Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 48 by Whitchurch and Llandaff Living

News | People | Features | Competitions | Lifestyle

Whitchurch &

Llandaff Living

l a v i Fest r e v e F

At the heart of the community

Issue 48 Jun/Jul '18

A Summer of Festivals The best of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer Festivals

Your Yourmulti multiaward-winning award-winning community communitymagazine magazine

Inside this issue Interview

Adventurer, traveller and TV personality Simon Reeve talks about his most memorable trips

Competitions

Win tickets to the FIM Speedway at the Principality Stadium plus tickets to see An Audience with Simon Reeve

Outdoor Living

Get set to spend the summer outdoors with these inspirational garden features

History

Local resident Peter Lewis recalls his time flying Hawker Hunters and the memorable raid on Fort Harib he was involved with in 1964

Early Summer deadline: 4th July 2018

Published 16th July 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 Whitchurch and Llandaff Living are distributed to retail outlets and public places across Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff North five times a year. 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. Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an independent, apolitical publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publishers.

Welcome / Croeso To celebrate the arrival of summer and a welcome to sunnier days, this issue focuses on the great outdoors and making the most of the warmer weather. We've put together a useful guide to some of the most beautiful places to picnic in Cardiff and the Vale. If you'd rather get on your bike, there's a great cycle trail around Cardiff Bay which takes in the monumental sights and gives a brief history at the same time. It's true that there's no place finer to enjoy the sun than in your own garden. Our Outdoor Living section looks to inspire you to create the perfect summer sanctuary at home while Kevin Revell explains how to make the best of growing herbs. Summer really is a season of festivals and we are spoilt for choice here in North Cardiff this year. First on the calendar are the Whitchurch & Tongwynlais and Llandaff North Festivals that each take place towards the end of June. Whitchurch Library Gardens is host to Vintage For Victory a few weeks later. The popular vintage festival is growing year on year and 2018 looks set to be the biggest and most entertaining yet. People are at the very heart of our community and we have interviewed some inspirational people for this issue. Rhys Griffiths is a Whitchurch fireman and a former professional footballer. This year, he's published his very first children's book which was inspired by his late grandfather. He tells us how he came to be a published author.

Leanne Hugglestone is another local inspiration who recounts her story about how the deepest challenges in her life led to her current life-changing happiness. TV personality Simon Reeve documents how he came to be an adventurer and TV presenter and recalls some of his most memorable trips. Simon is coming to Cardiff later this year and we've teamed up with St. David's Hall to offer you the chance to win a pair of tickets to his show. The FIM Speedway Grand Prix takes place at the Principality Stadium in July and you could be there to watch all the action in our second competition. Our history feature was informatively written by local resident Peter Lewis, a former RAF pilot who recalls his daring raids flying Hawker Hunters. Finally, we celebrate wedding season with our light-hearted guide to the big day. Be sure to support our wonderful advertisers who make our magazines possible and we'll see you in mid July with our High Summer issue.

Danielle and Patric @Whit_Llandaff www.facebook.com/ whitchurchandllandaffliving

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Whitchurch and Tongwynlais Festival Wednesday 20th June - Saturday 30th June Various venues throughout Whitchurch and Tongwynlais Llandaff North Festival Friday 29th June - Saturday 30th June Hailey Park, Llandaff North

Tafwyl Fair Saturday 30th June & Sunday 1st July Cardiff Castle Vintage For Victory Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th July Library Gardens, Whitchurch Cardiff Eisteddfod Friday 3rd August - Saturday 11th August Cardiff Bay

Line up of fantastic festivals to bring summer to North Cardiff

Visitors enjoying Vintage For Victory

North Cardiff will be the place to be this summer as a string of local festivals brings music and laughter to the area. This year's Whitchurch and Tongwynlais Festival gets underway in the shadow of the iconic Castell Coch on 20th June with the Sunset Fayre. Organisers have been keen to build on last year's success and the 2018 programme is bursting with events for all the family. The 10 day celebration culminates in the Festival Fête that takes place on Whitchurch Common on Saturday 30th June. Festival organiser Linda Morgan told Whitchurch and Llandaff Living: "The Festival is put on each year by the committee and a small group of volunteers, to bring an enjoyable start to the summer and to celebrate the great communities of Whitchurch and Tongwynlais. Please come along and enjoy the events, get involved and tell others what is going on." This year's programme includes picnics, duck races, charity auctions, quizzes, concerts, treasure hunts, and lots more.

Meanwhile, the unique Vintage For Victory takes place in Whitchurch Library Gardens the weekend of July 14th and 15th, celebrating vintage nostalgia, fashion and music from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Visitors can take a step back in time and a trip down memory lane in aid of Cancer Research UK. Dressing up will be part of the experience while the selection of vintage-inspired bands and acts playing over the weekend are there to keep toes-atapping and hips swaying. Classic cars and bikes, and military vehicles of yesteryear will join the mighty Spitfire and Hurricane replicas alongside a Vintage Carnival of traditional sideshow acts. There will also be a good selection of clothes stalls, food and drink outlets, and even a planned flyby of a military Dakota on the Sunday. 2018 will also see the introduction of camping facilities, which will be located less than one mile away. An exclusive after party will be held at the camp site, where there will be live music and running water, toilets and showers.

BBC takes ownership of new building ahead of Llandaff move BBC Cymru Wales has taken possession of its new headquarters in Cardiff's Central Square. The new £100m building at the site of the former bus station is part of a development that will include one million sq ft of office, residential and retail space. Director of BBC Cymru Wales

Rhodri Talfan Davies said: "Whilst I have lots of happy memories of Llandaff, the place is being held together with proverbial string at the moment. The technology is outdated, the premises are dilapidated - we need to go to somewhere that enables us to broadcast with real confidence."

news

Living Magazines finalists for Cardiff Business Award for second year running

Living Magazines Cardiff are finalists for a Cardiff Business Award for the second year running. The finalists for the ICAEW Community Business of the Year were announced in April. Co-editor Patric Morgan said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have made the shortlist for a second year running. We won the same title last year and have been telling everyone all year about our award. Once again, we are up against some pretty talented opposition so we are dusting down our glad rags and looking forward to a great event in the summer. Fingers crossed!” Living Magazines have won several awards over the years, both at a local and national level. “We have recently published our 10 Year Commemorative issue of Rhiwbina Living, which we set up to serve the community. What we didn’t know at the time was how popular the magazines would become, both with readers and the local businesses who rely on us to promote them. For some of the local tradespeople, it’s the only way that they can reach customers. Over the last few years, we have also improved both the look and the content of the magazines. Added to that, we’ve worked hard to increase our social media following and can now promote our advertisers to over 36,000 followers across several platforms.” The 2018 Cardiff Business Awards will take place in June and celebrates the best businesses in Cardiff, and the vast potential that exists within the capital city of Wales.

news

Local schools get together

The summer sunshine arrived just at the right time for Coryton and Tongwynlais primary schools, as they held a very special ceremony to celebrate the two schools coming together as the Pear Tree Federation. The Federation has been named after Pear Tree Farm, which once stood on land half way between the two schools – roughly where Coryton roundabout at junction 32 of the M4 is today. To mark the occasion, Headteacher Mrs Sally Phillips invited school council chairs from Coryton and Tongwynlais, Scott and Daniel to help Chair of Governors, Cllr Mike JonesPritchard to plant a pear tree. Headteacher, Mrs Sally Phillips, said: “The Pear Tree Federation is an exciting venture for both Coryton and Tongwynlais, and comes after agreement from both schools, who could see the clear benefits it would bring. “Both Coryton and Tongwynlais are small, single form entry primary schools, and together we are now in a much stronger position. As a federation we can now share teaching and learning resources, opportunities, professional expertise and governance to raise standards and improve provision.”

Bishop of Llandaff celebrates 'excellent' report Students, staff and governors at The Bishop of Llandaff High School have cause for celebration after Estyn judged the school ‘excellent’ in all categories in its recent inspection. Inspectors said: “Inspirational leadership, coupled with a strong focus on professional development, has led to outstanding teaching, attainment and student wellbeing.” The school’s performance is rated so highly as students make outstanding progress in their subject knowledge and skills, while performance in public examinations are 'substantially higher than those in similar schools in nearly all indicators'. Headteacher Marc Belli said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of the inspection visit. The judgements awarded are a reflection of the genuine commitment and talent of all members of the school community. I should like to congratulate our students who are a genuine pleasure to work with and are incredible examples of young people in our modern society. The report accurately describes their academic successes, relative to their starting point, and the wider development of all groups of students. I also wish to pay tribute to our incredible staff. We are very fortunate to have such a committed group of teaching and support staff who strive to provide students with

Parents worry at Whitchurch High School

Farewell Ffandangos Llandaff favourite Ffandangos has announced that they are to close. Management at the food store and green grocers made an announcement on social media, writing: "Goodbye everybody, we’ve got to go, gotta leave it all behind and face the truth. It is with more than a twinge of sadness and no regrets that we have closed our doors for the last time."

a fantastic learning experience which helps them to become the best version of themselves. Our governing body maintains the highest expectations of the school and works tirelessly to support us to achieve these ambitions; and finally, I wish to thank all of our families for the outstanding support we receive.” The performance of more able students, boys and girls, as well as those eligible for free school meals perform notably better than these groups in similar schools, the Estyn report said. Inspectors also noted that the school has effective procedures in place at the school to help ensure high standards of behaviour by students, describing students’ attitudes to learning as 'exemplary'. Inspectors found that students develop leadership skills in a variety of opportunities across the school, while students take part in a very broad range of sporting, cultural and enrichment activities. Inspectors also praised the school’s leadership at all levels in securing consistently very high outcomes and the highest quality of provision. They highlighted the school’s culture of 'extremely high expectations which permeates all aspects of school life'.

Local parents have expressed their concerns about a funding crisis that Whitchurch High School is currently facing. Staff at the biggest secondary school in Wales could be made redundant due to the funding cuts, prompting parents to call a public meeting. A spokesman for Cardiff Council said: “Officers have met with the school on this matter and will continue to meet

with Whitchurch to work out a plan to manage these budget challenges. “Welsh Government cuts to post-16 grant funding has seen Whitchurch lose money. However, in an age of austerity and cuts, Cardiff Council is doing its utmost to protect key areas like schools and social services. “It’s important to note, that while other service areas across the Council are seeing cuts to budgets, our schools and social services budget is rising year on year as we look to protect these key services from the worst of the cuts.” Parents say they fear for falling standards as a result of the announced shortfall. They have been told that all 140 members of staff could face redundancy.

Constituency News with Julie Morgan AM

This spring saw celebrations at the Assembly to mark International Women’s Day and the unveiling of Wales’ first Purple Plaque in the Bay. A group of us at the Assembly came up with the idea for plaques for women after research revealed that there are around 250 blue plaques in Wales and only around a dozen of them are for women. We chose purple as it was one of the Suffragette colours and the first plaque on the side of the Senedd commemorates the work of former Assembly Member and equality campaigner Val Feld. In April, I pledged to give up single-use plastic cutlery as part of the World Wildlife Fund Cymru’s Earth Hour Wales. And I attended a great event, together with Cardiff North MP Anna McMorrin, where a local resident in Rhiwbina is aiming to get local businesses to go ‘plastic-free’. I would love to hear of any Whitchurch businesses that have pledged to go plastic-free or to get rid of singleuse plastic items like plastic cutlery or straws. If you’d like to be a ‘community champion’ for a plastic-free Whitchurch, please get in touch. I was really pleased to meet Rungano Nyoni at the Senedd in April. She is a great ambassador for Cardiff and a role model for women from black and minority ethnic communities. Born in Zambia, Rungano grew up in the Riverside area of the city and has gone on to become a film director, winning a BAFTA this year for her film I Am Not A Witch. The film is also due to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival this May. I hope she continues her successful film-making career and I look forward to hearing about her next project. In April, we held a rally on Whitchurch Common to show our solidarity with the Windrush Generation. Thanks to everyone who came along and showed their support. Following this, Anna McMorrin and I launched a petition to call for legal aid to be restored to those affected by this issue. 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

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Reeve

Simon

Simon Reeve is an adventurer, New York Times best-selling author and TV presenter who has travelled to more than 120 countries making multiple award-winning TV series. And he's coming to Cardiff After a decade spent making more than 70 programmes, Simon Reeve has become a familiar face on British TV, well known for his extraordinary foreign journeys. Most of Simon’s documentaries combine travel and adventure with global environmental, wildlife, and conservation issues, and have taken him across jungles, deserts, mountains and oceans, and to some of the most beautiful, dangerous and remote regions of the world. He’s dodged bullets on front lines, hunted with the Bushmen of the Kalahari, dived with manta rays, seals and sharks, survived malaria, walked through minefields, tracked lions on foot, been taught to fish by the President of Moldova, adopted by former head-hunters, and detained for spying by the KGB. His adventures have been broadcast in dozens of countries, enthralling millions. But Simon's travelling bug definitely wasn't part of his upbringing: "I definitely wasn’t born into it. When I was a kid, we only went abroad once when we took the ferry

to France to go camping. I didn’t get on a plane till I was working. When I was growing up, people didn’t travel in the way they do now. People have forgotten that. I remember the first Spanish and Greek restaurants opening in London during the late 1970s. That was the result of British people taking Freddie Laker-type flights abroad. I only came to travel and adventure as an adult. "I grew up in tropical Acton in West London. My adventures were restricted to riding my BMX and my grandmother’s magical mystery tours. She would take my brother and me in her car when we were very little to explore exotic, unknown places like Hounslow. Sometimes we even got as far as Chiswick! I never imagined I’d live the life I have today. My aspirations and dreams were very limited." But it would be a while before Simon got the break he was looking for. "I was on the dole for a long while. Then I got a few jobs. I ran some charity shops, but organising people of a certain age into a roster was a very tricky art. I worked in a

jewellery shop for a day and at the Ministry of Defence for half a day. After I walked out, Special Branch came looking for me because I had worked in a secret department. I got turned down for a job as a white van driver, even though no one else applied for it. I was lost. "Eventually, I got a job as a post boy on the Sunday Times and my world began to open up. I owe my career to Andrew Neil – I’m sure you’ve rarely heard that sentence before! I was very lucky. His idea was to give the post boys an opportunity to have a crack at working on the paper. Everyone else on the paper was Oxbridge, and I was very London. I was pretty unusual, but I was keen and eager and they gave me a chance." Simon's career was about to take off - in more unexpected ways than he could ever imagine: "I was this pathetic kid suddenly thrown into an environment where people were doing very exciting things and working on serious investigations. I carved out my own niche – and that was the making of me. First I became an expert in

people fixing these vital big photocopying machines they had, so they couldn’t sack me. Then I fell into investigating terrorism, as you do. I started researching the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, and eventually wrote the first book on al Qaeda, which came out in 1998. Nobody read it. Then I wrote some other books and worked on hardcore investigations where I spent time undercover." It would be the events of 9/11 that thrust Simon into the spotlight for the first time. "Suddenly I was chucked into the world of TV. I’d written the only book in the world about the biggest story of the time. I also knew people who died as the towers came down - I’d met them when I was researching my first book. "The BBC then wanted me to make a series for them. The first ideas were a bit daft. They included wanting me to infiltrate Al Qaeda. I didn’t think that was a very good idea. In the end, we settled on the idea of going on adventures in parts of the world that weren’t often on the TV, and into which we would try and work light and shade, both adventure and issues. "The first BBC series I did in 2003 was called Holidays in the Danger Zone: Meet the Stans, and it was all about my journeys in the Stan countries to the north of Afghanistan, including Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. I loved it from the first day of filming. It was very well received, which was a surprise to me as the presenter. So the BBC had me back, and since then I’ve made more than 100 programmes around the world." Simon went on to become a New York Times best-selling author and TV presenter who has travelled to more than 120 countries, making multiple award-winning TV series for the BBC. They include Caribbean, Sacred Rivers, Indian Ocean, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, Pilgrimage, Ireland, Australia (Winner of the British Travel Press Award for Broadcast Travel Programme), Greece, Big Life Fix, and his two new series Turkey (2017) and

Russia (2017). He has received a One World Broadcasting Trust Award for 'an outstanding contribution to greater world understanding', the prestigious Ness Award from the Royal Geographical Society, and the Special Contribution Award at the Travel Media Awards. "Travel teaches us that we should embrace life and not live it on our knees. It’s a wonderful and immediate way of pushing our buttons and exciting our senses. We have an enormous planet of seven billion stories and magnificent sights to see and incredible food to eat. Anyone who isn’t mortgaging their grandparents or their grandchildren to get out in the big world needs their head examined!" Many of Simon's adventures have led him to some of the most extreme places on earth. "In the city of San Pedro Sula in Honduras – the deadliest place in the world outside an active war zone – two colleagues and I went into a prison controlled by the inmates. It had thousands of men crammed into a very tiny space. It housed some of the most dangerous people on earth, people who have skinned other gang members alive. It was a cross between Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and an 18th-century sweatshop. It had all sorts of shops like a barber’s and a café, and people were making candles, clothes and wigs in their little cell factories. "We thought of going in with special forces as our guards, but they would have been ripped apart, and the inmates would then have turned on us. So we went in with the very best bodyguard anyone could have in that situation - the Bishop of San Pedro Sula, wearing a very large crucifix. He could look after us and stop the ludicrously dangerous gangs from holding us hostage or chopping off our heads. "We met men with tattooed tears running down their cheeks, each one indicating a person they had killed. We met the leader of one of the most fearsome gangs in Central America, and all he wanted to talk about was this Nativity scene made out of recycled rubbish that he had been building in the prison yard. A panel was coming round the next day to judge all the prisoners’ Nativity scenes. It was bizarre

beyond belief. That is how surreal life on this planet can get. "When you walk in to somewhere like that, your senses are so alert to the danger you don’t have the chance to experience fear. After visiting the prison, we sank quite a lot of whisky as we did a post mortem on the experience." These days, Simon is filming once again for the BBC - but this time in the Mediterranean. "Nowadays we can go anywhere in the world, but sometimes we overlook what’s closest to home. I’m just blown away by how extreme life around the Mediterranean can be. We forget there are magical and horrific places close to our own doorstep. "I’m very enthusiastic about the world. Part of my job is to go 'wow!' a lot – and I can’t stop doing that in real life because that’s how I really feel! I also have a great deal of curiosity – that’s crucial – and I’d like to think that I do care. I cry a lot. I get very emotional and uplifted by the sights and people I meet. An openness to other people really helps. That is how we understand each other and how we break down the barriers that divide us." Simon will be visiting Cardiff on his latest travels, as part of his oneman show that's touring the UK. "I’ve had some magnificent adventures and met some of the most inspiring people on the planet. So obviously I’ve got lots of tales from my travels, and this show is a tremendous opportunity to share them with audiences across the UK. There’s a lot that I see and film that never makes it into the programmes, so there’s also behind-the-scenes stories to tell and footage to show. "I also like doing things that are a bit challenging and nerve-wracking - and performing a live show is certainly a challenge that should get the ticker going. I like that adrenaline rush. "=I’m sure walking out on stage is going to be scarier than some of the experiences I’ve had on my travels. Imminent death doesn’t bother us as much a social embarrassment!"

r o F e Vintag l a v i t s e F y r o Vict Live Music

Celebrating the 1940s to the 1960s

Design by Living Magazines Cardiff

GARDENS Vintage Shops LIBRARY WHITCHURCH d n u o Fairgr CARDIFF Camping 14 TH/15 TH JULY 2018 Dancing Fashion Food

THE JIVE ACES • KING PLEASURE & THE BISCUIT BOYS • BIG MAC'S WHOLLY SOUL BAND Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer • Elle and The Pocket Belles • My Favourite Things • The Victory Sisters • The Daisy Chains • Jackson Sloan & The Rhythmtones • The Class of 58 • The Candy Girls • Madassa Soul Band* For tickets and information go to www.vintageforvictory.co.uk

Vintage for Victory Festival Inspired by the romance and glamour of vintage fashion and nostalgia, we are delighted to announce the return of the Vintage For Victory weekend to The Library Gardens in Whitchurch Village this July

LIVE MUSIC & DANCING The NAFFI Big Tent and the Union Jack Club will play host to some fantastic live music. Professional Jive & Lindy Hop teachers will be on hand to teach you all the moves, so get ready to dance the day away, whatever the weather

STREET FOOD AND DRINK The best artisan street food and drinks vendors are on offer to add to a great day out. From crêpes and steak burgers to tea and ales - we’ve got the lot!

VINTAGE EMPORIUM Come and browse our great selection of vintage inspired retailers. There’s plenty to tempt you here so come prepared to shop. Clothes, home décor, upcycled furniture, beauticians and hair dressers are all here.

AND LOTS MORE! Battle of Britain planes Vintage Vehicles • Dakota Flyby Vintage Funfair • Camp site Exclusive after party Jive & Lindy Hop lessons Period re-enactors Dancing • Fashion

L imited tickets - VERY EARLY BIRD TICKETS now on sale!

www.vintageforvictory.co.uk

out & about

0 1 s p t to spo

c i n c i

The great British tradition of packing a basket with food and heading out for a picnic has arrived. Here are our favourite local spots

Bute Park A firm favourite for both locals and visitors, Bute Park has become one of the city's top places to picnic. Surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers, and not forgetting the iconic sight of Cardiff Castle, Bute Park offers the ultimate spot for the summer picnicker. The Castle Green was landscaped in the late eighteenth century by Capability Brown, but the park itself was laid out from 1873 by Andrew Pettigrew, Head Gardener to the 3rd Marquess. Sophia Gardens and Pontcanna Fields are on the opposite side of the river, and can be reached by two footbridges.

Llandaff Fields

Heath Park

Llandaff Fields is made up of a mixture of vast mown grass land and woodland, which is home to lots of wildlife. The park is situated in the valley of the River Taff and you'll find many varied places to picnic - from open greens to private shady trees. Weaving through the park is the popular Taff Trail which runs from Cardiff Bay all the way up to Brecon. There's the popular Cafe Castan providing indoor and outdoor refreshments and an impressive playground. Car parking is provided.

This 37 hectare park provides sport and play facilities for all ages, but also contains woodland areas, ponds and wetland which are a habitat for a wide range of plants and trees. For kids, it's a great place to explore. There's a pond full of wildlife, a pitch and putt 9 hole golf course, a sensory garden and then there's the King George V Memorial playing field where you can while away the afternoon with your picnic. The woodlands themselves are really great habitats for birds and other wildlife and the paths allow you to explore this at your leisure. Perhaps the icing on the cake is the miniature railway. You'll need to check opening times and be prepared for crowds when it is open (the volunteers do a great job of keeping them to a minimum) but it's a sure fire winner for both kids and adults. Disabled access has greatly improved in recent months and there is plenty of seating and catering outlets available if needed.

on a water taxi after you've eaten and head up into the city centre in style.

Alexandra Gardens

Cosmeston Medieval Village There are over 100 hectares of lakes, meadows and woodlands in Cosmeston, which lies just outside Penarth. The former quarry has some areas that are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, protecting the rare and diverse plant and animal species. Several picnic tables are dotted around the park but there's also plenty of open space to unfurl your picnic blanket and spend an afternoon in the sun. Nearby, there's also a reconstruction of a medieval village, which is set in the year 1350.

This Grade 1 listed park includes Alexandra Gardens, Gorsedd Gardens and Friary Gardens. They provide a stunning setting for the impressive buildings that surround them, and also offer a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city - a perfect place to picnic. Alexandra Gardens and Gorsedd Gardens are open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week whereas the Friary Gardens are open from 7:30am to 30 minutes before sunset.

Porthkerry Country Park, Barry

Caerphilly Castle Constructed by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century as part of his campaign to conquer Glamorgan, Caerphilly Castle is the second largest castle in Britain. Famous for its concentric defences and its large gatehouses, there are plenty of grounds that can welcome those looking to take in a picnic for an afternoon. You can also feed the ducks if you fancy a walk around the castle and you can pay to enter the castle itself and explore some of its history.

Cardiff Barrage You can take in the fresh sea air and the great views of the Bristol Channel at the Cardiff Barrage. The area is flat meaning that you can easily get there by bicycle or on foot with plenty of space to picnic. There are also opportunities to hop

Porthkerry Park is comprised of 220 acres of woods and meadowland in a sheltered valley leading to a pebble beach and spectacular cliffs. The park has a number of nature trails, picnic sites, a cafĂŠ, an adventure play area, barbecue areas and a mini golf course. Picnic tables and benches are situated a short distance from the main car park. There are also extensive areas of grass to lay your picnic blanket or if you'd like to look out over the Bristol Channel while you eat, the nearby pebble beach can provide you with extensive views of Somerset and any aeroplanes on their final approach to Cardiff Airport nearby.

Alexandra Park, Penarth Alexandra Park is a well-preserved Edwardian public park overlooking the Bristol Channel. Retaining many of its original features, the park was awarded the coveted national Green Flag award in 2012. The park was laid out in 1901-1902 and was extremely popular from the beginning. In 1924, the Cenotaph, by

Cardiff-born sculptor and medallist Sir William Goscombe John, was erected in memory of those who lost their lives in the First World War. The original octagonal bandstand was removed in the 1950s and a square wooden shelter survived until 1994, when it was replaced with the present structure. There are plenty of areas to picnic, surrounded by pines, conifers and Cypress trees. It's also a short walk from Penarth Pier if you fancy stretching your legs after your picnic.

Forest Farm This wonderful nature reserve situated in Whitchurch, was formed in 1967 and straddles the last remaining stretch of the former Cardiff/Merthyr canal which still holds fresh water to a quality good enough to provide a good hunting ground for kingfishers, herons and many others species. The majority of the woodland is beech and oak with several trees being over 200 years old, and the part called Long Wood is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are some lovely safe walking paths around the reserve, including one which runs alongside part of the remaining section of the former Glamorgan canal.

Started in 1790, the canal linked the ironworks of Merthyr at a height of 568 feet to the sea at Cardiff, a distance of 25.5 miles that included 52 locks. There are plenty of opportunities to picnic on the reserve, and if you don't fancy taking the car, Radyr train station is close by. Forest Farm is popular with walkers, cyclists and wildlife spotters and it's also worth taking your camera as you never know what wildlife you'll come across.

Win TICKETS TO THE BRITish FIM speedway gp Fast and furious family fun, the Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix is set to return to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday 21st July. The high octane race is celebrating its 18th year in the Welsh capital and we’re giving one lucky reader and a guest the chance to be there with a pair of tickets up for grabs! The biggest event on the Speedway calendar, the GP was first held at the former Millennium Stadium in 2001 in front of over 30,000 fans. Now the longeststanding third party event in the stadium’s calendar, crowds regularly top 40,000. Visitors are drawn to the capital to watch 16 riders - 15 permanent and 1 wild card – compete over 23 heats; four riders over four laps on 500cc bikes with no brakes! Multiple World Champions will be going up against each other this year, including Great Britain’s double series winner, Tai

Woffinden. In what is set to be one of the closest seasons to date, Scunthorpe-born Tai will be eager to secure his first ever home win at Cardiff and claw back the trophy. Meanwhile reigning champ, Jason Doyle, who showed great character to secure his maiden world title in 2017 will be going all out to secure his second title in 2018. Meanwhile, Polish favourite Maciej Janowski will return after his Cardiff victory in 2017 alongside fellow Pole Bartosz Zmarzlik, who ended up in fourth place in Cardiff in 2017. And as a firm favourite, US star Greg Hancock will also be returning to the stadium- as a previous winner here, he will chasing further victory. The fun starts in the activitypacked fanzone, which will open on City Hall lawn at 11am. Engines start at 5pm and the event will end with a spectacular firework display in the stadium itself. It takes six days to prepare the stadium for race day. Simon Reeve’s first-ever theatre tour will feature the world-famous journalist recounting tales from over 15 years of travelling to the most remote and extreme corners of the planet. From being chased by pirates, hounded by the Mafia and bombed by Columbian barons, Simon Reeve has travelled through over 120 countries and his BBC documentaries have sold to over 60 countries around the world. Since making the leap to television, Simon’s adventures have been broadcast in dozens of countries, enthralling millions. An Audience with Simon Reeve is not only a fascinating and educational show, but at times shocking, inspirational and hilarious! The show includes exclusive multi-media footage and a 20 minute Question & Answer session. Simon is coming to St. David's Hall on September 20th and you could be there.

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer the question below: On what date will this year’s Speedway Grand Prix take place? Email the correct answer, along with your name, address and telephone number to competitions@livingmags.co.uk or post your entries to our address on the inside front cover of this magazine. Closing date is Friday 13th July. For further information about the event, visit www.speedwaygp.com

Win tickets to see AN AUDIENCE WITH SIMON REEVE AT ST DAVID'S HALL To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets, please complete the title of Simon Reeve’s new tour – An Audience With... a) Simon Cowell b) Simon Reeve c) Simon Says Please email your answer to SDHpress@cardiff.gov.uk by Friday 14th September 2018 along with your full name and address, plus a phone number.

An Evening with David Sedaris 10.07.18

Kevin & Karen Dance 2018 08.07.18

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra Mahler Symphony No 3 17.06.18

Chris Ramsey Just Happy to Get Out of the House 12.07.18

Alexandra Burke The Truth Is 17.09.18

Grumpy Old Women to the Rescue 22.06.18

Tiddly Prom Cherry Pieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Holiday Adventure 21.07.18 - 28.07.18

Bing Live! 10.30am, 1pm & 4pm 31.07.18

The Roy Orbison Story 30 Special Barry Steele & Friends 29.06.18

WHITCHURCH TENNIS CLUB Summer is on its way and what better way of enjoying the sunshine than keeping fit and meeting new friends? Whitchurch Tennis Club has it all

ennis legend, Arthur Ashe once said: “Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is more important than the outcome.” At Whitchurch Tennis Club, this is what we believe in too. Nestled between St. Francis Road and Heol-yForlan, our club has been at its present venue for over a century and prides itself not only on its sporting prowess but also on our friendliness. Over 150 local children benefited last year from our extensive coaching programme, offered on our 7 all-weather courts during evenings and weekends. The programmes offer tennis for children of all ages, including students, juniors, minis and tots. They don’t have to have had any experience to join in either - local primary and secondary schools such as Whitchurch Primary, Coryton Primary, Melin Gruffydd Primary and Hawthorn Primary, as well as Whitchurch High School and Cathays High School also have access to our facilities during the daytime. The High Schools use our

courts for their matches versus other schools as well as pre-match training. Our full-time coach Melissa Davies is on hand to ensure that pupils are safe and cared for at the club and it is her encouragement that has meant that our junior members have participated very successfully in grade 4/5 tournaments, mini-red and mini-orange tournaments as part of the Tennis Wales circuit. Ten of our youngsters have also been involved in Aegon team events. Meanwhile, the club house and its kitchen is a welcome sanctuary for parents, sheltering from the sometimes inclement British weather with a cup of tea or coffee or they can sun themselves on our patio, sipping something ice cold while cheering on the home team. We also run summer and autumn club tournaments in both singles, doubles and mixed doubles; handicapped tournaments and regular American tournaments, when all ages and abilities are encouraged to join in. These events are followed by delicious food such as barbeques or chilli pots or strawberries and cream around the Wimbledon fortnight, prepared by our own volunteers. Our competitive fees for all classes of membership make us excellent value for money. We even offer family memberships where parents can play or not, while their little ones chase a ball around a court under qualified supervision. If you would like to try before you join, come down one evening. Our amenities, including a fully licensed bar and kitchen, lounge area and committee room, men’s, ladies’ and disabled facilities, have

welcomed local community groups such as Cylch Meithrin and the St. Francis Road’s Neighbourhood Watch. Wimbledon starts on the 2nd July 2018, traditionally a time when lots of people dust off their racquets from the loft and venture onto the tennis court. Why not this year, get it out early and come and join in at Whitchurch Tennis Club? Our facilities are second to none and we are proud of our 100 year plus history, offering a family-friendly face in our local community.

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Rhys griffiths: the fireman who became an author He's a Whitchurch firefighter and a former professional football player. But now Rhys Griffiths is a published children's author with his new book Billy's Grandad and the Search for Horris. This is his story If you ever hear a fire engine racing through Whitchurch or Llandaff, there's a good chance that firefighter Rhys Griffiths will be on board. Rhys is a former professional footballer who has played for the likes of Plymouth Argyle, and has been the Welsh Premier League's top scorer on seven occasions. A three-time winner of the league's Player of the Year award, Rhys has also been capped six times by Wales at semi-professional level. These days, as well as managing a Welsh Football League Division One team in Bridgend, you'll find him working out of Whitchurch Fire Station. "I've been nuts about football since I was a kid. All I ever wanted to be was either a footballer or a fireman and I'm lucky enough to have done both." Rhys's professional football career started in 2001 when he joined Cwmbran Town. After stints at Haverfordwest, Carmarthen and Port Talbot, he joined Plymouth Argyle for the 2012/13 season before signing for Newport County. "I helped Newport get to the playoffs at Wembley that year which was nice. Sadly, I was injured by the time we got to Wembley but we defeated Wrexham 2–0 and

returned to the Football League after a 25-year absence with promotion to League Two." Throughout most of his football career, Rhys has also been working as a fireman, first in Penarth and now based here in Whitchurch. "I’ve been working as a firefighter since 2005. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do as I like to help people. There’s a lot of variety to the job – you never know what’s going to come next. One minute you could be sat having a meal or writing up a report, the next you’re flying out of the door to deal with a fire. "I tried getting into the service initially in 2003. There were a lot of strikes on at that time and the application process took about 18 months, a lot longer than it usually does. Worse still, I failed to get in after that long wait and I was left devastated as it was something I was so passionate about." Rhys took the rejection hard but inspiration came from two close members of his family. "It was my grandparents who eventually phoned me a few years later to let me know that the fire service was recruiting again. After the hurt of the previous application, I was very unsure. I didn't know if I could put myself through that again

and be given the same outcome. It was my grandmother who talked me back into it. ‘Give it a go,’ she said. So I did. And four months later, I was a firefighter. I had my grandfather and grandmother to thank for encouraging me because if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be doing what I am doing now for a job." Grandfather William died a few years ago and his death hit all the grandchildren hard as the family all shared a close relationship over the years, especially as Rhys was growing up. "My grandparents played a massive role in my upbringing. I always think that there are two types of grandfather – the old grumpy types who are always moaning; then there’s the lovely, kind ones who’d do anything for

you. My grandfather was one of the latter. I have so many wonderful memories of him and my nan. She still lives in Rhiwbina. "I remember him taking me down to his cellar many times and there he’d show me his ‘pet’ spider called Horris. Horris lived for about 25 years and in that time, he changed shape, colour and size. It wasn’t until I grew up and was told that spiders can live for about 2 years that I realised that Horris wasn’t in fact one spider, but a series of spiders over the years. "My grandad died aged 82 but had been fit and healthy all of his life. He served in the Army and did a lot with his life, something I've always tried to emulate." Rhys has made sure that the memory of William lives on. In a series of events over the last year, Rhys has managed to become a published children's author - and his book has been dedicated to William's memory. "I’ve got a photo of my grandparents up in my house and my two young boys kept asking about it. I felt that I needed to give my kids some context to the people in the photo. "One night, I was putting the kids to bed and instead of reading them a usual story, I recalled the time that my grandfather took me down the cellar and showed me his pet spider Horris. A few nights later, my son asked me to tell him the story again so this time I had to write it down. I retold the story several times a week so I started creating drawings on my iPad to go with it. Within a few weeks, I'd created my first book. "It was obviously a rough version but my kids loved it and I thought about getting it published. Eventually, I got in touch with a publishing house who said that they’d put it in their catalogue. The book needed a complete revamp though so I worked with the publishing house to get the book ready. "The entire process took about 6 months. There was an editor working on the text and I also worked with an illustrator, which was my favourite bit. I'd draw a rough version and send it off and I'd then get a professional version sent back. Every time

the pictures came back to me to look over, I got more and more excited. It was great seeing the images that I had in my head coming to life." Rhys had the most ardent of fans and critics in his two young boys: "Kids really are the best critics. I’d created drawings of my grandad for the book. There was one illustration in particular of my grandad winking to the reader at the end. My four year old looked at it and asked me why he had one eye closed. It hadn’t occurred to me that a four year old might not understand the concept of winking. It made me rethink about the audience I was writing for and I had to put myself in their shoes for the rest of the process." The book was finally submitted for publication and Rhys will be officially launching it in the summer. "I’ve had a few copies sent to me and my first job was to give a copy to my nan. Even if I do nothing else with the books, all the time and effort that I put into it was worth it just to see my nan’s face when she saw the book. "I'll be officially publishing on June 30th at the Rhiwbina Festival but the book can be pre-ordered from Rowanvalebooks.com and Amazon. A limited number of copies are also available at the Little People Store in Rhiwbina. "If someone had told me when I was a kid that I'd end up publishing a children's book, I wouldn't have believed them. In school, we always had comprehension drilled into us. The problem for me was that it all focused on things that I had no interest in whatsoever. English lessons always centred around stories that had no relevance to me. Now if they'd given me a match report for a football game and questioned me on that, I'd have been able to answer all the questions, and get them all right. "I always had a great imagination as a kid so I think that's helped

I want the book

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because I was able to use that when it came to creating my book. I was always a daydreamer in school but of course, the teachers always wanted you to do what they said. You can't get qualifications in daydreaming though can you?" Rhys's pride in his publication is apparent but is also tempered perhaps with a little bit of shyness. "I'm no English literature student but I've managed to publish my own book, which is something that I thought I'd never do. "I’ve left the possibility of subsequent books open, just in case I do want to produce more. I’ll also continue being a fireman because it’s a job that I have found rewarding." Meanwhile, Rhys also continues his other passion of football as manager of Pen-y-Bont FC in Bridgend. "Being a football manager takes a lot of dedication and devotion. But football is such a big part of me that I can't imagine my life without it. My book is a totally different part of my professional life but it's one that I felt I wanted to do. "Now that I’ve written it, the next step is to market it. There are a few channels I’ll be using but as long as I break even, I’ll be a happy man. I've wanted this book to be a lasting tribute to my grandfather and even if nothing comes of it, at least I will have had a go. That's all my grandad would have asked of me." You can buy Rhys's book at https://amzn.to/2Ih6x7z and from www.rowanvalebooks.com

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Leanne Hugglestone: The diagnosis that led to my life-changing birthday present "I dug these beds myself last year so that I could enjoy my garden this year." Leanne Hugglestone is sat in the sunny garden that she's created. And she has a story to tell. Her story is a rather special one and the events of six years ago changed her life forever. "In May 2012, I was working in the IT department at Companies House and had recently split from my boyfriend. I wasn't overly concerned about the lump that I had found in my breast but I got it checked out anyway. Even the doctor was about to dismiss it as nothing until I told her that my grandmother had died of primary breast cancer and secondary lung cancer at the age of 39. "So my doctor referred me to get a biopsy. My response to the situation was more practical than emotional. I tried to figure out the next steps rather than have a meltdown. In my head, I tired to work out the percentages of survival if I did have cancer, preparing for the worst but hoping for the best." Leanne was potentially facing a deadly disease but her survival instincts were quick to kick in. "I went for my diagnosis with a flowchart that I'd prepared. The first question on it was 'Is it cancer?'. From there, I worked out what I'd need to do in each outcome. The specialist at Llandough Hospital was brilliant and told me straight away that it was cancer so I

went through all my questions methodically. Within 24 hours, I had a nurse at my house. My mum and sister were there too which was useful because it was going to affect them as well." If a diagnosis of cancer wasn't lifechanging enough, what happened next certainly was. "The following day, the nurse came back and asked me the question 'Do you want children?' I was a bit taken aback and asked her what she meant. She could see that I was single and career-minded but said that she needed to know as chemotherapy can bring on early menopause and can affect your fertility. "I'd always thought that babies would play some part in my life but I hadn't considered things seriously until then. In all honesty, I thought that I'd have my treatment and be back to work within 4 weeks, allowing me to get on with my life." The reality though was very different. "She informed me that I'd have 6 months of chemo followed by radiation treatment. And if I wanted any children, I'd need to get some eggs frozen before any of that started." For Leanne, the realisation of her situation was beginning to hit home very quickly. "My eggs were frozen and a week later, I was having bloods done for my chemo. The chemo treatment took me through to the

end of November 2012 and then in December, I started radiotherapy. At the end, I was given some tablets and that was that." With Leanne's treatment coming to an end, she began tentatively looking towards the future. But it wasn't straightforward. "By the time February 2013 came round, I was asking myself ‘what happens next?' I’ve got no weekly appointments to go to. Could I go back to work? I had to go back to work because I was financially crippled, not having any critical illness cover or relevant insurance. Everything was going on credit cards and overdrafts. "My birthday was in the February so I arranged a party. It was a sort of end of chemo/birthday party. I then went back in work in May. "Going back to work was strange because having had cancer, I was now officially classed as disabled. My managers were really good, but I felt that I’d lost my knowledge and skills. The guy I’d been teaching the year before was now teaching me things." Leanne was not one for sitting around feeling sorry for herself though. In fact, she threw herself into her work. "As part of my management degree, I was aware that Companies House was allowed to give each member of staff a day off to do voluntary work. With nearly 1,000 members of staff working there, I realised the big difference that we

people

could make to the community. I brought this to the attention of my managers, who put me in charge of this new volunteering project. We then had a new boss who asked me to go work for her delivering Corporate Social Responsibility. We invited people from all over the UK and became an authority on the subject. The Chief Executive loved it so much that he doubled the amount of volunteering to two days a year for everyone." Despite all her success in work and the plaudits she was getting, Leanne was struggling personally. "At that time, I was having counselling with Tenovus. The counsellor said that I had more of a male brain because I dealt with things practically rather than emotionally. But it would catch up with me. If I heard a particular song on the radio, I'd end up crying for one or two days. "It was about 9 or 10 months later that my genetic tests came back and they told me that I had an 80% chance of the cancer recurring. They said that I'd need to start thinking about preventative surgery – in particular, a double mastectomy and an oophorectomy, which is the removal of my ovaries." The news came as a big blow for Leanne, especially since she was still single and harboured hopes of raising a family when she met the right person. "I started writing a blog as a way of dealing with my situation, and also because there was nothing on the internet for young women with breast cancer. I had got to a point where I stopped telling people how I felt because it all sounded so repetitive. Many of the friends I thought I could count on had disappeared and it was often the people who were just acquaintances who were there for me."

In May 2014, Leanne's story was picked up by ITV, who wanted to feature her as she underwent the double mastectomy that she'd opted for as a preventative measure. "Sadly, one implant failed and I had to have emergency surgery. I remember worrying as I'd used up all my sick leave at work and had no one to lean on. But my thoughts then turned to my future and my concern that I may never have children as I was still single." Leanne decided to try for a baby using donor sperm. "I was allowed three attempts at IVF, but the original collection of my eggs had already counted as one. Sadly, the two actual attempts at IVF didn't work. This all took months and involved lots of injections. Just when I thought perhaps it was not going to happen, IUI was suggested. It was quite amusing because the doctor came in and set up the syringe, wished me good luck and told me that they'd be back in 20 minutes. They could have taken me to dinner beforehand I guess but that's life! "The doctor then told me to do a pregnancy test 16 days later, which was my birthday. "The first thing I did that day was take three tests. All of them told me that I was pregnant. I couldn't believe it. Being practically minded, I then started worrying about how I was going to manage now that I had a baby on the way – but I knew that I could do it and that we'd be ok." Leanne gave birth to baby Thea in the autumn of 2016. “It was a bit surreal, I couldn’t believe it,” she says. "Thea is now a headstrong and independent little girl. She wants to help. If I go out into the garden to give it a tidy, she'll come out of her own accord and help me. She even helps put the bins out for me. She is my shadow." Juggling many aspects of her life is now Leanne's main focus. "I've been dealing with the baby not sleeping and having to be her sole carer. I'm now working parttime and looking to build a future. Life is challenging though. Even getting things like life insurance is a struggle. It's taken me a long time to get cover. Getting a decent bra is also another big problem. A lot of shops make out that they're doing a lot for cancer charities but when it actually comes to making a bra for someone with a prosthesis, all they can manage is a big bra that looks

like the sort your nan would buy. All I want is a nice lacy bra!" The medical effects of Leanne's cancer are also still ongoing. "I went in last August for some reconstruction on my boobs and for the first time in a very long time, my confidence returned and I got some of my mojo back. But I was rushed in for some emergency surgery on one of them a few days ago. In a few months, I should be able to get a new implant." Living with so many challenges has certainly changed Leanne's life forever. "I've been lucky in other respects in that I've won awards and met famous people because of my diagnosis. You can't grumble when you're spending time with people like Russell Watson or having your hand kissed by Brian May. That would never have happened to me if I hadn't had cancer." Thea too has been in on the action, taking a starring role in the BBC series Casualty at the age of just 3 weeks. "She was so small that they asked her to play the part of a premature baby," says Leanne. Looking ahead, Leanne wants to focus on the future for her and Thea, who is now 19 months old. "I've had people say to me 'Well at least be grateful that you’re still alive’. I've also had people referring to me going back to normal whatever that is. This is me - a new me. In fact, a better me. I want a future and nice things. Yes, I am worried that the cancer might come back one day, but now is about enjoying life and planning ahead." At this point, Thea comes into the garden and Leanne scoops her up and throws her up over her shoulder. Leanne smiles: "She wouldn't be here if it hadn't have been for my diagnosis."

4 1. Cast iron hanging basket bracket £9.99 Strong enough to hold a large hanging basket, this beautiful cast iron bracket includes an ornate image of a bird. Other designs are available and include butterflies, owls and fairies (prices may differ). Secret Shed, Rhiwbina

2. Summer Houses POA A summer house offers a unique place to enjoy the best of the British weather, with friends or family, or by yourself with a nice cup of tea! There are many different sizes and shapes to suit all gardens and budgets. Secret Shed, Rhiwbina

3. Allsop® Hanging Outdoor Solar Tea Lantern £19.50 each Catching the sun's rays by day, these lanterns light up at night to cast a warm, romantic glow. These beautiful hand-blown glass lanterns are perfect for entertaining guests or for a quiet night for two. www.bedbathandbeyond.com

4. Martinique Corner Casual Dining Bench Set £1,800 Dine alfresco with this all-weather furniture set that seats up to 10 people. Its rust-proof aluminium frame is made to last. It comes with a 5 year warranty too. Pugh's Garden Centre, Radyr

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Outside Room 5. Lorenzo Wood Fire Outdoor Oven £199.99 This best-seller portable outdoor oven allows you to grill, bake, cook pizza and smoke food! Its real wood fire gives you the freedom to create many tasty meals for family and friends. Pugh's Garden Centre, Radyr

6. WWOO Outdoor Kitchen POA Stylish, hard-wearing and functional, a WWOO outdoor kitchen is the perfect addition to your outdoor space and lets you make the most of enjoying your time outside. Made in South Wales too! Topstak, Cowbridge

7. Faux Rattan Folding Garden Set £185 A lovely Nordic inspired folding garden seating set with matching side table that's totally weatherproof and also available in grey and aqua. The wide seats are super comfy and can be folded away in winter. Secret Shed, Rhiwbina

8. Metal Firepit £295 (small)/£595 (large) Perfect for toasting marshmallows and some extra evening heat, these stylish range of fire pits are the perfect focal point for your outdoor space. Ideal for summer evenings in the garden sitting under the stars. Topstak, Cowbridge

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The Superb Herb Nothing beats cooking with home-grown herbs so Kevin Revell gives his expert advice on what herbs are the best to grow in the garden

t is a mistake to think of herbs as being somehow related to one another purely because they all smell pleasant or have similar culinary uses. They are as distinct from one another as a carrot and a cabbage and will have different cultural requirements as anyone who has attempted to grow a selection of herbs in a pot will know – invariably one takes over as others go to seed or die off. Herbs have been known throughout civilisation around the world and have been used throughout history for as long as flavouring for bland food has been required. Early man would have

been attracted to the pleasant smell and taste of certain plants and passed this knowledge on down the generations via family members. This shared knowledge would have grown as civilisation advanced. Herbs are commonly known for aromatic or tasty leaves but flowers, roots or seeds may also be used. Strewing herbs had some insecticidal properties and were used to mask bad smells in the Middle Ages and less sanitary times. Lady’s bedstraw, sweet woodruff and wormwood are no longer widely grown but were formerly mainstays of the Tudor household. They were widely grown in the gardens of the great houses and more modest cottage gardens of the peasantry. Victorian and Edwardian conservatism gave way to post-war freedom of travel and interest in foreign cuisine, along

with immigrants bringing their traditional herbs and spices to this cosmopolitan country, much to the benefit of our shops and markets. The rise of the takeaway and health food shops have changed the way we shop and eat, so meal times are very different to our parents’ and grandparents’ generation. Modern TV chefs advocate the use of handfuls of fresh herbs in stark contrast to the rather conservative approach of those in the 1960s and 1970s, for whom a pinch of dried herbs was considered enough to flavour a bolognaise. Of course, the strident flavour and nutritional benefit of fresh herbs far outweighs the rather musty whiff of an old jar that has been in the back of the cupboard for years. Equally, fresh home-grown herbs are going to have far more freshness and flavour than those bought in shops and are much cheaper. Herbs are now used more liberally mixed in with salads for added piquancy. Exotic herbs such as basil, coriander and dill leaves are usually annual, tender plants that grow from seed and live for only one year. Traditional British herbs such

gardens

as parsley, chives and mint are often used sparingly in sauces or as a garnish. They require moist, fertile soil in part shade to do well and will do well in pots of multipurpose compost. A sprig of mint in with the boiled potatoes or a few chopped leaves of parsley in with a potato salad was as good as it got in the 1970s. The old favourite mint sauce is usually made from the old Bowles mint variety and is traditionally served with roast lamb and little else in the same way as the horseradish sauce only came out with roast beef. Today, it is acceptable to mix things up a bit – horseradish makes a fine addition to mashed potatoes while mint is great mixed with yoghurt to accompany curries. They may also be used to liven up smoothies which seems a great way to introduce their flavour to a younger generation in search of enlightenment having been reared on e-numbers and junk food. Mediterranean herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme and oregano are often woody shrubs or subshrubs requiring a well drained position in full sun to develop their strong, pungent aromas. They are perennial and will often live for many years and will tolerate occasional trimming for kitchen use but won’t stand being cut hard back unlike chives and mint. It pays to have a number of your favourite herbs so that only one is harvested at any one time, allowing recovery time in between. If grown in pots, use a soil-based John Innes compost, perhaps with additional grit. Although they can withstand the cold, our wet winters and heavy

soil will cause them to fail. Lavender has similar cultural requirements but has few culinary applications other than using a few flowers to decorate cakes but many uses for pot-pourri and to fragrance rooms. Many people grow these herbs just for appearances and their ability to attract and sustain pollinating insects either in pots and containers or larger numbers in the garden. A lavender or rosemary hedge will be alive with bees come flowering time and will reward those walking by with a waft of fragrance as they brush past. Herbs aren’t just for cooking however. They also make excellent hot drinks - a refreshing caffeinefree alternative to tea and coffee. Perhaps the best is mint tea – a sprig left to steep in boiling water for five minutes makes a wonderfully refreshing drink. Black peppermint is good as is spearmint but by far the best is Moroccan mint, which is worth growing for this purpose alone. Lemon Verbena is another less common herb which makes a lovely invigorating, citrusflavoured tea. It is not a hardy plant however and will need winter protection or treating it as an annual and replacing it each year. Many herbs have been used for centuries by herbalists for their medicinal properties to treat a variety of ailments. Such knowledge was once held by monks in monasteries but was lost with their dissolution while ‘wise women’ with knowledge of plants and potions have long been treated with suspicion or persecuted for witchcraft. Chamomile makes a

soothing tea, great for relaxing at the end of a stressful day and is not just to be enjoyed by flopsy bunnies, while feverfew has long been used to treat headaches. It is wise to stick to only wellknown family remedies or consult a qualified herbalist to be on the safe side regarding dosages and possible side effects. Kevin Revell is the Plant Area Manager at Caerphilly Garden Centre

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Cycle the Bay Grab your bike and head down to Cardiff Bay for a great summer afternoon out This circular trail for cyclists is just over 6 miles long and loops around the Bay and over to Penarth. You'll pass many of Cardiff's historic and new landmarks and there's ample opportunity to stop off for a bite to eat or something to drink along the way. Start your ride in Roald Dahl Plass, just outside the famous Wales Millennium Centre.

The Water Tower

The first thing you'll see is the silver Water Tower. Made famous in the TV series Torchwood, this 70ft structure combines reflective surfaces with streams of running water. Head down to the waterfront where you will find the large red-bricked Pierhead Building.

The Pierhead

This Victorian building was once offices for the Cardiff Railway Company. It is now part of the National Assembly for Wales and a unique visitor centre, events and conference venue. Films and exhibits explore the history of Cardiff Bay from the Neolithic era onwards and show how iron ore and coal exports made Cardiff one of the busiest ports in the world. From here, pedal over to the left where you will see the Merchant Seafarers' War Memorial.

Merchant Seafarers' War Memorial This unique sculpture is a memorial to the Merchant Seamen of Cardiff Bay. What initially looks like a wreck of a small boat turns out to be a large face. The surrounding mosaic carries inscriptions and portraits of local wartime seafarers.

The Beasties Bench and Pit to Port

Behind the recognisable Norwegian Church, you will find a stunning carved brick bench seat, inspired by the creatures described by Dylan Thomas in his poem ‘The Ballad of the Long-Legged Bait'. Nearby, you will find a bronze statue that celebrates Cardiff Bay’s heritage as one of the world’s most important coal exporting ports.

Custom House

After passing the lock gates, you will arrive at Custom House. Now a restaurant, it has a central bell tower and is constructed from yellow brick with bathstone dressings. Continue on the cycle path, keeping the water on your right hand side. You will end up at Pont Werin, which will take you back over towards the International Sports Village and ice rink.

The Norwegian Church

Before you head out across the barrage to Penarth, take some time to visit the Norwegian Church. The church was shipped from Norway to Cardiff in the 1860s for the Scandinavian seamen working in Cardiff Docks. With the Wales Millennium Centre built on its original site, and with land donated by Associated British Ports, reconstruction on the current site was started in 1992. In April 1992, the church was re-opened by Princess Märtha Louise of Norway. Roald Dahl was baptised here and visitors can now enjoy the gallery, a coffee shop and a range of events.

Along the Taff

Continue cycling the Bay Trail and it will take you along the Taff and up towards Grangetown before doubling back and bringing you back around to Cardiff Yacht Club.

The Captain Scott Memorial

Captain Scott set sail from here on his ill-fated expedition to the South Pole on 15th June 1910. The mosaic memorial overlooks the point where Scott’s ship, the heavilyladen Terra Nova, waved off a large, excited and noisy crowd. The design represents Scott manhauling South towards the Pole while the faces of his colleagues can be seen trapped in the snow. The northern end of the statue reveals the foresails of the Terra Nova. From here, follow the Bay Trail cycle path past the former Dr Who exhibition and out over towards the barrage where you will arrive at the lock gates.

The Barrage Circles

Felice Varini named the work he made for the Cardiff Bay 'Three Ellipses for Three Locks' but it's more commonly known locally as 'The Barrage Circles.' You need to stand at a precise point to be able to see the three bright yellow ellipses that have been painted onto the working locks, on the ground, the gates, and the outer sea wall. Please take care while out cycling and dress appropriately. Living Magazines Ltd cannot accept responsibility for your safety on this route.

The path eventually leads past Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve. The wetlands is an area of approximately 8 hectares, located on the northern shore of Cardiff Bay between St David’s Hotel and the River Taff. Easily accessible via a gravel walkway and boardwalk, the reserve supports a rich diversity of plants and animals, including invertebrates, fish and other wildlife. A viewing area extends out over the water, which provides the perfect location for bird watching. Follow the path back around into Cardiff Bay. The bronze sculpture that celebrates the people of the Bay will herald the end of your trail and you can head back to Roald Dahl Plass.

New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings No-one plans for marriage or relationships to end. Divorce and separation can leave us feeling lost and hurt, and can completely disrupt our sense of identity as well as family life. Getting the right legal support is so important to understand your rights, what happens next, and to help you find your feet again. For more information please contact Sandra Horwood, a Solicitor and Partner with over 30 years experience.

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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 Some friends of ours are taking their motorhome to the south of France for a few days in the summer and have asked my husband and I if we’d like to go. If we did go, we’d have to take our small dog Milly. Aside from all the legal stuff, do you think a trip like this would be good or bad for Milly, both physically and/or mentally? She’s a 10 year old Yorkshire terrier and quite placid. If Milly is a good traveller and used to long journeys, I’m sure she’d cope well with the trip to the south of France. The temperature there will obviously be a good deal warmer than she’s used to in Wales, so ask yourself how she copes on really hot days in the summer. Consider also Milly’s health risks. Rabies (which she will be vaccinated against) is probably the most unlikely risk, but there are several very nasty infections that dogs can pick up in this area of Europe which are transmitted by bites from mosquitoes, sandflies and ticks. There is a vaccine against one disease, Leishmaniasis, but three doses are required, and it does not give very reliable protection. It is essential to get advice from your vet in good time before you go, as the necessary medicines may not be routinely stocked at the surgery. I’m vegetarian and I’ve recently been buying vegetarian dog food for my 3 year old beagle. She eats it as keenly as she does her meat meals but I wondered whether it’s safe to switch her to an allvegetarian diet. I obviously avoid meat and I’m mindful that dogs’ needs are different to ours but I don’t know whether vegetarian dog food would give her all the nutrition she needs.

Dogs are able to live happily on a vegetarian diet. However, it is more difficult to formulate a ration with all the right nutrients in the correct proportions for a healthy life, so make sure the food you are buying is from a reputable company, and do not try to home-cook for her. Beagles are notorious for their appetites, but not all dogs will enjoy a vegetarian diet, and even your beagle may get bored with the vegetarian option after a while! My five year old cat has been scratching off the same bit of wallpaper since we took him into our home 6 months ago. I don’t know why he seems obsessed by the same piece of wall and despite our best attempts, nothing seems to stop him. Is this a phase that cats go through or are we stuck with it forever? When cats scratch the wallpaper or the furniture, they are marking their territory by first roughening the surface texture, then rubbing sweat from their paws (which contains pheromones) into the surface. The locations used are often adjacent to the entry point, or on prominent points along an internal route, and they do this to enhance their feeling of security in an area. Some cats will also spray urine in similar places for the same reason. To deal with the problem that you have, you need to enhance your cat's feeling of safety and security as much

as you can. First, make sure that no strange cats are entering your house through an unprotected cat flap. If there is a possibility of this, get a microchip-operated locking cat flap. If there are opportunities for a cat outside to look through floor-level windows at your cat inside, cover the bottom of the window with cardboard or paper. If you have other cats, minimise the conflict they might create by having separate feeding, drinking and toileting areas for each of them. There is a very useful treatment for cats called Feliway. This is a synthetic version of cats’ pheromones and is applied in several ways. If there are other cats involved, either your own or strangers', you should set up a room diffuser in the main area of your house. This plugs into an electric socket and works like an air freshener. In addition, the same pheromone should be applied as a spray directly to the area that the cat scratches, and this might be sufficient if you cannot identify any other cats that might be causing him stress. It can sometimes help to provide a catnip-impregnated scratching post for your cat, but this is unlikely to stop the wallpaper-scratching as a stand-alone measure. A: 123-125 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6UH T: 029 2062 1511 W: www.heathvets.co.uk

Anna McMorrin MP Parliamentary News

This month, I launched the Single-Use Plastic Free campaign for Cardiff North along with Julie Morgan AM. Our campaign is about encouraging local businesses to become as plastic free as possible and offering suggestions for alternatives. It’s also about the community taking advantage of offers and playing their part, by reusing bags and bringing reusable coffee cups when they’re out. As a member of the Environmental Audit Committee in Westminster, I’m working hard with my colleagues to put pressure on the Government to introduce measures that will reduce the amount of plastic we produce in the UK. But in the meantime, Julie and I are now looking for other

people in Cardiff North to come forward as Plastic-Free Champions in their area, and then hopefully the campaign will spread to other parts of Cardiff and Wales! If you would like to become a Champion for your area, or get involved, then please call my office on 02920 624440. It was also great to visit Gabalfa Primary School this month. I wanted to say a big thank you to the Ladder Council for welcoming me to their meeting; it was great to find out how the students are getting involved in the running of the school. I really enjoyed our discussion about their plans for helping the environment. It was also great to have a tour of the new school that is currently being built - really looking forward to being there when it opens later this year. 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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hunter The attack on Fort Harib on 28th March 1964 was arguably the highest profile incident involving the Hawker Hunter during its eight years of operational service in the Middle East. The operation caused a political storm back in the UK and in the United Nations. Cardiff's Peter Lewis was awarded the Air Force Cross for this and 118 comparable strike or surveillance operations. These are his words.

ome time around the end of March 1963, Wg Cdr John Jennings (OC Tactical Wing Khormaksar) sent for me and announced that the Hunter FR.10s from 8 Squadron were to be hived off to form 1417 Flt, and that I was to command it. I would be given the five Hunters, the four other recce [reconnaissance] trained pilots, and a dozen ground crew. The pilots were Johnny Morris, a veteran from flying Mustangs in the South African Air Force in the Korean War; Jim Dymond, a PAI (Pilot Attack Instructor); Tony Rimmer, a past member of the Aden Protectorate Recce Flight, which had flown Meteor FR.9s in the late 50s; and Geoff Timms, a solid, quiet, ex-Halton apprentice. We were all over 6ft, all 30 or over, all married with children, and all were 2nd or 3rd tour pilots. All the ground crew were very experienced on the Hunters and were those that the squadrons didn’t want because they were difficult to manage!

The first task was to get the FR.10s back into shape. The FR.10 was undoubtedly the most beautiful of the Hunters. There was a lot of work for the ground crew; the Warrant Officer said that it would take at least a fortnight’s damned hard work to get those lovely jets back to the thoroughbred status they deserved. That was a blessing in disguise as we reckoned that we needed at least that time to get the rest of the Flight into shape! We were allocated a drop tank store as our accommodation and with a lot of help from the Station ‘Works and Bricks’, we did some DIY and set to building partitions to give us a ground crew room, a pilot's crew room, an office for the engineering Warrant Officer, a little store, and somewhat against my wishes, an office for the Commanding Officer. 'We don’t want him breathing down our necks all the time," was one of the things I overheard. I got a nickname of ‘Prussian Pete’, and some months later, two little

notices appeared on the door to that office; one read ‘Be reasonable, do it his way’, and the other read ‘Diplomacy Department. He says and does the nastiest things in the nicest way.' I annexed one of the Wing T.7s (two seat Hunter) whenever possible, and flew with each pilot on a ‘QFI/IRE’ check ride. A bit laughable really - they were all damned good flyers, but it did demonstrate that we could follow as well as read the dreaded ‘Air Staff Instructions’. Johnny Morris meanwhile gave us all a very hard time on visual recce techniques, and had some masochistic variations on ‘Kim's Game’, with which he sought to tune our ability to remember and reproduce on paper what we had seen. One of his favourites was to stand each of us on a chair whilst he sprinkled mapping pins on the floor behind us. Then it was ‘turn round’ and you had fifteen seconds (about the time taken to run past a target) to count

history the pins and memorise the pattern they had formed. It was amazing how good we all got at instinctively working out the difference between looking and seeing. We designed cardboard ‘prayer wheels’ which we could use for fuel calculations in the air, and for speed adjustments to ensure a correct time on target. Johnny taught us the importance of planning a good IP (Initial Point) which would give the best photographic run past the target whilst maintaining whatever element of surprise was going to ensure a clean getaway; the desert is a very quiet place, and the Hunter will have been heard long before it appeared! The strike on Fort Harib began as an RAF classic. The wing had a stand down for two days, apart from one recce Hunter and four Day Fighter Ground Attack (DFGAs) who were on two hours standby. As a result, there was one hell of a party at someone’s house which went on a bit. At around 4.00 am, there was a beating on the door, and there was Roy Bowie, the Wing Ops officer, saying 'Get down to flights! We’re going to start some nastiness!' The Wing Leader, John Jennings (JJ) had laid on a mass of toast and coffee, but as the briefing started, the adrenalin took over; I’m convinced that it is the best hangover cure there is. The fort was to be leafleted fifteen minutes before eight Hunters led by JJ struck. Sid Bottom (8 Squadron) and I were to carry the leaflets tucked in our raised flaps and I was to photograph Sid’s leaflets going down on the fort. We were then to pull up to 30,000ft and keep an eye open for any opposition which might choose to join the party. Once the strike was over, I was to photograph the fort again. It was all going smoothly until while filming Sid’s leaflets, I saw at least one and probably three AA guns on the ground just to the

Harib Fort before the raid...

south of the fort. There followed an agonizing fifteen minutes - break radio silence and warn the strike boys, or keep quiet? As the strike was going in from 20,000ft, the gunners would have to be pretty good to get a result and they probably weren’t that good, so I decided to shut up and sit tight. I need not have worried. JJ led the eight Hunters down and his salvo was a ‘pickle barrel’ shot. I guess he must have hit a magazine or something as there was a huge yellow flash and a ‘mini mushroom’ of dirty brown and black smoke. I reckon that the other seven could only fire into the smoke and hope for the best but there were no more big explosions. I told Sid to join the others and go home as it was going to take some time for the smoke to clear and allow a decent photograph. The smoke cleared after about half an hour and I made the second pass. The fort was an awful mess and there were several bodies lying about around where the guns were. The thought occurred that JJ's salvo had probably blown bits of the southern end of the fort all over the poor sods. So far, so good. I reckoned that I hadn’t exposed too much film (a short length of film gives the Mobile Field Processing Unit a chance for a really quick turnaround) and that I’d got the line about right on the second run. So now it was just wait and see. The MFPU did a smashing job and the film was on the light bench by the time I’d walked in and signed up. The photos were good and I marked the two I wanted printed up and went into the debriefing with them. I handed them to JJ and his face lit up with a smile which was a mixture of pride and relief. All he said was 'Thank you 1417'. That was enough; and in the eyes of the DFGA boys, we’d arrived.

The SAS were very active in the Radfan and did a lot of surveillance of the enemy resupply routes. One morning there was a message that a camel train had been spotted the previous night, and was resting up near the Yemen border. I was sent up for a look-see, but despite being pretty sure I was in the right place, I saw nothing. Then a voice (on the R/T Operational frequency) said 'They’re there'; that was all. So I looked more carefully. There was a sort of a track which followed the dried up bed of a stream, and which went through the odd pool of water which had not dried up. I noticed that the colour of the track above these pools was different to that below them and remembered some of Johnny Morris’ training - the camels’ wet feet had probably washed the sand off the path below the pools. And then, suddenly, what had appeared to be just rough boulders, turned out to be couched camels; but no sight of any humans. 'Time to help the Army' I thought; I turned round and gave the camels no more than a two second burst of four guns, then turned again to photograph what I’d done. There was that brown/black smoke (as at Harib) all over where the camels had been, and no hope of any pictures. On return to base, I asked Johnny Morris to go back up there and do some pictures but he came back without any; he said that there were so many vultures in the air and on the ground there was no way he was risking a bird strike just for my photo album! There was a strange aftermath to this episode. Many years later, when I was out of the RAF and holidaying on the West Coast of Wales with the family on Dinas Head, I was having a lunchtime pint in a pub called The Sailor's Safety when a voice said: “It's Peter Lewis isn’t it?” “Yes," I said, "but do I know you?” “Better than you know," replied the man. "Do you remember some camels up in the Radfan?” “Yes.” “And someone telling you they’re there?” “Yes.” “Well that was me.” The man speaking was the local postman.

DO I warn the strike

boys or keep quiet?

...and after 39

How do you clean your ears? In my years of being a Hearing Audiologist, I have been told many stories about what people clean their ears with - from the everyday cotton swabs and pens through to paper clips, hair grips, glasses arms and car keys. Nearly everyone is guilty of sticking something in their ears that they are not supposed to so I’m going to explain why the old wives tale ‘nothing smaller than your elbow’ is so true. By their very nature, our ears are designed to be both selfcleaning and self-protecting. That’s why by using the wrong cleaning methods, you risk causing injury to the ears, damaging your hearing or even causing infections. Earwax (also called cerumen) is necessary for the ear’s selfcleaning mechanism to work properly. Earwax is manufactured by glands in the skin of the outer ear canal, the hole through which sound travels to the eardrum. Earwax serves several important functions: it coats the skin of the ear canal, repelling water and helping to protect it against injury and infection; it also helps to keep the skin inside the ears from getting dry and itchy. In addition, earwax traps dust and germs, keeping them from reaching the eardrum. Usually, you don’t need to do anything to help this natural cleaning process unless you suffer from an impaction that may n& Microsuctio y have to be removed. Da k ec Ch lth ea H Ear Trying to forcibly remove the ear’s protective wax layer or stop an itch can damage the delicate skin of the ear canal or puncture ! es ac sp Call now! Limited (put a hole in) the eardrum. This

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Viney Hearing Care Introducing Micro-Suction

can increase your risk of infection and lead to a permanent hearing loss needing either surgery or a hearing aid to correct the impairment. So it is best to leave the inside of your ear alone and not disturb its natural environment. This means no cotton swabs, no fingers and certainly no sharp objects - keep your hair grips for holding your hair back and keep your car keys for unlocking your car! The ear canal is narrow and curved. Consequently some people are susceptible to getting blockages of wax, skin, foreign objects and debris from infection. If a blockage is present, you may notice your hearing seems dull, there may be a ringing sound in your ears or your ears may feel full become itchy or ache. If this is the case, you will need to have it professionally removed. Although there are several methods to clean your ears such as syringing, sprays and drops, Microsuction is renowned as the most efficient and the safest. It is highly recommended by GPs, audiologists and ENT consultants. Microsuction of an ear canal is performed under direct vision using a microscope. The ear canal is cleared using gentle suction, proving to be the most effective way to clean the ears reducing all risks of infection.

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food

BBQ delight A good old British summer wouldn't be complete without a hearty barbecue. Here are some delicious recipes that will go down a treat

The Ultimate BBQ Beef Burger 1 egg 1 tsp mustard (regular or Dijon) 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 small onion, finely grated 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 50g medium ground beef cheese (optional) bacon (optional) ☐ Lightly oil your barbecue grill and then heat coals to a medium heat. ☐ Whisk one egg in a bowl and

add your mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. ☐ Crumble in the beef and using your hands or a fork, gently mix everything together. Handle the meat as little as possible – the more you work it, the tougher it gets. ☐ Gently shape the mixture (don’t firmly press) into burgers to about ¾ inch thickness. ☐ Using your thumb, make a shallow depression in the centre of each burger to prevent it puffing up during cooking. ☐ Place the burgers on the grill, close the lid and cook on your barbecue until the burgers are no longer pink inside. Turn once during cooking, about 6 – 8 minutes per side. Don't prick or press your burgers as they will lose juice and dry out. An instant read thermometer should read 90°C if inserted into the burger. ☐ Once cooked through, serve in a crusty bun with cheese and bacon or toppings of your choice.

Hotdog Toppings Pekingese Dogs: Sprinkle your hot dogs with five-spice powder; grill, brushing with hoisin or plum sauce. Then serve on toasted potato buns with sliced cucumbers, chopped spring onions, coriander and more sauce. California Dogs: Serve boiled tofu dogs on whole-wheat buns with diced avocado and cucumber, pea shoots and shredded carrot. Drizzle with vegan sriracha mayo. Hot Diggity Dogs: Serve grilled hot dogs on grilled buns with shredded jalapeño, Jack cheese and sliced pickled jalapeños.

outdoors

Chicken Kebabs 4 tbsp vegetable oil 5 tbsp honey 5 tbsp soy sauce 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast fillets - cut into cubes 2 cloves garlic 5 onions, cut into pieces 2 red peppers, cut into pieces skewers ☐ In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, soy sauce and pepper. Before adding the chicken, set aside a small amount of marinade to brush onto the kebabs while they are cooking. Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers into the bowl and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer, the better). ☐ Preheat your barbecue for high heat. ☐ Drain the marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard the marinade. Thread the chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers. ☐ Lightly oil the cooking grate. Cook the kebabs for 12 to 15 minutes, until the chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with your reserved marinade frequently. Top Tip: If you're using wooden skewers, don't forget to soak them in water for a few hours or they'll burn.

Tangy Summer BBQ Coleslaw

20ml Stubb's Original Bar-B-Que Sauce 1 tbsp yellow mustard 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 450g package shredded coleslaw mix ☐ In a small bowl, whisk together the Bar-B-Que sauce, mustard and vinegar. In a large bowl, combine the sauce with the coleslaw mix and stir to mix. Serve immediately. Make ahead: Combine the shredded coleslaw mix and the dressing the night before the day of serving. The longer the cabbage sits in the coleslaw dressing, the softer it will become.

Vegan BBQ Ribs 125g vital wheat gluten 2 tbsp nutritional yeast 1 tbsp smoked paprika 2 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder freshly ground black pepper 175ml low-sodium vegetable broth 2 tbsp natural peanut butter 1 tsp liquid smoke 1 tbsp soy sauce 200ml barbecue sauce of choice, plus more for serving ☐ Preheat your oven to 190°C (Gas Mark 5). Lightly grease an 8x8 baking dish and set it to one side. In a medium bowl, stir together the vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and the pepper. ☐ In a measuring jug, whisk together the broth, peanut butter, liquid smoke and soy sauce

until it's incorporated. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients, and stir gently until it's well-incorporated and the mixture has formed into a soft dough. Knead the dough gently for about 2-3 minutes. ☐ Transfer the mixture into a greased baking dish and flatten it evenly across the pan. Use a knife to make one lengthwise cut across the dough, then cut evenly crosswise to make 1-inch slices. There's no need to pull them apart; it just makes separating them after grilling a lot easier. ☐ Place the pan in a preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes. While the ribs are baking, heat up your grill or lightly oil a grill pan. Remove the ribs from the oven and brush the top of them with the barbecue sauce. Place sauce side down onto the heated grill (or grill pan on the stove over medium heat). Brush the top with more barbeque sauce. ☐ Once the bottom of the ribs are deeply browned (this takes about 5-6 minutes), flip them over and cook the other side until brown. Remove them from the heat and serve immediately, with more barbecue sauce if desired.

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A-Z Summer Weddings Crack open the champagne, dust down those wedding outfits and get out the hats - summer is the traditional time of year for weddings. Here's our tongue-in-cheek guide to the big day

Announcement

One of the first things that an engaged couple is going to do together is to announce their happy news to the world. In the past, this would be done by hosting a lavish party and making a gushing speech. These days, it's all Facebook and Twitter.

Bridesmaids

Your favourite girls are going to be by your side throughout the entire process - just make sure that they don't go upstaging you.

Cake

Your cake needs to be one of the talking points of the big day. To make sure that this is the case, the bigger, the better.

Dance

These days, the first dance is a performance in itself so if your man doesn't have the moves, you'd better get him booked into some lessons.

Entrance music

You may want to ditch Wagner's traditional Bridal March for something more contemporary and upbeat to make your big entrance. It's all the rage these days. Think more Madness than Mendelssohn.

Flowers

Flowers play a very important role on your wedding day. Planning is the key here and the last thing you want to do is go stopping off for some at the local petrol station on the way to the wedding venue.

Groom

Whatever you think, this day is NOT about the groom. Yes, he may look dapper and dashing but remember that he's in a hired suit, everyone's going to be looking at his soon-to-

be wife and his speech is usually the most boring of all of them.

Honeymoon

Traditionally, a married couple would leave their wedding party and head straight off to their honeymoon. Couples tend to give it a few days before they head off now, mainly because that's the average length of a wedding hangover.

Invitations

Usually the first glimpse of what lies in store for your guests. Don't skimp on these or your guests will be tempted to try their luck elsewhere.

feature Jewellery

Discuss your wedding rings in advance of your actual wedding if possible. This will avoid one or both of you asking if you've still got the receipt.

Kilts

Mostly reserved for those of Celtic origin, kilts can add a splash of culture to the day and also provide a great ice-breaker when you want to ask the obvious 'What are you wearing underneath there?' question.

Love

The day wouldn't be complete with a heavy dose of love because let's face it, that's what it's all about.

Makeup

It's always best to get a professional in to do the makeup because you can never get it right before you leave for work so why is it suddenly going to click today of all days?

Names

By now, you should be familiar with your other half's middle name or names. If you're not, make sure you find out beforehand as getting a fit of the giggles mid-wedding can be cute for a few minutes but not for much longer. Remember that your guests will be wondering what time the bar opens.

day depends almost entirely on whether you can keep certain people happy and others apart.

Questions

So many questions: what is he really wearing under that kilt? Is she wearing that dress for a bet? How long is this speech going to go on for? Is it a free bar?

Reception

For most, the reception is the best part of the wedding, a place to let your hair down while still retaining a sense of occasion. This is the point in the day where the speeches are made, and new friends made over copious bottles of Prosecco.

Selfies

One thing that's guaranteed at a summer wedding is a shed load of selfies. In fact, it's almost guaranteed that everywhere you turn, there'll be someone putting on a pout and posing for the camera.

Transport

Gone are the days of arriving in traditional wedding cars. In this day and age, almost anything goes - helicopters, Ferraris or even speedboats. Depending on your budget obviously.

Ushers

Ushers are close friends or family who help make the day run smoothly. Ushers show guests to their seats so don't go picking someone who can't tell their left from their right or the day will get off to a bad start before it even begins.

Outside venues

Outdoor summer weddings here in the UK can go one of two ways you can get lucky and manage to get married on the only weekend that we get sunny weather; alternatively, you could find yourself wearing armbands and a rubber ring as you try to battle your way back indoors.

Planning

A good wedding never just happens by accident. A lot of planning goes into the big day, from the dress to the wedding song and of course, the seating plan. The success of the

Vows

Witnessed by everyone present, your wedding vows are the solemn oaths to your true love that will bind you together forever. It's customary to cry while saying your vows but don't let it get out of hand as canapĂŠs only have a shelf life of a few hours and people will get upset.

Wedding Dress

All eyes will be on the wedding dress when you're making your entrance to Madness. Always have a backup dress just in case it gets trodden on or ripped as you're trying to get out of the car.

X - that first kiss

Don't be too wishy washy with this but at the same time, don't go too over the top. The last thing your guests want to see before they get stuck into the canapĂŠs is a pair of tongues going at it like the clappers.

Yurt

An alternative to getting married in a church or a registry office. Yes, yurts are now the 'in thing' and becoming very popular among those getting hitched. It's like getting married in a tent because... erm...a yurt is a big tent. Just make sure it's big enough to house ALL your guests.

Zigzag

A word to describe the way that wedding guests tend to walk when they're making their way back to the disco after they've had a few too many.

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