Rhiwbina living Issue 41

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Rhiwbina Living

At the heart of the community Issue 41 Winter ‘17

WINTER

Your multi award-winning magazine for Rhiwbina

Inside this issue Rhiwbina's Elinor Crawley talks about her acting career and her memories of the place she calls home

Competitions

Win a family ticket to see Cinderella the ballet at St David's Hall and a Winter Wishes Spa Day for two at the Village Hotel

Christmas Gifts

Discover our hand-picked Christmas gifts from our local shops in Rhiwbina and Whitchurch

Christmases in Rhiwbina

Hear from Rhiwbina residents about festive seasons and Christmas stories in the village in years gone by

Spring deadline:

16th February 2018 Published March 2018

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 winter issue of Rhiwbina Living.

Christmas is almost upon us once again and the village is preparing for the festive season.

Here at Rhiwbina Living, we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary. Who would have thought that it was 10 years ago that the very first magazine was delivered in time for Christmas?

We will be bringing you a special anniversary issue in the spring.

Back to this issue, we were honoured to have spoken with Rhiwbina actress Elinor Crawley, who has appeared in several high profile TV shows. She now lives in London but she looks back fondly on her upbringing in the village, and how it shaped her career.

This time of year is undoubtedly about the magic of Christmas through the eyes of children, so we are delighted to publish the art work and thoughts about the festive season from some of our local children.

We will all be doing our Christmas shopping soon. To give you a head start, we have been out and about sourcing a fabulous selection of goodies from local retailers. Supporting local business is so important for our village to continue to thrive.

We've also found some seasonal crafts for you to embrace the festive spirit.

We are excited to announce the winner of our inaugural Rhiwbina Living Festive Pet competition.

Over 3,000 people voted online for their favourites and we'd like to congratulate all of those featured in this issue as they have made it through to the final few.

Stories are always popular at this time of year and we've got two beauties for you to snuggle up with.

Our historical feature celebrates the magic of Christmas in Rhiwbina over the years, as told by some of our residents. The Rhiwbina Christmas spirit is something very special indeed.

If you're feeling lucky, try your hand at our two fantastic winter competitions and you could be going to see Cinderella the ballet at St David's Hall or warming up with a Winter Wishes Spa Day for two at the Village Hotel.

We have a fantastic winter walk if you need to work off that Christmas dinner and finally we turn our attention to New Year's Eve with a guide on planning the perfect party.

With much more, this really is an issue to savour, so we'd like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

See you in 2018!

Danielle and Patric

Editors

@RhiwbinaLiving www.facebook.com/rhiwbinaliving

What’s on Rhiwbina Winter Festival Saturday 2nd December 4pm6.30pm 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.

Rhiwbina Village Dance Saturday 23rd December 7pm Rhiwbina Recreation Club Buffet, disco and raffle.

Life-saving defibrillator installed in Rhiwbina village

Thanks to generous bequests, Beulah United Reform Church in Rhiwbina has been able to donate and install a life-saving defibrillator for use in the community.

A defibrillator is an emergency device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest. This high energy shock is called defibrillation, and it's an essential life-saving step in the chain of survival.

A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency, occurring when someone’s heart stops pumping blood around the body, they stop breathing and lose consciousness.

It is estimated that there are around 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year. Of these, around 30,000 are discovered in time to help save the victim’s life by another person.

Rhiwbina village's new equipment is located on the side wall of the Margaret Whittaker Lounge, facing up Heol-y-Deri. Training sessions have already been provided but Beulah URC are offering further training if there is sufficient interest.

Please contact treasurer@ beulahurc.org.uk if you would like more information on how to use the defibrillator.

MuddyBum Bikes closes its doors MuddyBum bicycle shop has closed its doors in Rhiwbina for the last time.

The shop was a recognisable fixture in the village but a Facebook message posted in late November read: "That’s that then. End of an era. It is with a heavy, gutted heart that we have to announce that Muddybum Bikes has shut its doors for the last time. There are many reasons for this decision but, in a nutshell, the business simply wasn’t viable anymore.

"We are however, pushing on with the Newport store Push Cycleworks so if you still wish to get in touch with us, that’s where we will be!

All that remains is to say a huge thank you to all our customers, regulars, friends, riders and to everyone who helped out and

supported us over the years legends, thank you! x See you on the trails!"

Residents responded with sympathy and good luck wishes to the owners of the shop.

Rhiwbina Living editor Patric Morgan said: "It is so sad to see the shop disappear and it's a stark reminder to us all to support local businesses in the village."

news

Rhiwbina Living celebrates 10 year anniversary

Rhiwbina Living magazine is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this month.

Residents got their first glimpse of the popular community magazine in late November 2007.

Editor Danielle Dummett said: "When we first sat down and decided that we were going to create this magazine, we had no idea that we'd still be going strongly 10 years later.

Our aim was to produce a high quality publication that captured all the latest news from the area, and to provide an effective promotional tool for local businesses. In the last 10 years, we've kept residents entertained and informed about their local community and we like to think that we've helped bring the community together in some way."

Following the success of Rhiwbina Living, a sister publication Whitchurch and Llandaff Living was launched a year later in 2008. The magazines have won several high profile awards and are Cardiff's official Community Business of the Year 2017.

"We'll be producing a 10 year anniversary commemorative issue in the spring to look back on our ten years. Creating and distributing these magazines takes an enormous amount of work but we love it and it makes us happy that people enjoy them.

"We are very proud of what we do so we're hoping for another 10 years of Rhiwbina Living!" added Danielle.

“

Our aim was to produce an effective promotional tool for local businesses and to help bring the community together

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news

Juboraj hosts charity event

Popular Rhiwbina resturant Juboraj hosted a charity event in November to raise money for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh.

The refugees seeking safety in Bangladesh are mostly women and children suffering trauma and injuries caused by gunfire, shrapnel, landmines and fire. They report fleeing as their villages are burned down; parents and relatives have been gunned down in front of children, and women and girls raped and brutalized. As of 28th October, the Bangladesh Government Social Services Division had identified and registered 22,484 orphaned children.

Bangladeshi curry houses all over South Wales from Chepstow to Bridgend worked together to raise money for the refugees by donating 50% of their takings for the evening of the 8th November, with the help and support of the Bangladesh UK Environmental Foundation, BUEF, and The Table.

Juboraj Rhiwbina not only raised money by serving customers in the restaurant and providing takeaways throughout the night, but they held a special three course charity buffet dinner as well.

In total, the restaurant raised over £2,500 towards a predicted total of more than £40,000. Donations are still being collected from the restaurants and takeaways as well as from mosques where collections have been taking place, so the total could be even higher.

Ana Miah, Managing Director of the Juboraj Group said: “We were overwhelmed by the generous nature of our customers in Rhiwbina. They went out of their way on the night and some, who were unable to attend that evening, donated generously over the following days.”

Aid agencies in Bangladesh are looking to provide assistance for over 1.2 million people.

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Cardiff Eisteddfod 2018 – Rhiwbina and Llanishen fundraising events With Cardiff hosting one of the biggest cultural events in Europe in August 2018 - the National Eisteddfod of Wales, the fundraising continues apace with the Rhiwbina and Llanishen Fundraising Committee organising a number of well-attended events during the past year.

Highlights have included two fashion shows hosted by Calon Rhiwbeina, a musical evening in the company of the talented Lovell-Jones family, fine-dining in Caffé Fach, Beer Tasting in Snails, a shopping trip to Bath and a historical tour around Rhiwbina.

All the proceeds from these events go towards hosting the National Eisteddfod of Wales which will be held in Cardiff between 3rd and 11th August 2018.

For seven days, people from all over Wales will be taking part in competitions in disciplines as diverse as singing, poetry, visual arts, prose writing, brass bands – even clog dancing. The event draws in 160,000 spectators over the course of the week with around 6,000 competitors.

In 2018, the event will differ from preceding eisteddfodau in that it will not be held in the usual pavilion and surrounding stalls and tents; instead it will be staged within various permanent buildings around the

capital.

A large proportion of the money to stage the Eisteddfod is raised by appeals committees in the host area. The Rhiwbina and Llanishen Fundraising Committee is one of these, with a target to raise £30,000.

As a result of a lot of hard work on the part of the organisers, the support of many businesses and individuals in Rhiwbina and Llanishen, and the many who have attended the events, a total of around £20,000 has already been raised .

The Committee has asked for continued support for their fundraising efforts by attending events over the next eight months.

For more information about these events, please visit their Facebook page or their Twitter account @apel_rhall. For more information about the Eisteddfod itself, visit its webpage eisteddfod.wales

Michelle Marshall Salon gets creative Rhiwbina's Michelle Marshall Salon got creative this autumn, creating various looks for this year's Cardiff Fashion Week.

The team from the salon on Beulah Road were official hair sponsors for the event that took place in late October and early November. Salon owner and Artistic Director Michelle Marshall, Hair Designer Kaye Radcliffe and Stylist Tiegan Wilce created some amazing hair for the models.

Michelle said: "Cardiff Fashion Week was a fantastic celebration of fashion, design and style and gave some of the team the opportunity to showcase their skills."

Michelle and some of her team

Rhiwbina's Emma wins lookalike competition A woman from Rhiwbina has won a national TV competition to find the nation's best Meghan Markle lookalike.

Emma Kaler made it through to the final three on ITV's

daytime show Lorraine to find the person who most looked like Prince Harry's real-life girlfriend.

She was surprised to find out that she had won the competition on live television when Prince Harry lookalike Henry Morley knocked on her front door in November.

She later tweeted that she was honoured to have won the competition and thanked everyone who had voted.

Rhiwbina Library Christmas at All the latest news and events from Rhiwbina the Library Wednesday 13th December

Library/Friends of Rhiwbina Library Coffee morning (10am – noon).

Thursday 14th December

Retired police inspector, George Brady gives a talk ‘Ruth Ellis The Untold Story’ (7.30pm). After retirement, George became a private investigator and carried out several commissions on behalf of Cardiff solicitor Bernard de Maid.

The Criminal Review Commission permitted the retrospective study of cases where there was a possibility of a miscarriage of justice and Bernard de Maid asked George to look into the whole situation.

Saturday 16th December

Local author Erica Wilmott returns with Sockz (for 4–7 year olds).

Rhiwbina Library safe until 2022

The future of Rhiwbina Library has been guaranteed for the foreseeable future.

Councillor Lynda Thorne, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Libraries said that the library is safe for the duration of this Council, until the next Council elections in May 2022. This is very good and welcome news to everyone who uses and cares about our excellent local facility.

Friends of Rhiwbina Library was set up a few years ago following the threat of library closures. Since then, the group has worked with the library staff to develop our library into more of a community building, extending the range of activities and facilities and making better use of the building for the benefit of everyone.

We will carry on doing this to ensure that our library continues to be a real community hub. Thanks to the sales of event tickets and donations, we are able to start buying new chairs and equipment especially to improve the look and use of the Jevons Room upstairs.

Wednesday 20th December

We are very pleased to have registered with the Cardiff North Time Credits scheme, run by Spice.

This allows individuals who give one hour to help their community by volunteering to earn ‘Time Credits’. These can be spent on any of the ‘spend offers’ provided

by Spice’s partner organisations.

In Cardiff, this might be a ticket to a show at the Wales Millennium Centre, or entry to a whole range of places, including Techniquest, Cadw sites, Jump, the International Pool – the list goes on! Further afield, Time Credits earned in Cardiff can be spent anywhere within the UK Time Credit network.

Email us at friendsofrhiwbinalibrary@gmail. com to find out more, or leave your details at the library so we can get in touch.

For more information about Time Credits, go to www.justaddspice.org or www.facebook.com/spicecardiff.

Get Involved

If you have suggestions for events or would be willing to give a talk/demonstration on an interesting topic, please get in touch. Most importantly, support Rhiwbina Library by coming along to our events. Why not become a ‘Friend’? Membership is free to all.

Contact Us

‘Goldies’ Christmas session - with choir! (10.30am–11.30am).

NB: We’re taking a short Christmas break so no quiz in December and no Jigsaw Library on 23rd or 30th December.

Time Credits

It's your library so please use it and if you want to volunteer to help out then read on to find out about our exciting new ‘Time Credits’ scheme.

Email: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary@ gmail.com or leave your details in the ‘Friends’ box at the library desk.

Website: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary. weebly.com You’ll also find us on Facebook and we tweet @FoRhiwbinaLib

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letters

Your letters

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

RVE committee had been charged by the original company to reinstall, coupled with the fact that taking down and replacing was damaging and ruining the lights, it was decided by the RVE that the lights would be left in-situ, switched off throughout the year and then turned on again in time for the upcoming festivities.

The only other viable alternative was to remove them completely, which of course would be a great shame.

The Christmas lights, amongst other things, help to make the village far more festive and seasonal.

The village businesses and especially the Rhiwbina Village Events, work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure (as much as possible) that the village is as attractive and enjoyable as is humanly possible. Very little 'just happens' and without the likes of the above beavering away all year behind the scenes, events like the Summer and Winter Festivals, Lantern Parades, workshops and clubs, would never materialise.

Simon Edwards Rhiwbina

Save Our Hall!

Rhiwbina Christmas Lights Rhiwbina Living was recently contacted by a member of the public who wanted to know what the advantages and disadvantages of leaving Rhiwbina's Christmas lights up all year round were. Simon Edwards of Edwards and Co., who was originally responsible for the installation of the lights, explains why the decision was made to leave them in place.

The reason why the lights are not taken down each year is simply that the cost of doing so is prohibitive.

We at Edwards and Co Estate Agents arranged the initial installation of the lights and together with many of the village businesses and Rhiwbina Village Events (RVE), collected enough money to have them fitted (this in itself proved to be no mean feat).

The company that originally installed them and also took them down the first year then charged a very substantial amount to have them re-fitted the following year, and when the lights were in fact returned, many of the lighting 'strings' no longer worked and had to be replaced (Edwards and Co actually paid another ÂŁ1000 themselves to replace the lights along Heol-y-Deri that year). Again, an amount of money was collected from a small number of local businesses towards the re-installation.

However, because of the astronomical amount the

We are about to launch a fundraising campaign in memory of my Mum who was a Rhiwbina resident for the majority of her adult life, for almost 40 years.

The fundraising aim is to raise funds to replace the Brownie Hut at Grafton Terrace in Rhiwbina for future generations of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. We are appealing for former Brownies, Guides etc to share their memories and photos associated with Grafton Terrace. We’re hoping to create a social movement from the memories to raise funds to save the hall.

Alex Hicks Rhiwbina (alex.hicks@btinternet.com)

Crime Prevention Advice

We wanted to remind people to keep safe over the Christmas period. Always keep your doors and windows locked (even when you are at home during the day) and avoid tempting thieves by leaving presents on display under your tree.

We look forward to seeing you in 2018 at the many community events in Rhiwbina and at the PACT surgeries we will be conducting in the area. If you see us out and about, please come and have a chat.

Perhaps you have an idea for a community project that we can become involved in. Let us know!

Emma Rhiwbina Neighbourhood Beat Manager

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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Memorial Cross laid in community

Rhiwbeina Primary

Year 6 paid their respects to the fallen by laying a Memorial Cross in the community in early November.

The Memorial Cross included an inscription that read: ‘Lest we forget. From the pupils and staff of Rhiwbeina Primary School’.

Thank you to Mr Thomas and 6T for leading our remembrance assembly that allowed the whole school to have time to reflect on those who had laid down their lives for us.

Nursery Scarecrow Nursery’s topic last half term was called ‘Scarecrow’s Secret’. We learned all about Autumn, Harvest and where our food comes from. We celebrated the end of the topic with a Scarecrow Day where we dressed up as scarecrows and participated in fun activities, such as creating scarecrow puppets, threading Cheerios to make bracelets, and decorating biscuits to look like scarecrows.

Castles Visit

Scooter Training Year 1 were very lucky to have scooter training thanks to Friends of Rhiwbeina and microscooters.co.uk.

The children experienced a morning of scooter safety and fun, and were taught to wear elbow and knee pads and helmets. In groups, they had to travel in a straight line and stop safely. They then learnt a special trick called the ‘Hopscotch’, lifting one leg at a time as they travelled, all while jumping on and off their scooter!

Toy Museum Visit Year 1 visited the Toy Museum at St. Fagan’s Museum to learn about toys in the past and how toys have changed. We were lucky enough to look at some very old toys and even have a chance to play with them.

Some of the toys from the past were home made and we even saw a rattle called a bumble cage, made by a farmer. They would have used a bee to make it move and rattle.

Year 4 pupils further developed their history skills this term when visiting both Cardiff and Caerphilly Castles. Children had to decide which castle provided the best form of defence when under siege - Caerphilly's concentric layout, or the Norman motte, moat and bailey design at Cardiff. A difficult choice, but good luck to ANY would-be attackers advancing upon these little Welsh soldiers.

Rhiwbeina PTA News

WWII Revisited Year 6 kick-started the term by immersing themselves in their topic, 'Life in World War II'. The children dressed as evacuees, stepped back in time and boarded the train at 'Paddington' (Whitchurch!) to then arrive at 1940s Rhiwbeina. They were taken on a tour by our very own Billeting Officer and were then billeted to the local community members – a big thank you to the members of Beulah Church for playing this role so convincingly.

The children then had the opportunity to ask the members of the church what life was like for them during WWII, as many had been evacuated themselves. A great day was had by all and a big thank you once again to all in the community who helped.

To end their topic, the children visited Swansea Bay World War II Museum. They took a guided tour through the 1940s streets, dressed up in 1940s clothes and accessories and even looked at artefacts from the era.

The PTA held a 'Happy Hearts' event in September, in response to parents' requests to fundraise for a defibrillator to be kept in school.

We were shocked to learn that every week in the UK, 12 young people die suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition.

There is only a 10% survival rate with CPR alone, but this increases to 60% when a defibrillator is used.

Defibrillators can be used by adults and children as there are guided instructions.

Children were invited to wear their favourite sports kit to school and bring in a donation for the fund.

We raised a massive £690 on the day, which will send us well on our way to providing a defibrillator and training for members of the school community.

We welcomed Team Rubicon into school at the beginning of October to provide Year 1 pupils with scooter road awareness training, funded by the PTA. They had great fun and learned valuable skills for life.

Our popular Christmas Card design project has once again been taken up by many families. We have received lots of beautiful designs, which have been sent off to be made into gorgeous cards and other products.

Last year was a record-breaker in terms of fundraising, and so we were delighted to be able to fund a new Foundation Phase playground activity area, providing pupils with a safe space to play, exercise and have fun. Plans to replace the play equipment in the Key Stage 2 playground are also in the pipeline.

This year's calendar is jam-packed full of fun activities to continue to raise much-needed funds for our school community: • Our annual Christmas Fayre will take place on Friday 1st December after school. Father Christmas has been booked, along with our usual array of delightful stalls and activities.

• We are hoping to hold a Film Night in January - hot chocolate and popcorn in PJs! Date TBC. • Start swotting up for our Quiz Night sometime in the spring. Could your team win the coveted trophy this year?

How you can make a difference There are many other ways to support the PTA, even if you can't attend or help out at events: You can register at www. easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ FOR so that every time you shop online you will be donating to the PTA. Or why not join our School Lottery? Every week, there is a winner from our school community, and the chance to win £25,000 in a national draw.

Register at www.YourSchoolLottery. co.uk/play.

If you buy scooters or accessories at www.micro-scooters.co.uk, you can pass 10% of your purchase onto us, at no extra cost to you.

Use the code 401606 at the checkout.

Please get in touch if you have any ideas or wish to support us.

Here’s how to get in touch with us: Email: committee@ friendsofrhiwbeina.org.uk Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter. com/FORhiwbeina Facebook: www.facebook.com/ friendsofrhiwbeina We would love to hear from you as we really cannot make our events successful and raise the much needed funds for our school without you. Rhiwbeina Primary does not receive the funding that perhaps some other schools do, so gaining your support really does make a difference. Many thanks to all in the community who support our events!

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RHIWBINA EVENTS COMMITTEE PROUDLY PRESENTS

Rhiwbina Christmas Festival

& Lantern Parade Welcome in Christmas this year at the wonderful Rhiwbina Christmas Festival. Meet Santa, see the magical Lantern Parade, do a spot of late night Christmas shopping and watch the Christmas lights switch on!

Christmas Lights Switch On

Meet Father Christmas

Lantern Parade

RIDES | CRAFT & GIFT STALLS | LATE NIGHT SHOPPING | STREET FOOD

RHIWBINA VILLAGE DECEMBER ND 2 2017 4pm - 6.30pm ROAD CLOSURES: Heol Y Deri will be closed to all traffic from 2pm on the 2nd December and will re-open at 8.30pm. The road closure begins at the crossroads of Beulah Church and continues to Lon Isa. Pen Y Dre will also be closed to traffic during this time from the crossroads to Lon Y Dail. Beulah Road will remain open to traffic and the buses will be diverted along it. Lantern Parade starts at 5.30pm

kids

Christmas Through Our Eyes

We asked a group of Rhiwbina youngsters to put pens to paper and to create a Christmas scene. Here are their pictures and their thoughts on what the festive season means for them

Evie aged 6 Tell us about your drawing Santa is delivering presents by the Christmas tree.

What do you like most about Christmas?

Having presents and spending time with my family as this is what Christmas is all about. I'm excited about my first Christmas with my baby brother.

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

I'm hoping for a DS but I don't think I will get it as my Mum doesn't want me to have one. Also a My Little Pony Equestria Kingdom.

Zara aged 6 Tell us about your drawing This is a Christmas tree and presents. There are lots of balloons because it's a special time.

What do you like most about Christmas?

You get presents, spend time with family and get to have sleepovers.

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

An iPad.

Dylan aged 4 Tell us about your drawing It is Santa’s sleigh, his presents, his reindeer.

What do you like most about Christmas?

Cos I get loads of toys.

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

A sticker book.

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Bronwyn aged 6 Tell us about your drawing It is Father Christmas in a house delivering the presents.

What do you like most about Christmas?

Because we can spend time with our family.

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

A surprise present.

Lily aged 6 Tell us about your drawing My picture shows my Mummy and Daddy and me on Christmas Day and it's snowing.

What do you like most about Christmas?

I get presents and I feel very grateful for them.

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

I hope it snows! And I hope I get a 3D Eiffel Tower puzzle.

Ben aged 8 Tell us about your drawing It's a Christmas tree with lots of presents and Christmas stars.

What do you like most about Christmas?

I like gathering up all my presents and playing with them all at once with my family.

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

The Super Mario Odyssey for Nintendo Switch.

Millie aged 6 Tell us about your drawing My picture is of a Christmas tree, presents and Father Christmas. It has lots of themes of Christmas.

What do you like most about Christmas?

When Santa comes.

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

Little live pets and art stuff.

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Crawley

Elinor

She's still only 26 but Rhiwbina actress Elinor Crawley already has an impressive showreel in the can. She talks exclusively to Living Magazines about her home village and her career to date

S

he's appeared on our screens in prime time British dramas and she's even featured alongside Gabriel Byrne in the international TV hit Vikings. But for Rhiwbina actress Elinor Crawley, it all started here in North Cardiff.

"I grew up in Rhiwbina with my mother, father and older sister Louise and attended Rhiwbeina Primary School," recalls Elinor.

"I have lots of lovely memories of Rhiwbina. I grew up on HeolY-Nant, right by Caedelyn Park which is where Dad would take me regularly after school when I learnt to ride a bike. I loved it and thought I was the coolest thing ever after the stabilisers came off. We were also down the road from the fire station where we went religiously for Bonfire Night each year. A free Freddo and fireworks - what more could you want?

"I have spent countless hours in Rhiwbina Memorial Hall for dance lessons with Liza and Maureen Meggitt. The confidence, technique

16

and work ethic I gained preparing "I was very busy during my school for rigorous exams and professional years and Mum would often be work still serves me during shuttling me to and from dancing auditions and shoots, despite not classes, music lessons and pursuing a career in musical theatre. drama groups like a maniac in the "We later moved to Whitchurch evenings. I think she understood when I was 12 and already the importance of having attending Whitchurch High School. experiences outside of school My parents still live in and I am so grateful for Whitchurch and I return the opportunities I had The from London regularly I was young. The encouragement when to visit them." encouragement and and support Acting was in the support from both of my family blood and from from both of my parents over the years a young age, Elinor had has been absolutely parents over a good idea of what invaluable. she wanted to do when "From the age of 13 the years has she grew up. to 18, I attended The been absolutely Workshop, "My mother trained as run by Pete invaluable an actress at the Welsh Wooldridge in Cardiff College of Music and Bay. There I learnt so Drama but didn't pursue a career much about screen acting and in acting after graduating. Growing had opportunities to meet with up, she would tell me stories of casting directors and get a real productions she had been in and sense of the business. It was parts she had played, and her through the workshop that I got my accounts of fun and camaraderie first small pieces of work - a short definitely piqued my interest. film for Cardiff Castle, a children's

people TV show and eventually a movie called Submarine. However the real lesson was how to deal with the near misses! Pete was an excellent mentor throughout and I would definitely recommend The Workshop to anyone interested in acting. It is a very special place."

Submarine was a 2010 BritishAmerican coming-of-age comedydrama film, adapted from the 2008 novel Submarine by Joe Dunthorne.

The film was written and directed

by Richard Ayoade in his directorial debut.

"I was 17 when I auditioned for Submarine. I remember Pete had sent a tape of me to the casting director and the director, Richard Ayoade, who came to meet me at The Workshop a few weeks later. I spent the next half term break shooting in Swansea and I remember being on set and thinking to myself 'I'm going to have to make a real go of this or I'll regret it.' I think I'd been too scared to think of it as 'a real job' before then. Even people outside of the industry will tell you it's a difficult path to choose and it is - there have been many blows that have made me feel crazy for choosing it. But it's also the most unpredictable and exciting world filled with the some of the most interesting people you will meet."

Life for Elinor changed after Submarine, which proved a catalyst for her career.

"Getting the part in Submarine was a massive boost to my career. It was my first high profile job and as a result, I landed my first London agent and started travelling up there regularly for auditions. To this day, people still mention Submarine as one of their favourite films. I think it holds a place in many people's hearts and I am very proud to have been a small part of it."

Elinor then swapped the hills of Wales for the mountains of Scandinavia in her next role of Thyri, the daughter of Earl Haraldson, played by Gabriel Byrne in Vikings.

"I have had many favourites roles for different reasons, but I think in terms of scale you can't beat Vikings. The production was absolutely epic! We shot at some of the most beautiful locations in Wicklow Ireland - at waterfalls, lakes, forests as well as in the studio. One of our main locations was the Guinness family estate and the set designers built a whole Viking village on the shore of their lake. The detail was absolutely incredible and I’ll never forget stepping on set for the first time

A scene from Elinor's new movie, Burning Men and being totally absorbed by the can never take a break from it or world that they had created. That, ignore it - even when you go to along with the fact that Irish crew sleep! You have to think about are some of the best you’ll come every move you make and how by, made for an immense series to it could affect you and that is work on." something I struggle with from time In 2013, Elinor took on the role of to time. I was diagnosed when I was Cecily of York in BBC's The White 9 years old so I don't remember Queen and in 2014, featured in a lot of what life was like without the BBC's popular drama series diabetes. I have used an insulin Ordinary Lies. More recently, Elinor pump instead of injections since has taken on more major movie I was a child and I think that has roles: helped my management a great "This year I shot an indie film deal, particularly in an industry with playing my first proper lead. It’s a no routine. But there are still days rock and roll road trip movie with a when everything goes to pot. I think physiological twist called Burning that’s just part and parcel of the Men and the experience was condition and it’s hard not to feel fantastic. We travelled from London some kind of guilt when your blood all the way up the east coast to the sugar levels aren’t what they should Holy Island of Lindisfarne, stopping be. to shoot in various towns and cities "What many people don't realise over four weeks. It really struck me is that there are hundreds of how eerie some parts of factors that can affect England are and I think I’ll never forget your blood sugar from they will really translate to stress, stepping on set altitude well onto film. Burning illness or emotions for the first time and it's impossible to Men is in the edit at the moment but it’s one I’m and being totally keep track of every really looking forward accurately. In the absorbed by the factor to watching!" last couple of years, I world that they have started working All of this is a long way from where it all started with Diabetes UK to had created at Whitchurch High raise awareness of the School. condition and highlight "I remember my first drama lesson the incredible work that they with TP (Miss Thornton-Phillips) in do. I have felt their support and Lower School and thinking I was benefited from the research they going to like it there. Playing at have funded from the day I was the Llandaff Cathedral Christmas diagnosed. It is absolutely vital that Concert with the orchestra each their work continues." year are fond memories of mine.

Looking ahead, Elinor is taking one I loved Biology lessons with step at a time.

Miss Taylor and Mr Grieve and "I am constantly aware of how I remember buying an ostrich fickle my costume as a leaving present industry is so for Miss Heavyside who was my right now I'd English teacher at A Level. She wore just love to be the costume around the school as if able to keep it was completely normal." working, for as Elinor was diagnosed with Type long as I can.

1 diabetes while still at school but Otherwise, that hasn't stopped her achieving I love the her ambitions. unpredictability "Type 1 diabetes is a completely of my job so I manageable condition and it has am happy to go never stopped me doing anything wherever it will in life. However, it is constant. You take me!"

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Anna Mc Morrin MP Community News

As my first column in Rhiwbina Living I wanted to take the opportunity to say how proud I was to be elected as your Member of Parliament for Cardiff North in June, and to tell you a little about what I’ve been doing since then. It’s been a busy first few months, prioritising casework, setting up an accessible and visible constituency office, recruiting staff and representing you in Parliament, as well as getting out and about in the community as much as possible.

I’ve been to meet and talk with ‘Just Good Friends’, a social group for retired people who meet in Rhiwbina Recreation Centre for a regular coffee morning. Elaine and all the volunteers do an excellent job setting up talks and activities, like musical bingo, that are vital for combatting loneliness in our community.

At the end of September, I went along to the MacMillan Cancer Support Coffee morning in Rhiwbina Library.

Thank you and well done to everyone who helped and supported this event. Macmillan provide invaluable help to those affected by cancer, and it was great to come together as a community to raise awareness and money.

I’m also thrilled to have helped ensure that Rhiwbina Library has had its budget protected by Leader of Cardiff Council, Huw Thomas, and his team in County Hall. This is great news as the library offers a much used and loved service in the village.

In Parliament, much of my work has been dominated by Brexit and the EU Withdrawal Bill - fighting to ensure we don’t crash out of the EU with no deal and ensuring the rights of EU citizens in the UK. I have also spoken up in favour of raising public sector pay, pausing and fixing the flawed universal credit roll out, and fighting pension inequality.

If you have any concerns, or would like to tell me your views on these issues or anything else, then please get in touch – I’d love to hear about what matters to you.

Rhiwbina Advice Surgery

Friday 15th December: 10:30am-12pm in Rhiwbina Library.

Dydd Gwener 15 Rhagfyr: 10:30am - 12pm i fyny’r grisiau yn Llyfrgell Rhiwbina.

No appointment needed / Nid oes angen apwyntiad

How to get in touch: Telephone: 02920 624440 Email: anna.mcmorrin.mp@parliament.uk For more information and the latest news please also see my website at www.annamcmorrin.co.uk.

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DIY Autumn Garland

Christmas You'll need to preserve your autumn leaves before you do

Crafts Crafts don't just have to be for kids. Adults can enjoy creating festive decorations for the Christmas season too. Here are some unique and beautiful crafts that you can make at home Plastic Spoon Christmas Trees

If you're looking for something a little different to the average Christmas tree, this contemporary creation is created out of simple plastic spoons.

You'll need a papier mâché Christmas Tree form that you can either create yourself or buy pre-

20

made, a bag of 100 plastic spoons, spray paint and some hot glue.

Start by cutting the tops off the spoons and discarding the handles.

Spray paint the spoon tops to the colour of your choice. You may want to experiment with these before deciding on your final colour. Krylon paint works pretty well on the spoons to create a wooden effect.

From the bottom of the papier mâché structure, begin attaching the spoons by their widest parts with hot glue. Make sure that the spoons are facing upwards or your tree will look very droopy. Work your way around the entire form before adding the next layer and working your way up to the top of the tree.

Let your entire tree dry.

You can either leave your tree simple and plain, or you can add decorations to it with hot glue. Experiment with other shapes and forms - plastic forks are another alternative that you can use.

Log Santas

These cheerful Santas can be left inside or outside and are so easy to make.

Take a few small logs of similar width. Cut the bottom off so that they stand and then slice or saw the tops off diagonally.

Paint the top quarter of the upper section red and the bottom half white. Add eyes either with some black paint or you can use googly eyes.

It's then a case of sticking on a nose - a fluffy pom-pom works just fine. Then tie your logs together and leave to dry.

crafts Garland Wrapped Letters

The beauty of these home-made letters is that you can spell out any word you want.

You'll need some papier mâchÊ letters that you can pick up at any hobby store. You'll also need some wired Christmas garland, some battery-operated Christmas lights and some hot glue.

Starting on the back of the letter, begin by hot gluing the end of the garland at the base of the letter, around half an inch from the bottom.

Wrap the garland around the letter, hot gluing to secure as you go. The back of the monogram doesn’t have to be covered perfectly.

Once the entire letter is covered, trim the garland along the inside curves of the letter. By giving the letter a 'haircut,' the letter will become easier to recognise. Be sure to do all of your trimming and cutting before putting on the lights.

Glue the Christmas light battery box at the base of the rear side of the letter. Be sure to leave the side open where the batteries go in and out. Wrap the lights all around the monogram letter, hot gluing where needed.

Add batteries and turn on the lights to admire your work!

Desktop Trees

If you work mainly from a desk, here's a quick and easy way to add some festive cheer to it.

You'll need a few coloured sheets of coloured craft paper, a hole punch and some glue. Create a small paper cone to start - about the size of your fingetip will do. Glue this and let it dry.

Next, you can have great fun punching out holes of the coloured craft paper, collecting all the holes that you've punched out.

Once you feel that you have enough to cover your little cones, simply glue them on, one at a time.

If you are feeling fancy, cut out little stars and place them on the top of your trees. Then place them around your desk. Instant festive cheer!

Christmas Wreaths

These Christmas wreaths look great indoors and outdoors and can be made to any colour and style depending on what you want to create.

To start, cover a 10 to 12 inch foam ring with white cotton batting.

Hot-glue on materials you have to hand or discover at crafts stores.

You can use snowflake ornaments, ribbon, pinecones and branches, mittens, icicle garland, and silverpainted leaves and berries.

Attached a hook to the back of your wreath for hanging.

Snowy Winter Luminaries

Bring the warm glow of a winter's day into your home with these homemade Christmas luminaries.

You will need some thick glass jars, some snow texture paint, some twine, some lace, Epsom salt, hot glue and some pine cones for this project.

Begin by cutting a piece of lace that will fit around the neck of the jar and attach it with glue. Next, tie the twine around the neck of the jar. It's up to you how much you use but bear in mind that you will want to leave the jar mostly uncovered to give off light.

Attach two or three cones to the lace that you now have around the neck of your jar. You may need to glue it partly to the twine too to make it stick but whatever works best for you.

Using a palette knife, scoop out some snow texture paint and apply it to the cones to make it look as if they have been out in the snow. You can use your fingers to get in behind some of the parts and you will also need to add snow paint around the rim of the jar too.

Fill the jar with a few inches of Epsom salts and using a pair of tongs, carefully place a candle into the jar.

You could also use battery-operated candles if required.

Let the snow paint dry - this should take an hour or so.

If you want to add a few holly berries for an extra festive look, you can either glue on real ones or pick up fake ones from your local hobby store which will last longer.

The snow paint should dry hard enough to enable you to wrap the jars in bubble wrap for sending to family and friends.

21

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Drawing out the Artist in Everyone Celebrating five years of The Art Workshop I

f you’ve ever had the urge to draw, paint or produce something artistic, then you are not alone.

Many of us harbour an inner creative side but a lot of people are nervous of trying.

“We have a lot of people coming to us who love the idea of Art but think they can’t do it. We so often hear stories of how they have been discouraged, maybe from their school days, or even by a thoughtless comment from a wellmeaning friend or relative,” says Art Workshop founder, Genevieve Loxton.

Making Art has so many proven benefits, even if the work never ends up in a gallery. It focuses the brain, improves concentration and is a form of ‘mindfulness’, forcing you to ignore all distractions and take time to learn about yourself.

A love of Art’s wider benefits and the drive to share it with people were the elements that enabled Genevieve to take the plunge five years ago and open the studio in Rhiwbina’s Lon Fach, a picturesque lane just off the main shopping area at Heol-y-Deri.

The team began with Genevieve, Martha Lowry and a small group of artists who had qualified from Cardiff School of Art and Design. They all specialised in different Art forms - drawing, painting, printmaking, 3D and Art History - and wanted to make that knowledge accessible to the

community.

“We just wanted to give anyone the chance to learn,” explains Genevieve. “It’s a subject that fascinates so many people. Art holds a lot of mysteries, whether it’s the technical side, how paint and other materials work, or the more creative side - the ideas, inspiration and meanings."

The Workshop offers classes in various kinds of painting, drawing, printmaking and more, with tutors who work to create a supportive and productive environment. It’s one of the few centres in the area able to teach Oil Painting, and is regularly adding courses for adults and children. When the Workshop first opened after Christmas 2012, they had just a few students.

“It was an exciting but nervewracking first month; we hoped that it would work but we weren’t really sure if anyone would come.” Now the Art Workshop teaches around 80 to 100 people a week of all ages, from 6 to 86.

The Workshop operates from a building full of character on the edge of Rhiwbina’s historic Garden Village, a small former coach house with open beams and original windows.

“The wooden ceiling reminded us of a 17th century artist’s workshop, like Rembrandt’s house and studio in Amsterdam,” says Genevieve.

The space had been empty but the team could see its potential and needed to work close to home and families.

“We wanted people who came to us to feel at home too, so they could gain confidence to try new things. We make it warm and friendly in here, not arty and aloof.

Everyone is offered a cup of tea or coffee when they come.”

The workshop’s team all hold fine art degrees and have professional experience. Genevieve,

who trained at Cardiff School of Art and Design says: “The cost of fees at Universities means a degree is out of reach for many people, especially those with family commitments, mortgages and all the expenses of normal life."

After many requests from parents, the Workshop started classes for children in the popular Junior Art Academy, which runs on Mondays and Thursdays at 4pm or on Saturday mornings at 9.15am, for 6 to 12 year olds.

“Children gain so much from an hour a week of Art, whatever their ability,” says Petra Couper, who with colleague Nicole Smith, are the PGCE qualified team of Art teachers who devise the Junior Academy courses.

Being part of the Rhiwbina community is central to everyone involved with The Art Workshop.

Tutor Hollie Roberts runs Lantern building workshops to support the annual Christmas Festival Lantern Parade, which has grown from just a few lanterns to a procession of hundreds. In the Rhiwbina Summer Festival, Hollie and the team host a range of free interactive Art sessions for the public, including building a large outdoor mural from collage in one afternoon.

Hollie, who graduated from Bath in Illustration, and is PGCE qualified, also runs popular 3-hour holiday workshops for 7-12 year olds during half terms and summer.

The Workshop also hosts regular exhibitions showcasing students work.

“We love being in Rhiwbina. It’s home for us and it’s also a vibrant village,” says Genevieve.

For more information you can contact the Art Workshop at www.theartworkshop.co.uk.

Email: theartworkshop@live.co.uk or phone 07947 003111. They are on Facebook, and Twitter at @theartworkshop2. You can also pop in to see them at 3 Lon Fach, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6DY Sponsored feature

short story

THE DOLL’S HOUSE MYSTERY A short Christmas story for children by Geraldine Seymour

I

t was a week before Christmas, another one?” and everything was ready.

“No. She’ll probably turn up when All the cards had been sent, all we’ve stopped looking,” Mum the presents had been packed, the replied from the kitchen, where she Christmas cake and pudding had was busy making yet more mince been made and Megan Rose, aged pies. Dad kept eating the ones she’d four-and-a-half from Rhiwbina was already made. “The robin will do for helping her mother put the finishing now.” touches to the tree.

But the Christmas Fairy was never It was such a beautiful tree – tall found. After all the decorations were and thick with dark green foliage. put up and the boxes and bags “There,” said Mum, looking a returned to the attic, there was still little bit flushed in the face. “It’s all no sign of her. finished, just the fairy to put on the Then, a few days later, Megan top. Megan, can you noticed that a please pass her to me?" All the cards had number of items had Megan searched in the from her been sent, all disappeared white cardboard box for doll's house. the presents had At first, it was just a few the Christmas Fairy – but the box was empty! been packed, the small things. Then one “Well,” said Mum, when she got Christmas cake morning, untangling a piece of up, the doll’s bed had and pudding had gone. The next night, an tinsel from her hair, “Wherever can she be? armchair vanished - and been made I distinctly remember when she looked very wrapping her up closely, she discovered in tissue paper and putting her a set of tiny footprints in the dust. carefully in the box last year. Ask It was three days to Christmas Dad if he’s seen her.” and Megan was so excited that she But Dad hadn’t. And so instead of couldn’t sleep. She’d written her the fairy, a robin was perched high letter to Father Christmas and sent on top of the tree. It wasn’t quite it via the Post Office to Lapland. right really – in fact, it looked quite She’d been such a good girl for the odd. last few weeks that her Mum had “It’s not the same,” said Dad. "I think started worrying about her. But it looks a bit daft. Shall I go and buy this was not unusual as Megan’s

24

mum worried about everyone and everything.

So Megan decided that she didn’t want to worry her mum about the disappearing doll's furniture, especially as she was so busy with all the Christmas preparations.

That night, as soon as her mum and dad had gone to bed, Megan put on her dressing gown and slippers, tucked Rabbit firmly under one arm and crept stealthily downstairs to keep a watch over her doll's house.

The house was very dark and quiet and Megan began to feel a little bit frightened but she was a very brave little girl. She had Rabbit to protect her, so she very soon forgot about being scared.

She pulled the curtains open, just enough to allow a bright moonbeam to lighten the living room. Then she snuggled up with Rabbit on the sofa, keeping a sharp eye on the doll's house.

But soon she began to get very sleepy. No matter how hard she tried to keep awake, very soon, she was fast asleep.

She woke up with a start, to a loud clinking sound. She sat up quickly clutching Rabbit tightly to her chest.

The light shining through the gap in the curtains was now morning sunshine. Megan soon realised

that the sound that had woken her was the clinking of bottles, as the milkman delivered them to the front door.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she climbed off the sofa and opened the doll's house front.

There to her dismay, she saw that a second little chair had disappeared and that left in the dust was another trail of tiny footprints.

The second night, Megan again crept downstairs and again fell fast asleep. When she awoke, she discovered that a little table had been taken.

The third night, Megan was determined not to fall asleep and took some milk and biscuits for her and Rabbit to eat. But, after an hour, her eyelids began to get very heavy and she was just about to fall asleep again, when she suddenly heard a tiny tinkling sound coming from the pine dresser.

Tip-toeing across the room as quietly as she could, she stopped in front of the dresser and knelt down. Very, very gently, she opened the cupboard door and to her amazement, when she looked inside, she saw the Christmas Fairy moving small pieces of Megan’s doll's house furniture about.

The fairy was so engrossed in her work that she didn’t notice Megan at first. But when she did, she nearly jumped out of her little skin and started screaming and screaming in a tiny, tiny, tinkling voice.

“Don’t be frightened,” Megan whispered as quietly as she could.

“It’s only me and Rabbit, we won’t hurt you. What are you doing in here? We’ve been looking everywhere for you – won’t you come out?"

The fairy ran to the back of the cupboard and tried to hide behind a doll’s armchair, but it wasn’t big enough and her wings stuck out on both sides.

“I can still see you,” Megan said gently. "Please come out.”

The Christmas Fairy started crying.

“I don’t want to be wrapped up in tissue paper and entombed in a dark attic. It’s scary and there are spiders up there! And I don’t want to stand for weeks on top of that horrible tree either. It’s all spiky and the pine needles bring me out in a rash. I’m not going back. I’m not, I’m not, I’m not!”

And with that, the fairy stamped her little feet so hard, that she lost her balance, fell backwards and got her dress all tangled up in her wings.

“Now look what’s happened!” she

shouted crossly. “Look what you’ve As carefully as she could, Megan made me do – I’ll never get them picked her up with one hand and straight again!” placed her on the table. And while With that, she threw herself onto the fairy continued to grumble and the little doll’s bed and began complain, Megan set the hairdryer sobbing uncontrollably. She cried at the lowest heat and speed and and cried, so much so, that soon very, very carefully, dried the fairy, there was a large pool of tears on wings, wand and all. the floor.

After a few minutes, the wings and After a few minutes, the fairy wand were still a little bent and her suddenly sat bolt upright in the bed. dress very crumpled, but all in all, “Where’s my wand?"

Megan was pleased she cried out in a panic. Then suddenly, a with the results.

“No!” not going back small smile began in“I’m She jumped down that box!” the Fairy to quiver on her said defiantly as she from the bed and into the pool of tears and lips. It hovered smoothed the creases began frantically diving her dress. “Or up there for a few from into the water – bobbing that tree again!” seconds before “I know,” Megan up and down in an attempt to rescue her bursting into a full patiently replied. “I have wand. idea. How would you beaming grin an After three attempts, like to come and live she surfaced in my doll's house? It’s triumphantly, holding a very very comfortable and has a fully bedraggled, limp wand above her fitted kitchen with appliances and a head. lovely bathroom. It even has a spa “It won’t work now!” she screamed bath.” at Megan. “They can’t work when The Christmas Fairy was quiet for they’re damp – I’ll never be able the very first time. Megan saw her to give children magic wishes ever deep in thought. Then suddenly, a again!” small smile began to quiver on the Megan was alarmed to see more Fairy's lips. It hovered there for a few large tears slowly falling from the seconds before bursting into a full Christmas Fairy’s cheeks. beaming grin.

“And it’s bent as well,” the little fairy Very soon, the room was full of snapped, and gathering the soaking tinkling laughter and as if by magic, skirt of her dress around her, she the sparkle suddenly returned to crouched down and sulked in the her wand. corner of the dresser cupboard.

“Yes,” the fairy said, “I’d like that – “Look,” said Megan, in her gentlest but I’m not too sure about the spa voice. “Maybe I can help. Sit there bath.” quietly and try to calm yourself.

“Give it time!” Megan said.

Things are never as bad as they first seem. I’ll be back in a minute.”

THE END The Fairy glared crossly at her.

“I never realised that fairies could N.B. In case you’re wondering about be so bad tempered,” Megan the Christmas tree - the robin loved thought as she went upstairs. it up there and when visitors saw Five minutes later, she returned him, they said “What a good idea!” with Mum’s hairdryer firmly And very soon all the houses in clutched in one hand.

Rhiwbina had robins on the top of The Fairy was just as she’d left her, their Christmas trees. looking very bedraggled and sad.

25

Constituency News with Julie Morgan AM

It has been a busy autumn term in the constituency and the Assembly. In October, it was an honour to meet US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (pictured) at an event at Swansea University. She was there to accept an honorary degree in recognition of her work promoting the rights of families and children around the world.

She visited Swansea University partly because of her family connections but also because the university is home to Wales Observatory on the Human Rights of Children and Young People. After the ceremony, I was able to talk briefly to Hillary Clinton who was very encouraging and complimentary about our work here in Wales in promoting children’s rights.

Also in October, I attended Llanishen High School’s politics awards along with Cardiff North MP Anna McMorrin. The Julie Morgan AM Prize for Academic Achievement in Politics went to Toby Black, Megan Cole and Alf Reynolds. I hope the awards will encourage these young people and others to follow a career in politics.

With Christmas approaching it seems a good time to reflect on what has been another tumultuous year in politics – and for me, personally.

As well as the snap general election in June – which saw Cardiff North elect a Labour MP once more – in November there was shock at the Assembly with the death of the AM for Alyn and Deeside, Carl Sargeant.

While thinking of his family and friends, in Cardiff North we remember Carl Sargeant as the Welsh Government Minister who helped finally secure the deal to ensure Llanishen Reservoir would be protected as a green space free from development for future generations.

Despite these unsettling times, as your Assembly Member I continue to fight for causes you feel strongly about and my experienced staff continue to support constituents with a variety of issues.

I also continue to support as many local events as possible. If you have a local event you would like me to support please do get in touch via my website or by emailing julie.morgan@assembly.wales 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 Sponsored feature

The services we provide:

Taxation Self-Assessment Payroll VAT Bookkeeping www.crossaccountingservice.co.uk

02920 653 995

9a Heol y Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6HA

® CARDIFF’S BEST LOVED ASIAN RESTAURANTS Juboraj Group would like to wish all Rhiwbina residents a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for your continued support over the past year – we are looking forward to the year ahead.

Enjoy a Christmas get together at a Juboraj.

We’d like you to have your festive get together knowing that our prices are the same over the Christmas period as they are all year round.

There will be no seasonal adjustments. If you’d like to discuss a large party then please contact a member of staff as usual and we will be more than happy to accommodate.

OPENING HOURS (Rhiwbina) 24.12.17: Christmas Eve: 5pm - 10pm 25.12.17: Christmas Day CLOSED 26.12.17: Boxing Day CLOSED 27.12.17: 12 - 2pm; 5pm - 11pm

28.12.17: 12 - 2pm; 5pm - 11pm 29.12.17: 5.30pm - 11pm 30.12.17: 12 - 2pm; 5.30pm - 11pm 31.12.17: New Years Eve 5pm - LATE 1.1.18: New Years Day CLOSED

JUBORAJ RESTAURANTS LUNCH | EVENING | PARTIES 11 Heol Y Deri, Rhiwbina | 029 2062 8894

www.juborajgroup.com

CARDIFF BED & FURNITURE CENTRE

Sale starts 28th December Up to 20% off selected display stock

47 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1DB 02920 615719 info@cardiffbedcentre.co.uk

Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm Sat 10am-4pm

www.cardiffbedcentre.co.uk

Milkshake! Live The Magic Storybook

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra A Night at the Movies

The Sixteen Glory to the Christ Child

Classic Elvis with Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra 13.01.18

Bert & Cherry’s Christmas Plum Pudding 16.12.17 - 19.12.17

Verdi La Traviata

Ed Byrne Spoiler Alert

James & Ola Uncensored

Kate Rusby at Christmas 12.12.17

23.02.18

09.03.18

08.12.17

25.03.18

17.12.17

22.01.18

competitions

Win tickets to the ballet and a spa day for 2 Win a Family Ticket to see Cinderella at St. David’s Hall Cinderella is the world’s favourite rags to riches fairytale where dreams can come true! This beautiful performance is a magical mix of Prokofiev’s energetic score, lively choreography and colourful costumes. And you can be there courtesy of Rhiwbina Living.

While her bad step-mother and her ill-mannered step-sisters prepare for the Royal Ball, graceful Cinderella can only dream of dancing with the dashing Prince.

Later that evening, her rags become a glittering gown and she

is swept magically to the Ball. From that very moment, the Prince is smitten, midnight strikes and one lost crystal slipper later, he must now embark on a journey to find his lost love.

The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia will be performing the ballet.

You could be in with a chance of winning a Family Ticket for 4 to the Cinderella ballet on Wednesday 20th December at 5.30pm. All you need to do is answer the following question:

What did Cinderella lose on her way home from the Ball? a) Glass eye b) Glass slipper c) Glass bottle Send your correct answer, along with your name, address and telephone number to sdhpress@ cardiff.gov.uk by midday Friday 15th December at the latest.

To guarantee your seats, please visit www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or call the Box Office on 029 2087 8444

Win a Winter Wishes Spa Day For 2 at the Village Hotel Cardiff renowned brands in the industry including ESPA, HD, Jessica and St Tropez.

The winning package includes a light lunch, complimentary robe and towel use, pool and leisure facilities and a 55 minute Winter Wishes treatment per person. Choose from a Heated Foot Cleanse, Warming Hot Stone Back Massage, Brightening Eye Treatment or a Fire and Ice Scalp Massage.

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, just answer this simple question: What better way is there to unwind than enjoying a relaxing spa day at the Village Spa Cardiff?

The hotel offers a tempting menu of great value treatments, spa breaks and packages that include use of the gym, pool, steam room and sauna. All of the therapists at the Village Spa Cardiff are highly qualified and use products from some of the biggest and most

How long does the Winter Wishes treatment last? a) 50 minutes b) 55 minutes c) 60 minutes Email your answer to Kate.

Blackmore@village-hotels. com by Monday 22nd January 2018.

Please remember to include your name, email address and contact number so that Village Spa can contact you should you be the lucky winner.

You can also enter by post by sending your entry on a postcard to Kate Blackmore, SPA Manager, Village Hotel Cardiff, Coryton, Cardiff, CF14 7EF. T&Cs apply and date of treatment is subject to availability.

Find out more about what the Village Spa Cardiff has to offer by visiting www.Villagehotels.com/spa

Pets RHIWBINA LIVING

28 Entrants.

Over 3,000 votes.

In the end, there could only be one winner

Beans Age: 5 Breed: Ginger cat What is your pet's story?

Beans was adopted by us at Christmas when he was a kitten.

What do you love most about your pet?

Beans is such a gentle, loving cat, with a personality bigger than his appetite.

How will you and your pet be spending Christmas?

At Christmas, we plan on spending time with family and Beans will be eating all the leftover turkey.

Why should your pet win Rhiwbina Living Festive Pet? Since we got him, he has brought us so much joy, and it would make my son's Christmas if his best friend won.

WINNER

Nala

RUNNER UP

Age: 1 year 2 months Breed: British Bulldog What is your pet’s story?

Coming up to Christmas 2016, we wanted another addition to the family and for our daughter. We always wanted to have a British Bulldog, so found Neibull Bulldogs, a bulldog breeder based in South Wales breeding championship show dogs. Nala was named after the character in the Lion King!

What do you love most about your pet?

Nala caught our eye immediately with her cuddly and caring nature. She is the most amazing pet, fantastic with our daughter and loves going on walks in the park, though does get out of breath quite quickly! We have just about got used to the snoring as well.

How will you and your pet be spending Christmas?

Nala will be running (or more likely walking) in the Whitchurch Reindeer Run. We will all be spending Christmas Day as a family at home, enjoying the usual Christmas dinner. Of course Nala will be getting her own mini version, but I think we will avoid giving her the brussel sprouts this year!

Why should your pet win Rhiwbina Living Festive Pet? We believe Nala (aka Sants Paws) is the best pet dog in the world and will be a great winner of the Rhiwbina Living Festive Pet 2017! She is cuddly, cute and loving and our daughter would be over the moon.

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3. George Age: 16 Breed: Big Lovable Moggy What do you love most about your pet? He is quite a character and visits lots of houses around the Rhiwbina area, even joining us over the Butchers Arms in the Summer too!

How will you and your pet be spending Christmas? George will spend Christmas with his favourite activities – eating and sleeping in front of the coal fire – and watching wildlife programmes on the TV. He is looking forward to December 1st so that he can start his advent calendar and will be looking forward to his turkey dinner. He has asked Santa for a new blanket.

Why should your pet win Rhiwbina Living Festive Pet? He will welcome visitors, especially when they give him tit-bits under the table.

4. Hovis Age: 9 and a half Breed: British short-haired black cat What is your pet’s story? Before finding his home with us in Rhiwbina, Hovis had sadly been re-homed twice, through no fault of his own. Until we met him, nobody had wanted to adopt Hovis, purely because he’s a slightly older black cat. He’d been waiting for over 5 months to find a home.

What do you love most about your pet? Black cats are one of the most lovable and loyal cats you can find. And true to his name, he really is the best thing since sliced bread!

How will you and your pet be spending Christmas? We will all be at home in Rhiwbina, where we will exchange gifts (Hovis has asked Father Christmas for a new scratching post), eat too much food and likely nap on the sofa!

Why should your pet win Rhiwbina Living Festive Pet? Hovis deserves to win the title so we can encourage even more people to adopt a pawsome black cat just like him.

5. Lexi Age: 3 years 5 months Breed: Australian Labradoodle What is your pet’s story? We knew when I retired we would be looking for a nice friendly medium-sized dog to take on lovely walks around our village of Rhiwbina.

What do you love most about your pet? Lexi has a fabulous instinct and is very loving and protective towards my husband, always by his side watching his every move.

How will you and your pet be spending Christmas? After our family visitors have gone home, it will be just the three of us for Christmas. We will be looking forward to walking off our lunch- let's hope the weather is crisp and bright.

Why should your pet win Rhiwbina Living Festive Pet? She has enriched our lives and we love her unconditionally. We love everything about her.

6. Cookie Age: 2 years old (12 weeks old in his photo) Breed: Tortoiseshell What is your pet’s story? Cookie was one of 5 kittens born in October to a domestic mum but his owners couldn’t cope. I would visit Cookie in secret as I was getting the kitten as a surprise Christmas present for my daughter. So on December 21st, I said a tearful farewell to his lovely adoptive mum and brought Cookie home.

What do you love most about your pet? He is so funny and so full of character.

How will you and your pet be spending Christmas? At home in Rhiwbina with family. Cookie can look forward to having a full belly of turkey and sausages.

Why should your pet win Rhiwbina Living Festive Pet? Because he didn’t have the best start in life being born outside in winter.

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gorgeous gifts

Rhiwbina and our villages have everything we need for a memorable Christmas.

We've hand-picked some of the best Christmas gifts from our local shops

1. Cashmere blend poncho £38 These beautifully simple lightweight cashmere blend ponchos are available in a sumptuous array of 16 gorgeous seasonal shades. A great gift for her!

Victoria Fearn Gallery, Rhiwbina

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2. ghd Advanced Split End Therapy Bauble £15 If you know someone who spends the party season tonging, straightening and blow-drying their hair, they'll be grateful for this.

Coray and Co, Rhiwbina

3. Three pillar candle holder £46 This three pillar candle holder will serve as a stunning centre piece, not only for your festive meals but all year round. It will be a real talking point around the table.

Victoria Fearn Gallery, Rhiwbina

4. Polar bear from £11 This gorgeous standing polar bear decoration is soft to the touch with a furlike coat. Available in two sizes, the bear comes with a miniature scarf to keep them warm during the winter.

Haus, Rhiwbina

5. Festive scarves from £10 An assortment of Christmas scarves to add a touch of festive fun to any outfit. Calon also stocks a range of winter hats to finish off the Christmas look - and keep your head warm!

Calon Rhiwbeina

6. Wine rack £24.99 A rustic style wine rack with metal detailing and the text 'Come Wine with Us' written on the side. Holding 4 bottles, it would look fab in any kitchen.

Tŷ Bach Twt Interiors, Whitchurch

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12 11 7. Men's apron £25 A beautiful doggie apron made from luxuriously thick organic canvas cotton and individually screen printed. Has a fully adjustable neck strap and a handy pocket.

Flower Lodge, Rhiwbina

8. 'My Girls' Willow Tree figurine £44 These intimate figurative sculptures speak in quiet ways to heal, comfort, protect and inspire.

The pieces are cast from original carvings and individually painted by hand.

Serenade, Rhiwbina

9. Sterling Silver Earrings from £19.50 Looking to spoil the special woman in your life? Earrings are the perfect way to show her your affections. There’s a pair for every personality and style here.

Threads, Rhiwbina

10. Redken Glow Dry Kit £32.50 Gently cleanse and nourish blow-dry addicted hair prior to styling for an easier, shinier blow dry.

Transforms hair in just one application and a perfect stocking filler!

Michelle Marshall Salon, Rhiwbina

11. Treatment vouchers from £28 Treat your loved ones to a professional chiropractic or podiatry treatment at Rhiwbina's C3 Clinic for optimum health and wellbeing.

C3 Chiropractic, Rhiwbina

12. Let It Snow candle holder £3 Light up your room with this stunning festive candle holder. This metal holder has a shimmering icy interior which gives off a blue hue when lit. Can you get any cosier?

Haus, Rhiwbina

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18 20 19 17 15. Gin apron £14.99 If gin's their thing then this apron is the perfect gift. It has an adjustable neck strap, a deep front pocket and a funky logo.

Tŷ Bach Twt Interiors, Whitchurch

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16. Redken Gift Box £32.50 Redken Extreme Gift Set contains three luxurious products in one gorgeous gift box. available to suit all hair types and styles.

Michelle Marshall Salon, Rhiwbina

17. Yankee Candle Tealight Gift Set £21.99 Capture the beautiful warming fragrances of Christmas with this festive tealight gift set.

Cardiff Bed Centre, Whitchurch

18. Magical Melt Bath Bombs £10 These Magic Melts are ideal for those who love their baths as well as taking care of their skin. Contains 4 sweet smelling bath melts.

Serenade, Rhiwbina

19. Candle holder £10 Bring a bit of rustic charm to your home with this wood and glass Christmas tree candle holder. Includes a twine handle for hanging indoors.

Haus, Rhiwbina

20. Bay Tree Christmas Set from £10.50 Christmas isn't Christmas without chutneys and pickles. These gift packs will go down a treat.

Pugh's Garden Centre, Radyr

21. Log Store £75 Stock up on the the Yuletide logs with this spacious and stylish log store.

It will keep your seasoned logs dry and allow plenty of airflow.

Secret Shed, Rhiwbina

outdoors

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24 26 27 25 28 22. Bamboo socks 2 pairs £10 The age old tradition of giving socks at Christmas with a twist. These bamboo socks are designed to allow feet to breathe and relax.

Calon Rhiwbeina

23. Steepletone Record Player £159 Listen to music the way we used to - on a turntable! This record player includes a radio and a CD player.

Cardiff Bed Centre, Whitchurch

24. Magical cushion £15 Christmas is all about relaxing and you can do just that with these plumptious cushions, featuring a shimmering sparkly message on the front.

Haus, Rhiwbina

25. Travel Chess Set £7.50 Be the king of the castle with a travel sized Dapper Chap chess set. Ideal for those long car trips to see family.

Tŷ Bach Twt Interiors, Whitchurch

26. Mustard button bag from £23 This striking faux leather handbag features a very large button on the front and is available in a variety of different colours.

Threads, Rhiwbina

27. ghd Nocturne Travel Hair Dryer £59 Take your styling to the ends of the earth. With a powerful 1200W motor and compact folding handle, it's easy to stow away.

Coray and Co, Rhiwbina

28. Photoshoot Gift Voucher from £30 Capture family memories forever with a photoshoot.

Available for location or studio shoots.

Georgina Flambert, Rhiwbina

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history

Memories of

Rhiwbina

Christmases Nigel Taylor The Garden Village Father Christmas Run began in the year of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. Back then, Rhiwbina held dances for every season of the year. It was more of a close unit in those days and we decided to organise the run to raise money for charity.

The sleigh was constructed in the yard in the Garden Village. We put it on the back of a car trailer, put some lights on it and attached speakers to the roof of the car so that we could blare out some Christmas music.

Santa would be up front behind Rudolph and there would be a few of us in the back, rummaging through the sacks of presents and making sure that the right toys were going to the right houses.

We used to go out in all sorts of weather - usually it was snowing or sleety and it was freezing! We'd all dress up and starting at the garages on Pen-y-Dre, we'd work our way up to the top, then up Heol Wen onto Lon Isa, back down to

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Lon-y-Dail, around Y Groes and back to Pen-y-Dre. Families would come out of their homes to welcome Santa and his elves to their front doors. People would come out with a liquor glass, a sherry or some mulled wine and by the time you got to Heol Wen you could no longer feel the cold!

Afterwards, we'd all head up to the Recreational Club and enjoy bread, cheese and lettuce as refreshments. One time, we took the sleigh out for a spin down into the city, around City Hall and back again. These were the days before the Drink Driving laws we now have!

Gareth Hill The Christmases of my Rhiwbina past tend to blend into one, pieced together by fragmented threads in my mind.

Always landing on romanticised versions of a very 80s Christmas.

Never the snow of Bing Crosby’s dream. Just a misty rain, and biting cold, and the rushing slosh of tyres on wet tarmac, from cars that

raced along Heol-y-Deri, and Heol Llanishen Fach on last-minute trips for emergency milk and cream.

The timeless sight of stacked trees in the Deri Stores.

The fizz of excitement that would begin in the final days of term. Rhiwbeina Primary kids abandoning SMP maths, for nativity scenes, carols in Beulah, and the giddying treat of bringing toys into school. Maybe a classroom party, with paper plates and iced biscuits, and extremely orange crisps.

The timeless songs played on the radio, in the shops, and even in the dentist in the village. A John Hawkins check-up before the onrush of sweets, while Slade or Shakin' Stevens belted out their seasonal anthems in the background.

All building to a fevered state on the dark night of the 24th. Standing at the window on the landing of our house on Heol-yr-Efail, looking up the street, into the dark beyond the yellow blur of street lights; glancing at the sky – the faint hope of spotting a sleigh swoop down over the tax offices.

And in my mind’s eye, of course, I’m sure I see it every time.

Howard Wilkins My most poignant memory of Christmas in Rhiwbina as a child was of buying my brother Alun an Airfix kit from Courteney Morgan’s toy shop in Rhiwbina. I remember it cost 1/11d and with the 1d change, I’d go and buy sweets from Mr David’s sweet shop in Lon Fach. My brother and I would each buy one another an Airfix kit every Christmas and even now I joke with him about buying him one for Christmas!

Other memories I have are of the school nativity that we would have every year at Rhiwbeina Primary and of being in the choir at All Saints Church.

Christmas Day was all about the family. We would stay at home most of the day, unless of course we had a new bike or football.

Mary Clarke

My most poignant memories of Christmas in Rhiwbina are of being involved in all the Garden Village festivities and especially helping to organise the Father Christmas Run. I remember the winter of 2010 when we had really heavy snow and had problems accessing the trailer for Father Christmas’s sleigh.

His elves, helpers and wizards had to carry all of the children’s parcels around the village distributing them as his sleigh was out of action! Father Christmas got the hem of his coat wet and it got heavier and heavier. Meanwhile the Uncle of one of his elves who worked for a London newspaper got wind of what was happening here in the Garden Village and wrote a piece about it for the newspaper in London.

I’ll never forget that night, the cold and the sloppy snow and how proud I was of how Christmas was saved by our community cheer.

Hearing people say, “If you’d seen my child’s face” gives me so much pleasure. I love kids and could just stand on the door watching their faces when Father Christmas arrives!

My mother would buy all of the Christmas produce from the village, the turkey was bought here and all the trimmings, as we had Cooper’s greengrocers – Rhiwbina village was a one stop shop. I vividly remember the Police Constable from the Police House in Coed Ceirios, I think he was called PC Green. He’d go around and visit people and have many a glass of sherry along the way!

Chris Tinsley I was born in Y Groes and Christmases when I was younger were a quiet affair. After the Second World War, there wasn't much to do around here.

On Christmas Day, we always woke up to find presents on our bed - a new packet of handkerchiefs, an orange and some nuts. We counted ourselves as very lucky.

Memories of my own Christmases here in Rhiwbina are of family time, with the usual urgency of my own son wanting to be up at some unearthly hour to see if Father Christmas had been. Eventually, we would get up at a sensible time and the day would be spent trying to assemble toys and between mine and my late husband’s parents.

Rhiwbina has something very special and the atmosphere here at Christmas is unique. I feel very lucky that everything happens on my doorstep and love to walk around the village looking at Christmas trees in people’s windows.

I love to people watch from my window as everyone goes about their own Christmas and get pleasure from seeing simple things, like a child pushing their new doll’s pram, or being all wobbly on their new bike with their Dad running after them to try and keep up; watching people take out their dogs in the late afternoon to try and work off their big Christmas dinner, or the teenagers having been finally allowed some time to catch up with their friends.

I don’t feel that Christmas or the special atmosphere has changed

here in Rhiwbina over the years.

It’s always been about family first.

When people stand around the Christmas Tree in Y Groes and sing carols, you can feel the occasion in the air – they are the same carols that have been sung for years. The only difference is that some child will pull the words up on their iPad instead of us relying on our old tattered carol sheets! When the children sing Away in A Manger around the beautifully lit tree, I defy anyone not to have a tear in their eye.

I love living in Rhiwbina and although was not born here, when I see the Wenallt as I arrive back in Rhiwbina on the bus, I think 'I’m home', and get an instant feeling of friendliness and civility. It’s a truly special place and is magical at Christmas.

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S

Chiropractors Chiropractors Podiatrists/Chiropodists 223-225 Pantbach Road, Rainer Rainer Wieser,Wieser, ChloĂŠ Stamper ChloĂŠ Stamper Lynne Griffiths Lia Biancheri, Kate Mosedale Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AE Lia Biancheri, Kate Mosedale Laura Dommett

02920 627888

www. c3chiropractic.co.uk

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."

02920520808

www.reclinerchaircentre.co.uk

gardening

WINTER IS COMING

While nature quietly sleeps, winter provides the perfect season to plan new projects and prepare your garden for the year ahead

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inter can be a frustrating time as plans for days off spent in the garden are few, and often spoilt by inclement weather; many hours are spent glaring out of rain-splattered windows, counting the weekends until the more reliable weather of spring.

Occasional clear, dry days can be used very profitably however and serve as a good form of exercise to clear out the cobwebs after a period of Christmas excess. After a hard year spent working in the garden, sometimes it is just nice to sit back, take stock and plan for the year ahead - but these are rainy day tasks or for the odd snowbound period; any opportunity to get in the garden is usually taken with relish.

Gardening in winter is more about what you don’t do rather than what you do (or want to do). The list of things not to do in frosty weather includes walking on lawns, digging soil and pruning trees or shrubs. If you didn’t complete tasks which are usually filed under ‘autumn clear up’, now is probably not the best

time to start them.

Fallen leaves are best left as an insulating cover over bare soil and dormant plants, while the dead growth of ornamental grasses and herbaceous plants protect the growing points of the plants themselves. They also act as winter quarters for a number of hibernating mammals such as hedgehogs and amphibians such as frogs and toads, along with any number of useful invertebrates such as ground beetles and ladybirds. No doubt there will be a few less desirable lodgers such as slugs and snails seeking shelter but as this is the season of goodwill, it seems harsh to come on like Herod and persecute them now.

There are some jobs to be done now though. It is worth looking around the garden for any foliage that can be taken into the house and used as decoration. The virtues of holly and ivy are well known but many berried shrubs can look attractive at this time along with evergreen shrubs such

Sprigs of conifer can look suitably festive and can be fashioned into wreaths

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as Pittosporum. Sprigs of conifer such as Lawson’s Cypress or Yew can look suitably festive and can be fashioned into wreaths or sprigs tucked behind pictures. It is always worth getting ahead with maintenance tasks such as the sharpening of tools and servicing of lawnmowers and garden machinery. Service centres will be annoyingly busy if you leave it until the first dry weekend of spring.

Similarly, it is a good idea to empty out the compost from old pots under trees and shrubs or into the compost heap and give the pots a good wash. Old terracotta pots will harbour a fine collection of spiders, slime and algae and will last much longer if kept clean and dry, ready for their first outing in spring or summer. It is also good practice to wash and stack plastic pots too before they end up blowing around

yours and the neighbour’s garden in one of the winter storms.

Greenhouses too should not be left full of dry, mouldy tomato vines and chilli plants but should be cleared of dead material and windows cleaned and replaced if necessary.

If they are to be used for overwintering tender plants such as fuchsias, dahlias and geraniums, it is worth putting them in before the first frosts and remembering to check up on them at intervals throughout winter in case pests and diseases take hold while you are distracted by too much Christmas cheer. They may even need watering on odd occasions as even the weak winter sunshine can raise the greenhouse temperature on a few bright days.

If the weather is not too frosty, it is worth getting on with some winter pruning. Fruit trees can be thinned out or brought back to a reasonable size if they have been left for a few years. Fruit bushes such as red currants, black currants and gooseberries should be thinned out to keep the plants productive and ensure easy access to the fruit. Deciduous hedges can be cut back but it is probably best to leave evergreens until spring or summer to avoid disturbing roosting birds.

Chopping wood is a good warming winter job – in fact it warms you twice; once in the sawing and splitting and again in the burning.

If you have wood burning facilities,

a good waterproof wood store is a good investment and another good winter task is its construction. In inner city smokeless zones, we can but dream of a weekend spent in a country pub sat around a roaring fire but a stack of wood in the fireplace at least has a homely feel and provides a refuge for spiders.

Another good warming task is the turning of the compost bin which will speed up the process of decomposition and make sweet smelling compost sooner. Material from one bin is turned into another adjacent one where it can be left to mature while the newly cleared bin can be filled with festive vegetable peelings, any available reindeer dung and some of the mountain of cardboard left over from the opening of presents and seasonal

Chopping wood is a good warming winter job and a stack of wood in the fireplace has a homely feel

fare. If you don’t have a compost bin, now could be a good time to build one as the council annoyingly reduce their collections of green waste to once a month at a time of year when most pruning waste is being produced. Gardening is not all about lawn clippings!

If space allows, you could build a leaf mould bin which can be as simple as four posts surrounded by chicken wire. The resulting peaty leaf mould produced after a year or two is a precious commodity not available in shops or garden centres. Even a few bags full can be put behind a shed and will be usable after a year or two, or can be added to the compost heap in layers like lasagne at warmer times of year when soft green waste is more plentiful.

Kevin Revell is the Plant Area Manager at Caerphilly Garden Centre

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people

Ikea, Ideas & Inspiration S

Living Magazines speaks to Rhiwbina's Rachel Cule who, along with Amy Holland, set up Single Parents Wales

itting in the Ikea cafe with her son one weekend back in 2013, after having recently separated from his father, Rachel Cule was struck by a sense of loneliness as she looked on at the families all around her. But it was also a defining moment and one that would end up changing the course of her life and those of others.

"I was looking around and there were all these 2.4 families and just me and Joseph, and I thought I don’t want to just be on our own. All my friends were married with children and they all spent time with their kids and husbands on a weekend. I felt very lonely and thought I had to do something."

Rachel tried to find a single parents group to join, thinking that it would provide an opportunity to chat to new friends whilst the children played, but couldn’t find anything out there.

"I found myself going over my mum and dad's all the time and thought this isn’t the life I want, so I put an ad on Netmums in a Bridget Jones style saying 'I'm Rachel, I'm 11 stone, I smoke a vapouriser' and a list of other stuff about me, and I started getting emails from people."

Rachel began meeting up with

44

people on the weekend, usually a small group of about 5 parents and their children. Some time later, she met Amy Holland, another single mother who was working for Gingerbread at the time- the charity for single parent families.

"Amy and I hit it off straight away and she suggested I would be great working for Gingerbread with her on a project for single parents around creating connections and developing self management skills. When the project ended, Gingerbread weren't going to carry on the social aspect of the project, and so we had the idea to try and develop it ourselves and apply for funding."

Single Parents Wales was subsequently founded by the pair with the aim of providing support to, and preventing feelings of isolation in single parents across Wales. The group set out to achieve this in a variety of ways by providing several online communities for people to engage with each other, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and through the organisation and facilitation of different events and meet-ups.

"We've created a community which reduces feelings of loneliness and

allows people to connect with one another. We have an online forum too and there is always someone for people to talk to."

But it's not just virtual support that is provided. The group puts on various activities and events, with a fortnightly ramble for people to get together.

Many activities are deliberately planned for times when people would be with extended family, such as half terms, weekends, bank holidays and around Christmas. Rachel explains: "We are doing a Christmas event a few days before Christmas, so we have mulled wine and Father Christmas comes. It all reinforces the fact you’re not alone for Christmas."

Rachel talks proudly about the group and what people get from it: "We make each other laugh; people say it’s like having a second family.

I grew up in a family where we all used to go on Sunday day trips, to Cosmeston and places like that. If you did that on your own with your child, you would probably feel isolated and would be looking around and not talking to anyone. With the rambles we put on, people get to talk to each other and have a laugh with other parents, whilst the children are having fun with other kids."

Rachel also believes that being part of the group helps normalise the experience of being in a single parent family for children: "Kids don’t feel it’s anything unusual.

Joseph doesn’t think having a single parent is abnormal as he knows other children in the group are in the same situation and he doesn’t feel any different. It's not a worry for him."

As the group became more popular, Rachel and Amy decided to seek funding, and with the help of Julie Morgan AM who had become their patron, they secured funding for the group, for more events and specifically to focus on promoting wellbeing. Rachel explains: "We were awarded 5k from The Big Lottery and 3k from The Mental Health Foundation which helped us to facilitate workshops around promoting wellbeing; as single parents are more prone to depression and other mental health problems.

No-one really talks about the trauma of a separation or a divorce and you're left to get on with it, but it's still a loss and can bring with it feelings of bereavement that can be difficult to manage."

The workshops ran for one day a week over 6 weeks and addressed the mental health and wellbeing of single parents, including topics such as managing difficult relationships, coping with mental health difficulties and promoting wellbeing, with a focus on the positives of being a single parent. The course was fully funded for the participants which was advertised on their Facebook group.

"We had 11 people come every week and were able to pay for their childcare and travel so they could attend and have a chance to meet others in a similar situation.

Many single parents live in poverty however a lot of those I meet aren’t, as actually 67% of single parents in Wales work, a fact that is not well known."

Rachel beams as she recalls how the group made a difference to people: "When the course finished, people went away feeling stronger. It was lovely to see. We've also used funding to provide workshops on how to service your car (which booked up in five minutes!), mindful play with the children, mosaic and creative art, and graffiti workshops for teenagers."

Over the last year, the group has grown to the point where they receive around five requests a day for new

people to join the Facebook page and the rambles are now held every fortnight due to increased demand. But Rachel and Amy have a vision for how to develop the organisation even more: "We're applying for 50k of funding this time, which would cover four or five sets of the mental health and wellbeing workshops through the oncoming year. The money would also allow us to put on Amy Holland and Rachel Cule more events like the service your own car workshop and to make events more accessible to people by paying for their years, so we’ve had a lot travel costs. It would also provide of training and experience, both some funding for Amy and I to run personally and professionally." the organisation as we currently do As Rachel speaks it is easy to see everything for free." how she is able to engage people, At the moment the popular rambling with her warmth and open honesty: events take place around Cardiff and "I think if you’ve been depressed and Penarth but there have been calls for lonely yourself there is no-one better them to be organised in other parts than that to facilitate a group. I think of Wales. Rachel and Amy would like the ability to connect with people to be able to make these available to comes from being able to identify all single parents across the country and understand people's situations". by training volunteers to be able to So how has the group and her new facilitate them in their own areas. role helped Rachel, after she sat Rachel explains: in Ikea that afternoon 4 years ago "We need to find the right people feeling so alone? to lead these groups as making "I have such a wide social circle, I can others feel relaxed and able to share never be alone now. My Mum says stories is a skill. We have also had I have the most friends ever and I people attend our workshops who used to have a lot of friends but I have have wanted to go on and learn to about a million now!" she laughs. facilitate them themselves, and this "I think lots of things that are is something we are keen successful come from people that to develop, particularly have been hurt and then it turns into as these skills and something good. experiences can then be I always knew I was a caring highlighted on people's person, but I get major satisfaction CVs." from helping other people through The group has become the group. When I am facilitating immensely popular workshops or on rambles I think I am and is valued by many probably at my happiest, as I know single parents across I am making people happy, and I’m Wales. Rachel is keen socialising too which I love to do. The to point out that the fact that people feel they are being group incorporates helped by the group, by coming on a people of varied ages and from all ramble or being able to say how they different backgrounds, and that men feel online, makes me feel maybe I especially can reduce feelings of was supposed to be in this position." isolation by becoming involved.

The Bridget Jones type ad that "People feel so much better after Rachel placed has clearly yielded becoming part of the group and say much more than she could ever have it has changed their life and that they imagined. are so grateful to us for setting it up."

"That was one of the best decisions I Clearly the pair bring the personal ever made. I don’t see that I am doing experience of being single parents a job as everything I do, I love doing to their roles, but they have also and it gives me as much as it gives received training and acquired skills others. It's helped me deal with the through work to make them ideal to trauma of my break up and made me lead the group. a stronger person."

"I did a social sciences degree and learnt a lot about psychology, and Rachel@singleparentswales.org Amy has worked in the charity field Amy@singleparentswales.org for longer than me- for about 10

We make each other laugh - it's like having a second family

45

BEULAH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, Heol Y Deri, Rhiwbina Services for Advent & Christmas Sunday, December 3rd: Advent Sunday 10.30am: Morning Worship 6.00pm: United Joint Choirs Service for Advent Sunday, December 10th: 10.30am: Morning Worship with Communion 6.00pm: ‘Light for our Loss’ A service for those grieving at Christmas Sunday, December 17th: 10.30am: Family Service led by the young people of Beulah 6.00pm: Carol Service Sunday, December 24th: 5.00pm: Blessing the Crib service led by our younger children 11.15pm: Christmas Eve Communion Christmas Day: 10.45am: Family Celebration Service

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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 dog who constantly licks his paw. I have checked all around his paw and can’t find anything untoward. I’ve considered putting a sock over it but I’m not sure if that would help. Any suggestions?

Your dog could be licking his paw for all sorts of reasons, and it’s difficult to say the exact cause without examining him. If it’s only ever one particular paw, there could be something like a thorn stuck in it, or he could have some interdigital dermatitis (sore areas on the skin between the pads) caused by contact with an irritant or getting a bit of grit caught in the hair there. The latter is most common in longcoated dogs with lots of hair on their feet. If he’s licking at a particular toe, have a very close look at the nail and see if it’s damaged. Try wiggling the nail about (gently!) – an injured nail will cause a lot of discomfort, and will often need to be removed. (If so, don’t worry as it will grow back fine!). Sometimes arthritis in the foot will make dogs lick to relieve the ache. If more than one foot is affected, this could be a symptom of allergy.

Sometimes dogs will lick and chew their feet so much that they cause quite a lot of trauma.

In this situation, covering the foot with a sock might be useful to prevent too much damage until you can get him to the vet, but preventing him from licking the area will not remove the cause of the problem or make it feel any better, so I would not generally recommend it.

Several months ago, my 5 year old collie went floppy, fell over and after a few seconds, got back up again as if nothing had happened. She hasn’t had one since but I’m worried that it could happen again. What do you think it could be?

This sounds as though it could be an attack of ‘syncope’, or fainting. Syncope is often related to an abnormal heart rhythm causing sudden loss of blood pressure and therefore reduction in oxygen to the brain.

Your vet might be able to detect changes in her heart rhythm that help to identify this as the cause, either by listening or with an ECG (heart trace).

However the heart rhythm might be completely normal in between episodes, making it very hard to identify. If there are repeated attacks, it is possible to fit a holter monitor to your dog which records her heart rhythm constantly over an extended period. However, if attacks are very infrequent, it’s unlikely that wearing a

holter monitor for a week will capture the event. It’s worth getting your dog’s heart checked now, but if there’s nothing found, I wouldn’t worry too much unless she has repeated episodes.

I’ve had a cat for the last three months. My previous pet was a dog, who I bathed at least once every few weeks. Do I need to bathe my cat as he seems to be doing a pretty good job of it himself but I feel as if I need to help!)

Cats are inherently very clean animals and spend a great deal of time grooming themselves, as you have noticed. They rarely need to be bathed except in exceptional situations – for example if they have got oil on them from sitting under your car.

Occasionally cats need bathing for medical reasons, but they don’t enjoy it, and we never look forward to it! However, brushing and combing your cat may be helpful, especially if he has a long coat, and grooming like this can be a very pleasurable experience for the cat, reinforcing his bond with you.

outdoors

Winter Air The Walk among ancient woodland, historical structures and an abundance of wildlife on this uplifting winter walk through the forests of North Cardiff The Tongwynlais and Wenallt Walk You may think that the woods will be quiet during winter, but nothing could be further from the truth. Taking a walk through the woodland at this time of year is a sumptuous feast for all of the senses. It can help us feel happier, calmer and healthier.

The Tongwynlais and Wenallt Walk is a circular route that you can pick up at Greenmeadow Wood in Tongwynlais. The route is a Promoted Route, which means that you need to follow the red markers on the way. It's around 3¼ miles in length and should take between 2 ½ and 3 hours to complete.

Be aware that the route includes some steep to moderate gradients that may not be suitable for all users.

Do wear appropriate footwear, especially in wet weather conditions as some areas can become quite boggy.

Do apply normal respect for the highway as some of the route involves walking on a roadside verge.

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Coed-y-Wenallt

On the hillside above Pantmawr in a quiet rural area reached by a farm track off Rhiwbina Hill, you'll see an old farm house. This is Rhiwbina Farm House, a Grade II Listed Building, dating from the late 17th to early 18th century.

The structure is a small regional stone-built building retaining historic fabric and includes a pebble dashed front, Welsh slate roof and end stacks.

Opposite the farm house, you'll see Coed-y-Wenallt Forest. The forest is a 44 hectare area of designated ancient woodland which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

During the winter, colourful Jays can be seen as they collect the acorns that they had buried during the autumn months.

A metal detector search of the area in 1980 led to a significant historic discovery of 102 medieval silver pennies that had been minted in Cardiff and buried around AD1140, during the time of the Civil War between King Stephen and Empress Matilda.

A selection of these coins is on display at the National Museum of Wales.

Wenallt Camp

Wenallt Camp, also known as Wenallt Enclosure, is an iron age enclosure that is described as a ‘Prehistoric Domestic and Defensive - Scheduled Ancient Monument dated circa 700BC – AD74'.

The original structure was a timber and stone fortification and its position at the south end of a spur meant that it offered wide views across Cardiff and could therefore be considered a symbol of control and power.

Some of the structure remains visible as you pass by. Head into the entrance, which is situated to the south-east and you'll see traces of a retaining wall in the form of large blocks. Towards the middle of the enclosure is a levelled terrace which could have been the site of a hut.

Credit: Rob Drayton

The Fox

Great Spotted Woodpecker

The red fox feeds mainly on small rodents such as rabbits, field mice and voles but will eat almost anything it finds, often eating carrion or preying on newborn lambs in the spring.

This resourcefulness is one of the main reasons they’ve been able to populate the UK's towns and cities with great success.

They are superb hunters, able to sprint, turn and jump with

These beautiful birds can often be heard hammering away at the dead trees around the forest all year round.

Males and young birds have a distinctive red patch on the back of the head. As well as using holes for breeding, great spotted woodpeckers roost at night, and sometimes during the day, in old nest cavities, excavated by other woodpeckers.

The Badger

remarkable ease for a dog. They mate during the winter months and the pair stay together to act as parents to the newborn cubs after a gestation period of between 51 and 53 days.

Badgers scuttle around the forest floor in the search for food under the cover of darkness.

The badgers found here in North Cardiff are the European badgers.

They can reach speeds of up to 20mph in short bursts. They mainly eat earthworms and insects, but can also eat small mammals and birds, as well as fruit and nuts.

Badgers remain active all year round, although a very hard frost may keep them underground if it stops them from digging out worms or other food. They'll put on weight in autumn when food is plentiful to help them through the leaner times of winter, but they do not hibernate in winter.

The Geology

The geology of North Cardiff offers glimpses into a long and varied history.

The rocks situated in and around the city are compacted sediments of mineral, animal and plant remains that have been shaped by glacial activity throughout the ages. The Caerphilly ridge provides a dramatic backdrop to the city and can be separated into two distinctive rock formations of sandstone and limestone.

The sandstone formation at Tongwynlais comprises Old Red Sandstone which includes red mudstones and sandstones deposited during the Silurian and Devonian geological periods. The limestone formation comprises Carboniferous Limestone deposited in the late Devonian period on a broad shelf to the north of Cardiff, along the southern rim of the South Wales coalfield.

Limestone was quarried for use in the steel industry and rocks from this area have also been used for building stone. There are a number of small disused quarries in and around the walk that are still visible. The forest is also filled with remnants of iron mines and caves, which are either hidden from the walking path or have been fenced off for safety reasons.

The Oak Tree

Along with Hazel trees, most of the lower woodland is comprised of oak trees. As common oaks mature, they form a broad and spreading crown with sturdy branches beneath. You won't see much during the winter months but in the summer, their open canopy enables light to penetrate through to the woodland floor, allowing bluebells and primroses to grow below. Oak tree growth is particularly rapid in youth but gradually slows at around 120 years. Oaks even shorten with age in order to extend their lifespan.

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s ' t e L y t r a P New Year's Eve doesn't have to be a night out. A New Year's Party in the house puts you in control in the comfort of your own home

Why have a party?

Like Christmas, a New Year's Party is based around a strong theme, even if the central highlight lasts no more than a minute.

But a New Year's Party can be much more than that. It can be a time to reflect, a time to look forward to new hopes and dreams.

It can also be a time to relax and catch up with old friends and family.

The thought of putting on a party at this time of year can be daunting but with a little bit of planning and a touch of imagination, you can create a party that your family and friends will talk about for years to come.

If you are thinking of hosting a New Year's Party this year, here are a few ideas to give you some inspiration.

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Preparing Food

To make things easier for you and your guests, it's always a good idea for them to bring their own appetisers.

If someone doesn’t know how to cook or what to bring, suggest raw veggies and houmous, a fruit and nut platter, or a cheese and crackers plate. If someone claims that even those are too difficult, ask them to bring a packet or two of mixed nuts – you can provide the bowl!

Create a music playlist

It's now easier than ever to create your own playlist with online streaming services like Spotify and Deezer. If most of your guests are of a similar age, it's always a great idea to drop in some nostalgic songs from your younger days. If your guests are more varied in age, you can always rely on the trusty Christmas compilation CD that's been sitting in the cupboard all year waiting to be played!

'Hire' a photographer

If you don't want to do it yourself, find a friend who will take care of the photo duties for the evening.

Party photos always look more fun when you introduce some props so dig out some old clothes, hats and glasses from your wardrobe. You can also create a themed frame that people can pop their heads into when they are having their photos taken.

No doubt, these will all be shared on social media in the cold sober hours of New Year's Day.

Highlights of the Year One thing that's guaranteed to keep the conversation

flowing over a New Year's Eve supper is to look back over the last 12 months.

It might be worth printing out some ice-breaker cards with particular topics featured on each one.

Topics could range from 'Day from the last year that you'd love to do again' through to 'Most embarrassing moment of the year'.

You can also take the conversation a bit deeper by offering the 'Best advice you've heard all year' or 'Biggest lesson learned this year.' If you want to add more fun to the game, you can throw in some sayings that cannot be uttered during the night - phrases like 'I can't believe where time has gone' or 'Doesn't time fly?' Forfeits can be dished out to those who slip up.

Fancy Dress In some parts of the UK like Cornwall,

putting on fancy dress on New Year's Eve is a tradition that goes back years. It gives people a chance to let their hair down and have fun. It not only breaks the ice but provides ample opportunities for laughs, great photo opportunities and memorable moments.

Giving your party a theme such as Superheroes or Game of Thrones will make for a great evening but be sure to give your guests ample warning ahead of the party to give them time to prepare!

Celebrate New Year every hour on the hour If you are looking to make the most of your New Year's Party, why not celebrate New Year every hour, on the hour, to coincide with a place in the world where they are celebrating midnight? This not only makes the evening more fun but also adds a bit of variety to proceedings With many countries hours ahead of us, you can plan to celebrate all evening long. Join Greece at 10pm by serving up a platter of traditional Greek food and ouzo (be careful not to go crazy on this as you do want to get to midnight!).

At 11pm, join the French by serving up baked Camembert and red Bordeaux.

It will be several more hours before you can start joining those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in their celebrations but by then, you'll either be safely tucked up in bed or passed out on the sofa.

Post midnight munchies Make sure that your guests go

home with full bellies and smiles on their faces by preparing some post midnight-food.

New Year's parties run the risk of falling flat after the climax of midnight. It doesn't have to be anything fancy but a warming bowl of soup or some bacon butties will always be appreciated.

If your party isn't going to be overly boozy, a warming mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows will finish the evening off beautifully.

New Year Predictions During the early part of the evening, get your guests to write down predictions for the year ahead. Get them to sign their predictions and to put them into a box or a bowl.

During supper or after midnight, everyone can take turns to read the predictions out loud and the other guests can guess whose prediction it is.

There will always be a few surprises and it's a great way to wrap up the night!

53

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Why you need a Will

by Emyr Pierce

Most people would prefer not to consider the inevitable. As they say, very few things are guaranteed but, sadly, death is one of those. Emyr Pierce, Managing Partner with Emyr Pierce Solicitors in Rhiwbina, explains why having a Will could save you and your family both money and possible complications.

It is essential that you take time to seek advice and consider the needs of your loved ones when you are no longer here to care for them. Without a Will, you risk your assets passing under the Intestacy Rules - the Common Law’s attempt to anticipate your intentions had you made a Will - which may not coincide with your actual wishes. Further, making arrangements for minor children through the appointment of Guardians is also a major concern for young families.

There are other important reasons why a Will may be essential. First, don’t assume that your partner will get everything – even if you are married, or in a civil partnership, your entire estate will not necessarily pass in its entirety to your spouse under the Intestacy Rules. What these Rules anticipate, and what you may actually want, could be entirely different. If you’re not married, your partner is not entitled to anything, as of right, either.

Perhaps one of the greatest reasons for making a Will is the need to appoint Guardians for your minor children. Few want to consider the possibility of both parents dying. By making a Will, you can appoint a trusted friend or relative as Guardian of your children to look after them and bring them up as you would have wished.

You may currently be caring for such as an elderly parent or vulnerable sibling or child and your Will can stipulate arrangements for their ongoing care in your absence, to include appropriate financial provision if necessary. You can also make gifts to non-relatives who would otherwise not benefit under the Intestacy Rules unless you say so – if there is a special person in your life, and who may not necessarily be related, and you want to leave something to them, this can only be guaranteed by making a Will.

Seeking expert advice on drafting a Will could save you tens of thousands of pounds in unnecessary Inheritance Tax payments. It’s important to seek professional advice, not only to help with Estate Planning and ensure that the Will is legally binding, but such advice could also significantly reduce the likelihood of someone excluded from the Will making a successful claim against your Estate.

Making a Will needn’t be time consuming and can actually be fun to do. Its nominal cost is insignificant in comparison with the cost, expense and distress that can be caused to those left behind when there is no Will, or insufficient thought has been given to whom should benefit in the event of your death.

emyr pierce solicitors

1 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6HA For an immediate quotation or to discuss your concerns with a specialist, please telephone us on 02920 616002 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and on Saturday 10am to 4pm. You can also visit www.emyrpierce.co.uk or email us at law@emyrpierce.co.uk

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Christmas is time for friends and family. A chance to come together, to eat, drink and be merry. Here are a few recipes that will be the talk of the dinner party

Steamed scallops with whisky and ginger 200g glass noodles 80ml Scottish whisky 2 tablespoons brown sugar 250ml light soy sauce 1 teaspoon sesame oil 2 teaspoons chilli oil 16 large scallops, in the half shell, roe left on 8 garlic cloves, finely grated 5cm piece ginger, peeled and cut into julienne 500g rock salt 6 shallots, finely shredded on the diagonal, soaked in iced water

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4 long fresh red chillies, halved, seeded and cut into fine julienne 125ml (½ cup) peanut oil ☐ Soak the glass noodles in hot water for 20 minutes. Drain well, then using kitchen scissors, cut the noodles into 3cm lengths and set aside. ☐ Place the whisky, brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil and chilli oil in a small bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. ☐ Fill a wok one-third full of water and bring to a rapid boil. Place a small handful of chopped glass noodles under each scallop, then top the scallops with a little garlic and ginger. Place as many scallops as will fit comfortably in a single layer in the top of a large bamboo steamer basket. Pour 1 tablespoon of the whisky mixture over the top.

Place on the wok, cover with the

lid and steam for 4 minutes or until just warmed through (or 2 minutes if your scallops are much smaller). ☐ Meanwhile, make small mounds of rock salt on a serving platter – this will keep the scallops steady and level in their shells. Remove the scallops from the steamer and place the next batch on to steam.

Place the steamed scallops on the rock salt mounds and top with a little spring onion and sliced chilli. ☐ When all the scallops are steamed and topped with spring onion and chilli, place the peanut oil in a small saucepan over medium heat until smoking hot. Carefully spoon a little hot oil over the spring onion and chilli- this will quickly scold the spring onion, releasing more flavour into the scallops and giving a nice shine to the dish. ☐ Serve immediately.

food

Puff Pastry Olive Bites 250g grated Parmesan zest of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh parsley 1 large egg flour, for dusting 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed Around 40 pimento-stuffed green olives, drained ☐ Preheat the oven to 200ºC/Gas Mark 6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. ☐ In a mixing bowl, toss together the Parmesan, lemon zest and parsley until it's all combined. ☐ In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg with 2 teaspoons of water to make an egg wash. ☐ On a floured work surface, gently roll out the puff pastry sheet, removing any fold marks but keeping the same general size and shape. Using a sharp knife or a pizza wheel, cut forty 1-by-2-inch rectangles. Place an olive in the middle of a rectangle and gently wrap the pastry around the olive, pinching the seam and ends to seal to make a small ball. ☐ Coat the wrapped olive first in egg wash and then in cheese mixture. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.

Repeat with remaining pastry and olives. ☐ Bake until golden brown and crispy, about 15 minutes. ☐ Remove the olives from the baking sheet and cool completely on a wire rack.

Bacon & Rosemary Mushrooms 100g bacon, chopped 30g butter 250g mushrooms 2 sprigs rosemary, minced 1 onion, chopped 150g grated Edam cheese ☐ Separate the mushroom stems from the caps. Chop the stems and set aside. ☐ Melt the butter in a frying pan and cook the onion until it's soft.

Add the chopped mushroom stems and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes or until they are golden. ☐ In another frying pan, cook the chopped bacon until it's crisp.

Drain the fat from the pan. Add the bacon to the mushroom mixture along with the cheese and rosemary and stir well. ☐ Fill the mushroom caps with the cheese mixture and place in a baking tin. ☐ Preheat the oven to 200ºC/Gas Mark 6. Bake the mushrooms for 15 to 20 minutes. ☐ Serve immediately.

Southern Fried Cauliflower 1 1/2 large cauliflowers 225g self-raising flour 1 tablespoon ground paprika 2 teaspoons ground white pepper 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons dried oregano 250ml buttermilk 3 eggs vegetable oil, to deep fry 125g whole-egg mayonnaise 2 teaspoons sriracha chilli sauce micro herbs, to serve lemon wedges, to serve

well, draining any excess before returning them to the flour mixture.

Turn to coat well again and transfer them to a plate. ☐ Pour enough oil into a large saucepan to come halfway up the side and heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches of about 4-5 pieces (don't put too many in the pan), deep fry the cauliflower for 2 minutes or until they are golden. Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a tray lined with paper towels to drain. Transfer the cauliflower to a serving dish and season with salt. ☐ Combine the mayonnaise and chilli sauce in a small bowl.

Sprinkle micro herbs over the fried cauliflower. Serve with the mayonnaise mixture and lemon.

☐ Trim the cauliflower of its greenery and cut it into large florets (this should equate to about 400g of cauliflower florets). Sift the flour, paprika, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne and a large pinch of salt onto a large plate and stir in the oregano. Pour the buttermilk into a shallow dish and whisk the eggs in a separate shallow dish. ☐ Working in batches, place the cauliflower florets in the buttermilk and turn to coat them well. Add to the flour mixture and toss them to coat. Shake off any excess. Then add to the egg and turn to coat

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feature

(

grumpy christmas

Christmas can be an overwhelming experience. It can push some to the edge. Here are some of the aspects of Christmas that some people enjoy but others don't embrace too quickly daylight robbery with the quality of that can be done from the comfort Preparation singing on offer. They always call of your own armchair. Haha. Yeah, They say 'Fail to prepare, prepare to fail', whoever 'they' are. But of course, they are right. Christmas involves huge amounts of preparation - things like taking your frozen turkey out of the freezer in late November; ordering in two more tubs of Quality Street to replace the ones you ate in early December; and preparing to talk to relatives that you try and avoid for the rest of the year. Prepare some ready-made questions such as 'Awful weather we've been having isn't it?' and 'You had a good year?'.

They'll go down a treat. Promise.

Carol Singers

When you were a kid, carol singing was your chance to embrace the Christmas spirit and to bring cheer to the old people who lived next door. As you get older, you suddenly realise that these cheery cherubs could actually be charged with

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during the middle of dinner and they always look disappointed with whatever you give them to go away from your door.

The School Nativity

As autumn turns into winter, all eyes turn to the school nativity play to usher in the Christmas season. On paper, this all sounds very exciting.

That's until the costumes need to be made. And the big debate about who's going to play Mary spills out into the playground. And when the big day comes around, there's always an angel who forgets her one line and needs prompting from a teacher sat simmering at the bottom of the stage.

Shopping

Christmas shopping, has of course, changed immensely over the years.

Gone are the traffic jams, the long queues at the tills and the audio assault of Christmas music on the ears. The internet has transformed Christmas shopping into a wonderful, stress-free experience

right.

Christmas Parties

Planning in advance for the works Christmas party is a fine art. Hide ÂŁ20 somewhere on your person so that you've always got money for a taxi home. Write your address down on a piece of paper to show the taxi driver, should you become incapable of speaking.

At the party itself, always carry two drinks because if you bump into someone you like, you can stay

tHESE CHEERY

cHERUBS

COULD BE CHARGED WITH DAYLIGHT

ROBBERY

feature and drink them both. If they're not someone you like, you can always make the excuse that you can't stop and talk as you have a drink to give to someone. Up there for thinking eh?

Sherry

As a kid, sherry was the reserve of the older people - those people who'd come to your house in their Sunday best. But as the years go by, sherry starts to work its merry magic on you. First, a tipple as a teenager. A tumbler in your twenties. By the time you get to your forties, you're downing flagons of the stuff.

Telly

Circling the things in the TV guide as to what you were going to watch on telly over Christmas is now a long-forgotten pastime that kids these days just wouldn't understand. You see, back in the day, the Christmas Day film was THE big event of the entire holiday season. No Netflix, YouTube or even the hundreds of channels that we have now. Oh no. We had just four channels to pick from and if you were going to stay up late, the Closedown would remind you that you should really be in bed.

the first place to deal with. The first one you look at is just about right. But you’ll need to look at 20 more just to be sure. And sure enough, the first one was good enough.

Turkey

If turkey was tasty, you’d eat it any other time of the year wouldn’t you? We try and dress it up any way we can to make it more palatable.

Cranberry sauce, honey dip – even mustard. It gets that bad that you even have to chuck it into a curry to disguise it.

Things are obviously worse for the turkey herself who has her innards taken out and put in a plastic bag that’s popped back up her bum.

Christmas Pudding

Not many people know this but Christmas pudding was invented by a bricklayer. One Christmas Eve, this bricklayer was trying to finish off an outside toilet that he was building.

Just before he finished his creation, he realised that he was several bricks short. As all the builders' yards were closed, the bricklayer had to think fast as he wanted to get home. In a nearby bin, he found some old fruit peelings and a load of flour. He mixed them all in together with some water and created what he thought would pass as a brick. Sadly, the lady who he was building the toilet for took it in as a gift and wanted to serve it the following day. The bricklayer attempted to burn the abomination that he'd created - a tradition that's continued to this day.

Pantomimes

The Christmas tree

Think of it logically. What drives us to go and stick a 7 ft tree in our house? Would you do it any other time of year? Ask yourself and answer it honestly. If you’re the sort who demands a REAL tree in your front room (those plastic ones just aren’t the same darling), there is the ritual of going to pick your tree in

Another British tradition that leaves foreigners scratching their heads: "Yes, that's right. The lead actor is a woman but she's playing the part of a young boy. And yes, the big buxom dame isn't really a woman.

No. That's a man. And I don't know why the Prince is always such a boring drip. He just is. I'm sure he's nice in real life."

Christmas Jumpers

There was a time when wearing Christmas jumpers was a fashionable thing to do. Then they bombed out of fashion. They went out of fashion so much that they came back into fashion a few decades later as so-bad-they'regood fashion. People are now making money off selling retrolooking Christmas jumpers and people are snapping them up like hotcakes. See? Christmas was that much better in days gone by that we're having to even recreate the fashion of the times.

Unexpected Guests

Christmas is all about catching up with friends and family but sometimes, they turn up when you least expect it. Here's a little trick you can use to get yourself out of this pickle: When your doorbell rings, put on your coat before you open the front door. If it's someone you want to see, tell them that you've just got back from shopping and welcome them in. If it's someone you'd rather not see, tell them that you were just heading out for the day.

Works a treat every time.

Christmas Music

As many Christmas compilations will confirm, the word 'aglow' never existed until the early 1950s, when American Christmas song writers wanted a word to rhyme with 'snow'.

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A Child's Christmas in 1980s Wales A homage to Mr D Thomas

Christmas Eve Those Christmas days, those always endless days, started way back when the leaves were still clinging to the trees; the seeds of Christmas 1984 were sown when the Great Universal Autumn/Winter catalogue thumped through the front door, loaded with Lego and train sets and Casio watches, waterproof to 5 metres.

Through the autumn and darkening months, those well-thumbed pages were taken to bed and worshipped.

I looked out through my criss-cross bedroom window on that Christmas Eve morning; that boringly dull morning that never really felt like Christmas Eve. The houses behind ours stood staid and solemn, smoke slowly and silently rising from their chimneys. And the old steel streetlight that would light up my bedroom at night stood cold and hard; waiting. The great autumn storms had long rolled through, leaving the still churned soil kissed with frost and our trees naked as bones. From the pigeon hut in the garden opposite ours, the grey and blue doves took to the skies as if it was any other day, swooping and cutting through the ice clouds, oblivious to Christmas; ignorant of festivities.

Christmas Eve day, in my memory was long, stretched and grey, waiting for dark. And lots of cleaning.

‘Have you done the Shake and Vac? They’ll be here for dinner tomorrow.’

Dad rumbled through the house with the pregnant hoover.

‘I’ve only got two pair of hands.’

‘Did you remember to buy Kia-Ora for the kids?’

‘We’ve got loads of pop. The Corona lorry came round yesterday.’

The dark sacred night slipped quietly over the town as we took it in turns to bathe and don our towelling pyjamas and dressing gowns that

62

had been warmed on the radiators.

Clean-cheeked and cross-legged, we watched The Snowman with twinkling eyes as Mam baked sausage rolls in the oven.

‘You can go to bed for a few hours before Midnight Mass.’ We never slept. My two brothers and I lay in our bunks and spoke about what the man in red might bring overnight. Mari, my sister, lay in her box bedroom alone at the front of the house, overlooking an empty Y Groes as the night stirred on.

Midnight Mass The blesséd and holy were ushered into the church by Ted Thomas, shiny-shoed and handing out order of services. Cherry-nosed and sheet faced, the congregation quietly took their seats as I set about my acolyting duties, lighting each candle in the church. Up near the altar, sat at the entrance to a cavern of pipes and stops sat Mr Evans, the organist, his great swirl of hair washed for the first time that year. On windy days, his grey swirl would unfurl and stretch out like a wispy Wednesday afternoon rain cloud. But tonight, on the holiest of nights, it sat perfectly festooned on his head.

The service started at half eleven prompt. The choir stalls where we sat smelt of sweet oak and hardened chewing gums. And our cassocks, fusty and musty as grandfathers, and tight under the armpits, had seen many a Midnight Mass.

Down the front were Laurel and Hardy. Mrs Morgan, in her hat and coat, ancient as Methuselah, stood next to Mrs Llewellyn, never smiling and scented with lavender and warm chicken soup. Behind them, a giggling cwtching couple, young and in love, and in the seats that no one ever sat in; never seen before and never to be seen again.

Mam was sat a few rows back, all shoulder pads and perm. Sunday best on a Monday night. A few other of my aunties and uncles filled out the row,

all Christians, all still awake, saluting the happy morn. And when we’d done all our singing and praising, we headed out into the dark chill and on to home. The rector snuck off to his rectory in his holy Mini Metro for a late night glass of sherry and a warm mince pie.

Our grandparents lived up Rhiwbina Hill, which we could see from our house. Mam would often ask me to look out the window to see if they were in. So I stood in our front room and watched them make their slow way up the hill in their Triumph Toledo after they’d dropped us home. I could hear the glug-glugging of the Baileys and the clinking of the glasses from the living room next door but the front room where I stood was peaceful.

The coloured lights on the tree bloomed silent as stars. I leant down to the Waltham stereo player that was on the bottom shelf and pressed play on the tape deck. I think it was the Coventry Carol that came on. The volume was low but the choristers’ haunting euphony drifted out from the speakers. I moved over the bay window and looked out. It was a cold hard night. The concrete lampposts stood guarding the steel streets but across the way came the warm glow of light from my grandparents’ living room window. I could see them, taking off their coats, and then share an embrace and a kiss under the mistletoe that was hanging from the light fixture. Across the distance, and despite the silence of the night outside the window, I could sense their love for each other. And it was at that moment, while that village was settling down for the night, that I felt that for once, the world was safe and at peace.

Christmas Day Crinkle toes and gravid stocking that bulged with corners. Waking up on Christmas morning was an endless riot of toys, wrapping paper and pitchless windows. As the milky sun

story came up, and as the trail of bacon drifted up the stairs, boxes were spilled open and instructions were laid out on carpet.

For Mari: a bike called Melody with a plastic cream white basket; a Cabbage Patch doll called Isabel Julia; a Big Yellow Teapot that Dad said looked like an angry man sticking his tongue out; a Little Professor calculator; a Cadbury’s selection pack (the Topic bar was given to Mam).

Dan: A Raleigh Boxer; a red bucket of Stickle Bricks; a Slinky spring that came down the stairs; a Connect 4 game; Buckaroo; a Cadbury’s selection pack (the Topic bar was given to Mam).

Dylan: Mostly Duplo. Baby Lego.

Me: A raven black Strika bike with pretend suspension bars and a thick foam seat; a metal torch that changed its light from white to green to red; a keyring Rubik’s cube; a Superman Annual; a Lego set; a Cadbury’s selection pack (the Topic bar was given to Mam); a packet of glow in the dark stars - seventy five stick on stars and nine planets.

‘They’re for your bedroom ceiling.’ said Dad. So while Mam peeled the sprouts in the steam window kitchen, Dad was up a paint-splattered step ladder, sticking seventy five stars and nine planets to our bedroom ceiling.

After Christmas dinner, we were allowed to open presents from old aunties we never knew. The long dull thrill of opening a pack of white socks from Aunty Muriel, wrapped with gossamer-skin fingers and a whole roll of sellotape. From the kitchen, and with his turkey-smeared apron on, Dad made the dreaded long distance call to Aunt Vi who lived in Tenby.

There were always grandparents at Christmas. And on Christmas afternoon, soon after the bird carcass had gone cold and tough, they’d arrive. Dada, bow-tied and waistcoat wrapped, would ho-ho-ho his way in through the doors. Nana would follow.

‘A Babycham will be fine, love’.

Christmas meant cherryade from the Corona pop man. And once that had gone, it was American Soda. Peanuts in Tupperware bowls and Twiglets in saucers lounged around the tables and dressers.

‘Chaplin’s on telly.’

‘Can’t stand him. Turn it over.’

‘You do it. I can’t be bothered to get up.’

The afternoon was turning into a dry biscuit day so one of the grown-ups said ‘Let’s go up the pub.’

‘But the Wind in the Willows is on in half an hour.’

‘Ah, I’ll get it for you on VHS. Uncle Colin can get it on pirate. He can do tape-from-tape.’

‘Wow. Can he get the kids E.T? I wonder if he can get us American Werewolf.’

‘He can get us any film we want. He gets them all from his mate down the pub.’

‘What about Scanners?’

‘Who?’ So we wrapped up in scarves and hats and climbed our way to the top of the world. The Deri Inn was throbbing like a sore thumb at the top of the hill. And inside sat the old men who never celebrated Christmas like we did.

The lounge was full of grey smoke, loud chatter and the smell of thick yeast carpet.

‘Whose Stella is that?’

‘Mine or maybe…’ Bampy’s bold words were cut short by the swell of a song. More beer arrived and so did Bobby, a cousin we didn’t know much about. He had tinsel ginger hair and a pub-warmed face.

‘I remember you coming to our house once,’ he said sitting ‘and I locked you in the cupboard under the stairs for three hours so it would look like I turned on the moon when you came out.’ He sipped his thin beer, his lips cracked and unkissed. I dipped my tongue in my warm squash that had been diluted to the top and watched as huff-cheeked ladies came in from the cold.

The man at the piano ground out a tune that no one knew, apart from the shrill woman in the corner whose face kept sinking wine. In the corner slumped sleeping was Harry Halfhead, his one eye shut and his glass eye looking out to make sure no one disturbed his slumber.

And as quick as a flash, the heavy bell tolled at the bar. The doors belched and we were out in the cold and the black.

So down the raw road we all made our way home, merry and warm and full of wobbly-legged song.

Bobby came back, the cousin we didn’t know much about and he was full of beer but he was a cousin nevertheless. Ahead of us, down the hill to the shops, the village sighed and it rested, full of mince pies and Ferrero Rocher. And we laughed and remembered the Christmasses past – the one with Major Morgan and the one with the Etch-a-Sketch.

Home was waiting like a big warm smile. And when it was later than we thought tea usually felt like, the patio doors would open and uncles and aunties would step in to the coal fire room. In would float the brisk air behind aunties with their Cinzano glee. Yellow flashes of Hoffmiester in uncles’ Spar plastic bags would spill and froth and hiss.

‘Bring out that Dare game’ was called as we sat by the fire. ‘Boys

versus girls and move that clothes dryer.’

The crosslegged family sat down round the new-smelling game board that was too grown up for us. Or so they thought.

‘Who goes first?’

‘Ladies first.’

Brian went first with his tight paper Christmas crown that stuck to his head and he sweated and got his question wrong.

‘Your first dare is to do 50 press-ups’ we said as we sniggered. The card said ten but we wanted to see Brian sweat more. But he did all fifty as his pasty shoes quivered.

And after that, we took Bobby out in the cold to be sick and to get a taxi that never came.

Always on Christmas night there was music. From under his sheepskin coat, a newly-arrived uncle brought out a 45 single in its skin-and-bone sleeve.

On its front, happy scissor-cut people stood round a Victorian tree with two sad Ethiopian children looking for flies to eat. After thirteen plays of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ a cousin sang ‘Last Christmas’ and another uncle sang ‘Only You’ (all parts). And Auntie Liz, who had brought reindeer brown bottles of cider, sang a skipping song fandango on her own as the room hummed harder. It was very warm in the house. Economy 7 warmed wonders since John Morgan and his band of white van friends had brasspiped it in.

Arfon Haines Davies and his hair said goodnight to the world from his warm studio at Culverhouse Cross and he bid us all a Merry Christmas.

And then I went to my bedroom. I looked out through my criss-cross bedroom window, the blue moonlight resting hushed on the rooftops. The old street lamp stood sentry, silent and still. Its light, its lustre, warmed my room. The pigeons now, restful as snow, slept tight in their hut. I could see the lights in the bedrooms of all the other houses in the street behind ours. And if I listened hard enough, I could hear the rustling laughter and warm music drifting out from the open doors into the winter.

I turned out my lamp and pulled the duvet tight up to my chin. I looked up to my ceiling and counted seventy five stars and nine planets.

I closed my eyes to the world and thanked Christmas and then I slept.

The End Adapted from A Child's Christmas in 1980s Wales by Patric Morgan

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