Rhiwbina Living issue 40

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Rhiwbina Living

At the heart of the community Issue 40 Autumn ‘17

AU T U M N

Your multi award-winning magazine for Rhiwbina

Inside this issue Sam Warburton, The Lions captain reflects on the summer tour of New Zealand and explains why he will never leave Rhiwbina

Competitions

Win a delicious three-course meal for two at the Brook Bistro, and a pair of six month gym memberships at the Village Hotel

Home Decor

Get your home cosy this autumn with our handpicked selection of furniture and homeware

Jim Heath

A well-known Rhiwbina resident, Jim 'The Plumber' Heath is fondly remembered by his children, Jeff Heath and Mary Clarke

Winter deadline:

14th November 2017 Published 28th November 2017

a: 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 w: www.livingmags.co.uk e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or danielle@livingmags.co.uk Distribution: 6,000 copies of Rhiwbina Living are personally delivered by us to every house in the Rhiwbina ward four times a year in line with the seasons. We also distribute to local shops While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any matter in any way arising from the publication of this material.

Every effort has been made to contact any copyright holders.

Rhiwbina Living is an independent, apolitical publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publishers.

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Welcome / Croeso Welcome to your autumn issue of Rhiwbina Living.

After our success at the Cardiff Business Awards we have worked extra hard to bring you what we think is our best issue yet, so pour yourself a cup of tea and snuggle down to enjoy all that it has to offer.

Our feature interview is with Sam Warburton, who took time out to reflect on this summer's British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. He talks about why he missed home more than usual this time around.

Another former Llanishen Fach Primary pupil has just published her first series of children's books. Erica Willmott explains how a Christmas present to an uncle gave her the inspiration to start writing.

With the kids having just returned to school, we asked the youngsters of Rhiwbina what their thoughts were on the topic of friendship and got some insightful thoughts across the different age groups.

Autumn is our favourite issue to write, probably because with the changing of the seasons, and the nights getting darker, it is a good excuse to be cosy! As the evenings darken, we show you how you can light up your home with a few easy crafts that can transform it into a cosy nest for the winter ahead.

We have also hand-picked a selection of goodies from local retailers and advertisers that will make your home extra snug and inviting.

Kevin Revell advises on how best to prepare your harvest for winter to savour the taste of summer.

Autumn wouldn't be autumn without Bonfire Night so we've put together a quick guide to putting on a Bonfire Night party at home.

If you're an older Rhiwbina resident, you may well remember Jim Heath, who headed up the Garden Village maintenance team when it was run as a company. His children Mary and Jeff look back fondly on their memories of him.

We've got some fantastic competition prizes lined up including a three-course meal with a bottle of wine at the Brook Bistro, and a pair of 6 month gym memberships at the Village Hotel to give away, so be sure to try your luck with them both.

Meanwhile, we are starting work on the Christmas issue!

Danielle and Patric

Editors

@RhiwbinaLiving www.facebook.com/ rhiwbinaliving

What’s on October Half Term Lantern Magic Tuesday October 31st 10am - 1pm Art Workshop, Lon Fach Build your lanterns ready for the Rhiwbina Christmas Festival Lantern Parade.

October Half Term Katag October 31st - 3rd November (various times) Rhiwbina Memorial Hall A giant game of tag with soft foam swords for kids in Years 2,3 and 4.

See advert for times.

Rhiwbina Winter Festival Saturday 2nd December 4pm-8pm

Rhiwbina Village The highlight of the winter calendar.

Rides, stalls, entertainment, food and drink - it's all here in the village.

Whitchurch Reindeer Run Saturday 2nd December 5.30pm Whitchurch Village A one-mile fun run around Whitchurch village and an evening of festive celebration.

Rhiwbina Street Food Festival Saturday 16th December 4pm-8pm Deri Inn, Rhiwbina Food and craft stalls, all wrapped up in a Christmassy atmosphere.

news

Rhiwbina Gas Living Magazines named on Community Business of the Year Works schedule for completion

(l-r) Host Jamie Owen, Editors Patric Morgan and Dr Danielle Dummett, Martin Warren of sponsors ICAEW Living Magazines Cardiff has picked up a prestigious award at this year's Cardiff Business Awards.

The Rhiwbina-based business beat the likes of the Wales Millennium Centre, Tramshed Tech and Big Learning Wales to win Community Business of the Year 2017.

Co-editor Patric Morgan said: "We are so thrilled to pick up this award, which recognises outstanding achievement in business in Cardiff. We will be celebrating our 10th anniversary this November and winning this award is testament both to the popularity of our magazines, and to the amount of hard work we put in to keep them going. We genuinely didn't expect to win the award as we were up against such big names, but the judges said that our passion for our products and services came over in the judging interview. We were also recently

finalists in the Wales Media Awards so 2017 has been quite a successful one so far."

Rhiwbina Living magazine was launched in 2007 by Patric Morgan and Dr Danielle Dummett.

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living followed a year later in 2008 and the magazines have gone on to win various national awards. Aside from the actual printing, everything is done by the pair - from the advertising, the features, the design, the distribution, through to the website and social media work.

Co-editor Danielle said: "When we first set up our magazines, we wanted to put the community at the heart of everything we do - 'At the heart of the community' became our slogan and we do our best to put our community first."

Lions captain donates kit to charity British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton donated his entire tour kit to a village charity shop on his return to Rhiwbina in July.

Sam led the Lions touring party for the second time in his career after captaining the side in their 2013 series triumph in Australia.

The Cardiff Blues player tweeted a picture of himself with two bags of rugby kit outside the charity shop on Heol-y-Deri.

Sam also donated his kit in 2015 after the Rugby World Cup and in 2016 following the end of the Six Nations campaign in February.

The British and Irish Lions drew the series with New Zealand in a memorable tour that saw the players living and playing on the other side of the world for six weeks.

Gas works that have caused disruption to Rhiwbina residents are set for completion on schedule.

Francis Kirk, Wales & West Utilities Programme Controller for South Wales said: “We continue to make good progress on our £2m gas pipe upgrade work in Rhiwbina which is essential to make sure that we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area and prepare the gas network for the future.

"We still anticipate finishing our work on Pantmawr Road by 3 November, within our 10 week schedule.

“Our working hours in the week are 8am – 5pm. Where appropriate this will be extended, while having consideration for nearby homes. We are working weekends throughout the project.

“We know this work is disruptive. We’re monitoring traffic on a daily basis and, where necessary, changing our traffic management or working with Cardiff Council to change traffic light timings. We are also working with local councillors and South East Wales Trunk Road Agency to do what we can to minimise disruption.

“I would urge all road users to respect the one way system in place. We know traffic can be disruptive and frustrating, and a small minority of drivers are continuing to endanger the community, other road users and our colleagues by driving the wrong way up closed roads in the area."

The £2 million investment work involves replacing 15 kilometres of old metal gas pipes with new plastic ones throughout Rhiwbina.

“

We still anticipate finishing our work on Pantmawr Road by 3 November, within our 10 week schedule

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news

RATS celebrate 60th birthday Rhiwbina Amateur Theatrical Society (RATS) is celebrating its 60th anniversary this autumn.

RATS was formed in 1957 and rehearsals were first held in the living room of founder member Jean Kent. The society’s first production was Agatha Christie’s The Hollow, performed in February 1958, in the newly built Rhiwbina Memorial Hall. Since then RATS has staged more than 200 performances in the hall.

The original performance of Emlyn Williams’ Night Must Fall in 1965 was directed by the founder member of the society, Jean Kent.

At that time, the society were lucky enough to receive a personal letter and signed photograph from the playwright himself which will be on display in the foyer for the play’s revival.

RATS chairman Carol Coleman is delighted to see the return of Emlyn Williams’ thriller. She told Rhiwbina Living: “Having been a member of RATS for almost 40 years myself and Chairman of the Society for a number of those years, I am delighted that the group has reached this fantastic milestone.

It is also wonderful to be putting on this Emlyn Williams' thriller, 52 years after it was first staged at the Rhiwbina Memorial Hall. We hope that a large audience will come and join us to help celebrate this special anniversary.”

RATS has around 45 members who all take on various roles to bring four performances to life every year; this not only includes budding actors but also stage crew, front of house and anything else to ensure the show goes on. The society also regularly raises money for charity, having previously fundraised for Diabetes UK, the Dialysis Unit at the Heath Hospital, S.A.N.D.S. and numerous other organisations.

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Rhiwbina Christmas Festival Rhiwbina’s Christmas Festival takes place on Saturday 2nd December this year and the village is already looking forward to the annual celebration.

DJ Sparky Marky will get proceedings underway from 4pm onwards with music and live acts to keep festival-goers entertained.

Canolfan Beulah will be the venue for crafts and gift stalls and there will also be late night shopping from the local traders.

The big Christmas Light Switch On will take place at 5pm, which will be followed by the singing of carols at 6pm.

In between those two events, the much-loved Lantern Parade will take place at 5.30pm, starting in Lon Fach and heading out around the village. Children will be able to enjoy themselves on the rides at Pen-y-Dre and they can also go and visit Santa in the Secret Shed, formerly known as New Roots Garden Centre.

There will also be a welcome return to an old Rhiwbina favourite: "We thought it would be great to

bring back Rhiwbina's Best Dressed Window, helping to make 'Christmas in Rhiwbina' all the more festive," says co-organiser Sue Harding. "We'd love all the shops and local businesses throughout Rhiwbina to get involved.

Father Christmas will - (on a dress down day) make a tour of Rhiwbina and the winning shop front will be announced on Festival Day. The winner will be awarded a new trophy to display in their shop or business."

Heol-y-Deri will be closed as usual from Beulah Church crossroads up to Lon Isa from 2pm to 8pm. Pen-yDre will also be closed. Beulah Road will remain open with buses diverted along it.

Monico Movies celebrates 2nd birthday Pop-up cinema Monico Movies celebrated its second birthday this October. The crew partied with a packed house and lots of cake - and of course, a movie. Party-goers were treated to a viewing of Very Annie Mary, a welcome drink and nibbles.

Sue Harding told Rhiwbina Living: "Tickets for the birthday party sold out in two days, with people tearing around Rhiwbina's four box offices trying to find them."

Monico Movies is a tribute to the childhood memories of the Monico Cinema that stood in Rhiwbina from 1937 to 2003. The group presents a

variety of films each month in The Canolfan Rooms in Rhiwbina.

The Monico Movies crew (minus Justin) celebrate with a cup of tea

Street Food Festival returns to Rhiwbina The popular Rhiwbina Street Food Festival returns to the village on Saturday 16th December.

This year's event takes place at the Deri Inn from 4pm-9pm and promises to be the biggest and best yet. There will be outdoor food stalls, as well

as indoor crafts stalls - perfect for Christmas gifts. A raffle will also take place.

Last year's event was well attended, where local school children led a welcoming rendition of favourite carols.

Reindeer Run to light up Whitchurch Whitchurch's popular Reindeer Run is set to take place on Saturday 2nd December this year.

The village celebrates the festive one-mile fun run with stalls, crafts, rides and late-night opening in some shops. There will also be live music,

an outdoor cinema and a festive finale.

Entertainment starts at 5.30pm while the race starts at 7pm.

Rhiwbina Library The A-Z of YOUR library Authors

Talks by national and local authors.

Book Bank

Knitting

Group meets on a Thursday afternoon to knit and natter.

Donate unwanted new/nearly-new children's books and we’ll distribute to families via local food banks.

Library Staff

Code Club

Meeting Rooms

An opportunity for 9 to 13 year olds to learn the basics of computer coding.

Dementia Awareness

Our library staff are dementia awareness trained and the library stocks a range of books relating to the subject.

Expertise

Our library’s most important commodity.

The Jevons Room (upstairs) is available to rent for meetings/events.

Newspapers

Pop in and browse national and local papers.

Open To All

Rhiwbina Library is a welcoming, safe environment for young and old.

Staff are at the ready to help and advise on library matters and beyond.

Meet for a sing-song and chat on the third Wednesday of every month.

The library has 4 public access computers with FREE internet access.

Jigsaw Club

Children and adults are welcome on Saturday mornings 10am – 12.30pm.

Run by Friends of Rhiwbina Library.

Barbara, Jennie and Carole

Friends of Rhiwbina Library supports the library whenever and however it can. We’re always looking for fresh ideas and more ‘hands to the pump’.

(Contact details below.)

Photocopying and Printing

Workshops

Simply ask at the desk!

Poetry, creative writing, book illustration, story-telling - we've got lots on!

Quiz and a Cuppa

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Join Friends of Rhiwbina Library on the last Wednesday of the month to exercise the old grey matter and make new friends.

Reading Groups

Several reading groups meet here to exchange thoughts on a wide range of books.

Summer Reading Challenge

Geraint and Annette

From health issues, local history, DNA, copyright, there are all sorts of talks here at our library. Next up (26th October) ‘From Y-Fronts to Viagra’ – Mike Wright’s light-hearted take on intellectual property rights.

Volunteers

Goldies Cymru

IT

Talks on Anything and Everything

You can borrow up to 15 at a time.

Free access to genealogy data bases for library members.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body!

supported by Friends, laid on weekly animal-themed events.

Unwind with a good book

Family History

Health and Wellbeing

Tori and Adrian

Rhiwbina Library signed up well over 600 children for this year’s challenge - an impressive 13% increase on last year. The theme for 2017 was ‘Animal Agents’ and Rhiwbina Library,

Marks Rhiwbina Library’s spot at the heart of Rhiwbina Village.

Yoga

Start a new class this autumn.

Zebra

Pop in and check!

If you love your library and want to retain it in its current form, join Friends of Rhiwbina Library and get actively involved!

Email: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary@gmail.com Website: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary.weebly.com

Facebook and Twitter: @FoRhiwbinaLib

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letters

Your letters Rhiwbina Cabin

The cabin on Pantbach Road was a delightful little place if you were a child or a smoker - rows of jars filled with sweets and more sweets!

'2oz of this and 2oz of that' - I can still hear those sweets rattling into the weighing scale dish and then – whoosh! Straight into the paper bag. It was heaven!

'How about 10 Woodbines, yellow and gold packet? Or 20 Players, Capstan and a packet of rolling tobacco and some papers?

Naughty but nice.'

Dear old Les Coles. He was always cheerful, chatty and polite. That guy could do mental arithmetic and come up with 2/6d quicker than lightning. And what about those paper boys? They always left their bikes right in front of the shop so that getting in and out was impossible.

Bridge Success

We'd like to share the news that a team from Rhiwbina Bridge Club, representing the East Wales Bridge Association, won the Welsh Bridge Union's President's Cup recently. The tournament took place over a weekend near

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We love to hear what you've been up to so send us your letters and photos!

We'll do our best to print them all! editor@livingmags.co.uk

Every night, Les would ask them to move their bikes and every night, they were back again.

Of course, the highlight of the week was 6-6.30pm on a Saturday night when the pink Football Echo arrived.

It was always late and I mean ALWAYS! Of course, you could also buy stationary and birthday cards in the Cabin but there wasn’t a quick turnover for that kind of stuff. The envelopes ended up being not sticky and dust had to be blown off the cards before they could be used. There were no problems in the Cabin with Health and Safety.

Les Coles and his wife Connie, both of whom were residents of the Garden Village, lived in Lon Isa for many years before later moving to Heol Wen. Their daughter Elaine has made a generous donation to the Rhiwbina Garden Village Residents Association in memory of her parents, for which we are most grateful.

Our Wendy House in Lon Fach needs £1,000+ to keep it open and pay our commitments. It is available for hire for small groups and birthday parties. To enquire or book, ring Mary Clarke on 02920 611234.

Lots of happy memories. Share yours with us.

Mary Clarke Rhiwbina

Llandudno.

It made the almost 400-mile round trip worthwhile!

Roger Wright, Rhiwbina

Beulah Concerts

I am writing regarding the concerts regularly put on in Beulah URC Church, Rhiwbina.

The present series started in April 2008 after a discussion with the then minister Peter Cruchley Jones, who suggested that we plan a regular concert series in the daytime. This series was for the benefit of the whole community as part of Beulah's outreach policy. He asked me as a member of the church, and also as a professional musician with contacts in the musical world, if I was interested in organising them.

The concerts are held on the last Wednesday lunchtime of the month (with just the occasional variation of this). There is also a celebrity evening concert once a year. At the celebrity concerts, we have had Catrin Finch, Elin Manahan Thomas, Only Boys Aloud and the Lovell Jones family.

When we started the series, we had an audience of around 60 people. Now we regularly have between 100 and 120 people attending and they have become a definite feature of Rhiwbina life and part of the musical scene in Cardiff. The performers at the lunchtime concerts are all professional musicians and mostly come from the postgraduate students at the Royal Welsh College. Normally I ask only Welsh musicians or those with a connection to Wales.

Around eighty concerts have been arranged to date.

Local shop keepers tell me that their is an influx of trade on concert days!

Beatrice Pryce, Rhiwbina

If you have anything you’d like our readers to know about, drop us a line at editor@livingmags.co.uk or by letter to 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter

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Rhiwbeina Rocks!

Rhiwbeina Primary Swimmingly Good Our Year 4 pupils were fortunate to further develop their swimming skills during the summer term.

Whitchurch High School kindly allowed the K.S. 2 pupils to use its pool for daily 45 minute lessons, lasting a fortnight. Pupils were banded according to ability.

Cycling Proficiency The Year 5 children had an opportunity to take part in the Cardiff Cycling Proficiency Scheme during the Summer Term.

The children learnt the basics of safe control and braking on the first day, before being taken onto the roads around Rhiwbina. Road training took place over 4 days with the children’s confidence growing daily. The children learnt how to signal and manoeuvre safely. Most of the children passed their Level 2 tests and were confident in their new found skills.

Girls' Cricket Champions of South Wales!

We are so proud of our Girls’ Cricket Team who displayed excellent skills and teamwork to not only win the Cardiff Regional Kwik Cricket Tournament, but to go on to win the South Wales Finals held at St Fagan’s Cricket Club.

The commitment and desire the girls showed in improving their cricket skills was fantastic and these were clearly demonstrated in the South Wales final, comprehensively defeating the opposition! A brilliant achievement! Well done girls!

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Rhiwbeina Primary School is delighted to be taking part in #rhiwbinarocks. Each class has designed a rock, and we have three limited edition rocks as well! The rocks are being hidden in the village.

If you find a Rhiwbeina Primary Rock, please tweet a picture to @RhiwbeinaPrm before re-hiding the rock. Good luck!

Boys' Rugby - Welsh National semifinalists Huge congratulations must go to our Boys Rugby Team, which reached the semi-finals of the WRU National 10-A-Side Tournament at Dunvant Rugby Club.

After a very successful season, the team played some outstanding rugby in the tournament which was highly praised by many coaches and parents present. Reaching the final was not meant to be however, as the boys were very unlucky to concede a ‘golden try’ in extra-time following a draw. We are so proud of the excellent attitude, commitment and skill shown by all the boys throughout the season! A fantastic achievement!

Year 5 Bowls Tournament In July, members of Rhiwbina Bowls Club came into school to teach our Year 5 pupils how to play lawn bowls.

The expert coaching was well received by all pupils who thoroughly enjoyed each session. Some of our Year 5 children then took part in a bowls competition hosted by Rhiwbina Bowls Club. After a series of close matches, we did eventually win the tournament and retained our title from the previous year!

As a result of these sessions, some of the pupils also attended and enjoyed the free Monday evening bowling sessions held at Rhiwbina Recreation Club.

Year 6 Farewell July 2017 saw us bid an emotional farewell to all our Year 6 children in the Year 6 Leaver’s Concert.

Many of the children had attended Rhiwbeina Primary School since nursery and all had made so many memories along the way. Therefore it was only fitting to give the children a fantastic send off in the form of their end of year Leavers’ Concert.

Together with the children, the Year 6 teachers furiously made notes of what the children had enjoyed over the years, what moments had really stood out and of course, who had supported them along their primary school journey, resulting in our ‘Stand by Me’ concert.

During their final weeks in Rhiwbeina Primary School, the Year 6 children worked very hard to develop the script with the teachers, learn their lines and learn the many songs and dances that accompanied the storyline. They all did this with enthusiasm and support from their families and friends.

The evening of the concert was highly anticipated by all and needless to say, all the children performed to the very best of their ability and made their teachers, families and friends extremely proud. We greatly appreciated the generosity of Rhiwbeina Baptist Church for allowing us to use their facilities and were overwhelmed by the support from families and friends of Rhiwbeina Primary School.

Well done Year 6 – you did yourselves proud. We will miss you!

Llanishen Fach Primary Autumn is a busy time at Llanishen Fach, with everyone getting used to their new classes, teachers and routines. There is also lots to be done outside the classroom as the season brings the harvest of fruits, vegetables and our first honey.

Each year, parents, grandparents and other members of our school community donate bagfuls of surplus apples so that our pupils can make juice using traditional methods - as well as crumbles, flapjacks and muffins - complemented by our plentiful supply of blackberries.

Next month, we are taking part in the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Big Soup Share’ and in the coming weeks, the children will be making a variety of soups using our own vegetable harvest, as well as donated produce to share with special guests around the campfire.

In the outdoor classroom, pupils have been learning about seed dispersal, the importance of colour in the natural environment, compass directions and coordinates.

Our Orpington chickens, which last year’s Reception class hatched and cared for, are now almost as

big as they are. Our pupils all love the opportunity to visit the chickens at the bottom of the drive and are developing their knowledge of how to care for them and keep them safe from some of the wildlife found in school.

Last year we invested in a trail camera and the children have been delighted to watch footage of hedgehogs and foxes, as well as more common but highly comical squirrels and crows. Our Year 5 pupils have already made footprint tunnels which captured fantastic inky hedgehog tracks and this year, they will be building on their knowledge of these widely loved but endangered mammals by constructing hibernation boxes and feeding stations.

Having made a number of improvements to our school grounds to create habitats for pollinating insects, including a heritage orchard of rare Welsh apple trees, it was a natural step to acquire a beehive so that our pupils could learn first-hand about the important role that bees and other insects play in our food production.

Just over a year ago, we were lucky to be offered a hive, equipment and training by Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy and

Pollen8 Cymru, as part of their research into the antibacterial properties of honey. Our trainee bee-keepers have been rewarded for their care of the hive by a modest but highly prized honey harvest and are now learning how to prepare the colony for winter to ensure its survival during the colder months.

Our bees are now firmly part of the curriculum, giving children the opportunity to investigate different methods of bee-keeping around the world, how honey was used as medicine in Tudor times, as well as using honey in recipes as part of their food technology and seasonal cookery lessons.

Gardening is an important part of the curriculum at Llanishen Fach and next month we will be launching our new initiative which we hope will bring together pupils, parents, grandparents and members of the community every Friday afternoon for a drop-in gardening session where knowledge, experience and food may be shared.

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The Art Workshop Art courses for all abilities

Join one of our friendly classes taught by a team of qualified tutors Drawing Classic and contemporary

Oil Painting The versatile medium Watercolour Bring your paintings to life Printmaking Collograph and linocut magic

Mixed Media Collage, inks, gouache and more Textile Art Fashion Illustration

Half Term Christmas Lantern Workshops Adult Courses · Young Artists Art Academy (ages 7-12) · Private tuition · Group and Corporate Events

3 Lon Fach, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6DY For timetable and booking see w: www.theartworkshop.co.uk e: theartworkshop@live.co.uk t:075 61 507638

WWW.LITTLEPEOPLESTORE.CO.UK St John’s College, Cardiff A leading independent day school for boys & girls aged 3-18 Choir School to Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral

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Top School in Wales at A level for the 14th Successive Yea Exceptional A level results 2017 A*/A - 83%

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Calling all kids in Years 2,3 and 4 www.katag.co.uk

Tuesday 31st October 10am-11am, 11am-12pm Halloween costume optional

Wednesday 1st November 3pm-4pm, 4pm-5pm Friday 3rd November 10am-11am, 11am-12pm Limited spaces. Book now! £6 per hourly session Parents welcome to stay

Want a big game of tag this half term?

Who cares what the weather is like this half term?

For a chance to run around and have a big game of tag with a twist swords and shields, join us at Rhiwbina Memorial Hall, as we bring using soft foam one of the fastest growing youth activities in Canada to Cardiff.

Katag was designed by primary teachers to engage children in fun, engaging activities that got them moving and also allowed them to develop gross motor skills, team work, leadership and cooperation skills.

Running for the last 14 years, Katag has now been delivered to over 1 million children.

It’s a safe, exciting way to burn off extra energy and develop new skills.

At Rhiwbina Delivered by the Youth Development Agency Highly Commended at The Wales Start Up Awards 2017 Memorial Hall To book, call 07954 087284

s a m t s i Chatr Christmas Shop Preview Thursday 19th October 5.30-7.30pm - Exclusive after-hours shopping and first look at the new Christmas Shop - 10% off for Garden Club Members on selected items (sign up in store or online!)

- Free mince pies and mulled wine in the Farm Shop - Christmas Carols sung by The Heritage Singers Plus discounts available throughout a number of our concessions including Bonmarché, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Julian Charles

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th November Free Festive Food Taster Weekend

‘Tis the Season to indulge! Come along and enjoy an array of free tasters of speciality food from our Farm Shop suppliers including artisan cheese, succulent pies, award-winning chutneys and much more. The City of Cardiff Melingriffith Brass Band will also be performing Christmas Classics in the Garden Centre to complete the festive atmosphere! Booking is not essential for the events listed

02920 848000

Tynant Nurseries, Morganstown, Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8LB www.pughsgardencentre.co.uk/radyr

people

Books to knock your socks off

Local author Erica Willmott tells Living Magazines how a Christmas present for her uncle inspired her to write for children

O

ften, the best ideas come when you’re least expecting it.

For local writer Erica Willmott, it took 30 pairs of brightlycoloured socks, one uncle and one washing machine to come up with the idea for a series of fun children’s books.

“I loved to write as a youngster,” says Erica. “I loved studying English at school and I was a very big reader. I was a fan of the Sweet Valley High books and I also loved reading Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl.

They always made me want to write my own stories.

“I’m from Rhiwbina originally and went to Llanishen Fach Primary. I left school after getting my GCSEs and started in the world of work at the age of 18. In 2003, I had my daughter and I was back in work by 2004.”

A career in the world of insurance beckoned but it was Erica’s creativity that kept coming to the fore.

“I hated Maths but I had ended up working in finance. I was employed by several commercial companies

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and ended up working in their marketing departments, writing all their blogs. I very much honed in on my writing and I remember working out a bucket list when I was working there - on that list was ‘writing a book’.

“I’ve always been creative. I did a degree in Interior Design as a mature student as I felt that’d be a great outlet for my creativity. I found that the thing I enjoyed most was writing my dissertation.”

Erica’s eureka moment for her first children’s book was unexpected as much as it was brilliant.

“The idea of Sockz came to me several years ago when it was my uncle’s 60th birthday. I bought him 30 pairs of brightly coloured socks and not too long after, I had an email from him saying that the socks had been creating a lot of

attention but that he didn’t have any matching pairs left. It was like they had gone into the washing machine and never came out. We laughed about it and said that it’d make a good idea for a children’s story.

“I came up with the idea of a main character called Sockz who gets put into the washing machine at the start of each story and ends up somewhere different each time. I sat down and wrote up a first draft and before I knew it, I had written my first book. It was set in Paris as it’s one of my favourite cities.

They say that Paris is the City of Love and I wanted my main character Sockz to find his true love there! I then wrote a second one, set in New York – another of my favourite places. Here, he meets a hot dog called Henry who shows him all the sights of the city.”

I remember working out a bucket list - and one of the things on that list was writing a book

Erica Willmott

Both books have been published locally and have already been earning rave reviews from both parents and their children.

“I’ve tried to make both books educational. Children can learn some French phrases in the Paris book and in the New York book, they can also discover some of the famous buildings and locations there. I love to travel and I want children to experience the wonderful world that’s out there.

“There is a third book in the pipeline. It’s a Christmas book and will be out in November. The Christmas edition is based on my love of the film Santa Claus: The Movie. I am a massive fan of Christmas. I love all the build up, excitement and magic. I wanted this to come across in my book.

The great thing about Sockz is that I can place his character in any setting I want, and in any point in time. I can write books set in the past or in the future, or anywhere in the world or beyond!”

So far, the children have been more than enthusiastic about the books: "The best judges of character are the children themselves and I have been fortunate enough to have a great response from the

readings I've been to. If I had written five books, the children would have had me read them all. Their favourite book seems to be the New York one and their favourite scene seems to be the one where the baby penguin is born!"

The books have also been endorsed by people like cricketer Freddie Flintoff and Radio 1 DJ Charlie Sloth.

Erica has used her first-hand experience of being a parent to help market the books.

“Writing as a single mum, I’m aware that some publishers like to produce entire box sets to encourage parents to buy the entire lot. My books are different to that in that each book works perfectly well as a stand-alone book in its own right.

“I felt that self-publishing was the way to go to publish my stories. The children’s fiction market is such a large one and competition is huge. I do most of the marketing myself which is very much a learning curve for me and it’s a lot of work.

Ultimately, I’d love to be able to make a living from my books.

“Going forward, I’m also looking to write some adult fiction later in the year. I have an idea that’s based on true events and it’ll be

a case of doing a lot of research and working on storylines. I always carry a notebook with me in case any ideas come to me while I’m out of the house!”

There’s a lot more to come from Erica. And if you find that one of your socks has gone missing, you could find it making an appearance in one of Erica’s next books.

Erica's books can be bought from www.rowanvalebooks.com and Amazon priced £5.99 each.

Erica 13

Christmas

serenade

Book before 1st November and enjoy two great offers

Christmas at Serenade

at The Deri Inn

FREE bottle of &

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20% off all food

*Dine by 17th November

Festive Fayre Menu 2 courses £14.99 3 courses £17.49 Celebration Menu - 3 courses £19.99 Festive Fayre Menu available from Nov 27th. Celebration menu available on Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

E: deriinncardiff@emberinns.co.uk

T: 02920 626237

· Terramundi Money Pots · Large selection of soft toys · Demdaco Willow Tree · Party balloons

With a wide range of quality greetings cards and gifts for all occasions, Serenade in the heart of Rhiwbina village is the perfect place to visit this autumn

· ty Beanie Boos · Top Model by Depesche · Wild Olive bath treats · Local and Welsh cards

13 Heol y Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6HA 02920 522424 www.serenadecardiff.co.uk

30 YEARS OF NURTURING YOU (TH) JOIN US AT OUR OPEN DAYS 15th & 22nd November, 5pm – 8pm Drop in at a time that suits you to find out more about our courses, the support and guidance we provide and to see if we are the right fit for you.

For more information: www.stdavidscollege.ac.uk enquiries@stdavidscollege.ac.uk 029 2049 8555

SR StD LivingMagazine 184.6x130 21092017.indd 1

21/09/2017 12:06

IN AID OF

WHITCHURCH VILLAGE, CARDIFF

SATURDAY 2ND DECEMBER 1 MILE FUN RUN - SANTA & REINDEER PARADE LIVE MUSIC - OUTDOOR CINEMA - FESTIVE FINALE Entertainment from 17:30 until 23:00 - Race Starts at 19:00

Sign Up @ CRW Stores Or Visit: www.CRWReindeerRun.co.uk P R O U D LY S U P P O R T E D B Y

R E G I S T E R E D C H A R I TA B L E I N C O R P O R AT E D O R GA N I S AT I O N N U M B E R : 1 1 6 7 2 9 0 CA N C E R R E S E A R C H WA L E S

kids

What we

think about

friendships

Evie aged 6

Lucas aged 8

What makes a good friend?

If someone fell over and someone helped them up and took them to the teachers. If they’re alone without anyone to play with you could ask them if they want to play with you.

How do you make friends?

I ask them if I can play with them, or do something nice for them like being kind.

What’s special about your friends?

They’re nice to me and we play together well.

What makes you a good friend?

I play nicely with my friends, I am kind and helpful and help them up when they fall over.

Why are friends important?

Because if you didn't have a friend you would bored.

To play together nicely to feel happy.

What makes a good friend?

Being kind and looking out for one another.

How do you make friends?

By chatting to other boys and girls and joining clubs. I’ve made lots of friends playing football and rugby.

What’s special about your friends?

They like the same things as me and are nice to me.

What makes you a good friend?

I’m a good friend because I’m kind to my friends and I make them laugh.

Why are friends important?

If you don’t have friends you might be lonely and sad.

Rosie aged 6 What makes a good friend?

Being kind and caring for your friends. Not to hurt your friends.

How do you make friends?

Be with each other more often.

What’s special about your friends?

They care about me and look after me. I have lots of fun with them.

What makes you a good friend?

Because I am kind to my friends and look after them. I make them little cards.

Why are friends important?

So you won't be lonely.

16

Holly aged 9 What makes a good friend?

Someone who always tells the truth and makes sure you're happy. Reliable, trustworthy, not bossy and stands up for you. Someone who doesn't argue a lot with you.

How do you make friends?

By being happy, friendly, not rude and including everyone. Also I stand up for people when they're upset.

What’s special about your friends?

When I get upset they make me laugh and we don't argue. My best friends help me when I have other friendship problems.

What makes you a good friend?

I don't lie, I tell the truth, even when others don't. I'm kind and thoughtful and reliable. I stand up for my friends.

Why are friends important?

Without friends I would be a lot less happy. Also I don't know what I would do without them.

Lucy aged 12

Ben aged 6

What makes a good friend?

Someone who is always there for you, who likes you for who you are. They won't be bossy, or domineering or tell lies. They are kind and will make you laugh. A good friend is reliable.

How do you make friends?

Be kind, helpful, respectful, listen to others views, not shouting at others.

What’s special about your friends?

Thanks to my wonderful best friend, I have amazing new friends. They always make me happy and are there to speak to. They make me laugh and always include me and never leave me out.

What makes you a good friend?

I'm respectful, always happy to listen, happy for their accomplishments and encouraging. I try to be helpful and I'm not bossy.

Why are friends important?

They are understanding, make sure you're not alone and are always there to speak to. They are happy for your achievements and are understanding. They are helpful.

What makes a good friend?

Playing nicely, sharing things, saying nice things and not being rough!

How do you make friends?

By doing nice things together and speaking and laughing together.

What’s special about your friends?

They take care of me, never hurt me, they make me laugh and we have fun together.

What makes you a good friend?

I'm kind, share things, play lots of games of football and rugby and I don't argue. I try not to be naughty.

Why are friends important?

To help you and take care of you.

Joe aged 6 What makes a good friend?

Kind, fun helpful.

How do you make friends?

Say hi and you ask if they want to play with you, and ask them what their name is.

What’s special about your friends?

They are kind and special and helpful.

What makes you a good friend?

Help them and play with them and pick them up if they fall.

Why are friends important ?

Because they can help you if you fall over.

James aged 7 What makes a good friend?

They look after me.

How do you make friends?

When I see someone on their own, I say hi then they ask me to play.

What’s special about your friends?

Lucas, Ashley, Alex and Isaac love to play football like me.

What makes you a good friend?

I play with them when they’re lonely and keep them safe when they are hurt.

Why are friends important?

They make me laugh, keep me company and help me if I get stuck on a worksheet in school!

Elizabeth aged 9 What makes a good friend?

Loyalty, caring, always making me laugh.

How do you make friends?

I say hi and they automatically love me! (Just kidding!)

What’s special about your friends?

We always laugh when we shouldn’t.

What makes you a good friend?

I don’t know, you’d need to ask my friends that!

Why are friends important?

Because otherwise you’d be a loner and mildly depressed!

Lily aged 6 What makes a good friend?

If someone is kind and makes people laugh.

How do you make friends?

By being kind or helping someone.

What’s special about your friends?

That they really do care about me and I care about them.

What makes you a good friend?

Because I'm kind to other people and I make my friends laugh.

Why are friends important?

Because you need to feel loved, that's a part of life.

And they can help you if you feel sad.

17

John Owen-Jones & Beau Dermott 14.12.17

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra A Night at the Movies 2017 08.12.17

Welsh National Opera Orchestra feat. Tara Erraught 23.11.17

The Hallé feat. Sir Mark Elder 01.11.17

Sing-a-Long-a Beauty & The Beast 2pm & 7pm 30.10.17

John Wilson & The John Wilson Orchestra 30.11.17

Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night 16.11.17

Christmas Ballets

Kate Rusby at Christmas 12.12.17

Cinderella, The Nutcracker & Swan Lake

19.12.17 - 31.12.17

Win a threecourse meal and a bottle of wine at the Brook Bistro Since opening in September last year, the Brook Bistro has become one of Whitchurch's favourite places to get great food.

The family-run restaurant serves up hearty brunches and lunches until 3pm and a mouth-watering evening menu from 6pm to 10pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

Their new Christmas menu has just been published, offering twocourse Christmas lunches at £14.95 (three courses for £18.95) and a four-course Christmas Evening menu at £27.95. With everything from slow-roast turkey to rump

of Welsh lamb, the Brook Bistro is the perfect place to celebrate Christmas this year.

Vegetarians are also catered for with great options across all of their brunch, lunch and evening menus.

The Brook Bistro has teamed up with Rhiwbina Living to offer you the chance to win a delicious threecourse meal for two and a bottle of wine.

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning this delicious prize is to answer the following question:

Where is the Brook Bistro restaurant?

Email your entries to competitions@livingmags.co.uk by midday on 25th November. You can also enter by post by sending a postcard with the correct answer to our address on the inside front cover of the magazine. Remember to include your contact details!

Offer is for a three-course meal and a bottle of wine for two people, to be taken on a Tuesday-Thursday. www.thebrookbistro.com Good luck!

WIN A 6 MONTH GYM MEMBERSHIP FOR 2 AT THE VILLAGE HOTEL What better way is there to get into shape in 2018 than with a pair of six-month gym memberships at the Village Hotel?

You can experience the new and improved state of the art gym facilities, and enjoy access to the large heated swimming pool, relaxing sauna, steam room and spa pool - and that’s just for starters!

The Village Hotel also provides over 80 classes a week and in partnership with Les Mills, they provide fantastic fitness classes, including the latest routines and Les Mills Virtual classes.

Technogym’s mywellness will revolutionise your training by providing you with a central online portal to view and analyse all your physical activity and health data in

one place. You can record all your activities both inside and outside of the gym, and link all your favourite apps including MyZone, Strava, Runkeeper and Garmin.

You can be in with a chance of winning a pair of six-month gym memberships right here. All you need to do to enter is answer this simple question: How many classes does the Village Hotel provided per week? a) 40 b) 60 c) 80 Email your answer to Cerys.Rees@ village-hotels.com by Monday 11th December 2017. Please remember to include your name, email address and contact number so

the hotel can contact you. You can also enter by post by sending your entry on a postcard to Cerys Rees, Village Hotel Cardiff, Coryton, Cardiff, CF14 7EF. T&Cs apply – passes valid from 1st January 2018 to June 30th 2018 at Village Cardiff only and is nontransferable to any other club.

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people

T

here are several defining images from the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour that graced our screens this summer.

Perhaps the most abiding one is of captain Sam Warburton lifting the trophy aloft with his opposite number Kieran Read after sharing the spoils of the tour.

For Sam, the series draw wasn't quite as far-fetched as some pundits were predicting ahead of the tour.

"Ahead of the tour, I wasn't feeling too stressed. The only pressure I felt was for my spot. I’d felt fairly confident about my place within the squad but after I’d picked up a knee injury for two months, I was chasing a bit of match-readiness. The timing of my knee injury was shocking, especially after what I felt was the strongest Six Nations I'd had in my career. I knew that it was going to be a struggle but fortunately, I was ready just in time."

The travelling team touched down in New Zealand at the very end of May, playing their first game against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on June 3rd. The tour opener was a nervy affair, and the visitors were put to the test throughout, having to come from

22

Rhiwbina's Sam Warburton reflects on the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, his recent injury - and why he'll never live anywhere else

behind to secure the win after a scrappy performance.

"As a squad, we said that we were not going to blame the jet lag or the travelling but it was the worst performance on the tour," says Sam. "It was no coincidence that we had landed just three days before the game. Ideally, we’d get there about ten days before to get adjusted and start our training and that first game was difficult.

Looking back, the other players who played on the following Tuesday had the benefit of a few extra days and nearly beat the Auckland Blues.

But that opener was the hardest game on tour.

I’m not a betting man but I’d think that the odds for us to win the series after that game weren’t pretty good!"

Taking on the All Blacks is a daunting task at the best of times but challenging them to the best of three in their back yard is for some, a mountain too big to climb.

But not for Sam: "Most of the aura that surrounds

the All Blacks comes from the broadcasters and media who need to publicise the event. They made out that we were doing Mission Impossible but as players, especially for those who had previously experienced wins over New Zealand, we didn’t buy it. When you’ve four teams of the most competitive rugby animals on the same side playing together, confidence was never an issue.

People often ask me who are the biggest team physically I’ve played against and surprisingly, it’s not New Zealand.

Some of the Polynesian guys are massive but they are sprinkled throughout the team so on average, they’re not a big team to play against. They are definitely the most skilled team though.

"Over here, when kids go out on a break at school or out to the

The reason that they are so good at rugby is because they’ve completed that pass thousands and thousands of times

park, they’ll kick a football around, whereas in New Zealand they’ll always play touch rugby instead.

Saying that, I always laugh when I’m training down at the Cardiff Blues the Welsh lads run circles around the Kiwi lads with a football!

"When I watch the All Blacks play, I always look at their players and ask myself ‘how many times has a rugby ball gone through that player’s hands?' and it’s probably about ten times more than a Northern hemisphere player’s. The reason that the All Blacks are so good at rugby is because they’ve completed that pass thousands and thousands of times. When I take kid sessions down at the Blues, about 80% of my work is ball handling because it’s so important."

The Lions tour of course, ended with a draw. Having each won the other two games, it meant that the series was drawn too.

"Was I happy with the result of the series being a draw?

No. It was ok," says Sam. "I can see how people perceive it as a success but as players, we all thought after the last World Cup that we want to be on that plane to New Zealand. We all thought that a series win there would be the pinnacle of our careers but to come so close, and not take that next step to win was frustrating.

"Looking back now, I am pleased at how well we did. A lot of people expected us to lose so we exceeded those expectations - just not our

own."

Life has changed for Sam since his previous Lions tour to Australia in 2013. Wife Rachel gave birth to baby Anna in July last year.

"The hardest thing on tour was leaving my little one at home. I remember at one point on the tour, I was lying on the hotel bed. And I remember thinking that I’d do anything to see the door crash open and to see her stumbling towards me. For the first few weeks, I was ok but by the end, it was really hard. I never get homesick as such but I’d never left her for such a length of time."

Rhiwbina's call home was a strong one - even from the other side of the world.

"It was great to get back to Rhiwbina after the tour. One of the first things I do whenever I get back to Rhiwbina is to take the dogs up the Wenallt or down Caedelyn Park. I always like to get a curry in from the village too. They tick my boxes every time. The curry in New Zealand just isn’t the same. My brother and my dad came out for one of the games and we all went for a curry and we all looked at each other and said that they don’t do curry like they do back in Rhiwbina.

"People always say that there are no guarantees in life but I can guarantee you now that I will always live in Rhiwbina. You’d have to drag me out of there with a horse and cart if you’re going to get me to leave the village!"

Sam's making the most of his time away from the game, having just undergone surgery on a long-standing neck problem.

"It’s a long-term injury that I’ve been able to manage up until now but it's got to a point where I had to have it operated on. At least this way, it’ll be done and dusted and when I get back, I can just crack on.

No one player ever plays at 100% fitness because they always manage their injuries. I’m out for the autumn internationals for sure and am looking to be back in late January. I’m not

People always say that there are no guarantees in life but I can guarantee you now that I will always live in Rhiwbina

Brother Ben and dad Jez celebrate the Lions 2nd test win in Wellington getting my hopes up about the Six Nations. The most important thing to do is make sure that my neck is 100% fine before I play again."

Sam has been at the top of his game now for 8 years.

"I’m 29 now and in the last 12 months, I’ve had to consider what I’ll do after playing rugby. I’ve planted a few seeds here and there, so whenever I do finish, I will be ready.

I’m finding that I’m busier away from the field with this recent injury. It’s nice to spend time with the family and make up for the time lost when I was away, but I’m doing a lot of stuff for my sponsors. It’s a chance to get some off-field work done.

"A lot of people don’t realise the amount of commercial duties that you have to commit to. But being off injured doesn’t mean that I don’t train. I still train and get rehab but it means that I just don’t have to have my body ready for a game on Friday night every week. It doesn’t matter if I have the odd late night helping out sponsors for instance!"

Between now and the Six Nations, Sam has autumn and Christmas to look forward to.

"I rotate between my folks and the in-laws every year. This year, we get to have Christmas dinner with my parents and then we’ll spend the evening at my wife’s parents. Luckily, they only live four doors away. I’ve got about 20 family members in Rhiwbina – the Warburtons are quietly infiltrating Rhiwbina and taking over."

Anna in her Lions kit

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Home Instead:

Looking after clients and staff

Award-winning care company Home Instead is looking for 50 new employees to join its friendly team Local at-home care company, Home Instead Senior Care has celebrated its eighth successful year in business by throwing a party for their dedicated team of caregivers and office staff.

Since opening in 2009, the Cardiffbased business has created an enviable reputation, both as a quality employer and also as a care-giver to its clients.

Philip and Kate Batchelor, owners of the award-winning company, have led the business to considerable success and are currently looking to recruit 50 more employees within the business.

“We’re delighted to be celebrating our eighth year in business with our wonderful team. Over the years, we’ve been proud to help over 500 local people lead independent lives in our thriving community and support our fantastic team of caregivers as they continue to deliver high quality care each and every day.”

So what is the secret of Home Instead’s success?

“We have people working for us who have good hearts - people who want to make a difference and it shows in the service that we offer.

One of the things that makes us different to other care companies is that carers only work with 2 or 3 clients. Clients and carers are carefully matched for compatibility and genuine friendships form from this ability to provide continuity of care. All calls are one hour minimum and this allows carers to spend quality time with their clients, which in turn allows carers to feel rewarded and that they have made a real difference to someone’s day.”

This unique approach and the genuine care that Home Instead offers has earned the company several awards over the last eight years. For the third year in a row, they have been placed within the Top 10 home care companies from Homecare.co.uk. Home Instead are also proud owners of Sponsored feature

a Gold Investors in People Award, the benchmark of good people management practice.

The secret to their success perhaps lies in the quality of their employees and the way that they are looked after.

“We provide a wonderful homely welcome to those who choose to come and work with us and our staff feel valued and rewarded. We carefully select our employees to ensure that they are of the right calibre to provide the high quality care that we deliver, but we are looking for the right type of people rather than those who have care experience.”

Home Instead offer excellent quality training and provide constant recognition to members of staff through various monthly awards. They provide competitive rates of pay and a range of contracts are available. They also pay travel time, all of which enables staff to feel appropriately rewarded for the excellent service they provide to their clients.

Phil concludes: “Our fantastic team bring smiles to our clients day after day and these are the sort of people we are looking to come and work for us.”

“I absolutely love working for Home Instead. I enjoy making a real difference to my clients’ lives and the office team are so supportive. The flexible hours work perfectly around my family life.”

Sophie

Join Our Team Do you have a warm heart and a caring nature?

We are looking for kind and compassionate people to deliver our unique companionship-led care.

We match you with your clients based on background, hobbies and interests.

We offer: • Excellent training • Great rates of pay • Full and part time contracts • Previous care experience not necessary • Transport and driving license essential

Call us on 02920 569483 or email us at recruitment. cardiff@homeinstead.co.uk of our caregivers are proud to work for Home Instead

“I feel part of a big family with clients as an extended family and we work harder because of this.”

Karen “When I leave my clients and they are laughing and smiling, after sometimes arriving at the beginning of the call finding them looking a bit lost and sad, I really feel I am making a positive difference to their lives.”

Lesley

02920 569483

www.homeinstead.co.uk/cardiff

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Autumn Lights Twig Candle Holders

These rustic candle holders are easy to make and so lovely to look at once they are finished.

You'll need a glass candle holder or a small tumbler. You will also need plenty of twigs of similar appearance - a great excuse to get out and about on an autumn day!

Cut the twigs to size. You'll want them to be taller than the height of the glass holder. It doesn't matter if they are slightly different sizes as it adds to the rustic charm.

Simply glue the twigs around the outside of the jar and tie with some natural twine string. Place a lit candle in the holder, ensuring that nothing that can catch fire is hanging over into it.

26

DIY Autumn Garland

You'll need to preserve your autumn leaves before you do anything with them. The quickest way to do this is to place each leaf between two pieces of wax paper and iron them until the leaves have been coated in wax. Leave them to harden before using them.

Once your leaves have dried, take a set of standard string lights and with some strong glue, attach the individual leaves to the light. Your aim is to have each bulb directly behind each leaf. Leave to dry.

Once dried, you can hang your autumn garland almost anywhere in the house. They look great against windows in the daytime and even better at night when they are turned on.

Log Lights

Here’s a quick and easy way to brighten up any room in the house.

Head out into the woods and find yourself a log about 1-2ft long. Ideally, it should be roughly halved lengthways and have a natural hollow running down the centre.

While you are out, collect some pine cones and small twigs. Once home, arrange everything inside the hollow of the log, adding some tealights or some battery-powered lights. Remember to be careful with naked flames if you do intend to use tealights.

crafts

As the evenings darken, Rhiwbina glows with the warmth of lights. Here are some easy crafts for both adults and children to make, that can turn your home into a cosy nest Autumn Lamps

Empty glass jars are the perfect base for these cosy autumn lamps.

You should be able to buy these new from hobby stores. While you are there, stock up on Mod Podge and some coloured tissues.

One area at a time, glue the coloured tissue to the outside of the jar (not the inside!). Cut out trees from brown paper and attach in the same way as the other bits of tissue. Place a candle in the jar and light to create a cosy autumn lamp.

Window Collage

Coloured tissue paper will form the leaves on this wonderful window collage.

Pick a window that gets the most autumn sunshine and with a washable gluestick, arrange the leaves around the window frame.

Make sure to use autumn colours and when you want to take it down, peel off the leaves and wash the glue off the window with a sponge.

Stained Glass

These stained glass windows really do look stunning up against a sunny window. They are also really easy to make.

You’ll need two sheets of contact paper for each window that you want to make. Lay out your autumn leaves and foliage on the sticky side of the contact paper. When you are happy with your layout, lay the second piece of contact paper on top to trap the contents.

Next, you can create a frame. You can make this from twigs. Fold the sticky side of the paper along the twigs, or staple the frame together.

Alternatively, you can glue the frame together with strong glue, or place everything in a pre-made frame.

27

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From School to Stage

(via Cape Town) Last December, Rhiwbina's Louise Harvey was given the chance of a lifetime to perform in a brand new musical alongside West End legends. This is her story.

L

ike other ten year olds in Rhiwbina, Louise Harvey enjoyed going to school, playing sport and meeting friends. But a chance comment by her piano and singing teacher Glenda Pasley in December last year has given Louise and her family a year to remember.

Louise's Dad, Colin explains what happened: "Like other children, Louise was going to school and in her spare time, playing team sports including hockey and tennis. She had been attending piano and singing lessons once a week. Glenda mentioned to my wife Sian that there was a new musical in the making called Tiger Bay the Musical, and it was going to be previewed initially at The Artscape in Cape Town, South Africa in May, and would then open at Wales Millennium Centre in November. She mentioned that they were looking for someone with determination and desire to take on the challenge of playing Ianto, a character with an irrepressible spirit and suggested that Louise should go along for an audition."

Sian took Louise to the audition and waited to hear back.

"We were overwhelmed when we found out just before Christmas that Louise had got the part, and especially the news that she would be

spending eight weeks in Cape Town," says Colin. "Up until that point, the only time Louise had performed in front of other people was with her school choir in a concert at St David’s Hall! As the news began to sink in, the scale of the opportunity soon became apparent, not just to Louise but to all her family and friends.”

Colin adds: “The Wales Millennium Centre production team provided detailed plans for South Africa in the early part of the year and offered Sian the opportunity to chaperone Louise for the eight week period whilst I stayed home to look after Louise’s younger brother James. Sian’s employers were wonderful and allowed her the time to accompany Louise in Cape Town, and our wider family and friends were tremendous in helping me look after James."

Louise's school Ysgol y Wern were extremely supportive towards the whole experience and recognised that this was a unique educational opportunity.

Louise made her debut musical performance in Tiger Bay the Musical in May in Cape Town where she shared the role with Ruby Llewelyn from Llantrisant. She plays the part of Ianto, an orphan dreaming of a better life. One of a gang of waterboys, Ianto spends his days helping the dockers (known as Donkeymen) in return for food and protection from the many dangers they face. West End and Broadway star John Owen-Jones plays the role of the Third Marquess of Bute in the musical that's set in early 1900s Tiger Bay in Cardiff. The world premier of the musical will be in November this year at Wales

Millennium Centre.

The show, produced in association with Cape Town Opera, is a Welsh story of courage, reconciliation and love, built from the thriving multicultural community which still exists in Butetown today.

"Cape Town gave Louise some invaluable life experiences including a memorable trip to Robben Island to learn about apartheid," says Colin. "She is extremely grateful to work with such a professional cast and production team who have nurtured her every step of the way. She would like to continue working in the musical theatre industry. Who knows what the future has in store?"

Tiger Bay the Musical is on at Wales Millennium Centre from the 13th November – 25th November.

Louise and Ruby Llewelyn will alternate as Ianto, with Louise performing on the following dates: • 14th – 7.30pm • 16th – 7.30pm • 18th – 2.30pm • 21st – 11am (schools only) • 22nd – 7.30pm • 23rd – 7.30pm • 25th – 2.30pm

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2. Copper Needle Pendant Light from £79 Boasting a strong geometric form, the copper wirework Needle Easy Fit Pendant is perfect for a contemporary look. A copper finish suspension cable is also available.

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3. Milo Armchair £858 The modern design blends its angled wooden legs with retro Scandinavian style. This stunning contemporary armchair is finished with a soft-touch fabric.

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5. Villa Nova Forest Indigo Cushion £60 This beautiful 50cm x 50cm cushion features a specially designed forest landscape print, that was originally hand-painted in ink at the Villa Nova studios. Perfect for your sofa.

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6. Lovell Round Champagne Mirror £250 The stunning Lovell mirror is designed with a deep, sunburststyle moulded surround with a lightly distressed champagne finish.

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10 9 10 8 11 7. Rawley 9 Light Ribbon Pendant from £402 This 9 light pendant features twirling ribbons of brushed copper around a polished chrome frame. Flush fitting available.

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8. The High and Mighty by Chilli Penguin £1725 With its elevated height, oven box, log plinth and integral convection panel sides, this multifuel stove offers everything and more.

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community

{ Rhiwbina Rock s }

I

It's the community event that took over Rhiwbina during the summer holidays. You may have seen the rocks, you may have even painted some. But here's the story behind the craze

f you were out and about in Rhiwbina over the summer, you may have noticed colourfully painted rocks hiding in some unusual places.

If you’re not in the know, the rocks are actually part of a community game that’s been taking place over the summer months, and has continued into autumn.

Rhiwbina resident Sophie Wheeler started the trend during the summer holidays – and it’s taken on a life of its own.

“My daughter loves painting stones in the garden so we’ve spent hours painting and decorating them over the summer,” says Sophie. “My friend Kerry had recently told me about a similar rock group that was happening in Caerphilly and when I posted a picture on Facebook of my daughter and I painting in the garden (again), she jokingly said that I should set up a group in Rhiwbina – so we did. Initially I thought it was just going to be a few of our friends but it’s really taken off.”

And if you’re wanting to get involved in the game, it really is easy and fun to play.

“I would really like to think that this ‘game’ is for everyone

– young, old and everyone in between,” beams Sophie. “It’s very easy to play. You simply paint a stone and hide it somewhere in Rhiwbina (not forgetting to write Facebook Rhiwbina Rocks on the back). When you find a stone, you take a picture of it and post it to the Rhiwbina Rocks Facebook page.

You then re-hide the stone with a picture clue as to where it is for the next person to find and so on.” says Sophie.

There are also benefits from playing the game: “It’s all a great bit of fun for families to get out in to the fresh air and search together. While we’ve been out ‘rocking’, we’ve met some lovely people and lots of friends – it’s lovely to see so many people out and about. Even my 11 year old son has been out with us.”

Sophie has been pleasantly surprised at how well the game has taken on a life of its own.

“I think it’s taken off to the extent that it has because it’s easy, fun and right on your doorstep. It’s great to have a free activity to take part in where you don’t even have to get in the car.”

By the August Bank Holiday, members of the Facebook group had swelled to nearly 900 people.

“At the last count, we had 1335 members, which is phenomenal.

I’m really excited that our fantastic village is coming together as a community to take part.”

Looking ahead, the popularity of the game and group has thrown up some new ideas for the autumn.

“We had a few events towards the end of the summer such as our Summer Rock Amnesty on the 23rd September and our launch of Autumn Rocks on the 24th September. We also have lots of ideas in the pipeline yet to be announced so be sure to join the page and keep up with our plans.

“The thing I love most about this is how our little village has embraced the challenge and has come together as a community to do something fun. It’s lovely to get out with the family and take part.

"There are plenty of Autumn Rocks out there to be found - Rhiwbina really does rock!"

35

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Remember, Remember

outdoors

Bonfire Night is a typically British affair. Time to wrap up against the cold, get some warming food on and enjoy the fireworks

The Party If you are planning a traditional Bonfire Night party, it goes without saying that safety has to come first.

But with some good planning and some preparation, you can enjoy a great Bonfire Night party like the ones you used to have as a kid.

Fireworks are there to entertain so you may want to put a little bit of thought into your firework display.

If you've got a good selection of fireworks, consider adding variety to your display. You don't want to go setting off all your rockets in one go or all the mines at the same time.

Mix things up a little bit to keep your guests guessing!

If you are wanting a traditional bonfire, make sure you site it away from trees, shrubs and overhanging branches. You must always check the bonfire before lighting it to make sure that no animals or children have crept inside.

Once lit, make sure that you keep a close eye on the fire to ensure that it

38

doesn't go out of control.

Traditionally, children used to make their own effigies of Guy Fawkes for Bonfire Night. They would then take these 'Guys' around the local streets and collect ‘pennies for the Guy’ so they had money to buy fireworks.

The custom has largely vanished these days but it's still a great daytime activity to keep the kids happy while they wait for the dark.

You can make your own 'Guy' from old clothes, newspaper and straw.

These would usually be hung on an old broom and often the Guy would have an old Halloween mask for a face.

Chestnuts can be found in abundance throughout the autumn.

They can also provide another timehonoured Bonfire Night custom roasted chestnuts. Use a small knife to cut a cross into the skin of each chestnut. Place them in a roasting tin and into an oven (preheated to 200°c) and bake for around 30 minutes, until the skins open and the insides are tender. Serve them in paper bags.

Firework Safety On the night, you'll need: • A torch • Tapers • A bucket or two of water • Eye protection and gloves • A bucket of soft earth to put fireworks in • Suitable supports and launchers if you’re setting off Catherine wheels or rockets • First Aid kit • A closed box, preferably metal, to keep the fireworks in Sparkler safety: Sparklers can get five times hotter than cooking oil – so should never be given to a child under five. Place them in a bucket of water as soon as they finish.

Sticky Cider Sausage Burgers Bonfire Night isn't Bonfire Night without sausages or burgers. You'll

need 800g echalion shallots, 200ml (1/3pt) English cider, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tsp wholegrain mustard, 12 sausages (meat or meat-free), 2 ciabattas, split lengthways and cut into thirds.

Preheat the oven to gas 5, 190°C, fan 170°C. Place the shallots in an ovenproof dish, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of water, cover them with foil and roast for 1 hour. Set them aside and leave them to cool. Put the honey, cider and mustard in a small saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes. The mixture should reduce by about two-thirds. Put the sausages in a roasting tin and cook for 10 minutes, then coat them with half the glaze and pop them back into the oven to cook for a further 10 minutes. Squeeze the cooked shallots out of their skins, chop and then stir in with the sausages. Glaze the sausages again, then return the tin to the oven for 5-10 minutes until everything is golden. Warm the ciabattas, fill with sausages and serve.

Warm Pumpkin Soup If you want something to warm up your

hands and your belly, you can't go wrong with spicy pumpkin soup, especially if you have some leftovers from Halloween. Boil the pumpkin flesh until it's tender. Chop and de-seed a medium red chilli and pop it into a blender with a small handful of coriander leaves, two chopped garlic cloves and some salt and pepper. Give the mixture a good whizz in the blender before adding the pumpkin flesh and whizzing that. Add everything to a pan with a can of coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Serve in small scooped out pumpkins.

Ultimate Hot Chocolate 450ml whole milk 70g 70% cocoa chocolate, finely chopped or grated 30g good-quality milk chocolate, finely chopped or grated 75ml single cream ¼ tsp ground cinnamon Pinch of salt • Warm about 150ml milk in a pan over a medium heat and stir in the chocolate. Continue to stir until the chocolate has melted into the milk, then whisk in the remaining milk and the cream.

• Continue to heat until the mixture is hot, but not boiling, then add the cinnamon and a pinch of salt.

Taste, adjust if necessary, and serve. Whisk vigorously just before pouring.

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Garlic Parmesan Bread These bites are really easy to

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In a small bowl, combine butter with some freshly crushed garlic, some salt and some chopped parsley. Spread the butter mixture on pieces of Italian bread and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Place each piece of bread under the grill until it's golden brown about 2-4 minutes.

Toffee Apples Take eight Granny Smith apples and boil them in water to remove the waxy covering. Then lay them on parchment paper. Tip 400g golden caster sugar into a pan along with 100ml water and set over a medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves, then stir in the vinegar and syrup.

Set a sugar thermometer in the pan and boil to 150°C. Carefully dip each apple in the hot toffee until covered, then place on the baking parchment to dry and harden.

39

Constituency News

with Julie Morgan AM

This autumn in the Assembly I’ve been helping to raise funds for Macmillan Cymru by hosting a coffee morning for fellow AMs. I also hosted my annual Macmillan coffee morning at Miss Jones in Whitchurch, which I hope some of you may have been able to come along to.

This was my 17th annual event for the charity – it is always a great fundraiser and very well attended.

Watch this space for photos of the event in the next issue.

I’m a member of the Assembly’s Cross-Party Group on Sepsis and I’ve campaigned with a constituent who works for the UK Sepsis Trust. So I was very pleased to hear that a Sepsis-awareness raising event, Rachel’s Day, had taken place in Rhiwbina this August. It’s vitally important that we raise awareness of how suddenly this condition can become extremely serious.

During recess, I took part in the city’s annual Pride parade. There was a great atmosphere and it is a really positive event to take part in. Everyone enjoyed supporting and celebrating with the city’s LGBT community.

In late summer, there was good news for the volunteers who have done so much work in the Whitchurch Community Garden. They were awarded a prestigious Green Flag Award from Keep Wales Tidy. The awards recognise exceptional parks and green spaces which are managed by volunteers.

The idea behind the garden was to create an area which would encourage wildlife and bees, which we know are declining in numbers. Some residents do not have much green space of their own so the group also gives them a chance to grow flowers and vegetables and to take part in a friendly, communal activity.

If you would like to create a community garden in Rhiwbina, or if you have any other issues I can help you with, please call my constituency office on 029 2061 4577 or drop in – the office, run by my experienced staff, is open Monday to Friday, no appointment necessary.

I also hold weekly surgeries – see my website for information.

How to get in touch If you have any concerns or issues please contact my office on 029 2061 4577. I can also be contacted via my website at www.juliemorgan.org. uk, by email at julie.morgan@assembly.wales or through Twitter @JulieMorganLAB

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& s p s a e c bin i a d D o o W

The Garden Village maintenance team was once a common sight around Rhiwbina. It was led by the irrepressible Jim Heath

R

hiwbina residents Mary Clarke and Jeff Heath share one big influence in their lives – their father, the late Jim ‘The Plumber’ Heath.

Jim was a familiar face around the village for many years. As part of the Garden Village maintenance team, Jim visited many of the houses in Rhiwbina. Like his Dad, Jeff also became a plumber.

“I regularly go to people’s houses around Rhiwbina to fix things. I have to take out cylinders from people’s airing cupboards and take up floorboards and everywhere I go, I find Woodbine packets that belonged to my father who had been there many years before," says Jeff.

Jim Heath "When we first moved to Rhiwbina, the foreman of the maintenance

42

crew was a chap called Ted Rees.

Our Dad came here in 1932 and when Ted Rees retired, our Dad took over as the foreman. I left school in 1958 and took an entrance exam to the Metropolitan Police and was accepted but I couldn’t join until I was 16. Because I was only 15 at the time, my mother and father didn’t want me just kicking around for a year so they gave me a job as an apprentice plumber with my Dad. "After a year, I liked it so much that I wrote back to the Metropolitan Police and said that I was happily employed.

There were nine of us in the maintenance team then – painters, decorators, plumbers, carpenters, plasterers and gardeners. In those days, the Garden Village was run as a company so we were responsible for the maintenance of the houses in the Garden Village.

“My first job of the day was to cycle to the shop and pick up 20 Woodbines for Dad, which would last him until about 5 o’clock in the afternoon," says Jeff. "The shop also sold fireworks. I didn’t have much spending money back then but one

autumn, I asked for a pound's worth of penny bangers for Guy Fawkes Night. Back in those days, there were 240 pennies to the pound so there I was, cycling back to the village with these bangers bunged up in elastic bands. I had 50 in one pocket, 50 in another, a 100 here and a 100 down my shirt. The shop owner was worried that I was going to fall off my bike and set them off.

The fireworks scared the hell out of Dad!" Jim was an unforgettable character around Rhiwbina.

"As a 15 year old, I couldn’t believe how much Dad would swear in front of people when we were visiting the houses.

‘If I can’t bloody fix it, I’ll bloody make sure that no other bugger will,’ he’d say.

"He had two hammers – one for hitting nails in and a bigger one for banging things around. There used be a very popular pianist around at the time called Winifred Atwell and she would play honky tonk music on one piano and then head over to the grand piano to play classical music. As she moved between the

Everywhere I go, I find Woodbine packets that belonged to my father who had been there many years before

two pianos, she'd say 'Now over to my other piano.' When Dad wanted his other hammer, he'd always say 'Pass me my other bloody piano.'

It's a phrase I still use today!"

The residents of Rhiwbina themselves featured in some of the more memorable events over the years: "We had a call from a woman one day who could hardly talk because she was crying so much. We knew everyone in every house very well. This time, it was Mrs Walford on Heol-y-Deri so we went running around to see what the problem was.

She’d bought a carpet, nailed it to the floorboards and hit a water pipe. She could hear all this hissing."

But that wasn't the end of the story: "She'd lit a match to see where the water was coming from and BOOM! It was actually a gas pipe. Her eyebrows had gone, her eyelashes had gone, her hair had gone and when we got there, there were still flames shooting out from under the floorboards. All she had to do was turn the gas off but she didn’t do that. She went next door to phone us and left the house burning instead."

Other former residents linger long in Jeff's mind: "Novelist Jack Jones lived in a house on Pen-y-Dre where a cylinder had exploded and it brought the entire ceiling down in his lounge. We cleaned it all up but Jack told us to leave it as it was, even though they had no ceiling. A few months later, a house became empty on the other side of the road so as the maintenance team, we went in to decorate it.

We put in a new kitchen and a new bathroom – completely decorated it from top to bottom. Bill Roberts, the secretary of Rhiwbina Garden Village, gave me the keys and told me to see Jack and his wife Gladys, and to tell them that they could come and have a look at this house that we’d just decorated. We told them that if they wanted to move in, they could. Gladys was absolutely thrilled to bits with the new house.

Jack however, said ‘Tell Mr Roberts that it’s a very kind offer but we are happy where we are’ and that was

that."

For Jeff, every part of Rhiwbina holds a memory of his father.

"On the corner of one street, there was a house with a large front garden and a goldfish pond and if we had hard rain, the pond would overflow. The whole garden would disappear under water from the pond. If my dad was passing, he’d get off his bike, go inside their gate and put the fish back in the pond.

I always remember seeing these fish drying out on the garden and Dad putting them back in the pond."

Jeff's sister Mary, now herself a wellknown resident of the village held her father in great esteem: “Dad’s bike was held together with a lump of putty and on top of the putty was usually a wonderful Webb’s lettuce because he used to grow them - someone would always be having a lettuce delivered.

And if he wasn’t doing house maintenance or delivering lettuces, he would be repairing their clocks at our home. He forever had a big easel in the room and we’d all have to walk around it. On the easel, he’d hang these clocks that he was trying to get working.

"Dad also had a Dai cap that he'd use for all sorts of things. As a youngster, I used to like catching dragonflies. Dad would take us up Cefn Onn for a picnic, alongside the stream and he would take the cap off his head and catch these dragonflies in it. He also used his

Our father had a great ability to think outside the box. There was no such thing as ‘We can’t do it’. There was always a way around things

history

cap for putting out fires.

“People only ever knew me as Jim’s daughter. They never knew me by my name. But he taught me a lot. Our father had a great ability to think outside the box. There was no such thing as ‘We can’t do it’.

There was always a way around things."

For Mary, the true sense of community that was such a feature of Rhiwbina when Jim was alive, still resonates today.

"We lost our way a little bit over the years but more recently, it has crept back. Every year, I stand around that Christmas tree in the village and sing carols with the other villagers.

A few years ago, there were just a few of us, but these days you can't see to the back of the crowd.

It's lovely to think that we are all Rhiwbinans, all living together, all pulling together and all putting life back into the village.

"Hopefully, it's something we’ll build on for the future."

Y Groes in the 1970s

43

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Recliner Chair Centre

An award-winning, family firm, established for over 40 years

We all have a favourite place to sit in our homes, whether it’s our seat at the dinner table, our spot on the sofa, or the plush chair in the living room.

Unfortunately, for many of us, there comes a time in our life when our favourite chair no longer gives us the support we need. That's where the Recliner Chair Centre in The Heath can help

look for a showroom.

"We finally found our spot here in Heath after I visited someone in UHW and saw a For Sale sign on the building. It was exactly what we were looking for and gave us a presence in the local community."

The floor area showcases over 100 products and more lift and recline chairs than anywhere else.

"We used the opportunity to move to major brands. We embraced

For more than 40 years, the Recliner Chair Centre has been providing the UK with the highest quality electric and leather recliner chairs. The story behind the business reveals the true extent of its first-class customer service.

“We’ve been in these premises for 35 years and been in business for 40,” says owner Alun Williams proudly.

"I was one of the first to bring rise and recliners into the UK and helped develop this product for a number of manufacturers in Wales and England. Our experience and knowledge has resulted in us claiming to be the UK's leading showroom retailer of the vast differences and ranges of actions used on this type of chair."

At first, the chairs were made in Talbot Green but as it wasn’t deemed a safe place for their customers to visit, Alun decided to

Parker Knoll, Sherborne, Celebrity and Cintique, but stock all major brands for optimum choice."

Every chair on display has to 'earn its place' by showing a different variation of size and mechanisms.

"Lift and recline chairs now account for over 80% of our business and over the last six years, we have also sold the wonderful Sherborne motorised bed in all its variables. The bed essentially uses the same generic type of linear motors on which our expertise is founded - crossing the disciplines

31 St Anthony Road, Heath Cardiff, CF14 4DF

of engineering and upholstered furniture. I think this is why any new customers usually give us a pyramid of recommendations and therefore further sales," says Alun.

Their genuine commitment to customer service is backed up with the fact that members of staff don't receive commission on sales.

"We have heard terrible stories about people buying chairs at obscene prices or with a free offer of a bed, but if something goes wrong, there's often no ongoing support. Our team can offer their extensive knowledge about the products we display including the variety of rise and recline chairs available. Sue has been here for 20 years and Chris for well over a decade.

"It’s in our nature to look after our customers. We've been here for such a length of time that we see people again and again over the years. It's lovely to deal with people and have that ongoing relationship with them."

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gardening

Bringing the harvest home Autumn is the time of year to reap the rewards of a long summer.

Kevin Revell shows you how to prepare your harvest for winter

T

he word ‘harvest’ is derived from the old English word ‘hærfest’, which literally means ‘autumn’ - a time of mists and mellow fruitfulness; a time when all the hard work put into the garden over the spring and summer comes to fruition and crops are gathered and stored for the lean times ahead.

Surplus root vegetables can be stored outdoors in clamps, a simple storage system which predates the freezer by some centuries. It consists of alternating layers of vegetables, straw and soil. The produce remains accessible and in good condition, even in the hardest winter weather which would prevent them being dug directly from the ground. Leeks keep well left in the ground however, and some would maintain that it is not worth eating parsnips until after the first frost to improve sweetness.

Potatoes are best stored when clean and dry in hessian sacks in a dark, cool place to prevent them sprouting prematurely and developing poisonous green

46

patches if left in the light. Onions and garlic are often tied into strings and stored in a cool place.

Fruit is best eaten fresh in terms of flavour and health benefits, so in the probable absence of a cold store, sheds and outhouses are ideal to store carefully selected fruit such as apples and pears. Line them up on wooden racks or bread crates to take the harvest well into the new year. Ensure good air movement between the racks and choose only the best fruit to store; remember to check periodically to prevent the depredations of rot, rogue snails and vermin. Try to avoid the fruit touching one another to limit the spread of rot; the old adage of one bad apple spoiling the barrel was never so true as in its original meaning.

Other vegetables that store well include marrows, squashes and pumpkins, which in a good year will yield substantial crops that defy immediate consumption. Runner and French beans are best frozen in season but a few that are left in late

summer to mature and dry out, can be harvested and stored to add to winter soups and stews. Those with a large or a second freezer will be able to fill it up with frozen stewed fruit, suitable for future pies and crumbles. If space is limited, get hold of a few old kilner jars and preserve bottled fruit in syrup which will last for a year or so if stored in cool, dark conditions. Chutneys are always a good way of using up a few pounds of windfalls or slightly damaged fruit that will not keep well.

Some vegetables such as small onions, shallots and beetroot lend themselves to home pickling, preserving them in spiced vinegar, while garlic and chillies can be stored in oil or brine. Many fruits lend themselves to drying which ideally is done outdoors on strings in late summer but such conditions can be mimicked on baking trays in a low oven for a few hours. Tomatoes and apples make excellent dried fruits, the intensified flavours will make a

winter warmer in sloe gin which should be ready to drink in time for Christmas. Crab apples and rowan trees can be raided to make fine jellies which will not be available in the shops. Meanwhile, those keen on 1940s revivals might collect rose hips to make a vintage cordial rich in vitamin C, which stood our parents and grandparents in good stead in times of wartime naval blockades. Children will be out searching for conkers but a more useful harvest is available from chestnut trees - an occasional good year will yield some decent size nuts, while even beech mast is edible if you are prepared for the fiddly task of removing the husks.

Walnut trees can be productive in a good year and hazels and cobnuts can usually be relied on, provided that there are not too many squirrels in the area.

Mushrooms and fungi also abound at this time of year but care must be taken in only picking the edible types – go out with an experienced mushroom hunter or go along to an organised fugal foray, who forage in an ethical manner leaving some areas undisturbed to grow again in subsequent years. With experience and a keen eye, areas to find these resources can be committed to memory, shared knowledge passed down the generations and revisited year after year to provide a harvest of food for free just as our forbears did. fine addition to the store cupboard for use on cold winter days. Anyone with a greenhouse will no doubt be overrun with tomatoes and chillies which crop well into the autumn but are unlikely to ripen successfully in October. These are best converted into sauces or soups and frozen to enjoy later in the year. Any excess produce can easily be converted into chutneys and pickles which can be enjoyed for over a year. Virtually every chutney recipe has a base of apples and tomatoes so it is well worth growing a number of these to provide the impetus to get out the preserving pans.

Even the falling autumn leaves can be regarded as a harvest of

sorts, as they can be gathered and stored in bins or bags for a year or so until they decompose into leaf mould, a peaty type material ideal for soil conditioning and mulching shrubs and hedges around the garden. It is not possible to buy this material in shops or garden centres so it really does pay to make your own and get involved in garden recycling while improving the soil and earthworm population of your garden. Those lucky enough to live on tree-lined streets can easily get out before the council street cleaning vehicles come round and bag up some gardening gold – an extremely valuable resource which far too many people throw away or needlessly complain about.

The autumn harvest need not be limited to what the garden provides; a wild harvest is to be found in the countryside where you may be familiar with collecting blackberries.

Autumn is also the time to look for hedgerow sloes which resemble small plums and make an excellent

Kevin Revell is the Plant Area Manager at Caerphilly Garden Centre

47

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James & Jenkins Garages James & Jenkins are celebrating more than 35 years in Llandaff North. Providing vehicle sales, MOTs, servicing and vehicle hire, they have everything under one roof

James & Jenkins has been synonymous with Llandaff North since the early 1980s.

Since their opening over 35 years ago, the well-respected car dealer has evolved into something much more, and can now boast a wide range of services for the local community. The recent opening of the nearby Lidl store is also helping the business to thrive.

“The new store is giving our fuel and car sales a good upturn. We are finding that people are visiting Llandaff North because of the new store - and also taking advantage of everything that we’ve got to offer here too,” said Director Mark James.

“The new Lidl store offers over 100 car parking spaces and is ideally placed for us to provide shoppers with their fuel, National Lottery, free cashpoint and airline needs.

“Of course, we can also provide everyone with their motoring needs as we have done for many years - we’ve got nearly new and used Vauxhalls to suit all needs and budgets. We also stock Fords, Fiats and Renaults too.”

But perhaps the icing on the cake is the fact that James & Jenkins are celebrating their first year as the only Subaru dealer across the whole of the capital, Cardiff; indeed now the only main dealer all along the M4 corridor in South Wales.

“We are the first Subaru main dealer to be found in Cardiff for more than five years,” says Mark.

“We can offer motorists access to all of Subaru’s cars, including the latest-generation Forester, Outback, XV, WRX STI, and much more.

We recently attended the Vale of Glamorgan Show as well as the

Royal Welsh Show with the brand.”

Customers will also find a great choice of Subaru vehicles among their Approved Used stock: “We thoroughly assess all preowned examples before they go on sale, so you can purchase with complete confidence. We are also taking advance orders for all the new registrations of all makes on September 1st.

“Our showroom is filled with friendly and attentive staff who will offer you a completely personal service whatever your motoring needs are. With have a long list of finance options available, and affiliations with leading financiers such as Black Horse and Motonovo to make sure that you drive away happy and with the best possible deal.”

Their servicing workshops at the rear of the showrooms are constantly busy: “Our workshops are ready to help you and your car whatever make or model,” says Mark. “Use our Wifi while you wait, enjoy our fresh tea and coffee or simply browse in the showroom - we look forward to welcoming you soon.”

James & Jenkins also pride themselves on the other services that they provide for the community.

“We’ve got everything under one roof. We are always raising the standards in vehicle sales,” says Mark. “Our after-sales care is also second to none and we are always evolving with the times to give our customers the best service they can get.”

Be sure to pop over to James & Jenkins and see what they’ve got to offer - you won’t be disappointed.

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pets

Your pet questions answered

Chris Troughton is clinical director of Heath Vets. He’s here to answer all your pet questions. If you’d like to ask Chris a pet-related question, drop us a line I have a Labrador that’s getting on a bit now. I’ve recently noticed that one of her eyes has become slightly cloudy.

She doesn’t seem bothered by it but is it something I should worry about, especially if it gets any worse?

There are several reasons that an older dog's eyes may appear cloudy, some of which are important but others do not cause any impairment to sight.

Dogs can get cataracts, which usually progress to cause complete blindness over a period of months, sometimes longer. Cataracts can be removed surgically, but this is a job for a specialist opthalmologist. Problems with the cornea (the front window of the eye) can also cause cloudiness. This can be associated with glaucoma or inflammation, and may be treatable with drops.

The commonest reason for a cloudy appearance is a condition called 'sclerosis of the lens'. Here, the lens hardens and changes appearance to observers, but it doesn't affect the patient's view of the world and does not lead to other eye problems.

So although your old friend doesn't seem affected by the cloudiness, and it is probably nothing to worry about, it would be sensible to get your vet to take a look and make sure it's not the start of a more serious problem.

I’ve read about ticks causing dog deaths around South Wales. I’m worried about taking

my dog out in the country now.

What advice can you offer?

Ticks are tiny creatures related to spiders (ie. they are not insects) which feed on blood.

Ticks live mostly in long rough grassland and are particularly prevalent where their favourite hosts, sheep and deer, are found, but they will also live in parks and gardens, usually brought in by wildlife. Ticks are becoming more common, due to wetter summers and warmer winters, and we certainly see more ticks on dogs and cats nowadays than in years past.

In the UK, ticks carry several diseases, including Lyme Disease and Babesia, which can affect dogs. Lyme Disease has been in the UK for many years and infections in dogs occur sporadically all over the country.

Babesia is new to UK, and so far, has only been identified in a few dogs living in the Essex area, although we expect it to slowly spread across the country. Both these diseases can kill dogs, so it's important to protect your dog against them.

The best protection is to use a drug which kills ticks quickly.

Infection takes place several hours after commencing a blood meal. There are several effective prescription medicines available from your vet, and these also control other parasites such as fleas. Your dog should be treated regularly so that any ticks he encounters are killed before they can cause harm. If you do find a tick on him, it's important

to remove it carefully using a special instrument that avoids squeezing the body, as squeezing will encourage regurgitation of saliva into the bite, increasing the chance of infection.

Is my e-cigarette dangerous to my cat? (me smoking it, not him) E-cigarettes contain a number of chemicals which are potentially harmful to cats (and dogs for that matter). However, the risk of toxicity from 'second-hand vaping' is minimal because the amount of chemicals inhaled will be very small.

There is a greater risk from the neat liquid that you put in your e-cigarette. This contains large amounts of nicotine which is a neurotoxin, and propylene glycol which can cause anaemia in cats so be very careful to wipe up any drips when you refill, and keep supplies of the liquid safely away from inquisitive cats and dogs.

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feature

Ao-fZparenting

An

It can bring great joy. But having kids can bring with it a whole host of horrors. Here's our A-Z guide to parenting

A&E

You can bet you end up here on a bank holiday or late at night when the unit is full to bursting and when you were about to pour yourself a long awaited glass of wine. You spend most of your time cringing as your little one plays with all the toys that are inevitably covered in germs from all the poorly kids, and hoping you don’t go home with something worse than what you came with in the first place.

Bribery

Technically this is known as positive reinforcement. Can be used in all situations to encourage children to do what is asked of them by rewarding them with the inevitable packet of sweets or chocolate. In desperate times of need, a trip to Smiggle can be used. Pleas of such bribery from parents can often be heard in Clarks shoe shop.

Competitive

We pretend not to be but let’s face it, we are really. When it comes to getting the best seats for the school concerts, you’d swear some parents had camped out the night before.

School sports day and the

58

Mums' and Dads' races are the height of parenting prowess. The most competitive of all can be seen inconspicuously doing their stretches whilst pretending to pick up something from the floor or whipping out their speedy spikes just before the whistle goes.

Dress Up

Just when you finally feel on top of life, or more likely are thinking that life can’t get any busier. Ping.

There it is – a message from school informing you of yet another dress up day. Panic ensues when you see that Amazon can’t deliver until an estimated date of 2 weeks after it is needed. You secretly suspect that the school has an undercover contract with Amazon Prime and that they are taking a cut out of all the last minute subscriptions.

Expensive

Remember when you used to have money to buy what you wanted for yourself? Long gone are the days of browsing boutiques for luxurious, self indulgent items, replaced instead by a second mortgage taken out to buy the latest, musthave school bag from Smiggle.

Feeding

Whether it’s dealing with the mess of baby-led weaning and pretending to be relaxed as you see your child fling Spaghetti Bolognaise up the newly painted wall, or covering your child’s vegetables in tomato sauce in an attempt to get them to eat them, feeding time is one thing guaranteed to cause stress.

Grunting

The only noise your teenager seems capable of making.

Homework

When parents call into question the value of their entire education and breathe a sigh of relief for the wonder of Google.

Invitations

There is an etiquette to dealing with invites, which usually involves giving at least 2 weeks notice of intention to come, usually for the child’s parent to organise said number of party bags. Your

feature

calendar is now littered with dates by which you have to let people know you can make it, along with a list of mobile numbers of parents you have never met. Who knew RSVP'ing was a job in itself?

Job

The place you escape to when you want to have a rest, a hot cup of tea, or an uninterrupted toilet break.

Also see Invitations.

Kinder Surprise Egg Love See Bribery. Also Yelp.

We wouldn’t do it all without this would we?

Mombie

A state of being for new mothers in the first 6 weeks of motherhood (or much longer if unlucky). Can often be seen wandering around aimlessly and forgetting what they were doing, or downing multiple cups of strong coffee in an attempt to construct a sentence.

No

The word that causes you to take a deep breath as you await World War III.

One, Two, Three

The warning used in an attempt to get kids to listen. Saying 'Three' is another surefire way to cause World War III, so parents try to avoid at all costs. Long pauses can be heard after 'Two', as well as desperate mutters of 2 and a halves and three quarters. Bribery of a trip to Smiggle is often used instead of uttering the dreaded 'Three'.

Parties

When you go from secretly pleased to realising your kid is popular enough to be invited (see Competitive) to experiencing feelings of horror when you realise that yet another weekend has to be spent in a cold draughty soft play hangar. You toss a coin with your partner to see who will be unlucky.

Queues

For anything remotely popular, expect to spend a long time standing in one. And then to endure moaning the whole time whilst you reminisce about times you actually used to do things you enjoyed.

Rest

The thing you distantly recall before you became a parent.

Sleep

Probably the biggest parenting challenge of them all. You try every strategy advised in the book. All of the books. Even Google can’t help here. The only time the bribery of a trip to Smiggle doesn’t damn work.

Tweenager

The horror that has become your 6 year old.

through the dreaded mountain of lost property, trying to hold your breath, wishing you had worn protective clothing and wondering how someone can lose one shoe.

Victorious

How you feel when you finally tiptoe out of your child's room after hours of trying to get them to sleep and make it down the stairs.

Witching Hour

Usually occurs between 4-6pm when kids are tired and hungry.

Many parents can be heard cracking open the first alcoholic drink of the night around this time and questioning why they became a parent.

X-Ray

You wonder how your child isn’t radioactive after yet another injury sustained on the rugby pitch.

Yelp

What you do when you stand barefoot on a piece of Lego or plastic from a Kinder Surprise Egg.

Zzzzs If only.

Uniform

Expect to spend most of your time hunting for lost items of this, even when you have done your parenting duty and spent hours labelling it all down to the vests. You will still inevitably find yourself trawling

59

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Autumn casseroles With this season comes misty nights and autumn storms. Time to shut the world out and hunker down with these wonderfully warming recipes

Stew and Dumplings 2 tbsp olive oil 150g chicken/seitan, diced 140g whole wheat flour 1.1 litre chicken or vegetable stock 100g nutritional yeast 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp dried thyme 1 ½ tsp rubbed sage 2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed 1 tsp onion powder 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ tsp crushed black peppercorn, plus more to garnish 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley ¼ tsp celery seeds 2 bay leaves 2 carrots, chopped 3 celery stalks, chopped 115g frozen peas Dumplings 475g plain flour 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp sea salt 2 tbsp margarine 170ml soy milk 1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed ☐ Heat the olive oil in a large casserole pot over a medium heat.

Drop in the chicken or seitan and cook it until it is cooked through and browned with crispy edges. Transfer it to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up any extra oil, leaving the oil in the pan. ☐ Stir the flour into the hot oil that's left in the pan with a wooden spoon. Add the stock and whisk in the nutritional yeast. Using a large

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wooden spoon, stir in the soy sauce, thyme, sage, rosemary, onion powder, garlic, peppercorns, parsley, celery seeds, bay leaves, carrots, celery, and peas. ☐ Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it all simmer for 15 minutes. ☐ Next, you'll need to make the dumplings. In a large bowl, combine all the dumpling ingredients and use an electric handheld mixer to mix the ingredients until they form a firm batter. ☐ Roll a portion of the dough into a ball about the size of your palm or use a soup spoon to form smaller dumplings instead. ☐ Raise the heat under the pot of stew to bring it to a boil. Drop the raw dumplings into the hot stew one at a time and stir them in with a wooden spoon. Make sure the dumplings get completely covered so that they cook evenly. ☐ Let the dumplings simmer in the stew for 10 to 15 minutes. ☐ Take out the largest dumpling and break it open. If the dumpling is firm on the inside, it's time to serve up.

Mix in the cooked chicken or seitan before serving with a few pinches of pepper over the top. Serve with warm bread.

recipes

Mushroom Bourguignon 2 tbsp olive oil 5 small shallots 6 baby carrots 1 tsp pre-chopped garlic / garlic purée 250g chestnut mushrooms 100g button mushrooms 1½ tbsp plain flour 200ml red wine 150ml boiling water 1 tsp vegetable stock powder 1 tbsp tomato purée handful of fresh parsley ☐ Heat the olive oil in a casserole pot (or large frying pan) over a high heat. Peel and halve the shallots, trim and quarter the baby carrots lengthways, and add them to the pot along with the garlic. ☐ Clean and cut the chestnut mushrooms into quarters.

Clean the button mushrooms and add them to the pot and cook them for 2 minutes. ☐ Stir the flour through the mushrooms, then add the red wine. Bring to a brisk boil for one minute, then add the water, the stock powder and the tomato purée. Cook over a medium to high heat until a thick, glossy sauce has formed and the mushrooms are just cooked through but are not too soft. Add salt and black pepper to taste. ☐ Roughly chop the parsley and stir in two thirds of it through the bourguignon. Ladle into warm bowls and sprinkle the remaining parsley over the top. Serve with warm bread.

Lentil and Mushroom Shepherd's Pie 8 large or 10 medium potatoes (Yukon gold works well) 2 tbsp butter 120ml milk salt to taste 2 tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 170g Portobellini mushrooms, sliced two 400g cans lentils with liquid 2 tbsp dry red wine, 1 to 2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce 2 to 3 tsp all-purpose seasoning blend ½ tsp dried thyme 3 tbsp cornstarch 225g baby spinach freshly ground pepper to taste 50g fresh breadcrumbs ☐ Peel and dice the potatoes. Place them in a large saucepan with enough water to cover them. Bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer until they are tender - about 20 minutes. Drain and transfer them to

a small mixing bowl. ☐ Stir the butter into the potatoes until it's melted, then add the milk and mash everything until fluffy.

Season with salt, cover, and set aside until needed. ☐ Preheat the oven to 200ºC. Heat the oil in a medium skillet pan. Add the onion and sauté over a medium heat until they are translucent. Add the garlic and mushrooms and continue to sauté until the onion is golden. ☐ Add the lentils and their liquid and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the wine, the soy sauce, the seasoning blend, the thyme and the pepper. Cook gently for 5 minutes.

Combine the cornstarch with just enough water to dissolve it in a small container. Stir into the lentil mixture. ☐ Add the spinach, a little at a time, cooking until it’s wilted down.

Remove from the heat and taste to adjust seasonings to your liking. ☐ Lightly oil a large casserole dish. ☐ Scatter the breadcrumbs evenly over the bottom of the dish. Pour in the lentil mixture, then spread the potatoes evenly over the top. ☐ Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the potatoes begin to turn golden and slightly crusty. Leave the dish to stand for 5 to 10 minutes, then cut into wedges to serve.

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