Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 45

News | People | Features | Competitions | Lifestyle

Whitchurch &

Llandaff Living

At the heart of the community

Issue 45 Oct/Nov '17

AU T U M N Sam Warburton Win a Bistro Experience Home Interiors

G N I N N I W D R A W A R U YO

E N I Z A G A M Y T I N U M COM

Inside this issue Sam Warburton, The Lions captain reflects on the summer tour of New Zealand and what he's looking forward to this Christmas

Competitions

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

Interiors

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

Walnut Tree Viaduct

Just north of Whitchurch on the A470, there are a few clues to what was once a memorable sight across the gorge

Winter deadline:

21st November 2017 Published 4th December 2017

a: 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 w: www.livingmags.co.uk e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or danielle@livingmags.co.uk Distribution: 6,000 copies of 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.

2

Welcome / Croeso Welcome to your autumn issue of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Autumn wouldn't be autumn without Bonfire Night so we've

put together a quick guide to putting on a Bonfire Night party at home.

If you're an older reader, you may well remember the Walnut Tree Viaduct that spanned the gorge just south of Taffs Well. We retell the story of the structure which once carried the coal and iron ore from the Welsh valleys to the docks at Cardiff and Barry.

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

And if it's some fresh autumn air you're after, we've detailed a great walk through the forests of North Cardiff.

Meanwhile, we are starting work on the Christmas issue! See you then!

Danielle and Patric

Editors

@Whit_Llandaff www.facebook.com/ whitchurchandllandaffliving

What’s on Armistice Service Friday 10th November 10.45am Llandaff Green A service to commemorate the fallen.

Whitchurch Christmas Lights Sunday 19th November 6pm Whitchurch Village An evening of lights and magic as Whitchurch village officially turns on its Christmas lights.

Whitchurch Reindeer Run Saturday 2nd December 5.30pm Whitchurch Village A one-mile fun run around

Whitchurch village and an evening of festive celebration.

Rhiwbina Winter Festival Saturday 2nd December 4pm-8pm Rhiwbina Village The highlight of the winter calendar in Rhiwbina. Rides, stalls, entertainment, food and drink.

Llandaff RFC Christmas Party and Carol Service Sunday 17th December 5pm Llandaff RFC A day of festive celebration, culminating in a carol concert and music.

news

New Whitchurch cancer care facility George Thomas Hospice changes given planning permission its name

An artist's impression of the new facility

Plans for a new cancer care centre in Whitchurch have been given the go-ahead by Cardiff Council.

Plans to build the Maggie's Centre on the grounds of Velindre Cancer Care Centre were given approval in October and are set to be completed by autumn 2018.

Sarah Beard, business development director at Maggie’s said: “Maggie’s has been working with Velindre for a number of years to plan the establishment of a centre which will serve the whole population of south east Wales.

“We are already operational at 21 major cancer centres across the UK and abroad. This is going to be a fantastic addition.”

Maggie's South East Wales will be located in a mature garden with views over the surrounding landscape, and built from the same

sandstone as the nearby hills. The interior will be lined with fragrant cedarwood and will create a range of spaces reflecting traditional Welsh architecture.

Free resources about diagnosis and treatment will also be available in the library, while one-to-one support will take place in the smaller rooms.

Large, comfortably furnished rooms will be used for group meetings and workshops and a quiet room will provide somewhere to go to take time away and relax.

Steve Ham, chief executive of Velindre NHS Trust said: “We’re delighted at the prospect of Maggie’s joining us here at Velindre Cancer Centre to offer our patients easy access to these additional support services.”

The plans have faced objections from some local residents in relation to increased traffic in the area.

Trespassers warned to stay away Trespassers are being warned to stay away from Whitchurch Hospital, which closed its doors last year.

Police have said that they have stopped 20 people and arrested four in the grounds of Whitchurch Hospital since the end of the summer.

Sergeant Ben Davies of Fairwater Police Station said: “This is a dangerous building site where people are prohibited from entering. We would like to remind people to not enter the site and to not cross the cordon as you will be putting yourself in danger and you could be arrested for trespassing.”

A nearby resident told Living Magazines: "Since the hospital has been fenced off, I've seen several people climbing the fences to try and get in.

I presume that they are looking for things to take but I'd imagine that it's quite dangerous in there - there are lots of signs warning people not to trespass so those who do are taking a big risk."

Whitchurch Hospital closed for good in April 2016 after its services were moved elsewhere.

The Whitchurch hospice named after the former Commons speaker George Thomas is changing its name to City Hospice.

The name change follows the conclusion of a police inquiry into sex abuse claims made against him. The end-of-life care hospice was set up in 1983 and named after Lord Tonypandy, who died in 1997, aged 88. A statement read: "Although our existing supporters value the essential work the charity does, knowing that it has no connection other than by name with George Thomas, our new name will also distance the charity from any negative connotation that may now or in the future be associated with George Thomas' name."

George Thomas served as Cardiff MP from 1945 to 1983 and was well-known as the Commons speaker. He also served as Secretary of State for Wales and was a Methodist preacher.

While the charity praised his link for ensuring 'the charity's early survival and prosperity', they believe a change can help it reach a wider audience.

“

We hope that City Hospice will be an appealing and easily remembered name which will attract great support and affection across the city 3

news

Plans for Llandaff Fields put forward for discussion

Plans have been put forward to redevelop part of Llandaff Fields into a 'model hub for healthy living'.

Brothers Naz and Alex Silver met with more than 100 people to put forward their proposal for offices, a cafe and other facilities at the disused changing rooms.

Permission has already been granted by Cardiff Council to demolish the dilapidated buildings but residents aren't happy with that decision.

The development planned by the brothers would replace the disused changing rooms with a healthy living complex and would include a cafe, a juice bar and a coffee shop next to the pitches for football and tennis.

The plans would not take up any more square footage than the current buildings do and so far, the brothers have not submitted any plans to the council. Naz and Alex said that they wanted to consult with the community first to see if there was any interest before going ahead with proposals.

Some residents who attended the discussion raised concerns about the commercialisation of the area and funding. Other residents said that they'd prefer to see the changing rooms restored to their original purpose.

Cardiff 5k Race Organisers of the Cardiff 5K have announced their third annual running of the race in Whitchurch village.

The 2018 race will take place on Sunday 6th May 2018 and will incorporate the Welsh 5km Road Running Championships, which will be timed and official results posted.

4

Tongwynlais resident takes Rotary Club helm Tongwynlais resident Maggie Hughes has been installed as the Governor of Rotary District 1150 (Southern Wales) for the year 201718.

Her District extends from Aberystwyth in the west to Newport in the east, and from Knighton in the north down to the Severn Estuary, so she will have a busy year with plenty of travelling.

Maggie’s main aim for the year is that every Rotarian should be trained to become a Dementia Friend. A Dementia Friend is someone who understands more about what it is to live with dementia, and who knows how to help people suffering from the disease to feel included in their

communities.

To help start Maggie’s project, her own Rotary club, Cardiff Breakfast, held a training evening. As a next step, some of the new Dementia Friends are now considering whether to do the extra training needed to become Dementia Champions, qualified to go out into communities and organisations to encourage more people to become Friends.

The Rotary Club of Cardiff Breakfast meets every Wednesday morning at 7.30am at Whitchurch Golf Club. Visitors are always welcome. More information about the Club can be found at www.cardiffbreakfastrotary.org

Llandaff school faced backlash

The Bishop of Llandaff High School faced a backlash from parents for installing gender neutral toilets for both sexes in September.

The toilets, shared by both girls and boys were installed over the summer holidays but parents at the 1,300 pupil school spoke out about their concerns of the unisex facilities.

Headteacher Marc Belli said that the decision to have unisex toilets was for practical reasons, pointing out that the toilets are in addition to the existing separate ones for boys and girls.

Whitchurch Hospital hosts live drill Whitchurch Hospital was recently the scene of an exercise for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Welsh Ambulance Service.

The drill recreated the scene of a fire at a care home and included actors who had been the subject of a special

Parents took to social media to complain about the new facilities, some questioning whether additional supervision was needed.

Mr Belli added: "Our toilet facilities have not had any significant investment for a number of years. We decided on open plan facilities, which is in line with virtually all new existing buildings for the positive reasons associated with this.

"The facilities were made specifically for us, with floor-to-ceiling doors, and we felt it more appropriate to say that each cubicle should be available to all, as opposed to separating them by gender.

"Boys and girls have already divided each side of the open-plan toilets.

The boys have already gravitated to the left side of the corridor and girls to the right.

"If this is how the children use them, this is fine, as we are only concerned about students having access to highquality toilet facilities." effects department that applied realistic looking burns and injuries.

Responders had to treat the exercise as if it was real and learnt how to team up with other departments to work as one unit.

Local residents had been warned in advance that there would be an influx of emergency vehicles and were told not to be alarmed.

Your letters Brownies at 50

I am writing to let you know that the 8th Whitchurch Brownie pack celebrated its 50th birthday in October.

The Brownies gain so much from their Friday evening meetings in terms of fun, friendship, learning and development. The popular 8th Whitchurch pack has an excellent reputation in the local area.

The success of the 8th Whitchurch Brownies is in no small part down to my lovely mum, Gaynor Watkins, who also celebrates a special anniversary this year. Mrs Watkins has been 'Brown Owl' of this pack for 40 years, but she shows no signs of slowing down and her Brownies do everything from Treetops Adventure Golf in the city centre, to swimming, cookery, craft, geocaching and a pack holiday.

Mrs Watkins and her hardworking team (including 'Tawny Owl' Laura Belcher, who has also given 40 years of service) are all volunteers, and parents are always so impressed by their creativity, commitment and their daughters' rave reviews. Mum has even had Brownies whose parents were also Brownies in the same pack years ago!

The Brownies meet every Friday evening from around 6pm to 7.30pm in the church hall on Church Road, Whitchurch.

James Watkins Email

Lovely magazine

Just wanted to say what a lovely magazine you produce. I always enjoy picking up a copy and reading it over a cup of tea.

Keep up the good work!

Richard Davis Llandaff

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

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

Whitchurch Garden Club

After an initial idea by Julie Morgan in 2015, a small group of local residents came together to create a community Garden on Erw Las, opposite the entrance to Whitchurch Primary School.

We quickly created four raised beds and grew herbs, vegetables and flowers for local residents to pick and enjoy.

The aim of the project was to create a garden for local residents to enjoy, encouraging greater participation of the local school children, as well as having a positive impact on wildlife. Our garden group is an opportunity for people of all ages to work together and learn new skills.

Our hope is that the garden will become a pleasant space to meet, relax and play, as well as benefit from locally-grown food with zero carbon footprint.

All the work is done by volunteers, who bring their own tools to supplement our small supply. We have the support of neighbours who provide a source of water and we have involved the local school.

In 2016, the Principality Building Society donated a noticeboard, where we were able to display all of our activities to the community.

We are now in the process of developing plans for the new 2018 planting season.

We also achieved the Green Flag Award this year, which is in recognition that the site has met international standards, and that it has developed into a welcoming place which is both well maintained and a clean environment.

We had a very busy season, but unfortunately, we lost an active and dedicated member of our

garden group. Rob Cooper was passionate in his support for the group and we share his and Julie’s vision in creating a pleasant and functional garden space for all the community in Whitchurch to enjoy.

Rob would have beamed with pride to know that we have achieved the Green Flag Award. In his memory, the team along with Rob's family and friends came together to successfully raise funds to install a bench within the garden.

For the new season, we hope to buy compost, seeds and plants and also to hold events to encourage the involvement of even more local residents. Our future plans include an additional ground level bed for bulbs and shrubs, another seated bench and the planting of fruit trees along with developing our notice board.

We are interested in expanding the garden group and would welcome new members of all levels. No experience is necessary.

For more information, Please email us at whitchurchgarden@gmail. com Maliika Kaaba Whitchurch

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

5

Constituency News with Julie Morgan AM

Following a busy summer recess, I started autumn in the Assembly by hosting a Macmillan coffee morning for fellow AMs – ahead of my annual coffee morning in Whitchurch at Miss Jones on the High Street. This was my 17th annual event for the charity – it is always a great fundraiser and very well attended. Watch this space for photos of the event in the next issue.

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

I’ve also been out and about with my ‘Red Gazebo’ in the constituency – you may have seen me in Llanishen or Llandaff North over the summer and more ‘pop up’ surgery events are planned. I also took the Gazebo to the anti-austerity rally at City Hall in early September – it was a worthwhile, well-attended but very wet day.

Over the summer, there was good news for the volunteers who have done so much work in the Whitchurch Community Garden. They were awarded a prestigious Green Flag Award from Keep Wales Tidy.

The awards recognise exceptional parks and green spaces which are managed by volunteers.

Outstanding School for Girls and Boys ages 3-18

Take your next step

at the Cathedral School

Open Afternoon for Year 7 Entry 2018 Friday 24th November, 2.00-3.30pm Examination results amongst the best in the UK “Excellent”- Estyn Inspection Sixth Form

Seniors

Nursery

Primary

029 2083 8504 registrar@cathedral-school.co.uk www.cathedral-school.co.uk

This is Jane. She’s busy cleaning her oven!

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

If you would like to join the volunteers, or if you have any other issues I can help you with, please call my constituency office on 029 2061 4577 or drop in – the office, run by my experienced staff, is open Monday to Friday, no appointment necessary. I also hold weekly surgeries – see my website for information.

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

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Christmas is coming to Whitchurch Save the date! Christmas is on its way to Whitchurch - starting with the big Switch On

C

hristmas in Whitchurch is always a magical affair and this year will be no exception as the traditional Christmas Light Switch On takes place this November.

The annual event draws thousands of people to the village to see the lights being turned on and to enjoy the festive fun.

This year's event promises to be the biggest and best yet. Proceedings get underway at 6pm with the Lantern Parade, starting at the library and making its way down to the village, which will add a real festive flavour to the evening.

The Christmas Market will be brimming with everything from hand-made gifts to hot food and there will be late night shopping at the local shops too if you fancy getting yourself some Christmas gifts.

Santa will also be hoping to make it to the event this year where he will be meeting villagers and handing out gifts.

Organiser Tom Champ has been

working hard throughout the year to make sure that the event is a memorable one.

"Thousands turned out for last year's event to see the new lights, including the 9ft Fairybell light at Park Road roundabout," said Tom. "We had a massive ÂŁ10,000 target in order to deliver on the night but the event was only made possible by some very generous sponsors who will also be helping us out this year - Orbis (Ty Coryton), Jenkins Suzuki, the Village Hotel, Whitchurch Builder Supplies, Pugh's Garden Centre and Marc Palmer to name some of the major ones.

"The entire event is run entirely by volunteers for local business and the community. It's a not-for-profit event that gives local traders a chance to market their businesses to people far and wide.

"We are making the Christmas season in Whitchurch a long one

and hope to make the village a place to visit."

One resident told Whitchurch and Llandaff Living magazine: "The lights at Whitchurch have always made the place feel special.

Whether it's during the hustle and bustle of a Saturday morning or whether it's driving through the quiet village late at night - the lights are there to welcome you and remind you that the festive season is here. We need to be grateful to all who make the village look so fantastic during the Christmas period. It makes me very proud to live here and my friends often get jealous that we have our own Christmas lights."

In addition to the Christmas stalls, there will also be fairground rides to keep the children entertained.

The big Switch On takes place at 7pm and the event officially finishes at midnight. Road closures will take place throughout Whitchurch.

You can keep up to date with all the latest news of the event on Facebook at 'Christmas at Whitchurch'. You can also follow the official Twitter page at @xmaswhitchurch

When I drive through the village, the lights always make me smile

kids

What we

think about

friendships

Evie aged 6

Lucas aged 8

What makes a good friend?

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

How do you make friends?

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

What’s special about your friends?

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

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

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

To play together nicely to feel happy.

What makes a good friend?

Being kind and looking out for one another.

How do you make friends?

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

What’s special about your friends?

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

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

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

Rosie aged 6 What makes a good friend?

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

How do you make friends?

Be with each other more often.

What’s special about your friends?

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

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

So you won't be lonely.

10

Holly aged 9 What makes a good friend?

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

How do you make friends?

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

What’s special about your friends?

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

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

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

Lucy aged 12

Ben aged 6

What makes a good friend?

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

How do you make friends?

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

What’s special about your friends?

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

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

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

What makes a good friend?

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

How do you make friends?

By doing nice things together and speaking and laughing together.

What’s special about your friends?

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

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

To help you and take care of you.

Joe aged 6 What makes a good friend?

Kind, fun helpful.

How do you make friends?

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

What’s special about your friends?

They are kind and special and helpful.

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important ?

Because they can help you if you fall over.

James aged 7 What makes a good friend?

They look after me.

How do you make friends?

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

What’s special about your friends?

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

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

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

Elizabeth aged 9 What makes a good friend?

Loyalty, caring, always making me laugh.

How do you make friends?

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

What’s special about your friends?

We always laugh when we shouldn’t.

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

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

Lily aged 6 What makes a good friend?

If someone is kind and makes people laugh.

How do you make friends?

By being kind or helping someone.

What’s special about your friends?

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

What makes you a good friend?

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

Why are friends important?

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

And they can help you if you feel sad.

11

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

Top performing secondary school in the UK - 2017 (The Times - A*/B attainment)

St John’s College, Cardiff a leading independent day school for boys & girls aged 3-18

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

A*/B - 98%

! ! !!

Pass Rate -100%

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Estyn Inspection Report - ‘Excellent’

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including the seldom awarded 'Excellent' for Standards of Teaching (2012) Nursery & Infants - Juniors - Seniors - Sixth Form Wraparound care - 8.00am to 6.00pm - Mon to Fri

Admissions Admissions a visit:!to arrange a visit: ! Please contactPlease !contact !! ! to ! arrange !

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

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

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

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

02920 848000

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

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

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people

T

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

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

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

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

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

14

Former Whitchurch High School pupil Sam Warburton reflects on the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, his recent injury - and why he'll never live anywhere else

behind to secure the win after a scrappy performance.

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

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

But that opener was the hardest game on tour.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

own."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anna in her Lions kit

Reindeer Run 2017 A

Over 1,000 runners will take to the streets of Whitchurch in December as the Reindeer Run returns to raise money for Cancer Research Wales. Whether you're there to run or cheer your loved ones on - it'll be a night to remember

ntlers will be jingling and red noses will be flashing as over 1,000 Reindeer Runners will take to the streets of Whitchurch this December - and all in the name of a good cause.

Over the last two years, the Reindeer Run has raised almost £25,000 for local cancer charities.

This year, its aim is to top £12,000 for Cancer Research Wales.

Along with the 1 mile Fun Run, there will be a Santa and Reindeer Parade, live music, a giant outdoor cinema, a Street Food Festival and a very Festive Finale in the village!

Everyone who enters the Fun Run will receive a personalised Reindeer Run T-shirt, displaying the names of everyone taking part, as long as they register before 28th November.

They will also receive a set of reindeer antlers and a flashing nose.

Organisers say that the event is suitable for all ages: "We are looking forward to seeing everyone on the night to cheer on the runners and to enjoy

the atmosphere. Whether you run, jog, dance, walk, ride or skip the course, we'll be raising sponsorship for Cancer Research Wales, providing vital funds for world-class research happening in Wales."

Fundraisers at Cancer Research Wales said: “We are delighted to be the chosen charity at such a popular Christmas event in the heart of Whitchurch to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

"We will be donning our reindeer antlers and our collection buckets on the night to collect as much money as possible; it’s a chance to make a real difference to the fight against cancer here in Wales.”

The event has a real festive feel to it with the giant cinema showing family Christmas classics and local shops staying open late to allow people a chance to do some shopping.

The first Reindeer Run took place in December 2015 and also proved a crowd-winner in 2016.

Adult entry to the run is £15 and £10 for children.

Under 5s can join in for £5 without a T-shirt option but they can wear antlers and a red nose. The 1 mile fun run starts at 7pm.

For more information visit www.CRWReindeerRun.co.uk or your local CRW Store

Photo credits: Paul Stillman

Road Information The race starts and finishes on Merthyr Road where a temporary road closure will be implemented from 4pm until midnight between The Plough and the Fino Lounge.

For the safety of competitors, marshalls and the public, additional temporary road closures will be implemented along the route of the race between 6pm and 8pm.

The route of the race includes Merthyr Road, Bishop's Close and Penlline Road. All roads will re-open in sections as soon as the last runner passes and when it is safe to do so.

The event management team will endeavour to reduce any disruption at all times.

All road closures will be controlled and managed by the Cardiff City Council Traffic Management Team.

IN AID OF

WHITCHURCH VILLAGE, CARDIFF

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

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

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

T

y Bach Twt is a small slice of heaven in Whitchurch. From memorable Christmas gifts to beautiful homeware, we bring you hand-picked goodies that you won’t find on the high street. Go on - treat yourself!

Wallpaper | Fabric | Curtains | Upholstery | Paint | Blinds | Flooring | Furniture | Home accessories | Gifts

50A Merthyr Rd, Cardiff CF14 1DJ www.tybachtwtinteriors.co.uk 02920 610202

Available from 27th November at the Three Elms Pub, Whitchurch Common

• Welsh grown premium Christmas trees • Sourced from the Christmas Tree Grower of the Year 2017, supplier to No 10 Downing Street • Fresh cut, low carbon footprint, supporting sustainable farming • We can supply any tree any size, Nordmann, Fraser and Spruce • Supporting local schools and the community Twitter @tomstrees Facebook: Tom’s Trees

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where is the Brook Bistro restaurant?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Autumn Lights Twig Candle Holders

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

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

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

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

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DIY Autumn Garland

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

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

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

Log Lights

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

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

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

crafts

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

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

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

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

Window Collage

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

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

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

Stained Glass

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

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

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

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

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An Evening with Monty Don Down to Earth 02.11.17

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra A Night at the Movies 08.12.17

John Owen-Jones & Beau Dermott 14.12.17

The Bootleg Beatles & The Pepperland Sinfonia 05.12.17

Bert & Cherry’s Christmas Plum Pudding 16.12.17 - 19.12.17

John Wilson & The John Wilson Orchestra 30.11.17

Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night 16.11.17

Christmas Ballets

Kate Rusby at Christmas 12.12.17

Cinderella, The Nutcracker & Swan Lake

19.12.17 - 31.12.17

Sponsored feature

Welsh Green Energy Pioneer Sets The Record Straight About Wood Burning Stoves The Mayor of London’s recent condemnation of wood burning stoves sparked a wave of negative press for these so-called eco solutions. But a Welsh renewable energy expert insists that these claims are not just misleading – but could also be damaging to an industry that, in the UK, strives to offer more environmentally friendly solutions to heat people’s homes.

As director of the North-Wales based Chilli Penguin Stoves and owner of the family-run Fire & Stove Shop chain throughout South and Mid Wales, Jim Portsmouth has dedicated his career to pioneering greener and cleaner ways to heat homes throughout Wales.

As Jim puts it: “The recent press has been very misleading. The wood and multifuel stoves that we design, make and manufacture here in Wales are amongst the cleanest in Europe.

What failed to surface is that the issue is referring to inefficient open fires and old, cheap, poorly

designed imported stoves, which are mostly purchased online.

“Unfortunately, reputable British fireplace shop owners who sell and install efficient stoves and fires are being tarred with the same brush, and the danger is that the magnitude of the exposure to a poorly reported idea could hurt some great Welsh-based businesses unless we set the record straight.”

The eco entrepreneur insists that the stove industry is working hard to meet strict pollution reduction targets – which will be mandatory from 2022.

The latest research and data from the DECC Wood survey 2015 shows that 70% households in London burning wood are doing so in inefficient open fires – or poorly manufactured cheap imported stoves.

Jim adds: “This is the main issue. It is against the law to burn wood in smoke control areas on an open fire and more needs to be done to police this and educate users on the correct fuels to burn.”

The latest DECC Domestic Wood Use Survey has also revealed that wood usage is three times higher than previously believed, with 52% of wood-burning appliances being

stoves and a staggering 40% being inefficient open fires.

While this is the national average, the survey also revealed that 70% of wood-burning appliances in London were the latter – the worst way to burn wood from the point of view of heat generated, CO2 and particulate emissions.

Closing his argument, Jim insists that: “Scientific studies show that the future is clean, renewable heat for our homes, with more electric public transport to get us to work and school, with better use of energy generated from wind and solar.

“We only need to take a look at the environmental strategies in places like Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavian countries. Their air is clean, their people are healthy and warm, and they are consistently ranked among the happiest countries in the world.”

With modern clean burning stoves – like those available through trusted Welsh suppliers – producing 90% fewer emissions and 14% less CO2 than burning wood in an open fire, there has never been a better time to invest in clean energy for both homes and businesses.

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The big boy of the penguin family

Merthyr Road, Tongwynlais, Cardiff CF15 7LF Tel: 02920 811478 The Pumping Station, Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8TT Tel: 02920 230400 Email: cardiff@decoheat.co.uk Web: www.decoheat.co.uk

Remember, Remember

outdoors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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doesn't go out of control.

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

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

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

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

Chestnuts can be found in abundance throughout the autumn.

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

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

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

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

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

Warm Pumpkin Soup If you want something to warm up your

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

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

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

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

• Add marshmallows or brandy.

Garlic Parmesan Bread These bites are really easy to

rustle up and can be prepared, cooked and eaten within a matter of minutes. What's more - they are absolutely delicious!

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

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

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

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

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E V E RY M O N T H AT

CARDIFF

TICKETs FROM

£27

PER PERSON

BOOK ONLINE VillageHotels.com/TributeTour Village Hotel Cardiff, 29 Pendwyallt Road, Coryton, Cardiff, CF14 7EF

02921 671120

The brook bistro Brunch - lunch - dinner - Sunday lunch The independent family bistro in the heart of Whitchurch village

celebrate with us this christmas Christmas Lunch

Christmas evening

2 courses £14.95 3 courses £18.95

4 courses £27.95 76a Merthyr Rd Whitchurch Cardiff CF14-1DJ Tel: 02920 619738 Email: hello@thebrookbistro.com Web: www.thebrookbistro.com

Home Instead:

Looking after clients and staff

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sophie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lesley

02920 569483

www.homeinstead.co.uk/cardiff 6 Regents Court, Nettlefold Road Cardiff CF24 5JQ

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cosy home 1. Villa Nova fabric Norlland Collection £33 per metre The essence of ‘hygge’, the need for a sense of wellbeing, is instilled in this collection.

From Tŷ Bach Twt Interiors, Whitchurch

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

Laura Ashley, Llanishen

3. The High and Mighty by Chilli Penguin £1725 With its elevated height, oven box, log plinth and integral convection panel sides, this multi-fuel stove offers everything and more than a little charm.

Decoheat, Cardiff

4. Birlea Sloane Chair & footstool £399 Its colourful design means that it is adaptable to fit with most colour schemes and can add vibrance to any room.

Cardiff Bed and Furniture Centre, Whitchurch

5. Ruby Rose scented candle £14.99 Appeal to another of your senses by lighting this natural wax candle that has approximately 50 hours of burning time.

From Tŷ Bach Twt Interiors, Whitchurch

6. Rawley 9 Light Ribbon Pendant from £402 This 9 light pendant features twirling ribbons of brushed copper around a polished chrome frame. An optional flush fitting is also available.

Curtain Raisers, Whitchurch

outdoorshome

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7. Pure Vision PVR Stove £1950 Style and elegant with classic looks, this stove offers a huge glass fire viewing area that will not only look great, but keep you nice and toasty through the winter months.

Limegreen, Cardiff

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history

The Walnut Tree Viaduct The Walnut Tree Viaduct once spanned a view that most of us now take for granted. Today, only a few reminders remain but with a little bit of imagination, you can see this once impressive structure

A

s you head out of Whitchurch and up into the valleys on the A470, you could be forgiven for thinking that the large redbrick monolith that lies just past Castle Coch is an old chimney.

But it isn’t a chimney. Neither is it part of an old factory. It is in fact, the remnant of a large viaduct that once spanned the valley.

Lying to the south of Taffs Well, the viaduct was known as Walnut Tree Viaduct and was originally built to carry a railway across the gorge.

32

The rapid expansion of the railways in Cardiff came about thanks to the industrialisation of the South Wales coalfields. After the use of the Glamorganshire Canal and mule-trains, the first section of the Taff Railway was opened in 1840 to move iron ore from Merthyr to the docks at Cardiff. After 1858, the Rhymney Railway connected with the Taff Vale Railway at Walnut Tree Junction, just south of Taffs Well railway station.

As coal exports from Cardiff

Docks continued to increase, so too did the congestion in and around Cardiff. Colliery owner David Davies, along with several other industrialists proposed an alternative route to Barry where a new docks development would be built. This new route would bypass all of the congestion at Cardiff.

Following some legal wrangling, the Barry Dock and Railway Company Act was passed on 14th August 1884 for the construction of a railway line between Trehafod and Barry. The name was changed to the Barry Railway Company by an Act of 5th August 1891.

Davies also sought a railway line to Llanbradach so that he could tap into the rich resources in the Rhymney Valley. He wanted to do away with the reliance on Cardiff Docks once and for all. His Chief Engineer Sir James Szlumper proposed that no stations were to be built on the new lines, allowing freight trains to run unimpeded at full speed down to the docks.

To achieve this, a viaduct would need to be constructed to span the valley and River Taff at Walnut Colour photographs courtesy of John Bulpin

The viaduct was dismantled in 1969

Tree junction. But with that came a whole host of problems.

Szlumper’s first issue was that of the wind. The viaduct needed to be high enough to clear the busy valley below but the shape of the valley funnelled the wind, resulting in increased wind speeds. Added to this, a solid stone structure would create an inherently unstable viaduct that would require a lot of maintenance.

He recommended to the board of the Barry Railway Company that the viaduct was constructed of steel lattice girder spans, set on top of brick-built supporting columns. The final structure, which took less than 12 months to build, opened in 1901.

At its maximum 120 feet high, the seven spans created a structure that was 1,548 feet long, curving slightly at its western end to enable the line to bend onto the rock shelf.

Not far from its southern abutment was a tunnel called the Walnut Tree Tunnel, but occasionally known as

Garth Tunnel.

The viaduct was eventually used for both freight and passenger travel, offering fantastic views over the valley below. Passenger services eventually ceased on 22nd July, 1963. Freight services continued to and from the adjacent Dolomite Quarry until the last train crossed the structure on 14th December, 1967.

The Welsh Office and Cardiff Council had approved a dual carriageway upgrade to the A470 road and in agreement with this, British Railways agreed to close the remaining rail line that crossed over the viaduct.

After dominating the southern end of Taffs Well for nearly 70 years, contractors started the demolition of the Walnut Tree Viaduct in 1969.

It would not be until 1974 that the demolition was complete. All but one of the piers and one pillar had to be dismantled by hand due to the congested valley below.

Today, only the Walnut Tree tunnel abutment, an angled pillar and the Taff Bank pier remain visible from the village and the A470. The Taff Bank pier was used in 1977 for displaying a goodwill message for the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The paint is still visible today. Parts of the remaining track bed have now been incorporated into the Taff Trail.

Taff's Well Known locally as the 'Gates to the Valleys', Taffs Well is located at the south easterly tip of Rhondda Cynon Taf. It is separated from Gwaelody-Garth by the River Taff. Taff's Well is distinguished because it contains the only thermal spring in Wales. The tepid water is thought to rise along a fault-line from the carboniferous limestone.

Legend has it that a robed woman in grey frequently visited this well, and many people have testified to having seen her in the evenings, wandering along the banks of the river near the spring, or going on to the ferry under the Garth Mountain.

Actor David Jason also spent several years living in Taffs Well. A local shop owner, Arthur Bickerton is said to have inspired the character of Arkwright in the sitcom Open All Hours. David Jason was a regular visitor at Arthur's on weekends as his late partner Myfanwy Talog owned a house in the village.

The pillars prior to dismantling

33

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gardening

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

Kevin Revell shows you how to prepare your harvest for winter

T

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

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

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

36

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kevin Revell is the Plant Area Manager at Caerphilly Garden Centre

37

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history

The curious tale of a Llandaff North pub and a British Prime Minister Legend has it that Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once stayed at the Cow and Snuffers in Llandaff North. But does the evidence stack up?

H

e’s the Prime Minister who initiated a wide range of legislation to improve educational opportunities and the life of working people during the 1800s.

He’s the man who once charmed Queen Victoria and later told a colleague that ‘first of all, you have to remember that she is woman’.

Popular legend has it that former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once stayed at Llandaff North’s Cow and Snuffers in Llandaff North. The pub even had a bust of ‘Dizzy’ above its door, which was adorned with primroses every April 19th - the anniversary of Disraeli’s death.

There’s a very good reason to believe such a story. Disraeli visited Cardiff after the death of Wyndham Lewis MP in 1839.

There, he met Lewis’s widow, Mary, who was to later become Disraeli’s wife.

It is possible that Disraeli and his wife visited Greenmeadow - a medieval farmstead that sat overlooking the River Taff in Wyndham’s estate. This was where Wyndham and Mary had lived for many years. The Cow and Snuffers which opened in 1812, was by 1839, a flourishing watering-hole.

But although tradition associates Disraeli with Greenmeadow and the local area, he did not visit Cardiff until much later when he stayed at the Cardiff Arms Hotel. It

was there that he remarked that it was his first visit to the town, and that he had never actually seen Greenmeadow.

After 1839, Mary’s only visits there were of a business nature, and it is unlikely that they included social activities of any kind. Within two years of Wyndham’s death, her connection with Greenmeadow was more or less at an end. The couple moved to London and Disraeli went on to become Prime Minister not just once - but twice.

As for the Cow and Snuffers - the pub closed its doors for good back in 2010 and is now a series of apartments.

Landlady Jo Owens, who ran the pub for the five months leading up to the closure, said that the owners felt it could no longer justify the expense of running the venue.

She said: “I think it was just too expensive to keep open and there are a lot of repairs that need doing.”

The Cow and Snuffers lives on in Llandaff North, as does the legend, in one way or another but there’s simply not enough evidence to suggest that Disraeli did actually stay there.

Maybe the final word on the matter rests that the man himself Disraeli is said to have denied that he ever stayed at the Cow and Snuffers. Perhaps we'll never know for sure.

But where did it get its name?

No one is really sure how the Cow and Snuffers got its unusual name.

One story goes that a 'ludicrous name contest' took place, replacing its earlier name of the Red Cow. Another rumour is that its name is thought to derive from the Irish ancestry of the man who built it, Sir Robert LyncheBlosse. Far from the English meaning, it seems as though it came from the Irish phrase, 'An cu Ar Sndmh', meaning 'The Swimming Dog'.

Whatever the reason, the Cow and Snuffers has earned a place on a list of Britain’s ten most unusual pub names after a list was compiled of Britain’s 57,000 licensed premises. The Cow and Snuffers came sixth on the list.

Benjamin Disraeli 39

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Your pet questions answered

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

my dog out in the country now.

What advice can you offer?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

outdoors

The Walk among ancient woodland, historical structures and an abundance of wildlife on this uplifting walk through the forests of North Cardiff

Autumn Air The Tongwynlais and Wenallt Walk

It's not just the blazing colours of the leaves that capture our attention in autumn. Taking a walk through the woodland at this time of year is a sumptuous feast for all of the senses. It can help us feel happier, calmer and healthier.

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

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

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

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

42

Coed-y-Wenallt

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

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

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

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

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

During the autumn, colourful Jays can be seen in this area as they collect and bury their acorns ready for the winter.

Wenallt Camp

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

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

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

Credit: Rob Drayton

The Dormouse

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dormice have been recorded in the woodland. The nocturnal rodents breed once or occasionally twice each year, producing litters with an average of four young after a gestation period of 22–24 days. They can live for as long as five years. The young are born hairless and helpless, and their eyes do not open until about 18 days after birth. They typically become

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

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

The Badger

sexually mature after the end of their first hibernation. Dormice live in small family groups, with home ranges that vary widely between species and depend on the availability of food.

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

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

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

They live in underground burrows, called setts, in social groups usually of between 4 and 12 badgers. Each group has a 'territory', varying in size from around 30 hectares where there is plenty of food and 150 hectares in marginal habitat.

The Geology

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

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

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

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

The Oak Tree

Along with Hazel trees, most of the lower woodland is comprised of oak trees. As common oaks mature, they form a broad and spreading crown with sturdy branches beneath.

Their open canopy enables light to penetrate through to the woodland floor, allowing bluebells and primroses to grow below. Their smooth and silvery brown bark becomes rugged and deeply fissured with age.

Oak tree growth is particularly rapid in youth but gradually slows at around 120 years. Oaks even shorten with age in order to extend their lifespan.

43

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We are a husband and wife team, and pride ourselves on our professional but friendly and approachable service. Being a small team means that you will always deal with the same people and that we are able to build longstanding, trusting relationships with our clients. This helps us to better understand your whole financial circumstances and allows us to work with you to find the best way to manage your finances and long term objectives. We recognise that many changes can occur during clients and families lives, and we can help you navigate these with a focus on helping you maximise your wealth.

As we are independent, we are able to give you advice that takes into account the whole of the financial products market, thereby giving you the very best options to suit your needs. Whether it’s planning for a retirement, saving for a big event, or just making sure you’re getting the most from your money, we are here to help.

About Us Sarah I am a qualified Independent Financial Adviser with 17 years’ experience working within the financial services industry. I started my career in the banking sector and have also worked for CIS (Cooperative Insurance Services), HSBC Bank and the Chambers Partnership Ltd. I have significant experience in all aspects of financial services including pensions, investments, protection, tax and trusts.

Rob After passing the diploma in regulated financial services in 2014, I have continued to build and enhance my knowledge and experience by supporting a team of Financial Planners. In 2017, I passed the Advanced Diploma in Pension Planning exam (AF3), further increasing and developing my knowledge in the specialist area of pensions.

I work closely with a Financial Adviser, aligning the research and analysis of client’s products, needs and objectives to ensure a cost effective and suitable solution is found.

Lyles’ Independent Financial Advice Ltd is an Appointed Representative of PDB Wealth Management Ltd which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 501852. Lyles’ Independent Financial Advice Ltd Registered address: 55 Llewelyn Goch, St. Fagans, Cardiff, UK CF5 6HR. Lyles’ Independent Financial Advice Ltd, registered in England & Wales Number: 10045004

For professional advice, speak to Sarah on 07760 162362 or Rob on 02920 899521 or visit www.lylesifa.co.uk

people

Ikea, Ideas & Inspiration S

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

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

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

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

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

Rachel began meeting up with

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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We have a floor exclusively for toddlers with a comfy seating area and a coffee bar serving fresh coffee, cakes and snacks. We have a full menu of sandwiches, paninis and kids lunches. It’s a warm, inviting environment where you can feel safe to let your little ones play, learn and explore.

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Ao-fZparenting

An

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

A&E

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

Bribery

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

Competitive

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

School sports day and the

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

Dress Up

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

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

Expensive

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

Feeding

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

Grunting

The only noise your teenager seems capable of making.

Homework

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

Invitations

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

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

Job

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

Also see Invitations.

Kinder Surprise Egg Love See Bribery. Also Yelp.

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

Mombie

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

No

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

One, Two, Three

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

Parties

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

Queues

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

Rest

The thing you distantly recall before you became a parent.

Sleep

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

Tweenager

The horror that has become your 6 year old.

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

Victorious

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

Witching Hour

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

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

X-Ray

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

Yelp

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

Zzzzs If only.

Uniform

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

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

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

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

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

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

food

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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