In The Words Of

By Carl Marsh

One can only hope that we all get to spend Christmas together, but it’s a fact that COVID-19 has put a stop to some normality. Perhaps you will be able to see your loved ones, and at the time of writing this, that may be the case, but who knows! Regardless, do stay safe and keep those around you even safer.

To cheer us all up and seeing how this year has been much of a write-off, I came across a show on YouTube called The Martin Decker Show; and I interviewed the guys involved. Made from home (in a bathroom), very socially distanced (the same person does the filming and acting) and it’s what we all need!

Ultimate Travel List by Lonely Planet - £19.99

Nobody can travel, but if they can, there’s no guarantee you won’t have to self-quarantine at home for weeks on end. So, seeing as you can’t go on holiday, I thought it would be best to bring the holidays to you in the comfort of your own home. Armchair holiday surfing might be the new norm for the foreseeable and Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List has 500 of the best places to visit on Earth. It will give you wanderlust and possibly the valuable time to plan your ultimate trip, so when the time comes that we all can venture to places far and wide, this book will be the catalyst for those plans.

Lift-the-Flap Atlas by Lonely Planet Kids - £12.99

With the last book more than likely aimed at the teenager and above, Lonely Planet Kids have an excellent little flap-up book that will cater to the younger audience. So whilst the parents may be dreaming (planning) about faraway places with the book previously, this Lift-the-Flap Atlas will teach the youngster about the planet via more than 100 flaps for them to explore. This is very, very detailed; even I was enriched with lots of information I got from it. This is perfect bedtime reading also for the child or parent to read to him/her/them.

Concrete Plans - Certificate 15 - All digital platforms

Written and directed by Will Jewell, and starring two of Wales best-known actors, William Thomas (Torchwood & Hinterland) and Steve Speirs (The Tuckers & Stella), this was also primarily filmed just outside of Brecon. Also starring talented actors like Goran Bogdan, Kevin Guthrie, Chris Reilly, Amber Rose Revah and Charley Palmer Rothwell, you’d be mistaken thinking this was anything but a small independent production. I don’t know what favours Will Jewell pulled for this stellar lineup, but all I will say is, well done.

The film is maybe not for all the family to view, it’s a thriller of the claustrophobic variety, that falls just short of being classified as gory, or does it! I had access to an early viewing of this film, and it had me hooked late into the early hours, maybe not for fright reasons but because I wanted to watch it all in one sitting. A bonus (for me) was that Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll created the music throughout, somebody I admire a lot.

That is all for this month, I will see you next month, but most importantly, Have a very ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’, however best you can!

Carl Marsh

Twitter - @InTheWordsOf_CM Facebook - @InTheWordsOf YouTube - InTheWordsOf

Would I be correct in saying that there is a little bit of Martin in all of us - especially “us” Dads - and that is why he’s who he is?

Martin’s at an age where he’s had a few failures and knockbacks, and these have become part of his personality. He may be amusing, but I think there’s a recognition aspect in that he’s struggling to come to terms with his own limitations. He wants to be able to dream and his bathroom shows are his outlet.

And is ‘Martin’ actually somebody you both know in real life, or have met?

I’m one of three brothers, all in our forties, so maybe he’s based on all three of us... at our worse.

I know that it’s Kevin playing Martin, and I know you are both actors, so was it always the case that or did you have to toss a coin to decide who would be Martin?

(won’t answer this question as Keiron plays Martin)

Is it a joint effort with the writing of the material?

I’ve written the scripts so far, but it feels like a joint effort, because I know much Keiron connects with Martin. He usually adds a few lines on the day – and they’re always my favourite lines. Also, we fi lm in lockdown conditions – I’m not actually in the bathroom, but viewing through an Ipad, so there’s huge trust on both sides.

One of your episodes is centred around a rap (song) attempt and the other being the game, Minecraft. What’s next?

With each episode we try to be more ambitious, so the latest one is an alien invasion – The Martian Decker Show.

At what point did the idea actually go from inception to fi lming the fi rst video?

The idea actually started off as a theatre piece I was developing with the Cardiff company Spilt Milk. When lockdown happened, I decided to re-look at the project as a web series. The plan was, rather than shoot straight monologues, use my TV background (as an editor) to try something different.

Have you set yourself any deadlines for getting new content up on YouTube?

Each episode takes 6-7 weeks, as I’m fortunate enough to be working at the moment. Also, we have a rule that Martin has to be able to make the whole show himself. In the latest episode, there are a great deal of “Martin style” special effects. It took a bit of time and plasticine.

I’m a big fan of fresh new comedy that thinks outside the box whilst also utilising how ‘Lockdown’ has made us all stay at home (at times) for weeks on end. The Martin Decker Show is a YouTube production written by Kevin Jones; with Keiron Self as the star of the show, Martin Decker. With a couple of shows under their belt, with many more to come, I chatted with them both.

Would I be correct in saying that there is a little bit of Martin in all of us - especially “us” Dads - and that is why he’s who he is?

Keiron

There are elements of Martin in all of us. He is a bit of an everyman to a certain extent. A Dad who’s lost his way and is trying to fi nd a path through a sticky moment in his life. His wife has left him; he’s lost his job, he’s adrift, misses his kids. he needs a safety valve—an escape. Most people might take

up a new hobby, get a moped, wear inappropriate clothes for their age group, but instead, Martin retreats to his safe place – the bathroom of his house and tries to create his own show. So, you know, reasonably normal coping mechanism!

Kevin

Martin’s at an age where he’s had a few failures and knock-backs, and these have become part of his personality. He may be amusing, but I think there’s a recognition aspect in that he’s struggling to come to terms with his limitations. He wants to be able to dream, and his bathroom shows are his outlet.

And is ‘Martin’ actually somebody you both know in real life or have met?

Keiron

Certainly, I can identify with lots of Martin as a middleaged Dad trying to do his best but not with such extreme measures!

Kevin

I’m one of three brothers, all in our forties, so maybe he’s based on all three of us, at our worst.

I know that it’s Keiron playing Martin, and I know you are both actors, so was it always the case that or did you have to toss a coin to decide who would be Martin?

Keiron

I think Kevin Jones, the genius writer/editor/director behind Martin Decker plays Martin through me! I am his balding, pot-bellied puppet!

Is it a joint effort with the writing of the material?

Kevin

I’ve written the scripts so far, but it feels like a joint effort because I know how much Keiron connects with Martin. He usually adds a few lines on the day – and they’re always my favourite lines. Also, we fi lm in lockdown conditions – I’m not actually in the bathroom, but viewing through an iPad, so there’s enormous trust on both sides.

Keiron

Yeah, Kev does all the hard graft, I show up and offer some suggestions, and we improvise a bit on the day. He’s created a character I understand entirely so it’s a joy to read the new episodes when they arrive and we’ve talked a lot about where he could go and what may become of him, depending on SFX budgets!

One of your episodes centred around a rap (song) attempt and the other being the game, Minecraft. What’s next?

Keiron

Don’t want to give too much away, but there’s a nod to Ray Harryhausen!

At what point did the idea go from inception to fi lming the fi rst video?

Kevin

The idea started as a theatre piece I was developing with the Cardiff company Spilt Milk. When lockdown happened, I decided to re-look at the project as a web series. The plan was, rather than shoot straight monologues, use my TV background (as an editor) to try something different.

Keiron

Kevin developed the character for years for a theatre project which went through several ramifi cations before I got involved for a workshop and reading. When lockdown started, we both wanted to do something with the character and the monologue written for the stage and supported by Spilt Milk Theatre Company morphed into the web series. It was always a funny, human take on masculinity and Kev managed to get hold of few cameras and was allowed to paint his bathroom, and we just tried some socially distanced stuff out!

Have you set yourself any deadlines for getting new content up on YouTube?

Kevin

Each episode takes 6-7 weeks, as I’m fortunate enough to be working at the moment. Also, we have a rule that Martin has to be able to make the whole show himself. In the latest episode, there is a great deal of “Martin style” special effects. It took a bit of time and plasticine.

Keiron

It will be great to keep doing Martin so long as we can think of things for him to do and expand on his little, increasingly odd universe. I’m so lucky to have been involved in the project this year; it’s helped keep my sanity playing someone who’s struggling with his!

The Martin Decker Show is on YouTube.

‘LOCKDOWN’. How Has It Been For You? By Michael James

I wrote most of this article for the May edition but for many differing reasons Cardiff Times couldn’t be published, printed nor delivered. Louise, our editor kindly posted it on the Cardiff Times Facebook page where some of you might have seen it, but many regular readers of the magazine will have missed it. The original article on Facebook still stands but I have re-written it here, bringing it up-to-date as we come to the end of this difficult year.

The term, ‘Lockdown’ is a prison protocol that prevents people or information from leaving an area. It can also be used to protect people from a threat or other external event. (Edited from Wikipedia).

Sounds about right for the position we have been in since March.

Lockdown, as we have become used to during the COVID-19 Pandemic, has made us prisoners in our own homes and has prevented us from travelling, except for very limited and restricted reasons. For the vast majority of people it is a protocol that we have accepted, for the greater good, praying that the virus will somehow be stopped or, at least be slowed down, until an effective vaccine has been found to combat it. Thankfully, there are now encouraging signs that such a vaccine has been found to combat it. Thankfully, there are now encouraging signs that such a vaccine(s) has, indeed been developed, with the likelihood that it will be available to all before long and hoping (praying) that, in the meantime, we will be kept safe and well.

Is that how you have seen it? How have you responded to and adapted to life in Lockdown? Are you one of those who, however reluctantly, are just getting on with it or are you furious with the official clampdown on ‘normal’ life? Some are furious, just because they cannot stand to be told what to do, screaming, ‘What about freedom of the individual?’, but there are many others for whom being confined to the house has been more difficult, something that they just cannot handle and they have become fretful and upset. I have a number of friends who have obvious physical or learning disabilities and a number whose problems are not visible, but are equally disabling. Their lives and those of their families and or carers, depend upon having some sort of normal structure, one of which is to be able to go out and participate in different interests or hobbies or just meet and speak to others while simply being out and about, and there are so many others for whom this period is very difficult indeed.

One of the blessings which kept many of us going in the earlier spell of the Pandemic was the good weather we had. It must have been a great relief for dogs who could take their owners out for walks. For those of us lucky enough to have gardens, whatever its size, it was a joy to have been able to be out in the fresh air, whether to just lounge in our deck chairs or tend our gardens. But, even then our ‘Britishness’, gets the better of us and despite the concerns of the Coronavirus, all we moan about is the more recent weather that has confined us to our homes

I asked earlier, how are you adapting to the current crisis? Well I hope? For me it’s been great. I am adapting to it like a duck to water. I think that I have now morphed into the perfect person for selfisolation. I know that we all slow down with age but, from being a sports playing, outgoing youngster, up to and through middle age and, more lately, someone who trekked in the Himalayas at 75 years of age, I have now become a ‘couch potato’, with official blessing from the Government! Furthermore, I have recently been diagnosed as having a lung complaint, nothing sinister I am pleased to say but, according to my medical consultant, I must stay indoors during the current pandemic, except to visit my doctor’s surgery for regular blood tests.(It’s the only thing that I can’t ask anyone else to do for me!).

Thinking of asking for, or offering to help, brings to mind another element of ‘Lockdown’, the way that people are pulling together and helping each other. Shopping for elderly relatives and friends and even neighbours who we normally might only exchange brief nods with or a polite, ‘Good morning’. Or checking on your neighbours and friends that

you can now only be in touch with by telephone or through the modern miracle of social media, such as, Skype, Facetime or Zoom. With our churches closed, ‘virtual’ services are being conducted through these IT platforms. It amuses me that as well as being able to see our pastor, up front so to speak, we can see on screen the faces of all those attending the service, rather than the backs of their heads as we would normally do.

Earlier this year, I wrote about, ‘Help and Hope is all Around You’. I penned it before we were fully aware of the seriousness of Coronavirus and how it would impact on our lives, It was about how we are surrounded by help if we need it, from our neighbours and friends, voluntary organisations and Faith Groups. That was just a general observation at the time, little did I think how true it would become. We all owe a tremendous amount of thanks for the tireless work carried out by our wonderful NHS, local GP’s, and Pharmacies, Care Workers, Ambulance, Police and Fire and Rescue Services, Refuse Collectors and our Supermarkets and smaller food shops and the countless thousands of others who work, often unseen, to ensure that our every need is catered for. What would we do without them? Yes, help and hope is all around us. We thank God for that and for the help we get from our families, friends and neighbours. We can’t give them a well deserved hug, so give all of them a big clap, for just being there, if and when needed.

I have heard it said that it evokes the old wartime spirit of good neighbourliness (is there such a word?) and it certainty seems like that, but this is different! Yes, everybody seems to be pulling together for the greater good and well-being of our nation, but unlike conventional wars, this enemy is invisible and sadly, can be in those we know and love and even be within our own homes. We can only be vigilant and heed the advice we are given, ‘Stay apart. Stay indoors, to Stay Safe’.

However well you have been adapting to the present Lockdown, I pray that we will soon be free of this dreadful disease and that we will be allowed to meet up with our loved ones at Christmas. Perhaps, like our Muslim and Hindu cousins whose Ede and Diwali celebrations had to be curtailed, large family gatherings may be limited but please remember, that despite reports to the contrary, Christmas Isn’t Cancelled, this year nor can it ever be. It’s not simply a holiday period but a time to celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth to bring us all, Peace, Love and Everlasting Life.

May I wish you and all those you love, a Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year 2021, (Covid free, I hope).

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Dantoy Lead The Way With Sugarcane Toys

Dantoy’s brand-new “I’m Green” line of bioplastic products, their bioplastic is made of at least 90% sugarcane, a sustainable raw material, and their bioplastic is 100% recyclable. Dantoy leads the way with their bioplastics. The manufacture of bioplastics reduces carbon emissions. The sugarcane is cultivated on controlled, pesticide-free plantations in central and southern Brazil. The sugarcane is harvested every 6 – 12 months. Bioplastic made of sugarcane is a 100% sustainable raw material.

The Dantoy Bio-Toy 7 Stacking Cups £20 from Amazon.

Go Back To Basics This Christmas With Marvin’s Magic

The heart-warming advert shows how simple things can make a big impact as the children transform and start performing magic tricks to the whole family.

Marvin’s Magic 130 Magic Made Easy Tricks costs £12 from Argos

Mesmerising Puzzles With Carnovsky

These beautiful 500 piece jigsaw puzzles explore the interaction between colour and light through the visionary work of Carnovsky. Three different images sit on top of each other, and the resulting picture is unexpected and mesmerising.

This year’s must-have game teaches children how to beat germs whilst having fun Germ attack The latest gruesome game in the best-selling Horrible Science range from Galt Toys, teaches children valuable lessons about bacteria and germs whilst they take part in a ruthless race around the body. Suitable for between two and six players, Germ Attack is designed to teach children fun and interesting facts about the body and germs, a lesson that is more important than ever before, in an exciting, engaging, and fast-paced way.

Horrible Science Germ Attack has an RRP of £19.99 and is available to buy now from Amazon. Suitable for children aged eight and over.

Richard Osman’s House Of Games Board Game Provides Fans Hours Of Fun

Based on the hit BBC2 show hosted by Richard Osman, the House of Games board game is the ultimate test of knowledge and skill. Enjoy some of your favourite challenges from the show in the comfort of your home.

The Ginger Fox Richard Osman’s House of Games Board Game costs £25 from John Lewis

Blast Off With The NASA Rocket

Get ready for blast off with the offi cial licensed NASA Space Rocket Construction Kit. It’s ideal for ages 12+ and an amazing gift for space lovers and those who like building. In eye catching yellow, black and silver colours it looks stunning in any room.

The NASA Space Rocket Construction Kit costs £29.99 from Construction Kit costs £29.99 from Thumbsup.com Thumbsup.com

Jump To Christmas

Plum’s 8ft Space Zone II Trampoline is the must have active toy this Christmas. Trampolining is a great activity, whatever the season.

The Plum Play 8ft Space Zone II Trampoline costs £179.99 from PlumPlay.co.uk

Rubik’s Box Of Magic Tricks

Marvin’s Magic have partnered with Rubik’s to celebrate the 40th anniversary of world-famous Rubik’s Cube. The Rubik’s Amazing Box anniversary of world-famous Rubik’s Cube. The Rubik’s Amazing Box of Magic Tricks contains themed magic props and instructions for 40 of Magic Tricks contains themed magic props and instructions for 40 tricks that are ideal the whole family.The set comes in a giant Rubik’s tricks that are ideal the whole family.The set comes in a giant Rubik’s box and contains exclusive tricks and illusions, each with the unique box and contains exclusive tricks and illusions, each with the unique Rubik’s touch.