May 2016 by jenna hopkins

• Spring Homes and Gardens • Golden Years • Motoring • Pets • Experts

Gazette & Diary Magazine

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www.stonewaypaving.co.uk 2 May/June 2016 - The Spring Issue

Spring into summer in association with

The Abergavenny Chronicle For information on how to advertise in the next issue, please contact:

Jenna Hopkins 01873 852187 Ext 35

jenna@abergavennychronicle.com

Part of the Tindle Newspaper Group

Published by the Abergavenny Chronicle, Nevill Street, Abergavenny, Gwent NP7 5AA Printed by Trinity Mirror plc

NO MORE LEGAL AID? Competitive Fixed Free Packages are now available for all family work at Gartsides.

Welcome ...

O sing the sun has got his hat on may be a bit premature, nevertheless May always gives us a reason to cheer. Namely two bank holidays. These extra days of freedom are the perfect opportunity to Get Away from it all and to head out and about, indulging pastimes, discovering new hobbies and creating soon-to-be cherished memories. Fortunately for us, the local area promises adventure and affords us these opportunities in abundance come rain or shine. However should the

former scupper your plans, don’t be deterred. The National Eisteddfod is on the horizon, promising a rich experience and a celebration of Welsh art and culture. In the mean time why not turn your hand to interior design or start to work on those much needed renovations? If DIY isn’t your forte don’t procrastinate. You can use our Expert Services guide to get somebody else to do the work for you. If only we could do that here at the G&D! As always all that’s left to do is to wish you all the best for the coming month. Have fun! We’ll see you soon.

MONMOUTH MP DAVID DAVIES

Call us on 01873 857555 www.gartsides.com

holds regular advice surgeries throughout the constituency. To make an appointment telephone 01291 672817 or email daviesd@parliament.uk www.david-daviesmp.co.uk

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May/June 2016 - The Spring Issue 3

Gazette & Diary Magazine

Can you trust your tradesman?

Celebrating ten years in oven cleaning

AY 2016 is an important month for all of the team at The Clean Oven Company as they celebrate their tenth birthday.

Since May 2006 they have been specialists in domestic oven cleaning in the local area and in that time have cleaned in excess of 10,000 appliances. Head technician Lee explains: “ We started our as a man in a van operation but thanks to lots of hard work and, of course, the support of our wonderful customers we have been able to grow the business in to a multi vehicle operation whilst creating jobs for local people. “We realise that it is a very personal thing to invite someone in to the heart of your home so we put a lot of emphasis on being punctual, polite, professional and efficient”. To help celebrate their tenth birthday The Clean Oven Company is offering a ten per cent discount on all oven cleaning service for appointments booked in May 2016. The company continues to grow and even has exciting plans in place for later this year. “We have been testing three new products and the feedback from customers has been very positive so we hope to make them available to all customers very soon so watch this space!”

To book an appointment please call the office on 01873 594054 and quote Tenth Birthday for your discount.

OU need somebody to do some work in your home but how do you know the person you are hiring is good at what they do? It's no secret that one of the best ways to find someone who'll do a good job is to get a recommendation from a friend, family member, neighbour or colleague. But the same doesn't always work well when it's a recommendation from another tradesperson. While your plumber may know a good electrician they've worked with before, for example, if it's a case of trying to get a mate some work, be cautious. If you don't have a recommendation from a fellow customer, where can you turn? An architect, if you're using one, may have contractors they use regularly and can get quotations from. Depending on how much you want the architect to do (and how much you want to pay them), they may also be able to manage the project and contractors for you, saving time and energy. A trade body, such as the Federation of Mas-

ter Builders (www.fmb.org.uk), can be a good place to start. Most trade bodies have a section on their website where you can search for members and check membership. There should also be an explanation of what qualifications members have and the code of practice they've signed up to so you know what to expect. For some jobs, it's essential to check the tradesperson you're employing belongs to the professional body they claim to. For example, if you need someone to work on a gas appliance, by law they have to be a member of Gas Safe Register. You can check someone's credentials at www.gassaferegister.co.uk. Gas Safe Register members can self-certify that their work complies with building regulations, and issue a certificate to confirm this, which you may need when you sell your home. While this isn't necessary for all jobs, it is for some, including a lot of electrical work. Many electricians who can self-certify their work belong to NICEIC. The NICEIC website - www.niceic.com - is particularly useful because it has a Wall of Shame page, which lists electricians trying to pass themselves off as NICEIC members when they're not. Always check your contractor's credentials!

This is Sarah. She’s busy cleaning her oven...

Sarah called the domestic oven cleaning specialists, so she could relax and enjoy a coffee while it’s done!

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4 May/June 2016 - The Spring Issue

Clever Sarah!

Put the sparkle back into Your kitchen today!

Spring Homes & Gardens

JIM THE FERRET Wales’ largest independent furniture retailer

ITH 50 years expertise furnishing homes, Hafren Furnishers of Llanidloes have reason to celebrate. Mike Morgan, proprietor, spotted a gap in the market for the sale of quality furniture at affordable prices. Whilst working as a milkman, he began to sell chairs, tables or stools on the back of his milk float. Thus the Hafren Furnishers concept was born and the business philosophy remains the same today. Maintaining their enviable position as Wales ’ largest Independent Furniture Retailer is testament to Mike, his family and team of dedicated, friendly staff providing an unrivalled personalised service. Located off the A470 in Llanidloes, Powys in Mid Wales, an hour from Shrewsbury , Hereford , Dolgellau, Ceredigion and Brecon or two hours from Manchester , Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol , Cardiff and Swansea . The vast showroom displays seven

floors of furniture encompassing; beds/bedroom furniture, living room, dining room and home office. Styles range from contemporary, to vintage or traditional furniture. All leading brands are available such as, Gplan, Parker Knoll, Himolla, Stressless, Duresta, Ercol and Tempur plus hundreds more. Their modern Bed Studio, Wales’ largest, offers the widest range of beds and mattresses. Discover the latest Stressless range of sofas and chairs in Wales ’ first Ekornes Studio. Delivery within England and Wales remains FREE; another reason to shop there. CarpetRight and Hammonds Fitted Bedrooms concessions, and the Border Café are conveniently located in store. Customers can shop online at www.hafrenfurnisher.co.uk or contact the team on 01686 414000. Open May Bank Holiday Monday, May 30, 10am - 5pm.

Over 60 years exp perien nce

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016 686 414000 May/June 2016 - The Spring Issue 5

Gazette & Diary Magazine

Creating baskets of desire Y

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OU can buy hanging baskets pretty cheaply these days from garden centres, but the choice of colour and plant is sometimes limited, so it's much more satisfying to do it yourself. Wire baskets are among the most popular, which you can either line with sphagnum moss, coconut fibre or other eco-friendly made-to-fit material with ready-made holes at the sides so you can plant into the side of the basket as well as out of the top of it. I usually add a smaller circle of polythene to the inner base of the liner to reduce water seepage. But there are also many pretty closed-sided baskets on the market which are easier to plant as you only have to put plants in the top, and easier to water, but you can't achieve the all-round effect you can with an open-sided basket. For me, the biggest bugbear about hanging baskets is the watering, but you can now buy compost which is formulated for containers, incorporating water-retaining agents and feed. If you can't find that go for multi-purpose compost, adding water-retaining granules and slow-release plant food pellets. If you are planting a longer-lasting basket with more permanent plants such as hostas and heucheras, or evergreens including skimmias and variegated ivies, use John Innes No 2 compost. For open-sided baskets, place the basket on top of a bucket, which will allow easy access from all sides. Insert the liner and press it into position. Have your compost in a bucket, so you can add your pre-soaked water-retaining crystals to it, as well as slow-

release fertiliser granules, and mix thoroughly. If you want to plant through the sides of the basket and the holes in the liner aren't pre-cut, make cuts in the liner for each plant using a knife. Add enough compost to the basket to level off below the side holes, then plant your plants through the holes, either from the outside, compressing the roots so they will go through the holes, or from the inside, carefully feeding the shoots through the hole. Build up another layer of compost, firming those first plants as you go, and continue planting. Trailing plants such as lobelia, verbena and bacopa should be planted around the sides and at the edge of the top of the basket, while upright plants should be placed in the centre. While historically hanging baskets have incorporated a riot of different colours and plant varieties, more recently, people have gone for single varieties. Perhaps that's because they tend to be lower maintenance as the same plants will have the same needs in terms of watering and feeding. Don't want to be a slave to the watering can? Go for droughttolerant plants such as pelargoniums, helichrysum, osteospermum and diascia. Of course, additional greenery such as ivy will rarely let you down. And remember that if you are planting your baskets up now, most of the annuals you use won't be frost hardy, so make sure you bring them under a porch or under cover in the evening until all chance of frost has passed.

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Let’s Get Away

Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

Gazette & Diary Magazine

LUXURY BREAK

at the hotel with the homely feel

HE 4* award-winning Glen-Yr-Afon House Hotel in Usk, Monmouthshire continues to be a popular place for a break away, a celebration meal or afternoon tea. Also a popular wedding venue, the Glen Yr Afon is unique in many ways – it is a family owned and run hotel with the owners being very hands-on in the business. Customers comment about the ‘homely’ feel to the venue and the enthusiasm of the team whose priority is to make every celebration special. Their Clarkes Restaurant offers an excellent variety of meals prepared from locally-sourced ingredients. Sunday lunch is particularly popular although prior booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. Afternoon tea at the Glen-Yr-Afon is a real experience. Plentiful in quantity and variety of offerings, tea can be enjoyed in one of the many receptions rooms. Again, prior booking is essential. Gift vouchers also available. For a break away, the Hotel offers 27 en-suite bedrooms – many of which have recently undergone extensive renovation. Further information can be found on the Hotel’s website at www.glen-yr-afon.co.uk. Bookings and enquiries can be made to Reception on 01291 672302. Their current Luxury Break Offer offers excellent value and includes Champagne Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast and overnight accommodation - £85 per person (based on two sharing).

Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

Let’s Get Away

Flights of fancy Holiday budget not quite stretching to first class? Imagine being able to fly first class every time you go away? Nice idea - but let's face it, pure fantasy for most of us, which is why there's nothing better than handing over your economy class plane tickets, to be told: "You're being upgraded." But how can you boost your chances of hearing those three magic words?

KICK UP A FUSS If your flight has been delayed, your connection missed, your holiday ruined, you are more than entitled to give the airline a piece of your mind - although don't take it out on the air stewards, it's not their fault, and don't cross the line and become rude. A few choice words, and a coherent argument for how these delays and cancellations have mucked up your plans, might just get you a firstclass seat on the next available flight. PLAY NICE Having said that, while there's a time and a place for kicking up a fuss, being friendly and complimentary towards the stewards never hurts either. Think about it, if there are two upgrades potentially available on a flight, who would you choose? Probably somebody who was very nice to you... USE EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL On your honeymoon? Flying home to a funeral? Your dog's died? Your wife's just

left you? If your life is genuinely in a shambles or you're on a trip of a lifetime, there's no harm in just mentioning it in passing. Who knows? A kindly air steward may take pity... PICK YOUR MOMENT Travelling at times when those who usually fill up business class seats wouldn't be flying - Bank Holidays, for example means you'll be better placed to fill them yourself. BE LOYAL Airlines like regular customers, so instead of hopping from airline to airline, pick one, stick with it, and then when it comes to allocating upgrades, you'll have an edge over fair-weather flyers. SPLASH OUT If you've gone bold on paying for extra baggage in the hold and for a window spot, if a seat in business becomes free, the person who is most free with their wallet apparently has an increased chance of being upgraded.

ARRIVE EARLY If you're first to arrive and check in, it means you're first in line if an upgrade becomes possible... OR BE LATE Alternatively, if you're brave, being strategically late for your flight could also reap rewards (though don't go too far with this approach, of course). If your economy seat has been filled and the flight overbooked, you might just get bumped up. DRESS TO IMPRESS If you're suited and booted and look as though you're meant to be in first class - as if there's some mistake that your ticket says 'economy' - you'll be a shoo-in if a seat in business class opens up. VOLUNTEER YOURSELF Does a couple want to sit together? Is a small child desperate to sit by the window? Has the flight been overbooked? Volunteer to switch seats or make room for someone else and stewards have been known to reward passengers for their kindness. JUST ASK If all else fails, you could just ask at the ticket desk if there's any chance, pretty please, if you could be considered for an upgrade. Switch on the charm!

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Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Away

The home of traditional cider making

WESTONS VISITOR CENTRE

Westons Cider has been making cider in the Herefordshire village of Much Marcle, since 1880. Join a tour and go behind the scenes to discover how your favourite cider is produced.

CIDER MILL TOURS DAILY - 11.00AM, 12.30PM, 2.00PM AND 3.30PM OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK | CIDER SHOP | RESTAURANT & CAFE ARRANGE YOUR VISIT TODAY CALL 01531 660108 Westons Cider, The Bounds, Much Marcle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2NQ enquiries@westons-cider.co.uk www.westons-cider.co.uk

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Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

The Best Garden Centre in Wales & The West

Gazette & Diary Magazine

Out and About

HE Old Railway Line Garden Centre, located in Three Cocks between Brecon and Hay-on-Wye, is the perfect stop for excellent shopping and delicious home-cooked food. Situated in the heart of the picturesque Wye Valley at the foot of the Black Mountains, the site has outstanding views of the Brecon Beacons and surrounding Radnorshire Hills. The family-run, independent business combines a Garden Centre, Farm Shop and Restaurant in one and has been crowned ‘Best Garden Centre in Wales and West’ in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The garden centre offers the very best quality plants, gifts, indoor and outdoor living goods, gardening equipment and pet care products and prides itself on the high standards of customer service and excellent team of qualified staff providing expert advice. The Railway Restaurant is open seven days a week and serves a variety of freshly prepared main meals, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and a selection of homemade cakes and desserts. Afternoon tea is also available daily as well as a delicious

Railway Roast lunch on Thursdays and Sundays. The farm shop stocks a wide range of locally produced food and drink including freshly baked bread, meats from a local butcher, tasty deli products and artisan beers and wines. Regular events are held at the centre including an annual Apple & Cider Festival, children’s events, talks, information days and evening events. More information and details of upcoming events can be found on the Old Railway Line’s website, www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk or by calling 01497 847055.

Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

Let’s Get Away

Seduced by the sights and sounds of India

Walking through a tea plantation

by Nigel Heath

ON'T let the fear of 'Delhi Belly' or any other trek up through the tea plantations and over a vague concerns ever put you off visiting nearby mountain. As we walked, a local guide told us all about the India. This huge and exotic subcontinent, once the jewel production and harvesting of the tea, first introin the crown of the British Empire and the subject duced by the British, and that the surrounding hills of so many romantic tales, may be somewhere you were home to over a thousand elephants. One of the local herd was quite aggressive but not have often thought one really should visit. If so, then overcome those initial concerns and to worry because the animals preferred foraging in treat yourself to one of the best cultural ex- the deep forest and were rarely seen, we were assured. periences you are ever likely to enjoy. "But what do we do if we did meet one?" someMy wife Jenny and I have recently returned from a two week small group tour of the tropical South one asked. "Run down hill because they are not very India state of Kerala, the famous land of spices and good at that," came the reply. Leaving Munnar we crossed the mountain range coconut trees, and its neighbour Tamil Nadu which are linked together by the forested Western Ghats border into Tamil Nadu and down to the thronged city of Madurai where five of us hopped into a three range of mountains. We flew from Gatwick, via Bahrain, to the small wheeled motorised tuk-tuk and went off to visit the coastal city of Cochin to be met by our tour guide Gandhi Museum. Drivers of these wonderfully practical three Santo and driven to our first hotel for a detailed trip wheeled contraptions need three things we were briefing and overnight stay. told and they were good brakes, a good horn and The following morning found us out on a boat good luck! cruise around the city's historic spice port and watching men fishKanyakumari at the southernmost tip of India ing, using a system of dipping booms and nets first introduced by the Chinese many centuries ago. Black pepper, we learned, was the king of spice and cardamon the queen and Kerala, watered by rivers flowing from the Western Ghats and out to the Arabian sea , is the source of much of the world's supply. Then followed a fascinating half day meandering drive over the heavily forested mountains to be greeted by our first sight of all the tea plantations surrounding the intensely green hill station of Munnar. A football match, watched by an excited crowd, was in progress as we drove into town, which was to be our base for the next two nights and the starting point for a day's

nantyderry garden centre Family business (Established 1956) in beautiful rural setting.

Massive selection of seasonal plants now available Take the Chainbridge turn off the A4042 Abergavenny Pontypool road - and follow the brown signs

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Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Away

GREEN & JENKS GELATO HOUSE 11 Agincourt Square, Monmouth NP25 3DY T: 01600 711657 www.greenandjenks.com

Family owned, award winning, artisan gelateria located in an elegant Georgian townhouse with views of the Kymin. Book a Tour & Tasting to see our delicious gelato and sorbets being made. Enjoy a light homemade lunch or luxury Afternoon Tea in our cafĂŠ, gallery or sun-terrace. Free From options available. Open: Mon - Sat (9am - 5.30pm), Sun (10.30am - 4.30pm) Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

The following Gazette & we visited morning Diary Magathe impressive Sri Meenakshi Temple but the undoubted highlight for six of us was an afternoon drive around the city in a convoy of pedal powered rickshaws. W e a v i n g through intensely heavy traffic, guided by a series of whistles from the lead and rear drivers, we visited packed fruit markets, made our way down narrow lanes chokablok with people and through areas thronging with cotton spinners, pot makers and a host of other artisan crafts. It was a truly unforgettable experience. Every now again we stopped and got out and were invariably surrounded by kids wanting to have their pictures taken and to know our names and where we were from. But it was not just the children who seemed pleased to see us The temple in Madurai

because mostly everyone who caught our eye either waved or smiled and I could not help forming the impression that they were mostly happy welcoming people. Later we stayed in a rustic lodge style hotel and went for an early morning ranger guided walk through an elephant and tiger reserve. I was not really sorry when neither animal appeared but we did spot a host of bird life as well a small herd of black deer. Rangers patrol the park every night to prevent thieves stealing any of its precious government owned sandalwood trees which are a threatened species indigenous to South India but only grow in the Western Ghats and a few other mountain ranges. Sandalwood oil prices had risen as high as 2000 dollars per kg, we learned. Then a monkey grabbed the group lunch bag I was carrying as we walked to board a lake cruise boat. There followed a tug of war before the bag burst open spilling all the individual foil containers. I managed to recover two but the monkey

On the Kerala backwaters

made off with the rest. We later spent a lovely evening with a local family who gave us a fascinating lesson in Kerala curry cooking. Sadly our tour, including an afternoon and overnight stay and houseboat cruise on the famous Kerala backwaters, a stopover at a lovely backwaters resort and two nights in the exotic coastal seaside town of Kovalam, was over in a flash. But that was not before we had squeezed in a memorable day trip to Kanyakumari at the southernmost tip of India.

Here we boarded a packed public ferry for a short trip across to a tiny island dominated by a Hindu temple at a point where the Arabian Sea meets the Bay of Bengal and the Indian ocean. There were 13 of us on the trip aged from early 30s to the early 70s, we ate a whole range of fabulous Keralan dishes and not one of us picked up a tummy bug. We stayed in comfortable hotels with air conditioned rooms, our guide Santo James could not have been more helpful and all agreed that it had been a fantastic holiday.

Our Tropical South trip, which cost us £1,549 per person was with Exodus Holidays. It included flights with Emirates whose economy class seats featured a hot towel service, dinner menu with proper knives and forks and complimentary drinks.

cider SHOP pen-y-l an far m, PONTRIL AS HR 2 0DL

Visit us to sit, sip and savour cider made in tune with tradition! We’re easy to find, just off the A465 Abergavenny to Hereford road, near the beautiful Black Mountains.

We look forward to welcoming you – and sharing a taste of our cider!

We offer FREE tastings, and sell snacks, T-shirts, gifts and local produce as well as our full range of ciders. You can also see into our cider shed, and view our cider belt press and mill.

www.TyGwynCider.co.uk

FRtEinE gs!

We’ve plenty of seating inside – and outdoors on the sun deck

tas

You can buy our ciders in bottles, flagons and bag-in-boxes

Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

Let’s Get Away

Gazette & Diary Magazine

Stage a Getaway in your own garden I

T’S never too early in the season for a burger. Invite your mates round and take a look at the new book by the burger chain Byron. Gourmet burger chain Byron launched in 2007 in London, and now, just shy of a

Chepstow Agricultural Society

The Chepstow Show Sat 13th Aug, 2016 Chepstow Racecourse

Chepstow Show is an annual celebration of the best of our local community - rural trades, talents and tastes. The Show is open to all. Whether you are looking to enter one of the many classes, to showcase your goods and services or just to enjoy a wonderful family day out - you'll receive a warm welcome. Tickets: £20 family, £8 adult, £6 conc, £4 child

www.chepstowshow.co.uk

decade later, there are more than 60 restaurants - and counting - nationwide. Entrepreneur Tom Byng and his head chef Fred Smith say the first thing you need to get your hands on is a meat grinder, because the only way to make a proper hamburger pattie is with pure chuck steak. ■ CLASSIC BURGER

4 x 180g hamburgers 4 buns halved 100g mayonnaise 4 leaves of lettuce 1/2 beef tomato, cut into 5mm thick slices 1 small red onion, peeled and cut into 2mm thick rings 4 gherkins quartered lengthways into spears Cook the hamburgers to your liking. Meanwhile, toast or grill the cut sides of the buns.Spread the may-

onnaise evenly over the top halves of the buns. Place one lettuce leaf on top of the mayonnaise, and then add a slice of tomato. Separate the onion into rings and place five of these on top of the tomato. Once the hamburgers are cooked, carefully place them onto the bottom halves of thebuns. Holding on to the lettuce, tomato and onion rings, bring the two halves together. Serve with a gherkin spear on the side.

to the great outdoors!

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A top-value, crowdpleasing red, Nederburg 56 Hundred Shiraz 2014, South Africa (£5.75, Morrisons) will complement all the earthy flavours of a sweet and smoky BBQ sauce with its crushed blackberry and black cherry fruit, soft and juicy mouthfeel and a touch of smoky spice on the finish.

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SAILOR Jerry's cult spiced rum is on a roll with four new bottle wraps being released this year. On a slick black bottle you can buy the Sailor Jerry gypsy design which represents good fortune; or the homeward bound ship £20.

GROW A SUNFLOWER NOTHING evokes summer more than a sunflower reaching for the sky and then turning its happy, smiling face on the world. Plant some sunflower seeds, nuture them through the summer and spread a little happiness. If you would like to support a charity at the same time log onto jdrf.org.uk and take part in the great sunflower challenge for this charity which is researching to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

Let’s Get Away

Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

Everybody likes food - don’t they? But if you can’t wait for Abergavenny’s own Food Festival in September why not stage your own Get Away to some of the other festivals around Caerphilly Food Festival, May 7

EAUTIFUL Caerphilly in South Wales is perhaps best known as being the birthplace of crumbly Caerphilly cheese. Staged in the town centre, from 10am the Food Festival provides activities for all the family, and some truly fantastic local produce to try and buy. If you’re looking to improve your cookery skills or perhaps get some inspiration for that dinner party there’ll be plenty of demonstrations from chefs and producers too. There will be opportunities to create your own pottery and watch falconry displays, while kids can enjoy face painting and puppet shows and funfair rides.

Welsh Cheese and Cider Festival, May 7 & 8

OODIES Festival organisers are old hands when it comes to thinking up new and exciting ways to celebrate food, glorious food. This year they've moved up to Clifton Downs on the top of Whiteladies Road - with a spectacular view of the city and the suspension bridge. There will be a fabulous Feasting Tent decked out with banqueting tables. Pull up a bench and you might find yourself sitting next to one of the top chef guests as you explore the fruits of the West Country’s indisputable culinary talent or take part in a vintage tea dance. You can sit on hay bales around the Real Ale and Cider Farm or go to the Drinks Theatre, where mixologists will be ready and waiting to shake your favourite cocktail. Throughout the day there will be live music and entertainment and a barbecue cooking on coal all day long.

Welsh Perry & Cider Festival May 27-30

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Foodies Festival, Bristol, May 13 to May 15

OVE cheese? Love cider? This is the festival for you! The Welsh Cheese and Cider Festival takes place at Gower Heritage Centre, offering visitors a wide selection of locally produced, award-winning cheeses, ciders and perries from Wales. Visitors will also be able to browse through stalls of local produce. There’ll be live music and open mic sessions as well as plenty of demonstrations including blacksmiths and glass blowers. Young visitors are sure to enjoy Punch & Judy and the animal feeding sessions. ● The Heritage Centre will also play host to the Gower Good Food Festival over the weekend of May 29 and 30.

OUNDING off the month will be the Welsh Perry & Cider Festival held at the beautiful medieval Caldicot Castle and country park, Monmouthshire. As well as being held in a truly beautiful part of the world, the Welsh Perry & Cider Festival will bring together some of the best craft ciders and perries in Wales. Last year’s festival featured around 120 ciders and 35 perries, with the best Welsh products displayed as well as top-notch international contenders. Entertainment and workshops will be on hand to keep you busy between tastings. This four-day event will also include live music – a spectacular weekend of drinking, dining and dancing, and you can camp onsite should you wish to extend the merrymaking.

There!s always something happening at

Zip along the wire ● Go on Swings in the trees Get Lost in the Maize and Waterfall Wet (if you please!)

All homemade! CAKES SOUP TOASTIES SANDWICHES

May Bank Holiday Saturday 28th - Monday 30th Living History Medieval Village Flying Birds of Prey Spectaculars Sharon’s Craft Workshop

Bank Holiday Monday 30th Fiddlesticks Ladies Clog Dancing Display

Wednesday 1st & Thursday 2nd June Exotic Animal & Bird Encounters with Trevor Hill Enter the amazing world of Exotic Animals, Reptiles, Insects and Birds. This really is a close encounter and a chance for you to get hands on with some unusual creatures. Fun for all the family!

Find us at The Old Police Station on Baker Street

Saturday 4th June

(across the road from Baker Street Cinema in Abergavenny)

Midland Air Ambulance Day

Open: from 10am to 4pm Tuesday-Saturday

Normal admission prices apply to all these events.

www.hamptoncourt.org.uk | Tel: 01568 797 777 Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

Let’s Get Away

Crickhowell Open Studios 2016 C

RICKHOWELL is gearing up for its annual Big Weekend of Art as artists and galleries get ready to open their doors to visitors during the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend (28 – 30 May). Crickhowell is at the centre of this celebration of visual art and the creative process, but visiting studios and exhibitions

Hereford Guild of Guides: Daily guided walks (no need to book)

May 7th - Oct. 31st, Mon - Sat 11.30am Sunday 2.30pm

From main entrance to Cathedral. Tickets from Cathedral Shop/Guide.

Booked walks all year:

01981 590603 or 07583 777141 or herefordguidedwalks.org.uk

Portrait by Lee Wright

in Llanbedr, Llangynidr, Tretower, Abergavenny and as far as Llanddewi Rhydderch and Llantilio Pertholey can prove an exciting way of exploring the area. With coffee and cake aplenty, art in unexpected places and many spots to while away a lunch hour en route, it makes for a perfect day out! Free guides with details of the 26 venues are available from Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre, (CRiC) and other tourism outlets. They give a taste of the variety of work by artists, makers and designers in a multitude Karin Mear - Gensis of disciplines. of the gallery’s programme. Visitors parThe Oriel CRiC Gallery is showcasing ticularly enjoy casting their vote for the selected work from the third Crickhowell “Visitors’ Choice” Award during the Open Art competition entries which weekend. The exhibition continues until annually attracts hundreds of entries early July. from professional, emerging and For further information contact the amateur artists. gallery at gallery@visitcrickhowell.co.uk The exhibition has become a highlight or visit www.visitcrickhowell.co.uk

Dates for your Diary May 5,12,19,26 - Govilon Car Boot, Main Road. Every Thursday. Mornings. Weather permitting. 01873 830834. 26 - Abergavenny Farmers Market, Market Hall, Abergavenny. Fresh local produce 5,12,19,26 - Car Boots every Saturday! Llyncytrych Farm, Glangrwney, Crickhowell NP8 1EE opposite the Army Camp just passed Bell Pub. Gates open 12pm to Public, Sellers 11am. Any enquiries please call Rachel 07922334345 19 – Abergavenny Local History Society, Christine James will talk about Eisteddfodau through the Ages after the AGM at the Borough Theatre, 7.30pm. Non-members are welcome to join on the night. 21 – Fun Bingo Pandy Village Hall, 7 for 7.30. All proceeds to Callums Wheels. 28 – Bethlehem Baptist Church, Maesygwartha, Gilwern 7pm, an abridged narrated version of Les Miserables performed by 'Bright Sparks', Free Admission. 30 – Afternoon Tea, St Peter's Church Hall, 2-4pm, Admission Adults £5, Children £2. All proceeds to St Peter's Church Restoration Fund

Let’s Get Away

Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

Gazette & Diary Magazine

FORGOTTEN WONDERS

â&#x2014;? Let Your Kids Go Wild Outside is published by Cico Books, ÂŁ12.99.

AP NT P

Bird is a bit of a whizz in the kitchen after she's been foraging for ingredients, and was once a MasterChef finalist. "I wrote the book because I felt a lot of the things I'd done as a child were in danger of being forgotten, so I thought I'd document them," she says. The book is split into chapters for various natural habitats, including woods,

back and use in the kitchen, or dye with. "When you want quality time, getting outside and learning about nature is a huge opportunity for a shared learning experience. There's just so much out there."

NSTEAD of going outside and exploring the natural world, most modern kids now spend the majority of their time indoors, staring at a screen. But why not combine the two, asks expert forager and mum-of-six Fiona Bird. The author of new book Let Your Kids Go Wild Outside, believes there's nothing better for the whole family than exploring countryside, woods and beaches, and foraging for food. But she accepts that technology is now part of life, and says it can be a great tool for helping wild explorers identify and learn about everything they find in the natural world. "I find it useful to take my iPhone down to the beach or into the countryside to identify things," she says. "Instead of playing on a computer game, kids can go outside and discover something, and then find out about it with their technology. Get outside, and then you can come back and sit on the sofa with your iPad. "Technology is here to stay and it's incredibly useful. You're not doing any harm by using tech to help you find out about the natural world."

A walk on the wildside

meadows, and seashore, and as well as easy-to-understand information about conservation guidelines and tips on how to forecast the weather, identify different insects, plants, fungi and seaweed, and explains various simple outdoor craft projects, including making pot pourri, leaf bunting or a conker necklace, and building a woodland wigwam. The book also features My Wild Garden and Kitchen, where you can find recipes using foraged ingredients, including wild garlic parcels and bilberry and sorrel seed muffins. Bird is an experienced forager herself, and has written a book about the hunt for natural food, The Forager's Kitchen. She explains that while a simple walk in the countryside might not entice kids out of the house, the lure of finding food may just swing it. "You might have to frogmarch your kids out for a walk, especially if the weather's bad, whereas when you go out to forage and you're poking about like hunter gatherers, it becomes more of an adventure and you lose the concept of time - it's always the bush a little bit further away that might have more exciting things in it." "I want to encourage people to get outside and see what's there for them. By getting outside too, parents can learn what kids need to watch out for, as well as what's good to take

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Gazette & Diary May/June 2016

GOLDEN YEARS

NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN!

IAMOND Home Support opened an office in Abergavenny in 2014 and we’re bringing back the Home

Help! Due to Local Authority budget cuts many elderly and disabled people now have to find their own domestic support. Our Home Assist Service provides vital support for the elderly and less able in a friendly, caring and professional manner. We aim to challenge the preconceptions of domestic care by providing a client-led rather than a company-led service. All of our workers are thoroughly vetted and are chosen more for their personality, ethos and attitude than anything else. They are given plenty of time between appointments, so there is never the need for visits to be cut short in order for the worker to be on time for their next appointment. The same worker visits each week, month or fortnight, allowing the client and the worker to build trust and develop a relationship.

Loss of independence can be humiliating and frustrating, and we therefore aim to make the experience as friendly and personal as possible. We visit all potential clients in their own homes so that we can talk them through the service, explain exactly how things work and answer any questions which they may have. Relatives need not be concerned that their family members will be pushed into signing up for our services if they are unsure as to whether or not it is right for them. We respect the fact that each individual, however old, frail or disabled, has the right to consider the pros and cons of our services before signing on the dotted line and, to this end, we are happy to visit more than once should that be necessary. We guarantee ongoing support; we are always available to discuss any problems, issues or concerns which may arise and will do our utmost to resolve these in the best way possible. So, out with the old, and in with the new!

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May/June 2016 - The Spring Issue 19

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20 May/June 2016 - The Spring Issue

WHEELS & DEALS

YOUR LOCAL LEADING INDEPENDENT SPECIALISTS SINCE 1996 FOR RANGE ROVER, DISCOVERY, DEFENDER, FREELANDER

â&#x2013; THE search is on to find 50 primary schools in need of a new lollipop person ahead of the next school year - and you can get involved. Comedian Robert Webb has joined forces with Churchill Insurance to combat the decline in the number of lollipoppers guarding road crossings near schools. A new campaign, fronted by TV advertising featuring Webb and the classic Churchill dog, aims to recruit, train and finance 50 lollipoppers for a whole school year. Numbers have steadily decreased since legislation in 2000 removed the legal requirement for schools to have one, but in separate research, Churchill has discovered that the majority of parents still think a human guardian is safer than any kind of pedestrian crossing. Members of the public are

being urged to apply to be one of the 50 new lollipoppers, as well as nominating a primary school that they think most needs one. On launching the campaign, Peep Show star Webb said: "Being a dad, I'm always concerned for my children's safety, especially during the school run when they can be easily distracted. "I remember my lollipopper growing up, Barbara, and the influence she had on me at the school crossing and I want to be safe in the knowledge my kids have the same guardian keeping an eye on them. " Lucy Brooksbank, head of marketing, at Churchill, added: "We want people from across the UK, whether they are a parent or just concerned about a local crossing, to nominate their schools and help to keep children safe during the school run."

Gazette & Diary MOTORING

Lovin’ it, lovin’ it, lovin’ it ... ELECTRIC and hybrid cars are giving owners the biggest buzz, according to the results of the latest Auto Express magazine Driver Power survey. The annual study has for the first time been dominated by plug-in cars like the Tesla Model S and Renault Zoe, with Lexus hybrids also making up three of the top six. Almost 50,000 responses from owners, rating their cars across all aspects from performance and comfort to build quality and reliability resulted in the long-running study's first ever perfect 100 per cent score, won by the Model S in the category Ease of Driving. The Model S took seven individual

category wins and topped the overall table with a record total satisfaction rating of 97.46 per cent. Arguably an even greater surprise, though, was the emergence of the humble Renault Zoe in second place overall. Having sustained much criticism from the motoring press for what has been called a cheap-feeling interior, lower-than-expected driving range and ride quality issues, the Driver Power survey suggests that owners love it. Renault has also taken the last place on the 2016 podium with the Kadjar, which shares a platform with the Nissan Qashqai but offers more space for the price.

Dream drivers MORE than a quarter of people would be happy to go to sleep in a car that was driving itself. A What Car.com questionnaire found that while new autonomous technology was not trusted overall, a quarter of respondents said they would be quite happy to nod off while the computer took control. And yet a third of those answering said that motorways, the nation's fastest roads, would be the best ones on which to use selfdriving cars. Half said that traffic jams were ideal places for autonomous cars to take over, while only 18 per cent said they would most like the car to take the strain for city driving. However, 45 per cent said they found the idea of a car taking over the whole driving process 'very unappealing' and 51 per cent said they would feel 'unsafe' or 'very unsafe' behind the wheel of a car that was driving itself. emergency braking and radar-governed cruise control is slowly turning people around to the idea of self-driving cars but, even so, only just more than one in 10 believes we will see entirely autonomous vehicles on the road by 2020."

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May/June 2016 - The Spring Issue 21

PRECIOUS PETS

Even dogs need clean teeth DOGS and cats suffer from all the same oral and dental diseases as humans. They get bleeding gums all the time (85 per cent of dogs over three years old in fact), a sign of gingivitis that leads to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease affects the tissues that hold your tooth in its socket. Disease around your teeth loosens them; they get wobbly, and fall out. Dogs have 42 permanent teeth – the most I have had to remove due to irreversible periodontal disease is 38. The other four had already fallen out!

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And yes, pets cope well with no teeth and will still eat kibble nd soft food because at least the toothache had gone. Dogs and cats suffer from toothache. However, they are very poor at complaining about it. Despite what most owners expect, pets do not rub their jaw, point at the affected tooth and stare mournfully at you with toothache. Evolution has not carried our best friends that far, except in cartoons. Pets suffer in silence. Please do not give your dog bones because they break their teeth. I know some dogs chew bones for years and get away without injury just as my Uncle Tom smoked and drunk every day for 40 years but then died, quite unexpectedly at 49. So, if you teach you pet to give a paw why not “flip-his-lip” and get brushing. Pop over the Abbey Vets and I’ll teach you how to brush and together we’ll avoid that dreaded doggy breath.

FUN FACTS ABOUT CATS AND DOGS ● Dogs only sweat from the bottoms of

their feet, the only way they can discharge heat is by panting. ● Dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with the ears. ● Dogs have about 10 vocal sounds. ● Dogs do not have an appendix. ● There are more than 350 different breeds of dogs worldwide. ● Dalmatians are born spotless: at first pure white, their spots develop as they age. ● Contrary to popular belief, dogs aren’t color blind; they can see shades of blue, yellow, green and gray. The color red registers on a grayscale in a dog’s vision. Most domestic dogs are capable of reaching speeds up to about nineteen miles per hour when running at full speed. ● Using their swiveling ears like radar dishes, experiments have shown that dogs can locate the source of a sound in 6/100ths of a second.

● Cats have five toes on each front paw, but

only four toes on each back paw!

● Cats do not have sweat glands. ● A cat can jump as much as seven

times its height. ● Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four toes on each back paw. ● Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten. ● A pack of kittens is called a kindle, while a pack of adult cats is called a clowder. ● An adult cat can run about 12 miles per hour, and can sprint at nearly 30 miles per hour. ● A cat's tongue is scratchy because it's lined with papillae—tiny elevated backwards hooks that help to hold prey in place. ● The nose pad of each cat has ridges in a unique pattern not unlike a person's fingerprints. ● Cats' bodies are extremely flexible; the cat skeleton contains more than 230 bones (a human has about 206), and the pelvis and shoulders loosely attach to the spine. This adds to their flexibility and allows them to fit through very small spaces.

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22 May/June 2016 - The Spring Issue

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FENCING SUPPLIES

Wood treatment is a hot topic, and one local, family run company is telling you about their procedures of effectively treating and selling timber for fencing. Woodland Services, based on Hereford Road, Abergavenny, has been trading for over 50 years with the current owners entering their fourth year in the business and are ensuring the quality continues. They specialise in providing quality, locally sourced and appropriately treated wood for both agricultural and domestic use, and pride themselves on their endeavour to bring their treatment process as up to date as possible with a lot of money invested into their programme for machinery and tools. Tracey O’Leary from Woodland Services said, “Before we treat our timber in house in our fully upgraded, computerised treatment plant we ensure that the wood is dried to 28% or less moisture content. It is then pressure treated soil or fresh water contact using Koppers Celcure AC500 – giving it a 15

year life. This whole process is computer linked and closely monitored by our treatment suppliers Koppers who support the projected 15 year life of the product. “Even though certain chemicals have been removed from the treatment solution by EU legislation in the past, this means that it is very important that the wood is dried to 28% or less moisture content then the penetration and the treatment will be as effective as it was prior to the change, and here at Woodland Services we ensure this procedure is adhered to.” Tracey has spoken about her experience with peoples concerned about the treatment of wood, and wants to let the people of the local area know that at Woodland Services they can get properly treated wood from them for a great price. A high percentage of our business is repeat business which makes it even more important that we maintain the quality of our treatment process. Tracey said, “I go to market on

Wednesdays and I hear a lot of peoples concerns about timber treatment, so we wanted to show that we have put a lot of time, money and expertise into our treatment programme and assure people that our service is safe and effective.” They also put a lot of emphasis on locally sourcing their timber that they prepare and treat, to go back to the local community. Tracey said, “When dealing with natural resources, it is important to stay as local as you can, and by using local businesses in our supply chain it benefits the whole community.”

So to find out more about their work, contact Woodland Services (Abergavenny) Ltd on 01873 855431 or email Tracey on tracey@woodland-sa.co.uk.

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Three Stunning Restaurant Venues...

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