Cardiff Times April 2021

April 2021

CARDIFF TIMES® FREE

Melanie Blake Shares the dark celebrity secrets which inspired her best selling novel ‘Ruthless Women’.

Turn to page 18 for Melanie’s exclusive interview with Carl Marsh

02921 660311 colourfencecardiff.co.uk

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Sow, Grow and Share Veg Spring is here! After a long winter lockdown it’s time to sow seeds of friendship.

Plant and Share Month 19 April - 19 May 2021 Plant and Share Month is all about growing your own and sharing it with those around you. Whether you’re growing in yoghurt pots for the first time or you’re a seasoned grower with an allotment, Plant and Share Month is for you.

Covid-19 has made us all realise just how crucial fresh, local food is - and we all have the power to grow it ourselves!

Food for Life Get Togethers are all about bringing people together using the power of good food - and Plant and Share aims to bring us all closer to our roots – both through food and our communities.

It’s eas y to get inv olv ed 1 Plant your seeds 2 Help them grow 3 Share the seedlings and produce

Tending the gardens gives me a feeling of hope for the future Food for Life Get Togethers participant

Ready to spread the joy of home-grown food?

Find out more about how to get involved at

fflgettogethers.org /plantandshare FFL_GT_SOWGROWSHARE__CARDIFFTIMES_148x210_1JD.indd 1

15/03/2021 16:43

CARDIFF TIMES

PUBLISHER Cardiff Times

EDITOR Louise Denning 07903 947594 FEATURES EDITOR Mark Denning 07758 247194 SALES & MARKETING Beth beth@cardiff-times.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Wyn Evans, Vince Nolan, Sara John, Michael James, Molly Dutton, Carl Marsh, Jen Abell, Michael Fogg, Kellie Williams

EDITORS LETTER

Welcome Hi All, and welcome to our April issue.

As we write, both our children are now back in school, although our son is only attending for two days this week. However, it is a start, and let’s hope now, thanks to the amazing work of all people helping to administer the Covid 19 vaccine, plus the vast majority of people continuing to stay at home and observe social distancing, we can look ahead to the summer with optimism.

Fingers crossed that all children will be able to return to school full time after the Easter break.

Continuing our optimistic theme, spring is definitely with us now, with some amazing displays of Daffodils especially dotted around Cardiff. Together with warmer days and more daylight due to the clocks having moved forward, it definitely feels as if we can be more hopeful for a return to some kind of normality in the not too distant future.

To celebrate International Women's Day which took place on March 8th, in this month’s issue we have some fabulous articles featuring some interesting and inspiring women, such as Melanie Blake, Morfydd Clark, Lisa Marie Brown and Nikesha Patel. Long may their success continue.

One of our regular contributors, Jen Abell, has been working hard finding out about various community schemes taking place across the city, including growing spaces and plant swaps. We do feel that Jen is like the glue that binds communities together, and we are so pleased that she continues to contribute so positively to the magazine.

Finally, we were gutted that Wales didn't win the Grand Slam last month, losing in cruel fashion to France in the last minute of the match. However, we are super proud of how the team played and the effort they put in, they truly are inspirational both on and off the pitch.

EDITORIAL 029 2046 3028 ADVERTISING 07903 947594 EMAIL info@cardiff-times.co.uk WEB www.cardiff-times.co.uk

Please continue to stay safe everyone, and until next month, happy reading.

Louise & Mark

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April CONTENTS 6 All sorts of ‘lockdowns’

by Wyn Evans

9 Let your mind wander free this summer 10 Stop All The Clocks

by Vince Nolan 14 Modern Nature: Staying Connected.

by Jen Abell

18 In The Words Of

by Carl Marsh 26 Fashion Done Your Own Way

by Molly Dutton 30 IT REALLY IS A SMALL WORLD

by Michael James 34 What’s in a Name

by Sara John 39 Delving deep into the lockdown journeys of Cardiff ’s most admirable women

by Kellie Williams 44 Protect your wealth

by Michael Fogg

T H E S U N D AY T I M E S B E STS E L L E R

17 The positive effects of learning a musical instrument

All sorts of ‘lockdowns’

ByWyn Evans

I spent much of my boyhood between the ages of ten and fifteen in lockdown. Not that we used that phrase back then. Rather than it being a necessary response to a medical emergency, this voluntary lockdown derived equally from geographical and temperamental factors. Dad, who had been the Plant Engineer at the Rover car plant on Pengam moors, got it into his head that what the world needed most was another economically unviable farm overseen by another economically unviable farmer.

We already had a toe-hold on Pembrokeshire soil; a caravan, on the delightfully named Swallow-tree Gardens outside Saundersfoot. The caravan was called Swn yr Wylan or ‘sound of the seagull’. Then, as now, a significant proportion of the population of south east Wales took it upon themselves to venture to south west Wales every holiday and most weekends.

The big difference between then and now lay in the quality of the transport network. What today takes a couple of hours took at least five back then. I vividly remember the difference made by the M4 Port Talbot and Morriston by-passes being built. (I’m not sure what was most exciting, going on the new motorway or avoiding old Port Talbot!)

So our family had a stake in Pembrokeshire already when an aunt of my mam’s offered dad the opportunity to run her second farm for her. He jumped at the chance. Mam was far from thrilled, being a city woman who had been contemplating our new home being

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somewhere in Cardiff. I was further still from thrilled, being to farming what Donald Trump is to diplomacy.

And so it was that we moved into a dilapidated, damp old farmhouse called Blaencleddau which, in the spirit of nominative determinism, was indeed the source of the western Cleddau river which reaches the sea at Milford Haven. Fair dos, dad bust a gut to make the house a home for us. He rewired the whole place, replumbed, built a kitchen and a bathroom from scratch, and decorated the living rooms. He even kept his job at Rovers in Cardiff and travelled there and back every day for two years to keep an income while readying the farm for livestock. Unsurprisingly (isn’t it amazing how hindsight brings cause and effect into sharp focus) after two years of this dad worked himself into a heart attack.

Blaencleddau was in the parish of Mynachlog-Ddu about which the local historian, E.T. Lewis writes: “for centuries the world outside did not unduly disturb the peace of the upper valley of the Cleddau which lay hidden by the hills from prolonged contact with it, and its people contrived to hide themselves from an overdose of publicity”(1). Truly, it sits in a beautiful location; overlooked by the old Iron Age hill fort, Foel Drigarn, it boasts its own standing stones and even a collapsed cromlech which might have been the smaller sibling of that at Pentre Ifan had not the local farmer bulldozed it to prevent his sheep from straying.

E.T. Lewis notes that in 1969, which was the year we moved there, the parish consisted of some three hundred people, two shops, a small two-pump petrol

station, a Baptist chapel (in which my mam’s dad used to Minister), and the parish church. One of the shops doubled as an animal feed merchant, the other also serving as the post office.

Within a few months of dad having his heart attack my unscrupulous and ethically-challenged Great Aunt, deciding to make good on all the work dad had done to improve and add value to the farmhouse, sold it out from under us, as the saying goes. It was an abrupt end to dad’s dream of running a farm. The villagers came to the rescue. The Baptist chapel, Bethel, was without a Minister and we were invited to move into the vacant manse. The generosity of this kindness is best appreciated if I tell you that none of us Evanses were the slightest bit religious. My parents are no longer around to ask but I think we were there for eight or nine months before dad got a new job as Plant Engineer at the Ford plant in Swansea and we moved home, this time to Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire.

If not as geographically remote as, say, the Gwaun Valley near Fishguard, you may appreciate that Mynachlog-Ddu was nonetheless a place where one could go days, sometimes a week, without seeing more than a handful of people. For a young lad to develop a social life meant cycling up hill and down dale to see school friends in Crymych, being whisked by car some nine miles to Cardigan, or drinking cans of Mackeson in the chapel’s empty baptismal pool - supplied by the son of the shop, without his dad’s permission. (Though I suspect Mr Griffiths knew what his son and I were up to, allowing lads to be lads as long as we didn’t take the micky!) All good training for subsequent lockdowns of course. But I mentioned that during those early teenage years temperamental factors caused me to go into a sort-of lockdown too.

If not exactly a loner, and certainly not lonely, I was not a lad who enjoyed team activities and sports.

Chess was my thing. True, I played for the Cardigan and Llandysul and mid-Wales teams. But chess was

an individual sport and teams essentially comprised six individuals each choosing their own path. And, of course, discussing ideas and moves with one’s team-mates whilst the game was in progress, was strictly verboten. At home, on the farm, I could spend all evening studying chess - all day, at the weekend or during holidays. So keen was I on the game that I used savings from vacation jobs to commission an inlaid chess table based on that used in the famous 1972 Fischer vs. Spassky match. It cost me £50 and remains a treasured possession. Of course, my sisters and I had tasks to do but on top of these dad would try to encourage me to take apart car engines with him on the basis that it would be a useful skill to learn. But no! I practised my chess, dreaming of the Grandmaster I still had hopes of becoming(2). My younger sister however took up dad’s offer of car maintenance and subsequently did her own plugs and points until electronic engine management came in some years later, putting an end to self-car-care.

Not that living in a quiet rural village and playing a solitary sport truly compare with the lockdowns our kids have had to endure this past year. Writing this on the day that all kids are back in school, I wouldn’t choose to have to second-guess the decisions made by our First Minister, the Prime Minister, and their teams; it’s been a whole new world for them too. But it feels as if we have chosen at every turn options which are guaranteed to cause educational and health problems for our kids and young adults. I’d like to wish them, their teachers, their health carers and, indeed, our politicians, insight and wisdom to make the best choices for us all.

CARDIFF TIMES 7

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Gadewch i’ch meddwl grwydro’n rhydd yr haf hwn Let your mind wander free this summer Mae Prifysgol Caerdydd yn cynnig ystod gyffrous o gyrsiau i oedolion yr haf hwn i’ch helpu i astudio ieithoedd, diwylliannau, gwyddoniaeth, busnes, llenyddiaeth a thirweddau.

Mae’r mwyafrif o gyrsiau’n cael eu cynnal unwaith yr wythnos am 10 wythnos a byddwch chi’n cwrdd mewn ystafell ddosbarth ryngweithiol fywiog ar-lein.

Rydym wedi derbyn adborth hynod gadarnhaol gan fyfyrwyr sydd wedi astudio gyda ni ar-lein am y flwyddyn ddiwethaf ac mae ein tiwtoriaid arbenigol yn barod i rannu eu gwybodaeth a’u brwdfrydedd gyda chi.

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CARDIFF TIMES 9

“And another thing...”

Stop All The Clocks

ByVince Nolan

Many of you will be familiar with WH Auden’s funeral poem “Stop All The Clocks” as aired most famously in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Well, my stopping of clocks is a different story. On arriving home at Nolan Towers having taken the Current Mrs Nolan out for her daily boxercise, I glanced at my watch and then the clock on the mantlepiece (posh eh?). The clock was showing the wrong time by quite some margin and clearly needed a new battery (nobody said it was an antique). Bizarrely the same had happened to the kitchen clock and the one in the conservatory. What were the chances of that happening?

clocks were wrong. Since a watch battery is a nonessential item, my watch does not work at all now, so I walk around guessing the time by the position of the sun or moon. Of course, 6:30 is the best time on a clock… hands down. They are also making a movie about clocks. It’s about time. To continue the theme, I once made a belt out of clocks. It was a waist of time.

She Who Must Be Obeyed and I recently sat down to a fine repast of “Boneless smoked haddock fillets from the Barents Sea.” I spoil that woman. On closer inspection, the packaging said, “May contain bones!” It should have gone on to say, “May not be from the Barents Sea either.”

Staying in the supermarket aisles, I was drawn to this the other day. 2 organic chicken breasts for £17.30. What a rip-off. Being in a fowl mood over this (see what I did there), I researched what a whole live bird might cost. Hybrid laying chickens at point of lay, or 17 weeks old, cost around £15 each.

These chickens usually lay between 250 and 330 eggs in their first laying year. 6 organic eggs in the same supermarket were £1.80 or 30p each. So, if we take an average year of 290 eggs, our new hen will lay the equivalent of £87 worth of eggs. So, the moral of this tale is to buy a live chicken and not parts of a dead one for £17.30. You can always eat the chicken when you are bored with the eggs.

Anyway, ever the DIY guru I set about replacing all three batteries. One was particularly tricky since it involved carefully removing the hands of the pottery clock shown here to access the mechanism.

Mission accomplished and I felt suitably proud, briefly. Later that day I glanced at my watch and realised that it had stopped. Duh, there was nothing wrong with the three clocks in the first place. I had assumed my posh watch was correct and the

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I am beginning to think I’ve been locked down too long. It’s got so bad I just watched a chicken cross the road. It was poultry in motion.

Yes, we have all been locked down for too long and are part-way to going stir crazy. To lighten the mood, I chanced to listen to the wireless the other day and the popular beat combo, Busted, were playing their classic “Year 3,000” ditty. For the uninitiated, the basic premise of the song is that their neighbour, Pete, built himself a time machine, as you do and

travelled forward to the year 3,000. Apparently, it’s Came across this word the other day “farrago.” the same as now except everyone lives underwater.

Apparently, it means a confused mixture of words So, it patently is not the same as now then is it. which I think sums up my writing style perfectly.

Pete goes on to confirm that their great-great-greatViewing a holiday apartment for rent in Skiathos, granddaughter is doing fine. Some comfort there Greece. “The owners of the other flats are mostly you might think. Far be it from me to be a killjoy but British (off-putting in itself I would suggest). the year 3,000 is 979 years hence so their greatThe management of the building is done in a great-great-granddaughter would have been very professional manner and the Annual General dead for hundreds of years by then. Methinks Pete Meeting takes place once a year.” I love these has been drinkingconservatory too much at home, likewethe rest pinpointGreek traditions. is so big that couldn’t and we were on the ferry. of us. it but because it sounded like our next door There was no Customs inspection in France as neighbour was messing about in his garden. A few forwe had already inspected and we off tothree In business I were was the first time been the other daynews, and the unique hours later a sparrow introduced itself to us which word Paris.

We repeated the people location I was looking forsmuggling was Lost!” recently copied in “You on exercise a Are grant on the fault way back.

Quite what would have happened must have flown in when the patio doors were Design or user error? related letter from the National if Customs had found Colonel Gaddafi stowing open. Being man, the hunter, I used my instinctive Lottery Ifor fisheries project.

Talking of intolerance, amaled to believe that the away on a St. Peter’s Rugby Club bus is anybody’s tracking and trapping skills and picked the little guy term heckler originated fromwas the also textilecopied trade, to where The email guess but it would certainly have caused a major up and released him back into the wild. No harm to heckle was to atease or comb-out flaxCrab. or hemp Ms Limpet and Mr You diplomatic incident. done………………..well, until next door’s cat got whether the animal fibres. The modern meaning was in Dundee thiscoined up.urologist Just to be clear: cannot Did you make hear about the him. in the early 19th century. As the hecklers toiled in I was sent this from who was eaten by bear? wasemail a meteorologist Staying with hunting, if I were illegally hunting for the factory, one of athe teamHewould read out the days’ ge student (meaty urologist, please mushrooms, would I have questionable morels? aohclient ofyourselves). mine: “Hi Vince news and the others would butt in with constant which covered The Leader of the Opposition I were sitting Also, what do you call a deer who has lost both - aany chance you can do in With interruptions and stream ofand “furious debate.” y, a test was held. ourinsocially The Funky Furlough, eyes in a hunting accident? No eye deer. this mind Idistanced have some quality put-downs 12collated onlocal, Wednesday 24th d there) passed whencomics a lady close byused to usto asked Barmodern Manager I have decided that when Trump dies, I will give which have dealthe with day instead?

Something come square contained if the toilets were still upstairs. He of course his eulogy. I will say: “He is today how he was as hecklers: legs. No bodies, up on Thursday. Or I could President……….wearing make-up and lying in front confirmed that they were but I thought this to be a s asked to identify “What size of shoe does your take?” do earlier that mouth day just need very stupid question. I would have said something of us. Amen.”

Ricky Tomlinson ent sat and stared to mice something.”

Now like: “I don’t I was recently asked by the son of a good friend “This is what comes from drinking onknow an empty nute. Finally he I know I have written about sell-buy dates before mice is close to madam move on when wasthe of mine if I would write a urology for his Dad’s head.” re theatre and but a recentfuneral. trip to Imy local supermarket on a Friday keyboard so thinkusthat’s lastI with but wewhat didn’t have the heart to say eulogy sk. “This is the “I know where you of were when they were handing revealed almost no perishables would the a great withthat Mark Daceymake (on the them out I knewZoom whatcall he meant.

Anyway, here is leS) who is the dynamic CEO d. The Lecturer I recently hadbut he meant. moved Ian just can’t gettoaway the brains out………getting extra helping of following Monday.

In fact I had some doubt whether ou have not filled Neath Port Talbot the car park many no what IGroup wrote:of Colleges. It does not need me to suggest the uncanny from my keyboard.

There’s mouth.” they would make ittotoactor the Ricky car for the journey home. resemblance he has Tomlinson or vice versa. u have definitely months ago as a My favourite Mike tale, (he was affectionately escape. So, I went into a bar What is going on because it’s nothing to do with EU ” you know, if you wore direct soundproof trousers no consequence asabout Gaddafi because his likeness Isupply know I issues? haveknown wriKen sell-buy dates before but a recent trip“Do to my local supermarket Closer inspection of of the packaging with the keyboard under my one would hear a word you’re saying.”

Perhaps to the former Libyan leader), involved a tripmake the following Monday. In fact I of Covid19.” on a Friday revealed almost no perishables that would revealed countries of origin for fruit and veg like s to the knee As part of our home education programme, the arm. The barman said, “we don’tthis want yourdotyping is whyamount not run to Paris to watch Wales play France.

Wecar for the Tanzania and Argentina.

So these comestibles ll me! “ some doubt whether they would make it to the What is going one journey day“Is leSthat onhome. theyour sell-buy date.

It takes an inordinate of skill to supply goods “ real face or are you stillI celebrating Leaderhad of the Opposition and I have been watching in here.” a pub. hadnothing 20 year relationship withCloser in-@me” with 24 to spare. Waste levels must be astronomical. arebecause cultivated indeveloped exotic picked, Halloween?” on it’s to climes, doa with EU supplypackaged, issues? inspec@on of hours the packaging featuring Darcy Bus-Stop, sorry for thefour separate A wife sent her French side and distributed them home and taken totravelogues thea port or origin airport, UK and revealed countries of for played fruit and vegaround like Tanzania Argen@na. these Staying with food,So I have been doing some research into what is no longer manufactured ate. They have “Your bus leaves in 10day minutes...

Be under it.”

Susan Calpol, Joanna Lovely and Katy Bumble.

I penned this line thebutother whilst walking husband a romantic away on French international weekends.

On warehouses then delivered to the shops and put on the UK. The list is endless here is a small sample:out Pringles (Belgium), Smar@es (Cana comes@bles are cul@vated in exo@c climes, picked, packaged, taken to the port or airport, elonging and text message.

She wrote: “If you are sleeping, send particular tripleft (Mike’s first), we did date. it in the the shelvesthis with one day on the sell-buy Itwith Colman’s English Mustard ( Germany), Terrys Chocolate Orange (France) She: “Spring will have sprung when your nose “Well, it’s a night out for him.. and a night off forand hisHP (Houses distributed around UK warehouses then delivered to the shops and put on the shelves with re being tutored takes an inordinate Parliament) (The Netherlands).

Staggering. amount skilltotoDover, goods me Sauce your dreams.

If you more. are laughing, send me your way, of a bus crossing We were hoping toold-fashioned see unexplored areas ofsupply theferry don’t run.”

I may compose family.” st cause some “just-in-time” with to spare.

Waste levels smile.

If you are knock.” eating,“Who’s send me a bite.

If you are “LiKle old lady who and then24 onhours toone Paris.

I was sitting to him. AtHere’s one for you: “Knock there?”

“LiKle old lady.”

UK we could go and explore day.

Much asnext we “Idrinking, need stereo.” must be astronomical. idea youyou could yodel.” sendlike meVan a sip.Gogh If youneeded are crying, send me Dover, a uniformed Customs Officer came onto “I had no love all four of these ladies, they each set about And finally, word of the month: Agathokakological, I love Her husband texted back: “ as our food, bus and said: “Just hold up some your passports I am a man of tears. a certain age soyou.” my tolerance threshold does work as well it used to Iyour walked into our local bar, The and Staying have been doing visiting the samewith places inI the UK within days of research meaning composed of both good andMoaning evil.

YouMonet when being asked to embrace technology.

I was therefore I’mVan in theGogh toilet, please advise.” guys and I will come along and count them and par@cularly saw sitting at thenew end on a bar stool.

I heartened w into what is no longer manufactured in the UK. The each other. If I see one more shot me of Whitby Abbey scholars Must will have known thatdownload this comes from Obeyed suggested app calledthe What3Words. This is you.”

Mike turned said “I Pringles didn’t know She Who shoutedBe“Hey Vince do Iyou wanta new a drink?” list is endless but here is a to smalland sample: naviga@on aid which(good) divides theand World into 3 metre squares and gives each square a uni where Bram Stoker was inspired to write Dracula, Greek, agathos kakos (bad).

I suspect Happy New Year Dear Reader, the Year of the we needed a passport and I haven’t got one.”

I (Belgium), Smarties (Canada), Colman’s English combina@on of three words.

I s@ll“No drivethanks, about a lotI’ve for business, believe it or not and I w He back: already I will definitely stir The locals have of shouted the slang word “Kak” comes heregot one this going to from be lucky said crazy. “oh spiffi ng” or wordsmust to that effect. Then,our inassured auseOx. Mustardgo (Germany), Terrys Chocolate Orange that Apparently this system would beyear muchis more accurate than using our sat nav. I used it ear.” had enough of showing celebs around on aWar backtoo. theother Ox representing diligence, scene a World 2 prisoner of war (France) and HP reminiscent (Houses ofofParliament) Sauce (The the firstwith @me the day and the unique three wordpersistence loca@on I was looking for was “Yo Design fault orNot user for error? and honesty. going to be Trump’s year escape story, Mike ducked into the footwellAre Lost!”

Staggering. to-backNetherlands). basis during these difficult times.down Travel Adios Amigos then is it? next to restrictions? me and I piled his coat and mine on top of restrictions, what travel Kalimera Chums Here’s one for you: “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” him. I told him not to move, whilst we were both

Talk of

“Little old lady.” “Little old lady who?” “I had no idea reduced to laughing uncontrollably. The Customs you could yodel.” guy walked the bus, did the count, missed Mike

I am a man of a certain age so my tolerance threshold does not work as well as it used to particularly when being asked to embrace new technology. I was therefore heartened when She Who Must Be Obeyed suggested I download a new

CARDIFF TIMES 11

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CARDIFF TIMES 13

ModernFour Nature: Foraging Months

Words and Photography: Jen Abell Staying Connected.

Keen-eyed wanderers spend years taking trips to find foraging spots, many of them fruitless. This is why we’ve all met foragers reluctant to give their maps and tip-offs. This is fair. It’s important to respect the protection of their hardour won neighbours, oversubscribed garden and annual rituals when we start ourcentres soil searching. climate crisis have given this home grown, sustainable Before you read this guide, remember three things: style a resurge in popularity. Here are some routes to 1) Think of your neighbours.

Leave enough for them to help you stay connected with growing spaces, plant enjoy. swaps and each other this growing season.

Words and Photography by Jen Abell

2) Think of the birds and the ecosystem. Fill a bottle with Finding Spacecordial, not a cellar. elderflower Edible Cardiff supports individuals and groups of 3) Doubt what you’ve found? Leave it in the ground.

After World War Two, Britain had an allotment for people to grow food and flowers. I cannot exaggerate The agricultural revolution has long been thought of as an That have to be anisexpert to dip at your every five houses.

Every five My tiny my love forsaid, whatyou thisdon’t group offers.

This anarchism advancement of humankind.

For houses. the first time, westreet staked snips into foraging.

Start with common plants and see of ten cottages could have two allotments to tend its best.

A true glimpse at organisations helping local a claim in one spot, relishing the safety of predictable food where your interest takes you. Here are some of nature’s sources. together. As it is, most of our houses have outdoor people self-determine what they’d like to happen to the obvious offerings to look out for over the next 4 months: space for a few pots, a bench, and a shady corner for Eventually, new-found nutritional safety allowed us spare space they live in and use daily. Have you had your March: a beloved cat.a Grateful these spaces though we a bit of scrubland, park or otherwise? Edible time, instigating surge in for all manner of useful inventions we eye on are atoday. long way from achieving self-sufficiency.

Cardiff can support to find out who owns leaves it and that grow takeare, for we granted What?

Nettles.you Green coarsely toothed Long before this, the typical cottage garden was a how2-5ft to seek permissions for use for growing. They tall.

With Climate Crisis no longer looming, but hovering over effortlike between family, birds give planting workshops and resources to groups who ourcollaborative heads, historians Yuval friends, Noah Harari are citing the Used for: Soup, risotto, fritters, pizza, cake, plant food, and neighbours.

There were gardenthat centres, and want to bring people together through planting too. agricultural revolution not as the no moment we took a smoothies, tea, beer. Nettle is a blood purifier, mild laxative nolifestyles, plants in clever April - 5th June sees theC.first Edible Cardiff taste Spring stepcertainly to secure but thatpackaging we fell fordelivered a Trojan horse, 17thand packed with Vitamin It adds a similar to broccoli trapping ourselves in a static cycle of damage to through letter boxes.

Green spaces were a both hotpotch festival.

Expect workshops, giveaways and planting in soups. ourselves and our planet. mish mash of seeds lovingly collected from spent happenings. Get in touch with Lisa on Where? Incredibly common. Railway embankments, the crops thethis year Successful, food focused to take part, and get those We know asbefore. the moment that provided an opportunity lisa@farmgarden.org.uk Ely River, Bute Park. were locally thefrom growing for sowings animal-derived virus’ shared to makeduring the leap beast to dates in the diary!

Foraging tips: Don’t pick the plant when in flower, this man.

We have thank for tuberculosis, horses season.

Thisgoats is mytogarden, and gardening style of for the changes the nutritional quality. Early Spring or Late Autumn common ducks for influenza, cows for measles choice.cold, A culmination of pandemic instigated time and as Finding Plant Friends is advised. Wear gloves. If eating raw, use a pestle and for Covid-19: the jury’s out… in our own gardens and parks, increased time with There are many official organisations and individual mortar so to pulverise the formic acid (this puts the ‘sting’ in Is this the moment our diets became less varied? (Would community stinging initiatives nettle). helping to share seedlings in you like some wheat with that wheat?) That the planet began Cardiff. Growing Street Talk run focused weeks for to groan under the weight of human industry? The beginning neighbourhood giveaways at the start of the growing of physical inactivity and excess food supply evolving into the lifestyle diseases we now think are unavoidable? Diabetes, season (usually June). Last year, I gave away 30 stroke, gout to name a few. What were we doing before we tomato plants and 10 spinach plants as part of this, made this ‘leap’? We were gatherers; eating our way across meeting wonderful locals who I’m still in touch with the planet with the seasons and without passports. We now. A whopping 500 seedlings and plants donated moved monthly, sometimes daily, eating all the antioxidant- by local gardeners were given away by Hope St rich varieties nature had to offer, no mile-long lorry queues at Mellons in 2020. They intend on doing it again, keep Dover required. an eye on their social media for this year’s offerings.

We can’t change the past. But with a strange locked down Round of applause: Llanrhumney Hall Community Spring around the corner, we can use home sprung exercise Trust have already given away £2000 worth of Winter expeditions to channel the spirit of our ancestors and bulbs to community groups this year. New Facebook improve our present.

In and around Cardiff, even on short strolls, I stumble across blackberries, dog rose and apples. We are spoilt by 14 CARDIFF TIMES nature’s spoils, no gardens or allotments necessary. With high vegetable diets proven to fight disease, and time in nature a known mood booster, we may enjoy more than a

April: What? Wild Garlic (pictured). Green leaves with white flowers with separate triangular petals.

communities like ‘Cardiff & Local Rooted Cuttings Swap or Free’ are a friendly bunch you can join that have a steady stream of swaps. For the social media averse; a beautiful phone box near Roath Park is being used for book and seed giveaways. I’m told there’s one in Dinas Powys too. So inspiring! Weave this into your daily exercise, or find a spot to start your own.

Digging deeper Into Food and Growing If Brexit induced cabbage shortages have pushed your nutritional focus further than your dinner table; Food Cardiff is a must watch organisation for you. They work with local businesses to make sustainable and affordable food available for all. They’re also doing important work to understand the great Cardiff masses’ food aspirations for the future. Subscribe to their newsletter to attend open invite meetings and share your views. Fill in their surveys to help them advocate and influence Cardiff’s longer term food strategy.

The Woodland Trust, Natural Resources Wales and even Cardiff’s Hubs run sporadic tree planting initiatives. Volunteering at intensive planting days is a great way to get moving with purpose, in nature.

We’ve visited apple and cherry trees my partner planted in Butetown last year several times on our walks this Spring and feel far more connected to our locality because of his hand in shaping it. Growing workshops, like so many other learning environments, have been quick to move online during the pandemic.

Organisations such as Be More Squirrel, Global Gardens, Grow Cardiff and Growing Street Talk offer workshops, support groups and downloadable gardening help if you prefer self-guided learning. My photography project @diffmustbetheplace celebrates Cardiff gardens great and small. If you need inspiration, this labour of love documentary project is a super way of glimpsing local gardening ingenuity in full flourish.

Giving Plant Friends There is no greater sphere of influence than your immediate circle. Lockdown has seen neighbourhood schemes flourish: plant giveaways, prescription pickups, remote befriending and free food initiatives to name a few. I started a Whatsapp group for my little street back in 2018. Be warned; asking barely known neighbours if they want to join your group feels like asking someone for a first date. What’s the right time?

When they’re coming back with shopping? Going out in a rush? Being dragged by their puppy? What if they say no?? Take the plunge and your daily life becomes brighter in my experience. We now have a mobilised community if someone has excess food, plants, loses a pet, needs something from the shop or locks their keys (and baby!) in their car. The stay local lockdown became not only bearable but often enjoyable with our little street ensemble. Give it a go and see what happens, you may end up sharing more than plants.

You can always donate spare seeds and seedlings to fundraising charities when events are back up and running too. And of course, a good old-fashioned basket of plants with a ‘free please take’ is the perfectly analogue way to share and meet new friends.

All serviceable within social distance and daily exercise guidelines too.

Don’t underestimate your garden’s ability to influence the ecosystem. I’m one of 41,405 members of ‘Wildlife Gardening Forum’ on Facebook. Using the average UK garden size as a guide, that’s potentially 7,886,950 square metres of space we collectively steward. And we’re all gardening with the birds and bees as priority, what a movement! Whether you have a garden or gardening skills or not, there are plenty of ways to influence the way we eat food now, in the future and the environment that we enjoy today. Get following, supporting and volunteering with these initiatives.

You could do far worse than filling your newsfeed with community fuelled green messages of hope.

Something you plant today could feed a stranger in Autumn, what a wonderful thought.

Jen Abell | @ffotojenic

CARDIFF TIMES 15

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The positive effects of learning a musical instrument.

From toddlerhood to secondary school our two boys have progressed through various music classes at Forte School of Music.

They have moved on from the simple enjoyment of music and movement to preparing to sit grade 8 piano.

We have always been impressed with the team at Forte with their enthusiasm, friendliness, and expertise. In more recent times their flexibility of approach has meant that lessons have continued, and progress has not been lost.

The syllabus at Forte is carefully planned to suit the needs of the child at each stage of their learning. The quality of teaching is excellent, and we have always felt that the individual needs of our children have been catered for.

The learning partner approach in the junior years was of huge benefit as it enabled us to confidently support our boys with their practice at home. This style of teaching made it a family commitment and it helped us when their confidence or engagement waivered. The experience and support of the staff also helped us when our children felt that they had had enough of ‘this learning business’ or when they lost their nerve before an exam. We felt reassured that the challenges would be worth it.

Over the years, Forte charity Playathons and The Forte Festival taught them how to prepare to perform in front of an audience. It was a gentle introduction to performing music in public both as a member of a small group and as an individual. It really boosted their confidence.

COVID-19 restrictions have not disrupted their learning due to the quick response of the Forte team. Our youngest son was able to pass grade 5 theory having completed most of his learning on Zoom. Both boys have been receiving piano lessons via Skype with their regular teacher and our youngest son has moved from learning violin at school to continuing online with Forte. Including music practice as part of their daily routine has provided welcome relief from home/schooling, as well as keeping them away from their phones for a while!

As parents we have observed other positive effects that learning a musical instrument can offer a child.

Our boys have greater appreciation of the organisation, commitment and focus needed to be successful. Preparing for piano exams has been a challenge for both boys (and for us as parents) but, over time and with the support of their dedicated teachers, they have become far more organised, resilient and independent. This has spilled over to their school life in general.

They have now become interested in learning contemporary piano pieces of their own choosing and appear to really appreciate the ability to be able to play current tunes.

After over fifteen years of attending classes, we have no hesitation in recommending Forte School of Music.

Thanks to Jane Travaglia and her sons Sam and Joe for telling their story.

If you would like to experience how music lessons can make a positive impact on a child's life (or indeed your own) contact us today for a FREE trial lesson.

4, Radyr Court Shops, Danescourt Way, Llandaff Cardiff, CF5 2SF. Telephone 029 2063 1340 fortecardiff@fortemusic.co.uk www.fortemusic.co.uk/cardiff.

CARDIFF TIMES 17

In The Words Of

By Carl Marsh

and we can all do our bit by voting for her. The link is at the bottom of the interview I did with her.

That is all!

I will see you next month, so do stay sane, keep healthy, and have as good a month as best as you can!

Carl Marsh Twitter - @InTheWordsOf_CM Facebook - @InTheWordsOf YouTube - InTheWordsOf ---One year on, I am still driving my Asda van, not as much as I was 12 months ago, but I am still doing what needs to be done to earn a wage. I can only hope that swimming pools can reopen soon to continue with my teaching of lessons.

I want to recommend a few TV series to watch, but something tells me you will be aware - unless you live on the moon. Line of Duty has returned. I have not seen episode one yet, but I’m excited for what this series can hopefully bring based on the last five series. Keeping Faith is also back for a final season. I have seen the first episode of this, and all I can say is it’s impactful, and Eve nails it like she always does. This third (and last) series has a time jump of 18 months to 2 years in the future, and we find that Steve has ended up living in the woods, and Faith is not with him. Faith also has set up her own law firm. I am saying nothing else. Just get stuck in! And if Eve Myles reads this (I’m told she does read the magazine) - the last scene, yikes!

Interviews This month, I enjoyed chatting with two immensely talented women in their respective fields of work. Melanie Blake, our cover star, is the author of Ruthless Women, a fictional tale about the goings-on (and off) of soap operas. Melanie has plenty of experience of this world that her book is set in, seeing as she has been working in it for over 20 years. As I said already, it’s fictional but based on real characters!

My second interview is a real treat as it’s with one of the world’s biggest rising stars in the acting world, and she’s Welsh and from Penarth! Morfydd Clark has been in so many productions, last seen in Saint Maud, Eternal Beauty and His Dark Materials. She is now filming in New Zealand for the Amazon Prime series of the Lord of the Rings.

Morfydd is now nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star award,

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With one bestseller under her belt with Thunder Girls and a sold-out tour of the theatrical shows, Melanie Blake has another bestseller on her hands here with Ruthless Women.

Having been on Australian TV that morning, she was about

to go on Australian TV again, but this time in the evening, so I got a chance to talk to her between the two.

which character it was aimed at, but once I got to the end, it made sense. You knocked me for six with that ending.

You’re a genius!

Carl Marsh I’ve read the book, and based on my own experiences, the characters are authentic, maybe too real. Very early on, we get to meet a character called Jake Monroe; people like him - embarrassingly - do exist, don’t they?

Melanie Blake Jake Monroe is absolutely real.

When I wrote that book, I got (something) like 50 emails from actors, and I thought no actress in the world would ever speak to me again. Soap operas are their bread and butter. This book does not paint soap operas in a good light. My favourite review is that it’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada of the soap industry because it can only be written by an insider’. (Actress) Stephanie Beacham quoted that too.

Carl Marsh And of your friends and contacts in the entertainment industry, you must have ruffled quite a few feathers?

Melanie Blake You should see my inbox. It’s full of threats. I literally send them back and type, “Listen, you’re lucky that I’ve not named you!” - and they shut up quickly. And I will tell you this when the readers meet the characters of Ruthless Women, they’ll be thinking: “Oh my God, some of these characters that are supposedly nice, yet are so awful, can’t possibly be true?” Well, I’ll tell you, dear readers, if you want to know who’s nice in show-business. You watch for the woman holding up the biggest ‘Be Kind’ sign because she is stone-cold nasty: Every-single-time! The nice woman, the woman who is the salt of the earth, the woman who will treat you with respect. She doesn’t need to hold up a sign saying ‘Be Kind’. But equally, I’ve been overwhelmed with women saying, ‘Thank you for sharing our story. I’ve had Beverly Callard and Kate Ford (Coronation Street) quote; Samantha Giles, Gaynor Faye and Claire King (Emmerdale), and even Sally Lindsay. They’ve all tweeted. This is a toxic book, you would think they would stay a million miles away from it as it’s their bread and butter, but they’re drawn (to it) like a moth to a flame, saying: “You have to read this book, guys”.

And what does that mean? They want people to know.

Carl Marsh Well, I loved the book too. Even before I read it, on the back of the book, I read the blurb, and it says: ‘Hell hath no fury like a ruthless woman scorned’, and it always bugged me

Melanie Blake Thank you so much for saying that, because that book was turned down by 30 publishers, who told me - and we obviously can’t spoil it for the readers - (spoilers deleted) “Are you joking?” And I said: “You need to trust me, I know what I am doing”. And when you get to it [the ending], every single bit of it makes sense.

For me, what I have loved is to read the reader reviews. Apart from The Times, none of the (other) high brows are reviewing this. I am the only person in the Sunday Times Top 10 that is working-class, uneducated, as I’m educated in the school of life. I’ve got no qualifications. I’ve not got a degree. I’m not a Booker Prize winner. I’m not a female Prize winner. I’m an outsider in that top 10. And therefore, I’m being ignored by the establishment. Four weeks a Sunday Times bestseller, and not a single review in any of the high-end newspapers, because they do not want (to know) the fact that I have written a book that the real people of this country will love.

And with the publishers that turned it down, they didn’t want something out there - and coining a weird phrase when you’re an agent where they’d go: “it’s the wrong money”! And that’s because they want to be cool.

I don’t want to be cool. I want to be popular.

Carl Marsh When you wrote this book, was it before or during all of this COVID stuff?

Melanie Blake I wrote the book for 17 hours, seven days a week, in the first lockdown. I had been an agent for 20 years. And I’ve been reporting to actresses living all their lives, bankruptcies, betrayal, sackings, whatever. Like, I didn’t know what to do with myself when the agency closed down because of COVID. So, for some reason, I went to work and reported to these fictitious women of Falcon Bay, where I then told their story like a medium. I felt like Whoopi Goldberg. It literally just came out of me. And I was just putting it out there. When I read it back, I just thought that this is either the craziest thing in the world, or this book will go all over the world. It’s now translated into Hungarian, Romanian, and Russian. It’s in Australia, America, Canada. It’s insane.

Literally, it’s going all over-the-world.

CARDIFF TIMES 19

worked with him [Gary Owen] would say that; he champions everyone he works with.

Carl Marsh Had it not been for what you are filming right now (Amazon Prime’s Lord of the Rings), I know you would have been leading the way in many US movie productions, as you’ve already made those foundations in Hollywood with your stellar performance in Saint Maud. Does a part of you wish you hadn’t signed up for this lengthy filming schedule [reportedly seven years] as more options would have come your way?

Photographer: Guy Coombes, Stylist: Paris Mitchell Temple, Hair and Make-Up: Kath Gould.

Penarth’s Morfydd Clark is an actress that is going places, her last movie role, as Maud in Saint Maud, blew everybody away, so much so that she has been nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star award this year.

Currently filming the Amazon Prime Lord of the Rings (LOTR) series in New Zealand, I had a very early morning video call with her.

Carl Marsh You’ve been nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star award 2021, and I know you’ve worked with many people to get you to this glorious position where you are, so of them, who would you say has had the most significant influence?

Morfydd Clark I would say it’s Gary Owen (Welsh playwright). I’ve been really lucky to be in two plays of his, and one of which was my first play in London. The play Violence and Son was life-changing for me because it was just the most amazing play and most brilliant character.

It was also about lots of things that I was very interested in in terms of kind of consent, the legacy of our parents and grandparents, and being on (the) stage in London. Then I did The Cherry Orchard in the Sherman Theatre, and being on the stage that I’d seen plays on all through my childhood was a wonderful thing. I think many people who have 20 CARDIFF TIMES

Morfydd Clark I am finding (with) this new stage of my career where I have the luxury of choice, inducing because you have different paths that could happen. But in terms of [LOTR] - I’ve never done a series, and I’m really enjoying the new challenge of that because it is the long game, And I also love series’. I love films, but I’m always sad when they’re done at two hours.

I’m always like, “When’s the sequel”, “Is there a prequel to this?” And so, I’m really glad to be a part of something that I love. At the moment, I’m obsessed with Black Sails and The Last Kingdom. And Black Sails only had four series — which is sad!

Carl Marsh We want Wales to get behind you by voting for this public voted BAFTA Award nomination. What message have you got for them to vote for Morfydd Clark, as I know we can’t force anyone to vote (laughs)?

Morfydd Clark I don’t know if it’s “Why vote for Morfydd Clark?”, but I just feel that as I’m far away from home at the moment. And I’ve been living away from Wales for a long time, and I do think that if I hadn’t been Welsh, I very well may not have pursued acting or had so many of the experiences within the arts that I have.

I’m incredibly grateful for the privileges of being Welsh that I’d had no concept of when growing up there, and they’re now so much more apparent. I’m just really thankful to have grown up in Wales.

Please vote for Morfydd Clark via this link to BAFTA: https://ee.co.uk/why-ee/ee-baftas#rising

CARDIFF TIMES 21

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS? Viney Hearing Care is back open offering our full range of services across the hearing spectrum.

We have all been through a very challenging time but for some the added difficulty of hearing loss has made lockdown unbearably isolating. Struggling to hear the latest news and information, struggling to communicate with family has left some feeling anxious and lonely.

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It could be wax blocking your ears, our microsuction procedure is the safest and most effective way to clean your ears.

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Fashion Done Your Own Way

By Molly Dutton

Another month has come and gone and I’m really starting to believe that these days don’t actually exist. This, of course, means that we are getting closer and closer to those long summer nights spent with friends and family, having BBQs, and basking in the good weather (that was a subtle hint to the weatherman if he’s listening). Now, you all are undoubtedly expecting a summer run-down of all the trends that I am expecting to pop up over the next few months but, whilst I am predictable in many things, I have decided to switch things up this time around; this month we are going to delve into the beauty world, a world that I quite frankly forgot existed until I had to raid my makeup box for a bit of back to school glam. Makeup is a term that seems incredibly alien to me after months of fresh-faced days and no social outings, but the time has come to grab the brushes and pop on some colourful eyeshadow ready for the summer of all summers (can you tell I’m desperate for a good one)? I have drastically changed my makeup routine over the past year to fit the new routine that I have become so familiar with, mostly due to the fact that the weather has been fairly kind (at least during lockdown one) and I have preferred to experiment with different looks every now and again, instead of one typical daily routine. Since I have lost touch with the beauty trends of today, I

26 CARDIFF TIMES

thought that this month’s article would be the best opportunity to explore the popular items that I have seen filling my social media feeds; they certainly seem much more exciting than my usual mascara and concealer combo. As I’ve mentioned before, this is a space for fun and experimenting, sprinkled with complete honesty as to whether certain items are worth your time, so let’s get comfortable with makeup again.

I think it’s only appropriate that I discuss the most important part of my routine with you which is, of course, the brows. I am certainly no stranger to a fierce brow (in the best and worst sense of the word). I also feel that the ideal brow style has changed the most significantly out of all of the makeup products, making it extremely difficult to keep up with! Now, to save us all from getting overly confused about what brows are ‘in’, I have conducted some research into the most common trends at the moment and they have all pointed me towards one style: the soap brow. This brow style took me hugely by surprise when it came onto the scene in lockdown number one, mostly because for once, my eyebrows were actually compatible with it. As someone who has always had very dark and unruly brows, I found it hard to mould them into the well-shaped, sharp brows of the early 2010s, a fact that made my younger self quite sad actually. But, as with many trends, there is always one that will be perfect for you and the soap brow has allowed many bushy-browed girls and guys have their chance to shine. The ‘soap brow’ is quite literally what it says in the name. All that is required is a bar of soap (or men’s hair gel) and an eyebrow brush.

You rub the brush into the soap and transfer it onto the brows, brushing the hairs in an upward motion and sticking them down. If you prefer the no-hassle approach, many beauty salons offer lamination which gives a more semi-permanent soap brow

look without ruining your mum’s Dove bar. You end up with gorgeous fluffy brows that last all day.

This effort-free approach to flawless brows is a winner for me and I recommend that you try it just once to see how you feel about it, I think you’ll be surprised.

As for our glowing summer skin, a new contender has weaselled its way into my top ten beauty products (which currently consists of three, given my neglect of my makeup products). A good cream blush is something that would have scared me to death in my early teens but has now been actively embraced as I have grown to appreciate the idea of healthy-looking, glowing skin. Whilst my previous motive would be to cover as much of my face as possible with an ill-matched foundation, it has become essential for me to try and reflect as much naturalness as possible through my beauty choices. The main fear associated with blush is over application; many people picture bright red circles taking over their cheeks, when in fact this can be very easily avoided. Typically, you only need a few drops of cream blush to unleash your inner

goddess (not dramatic at all) and, controversially, I would throw out the brush for this one and resort to your hands for a flushed glow. I would advise that you try and pick a colour that matches your skin’s undertones, so if you have pink undertones try not to purchase orange shades that will create too much contrast with your complexion.

Makeup and beauty are entirely personal so whilst it is good fun to play around with the trends, it is especially important to find what works for you and experiment with colours that highlight your character and features. There is a definite science behind the colour choices of makeup products, and I have yet to become accustomed with all the rules, but I can tell you confidently that summer is the best time to embrace your artist and really go to town with your looks. Whatever you choose will look beautiful when worn with confidence and a smile. I haven’t got the hang of the blue or green eyeshadow looks yet but when I do, makeup chaos will be unleashed, and signs of subtleness will be far out the window. Always be bold, and when you’re ready, be brave.

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£12

31

IT REALLY IS A SMALL WORLD.

By Michael James Last month I wrote about coincidences and little did I know at the time that I can relate to comments or situations written about by three of my fellow contributors to this wonderful community magazine.

Not exactly coincidences, more like similar experiences that make me comment, “It really is a small world!” Let me explain. Wyn Evans recently wrote a lovely piece about his daughter, ‘The Girl’ as he calls her, who has Downs Syndrome and is quite fiercely living her life with the attitude of ‘disability does not mean inability’. ‘The Girl’ attends Cardiff High School and takes her place among her fellow pupils as an equal and loves to take part in many physical activities, with high levels of achievement. Go (The) Girl!

In the hymn, ‘Who Would True Valour See’, comes the line, ‘his first avowed intent, to be a pilgrim’, had me wondering, “why on earth would a pilgrim be making his vows, in a tent?” It wasn’t until many years later, singing from a hymn book, that I first realised how wrong I was. His final paragraph, about David losing his ID and is now known as Dav, had me remembering about a school mate, David Davies, being known as Dai Twice. Nothing new under the sun, eh Vince?

I am in awe of that, and it only confirms what I have seen for myself among a couple of my friends who have Downs Syndrome and others with either physical and/or learning disabilities and their parents or helpers who do everything they can to help them lead a full a life as possible. My wife helps with a group of adults with learning and physical disabilities, Cardiff Prospects or Causeway. They meet together, at 3.00 pm every other Sunday afternoon at Albany Road Baptist Church and, they brighten our lives and are a joy to be with. It gives us a small insight into what it is like to have a family member with different disabilities and the way that they really enhance the lives of those who know and love them.

Finally, and this really is a coincidence. It seems that I have more in common with Sara John than just being a fellow contributor. We were both brought up in the little village of Ton Pentre, in the upper reaches of The Rhondda Valley, but did not know of each other’s existence. It really is a small world. In the February edition, Sara wrote about her first visit to the pictures (Cinema) to see The Red Shoes, in the Workmans Hall, the local Institute of the miners from the Maindy and Eastern Colliery. I used to go regularly to the ‘Works’, sometimes twice a week, if and when I could afford it, not to see the same film but because the main programme used to change twice a week. Unlike Sara, I can’t remember my first visit but one early visit I do remember was with my Mother and Father to see the 1943 version of, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, starring Claude Rains. Not the most suitable film for a boy of about six or seven, I was scared stiff and suffered nightmares for many weeks afterwards. To this day I still don’t watch horror films!

Secondly, Vince Nolan, who always manages to make me smile and, sometimes, laugh out loud, with his stories and anecdotes about people he has observed or overheard on his travels or visits to his local hostelries. It seems that we both love rugby and Guinness and I laughed at his needing to finish off the remaining cans he bought after one exploded. They say that Guinness is good for you, it really shouldn’t be trying to kill you off. Vince ended his article by saying that he was disappointed to learn that the phrase, ‘having murderous intent’, was nothing to do with camping. That reminded me of my early days in Chapel, regularly learning to sing hymns by repetition.

I suspect that Sara must be much younger than I because I cannot remember her and, of course, as she is married her maiden name will have changed but our childhood memories will have been of similar places and occasions. Ton Pentre is not a large village, it’s main street is probably no longer than Albany Road but much life was packed into the surrounding terraced streets of miners cottages, although, not seemingly growing out of the steep mountain sides as drawn by Gren in his wonderful cartoons of the Welsh Valleys.

Unlike many South Wales villages, Ton Pentre as nearly all on the flat floor of the steep valley between two large mountain ranges. It does not even have a

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rugby team although, from my time as a young boy, up until quite recently, the local soccer team was one of the top teams in the Welsh League, often at the top, which on one memorable season, qualified them to play in the early stages of the European Cup. The long main street, with two banks, a large post office, two garages/car showrooms, a mixed infants school and two junior schools, one each for the boys and the girls and a doctors surgery, was full of individual shops of various trades, not a large national retailer in sight, except for the local Co-operative Store that catered for everybody with everything that they needed, including sales of locally baked fresh bread, delivered daily on a gypsy styled horse and cart.

Our milk was also delivered on a horse-drawn milk float, from which I helped to deliver milk on Saturday mornings, thanks to my Uncle, the milkman, who in true Rhondda style was known as, ‘Mal the Milk’.

The street was also home to at least three pubs which were outnumbered, for the good of the population, by six Chapels, two with Welsh-speaking congregations and, two large Churches, one Anglican and the other, Church in Wales. Right up to the late 1970s these Churches and Chapels flourished with many of the population attending services at least twice on a Sunday and once or twice mid-week. Sadly, the congregations are much smaller now and some of the buildings have closed, while the three pubs still cater for those who wish to use them. Thinking of what we now call the hospitality sector, the little village also had three fish and chip shops, all within about 100 yards of each other and doing a roaring trade every day, with one even selling, ‘wet fish’ twice a week. Two of the traditional fish and chip shops are now, respectively selling Chinese and Indian meals. The third shop is still flourishing and has been renamed, ‘A Fish Called Rhondda’. Brilliant rebranding and, in my opinion, serving the best fish and chips in the Rhondda.

I am sorry to have been going on about my hometown in, what after all, is a local community magazine but, perhaps it might cause you to think about the area of Cardiff where you were brought up. We live in such a large, changed City now, with so many different local communities, what are your memories of ‘back in the day?’ I used to visit Cardiff a lot during the summer holidays as I had an aunt living in Cathays and was a

young supporter of Cardiff City (I still have my original, Blue Birds, lapel badge) and worked here from 1956 until retirement in 1996 and have lived here for the last forty-five years, I have many Cardiff memories. Too many to relate now, perhaps best left for another time, except perhaps, just three to finish with, all of which relate to the cinema.

I first met the girl I was to marry, travelling together on the train from The Rhondda to Cardiff. We became friends but I was too shy to ask her out. One day, she said that she would like to see, ‘High Society’ but thought that her parents would not like her travelling home, by herself, on the last train. Seizing my opportunity, I gallantly volunteered to watch it with her, just so she would have company!! The next time I can remember was going to watch, ‘Psycho’, in the old Capital Cinema in Queen Street. It had received great publicity and all those who had seen it were asked not to say anything about the ending. You may remember that I mentioned earlier that I don’t like watching horror films, well we decided to go to see this and yes, it lived up to its publicity. I ‘manned up’ as they say but my girlfriend was so shocked by it all, her nervous shaking had the whole row rocking with people moving about in their seats and I was asked to try to keep her quiet. The third memory was attending a world-wide premiere of ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’, a truly epic film but which started at midnight. I had to stay overnight at a friend’s house in Canton as we had to be at work the next morning. A great experience and well worth every penny.

I know that I ramble on but having been fortunate to live a long life I have so many memories that something will just trigger them off. Perhaps some of my thoughts and those of my fellow writers for Cardiff Times will jog your memories of happier times that will give us hope of creating more in the future. To quote a commentator on the CNN TV network as he ends his late-night programme, “May your memories be a Blessing”.

Wishing you a Happy Easter and may God keep you safe and well.

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CARDIFF TIMES 33

What’s in a Name

By Sara John

This period of so-called ‘Harmless House Arrest’ has encouraged many people to think about finding an animal companion, or two or three. They used to be called ‘Pets’ but there were so many complaints to the Woof Times, the Western Meows, Horses Own, Donkeys Weekly, Ewes and Ours that ‘Animal Companions’ has replaced the banished word, ‘pet’.

What’s more, some people, in particular those who have found it possible - if not downright congenial, to work from home, could well be considering moving out of town altogether anyway and settling down in the country.

Better for health, less pollution, less noise, less crime; the list goes on.

However, animal companions are becoming very scarce. The Kennel Club has issued statistics showing enquiries are up 185% and that is just for dogs. Many other species apart from Cats and Dogs are also on the “Wanted” list and are being moved on to the rather long “Waiting” list.

Having lived in Pembrokeshire for ten years some time ago I was able to observe (and envy) lots of relationships between people and animals which clearly benefitted both parties. Today, these relationships are even more desirable.

There are many types of creatures, great and small, furry or feathered to choose from including horses, ponies, donkeys, llamas, Highland cattle, poultry, birds of prey, goats and sheep. Oh! And water buffalo (not suitable for keeping in the house though).

Living in Manorbier enabled me to make friends with a large family of badgers who were living in a large habitation under part of the Pembrokeshire wall (man-made of large stones, soil and turf) bordering 34 CARDIFF TIMES

our fields. I was advised by a local lady that they had a sweet tooth, could smell sugary foods from a mile away, loved Custard Creams, preferred nutty brown bread for their sandwiches and relished bramble jelly jam (quite hard to find these days). “And don’t be stingy with the jam”, she added when advising me.

By putting out a small buffet for them on their own plastic platter just before dusk, and moving it a few inches closer to the house each time, they were soon happily advancing towards the sitting room window every evening. Do not ask why, but it soon became clear that only ONE adult badger came each time. Each would eat very nicely finishing off with sliced apple to clean their teeth after all the sweet foods. I did not think I would have much joy persuading a badger with a toothache to squeeze into a cat basket and travel quietly on the back seat of my car to visit the vet.

And possibly have dental treatment!

How did we know that the different badgers only came one at a time each evening for their suppers? It was because they all had a slightly different pattern of white stripes on their heads from just above the eyes to the tops of their heads. I am afraid I never got round to making a rota myself to find out whether they always stuck to a strict list of whose turn was next.

Although we recognised each badger, we never got round to naming them.

That was then but back to the present.

Apart from reading up on the needs of your chosen animal companions, getting them comfortable and settled and registered at a veterinarian practice, you will need to decide on and agree on an appropriate name.

Of course, we will never know what animals call each other. Did the baby badgers call their mothers Mam? Or Mummy? Or Doris, if that was allowed?

We will never know. Or, Aunty Doris if it was the badger next door?

Now that we are getting accustomed to living a life less hurried and urban maybe we should exploit this opportunity and share our lives with creatures furry, woolly or feathered?

Starting with the feathered variety one of my neighbours had a one-sided relationship with one of her chickens who was known as Attila the Hen. A chicken of nervous disposition, argumentative and very very bossy. We assumed she had been badly let down in another one-sided relationship some time previously with a very fine cockerel called Cameron.

He, with his exceptional good looks, had the pick of the farmyard. “Nay” some would say, “He has his pick of the Parish” Another neighbour had an eccentric hen called Mrs Bradley Lloyd-Williams. That was the name of the hen, not my friend’s name. Mrs Bradley LloydWilliams never really joined the rest of the chicken flock preferring to make her own way. She travelled about the county, far and wide, in an open basket attached to the roof rack of my neighbour’s shooting brake. They went everywhere together.

The rest of the chickens answered to Dulcie, Bertha, Felicity, Bella, Beatrice and Dora. And so on.

Another rather eccentric chum living close by had two parrots called Tarapaca and Rupununi which are Amerindian names. She, herself from the American west coast, explained that such parrots (they were on each of her shoulders at the time in a not very large village store and Post Office) find such words easy to pronounce because of the repeated vowels.

I thought to myself Magellan and Humbolt might also have suited!

We hosted tack sheep for the winter months, and as they were from Breconshire, they fared better in milder Pembrokeshire than in the cold and rain of the Beacons. We were warned by our next-door neighbours who had generations of experience in these matters that we must not forget, ever, that these are ‘animals’ - whatever animals are.

We counted them. We checked on them. We moved them to fresh pasture every three weeks as instructed, (not just by their owners but by the sheep themselves who would line up with their noses pushed under the gate sniffing the fresh grass, none of them had diaries so how did they know the date??). The years we lived in Pembrokeshire included the awful year of the Foot and Mouth outbreak. It was also the only time we had pregnant ewes to stay. We were blessed to be and to remain outside the stricken area but, it meant that we had the responsibilities of caring for the ewes for the few weeks when they were giving birth.

For us, as first-time farmers/carers, it was impossible not to be emotionally involved. The sheer delight of watching a field full of bouncy, clever, whiter than white lambs playing, jumping and being never still is unbeatable.

The ewes included Elsie, Doris, Mrs Blackface, Serena, Brenda, Dilys, Edwina and Gwenllian.

The firstborn lamb, born on a Monday was called Lucy, but by Friday we had changed the name to Lucien as I had, by then, finished reading the book, “Sheep Rearing for Beginners” and knew a little more. The sheep as I had been warned, preferred a natural birth, best at night and with No Interference, in particular from a lapsed townie, with a handbook and a torch, wearing a very old green fleece jacket and a Cardiff City bobble hat of long ago.

The lambs arriving safely over a period of three weeks or so were named, Agnes (patron saint of sheep), Pandora, Gregory, Panda, Dewi and so on.

There were twenty-four in all. Heaven on earth!

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At the other end of the scale for Animal Companions under consideration are the size, weight and cost of Highland Cattle: Beautiful, gentle, peaceful, and now swiftly growing in popularity outside the Highlands. They are easier to name as the clue lies in ‘Highland’.

To find suitable names consult works by Sir Walter Scott and select at leisure. Friends of mine who had ventured one year to the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston outside Edinburgh and had fallen in love with Highland cattle decided to purchase and for names, opted for Lochinvar MacTavish for the male with Miss Ishbel McKay for his favourite wife to be. A list including Morag, Elspeth, Hamish, Caitlin, Morna, Alasdair, Buchan and Angus was drawn up ready for the hoped-for arrival of tiny hoofs at a future date.

Or, perhaps, just opting for a dog or a cat would be a better choice for now?

Dogs deserve distinguished names. They will no longer answer to Rover, Sammy or Spot. They watch too much television, in particular, period dramas where all the dogs are Irish Wolfhounds with what sounds like surnames with no Christian names to be heard. Consider Babington, Wolfgang, Pericles, Amadeus, Carlyle, Hugo, Benedict, Aaron, Barclay, Broderick, Conway, Dakota and Dunstan.

My favourite at the moment would be Tasker Wayward For female dogs you might try Gloria, Maisie, Gudrun, Flavia, Francesca, Natasha, Imogen and Heulwen. My favourites would include Arabella and Aurora.

Broadly speaking all cats like to be alerted by a whiff of cooking in the air with someone tapping an empty dish of priceless porcelain with a silver spoon and calling “Pwssi-pws-pws” Gentleman cats prefer names no other cats in the neighbourhood have even heard of.

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Best to consider names such as Rochester, Benson, Dexter, Wellington, Wilkes, Wilberforce, Frobisher.

Minstrel is good for a black and white cat, Orlando for a ginger one and perhaps Mustapha for a serious one.

Black furred females might accept Carmen, Desdemona, Lucrezia, Persephone, Anouska, Bathsheba, Bonita, Chiara, Delilah, Grace or Katya. My favourite would be Scheherazade.

Light-hearted cats’ names could include Pushkin, Buster Kitten, Group Captain Trubshaw, Catmichael, Horatio, Rufus, Taffytriog, Klapcat (the final T is silent), Paderewski, Goldsmith (for a ginger tom) and Mephistopheles (for a black kitten full of mischief). My favourite would be Khachaturian. Our family cats in the past have included; Solomon and Sheba, Oscar, Bruno, Catriona, Alexander, Leonardo, Princess Yasmin, Tiger Lily, Daisy- Belle, Natasha and Ajax.

When deciding on names always say them a few times out loud. Do they have a suitable ‘ring’ to them, could they be misheard?

When calling “Mischief, Mischief, come along darling and have your tea” to the new kitten you do not want also to provide supper for two goats, a Newfoundland dog, next door’s donkey and a passing fox (frequently seen in rural areas). A distinctive name, loud and clear works best and it will quickly become associated by your animal companion with tasty food!

It is much more difficult with humans’ names. I cannot recall clearly the children’s names, but they usually answer to baby, although never in public as they are grown up and off doing their own very grown-up things.

I always call my husband “Darling”, but he often calls me “Arthur” as he confuses me with his (younger) brother.

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Delving deep into the lockdown journeys of Cardiff’s most admirable women Two of Cardiff’s most inspirational businesswomen discuss their day-to-day schedules and life in a locked down capital

By KellieWilliams “I’m used to working on-site and out in the community, so it was a bit of a culture shock for me. I have found it challenging. It’s a bit isolating to work at home during lockdown.”

Known within the community as the “Pink lady,” Lisa’s brand rose to fame, launching her career to new heights. Lisa designed her very own pink McLaren in October 2020, a dream come true for Lisa who said the entire design process was done via WhatsApp and text message.

A supercar fanatic, Lisa said she is excited to support McLaren in this year’s Formula 1.

Lisa puts the P in Pinkspiration Credit: Leon Brown

Lisa Marie Brown, the 39-year-old entrepreneur owner of Pinkspiration and winner of UnLtd’s Fast Growth award said her lockdown has been the busiest year of her life and the most successful 12-months of her career.

Forget relaxing and taking it easy, Lisa, an advocate for women starting their own business, has sold two properties during lockdown. Both were processed at £1.2 million in just 12-weeks, all through social platforms Facebook and WhatsApp.

Slowing down During her working week creating online content, Lisa insists on breaking up her busy 8am to 9pm schedule with a “long lunch” of two hours. During her long lunch, Lisa enjoys socially distanced walks with a friend and embraces a little ‘me time’ drive, listening to dance, jazz or R&B music along the Welsh coast.

“It was a huge challenge, a big decision to make,” said Lisa who admitted she was working day and night to close the deals on both houses.

“My bank manager said it was an absolute miracle during the lockdown,” she laughed.

Lisa has also bought a new house that she has named ‘DreamWorks’ and has been full speed ahead on designing and renovating her dream home overlooking the ocean in Penarth.

Working on housing regeneration in Newport and Swansea, Lisa spoke of her struggles turning her working life digital.

Proud of her new home in Penarth.

Credit: Lisa Marie Brown

Missing her boxing class, Lisa said she has used the time during lockdown to get fit and healthy. Lisa dedicates three to four hours a CARDIFF TIMES 39

week to her running regime and admitted her husband Leon has had to take over duties of cooking and cleaning in the home.

With her busy schedule, Lisa said she ensures to pencil in time with her husband on a Saturday. A recent date night favourite is to spend some time in their new jacuzzi and enjoy a takeaway dinner on weekends.

businesses that aim to build a better, more eco-friendly and safe future after experiencing online hate and sexist discrimination over lockdown.

“We need to do more work around creating safer communities for women to thrive,” said Lisa.

Lockdown has made work a lot more challenging admits Lisa, who was determined to live by her motto ‘Think big, dream big.’

Lisa has been working alongside companies to expand her brand and has no plans of putting the brakes on living life in the fast lane anytime soon, as she discussed the possibility of creating her very own audiobook about her life and discussing her top tips for a successful business through her new business adventure called ‘The Millionaire Club.’

---Coming home

Showing off her World Exclusive, limited edition McLaren sports car. Credit: Lisa Marie Brown

“The jacuzzi was the best investment I think that I bought last year,” she giggled. “I think it’s really important to take time out for yourself. I haven’t exactly got the balance right yet. I think most of the time, my diaries are all work and not much downtime.”

Nikesha Patel, a 31-year-old who has been working extensively as a Bollywood actress and international model for 12 years, was forced to move home and live with her parents throughout lockdown. The experience has been humble, said Nikesha, who misses her family when she’s travelling and moving to different countries for work.

Currently reading, ‘How To: Be More Pirate’

by Sam Conniff and Alex Barker, Lisa said she loves reading her book in the bath during a rare evening away from her iPhone and putting work on hold, admitting she finds it difficult to “switch off.”

With over 35 Bollywood movies under her belt, Nikesha has taken time out of work due to the closure of her agency and the industry through the pandemic. The time out has allowed Nikesha to explore what she loves and delve into a whole new career in business.

Changing gears

“I personally made a lot of money in lockdown and it just happened overnight… My lockdown actually went pretty great, and it still hasn’t quite hit me.”

With her foot firmly on the accelerator, Lisa’s most recent adventure found her at Cardiff Airport shooting content images of the pink Wizz Air aeroplanes alongside her limitededition McLaren. With hopes to collaborate with Wizz Air in the future, Lisa said, “It’s all organised chaos, but it’s a dream come true!”

With no time to spare, Lisa remains eager to do more for the community and admits that her busy work schedule is driven by the fantastic results she has accomplished in helping other people. Lisa aims to support brands and 40 CARDIFF TIMES

Waking with excitement Admitting she struggles to relax, Nikesha found an interest in e-commerce and launched her very own e-commerce business selling luxury hampers. Nikesha’s company specialises in keto diets, gluten-free and sugar-free hamper baskets. During the lockdown, Nikesha kindly donated hampers free of charge to elderly customers and customers battling cancer.

food makes it difficult to keep up with her keto diet.

Admitting that going food shopping is difficult, Nikesha said she ensures she eats before she is tempted to cheat on her keto diet. However, on a “cheat day,” Nikehsa indulges till her heart’s content. “I’ll have lots and lots of cakes.

It doesn’t stop at one cake,” she laughed.

During her evenings and downtime, Nikesha binge-watches reality tv programmes such as, 90 Day Fiancé and Married at first sight, a luxury she didn’t have time for before the pandemic.

Leaving the industry Spilling secrets, Nikesha said, “I don’t want to go back into the industry. I’m so happy. I don’t like being a part of that industry anymore. I feel like I’m too old for it.”

Looking to the future and coming out of lockdown, Nikesha said she is excited for the annual family holiday that she and her family, unfortunately, missed out on last year due to the pandemic and is excited to explore the Cardiff dating scene.

Grateful for her time at home with her family.

Credit: Nikesha Patel

Waking up at 7am each morning with excitement and ready to work on her business, Nikesha checks her social media and her inbox and has come to enjoy a more peaceful lifestyle.

Before starting her working day in lockdown, Nikesha enjoys a cup of both tea and coffee mixed in one mug, topped with two teaspoons of coconut oil to build up her energy.

Calling Cardiff home, Nikesha said she loves visiting old friends in Cardiff, driving past her high school and going to the bars she enjoyed when she was 18 years old. “I love that no one knows me as an actress in Cardiff, it’s freeing!” she smiled.

Concluding, “I just want to settle down, get married, have kids, and not know what a diet means anymore.”

A lover of makeup, Nikesha loves to wear a natural 10-minute makeup look during lockdown, even if she’s sitting at home. Not fussed about her outfit for the day Nikesha said, “If I can’t find anything that I want to wear, I’ll actually go to my dad’s cupboard or my brother’s, and I’ll wear an extra-large shirt as a dress to sunbathe in the garden.”

Nikesha’s relationship with food has been challenged through lockdown. “I actually put on weight through lockdown, but I’m happy!” she said. Stating her parent’s home-cooked Indian

Nikesha ready to take on the business industry.

Credit: Nikesha Patel

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Protect your wealth

By Michael Fogg

you have a pre-arranged appointment with them.

Their contact details are 029 2087 1680 or 029 2087 1684, or they can be emailed at Registrars@ cardiff.gov.uk. Their website is www.cardiffregisteroffice.co.uk/deaths/ When you register a loved one’s death you should be offered the ‘Tell Us Once’ service. I recommend you use this, as it will notify all government departments of the person’s passing, saving a lot of time later on in the process.

At this point you will also be asked how many death certificates you want. They do cost £11 each, but I recommend that you get a large number of these as you may well need them later on in the process.

I’ve been asked this month to provide general advice on what to do when a loved one dies. Please get in touch if you have any other questions you want answered in future months.

The most important thing to remember is that, although you may have a number of people and organisations asking for information and wanting you to do things, some things are urgent and other things are important. It is a matter of prioritising the important above the urgent – remember that whenever you are doing one thing, you are doing that thing instead of anything else. Please also remember that what is urgent for one person is not urgent for another. The best way to deal with this situation is to prioritise and, where possible, delegate and work in a team. However, I will share some key tips which should help a little: Register the Death This needs to be done promptly after someone dies, and by a relative of the deceased or else someone who was present at the death. If you are responsible for arranging the funeral (see next section) it may well be that you are also the right person to register the death. This registration is done at the local Register Office- for Cardiff that is the Cardiff Register Office. In the current pandemic, emergency rules have been passed to allow a death to be registered by telephone. Cardiff Register Office’s physical office is closed to the public unless 44 CARDIFF TIMES

You will also be asked which funeral director you are using for the arrangements, and the Register Office will send them a form authorising either burial or cremation (whichever is appropriate).

Arrange the Funeral You may know what your loved one’s funeral wishes are – burial or cremation, and any form of religious or secular ceremony. If the deceased has left a Will, quite often their funeral wishes will be included in this. However, it is worth remembering that funeral wishes are one of the few things in a Will which are not legally binding.

If you are not sure which funeral director to use, a substantial proportion of them are regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority (where pre-paid funeral plans may have been purchased) or are registered with the National Association of Funeral Directors (www.funeral-directory.co.uk). Although it is possible to arrange a funeral yourself, most people tend to instruct a Funeral Director.

I recommend speaking to two or three funeral arrangers before settling on the one that you want to use, also taking into account any specific wishes that the deceased may have left. If you choose a funeral director, they will be the people advising you on what needs to happen and in what order. Make sure it’s someone you trust and get on with.

Finalising your loved one’s Finances This is a more long-term piece of work which needs

to be completed. You may find, as you are dealing with the funeral arrangement, that family members come to you asking for updates on what they are likely to inherit from the Estate (this word – Estate – refers to all assets minus all debts of the deceased person).

Firstly, you need to be sure that you are the correct person to deal with the Estate. This means searching for your loved one’s Will. The people nominated in that Will as the Executors are responsible for finalising the Estate – although it is important to note that if you are named as an Executor you do not have to do the work but can instead renounce your Executorship (to give up your right to deal with the Estate) or reserve your power in favour of another Executor who will take the lead instead of you.

Here’s where the death certificates come in! The person dealing with the Estate needs to formally notify all asset holders of the death. This is usually done by providing a copy of the death certificate to them. In response, each asset holder will advise on the value of the holding at the date of death, and what they need to receive to cash in or transfer each asset. At this point, you may be asked to provide a Grant of Representation (“Probate”).

What is Probate?

Probate is the word usually used to describe a Court Order which instructs any interested party to follow the instructions of the Personal Representative (“PR”) of the deceased. The PR is usually an executor of a Will, or a legal next of kin where there is no Will.

Probate is granted by the Probate Registry of the High Court, and at present can take up to three months to be issued after the application has been made.

It is not always necessary to get Probate, but if you have been asked for it by one organisation, there is a good chance that all other organisations will want to see it as well. This is because it protects them against a claim that funds had been given to the wrong person as they were following the explicit instruction of a Court Order.

Need Help?

If you would like any help or advice on anything mentioned above, we would be happy to answer any questions by phone or email. Please get in touch on 029 2021 1693 or by emailing TrustingWillpower@outlook.com.

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