Kidscene Magazine issue 44

Nov/Dec

2019

Your handbag sized guide

www.kidscenemagazine.co.uk

1 3 D E C / R HAG 2 0 1 9 1 2 JA N / I O N 2 0 2 0

ISSUE 44

01792 475715 swanseagrand.co.uk grandabertawe.co.uk

this Christmas at Swansea Grand Theatre

Happy babies & children in a safe, stimulated environment, where they can develop & reach their full potential

Season’s Greetings from everyone at St. Michael’s School in Llanelli Phone us to arrange a visit, if you are interested in joining us for 2020

BUY TICKETS online only at www.luminatewales.com

N OV / D E C

Luminate Wales, an enchanting after dark light trail, will be arriving at Margam Country Park for a 4 week run from 22nd November through to the 23rd December. Join us as we weave a magical journey, full of wonder and intrigue that will delight and enthral your senses.

PA G E

6 REINDEER BROWNIES 10 BOOK REVIEWS 14 F IR ST A I D 23-24 W H A T S O N 26 JUST JUM P 28 COMPETITIONS

NEXT EDITION | JAN/FEB 2019 COPY DEADLINE | Dec 17 th 2019

As darkness descends, stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music, will guide you along the mesmerising mile long trail, through the beautiful gardens and up to the Castle. Be welcomed

by Old Grandfather Tree and embark on your adventure through the first beautiful, light tunnel. Pause outside the Citrus House and play the giant keyboard and watch as, lit like never before, the Citrus House dances to your tune. Remember to leave your wishes at the colossal wishing tree, before heading up to Waterfall Bridge.

Make it past the troll and you’ll find yourself captivated by the whispers of tiny fairies in enchanting fairy land. Continue your ascent to the Castle, and be amazed as the Castle facade comes to life with a stunning digital animation. A timeless experience to be enjoyed by all, young and old alike. Wrap up warm, you are welcome to stay as long as you like to enjoy every moment. Hot food & drink available at the Castle Courtyard.

20,000 copies of Kidscene Magazine are delivered directly into primary schools from SA1 to SA15 areas bi-monthly.

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Christmas Parade

Swansea City Centre · Sunday 17 November, from 5pm Marching bands, magical floats, festive film characters, Christmas inflatables, snow machines, fireworks and of course Santa and his sleigh will be making a special appearance at this year’s Swansea Christmas Parade. The parade will start at the Dylan Thomas Centre at 5pm, head up Wind Street towards Castle Square where Santa will make his first brief stop to switch on some of the Christmas lights.

The parade will then continue up High Street, down Orchard Street and onto the Kingsway where Santa will make his final stop to turn on the remainder of the city centre lights before heading down the Kingsway.

For full details go to visitswanseabay.com/parade

Mr Men at the Gwyn Hall...

Folly Farm Christmas Fun...

It’s the most magical time of year to visit Folly Farm.

You can join us on weekends only from Saturday 9th November – Sunday 22nd December for some festive fun. Not only do we have the main man himself but you can meet his reindeer too. Plus, the Folly Farm elves are on hand to bring that extra little bit of sparkle to your grotto experience. He’s brought gifts for the little ones. Plus, there’s mulled wine and a mince pie for the adults. An additional cash-only fee of £8.50 per child applies to visit Santa in his grotto. Also new for 2019 is our walk-in snow-globe – to help capture that magical winter wonderland moment. (Additional fee applies).

Come and see some of your favourite Mr Men and Little Miss characters as Selladoor Family and Rockefeller Productions bring the UK tour of the stage adaptation of Roger Hargreaves much loved children’s book series, Mr Men & Little Miss On Stage to a theatre near you. The brand new show comes to Gwyn hall Theatre Neath on the Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th November.

For almost 50 years, Mr. Men and Little Misses have brought joy to millions of children all over the world through selfexpression, colour, simplicity and humour.

Featuring Mr Bump, Little Miss Sunshine, Mr Tickle, Little Miss Inventor and many more, the stage show will bring the stories to life in a series of hilarious and colourful in this beautifully crafted and hilarious live stage show! This brand-new show comes from two of the country’s leading family theatre producers: Selladoor Family whose recent tours include Madagascar the Musical, Guess How Much I Love You, James and the Giant Peach and Seussical and New York based Rockefeller Productions, the creators of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant Show.

Book now at www.gwynhall.com or call the Box Office on 0300 3656677.

So, there really is a full day of family friendly fun waiting for you here at Folly Farm. And with around 50% of our attractions being located undercover, there is plenty to see and do whatever the winter weather throws at us!

grand

taliesinartscentre.co.uk

The People’s Theatre Company presents

SANTA IN LOVE

by Steven Lee

“Thoroughly entertaining and brilliant fun.”

What’s on Stage

Thur 19 December 4.30pm

Taliesin Arts Centre Swansea

The best thing about Christmas (aside from the excited kids and general Christmas cheer) is the food.

These chocolate reindeers are a perfect mix of a rich chocolatey treat and a fun Christmas cooking activity for kids.

Preheat the oven to 160°C/ gas mark 3 Break the dark chocolate into pieces and melt in a microwave safe bowl using short bursts or 10-20 seconds, stirring well in between.

Get your giant child friendly mixing bowl (any bowl will do) and mix your melted butter and sugar together until well combined.

Beat in the eggs. Then add your flour, sugar, cocoa powder and melted chocolate. When the batter is thick and chocolatey mix in your chocolate chunks or chips.

YOU WILL NEED: A 9" Round cake tin, lined with baking paper.

INGREDIENTS: • 200g Melted Butter • 300g Caster Sugar • 70g Plain Flour • 50g Cocoa powder · 3 Eggs • 150g Dark Chocolate • 50g Chocolate Chunks or chips TO DECORATE: • 100g icing sugar • 50g butter • Teaspoon cocoa powder • Packet chocolate covered pretzels • Packet edible eyes • Red M&Ms or Smarties

This is when your child will start picking lumps of chocolate out of the bowl and end up with chocolate batter up both arms. Maybe get some wipes ready…

Pour into your lined tin and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until crusted over completely on top and cracking!

Whilst the brownies are cooling make the buttercream by combining the cocoa powder, icing sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl and mixing well until smooth.

Slice the cooled brownies into 8 – 10 portions and make your reindeer faces using the butter cream to attach the eyes and pretzel antlers. Use a larger blob of buttercream to attach your Rudolph noses.

If you enjoyed this and fancy trying a few more kid-friendly recipes head over to our website baking-with-kids.com or find us on Instagram @baking_with_kids.

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Winter Giveaway!

Nightmare Realities is a collection of short spooky stories from awardwinning Irish author Amanda J Evans. Featuring 7 completely different spine-chilling tales, it is the perfect dark winter night treat for children aged 9+. Each story is brought to life with illustrations from Amanda’s talented daughter Emma and both boys and girls will find a character they relate to.

From spending a night in the Reaper’s graveyard to going on a girl guide camping trip and uncovering a murder. There’s even the NGD (Nightmare Giving Demon) who watches over your shoulder as you read. Will you be brave enough to read one of these spooky tales?

And due to phenomenal success, Nightmare Realities 2 was released in August 2019, and once again, Amanda has delivered a collection of unique and thrilling tales accompanied by stunning illustrations. There are zombies, a superb retelling of Sleeping Beauty, an escape room style virtual reality game, and in true Evans fashion, and an old Irish tale.

Both books bring the terrifying tales fans of Goosebumps have enjoyed over the years into modern-day reality and should be on everyone’s Christmas list this year.

And if that’s not all we’ll throw in the award winning Cinderella’s Other Shoe by Philippa Rae. Illustrated in full colour and guaranteed to bring a smile to young faces as we follow the misfortunes of Buckle and Stomp, Cinderella’s down trodden shoes.

Just email in to be in for a chance of this great prize.

Picture book: Meerkat Christmas Written & illustrated by Emily Gravett Publisher: Two Hoots Another cracker of a story by double Kate Greenaway Medal winner, Emily Gravett.

Meerkat Sunny is getting ready for Christmas with his friends and family.

But it doesn’t seem to measure up against what he is told should be the perfect Christmas in a magazine. He lives in hot dry terrain so where is the snow, fir trees and blazing fire? Discontented, he sets off to find something better. He visits lots of places including some penguins at the South Pole but it takes some searching before he finds the right place to enjoy Christmas. Lovely!

But he soon discovers something is missing amongst the picturesque perfection - after all you can’t have a perfect Christmas without those you love!

On the surface Meerkat Christmas seems a cute festive story with Emily’s trademark gorgeous illustrations. There’s wonderful attention to detail with attached cards with lift up flaps. However underneath this gentle and humorous layer the message brought home is about the commercialism of Christmas and pressure by the media to buy into the idea of a perfect lifestyle. Essentially to passively consume images without thinking for and being yourself. And of course the traditional theme of Christmas – being joyful of what you already have.

Illustrated book: The Lost Words Written by Robert MacFarlane and illustrated by Jackie Morris.

Publisher: Hamish Hamilton This highly regarded award winning book is a classic to keep on the bookshelves at home or in the reference library at school.

At a first glance the text set next to the pictures gives it a feel of a high quality nature encyclopedia but as we delve deeper into it we discover a charming narrative. Many years ago words slowly and quietly

disappeared from the language of children.

On each page side by side is a traditional picture of a plant or creature drawn in natural colours with an acrostic free verse narrative on the facing page. (An acrostic poem means that the first letter of every line when read vertically spells out a word).

In the case of the Lost Words the poem spells out the name of the plant or creature it is describing and so is a delightful way of reinforcing the story theme of rediscovering what was lost into the format.

This magical storyline is an effective and imaginative way to help children’s spelling, vocabulary and understanding of our natural world without being didactic. It also highlights the importance of our woodlands. The hard back presentation makes a wonderful gift!

Other books to look out for this Christmas for great gifts are Tom Fletcher’s books including his new one The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch; the hilarious poetry collections by Joshua Seigel (currently nominated for a Lollie Award) and the great book series published by Usborne which encourages children to get productive and includes such titles as Write and Design Your Own Magazine; and Write and Draw Your Own Comics.

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A fantastic selection of arts, crafts, tasty treats, beautiful decorations and unique gifts await you at this year’s Christmas Market.

Soak up the festive atmosphere with a mulled wine, have a browse or shop ‘til you drop! Don’t forget to pay a visit to Santa in his grotto before you leave!

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First Aid for Children Babies and children are continually looking to learn through investigation and play. As they learn, they develop an understanding of what can hurt them and may pick up some injuries on the way. Learning first Aid skills will enable you to deal with a range of injuries or health issues they may receive. In our series of articles, we will look at some of common conditions parents fear and providing some basic tips.

Choking An airway obstruction, commonly known as choking, is a common fear of parents as they worry it will lead to a loss of life. However, the majority of choking in children occur during play or eating when people are there to intervene. Simple steps can clear an airway.

Recognition Choking can be mild or severe. In mild cases the person can talk, breath and cough past the obstruction, but in severe cases they will not be able to do any of these things. Following eating or play with small items, you may see a sudden onset where they are:  Unable to make noise  Looking scared  Pointing to mouth or grabbing the throat  Unable to breath  Turning blue around the lips  Going unconscious

Action for child If they are able to cough effectively, encourage them to cough until the item is gone from the airway. Monitor them throughout.

If they are not able to cough effectively:

1. Provide back blows Lean them forward and give up to five blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check after each blow to see if it has been effective.

2. If back blows fail, try abdominal thrusts.

Stand behind the child and place your arms around their abdomen. Make a fist and place it between their naval and breast bone. Clasp the fist with your other hand, pulling in and upwards sharply.

If the item is not dislodge, repeat up to 4 more times.

3. Repeat the cycle of back blows and abdominal thrusts until the obstruction is cleared or they become unresponsive, at which time you start CPR. If the obstruction will not clear after 1 cycle, you must call an ambulance.

If you would like to learn more, attend one of our first aid courses covering children and infants.

Paediatric First Aid - 2 day course First aid training for Primary schools, nurseries, childminders and parents.

Learn life saving skills for babies and children, including choking, infantile convulsions, asthma, fainting and meningitis.

Level 3 accredited award recognised by EYFS and OFSTED/ESTYN. 21 - 22 November 2019 - Hazel Court, Swansea - £125 9 - 10 March 2020 - Village Hotel, Swansea - £125

To book contact Dewi Development 01792 834141 info@dewidevelopment.co.uk dewidevelopment.co.uk/paediatric

The Princess Royal Theatre Box Office - 01639 763214 www.princessroyaltheatre.com Civic Centre, Port Talbot, SA13 1PJ

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Milkshake! Live Milkshake Monkey’s Musical Saturday 22nd August at 12pm & 3.30pm

Margam Country Park

01639 881635 www.margamcountrypark.co.uk Margam, Port Talbot, SA13 2TJ MARGAM

ORANGERY

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by Fat Barrys Soul Band

THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER Package Includes: Drink on Arrival Turkey Dinner & Seasonal Dessert (Vegetarian option available) Live Band, DJ and Photo booth

Celebrate Christmas in Style Doors open at 6.30pm at The Orangery with our Meal at 7.30pm prompt ‘Christmas Join883553 a Party’.

Contact 01639 or orangery@npt.gov.uk 80S NIGHT CHRISTMAS JOIN A PARTY

The Orangery, Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, SA13 2TJ *Please note that only alcohol purchased at the venue will be permitted

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Ticket price includes: Drink on arrival Turkey dinner & seasonal dessert Live music from The Reflex | DJ Photobooth Phone to book - 01639 883553

Luminate Wales at Margam Country Park A spectacular, illuminated trail, full of wonder and intrigue that will delight and enthral your senses.Set in the beautiful, historic gardens of Margam Country Park & Castle, near Port Talbot. A Timeless, festive experience to be enjoyed by everyone, young and old alike.

Friday 22nd November Monday 23rd December Book online www.LuminateMargam.com

Watch SANTA FEED THE DEER and take part in our ELF ME Workshops this Christmas!

Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th, Saturday 14th, Sunday 15th, Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd & Monday 23rd December Visit our website to book!

Sleeping Beauty Pantomime 2019 Pontardawe Arts Centre Box Office 01792 863722 www.pontardaweartscentre.com

December... Saturday 14th | Sunday 15th Saturday 21st | Sunday 22nd | Monday 23rd 1pm & 5pm

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Coming to Pontardawe Arts centre is a beauty of pantomime!

Following on from last years record breaking Beauty and the Beast, It’s An Act bring you the magical tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Tickets from £11

Cinderella Family Pantomime The Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot Box office 01639 763214 www.princessroyaltheatre.com

Saturday 30th November – Sunday 8th December The beautiful rags to riches story of Cinderella arrives in spectacular Pantomime style at The Princess Royal Theatre this Christmas! Promising laugh out loud comedy, stunning scenery and costumes and a magnificent cast to transport you and your family through the most magical tale of them all!

Tickets from £14.50 Family tickets available!

Sinderella Adults Only Pantomime 18+ Friday 29th November & Friday 6th December

Aladdin

The Gwyn Hall, Neath Box office 0300 3656677 www.gwynhall.com

3rd – 12th January 2020 Climb on board our Flying Carpet, as we take you on a journey , where you can join Aladdin, Princess Jasmine and Widow Twankey in this year’s Pantomime of “Aladdin”. Get a chance to meet our very own Genie, who will grant you your wishes for a truly magical adventure. A family fun packed experience with a mix of traditional and modern tunes with plenty of audience participation where you can BOO the evil Abanazar. So, what are you waiting for – It’s the ultimate treat to start your New Year with a smile.

Tickets from £11.75 Family tickets available!

Why You Should Be Making A Will to Protect Your Family

Have you had a new baby, or are you expecting one?

Congratulations! There’s so much to think about – cots, baby clothes, vaccinations, baby-proofing your home…

But in all the chaos and emotion a new baby brings, there is one thing you mustn’t forget about – planning for your baby’s future by making a Will.

A Will is one of the most important things a parent can do to make sure their child is provided for and cared for by the people they choose if the worst was to happen suddenly. Even though most parents agree with this sentiment, a 2018 survey found that 60% of UK adults don’t have a Will. That’s 31 million people at risk of dying intestate and without making proper provision for their loved ones.

Why should you make a Will when you’ve had a baby?

None of us wants to contemplate the worst, but when you have a child, you must. If you make a Will, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your children and will be taken care of according to your wishes if you die. No one knows what’s around the corner, but if you die without a Will, the law may decide who gets what, and that can take some time and mean that unwanted beneficiaries may inherit you’re assets.

Members of your family could receive less of your estate than you or they expected, and you could leave them with an unnecessary financial mess. That said, a Will

isn’t just about money. It’s also about deciding who should look after your children if you die (by appointing a guardian or guardians for them) and making proper financial arrangements for them as they grow up. At Peter Lynn and Partners, we can not only draft your Will, but we can also assist you in drafting a letter of wishes to accompany it. This is a letter to your executors or your child’s guardians which provides additional information and instructions which do not form part of your Will. While it is not legally binding, it does set out your wishes and can give additional guidance on your children’s upbringing, education, and other important matters.

Did you know that if you are unmarried with children, your partner may receive little?

Many people think a ‘common law’ partner (someone they live with as if they are married) has automatic rights to inherit if their partner dies. They don’t. Without a Will, they might have to go to court to obtain a share of your assets, and even then, it’s not guaranteed. Fewer people are getting married today than at any time in the last 100 years. But, sadly, the law hasn’t caught up with that fact.

The reality is that if you die without a Will, your unmarried partner is not automatically legally entitled to anything.

In the worst case, that could mean your partner not being able to stay in the family home or not having enough money to bring up your children. It’s of paramount importance that you make a Will to ensure that your partner and children get what you want them to have.

For more information about drafting a Will, please contact Peter Lynn & Partners on 01792 450010 or email Advice@plandp.co.uk to arrange a free initial consultation and visit www.peterlynnandpartners. co.uk/wills-probate-trusts/for more information.

Independent Speech and Language Therapy Clinics in Swansea and Cardiff For infants, toddlers and children Home and school visits Assessment, diagnosis, therapy and reports Speech sounds pronunciation Language delay Stammering Autism spectrum disorder Learning difficulties Collaborative working with NHS SLT Adult services also available

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…and the Lord spoke to John saying, ‘Come forth and you will receive eternal life.’ John came fifth, received a toaster and went to bed disappointed!

one thing at a time whilst working – I find that working from home can be very distracting knowing there’s a pile of washing somewhere that needs sorting out. To take time out to travel and visit this country and to take a family holiday away.

Being present in today’s way of life is not easy, but it is very simple. Here’s 3 simple ideas how you can introduce presence into your life:

Ok, not really, but we could take some initiative from this…

Christmas has become very materialistic and commercialised that many families can’t keep up and feel the expectation of presents and gifts to be unachievable without a rather comfortable bank account and the child’s expectation of a huge pile of presents. I wonder what would happen if we entered January with a huge memory bank of presence instead of a house full of presents, some of which may end up unwanted?

Presence over Presents is by far an incredible way forwards because being present in the moment enables our brains to process situations, thoughts and visions better than watching an event on a video you made whilst you were there, half listening due to texting/ Instagramming/updating Facebook etc or being on a phone call. There’s plenty of exceptions, however I’m sure it’s possible to be present for more time than we currently are?

Distractions create insecurity in our brains because we don’t experience every moment that passes us by, therefore we can be left feeling and wondering if we missed something.

The inspiration we can take from John’s toaster is this: we could think about the giver, not just about the actual present we received but more about the thought process the giver put in, the time they spent finding, ordering or maybe even making the gift. What about the time spent wrapping the present, posting it even? The cost of postage they may have paid for or the moment they thought about your reaction upon giving it to you?

If we think about that, remaining present, knowing that someone has cared enough about us, put time in thinking about us and given something that, in a funny kind of way I guess, resembles their version of ‘love’ – maybe, just maybe, then we are able to find gratitude and thanks and also be present in the moment. That moment we received someone’s gift of ‘love’ So, let’s start off the festive period as we mean to go on. You can start anything at pretty much anytime, so let’s start a ‘life of presence’ now.

Do you plan to make any new year’s resolutions?

Last year I made resolutions/vows and plan to continue working on them throughout the next year too.

Life is a working process and about bettering yourself each day whilst being thoughtful of the moment you’re in.

Some of my resolutions were to not look at my phone between 3pm and 7pm unless it rings, and I’ll only answer it if it’s important. To focus on

1. Celebrate the tiny ‘win’s’ in life.

2. Sit, walk, run outdoors and breathe deeply.

3. Be ok with not knowing the answers to everything.

4. Reflect on your day.

You could create a ‘Year in a Jar’ where you post notes of these four points and then on new years even 2020, you can look back and read them all seeing how your year has been.

Some of the great experiences you could try with your family or friends are here in this magazine; Gwili Railway Folly Farm Stage 8 Nativity Show A theatre production Being present also helps us to focus.

Once a day you can use this focus to think about the abundance you have in life, whether that’s a roof over your head, food in the cupboards, neighbours that are helpful, friends and family members who care, transport for the school run or to get to work, a gym membership or a road to run on, clothes to wear and an umbrella to keep dry in the rain.

The simpler the gratitude the more present we know we are becoming.

My daughter said to me in the summer, ‘Mummy, aren’t the flowers so beautiful? It’s the rain and sun that makes them like this’ Simplicity and presence are the key to living a fulfilled life of happiness.

With love and Positivity

Jennifer Barnfield Positivity and Visualisation Practitioner

A5 ADVERT HARRYS - SHREK:Layout 1

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HARRY’S PRESENTS

Based on the Dreamworks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig drama school

Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire

Music by Jeanine Tesori

Originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions.

Original Production Directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford.

Director - Kathryn Wheel Musical Director - Jonathan Lycett Choreographer - Helen Stevens Lighting Designer - Chris Barrett

13th to 15th February 2020 7.00pm & 2.00pm Saturday Matinee SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE - BOX OFFICE: 01792 475715 www.swanseagrand.co.uk This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe).

All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe www.mtishows.co.uk

November

15th - 22nd Dec - Swansea Christmas Market, Oxford St Swansea. Open 7 days a week.

15th - Jan 5th - Waterfront Winterland opens! As well as the city centre ice rink, Waterfront Winterland features fairground rides, food stalls and a bar.

15th-16th -Monstersaurus!

Swansea Grand Theatre.

16th - 17th - Colby Woods NT Winter Fair. Shop for local art, crafts and homemade goods.

10th - Tales from the Terrible Trenches, Waterfront Museum.

Ages 7+ Meet our time travelling Army Medic to hear tales of rescue and treatment from the front of the terrible trenches. 12:30pm,1:30pm & 2:30pm. Free event. Plus, get hands on with some real wartime artefacts.

13th-16th - The Wizard of Oz at the Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot.

13th - The Nutcracker at Swansea Grand Theatre.

15th - 17th - Llandeilo Festival of the Senses. Free annual preChrismas Festival with Arts and Crafts Fair, Live music, Food Market, Fashion Market and food stalls. P&R, entertainment and lots more

16th - 24th Community Christmas Tree Festival, Margam Park.

Margam Country Park is pleased to be organising a Community Christmas Tree Festival for the first time. This special event aims to bring Park groups, community groups, schools, businesses, visitors... together making a beautiful festive display for all to enjoy.

16th - 17th - Make a Snow Shaker.

Waterfront Museum. Turn a jam jar into a beautiful, glittery winter scene to treasure. ÂŁ3.50 per child.

11:30am, 2pm and 3:30pm

16th - 17th - Mr Men and Little Miss On Stage. Gwyn Hall, Neath.

17th - Christmas Parade in Swansea City Centre. 5pm start at the Dylan Thomas Centre.Marching bands, magical floats, festive film characters, Christmas inflatables and of course Santa and his sleigh will be making a special appearance at this year’s Swansea Christmas Parade

22nd - Llanelli Christmas Carnival and Christmas Light Switch On. 4-9pm. Celebrate the start of the Christmas period with a huge carnival parade from Festival Fields to the town centre, entertainment,

stalls, refreshments, aerial fireworks display, large funfair & switching on of the lights.

22nd-24th - Dinefwr NT Christmas Fair. Get into the spirit as you browse the stalls from independent artists and craft makers.

22nd - 23rd Dec - Luminate Wales, Margam Park. A spectacular , illuminated trail, full of wonder and intrigue that will delight and enthral your senses. Running every evening for over 4 weeks.

1st - Festive Film: Waterfront Museum: The Grinch (U) 2018. Free event. 2.30pm.

8th - Carols Around the Fire.

Waterfront Museum. 2pm. Free event.

3rd - 4th - Llygoden yr Eira at Swansea Grand Theatre 3rd - 23rd - Magical Christmas Journey at Pembrey Country Park.

Have Breakfast and storytime with Father Christmas (To book in contact the elves on 01554 742368).

6th - 8th - Llanerchaeron NT Christmas Fair. Full of craft and food stalls, plus Santa's Grotto.

23rd - 24th - Green Fayre.

Waterfront Museum. 10-4pm.

26th - 1st Dec - Nativity The Musical at the Gwyn Hall, Neath.

30th - Dec 8th - Santa's Magical Steam Trains at Gwili Railway.

Travel on our steam strains to see Santa!

30th - 1st Dec - Traditional Christmas Fayre at Pembrey Country Park.

30th - 8th Dec - Cinderella at the Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot.

30th - 5th jan - Cheeky Elf Trail.

Waterfront Museum. 10-4pm.

30th - 22nd Dec - St Fagans Christmas Weekends. We’ve got a festive pick and mix for you this year. Each weekend in December there’ll be a host of Christmassy fun to get you in the mood for the big day. 10-5pm. Meet Father Christmas, traditional fairground, Christmas craft and Makers Market.

December

1st - Liberty Stadium Christmas Fair

7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd Elf Me Workshops! Margam Park.

The ultimate Christmas experience which will transform YOU into a Margam Park Elf! Perfect for budding elves aged 3-12 years old who want to become official little helpers of Father Christmas. Expect fun, laughter, games, arts & crafts.

7th - The Showmen Christmas Spectacular - Magic, Illusion & Circus Show! Swansea YMCA Llewellyn Hall Theatre. All Day. Come along and experience the perfect festive show for all the family!

8th - The Polar Express Film Experience at the Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. 1pm.

8th - Christmas Wreath Making in Stackpole NT. Make your own wreath using natural materials. £12 per wreath. 2-4pm.

9th - 22nd Dec weekends - Festive fun at Folly Farm. Visit Santa, his elves and his reindeer!

11th-15th - Cinderella at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.

12th - Santa's Christmas Countdown at the Gwyn Hall, Neath. The show where every child gets a present!

13th - 12th Jan - Peter Pan at Swansea Grand Theatre.

7th - Christmas Craft at Southwood Farm NT, Pembrokeshire. Come and join the celebrations and make your own seasonal decorations.

14th - 23rd - Sleeping Beauty at Pontardawe Arts Centre.

7th - A Big Waterfront Christmas.

Waterfront Museum. 12-4pm.Enjoy the perfect festive afternoon, with an extra flurry of seasonal sparkle …

15th - Festive Film at the Waterfront Museum: The Nutcracker & The Four Realms (PG) 2018. 2.30pm. Free event.

7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd Santa Feeds the Deer at Margam Park. Come and watch Santa as he feeds his Deer at the Park this December! A traditional family favourite, visit during the build up to the big day! 10.30am. This is a ticket only event with restricted numbers

18th-24th - Cinderella at the Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.

7th - Stick Man. Waterfront Museum. 2pm.

19th - Santa in Love at the Taliesin Arts Centre. 4.30pm 20th - Santa's Christmas Film Night. Waterfront Museum.

6.30pm.

27th - 28th - Aladdin at the Miners' Theatre, Ammanford

"...stepping on a bellicon feels like stuffing my face with marshmallows it fills me with joy from head to toe."

Prepare to e the 638 m xercise every one o while being uscles in your body f low imp and revitalisact, low stress ing.

Reboundin shapes and g is suitable for all sizes, from the young to elderly, m and from ab en and women solu professionalte beginners to athletes.

CLASSES...

TO BOOK...

Tuesday 9:30 - 10:15am Parklands Church, Sketty Park

Direct message Stef via the Facebook page 'Just Jump' or call/text 07388054097

Monday 9:30 - 10:15am TPTS Fitness, Llangyfelach (NEW CLASS)

Wednesday 6 - 6:45pm & 7 - 7:45pm Waunarlwydd Community Centre Thursday 6 - 6:45pm & 7 - 7:45pm Gowerton Comprehensive School

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL AS REBOUNDERS ARE LIMITED!

disease, osteoporosis and cancer!

Rebounding is the perfect exercise!

STRESS RELIEF - Rebounding on a bellicon is the most fun way to relieve stress! People are now very aware of the power of exercise to combat the negative effects of stress and bouncing on a bellicon is not just about working out and losing weight, it's also a fun way to relieve that stress.

FITNESS BENEFITS

Just Jump rebounding fitness classes started in April 2019 and are going from strength to strength.

Working from local community centres around Swansea, the classes lasting 45mins are small and extremely effective. The bellicon rebounder is the best of the best, with incomparably high elasticity due to the bungee ring suspension and top quality bungee cords. Training on a bellicon is therefore quite different to the conventional spring trampoline, or as one client put it, "Stepping on my bellicon feels like stuffing my face with marshmallows.

It fills me with fluffy joy from head to toe".

Some of the many benefits of rebounding include:

HEALTH BENEFITS OSTEOPOROSIS - Whether we like it or not, bones slowly deteriorate after our 35th year. Fortunately, we don't notice anything of this. Until we make an unfortunate fall and a bone says 'crack'. Osteoporosis is the process of bone deterioration.

And the bellicon® rebounder is the remedy for doing something about it! Current science says that the simple act of jumping up and down is the single best exercise for maintaining/improving bone density and by bouncing on a bellicon, bone deterioration stops.

WEIGHT CONTROL - Rebounding burns fat 50% faster than running

and because it's so much fun, and far less exhausting, you'll actually want to do it! Consistency is key to weight management and you're far more likely to stay committed, if you enjoy it!

BACK PAIN - Bouncing on the ultra gentle bungees of the Bellicon® rebounder strengthens core muscles, including lower back muscles; it lubricates joints, creating more flexibility and comfort and improves balance, coordination & posture.

This is the recipe for a healthy, pain free back!

LYMPH AND EDEMA - Arguably the single best exercise for your lymphatic system: The energizing effects of a rebounding workout ignites your lymphatic system, helping to flush toxins, bacteria and other waste from your body. You’ll be left feeling renewed and cleansed from the inside out!

PELVIC FLOOR - The act of bouncing on a rebounder naturally strengthens your pelvic floor. For people with pelvic floor weakness, the proper form of this exercise can not only strengthen the surrounding muscles themselves, but can also help maintain a healthy weight and encourage proper digestive functioning, both of which can help to reduce symptoms of pelvic floor instability.

IMMUNE SYSTEM - The best way to build your defenses against illness and environmental conditions, is to provide your body with what it needs most – a healthy diet and lifestyle that includes moderate but effective aerobic exercise.

Exercise not only helps your immune system fight off simple bacterial and viral infections, it decreases your chances of developing heart

CARDIO - Recent studies have confirmed that bouncing on a rebounder is significantly superior to running for reaching target heart rates, increasing cardio strength and engaging muscles, and that it also reduces fat 50% faster. Test subjects report that it's less fatiguing, and would choose to exercise longer while jumping. Rebounding increases your metabolic rate, helping you burn more calories more efficiently.

And with no strain on your joints.

STRENGTH - All 638 muscles in your body are activated when bouncing on a rebounder. Your muscles respond to alternating weightlessness and 3x g-force, by flexing and relaxing instantaneously, strengthening and toning them naturally and efficiently. Activates every cell, organ, muscle, tendon, and bone in your body.

TONING - Core stability muscles are constantly engaged, without thinking about it, to keep you stable and balanced, so you're toning your core every moment you're on the rebounder. You'll strengthen your stomach and lower back muscles, without a single crunch! Your legs and glutes will be particularly toned in a holistic and effective way that only rebounding can do. Added dynamic arm sequences ensure a full body tone-up!

BALANCE & COORDINATION - The constant engagement of coremuscles improves your core stability and balance. Added mind-body exercise sequences work to further strengthen accessory muscles and overall coordination. Rebounding increases your body awareness You'll walk taller, stronger and more securely!

To try out a class, get in touch to book your space. Message Stef on 07388054097 or contact via Just Jump f.

Theatrau SirGâr FOOTLIGHT PRODUCTIONS

FILM EXPERIENCE

Ffwrnes, Llanelli

8 Rhagfyr/December 13:00

Lyric, Carmarthen 11 -15 Rhagfyr/December

Ffwrnes, Llanelli

18 - 24 Rhagfyr/December

Miners’, Ammanford 27 Rhagfyr/December 13:30 & 18:00 28 Rhagfyr/December 12:00 & 15:00

0345 226 3510 www.theatrausirar.co.uk

Sleeping Beauty (Pontardawe) Poster.pdf

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24/09/2019

Gwili Railway announces 2019 competition with each winner receiving a prize of a family ticket to visit our Santa’s Magical Steam Trains 2019

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WIN A FAMILY TICKET to see Sleeping Beauty on December 14th 5pm at Pontardawe Arts Centre WIN A FAMILY TICKET to see Shrek The Musical at Swansea Grand Theatre on February 13th 2020 WIN ONE OF 2 PAIRS OF TICKETS to see Mr Men and Little Miss in the Gwyn Hall, Neath on Sat 16th November and Sun 17th November.

WIN A FAMILY TICKET to see Cinderella at The Princess Royal Theatre on 30th November at 2pm WIN A FAMILY TICKET to see Aladdin at the Gwyn Hall on 9th January at 7pm WIN ONE OF 3 FAMILY TICKETS to Luminate Wales in Margam Park (for 2 adults & up to 3 kids), to be used between 22nd Nov & 23rd Dec (date and time-slot must be prebooked in advance, specific dates/ timeslots subject to availability).

WIN A FAMILY TICKET to see Peter Pan at Swansea Grand Theatre on the Opening Night 13th December.

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A5 ADVERT HARRYS - SHREK:Layout 1

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Page 1

HARRY’S PRESENTS

Based on the Dreamworks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig

Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire

Music by Jeanine Tesori

Originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions.

Original Production Directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford.

Director - Kathryn Wheel Musical Director - Jonathan Lycett Choreographer - Helen Stevens Lighting Designer - Chris Barrett

13th to 15th February 2020 7.00pm & 2.00pm Saturday Matinee SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE - BOX OFFICE: 01792 475715 www.swanseagrand.co.uk This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe).

All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe www.mtishows.co.uk

Design a Christmas Card and post your entry to the railway (details below). Winning entries will be scanned/used and printed in a GRPS Card Pack to raise funds for the Loco Fund. All proceeds for the Loco Fund are a charitable donation. The 1st prize will be a family ticket to Santa’s Magical Steam Trains. Make your design relevant to Gwili Railway include a steam train, snowmen, children, elves and let your imagination sparkle.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY INTO THE GWILI RAILWAY COMPETITION: Your details will not be used for any direct marketing purposes or used on any internal or external databases.

The railway will contact the winner by phone or email, please include these on your entry, if it is a child who is entering please only use their 1st name/school/class and the school will also receive a prize.

If you decide to enter the design a Christmas Card competition please draw your artwork on a A4 piece of white paper.

The winning entries will receive a family ticket to our 2019 Santa’s Magical Steam Train event, you can choose a day and time to travel.

If your chosen date or time is sold out we reserve the right to advise and transfer you to another suitable date and time of travel. Your must supply a valid Name/Address/Telephone and up to date email address so we can send your tickets via our booking system. A family ticket entitles: 2 Adults plus 2 Children Max to book for the Santa Train. The ticket cannot be transferred or used on any other service. If you cannot come to the Santa Trains event a normal family ticket can be exchanged for a standard running day during 2020. Send your designs and art entries to Gwili Railway, FAO Scott Marketing Manager. Bronwydd Arms Station, Carmarthen. SA33 6HT Illustrations attached are copyrighted to William Scott Artus www.artuscreative.co.uk

WINTER

Wonderland Walk through our doors this Christmas with our Let It Snow Winter Wonderland at the Swansea Marriott

Let it snow Snow Shimmer Cocktail on Arrival Red Carpet Arrival 3 Course Traditional Christmas Meal with Tea and Coffee Winter Wonderland Themed Space Outdoor Winter Warmer Bar Disco until 1am

Let it snow AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING NIGHTS:

WINTER WONDERLAND PARTY AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING NIGHTS: Saturday 30th November, Friday 6th December, Friday 20th December, Saturday 21st December £39.95 per person swansea.events@marriotthotels.co.uk

WINTER WONDERLAND PARTY INCLUDING LIVE ENTERTAINMENT £41.95 per person swansea.events@marriotthotels.co.uk

Saturday 7th December, Friday 13th December, Saturday 14th December We look forward to celebrating the festive season with you!

To book call 01792 642 020 or email swansea.events@marriotthotels.co.uk

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See our website for details

www.folly-farm.co.uk/whats-on Additional cash only charge to see Santa. Price includes a gift – plus there’s mulled wine and mince pies for the adults! Additional charge to enter the snow globe.

Gorseinon Sketty

01792 89 11 44 Address 01792 29 99 96 Web Address

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