I was at supper with a lecturer at the Dar University. Other guests at her house that evening were colleagues, some from Zanzibar, some from Tanzania. All well educated and working in Education or Government at various levels. The topic inevitably turned to careers, opportunities for advancement, promotion and consequently job application procedures.

That afternoon I had the chance to talk to some Masai women who were selling spells down at the harbour - to order. You just had to explain what your problem was and they would make up a spell to suit.

They wrote it out on a small piece of paper and rolled it up and put it in a jam jar of water, lid on and ready for you as the ‘spell wisher’ to take home and DRINK, in order to achieve its aim.

Asked if anyone used such a spell as part of the 24 CARDIFF TIMES

preparation prior to a job interview, one woman spoke up at once about what she was doing to achieve the promotion she felt she deserved. In order to increase her chances and ensure she was LUCKY, she had prepared on likely questions and suitable answers. BUT, she added, had also bought a spell, just in case. And, yes! She was a science graduate.

We all wished her good luck.

All the recent advances in technology, communications, space travel, medicine and so on seem unlikely to completely blow away the treasured superstitions of the past. Reading recently a book first published in 1911 on Folk Lore, one of my interests, I looked at a long list of superstitions, some of which were still familiar. I had forgotten them but recalled them easily as they made up part of who I was, or had been, what was said and what I did. And what would happen next. Or not.

However, a small number of the superstitions were unknown to me: many had referenced activities, items, behaviour and so on which are, nowadays, no longer likely. You are not going to travel to town in a horse drawn carriage that then gets tangled up with another, all due to you rolling your unlucky green parasol the wrong way. Are you?

Today it could, of course, be a skirmish with another very busy lady driver.

Or on another occasion, it could be that you had heard from an older relative how unlucky it was to return home after you have started a journey because you have forgotten an item, (your passport? your airline ticket?). Try telling that to passport control or the customs officer as an explanation. With a long queue forming behind you.

To help you to recall other superstitions not already mentioned, here is a selection of Miscellaneous Beliefs from Folk-Lore of Mid Wales by Jonathan Caredig Davies published in 1911. Llanerch Press.

(My italics).

1 To find a horseshoe on the road or in a field is considered extremely lucky. - but not for the poor horse.

2 Never begin any new work on a Friday or a Saturday - these days that would mean no live weekend sport.

3 A woman near Narberth in Pembrokeshire said that Tuesdays and Thursdays are lucky days in that part.

- Jonathan Ceredig Davies the author adds that, “I have discovered that the days which are

considered lucky in one part of the country are considered unlucky in the other parts.”

4 Odd numbers such as three and seven are said to be lucky numbers. Thirteen is considered very unlucky. - This is said to refer to the number of guests at The Last Supper.

5 When moving house it encourages good luck if you take with you a piece of coal, a silver coin and a lump of salt. - This is to ensure plentiful supplies in the future of fuel (coal), money (silver coin) and food (salt).

6 To break a looking glass signifies bad luck for seven years - especially if it belongs to your older sister.

7 To put the bellows on the table is considered unlucky. (And these days very unlikely). There is also the same superstition all over Wales, but about boots - the most unlucky part, I would suggest is your Mam coming in and finding them on a white, hand embroidered tablecloth. Next to a plate of cakes.

Cream cakes. With visitors due any minute.

8 Never mend your clothes while you are wearing them. - An Irish actor explained this to me years ago.

“The only garment you are ever sewn into is your

shroud!”

9 If you see a pin pick it up to ensure good luck. This superstition has survived from the 18th century when pins, which were imported from France, were very expensive and in short supply. So when someone says, “for two pins I would tell him what I think is best,” really means, “It would take a goodly sum of money for me to tell him to his face.”

10 To cross your knife and fork is considered unlucky, and crossed knives foretell some approaching disaster. Even more unlucky was to receive a knife as a gift! - It was also believed, and still is by many that you can forestall any misfortune by giving the gift-giver one penny in token payment.

Professor Anne Ross sums up in ‘Folklore of Wales’ that, “The challenges of the city with its ready pleasures have done much to render the old tales and lore superfluous, and so with the old ways.”

However, I hope that the above samples have jogged a few memories for readers.

Look out in next month’s magazine for Part Two on this subject. The topics will include, The Little People, miracles, healing hands, death portents and other traditions long lost of long ago.

CARDIFF TIMES 25

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CARDIFF TIMES 27

Chu Chi Curry - Tempeh (vegan)

Ingredients (serves 2): • 3 tbsp red Thai curry paste (we make our own) • 300ml coconut milk • 200g tempeh (we recommend Club Cultured!)

• 2-3 lime leaves, finely sliced • 1x long red chilli, sliced • 1x long green chilli, sliced • Vegetable oil for frying • Steamed rice, to serve

2. In a frying pan or wok, add the curry paste and fry for 2 minutes until fragrant.

Method: 1. Fry the tempeh in oil until golden brown then set aside.

5. Pour the hot curry sauce over the tempeh, garnish with more lime leaves and serve immediately with rice.

3. Add the coconut milk, mix and cook until it thickens and starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, then add the chillies and lime leaves.

4. Cook for 2-3 more minutes then turn off the heat.

Rosa’s Thai would love to offer one lucky reader a dinner for 2 at the new Cardiff site.

To enter please visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Cardifftimes Winner will be notified on the 20th April 2022.

28 CARDIFF TIMES

Cardiff Times Interview with Saiphin Moore From the age of 20 you opened your first noodle shop in Thailand. Was it always a dream to run your own business?

You have produced two cookbooks. Are these inspired by the food you serve at Rosa’s Thai?

It’s always been my ambition to make my own money to support myself, so naturally for me, that meant running my own business and being my own boss.

Most of the dishes we serve (or have previously served) at Rosa’s Thai are in the two cookbooks. Some are also dishes that I would cook at home for my family. I wrote the books with our customers in mind. I want them to know more about Thai cuisine and be able to cook these dishes like how we cook them at Rosa’s. There are no secrets!

You were brought up living on a vegetable farm and are now sourcing produce for your restaurant from a 3rd generation family business that has made noodles for over 80 years. Is helping families and communities important to you and will you be sourcing any local produce here in Cardiff for your restaurant?

Giving back to the farming community is one of the most important things for me and a cause close to my heart. At first, we wanted to source as many local UK ingredients as possible, but with Thai cuisine, it’s proven to be quite difficult to source very specific ingredients in large volumes. So we changed our strategy a couple of years ago and I’m really proud that a lot of the key ingredients we use across all of our restaurants, including at Cardiff, come from small-scale co-ops and farmers in Thailand.

The tamarind paste that goes into our Pad Thai sauce comes from Lom Sak, near my home province in Petchabun. It’s well known throughout Thailand that my hometown grows some of the best sweet and sour tamarinds in the country! We also work with a family who produces all of our curry pastes, they’re based in Trang in the southern part of Thailand where the best curries are made. For our coconut palm sugar, we use coconut flower nectar (not palm sugar), made by farmers in Samut Sakorn and Petchaburi provinces.

You were born in Thailand and taught to cook by your mother and aunts. Are your dishes inspired by family traditions?

Yes, each dish on our menu is tied to a specific memory or experience growing up in Thailand and Hong Kong. One of my earliest memories was helping my nan squeeze the tamarind pulp and turning that into a Pad Thai sauce. All these somewhat tedious tasks were often assigned to younger family members so I’ve learnt all of the basics of Thai cooking by helping and observing my nan, aunties and uncles.

You are an inspirational hard-working woman that has gone on to achieve so much. What advice would you give to anyone wishing to start their own business?

You must love what you do unconditionally. You must always thrive to do the best that you can and give it everything that you’ve got. Work hard but, more importantly, never give up.

We admire that your passion for cooking has made you a huge success. Is there a popular dish that you always use at home and in your restaurants?

Chilli basil stir-fried with minced chicken served with jasmine rice and a fried egg on top! It’s a classic ‘no brainer’ dish for my family and our regular customers love them too.

We really want to try the Fiery Noodles on your menu. Could you tell us what is the most popular dish at your restaurants and why people should visit?

The most popular dish has to be our Prawn Pad Thai - it’s comforting and indulgent. Cardiff is one of the most vibrant cities in the UK so I’m really happy that we’ve found the perfect location for our first restaurant in Wales. Our team there is also brilliant with members from many cultures and backgrounds. I’d love to invite you to try our famous Pad Thai, but also get adventurous and explore new Thai dishes like Papaya Salad, Drunken Noodles, and Stir-Fried Aubergine!

Address: Rosa’s Thai Unit D, 5-10 Church Street, CF10 1BG

CARDIFF TIMES 29

EDDIE THOMAS - A TRUE BOXING MAN

by Ralph Oates

a disaster. Thomas gave a good account of himself during the contest, and it was obvious that he still had the potential to reach British title status at the very least.

Eddie Thomas was born in Merthyr Tydfil, on 27 July 1925.

Obviously, no one realised at the time the impact this newly born baby would one day make in the world of boxing, be it a participant inside the ring and as a manager.

Thomas had proved to be a successful amateur before joining the punch for pay code. His professional debut taking place at the Harringay Arena, London on 4 June 1946 against Ivor Simpson which he won on points over the duration of 4 rounds. The contest revealed that Thomas was a competent boxer who had a bright future in front of him.

True, it was early days yet and in the fight game anything can happen, but nevertheless even when taking that fact into consideration the Welshman looked set for championship honours down the line. There are no shortcuts in boxing, class and dedication are necessary to succeed along with talent and Thomas appeared to have these attributes in abundance.

1946 came to a close of which Thomas added another five winning fights to his resume. The new year started well for the man from Merthyr Tydfil when on the 20 February 1947 he knocked out opponent Jimmy Brunt in the 6th stanza of a contest scheduled for the duration of 8 rounds, the bout taking place in Cwmbran. However, the winning run for Thomas came to an end in his 11th bout on 8 September 1947 when his Russian born opponent Yrjo Piitulainen stopped him in the 3rd session of a bout scheduled for 8 due to a badly cut eye. The contest took place at the Harringay Arena. A defeat is always a disappointment, but Thomas put this loss behind him and was back in action on the 3 November 1947 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The opponent being Algerian born Kid Marcel who retired in the 4th stanza in a fight set for the duration of 10 rounds.

Thomas followed the Marcel victory by winning a further 2 bouts all of which were impressive, and it seemed that he was back on the road to success heading towards a possible title tilt of some description. However, on 16 March 1948 he suffered his 2nd defeat at the hands of fellow Welshman Gwyn Williams losing a 10 round points decision at Harringay Arena, London. This was a disappointment but not

32 CARDIFF TIMES

Thomas put another 3 victories on his record after the Williams defeat and on 26 July 1948 he had the toughest test of his career to date. At the White City Stadium, London he stepped into the ring to confront Liverpool’s Ernie Roderick.

This was not going to be easy. Roderick was an experienced fighter who had fought 136 times winning 112 bouts losing 20 with 4 drawn while Thomas had a resume of 17 fights with 2 defeats. Roderick was also a former British middleweight and British and European welterweight king. Roderick had also challenged for the World welterweight crown on the 25 May 1939 against American titleholder Henry Armstrong at the Harringay Arena, losing a 15 round point’s decision. This was no disgrace since Armstrong was an outstanding fighter, a man who is considered to be one of the greats in the world of boxing. It was true to say that the prime years of Roderick were behind him but nevertheless he was still capable of defeating Thomas. The contest went the full duration of 8 rounds which the Welshman won on points. This was without doubt a good win for Thomas.

Thomas stepped back into the ring on 21 September 1948 to challenge Gwyn Williams for the Welsh Arena welterweight title at the Harringay Arena. This was a chance for Thomas to not only win the title but to gain revenge for a defeat he suffered against Williams earlier during the year. At the end of an absorbing 12 rounds Thomas became the new champion. The success for the man from Merthyr Tydfil continued. He fought another 7 times, all wins, which saw him meet the reigning British welterweight champion Henry Hall. The bout took place on 15 November 1949 at the Harringay Arena. Thomas looked a good bet to take the crown from Hall since the Welshman had previously defeated him on the 26 January 1948 by way of an 8 round point’s decision. At the end of the 15 round encounter Thomas repeated the win and became the new British welterweight champion, much to the delight of his many fans who witnessed the event. There were no other titles to win and Thomas had his sights firmly set on them.

Thomas won a further 5 fights before making the first defence of his British title and it was against fellow Welshman Cliff Curvis in a contest which took place on 13 September 1950. It was only fitting for the bout to take place in Wales, the venue being St.Helens Ground in Swansea.

After 15 rounds of boxing Thomas remained Champion on a points decision. Thomas was clearly on a high but in his next bout against Emmanuel Clavel of France on the 14 November 1950 at Earls Court, Kensington, London he suffered a slight blip when held to an 8 round draw. A clear win over the Frenchman prior to the bout was expected for Thomas.

On 27 January 1951 the British Champion was given the opportunity to contest the vacant Commonwealth (then

From left to right Eddie Thomas, Ken Buchanan and the then Prime Minister Edward Heath plus Reg Gutteridge Image courtesy of Derek Rowe. called Empire) welterweight title against Pat Patrick. Thomas looked to have every chance of collecting this title, the only disadvantage being he had to venture into his opponent’s country South Africa to do so. It is a known fact that when fighting on the home fighter’s turf it is always a difficult task to gain victory since few favours are given to the visiting fighter. The contest took place at the Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng. Thomas ensured that the contest did not run the full distance of 15 rounds when he knocked out his opponent in the 13th stanza of the contest. This certainly enhanced the Welshman’s profile and would open the door to even more title chances.

In his very next contest Thomas did indeed have the opportunity to add to his title collection when on 19 February 1951, he challenged reigning European welterweight king Michele Palermo of Italy. The contest took place at the Market Hall in Carmarthen and to the delight of the Welsh spectators in attendance Thomas boxed his way to a 15 round points decision. On 24 April 1951 Thomas won a 10 round bout against Spain’s Antonio Monzon at the Harringay Arena. At this stage everything was looking fantastic for Thomas career-wise. However, on 13 June 1951 he made the first defence of his European title against Charles Humez of France. There was no getting away from the fact that the Frenchman was a tough opponent who would not be easy to defeat. Thomas had taken part in 37 fights winning 34 losing 2 with 1 drawn while Humez had a record of 49 fights consisting of 46 victories with 2 defeats and 1 no contest.

The bout took place at the Coney Beach Arena in Porthcawl and at the end of 15 rounds Thomas became a former champion of Europe when Humez was given the points decision.

The loss of the title was a setback of course, yet Thomas was still the British and Commonwealth champion and there was still the chance that he would bounce back after getting a few more wins on his record. Thomas won two more bouts before he put his British and Commonwealth belts on the line against Birkenhead’s Wally Thom, a win here would ensure that he was still a major factor and a chance to regain his European title might well take place at a later date. Thom however spoilt any plans that Thomas and his team may have had when at the Harringay Area on the 16 October 1951 he won the titles with a 15 round points decision.

Thomas had a further 7 fights after his defeat to Thom which resulted in 4 wins 2 defeats with 1 drawn. His last contest took place on the 10 December 1954 at the King’s Hall, Belle Vue in Manchester which saw him lose an 8 round points decision to Ron Duncombe.

Soon after Thomas decided to hang up the gloves. He left the sport with a record of 48 bouts winning 40 losing 6 with 2 drawn.

While Thomas may have retired from participating inside the ring, he wasn’t finished with the sport. He later became a successful boxing manager, taking Howard Winstone to the WBC World featherweight title and Ken Buchanan to the undisputed World lightweight championship, and also guided other fighters in his stable to various titles. Thomas later had the honour of being awarded the MBE in 1984 and was elected Mayor of Merthyr in 1994.

Eddie Thomas sadly passed away on 2 June 1997, and will be remembered as a man of dignity who served the sport of boxing well.

CARDIFF TIMES 33

Get ready for a superhuman experience at Techniquest If you’ve not visited Techniquest for a while, you’ll spot that it’s now bigger and better than ever with the Science Capital extension that includes over 50 new exhibits.

Many of these are geared towards older children, teenagers and adults too, so the scope to keep the whole family entertained, whatever their age, is positively galactic!

One of the new areas is the Chemistry Zone, where you can make your own virtual compounds using the touchscreen periodic table, create your own digital fireworks, learn about molecules in motion, find out how the bimetal bloom unfolds, shape a water-droplet, peer into a microscopic world — and lots more.

In the Biomedical Zone you can perform a virtual heart operation, test your strength and stamina on the hanging bars and pull-up seats, burn off some energy on the Calorie Bike or work out how to move the robot hand without touching it.

Upstairs are the Space and Environmental Zones with all sorts of fascinating facts to discover about our planet and the universe around us. Try your hand at docking a spacecraft as the clock counts you down and out of time, feel the full force of a hurricane or the movement of an earthquake, discover how solar energy works or see who can launch a rocket the furthest.

You’ll also find the World Issues panels in this section, where you can learn more about how science impacts current events in the world we live in. And when you’ve exhausted all those possibilities, you can head back down to the ground floor via the ginormous silver slide (lift and stairs are also available!).

With over 100 hands-on exhibits to explore altogether, including many old favourites in the Retro section — including the Giant Piano, the Treasure Chest, the Locked Gate and the Pipes of Pan — there’s plenty to occupy curious hands and minds, giving the whole family the chance to create great memories together.

As an added treat across the Easter holidays, the Science Theatre show Superheroes takes a closer look at how science can be used to do some pretty extraordinary things that verge on the superhuman. To make sure you get a seat, add a ticket to your general admission when you book ahead online, dig out your cape and brush up on your own super-powers — just in case!

Capacity at Techniquest is still limited, so remember to book ahead at techniquest.org to avoid disappointment.

CARDIFF TIMES 35

Are you looking after your hearing? We’re here to give you FREE advice and to answer any questions you may have about hearing health.

Viney Hearing Care is holding a week of events to promote Deaf Awareness Week in the community. Call today to attend any of our events. Spaces will be limited.

Deaf Awareness Week

Monday 2nd May

Speech Mapping Day Do you wear hearing aids but still feel that you aren’t hearing the full picture? Is speech clarity a problem for you? Speech mapping is the latest revolutionary way to test the performance of your hearing aids and to see how well they help you hear. You will be provided with a print out of your heading aid results and information on how speech can be improved for you. Call today as places will be limited.

Wednesday 4th May

Starkey In The Ear Rechargeable Aids The new era of ‘invisible hearing’. We work with the world’s leading hearing instrument manufacturers to provide the most discreet instruments with the finest hearing quality. Instruments that you can’t see and you can’t feel - just excellent hearing in all walks of life.

Book an appointment for your FREE hearing screen and a demonstration of hidden hearing.

Thursday 5th May FREE Microsuction

The SAFEST way to clean your ears. If you have problems with dull or itching ears, there could be wax blocking your ear canals. Come and have a FREE hearing health check to see if wax is the problem. If it is, we can remove it with the latest and SAFEST techniques. Places will be limited (Normal cost £55).

36 CARDIFF TIMES

2nd - 6th May 2022 Limited Spaces Available Tuesday 3rd May Tinnitus Day

Tinnitus affects 1 in 10 people in the UK. It’s classed as a noise that comes from your head and not the environment around you. Tinnitus has many causes and can severely disrupt people’s lives and that’s why it’s important to know how to manage it.

If you are curious, distressed, or concerned, we can help so please call to book your FREE session.

Friday 6th May

Oticon More Demonstration Day Do you struggle to hear in company, watching TV or on the phone? We understand that hearing loss can make these listening situations very difficult.

Allow us to demonstrate how the latest connective wireless technology can take away the strain of listening and see how easy it can be to enjoy these simple pleasures again.

Viney Hearing Centre 66 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch Cardiff CF14 1DJ

02920 250121 www.vineyhearingcare.co.uk

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Fashion Done Your Own Way

by Molly Dutton the bar in Birmingham.

It’s nearly summer thank goodness (or at least that’s what I’m telling myself until the actual summer months). With the beautiful weather starting to reveal itself, thoughts of lounging around in the sun with a cocktail in hand are beginning to surface in my mind. If you have been a reader of mine for a while you will know that I am a rather huge fan of cocktails, particularly the nights out that involve a good old martini and that is exactly what I experienced last weekend at the ‘Tonight Josephine’ Bottomless Brunch in Birmingham.

The need to spend time with your mates on a weekend has never been more prominent after the ongoing stresses of the past two years and bottomless brunch could not be a better place to do that. I, myself, had never been to Birmingham prior to my trip there last weekend and I was thoroughly impressed with how vibrant and exciting it was, both in the day and night. To complement the exciting prospect of summer, Tonight Josephine are launching another bar in Cardiff City Centre where brunching, singing, and dancing are at the forefront of the agenda. Whilst I usually stray more towards the fashion articles, I have decided to venture into the entertainment world to explore events and tell you where I think you should be heading on the weekends. Tonight Josephine in Cardiff has yet to open its doors to the public, however, I have had the wonderful chance to enjoy a night of Spice Girls mania in 38 CARDIFF TIMES

Female empowerment is at the forefront of the branding at Tonight Josephine. Inspired by Josephine De Beauharnais, the bar is focused on strong, independent women who know exactly what they want and are determined to get there. Josephine was a powerful young woman who started with nothing and fought to become the Empress of the French, wooing Napoleon into a whirlwind romance that ended with her name being his last words. This is what Tonight Josephine embodies. Women making their way in the world with sass, class, and power. Walking into the bar, there is an immediate focus on the pink and glittery aesthetic that covers every inch of every surface. Neon is everywhere (my thirteen-yearold self may have passed out). They make you feel like a runway model going to an after-party at the Barbie mansion, which is a feeling that I’m sure many others felt upon arrival too. The pretty booths mean you can socialise with your own group as well as the others around you, which leads to amazing interactions with lots of different people. This set-up also helped me interact with the incredible entertainment.

Drag Queens are by the far the best entertainment at a Spice Girls themed bottomless brunch. It was a fabulous experience to dance and sing some of the biggest hits with the beautiful singers. With all the anxiety associated with going on nights out, particularly in regard to the spiking epidemic, it is refreshing to be in such a safe and comfortable environment in which everyone is having the best time of their lives. I must confess, I am not usually a self-proclaimed Spice Girls fan, nor do I know many of their songs apart from their top tunes (zig- a- zigahhh), however the singing and dance routines really got me up onto the dancefloor at every opportunity. Now, it wouldn’t be a bottomless brunch without the drinks of course. And it would be rude of me to not mention the

pitchers. Whilst I usually prefer a slightly bigger selection of cocktails, the pitcher style options really suited the event; my Aperol spritz took me right back to holidays abroad before lockdown and the jugs of it kept the drinks flowing all night. Prosecco was given on arrival which was a lovely touch and really got the night off to a bubbly start (excuse the dad joke).

I think it’s only appropriate to have props when attending anything Spice Girls related, and goodness me they got this spot on! The wonderful team at ‘Tonight Josephine’ supplied lots of exciting things, one of my favourites were the masks with all of the band on them. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a dream to be Posh Spice for the night. On top of this, we played a game in which we had to name each Spice Girls song, including songs brought out by each of the girls in their solo careers. I failed miserably at this, but the RuPaul style dance-off between the two finalists made me forget my woes.

One thing I’ve learnt about myself, mostly at university, is that I am unable to survive a night out without some food. This usually consists of a kebab from my local takeaway (if you’re

ever in Leeds you must visit Rajas). As you probably expected, last weekend was much classier than a typical Leeds evening out. All of the bottomless brunch guests were provided with a menu featuring an array of options, all presented on a pretty pink menu. Since leaving my vegetarian years behind me (it’s Taco Bell’s fault), I had to go for the pulled pork bun and of course, some salted chips. Having attended a fair few brunches in my 19 years, the food at Tonight Josephine really knocked the others out of the park, especially since it was timed perfectly in the middle, a blessing for someone like myself who gets a little bit hangry.

The vibes all night were immaculate, and the staff could not have been more lovely.

I love how they have created a safe space for everyone, inclusive of all individuals. The colours, the music and the people created an incredible atmosphere which I think we should all get involved with when ‘Tonight Josephine’ comes to Cardiff at the end of this month!

Bring your girls, bring your partner, bring your mum, your nan, whomever you want because I guarantee they will have an amazing night.

CARDIFF TIMES 39

40 CARDIFF TIMES

CARDIFF ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL REQUIRES HOMESTAY HOSTS Homestay hosts within the Cardiff and Vale Area required for international students <all over 16> Excellent remuneration offered.

Contact Richard 07908 139716 or 02920 225656 richard@we-bridge.co.uk

THE PUMPING STATION

ANTIQUES & INTERIORS

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

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

info@thepumpingstation-cardiff.co.uk

02920 221 085

Monday to Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm Penarth Road, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF11 8TT

CARDIFF TIMES 41

NISH KUMAR: CONTROL There can’t be too many comedy touring shows this year revolving around the throwing of a bread roll. Nish Kumar’s Your Power, Your Control strongly features that time he was on the receiving end of a baked-product hurling at a charity gig. For a while he was an undisputed rising star of the British stand-up scene with one excellent Edinburgh Fringe show after another and media appearances ranging from hosting Newsjack on the radio and The Mash Report on TV, to cropping up on everything from Question Time to Sunday Brunch.

Eventually, he has plonked himself firmly near the top of the country’s comedy pile. That, of course, doesn’t mean Nish will be free of having non-admirers, one of whom saw fit to chuck an oblong loaf in his general direction during an anti-Brexit routine he was delivering at the Lord’s Taverners Christmas lunch.

This flour-based outrage allows Nish to find plenty of humour in an already daft incident with his audience anticipating how it will all pan out (pan, of course, almost being the French word for bread). “I looked to my right and saw it rolling near me and I just had to say, ‘did someone throw a bread roll at me?’ There was a table of comedians there and I saw Tim Key’s face through the darkness: he was just nodding at me. I think Chris Addison was having an argument with the bread thrower but the identity of that person remains unclear to me.”

During Your Power, Your Control, Nish places the bread-roll incident into the context of his worst five gigs ever, which also finds a place for a night during his Edinburgh Fringe debut run in 2012 when a seat was taken in his 50-seater room by one Victoria Wood. To all intents and purposes not only was this national treasure not especially rolling in the aisles, but she also looked extremely displeased throughout.

“It’s like your nightmare day,” recalls Nish with a grimace. “I saw her when I walked on stage and in that venue she was too famous for all the attention in the room not to be fixated on her. I’m not by any means in the pantheon of British culture and she is one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but if I go to a show and know I’m very visible, I definitely do my best to make sure that it looks like I’m having a good time.”

Nish is keen at this point to emphasise that Victoria Wood is among those whose work he has long adored and still fully respects her as a comedy icon. “If you look at Acorn Antiques there’s something of the Garth Marenghi about it. But then you look at Dinnerladies, and everyone – my parents, my grandparents – we all loved it. So obviously her having a bad time at my gig is a low career point for me.”

So far it seems that Your Power, Your Control is focussing on those people who have not been admirers of Nish’s comedy, but the many thousands of stand-up fans who will

42 CARDIFF TIMES

buy tickets for this tour will attest to the fact that his work is widely admired. His sharp political commentary and fierce intelligence are both allied to a solid sense of fun, which will be evidenced in a routine where he pokes a pointy, if metaphorical, stick straight down the gullet of the national anthem.

And we should broach the subject of Your Power, Your Control as a title, a note of relative brevity from a man whose show-names have so far included Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Unless You Shout The Words Real Loud, and Long Word… Long Word… Blah Blah Blah… I’m So Clever.

Your Power, Your Control may not be pinned down to a single meaning but it’s a title that will be accompanied by more than meaningful comedy. Smart, sharp, and not afraid to be a little bit silly: now that could be the ultimate Nish Kumar brand.

Cardiff Tour Date: 17th April 2022 at St David’s Hall www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

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CARDIFF TIMES 45

46 CARDIFF TIMES

A floral display with feeling

by Natalie McCulloch Losing a loved one is never easy and the grieving process is unique to every individual. One quote which illustrates this beautifully is:

be part of such an incredible charity helping other families just like us.”

So why is City Hospice so important to Cardiff?

When we lose someone that we love we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love they left behind How this love is lived out may be in the small day to day acts, the things we do, the ways we behave or the stories we tell to keep their spirit alive. Similarly, how they are remembered will be unique to those involved; from photos, to conversations through to memory bears or cushions made out of their clothes. Every approach is different, because everyone is different! One heart-warming opportunity which provides the public with a unique means to remember a loved one is via the City Hospice limited edition ‘Forever Flowers’ campaign.

These flowers are expertly crafted by the British Ironwork Centre and can be purchased by the public to remember those that have passed. The ‘Forever Flowers’ will feature in a striking display within the beautiful grounds of Cardiff Castle over two weeks between 30th July – 14th August. On the final weekend of the display people will be able to collect their Forever Flower. They can then be cherished in a place that’s special to you as a lasting tribute to someone you love.

If you can’t make it to the castle that weekend alternative arrangements can be made.

All the money is used to support City Hospice to provide their vital support so that each person in their care can live their lives to the fullest for as long as possible and so that families can have that essential support even following a bereavement.

And it really does make a difference.

Amanda Fenton, Fundraising and Marketing Director at City Hospice is evidence of this. Her husband received the care of City Hospice prior to her working with them.

She told CT, “We were so shocked when Mike received a terminal diagnosis at the age of 58 and it wasn’t long before City Hospice came to help. The care he received was exceptional, but I also received support. The hospice offers a range of services and I found reflexology helped me sleep at a time rest didn’t come easy. When the worst happened and we lost Mike 11 months later, the bereavement counselling got me through the darkest days and helped me on the bumpy road of looking to the future. I often describe the hospice as becoming our ‘safe place’. It’s a privilege now to

48 CARDIFF TIMES

Have you heard of the saying ‘Home is where the heart is’? Well, this definitely stands true when it comes to City Hospice in Cardiff. The incredible City Hospice team cares for patients aged 18 years + across the city, managing their symptoms and offering essential support in their own homes alongside their Centre at ‘Ty Hosbis’. They help patients and their families, aged 18 upwards with diagnoses such as Cancer, Dementia, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or other life-limiting illnesses. Not only do they offer essential support throughout a person’s illness, but they also continue to offer this essential care for families following bereavement.

Every month, new patients are referred to City Hospice for care. Referrals are made from the palliative care team at Velindre Cancer Centre, the University Hospital of Wales, or from a patient’s own GP. City Hospice is not a bedded unit. Instead, they offer care and support to patients in their own homes and some patients attend the day centre in Whitchurch, Cardiff. Their dedicated team spend time understanding the preferences of those they care for and where they wish to stay. They work with patients and their families to support whatever their choice might be. Given the option, many patients choose to remain at home and the teamwork tirelessly to support their wishes.

City Hospice centre Ty Hosbis, is pretty phenomenal in itself.

It is described as being ‘so much more than what may come to mind when you think of a hospice’. The centre is a bright, welcoming, and vibrant place where a community is seen in action. The team take the energies of volunteers and the funds raised by supporters and use these collective efforts to support families throughout the city of Cardiff.

In order to keep up their incredible work, they need to raise more than £2m each year from charitable donations and fundraising events. This ensures their nurses can remain out in the local communities; to ensure patients are being given the best treatment, and that families know where to turn in times of need. Fundraising has been particularly hard during the pandemic as, at a time when the service needs to be increased, the opportunity to raise funds through events and shop sales was paused. Amanda outlines this by saying, “It was a difficult time for everyone during the pandemic and

we are so proud that our team continued to provide care to people in their homes at a time they needed it most.”

The charity has also extended its bereavement support so that anyone in Cardiff who has experienced a bereavement can access their support, not just those whose loved one was cared for by City Hospice. Funds are needed more than ever now, to enable the hospice to continue to provide their exceptional care.

Any funds raised have a massive impact on the charity and can help them to continue to care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and their families, across Cardiff. ‘Forever Flowers’ is a powerful and particularly beautiful way to celebrate a life and help raise these funds.

This year, ‘Forever Flowers’ aims to be even BIGGER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL than last year! Your help, and support, is welcomed! This year the charity has chosen a Sunflower, which for many symbolises positivity, admiration, loyalty, and devotion.

‘Forever Flowers’ is for everyone, not just those who were cared for by City Hospice and provides the opportunity for people to talk about their grief, reflect, remember a loved one and celebrate life with a lasting tribute. In 2021 people came from all around the country to visit the display and to purchase them.

The seeds of ‘Forever Flowers’ were planted in 2021, during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic. During this time City Hospice recognised that people couldn’t grieve in the usual

way for those that they had lost and the needs for their services were increasing, due to this the ‘Forever Flowers’ campaign was born. One lady bought 24 flowers – one for every member of the family as they couldn’t have a funeral in the normal way.

All of the money raised goes directly to helping keep City Hospice and running its incredible range of services, from emotional support to practical assistance to complementary therapies.

You are invited to get involved and be a part of the beautiful bloom which is set to grace Cardiff Castle this summer!

The display can be seen in the Castle and looks particularly stunning from the tower. Counsellors will be on hand to help offer support during the display just as they were last year.

Amanda added, “It’s a moving display to witness when you stand back and take a moment to reflect that every flower is a life, not forgotten, but celebrated and remembered.”

If you would like to purchase a flower, or find out more about this campaign, visit: www.cityhospice.org.uk/forever-flowers Or call: 02920 524150 Email: fundraising@cityhospice.org.uk Social media: @cityhospice Please consider supporting City Hospice, if able, so that they can support our community and show that like scattered seeds, memories bloom forever.

CARDIFF TIMES 49

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