Cardiff Times July 2021 by Cardiff Times Magazine

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May your memories be a blessing

It is with great sadness that we find ourselves writing this article. Our friend and long-term contributor, Michael James, recently passed away and Mark and I felt it was only fitting that we show respect for Michael and his family by publishing a tribute to him which we hope can do justice to what an incredible man he was. To say that Michael lived a full and interesting life would be a severe understatement. He was born and grew up in the Rhondda Valley and after leaving Grammar School, was drafted into the RAF for two years, serving as an Air Traffic Controller at RAF Barnwood in Gloucester. Upon leaving the RAF, he found a job in Cardiff working for the Council, which meant travelling two hours a day on the train, and which is where he met his wife, Elizabeth. They settled in Cardiff in 1976 and as a family joined Albany Road Baptist Church, which proceeded to play a huge role in Michael’s life. Michael wrote his very first article for Cardiff Times in May 2014, and continued to write regularly for us, with his most recent article in last month’s issue, a poignant and inspiring read entitled ‘A Reminder That Help And Hope Is All Around Us’. His first article was entitled ‘You Must Be Mad’, and was the general response he got when he told people that he

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was undertaking a sponsored trek in the Himalayas. There may be some truth in their honest initial reaction as it is a serious challenge for anyone, especially for me. For those of you who don’t know me, I am not the Bear Grills type of person, although we do have something in common, we both have a great faith in God but that’s where the similarities end. Bear is the ex SAS, all action super hero and I am an unfit, over weight 75yr.old, (check out the photo) with arthritic knees and possibly suffering from an old age crisis. Then why am I doing this! I am doing it to raise awareness, support and, yes money, for the two Christian Charities I work with as a volunteer. This excerpt touches on Michael’s charity work, with the two charities in particular he worked with being the Rainbow of Hope, and The Leprosy Mission, both of which were close to his heart. The sponsored trek in the Himalayas mentioned earlier enabled Michael to actually visit the Leprosy Mission in Nepal and visit some of the patients who would be directly benefitting from his fundraising. The Rainbow of Hope is an organisation that works to support the Homeless and Disadvantaged on the streets of Cardiff. It is run by a small group of unpaid staff at its office/shop/drop-in centre in Broadway and by volunteers

from local churches in Cardiff and the South Wales Valleys who go out every night of the year providing, food, hot drinks and clothing. It was clear to us from Michael’s very first article that his Faith was extremely important to him, and this shines through in many of his articles. As well as the two charities mentioned earlier, he also promoted many others through his articles over the years. Here is a brief summary of the many worthy causes Michael championed. ‘Cardiff People First’, part of a national organisation which promotes the need for us to see the person (people) first and only then recognise the person’s disability. This charity was mentioned in an article entitled ‘My Mate Steve’, where Michael describes the work his friend Steve does for Cardiff People First, and how he has gained enough confidence to be able to tell others how difficult life can be for him. ‘Tools with a Mission’ (aka TWAM), is a Christian Charity that collects a variety of unwanted tools to support development work in Africa and other parts of the world. The people of these countries will often have few skills, little chance of employment and therefore no means of earning a living. A switch from the inevitable dependency upon outside aid towards self-sufficiency is impossible without help. TWAM exists to provide that help. CHOMP is a free, fun and friendly club, operating in the school holidays to provide various activities, games, craft work and a FREE, hot and healthy meal each day. It is aimed at but not exclusively for, primary school children who normally benefit from free school meals or for those parents or guardians who just find school holidays a bit of a struggle to provide financially for their children. ‘Hope in Mental Health’, supported by Albany Road Baptist Church, provides bags of toiletries which are then delivered to the Mental Health Crisis Unit at Llandough Hospital for distribution to patients. These toiletry bags are hand made by the ladies in the group from donated materials and each bag contains, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, a comb and deodorant. We thought it appropriate to include below some of the activities Michael’s

church undertakes, described by Michael in his own words. I am a member at Albany Road Baptist Church. Our Church is open to all and as you enter the Sanctuary you will see a banner proclaiming ‘Everyone Welcome’ as indeed you are. The Church partners with and supports the three primary schools in the area, helping in their school assemblies and with reading classes. As well as an Open Door policy at the church, each morning between 10.00am and 1.00pm you are very welcome to come in for a chat over tea and coffee. The Church’s Pram and Pushchair group meets every Tuesday afternoon and provides welcome support for Mums and Dads, Carers and Grandparents to meet and socialise together while providing a safe environment for their babies, toddlers and pre-school children. The older folk are catered for as well, with a Monday Club and Luncheon Club, a Tuesday Coffee Group (Bible Study) and a Knit, Stitch and Sew class. On Wednesday evenings there is an Art Class. Thursday morning is an opportunity for Coffee, Cake and Conversation, and on Friday lunchtime (once a month) is a great chance to share in a fish and chip meal. Twice a month, on Sunday afternoons we hold a special Causeway service, for those with physical and/or mental health disabilities and their families and carers. Yes, there is a lot going on to help and support everyone and to let them know that they are loved. One of Michael’s proudest achievements was when, in 2014, at the age of 75, he undertook a ‘Trek of Hope’, in the Himalayas, to raise awareness of and funding for, the work of the two Christian charities he worked with, The Leprosy Mission and the ‘Rainbow of Hope’. On returning from the trek, he became a ‘Local Volunteer Speaker for TLM’ and spoke about his trek to many of the Chapels and Churches and many secular organisations in South Wales. As a result of his trek, Michael decided to self-publish a book detailing the many trials and tribulations he went through before and during his trek, to try to raise even more money for his two charities. We are proud to say we have a copy of the book, entitled ‘You Must Be Mad’, and would whole heartedly recommend it to anyone as it is truly inspirational. Michael really was a selfless, kind and thoughtful person who always put the needs of others first. Our lives are richer from knowing Michael, and to end this tribute we think an appropriate quote from one of his articles is perfect: “May your memories be a blessing.”

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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, Molly Dutton, Carl Marsh, Jen Abell, Michael Fogg, Kellie Williams, Natalie McCulloch, Ralph Oates

EDITORS LETTER

Welcome Hi All, and welcome to our July issue. Summer officially arrived last month, and we finally had some decent weather to enjoy. With more and more places opening up with restrictions easing, it was great to get out with the children and visit some different places in Cardiff. We celebrated a number of birthdays last month, not least Mark’s, who reached a significant milestone (halfway between 40 and 60!) and our auntie’s, and we definitely won’t be revealing how old she is ! Both were celebrated with our family on separate days and a fantastic time was had by all. We are very proud of our niece who achieved some excellent A Level results, given the challenges she has faced this year with the pandemic and schooling. She is now looking forward to going to university in September, where we’re sure she will thrive. Finally, it is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of one of our contributors, and good friend, Michael James. Michael wrote his first article for the magazine in 2014, and was a regularly contributor and supporter for over seven years. Mark and I thought it only fitting that we write a tribute article to him, which you can read on pages 4 and 5. His contribution to the community, Albany Road Baptist Church where he was an active member, various charities and groups was immense, and he will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. Our deepest condolences to Michael’s wife and family. Please continue to stay safe everyone, and until next month, happy reading.

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

Louise & Mark

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July CONTENTS 4 May your memories be a blessing 8 PD, an update. by Wyn Evans

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PD, an update byWyn Evans On 14 May 2016 and full of trepidation, The Boss and I made our way to what I still think of as the ‘BUPA hospital’ in Pontprennau, although it is a ‘Spire’ Group hospital and probably was back in 2016 too. I drove carefully and well within the posted speed limits, in no rush to arrive for this particular consultation. Regular readers will recall that my appointment was to determine what was causing a tremor to my hand and fingers. My GP, years before, had identified an ‘intention tremor’ but this had become more pronounced and widespread. You know how it is I’m sure. We had looked at possible conditions online, guided by the ever resourceful Google. The problem with this being that the quality of the search results we obtained was undermined by the scale of our ignorance about what we were searching for. Beforehand, we had whittled down the most likely alternatives facing us to multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s Disease (PD). And so I had been referred to a neurologist, specialising in conditions affecting the brain and nervous system. He had me perform a number of physical exercises to assess whether I had any problems with movement. According to the nhs.uk website a diagnosis of PD is likely if you have at least two of the three following symptoms: shaking or tremor in a part of your body that usually only occurs at rest; slowness of movement (bradykinesia); muscle stiffness (rigidity). Before half an hour had passed the Consultant opined that I did indeed have PD, a conclusion he put in a letter to my GP. The Boss and I found the whole consultation to be impersonal and cold, bordering on unfriendly. This was a source of some upset to me for some while to come. As time passed however it struck me that perhaps I was guilty of ‘shooting the messenger’ and that what seemed cold and impersonal was simply a way of his maintaining a professional distance when conveying distressing, life-changing news. Maybe. I was subsequently referred to a team of doctors and nurses specialising in neurodegenerative conditions. For all that these staff were professional and informed, the impression given by Rookwood hospital was of a corner of the NHS that had been underfunded for years. Not that it was the condition of the estate alone that conveyed this impression. As many people in the UK who have neurodegenerative conditions or diseases of old age will attest, resources are still over-concentrated in the secondary sector - big district hospitals in particular - when a greater investment in primary and community care, in ‘Cinderella’ services and health promotion, and in disease prevention and mental health

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might lead to a healthier population overall. I learned that there is currently no cure for PD, but treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms and maintain quality of life. These treatments include: supportive therapies, such as physiotherapy; medication; and surgery (for some people). During the early stages of PD, when symptoms are usually mild, it may be that little or no treatment is required. I was offered drug treatment and physiotherapy. As I have narrated here before, the biggest changes that I noted following my diagnosis related to falling off things and into things! That, muscle weakness, and exhaustion. In no particular order, I fell: whilst bounding up the steps of our old house (then sliding along a concrete floor and ramming the front door with my head); whilst jumping off a low wall and landing in the greenhouse (twice!); into the river by Roath Park Rec (twice - pulled in by my two dogs when I was walking them on their leads and they both dragged me into the river). In terms of muscle weakness my

least accomplished anecdote is that I recently bought a JLL running/walking machine on the advice of my Physiotherapist. Along with other exercises that he was recommending he thought that using the running machine for my daily walk would build up my strength and stamina. It’s been a month now and there’s only one slight flaw with this plan: I don’t have the strength to lift the blooming thing out of its box! We thought the machine would be a good idea after a few occasions when I’d had to telephone The Boss to come and get me in the car after I’d gone on a ‘real’ walk only to find that my legs and back had seized up, leaving me sitting on someone’s front wall looking sorry for myself and unable to walk another yard. And as for exhaustion, barely a day goes by without that I need to close my eyes and sleep. I’ve built it into my routine. I’ve been fighting against applying for a Blue Badge for some time but have now reached the stage where I need one. Then there are the things that no one told me about back in 2016. First of all, is the fear that I will be one of the twenty- to forty per cent of people with PD who go on to develop Dementia. This fear comes back to haunt me every time that I can’t find a word I’m looking for or think I have forgotten something. Mind you, it can lead to some wry comic moments: I have an overactive thyroid as well as Parky’s and had a telephone consultation with my hospital Consultant Endocrinologist one morning recently. With one of the thyroid options being considered there is an increased

risk, over another two options, of sepsis. I had intended to ask her about this. But what came out of my mouth was: “can we talk for a bit about the risks of Strepsils please?”! But truth be told (and throat lozenges aside!) I am not exhibiting any signs of cognitive decline but it is something that causes me concern. I’m told the trick lies in not thinking about it; and remembering that for most people with PD it is no more likely to occur than for a member of the general population who does not have PD. Other things no one tells you about? First, the toes thing! My toes curl over as if they are trying to dig their way out of my shoes. To counter this I have found Dr Frederick’s three loop hammer toe gel sets, “to realign toes while preventing overlap and rubbing”. Marvellous! Then there is needing to learn afresh how to swallow, and a constant need to blow my nose. There are other symptoms too but they don’t seem to have affected me much yet and since they fall under the category of ‘too much information’ I don’t intend to enter into a discussion here in a family magazine! A while ago I promised readers that I would not just confine this column to family life with The Boss and The Girl but that I would occasionally update about my PD. Thank you to those who have asked me how it’s going and I hope this piece answers some of your queries. I’ll sign-off and leave you with a photograph of The Girl taken this weekend – for no reason other than she is beautiful and will cheer you all up!

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Cardiff Bus Launches New Routes Cardiff Bus has announced a series of extra services for those looking for great local days out this summer, including an open-top bus route to Cardiff Bay and Penarth Pier. Open-top bus to Cardiff Bay & Penarth Pier Daily 26 June – 30 August Bask in the sunshine on Cardiff Bus’ open-top bus to Cardiff Bay or Penarth Pier. The bus stops outside the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay before heading to Penarth Pier Pavilion – perfect for a leisurely stroll along the pier and esplanade or wander up the hill to discover the tranquillity of the flower gardens of Alexandra Park and Windsor Gardens. There are several cafés and restaurants along the esplanade to sit back, relax and enjoy a drink or some food. The opentop bus will run on an hourly basis every day between 26 June and 30 August.

Cardiff Bay every 15 mins 26 June – 30 August For days out in Cardiff Bay, Cardiff Bus’ baycar will run every 15 minutes daily and will start from Kingsway in the city centre for easy access to and from Cardiff Castle, Bute Park and National Museum of Wales, as well as offering convenient connections to more of its services. The journey will take just 10 minutes from the city centre and passengers can connect to and from the baycar at Kingsway, Westgate Street or St. Mary Street (Wyndham Arcade). Fares Normal fares apply on these summer special services. For travel in Cardiff and Penarth Adult day ticket - £4 on the bus or £3.80 on the Cardiff Bus app

Island Flyer to Barry Island Daily 26 July – 30 August

Under 16 or My Travel Pass holder - £2.60 on the bus or £2.50 on the Cardiff Bus app

For those looking for a traditional day at the seaside, Cardiff Bus are running an additional route to Barry Island. As well as Route 95 which departs from the city centre, the bus operator will run an Island Flyer route from St Mellons, Llanrumney and Tremorfa which will allow passengers to travel to Barry Island direct with a grandstand view on double deck buses. Island Flyer’s will run daily from 26 July until 30 August, linking eastern Cardiff directly to both Cardiff Bay and Barry Island.

For travel in Cardiff and Barry Adult day ticket - £5.50 or £5.30 on the Cardiff Bus app Under 16 or My Travel Pass holder - £3.60 or £3.50 on the Cardiff Bus app Family ticket offer Family tickets are reduced on weekends and during school holidays. Families of up to 5 (max of 2 adults and must include 1 child) can travel in Cardiff and Penarth for £5.50 or across the entire Cardiff Bus network, including to Barry for £8.

CARDIFF TIMES 13

‘And Another Thing...’

Chicken in a Basket or Soup on the Floor Chicken in a Basket or Soup on the Floor

byVince Nolan

In a previous issue of this splendid publication my fellow columnist Michael James very Let me explain. Picture the scene kindly said some complementary things about at Nolan Towers. my writings. We do indeed seem to share a Man, the hunter, lot of and tastes. He recently returns fromexperiences a hard few hours wrote about the Capitol Cinema on Queen tracking down prey Street which I remember well. One of my first at Tesco (other supermarkets area 16-year-old, (I went to a Catholic dates as available). The School remember), was scheduled for the Current Mrs Nolan Capitol. welcomes the The Never To Become Mrs Nolan and arrival of I queued for more than an hour to see Jaws. Let me explain. Picture the scene at Nolan comesCbles and All very romantic. We were next to go in when prepares to store Towers. Man, the hunter, returns from a hard them away. Alas the manager came up to us and told us the few hours tracking down prey at Tesco (other and alack a cinema was full. That was the end of that. She supermarkets are available). The Current Mrs parCcularly lively married a mate of mine and I still haven’t seen cream of Nolan welcomes the arrival of comestibles and mushroom soup Jaws. I think I was the only person ever to be prepares to store them away. Alas and alack makes a break for Chicken in a Basket or Soup on the Floor traumatised it and lands on the from not having seen it. a particularly lively cream of mushroom soup ﬂoor, covering it, makes a break for it and lands on the floor, related matters, marine biologists have She,Inand the Let me expl units. All covering it, She, and the kitchen units. All was kitchen always wondered why sharks swim away after Picture the was not lost Dear not lost Dear Reader as the mushroom colour Reader chomping off swimmers’ feet. Turns out they at Nolan Tow as the Man, the hu mushroom colour worked rather well with our ice-blue wooden are lack toes intolerant. returns from worked rather well units thus introducing a whole new colour with our ice-blue We recently managed to take the high moral hard few ho tracking dow palette. My how we laughed, me and the Soup wooden units thus ground, introducing a a location we don’t often occupy. Like at Tesco (ot Dragon. supermarke whole new colour many of you, lockdown meant the weekly available). T paleJe. My how Staying with supermarkets, recent embarrassment of stealthily trying to put out Current Mrs we laughed, me examination of newly purchased asparagus recycling within earshot of our neighbours. welcomes t andthe the Soup Dragon. arrival of (I’ve been locked down too long) told me comesCbles that it came from Peru. Since it only cost £1, Staying with prepares to supermarkets, them away. I wondered about the economics of all this, recent and alack a never mind the green footprint, all 6,300 miles examinaCon of parCcularly newly purchased asparagus (I’ve been locked down too long) told me that it came from of it. Turns out Peru is the largest exporter of cream of mushroom fresh asparagus in the world selling 99% of makes a bre the crop into overseas markets. The moral it and lands of this tale seems to be don’t ask for fresh ﬂoor, coveri She, and the asparagus in a restaurant in Lima as the gales kitchen unit of laughter and price may upset you. was not lost 14 CARDIFF TIMES

Reader as th mushroom worked rath with our ice wooden uni introducing

Talking of intolerance, I am led to believe that the

Wilson who was jointly floor, coverin away called on a St.George Peter’s Rugby Club bus is anybody’s pping skills and picked the little guy She, and the term heckler originated from the textile trade, where stealing mail at gunpoint kitchen units guessconvicted but it wouldofcertainly have caused a major him back into the wild. No harm to heckle was to tease or comb-out flax or hemp was not lost and incident. was sentenced to death by diplomatic …..well, until next door’s cat got Reader as th nsure thatWith we had properly warmed sincefibres. we didn’t wantmodern to pull anymeaning drinking was coined in Dundee nowhere to hide in a up cul-de-sac, the The mushroom c Just to be clear: Did you hear about the urologist hanging. refused pardon in 1833 rath Unfortunately, only of uswine turned up and ainminimum of ten19th wereHe required orAs the a clinking ofsix empty bottles and beer thecans early century. the hecklers toiled inworked with our iceoff. I engaged four old-timers who were the bar have been the who(could was eaten by a bear? He was a meteorologist ting, if I had were illegally hunting for inarrangement become a commonplace wooden unit fromone President Andrew Jackson andthe days’ the whether factory, of the team would read out tioned ones from thereminiscent Taff Vale) and askedbringing them they fancied having a introducing a in scenes of Heidi the urologist, (meaty oh please yourselves). uld I have questionable morels? news and others would buttSupreme in with constant was executed after Court whole new c our and free beer for the afternoon. Fearing some of the honey trap, they took the goats down from high pasture with theirkind paleJe. My The Leader the I weredebate.” sitting in u call that a bells deer whowas has lost both vincing mytinkling. offer genuine. Cautiously, they toof join us. Picture theit interruptions and aOpposition stream ofand “furious However, we recently had agreed aruled we laughed, he could turn down if he wanted With and the Soup scene, 5pm on a sunny ourinsocially distanced local, The Funky Furlough, g accident? No eye dry month (welldeer. 3 weeks) so there were no this mind I have collated some quality put-downs Dragon. to. No pleasing some folk. weekday evening at the side How long have you had arthritis?” “I don’t coming refuse. Thewhen binmen a lady close byused to usto asked the Barmodern Manager hat whensounds Trump dies, from I willour give which comics have deal with day with entrance the Brewery on must have thought we had moved. We were have to arthritis, Father,” the drunk said, “but IStaying supermarket if the toilets were still upstairs. He of course say: “He is today how he was as hecklers: Street where time itthat tried tohad shamed putting ourproperly recycling out with noCaroline )the to ensure we warmed upjust since wein didn’t want to pullthe anyPope drinking read thefour paper that does.” recent Continuing examinaCon pensioners who could barely confi rmed that they were but I were thought this to be a .wearing make-up and lying in front clinking or clanking. The neighbours looked cles. up and a minimum of ten required or k theUnfortunately, other three only six of us turned newly purchased asparagus (I’ve been mouth locked too long) toldthe me but thehanging current Mrs Nolan anddown I witnessed a that it came from “What size of shoe does your take?” stand were seen onto worried. Still, back to normal now since the Staying with the drink, there has always the ropewho very stupid question. I look would said Tomlinson whole new for have thebeen Summer Season on was off.pubs I engaged four old-timers were in the barsupport, (could have thesomething a lamppost, for rather have “opened” and the previous hernia been much snobbery attached toknow wine. Newport Road the other day. A guy aged like: “I don’t sked by grabbing the son of a good friend theme: “This is what comes from drinking on an empty ementioned ones from the Taff Vale) and asked them whether they fancied having a circa thanOn illumination. An volumes of recycles are no more. out sell-buy dates before 65 was sporting hiking boots, brown socks, Indeed, people make a living from it, afternoon they would whentrap, madam d write aaurology forbeer his UK Dad’s head.” wery tour and forlandfills the afternoon. Fearingdenim someshorts, kind of honey theywas took greenfree note, the 129,000 tons Soap on woollen Crombie but I am making aa full-length stand because of the al supermarket on a Friday y 3 shops I really never…… remember. of glass bottles per annum so our recycling but wethe the heart to say eulogy ehave convincing that my offer genuine. Cautiously, they tolast joinwith us.usPicture style coatagreed and a bowler awas rope I’m giving uphat. wine, everyhanding day, all “Iisknow where you were when they were hables would make the attempts during lockdown made a smallish call withthat Mark Dacey (on the leS) who thelockdowns. dynamic CEO of ,he Boots and scene, 5pm on a sunny moved them out to meant. Anyway, here is A drunk who like that’s a the not Hesmelled waswait, going into local Doctor’s surgery. dent indoubt that (and in a few cans). Pope on a month. No it. I’m giving the brains out………getting an extra helping ofup. I had some whether Colleges. does not need me to suggest the uncanny ugs and Itsausage weekday evening at the side brewery got on the a bus and sat the carknown park many Now bowler was once as a Coke Wine dayThe all month! Ithe usedjourney to work inhome. a shoe recyclingmouth.” shop...it wasnextevery car for rope down to a priest. Ricky Tomlinson or of vice versa. which might explainmonths everything. entrance to the Brewery ave had enough ago as aon e tale, (he was affectionately sole destroying. Oh, and I’m trying to start a e it’s nothing to do with EU drunk's shirt was stained, his Two people out on a Street first date. “Do youneck. no Caroline where four you know, you wore soundproof trousers This morning I woke up with a really stiff chewing gum recycling company...I justmy need direct consequence afi because of before his likeness ave to home school face was full of if bright red sell-buy dates but a recent trip“Do to local supermarket pection of the packaging like Merlot Tammy?” “Yes, but you don’t I got out bed, went the bathroom and pensioners who could barely a littleinvolved help getting it off the ground. I once owned one of the chewed pencils which one would hear word you’re saying.” lipstick and he a had aofhalfof to Covid19.” Perhaps yan leader), a trip ghlight of the no perishables make the following Monday. In fact Iwere in for fruit andthat vegwould like looked instand the mirror, my face was whiteonto as a pronounce the “t.” “Oh, Ok.” Looks at seen hanging empty bottle of wine sticking Shakespeare works. used Pubs being “open” again has presented used to write his famous this is why I He do run hT Wales play France. Wecar sheet, IHe had a or bigare red nose, bright rednot fuzzy So these comestibles ey would make it to the for the journey home. What is going one day leS on the sell-buy date. It takes an inordinate amount of skill to supply g then it’s serious, “Is that your real face you still celebrating out of his pocket. opened waiter: “Two Merlots for me and Ammy.” aacouldn’t lamppost, fortop. support, rather a welcome return to the much missed to chew on it so much that I tell whether it was hair and bowler hat on I turned on the a pub. a 20 year relationship with in-@me” with 24 hours to spare. Waste levels must be astronomical. his and started picked, Halloween?” omes, with supply issues? Closer inspec@on ofnewspaper the packaging eavesdrop. So there we were local or theEU excitement. minimum of tenpackaged, were required orin our than illumination. An tap and glitter poured out. Then Iher realised Our friend Dr H has trained her dog Daisy A couple of minutes later, he asked the priest, "Father, what causes arthritis?" A in wife sent nd played them home and orStaying not 2B. Staying with the Bard, days gone hostelry, The Three-Legged Mare (still known distributed around UK2B or fruit and veg like Tanzania and Argen@na. So these with food, I have been doing some research into what is by, no longer manufa tt, was off. I engaged four old-timers afternoon they would what had happened…I had slept funny. 's caused locally by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, and to bring her a bottle of red wine. No surprise “Your bus leaves in 10 minutes... Be under it.” as The Wonky Donkey), when a loud husband aquote romantic h international weekends. On ed to the shops and put on in order to attract women, I used to use this from the UK. The list is endless but here is a small sample: Pringles (Belgium), Smar@es ere in the bar (could have been the exo@c climes, picked, packaged, taken to the port or airport, for your fellow man," the priest replied. "Imagine that," the drunk muttered. He never…… remember. Scotland is famed for its fishing amongst other and obnoxious customer shared his views really, she’s a Bordeaux collie. I was sat A(Mike’s phrase we text message. She wrote: “If you are sleeping, send p fi rst), we did it in the left on the sell-buy date. It Colman’s English Mustard ( Germany), Terrys Chocolate Orange (France) and to reading his paper. The priest, thinking about what he had said, turned tofor the entioned ones the Taff Vale) “Well, it’s aShe night out him.. and night off for hisHP (H Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act III, Scene IV, lineaits82: things. Hardly surprising when two First with all in from earshot. went as follows: “I went houses then delivered toItthe shops and put on the shelves with with Who Must Be Obeyed the other m the 18th Century Parliament) Sauce (The Netherlands). Staggering. apologised: "I'm sorry, Iferry didn't mean to come onme sotrust strong. How longIfhave you had nt of skill toDover, supply goods your dreams. you are laughing, sendlike meayour ay, athem bus crossing Ministers been called Salmon(d) toto Cardiff once, on my own, as I don’t ked whether they fancied family.” Ahave drunk who smelled day whilst she sipped a glass of wineand "Ito don't have arthritis, Father," the drunk said, "but I just read in the paper that Sturgeon. No more fish in that particular sea“LiKle old la Birmingham.” This was said from a beer s spare. Waste levels not straight was smile. If you are knock.” eating, sendgot me a bite. you are I was sitting nextfree to him. AtHere’s one for you: “Knock “Who’s there?” old lady.” aaris. brewery tour and beer for the brewery on a“LiKle busIf and sat and she said, “I love you so much, you does." garden in Newport, so“Hello.” as I have checked their MSP list. There is a he was quite the “Idrinking, need Gogh needed stereo.” “I had no idea youyou could yodel.” sendIlike meVan adown sip. If next you are send me ed Customs Officer cameofonto on. Fearing some honey trap, warp and weft). Ofkind toI could acrying, priest. The know. don’t know how ever live Wheelhouse, a Lochhead and a Gil Paterson adventurous traveller.I Itwas remained unclear reading about court case where thetexted accused ith the drink, there always been ok some convincing that my tears. Iabut love Her husband back: “ as d: “Just hold up your passports drunk's shirt stained, his that’s piscine asthat itwas gets. Ireferred am awas man awithout certain age soyou.” my tolerance doesorwork aswine well it used whether thehas Birmingham heoffer to of was with related you.” Ias said, “Isthreshold you the Iyour walked into our local bar, The Moaning Monet and eobbery beenthe doing some research attached to wine. Indeed, was described as “having murderous intent.” I was e. Cautiously, they agreed to join us. the and city or somebody he worked with called par@cularly when being asked to embrace new technology. I was therefore I’m in the toilet, please advise.” ome along count them and face was full of bright red talking?” She said, “It’s meon talking the I hearte saw Van Gogh sitting at end afrom barato stool. Finally, saw thisthe the other day local nufactured init,the The ake a living from butItUK. I am making a Birmingham. quickly became apparent the scene, 5pm on a sunny weekday She Who Must Be Obeyed suggested I download a new app called quite to estate learn that this had totodoWhat3Words. lipstick and henothing had a halfd to me and said “I Pringles didn’t know agent: fantastic opportunity wine.” shouted “Hey Vince do ”A you want a drink?” of the lockdowns. I’m giving upfordisappointed aause small sample: s, let’s call her Dr that he was not on his own no reason. naviga@on aid which divides the World into 3 metre squares and gives each square gssport atday, the side entrance to the a two-bedroom empty bottlethe ofdetached wine ry all month. NoEnglish wait, not Happy New purchase Year Dear Reader, Year sticking ofcoach the and I haven’t got one.” I Brewery with camping. He followed this upthat’s with “Nothing good ever ada), Colman’s combina@on ofFinally, three words. Iins@ll drivethanks, about a lot for business, it or not a blessing for the drink: God, believe ingot his one ut Dr every Rwhere who house a“No derisable and quiet residential oline four pensioners He shouted back: I’ve already ing with up.Street Wine day all month! out of his pocket. He opened comes out of France.” I proffered Chanel Ox. Apparently this year is going tohave be lucky orChocolate words to that effect. Then, inassured a The ys Orange that this system would be much more accurate than using our sat nav. I u area.” Top tip pal, you would a better goodness, sent the grapes, to cheer both uld barely stand were seen hanging ear.” enting. We recently Tunnel, which was course wasted on him my friendhis Finally, sad news, David has lost his ID. newspaper and started out a first date. “Do of you like the Ox representing diligence, persistence ntofof aon World War 2 prisoner of war chance of selling a house if it were in a sple Parliament) Sauce (The the firstwith @me the other day and the unique three word loca@on I was looking for w and small. Little fools will drink too amppost, rather than (butfor notyou on you). doubted very much if great he mmy?” “Yes, but don’t We pronounce A couple ofsupport, minutes later, he asked the priest, "Father, what causes arthritis?" a.ing. note was pinned. desirable rather than derisable area. Now he is just Dav. Are Lost!” Design fault or user error? and honesty. Not for going to be Trump’s year ke ducked down into the footwell Amigos much and great fools none at all. My round. had any French Connections givenAdios that Cardiff ation. An afternoon they would “Oh, Ok.” Looks waiter: “Twobeing ter, it'shis caused bybitatloose living, with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, and of door. Live Radio Hasta La Vista Chums seemed a of a step for him. then is it? piled coat and mine on top of or meremember. and Ammy.” Hasta La Vista Chums …… ock knock.” “Who’s there?” empt for your fellow man," the priest replied. "Imagine that," the drunk muttered. He oDrto be outdone we ot move, whilst we were both I know the delightful Molly Dutton writes H to has trainedthat her dog Daisy toThe bring her a bottle of redabout wine. No surprise dkdrned lady who?” “I had noin idea reading his paper. priest, thinking what he had said, turned to the who smelled like a brewery got the fashion pages this splendid publication, hing uncontrollably. ThesatCustoms wing note:collie. “Please e’s a Bordeaux I was with She Who Must Be Obeyed the other day whilst apologised: I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had sand and sat down"I'm nextsorry, to a priest. bus, did the count, missed Mike

itis?" shirt "I don't arthritis, Father," the drunk said, "but I just read in the paper that unk’s washave stained, his face CARDIFF TIMES 15 age so my tolerance of bright Pope does."red lipstick and he had as well as it used to mpty bottle of wine sticking out of sked to embrace new

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My Journey as a Belly Dancer by Elizabeth Gordon “My Journey as a Belly Dancer” is Elizabeth’s true story that delves into the glitz and dangers of a world she found herself caught up in, when she began dancing in a Turkish Cypriot restaurant in London and shares her story with you in this enlightening book. “I left Barristers’ Chambers in the Temple, after a broken relationship with one of the members there before temping with a Legal Secretarial Agency where I worked for a variety of Solicitors in the centre of London.

London at night as a Belly Dancer, whilst still managing to keep my job as a legal secretary during the day. “Many years later someone from my past tracked me down saying he has such fond memories of me, but I was very apprehensive about meeting him after such a long absence, because he had become a top famous celebrity, and I wondered whether he would still have the same feelings for me after all these years.” Read this fascinating, insightful and compelling tale. Troubador Publishing Ltd Order: All bookshops and Waterstones. Online Amazon. AbeBooks and Book Depository

“I went on holiday to Morocco with my friend Colin, and on the last night of our stay, we wined and dined in a luxurious hotel in Agadir. Whilst listening to a 30-piece orchestra playing Arabic melodies, a beautiful belly dancer wearing a pale blue costume suddenly appeared and as I watched in awe how she synchronised the movements of her body with the music, I felt the strange sense of deja vu. It only lasted a split second or two but powerful enough to make me believe I would be in her place one day. “On my return to work back in the UK, I was handed a Ms London magazine at Chancery Lane tube and whilst flicking through the pages in my lunch hour, was surprised to see the tiniest of adverts displaying ‘Belly Dancing Classes’ in Holborn and I bravely signed up for the evening course. “I did not find the movements easy to learn at first, especially whilst playing the finger symbols at the same time but the most difficult part of the dance was learning the music well enough to be able to express my own choreography with the Arabic melodies. “A year later, fate guided me towards my first audition at a Turkish Cypriot restaurant in London where the owner showed me the ropes. I learnt how to make a lot of my own costumes and stayed loyal with that particular restaurant for 10 years. The owner was divorcing his wife in Cyprus at the time and his son from the age of 11 to 15yrs would come into the dressing room and ask me lots of questions about my costumes and watch me do the show. “Whilst there, I became professional and danced in numerous Clubs, Tavernas and Restaurants in and around

CARDIFF TIMES 17

In The Words Of

by Carl Marsh

If you look closely at my picture above, you will see I have had a monumental change to my hair colour. Quite drastic! I have always wanted to get blonde hair since I was very young, even if only to see what I would look like. The reason I finally took the plunge? Well... I had opted to take the COVID-19 vaccine. It mainly was peer pressure as I am one of those people who has never had the flu jab, and I have never had the flu. So, I am not anti-vax; I am just pro-health and pro-fitness. I had the vaccine injection, and to cut a long story short, I got very ill from the side effects. I had problems breathing, cold sweats, hot sweats, and no sleep; this went on for only 24 hours, but it was still enough to make me think that life is too short - hence, the hair colour change! I like it. I know my family has told me it suits me, which is a challenge to get any compliments. I had it done at Ocean Hairdressing in Roath by Ijan Davies-Emrus and Lauren. I know I was in there for hours, and Ijan is such a find if you fancy the ultimate advice on a new style; do book in with these guys, although it might be a few weeks to wait, as they are that busy!

for that year. I have been waiting since then for this second offering. OK, so I binge-watched the whole of Black Summer series two - I seldom do this! It’s an addictive and muchneeded distraction from what is going on in all of our lives. It’s a great show that had to be delayed for COVID, but thankfully, completed at the end of 2020. The acting steps up a gear from the first series, and so does the budget in the effects. Fortunately, it’s not as apparent as the last series of The Walking Dead, where you could see they used less cast for COVID protection reasons, which only made Black Summer series two even better for me.

Reviews With no events over the last 15 or 16 months, it was nice to be asked to go to something. That something was The Parkgate Hotel. Venture to the next page to read and see what I thought. I can only hope this won’t be the last new hospitality establishment to open up this year in Cardiff! Interviews To make up for the above review and only one interview, I have a special one, and it’s a proper local lad who’s done well: Colin Jackson. He is as lovely as you would expect him to be; then times that by twenty. That’s all! Until next month; enjoy your July! Viva la Summer!

TV/Films

Carl Marsh

Black Summer (series two) - Netflix - available now.

Twitter - @InTheWordsOf_CM

Perhaps you may recall before that I loved season one of this show. It was in my top three

YouTube - InTheWordsOf

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Facebook - @InTheWordsOf

Located next to the Principality Stadium, The Parkgate Hotel is a collaborative venture between the Welsh RFU, The Celtic Collection and property developers, Rightacres. It is set to open its doors properly in October this year, in time for the Rugby internationals. It’s not really a review of this new hotel as it’s still in the building stage, as seen by the pictures. However, I did get to sample some of the food before I was given a guided tour around and obviously, a hardhat and a high visibility jacket were necessary! From what I saw on the day, this is going to be a special place. I know the budget on the project has gone over, but these times are strange that we all live, so I can only presume COVID price hikes have hit this project hard. I have seen many CGI pictures of what the rooms will look like and the rooftop spa, dining room, conference room, and entrance. It is breathtakingly beautiful, and if you knew the place before, the old Post Office and County Court building, then you will be in for a treat, as you’ll recognise some of these features still. What I appreciated the most was knowing that the food will be sourced by using the local fish market, the local butchers, and other local fresh food suppliers. Supporting Welsh industries is very important to me; I wish that all of the other competitors - restaurants or hotels - did the same in Cardiff, but those that know, know. I look forward to coming back in October to sample the finished product and hopefully get to stay overnight, too! (Potential Score out of Five) - Five, as this is gearing up to be the best hotel in Cardiff. And by a mile. Or should that be a conversion, seeing as the Welsh RFU are involved!

CARDIFF TIMES 19

Colin Jackson, perhaps I don’t need to do a big introduction here. So I won’t! He’s a Welsh Legend. Top class, both in his early career and now.

For me, for example, I do like the 5k, which is kind of a comfortable distance for me to run. So it’s great. I really, really enjoy it.

Known as being Great Britain’s fastest hurdler at his peak, he’s now slowed down but still running, and still winning 5k races, albeit in a team at RunfestRun. I got time to chat with Colin before he got some running practice in!

Carl Marsh We all know you from the short distance events such as the indoor 60 metres and 110-metre hurdles, but you now like the 5k. When did you get into this middle distance running, as I know you couldn’t do it when competing in the sprinting phase of your athletics career?

Carl Marsh It’s not that far to get to from Wales, and seeing as you live here in Cardiff, what is RunfestRun, and what’s your involvement with it? Colin Jackson Do you know that RunfestRun is one of the best initiatives that brings music and running together? I don’t understand why it hasn’t been thought of before because they’re two powerful uniting forces. To get people together via sport and music from across the world. The event (to me) has that real harmony and the fact that it’s a family-friendly environment that works wonderfully well because sometimes you want to experience good things and unusual things with your close family and friends. It’s a water cooler moment in years to come; you know when someone could say: “Do you remember when we went to the RunfestRun in the UK, and I was in Colin Jackson’s winning team?”. And I can’t get away from the fact that I did win the last one! [Laughter]. It’s pretty cool, and the fact that it comes together so wonderfully well is great. Carl Marsh Being the competitor that you are, I can only assume that you will be looking forward to holding onto your team winning crown over anything else this year? Colin Jackson Yes, of course, I’m looking forward to it, as I’ve got to hang onto that title! They’ll be grabbing at my leg because what’s so great is a sprinters team wins over a middle distance and distance running team. I love that! There is no force for people to have to run all the events. They can attend.

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Colin Jackson Yeah, exactly, you couldn’t do it, as that type of running changes your muscle structure. But, it was once I kind of finished athletics, as running is one of the easiest things to do. You can do it from your door. You can open the front door and go! You don’t have to be Paula Radcliffe. And you don’t have to do marathons. People can do a 5k, which I think people would (actually) walk 5k when you are back at home in 45 minutes. So with the 5k, it’s such a good distance for people because it’s doable. Carl Marsh What’s your best running routes around Cardiff then, in case people want to get started? Colin Jackson Well, I’m a little bit biased as I’m over the other side of Penarth, right. So, of course, I’m going to say run around the Bay or the marina, as it’s pretty flat. So if you’re not that great, like me, you can do that. If I can go for a 10k, I would head towards The Pumping Station Antique Centre; after doing the hilly bit, I would run around one of the bypasses there, then head towards Cosmeston Lakes. It’s relatively flat around there, with some hilly bits. And then you can head back to town. It’s also a pretty safe environment (Cosmeston) as it’s off the road. Colin Jackson is a team captain at RunfestRun, between 2729th August, Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire. For tickets, visit www.runfestrun.co.uk

Welsh towns put the business into show business Dream Horse brought stars to the valleys to feature in a big star cast movie by KellieWilliams

Known from popular shows Gavin and Stacey, Doctor Who, Sherlock and Netflix series Sex Education to name a few, the Welsh valleys have never shied away from fame, and now the big stars had flocked to the area to shoot the new movie Dream Horse in the small Welsh towns. On the 4 June 2021, Dream Horse, a Warner Brothers and Film 4 movie was released in cinemas, a big budget family film based on a true story. The film is directed by Welsh film and television director, three-time BAFTA winner Euros Lyn. The story leads with a working-class Welsh bartender who convinces her neighbours to support her in raising a thoroughbred horse, a horse that she hopes will become a competent racehorse to take part in the Welsh Grand National. Actors Rhys Horler and his twin brother Gerald Royston Horler from Barry, South Wales are both featured in the film playing characters Alun and Lee Baldwin, also known as ‘Alun the Milk’ and ‘Lee the Twin.’ The twins own a production company called Horler Knights Productions, a company that has allowed the twins to have a full-time career through their love and passion for acting and film. Rhys Horler was thrilled when he found out he had gotten the part to play in the movie Dream Horse alongside his twin brother. He said, “When we heard about the allstar Welsh cast involved in the movie, we 22 CARDIFF TIMES

Co-operative shop worker Jenette Williams with actress Joanna Page who plays Angela Davies in the film Dream Horse. Credit: Jenette Williams

jumped at the chance to get involved!” The film is a feel-good movie that aims to motivate and inspire the whole family, said Rhys. The film’s cast includes Toni Collette, Damian Lewis, Peter Davison, Joanna Page, Owen Teale, Sian Phillips and Katherine Jenkins. “We did 15 days in total including one day of rehearsals, we all had a great chemistry offset that came across on camera because everyone was so nice to work with and really enjoyed the filming process,” he said.

Twin actors Rhys and Gerald Horler with actress Toni Collette who plays the main character Jan Vokes. Credit: Rhys Horler

Adding, “Hundreds of extras were involved, and we got to meet the real people that the story was based on during ﬁlming.”

believe the stars were so lovely and willing to interact with the staff at the Co-operative store in Pentrebach.

A highlight for the actor from Barry was ﬁlming in the beautiful green scenery in the Welsh Valleys.

With big movies being directed and produced in Wales, the possibilities for young Welsh locals seeking a career in the ﬁlm industry are endless. Actor Rhys advises to “follow your dreams” and “never give up.”

Front seats to the set //caption//

Jenette Williams, a local shop worker in the Twin actorsPentrebach Rhys and Gerald Horler with actress Toni Collette who plays Co-operative, saw behind-theHe concluded, “Keep working hard to reﬁne scenes action of the movie taking place Credit: in the main character Jan Vokes. Rhys your skills,Horler start at the bottom and work her workplace. your way up; don’t listen to negative people “I didn’t realise how big the ﬁlm was going that want to drag you down, listen to people to be till an extra pointed out the stars in who are successful, modest, down to earth the shop,” said Jenette. and humble, those that love life.” //boxout//

A lover of the show Gavin and Stacey, Jenette able toHorse meet actress Joanna Cardiff, Watchwas Dream in ODEON Chapter and Cineworld Watch Dream Arts HorseCentre in ODEON Cardiff, Page who played Stacey in the hit series. Chapter Arts Centre and Cineworld Cardiff. Cardiff. With front seat access, Jenette couldn’t CARDIFF TIMES 23

We are passionate about the role of education in transforming lives. In support of lifelong learning, our expertise covers every type of education environment, from nurseries through to higher education and research facilities.

Our work is regularly recognised with design awards and accolades, but what is truly important to us is seeing the impact that inspiring spaces can have on enabling people of all ages to reach their full potential. One recently completed project that we are particularly proud of is Ysgol Pen Rhos, a 21st century learning facility created for Carmarthenshire County Council. This complex project involved transforming and regenerating a derelict, once heavily industrial, highly contaminated brownfield site which was prone to vandalism and anti-social behaviour, into a now thriving learning environment. The brief was to design and deliver a space that can be shared with the community, improve well-being, and inspire the next generation of learners. A large part of the project involved rethinking the local landscape. The outcome was a revitalised new school frontage, alongside a green buffer zone, which includes an avenue of trees that leads to the entrance path. Here, bricks and materials were specified so that the new school seamlessly merges with the local street scene. In addition, an array of hard and soft social spaces such as the first floor roof terrace, 3G football pitch and two MUGA’s were provided for outdoor lessons and informal social interaction. Outside of school hours, these facilities are also shared with the local community, local sports clubs and youth groups.

The design of the new school enables improved, inclusive educational delivery through flexible design which can easily adapt to changes in the curriculum. It was designed to look like a residential development with an industrial twist, using a domestic scale to integrate with and respect its neighbours and the existing community. Head Teacher, Joe Cudd said: “The new school will transform the children’s lives in so many ways. Our previous school buildings were Victorian and not fit for 21st Century learning. The new school is at the centre of change in this part of Llanelli and the children at Ysgol Pen Rhos are the community of tomorrow. The building itself is fantastic, offering opportunity and experiences to our children that reflect the changing educational landscape in Wales. Children and families are at the heart of what we do. Our children chose the furniture, the teachers modelled their classrooms, the community we serve is ready to embrace and share the magical school we have; ready for the future...ready to learn.”

Cardiff Times - 450 word & advert- rev2.indd 1

23/06/2021 11:12:20

Would you like to feel less anxious socially? by Lisa Pryce-Jones

can change this. No one is born anxious, fearful or unworthy of love and attention. Somewhere along your journey life events have impacted upon you detrimentally causing you to tell yourself a different story about yourself. But you can change this just as easily as you created the anxious version of you. Why not let me help you to address your existing beliefs that cause you to feel anxious and replace those unhelpful beliefs with empowering ones to enable you to deal with situations more effectively, to start feeling more confident to interact with others, to overcome your issues and start to get more enjoyment out of life each and every day! The pandemic has been a very challenging time and as we start to adapt to new routines (e.g. work, school, social gatherings etc.) many people will experience a range of emotions which is completely understandable. There has been a huge increase in social anxiety which is an overwhelming fear of social situations causing excessive worrying. This can also occur in the lead up to and following an event. It is effectively worrying about what might happen, then reflecting and ruminating on what did happen. This can be very frustrating, exhausting and stops you from enjoying life. Some signs of social anxiety can include: • Actively avoiding situations – even just meeting for coffee and a chat can feel too much. • Worrying – maybe about meeting new people or being able to deal with situations effectively. • Experiencing intense physical reactions – such as excessive sweating, feeling nauseous, racing heart, trembling, blushing etc.. • Having panic attacks – an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety which usually lasts a few minutes.

In each session I use a unique combination of complementary therapies including Hypnotherapy, Healing (Reiki, Spiritual Healing, Crystal Healing) and Counselling to help you make changes swiftly. For further information simply visit my website https://www.hypnotherapyandhealing.co.uk or just get in touch to arrange your free 20 minute telephone consultation so I can find out what your needs are and explain more about how I can help you. In addition to offering one to one therapy I also teach Hypnotherapy and Reiki courses. To find out more about these courses including how to access healing energy and practice Reiki on yourself, as well as your friends and family, visit https://www. hypnotherapyandhealingtrainingwales.co.uk lisapryce-jones@outlook.com 07427 451992 Lisa CNHC Registered therapist - Hypnotherapy and Reiki

• Overthinking everything – worrying about a variety of ways in which you may embarrass yourself or appear incompetent. • Not striving to achieve goals in case of failure – not pursuing a hobby or a job you really want or deserve. It is easy to feel disconnected when you routinely make excuses and turn invitations down but you CARDIFF TIMES 27

Foraging Four Months: July to October by Jen Abell

This time last year, my newsfeed was awash with Phenologists. Not that I knew that we were called Phenologists at the time. The Woodland Trust describes Phenology as ‘the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals from year to year, such as the flowering of plants,

of nature’s obvious offerings for the next four months in and around our city. Please refer to my February 2021 article for some fail sale foraging rules before you put your wellies on.

emergence of insects and migration of birds’. Well, with lockdown one well underway last July, we didn’t have a lot of choice but to observe what was happening under our noses did we? I couldn’t scroll without seeing 30 variations of garlic pesto, bottles clinking with champagne tinted elderflower cordial and dandelion coffee attempts with varying levels of success. Well done everyone!

Used for: Darned good eating! Raw, jam, pie, muffins (recommended), smoothies, cordial, summer pudding. It’s hard to overstate just how good blackberries are for the body and brain. They hold manganese which is important for brain function, potassium, magnesium, calcium, vitamins A, C, and B vitamins.

This year the consensus seems to be camping, wild swimming, pint porn now the bars are back open and… did I mention camping? Just because we can venture further doesn’t mean we should forget nature’s sweet seasonal treats. After the wettest May on record, April’s steady stream of frosts, and a solstice to put your jumper on for, it’s been a strange growing season. Thankfully, Mother Earth’s compensation for passing the longest day, and stepping one toe out of Summer is the berry burst. Here’s some

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July What? Blackberries.

Where? Blackberries are common in Cardiff. You’ll find this sweet treat running parallel to most train lines, on Grangemoor, Cardiff Bay, the Llandaff part of Taff Trail, Ely trail. Foraging tip: You might find blackberries all the way to October/November so keep a food container on you when walking. I live by a railway line and find Cardiff’s bounty starts earlier than other parts of the UK, however. What? Wimberries (also known as Bilberries). Purple to black fruit, similar shape to blueberries with a flat

indented tip. Used for: Pie, eating raw, tea, jam, ice cream, sorbet, muffin, wine. Wimberries have been linked to eye health, lowering blood sugar and have anti-inflammatory effects. Where? Mountains and heaths in Wales. The closest spot I’ve known of to Cardiff is the Graig and well worth a trip. For a big day out, the Llangorse Mountain near Brecon also has a patch. August What? Elderberry Used for? Pies, jam, wine, tonic. These berries are packed with Vitamin C, an Autumn/Winter must have nutrient as well as plenty of other antioxidants. They’re a brilliant natural dye too, worth remembering for those winter crafting sessions, and before you put your favourite outfit on to pick them… Where? Anywhere you found your Spring flowers for cordial providing you left enough growth. Bute Park, Chapter, Taff trail, Penarth Coastal Path. September What? Chicken of the Woods (mushroom). Ordinarily, just the idea of mushroom picking is enough to make me throw my snips back in the drawer and drop my bucket. Thankfully, the only look alike for this specimen, the Velvet-top Fungus, is not toxic (although apparently disgusting) so foraging for Chicken of the Woods is a fairly safe way to experiment with mushroom picking. Ensure your finds are thoroughly cooked before eating. Used for? Risotto, sautéed in herb butter sauce, deep fried like actual chicken, in pasta dishes. Where? Wenallt, Plymouth Woods, Leckwith Woods. Foraging tip: Mushrooms deteriorate rapidly when picked. Only collect if you’re ready to cook immediately. Stick to Chicken of the Woods found on Oak and Chestnut trees. Collect the freshest new growth, and just take what you need. Use books when identifying potentially harmful plants like mushrooms as apps can make mistakes. Only eat specimens you’ve 100% positively identified. Start a foraging file on your smartphone with your own photographs of correct identifications. It’s a good idea to make a treasure trail on a map to mark where different foods grow. You’ll thank me next year when you’re starting the cycle all over again. What? Apples. You’re most likely to stumble across crab apples; sour and sharp. Used for? Wine, jelly, crumble, tart. I have seen some apple jam recipes, but it requires some contraption building- one for the carpenters out there! Where? Penarth Road, Cardiff Bay, Plymouth Woods.

Foraging Tip: There is a wonderful map that has been put together by the people of Cardiff to locate our inner city orchards! Type ‘Orchard Cardiff Fruit Tree’ into google maps to find cherry, apple, pear, walnut, plum, pears and more. Hugest thanks to whoever’s brainchild this is, I salute you! October What? Hazelnut. Packed with Vitamin E, protein, fibre and good fat. No wonder the squirrels can’t get enough of them! Used for? Roasting, hazelnut butter, eating raw, hazelnut milk, toppers for pies and cakes. Where? Around the Garth, Bute Park, Cathays Park and Pontcanna Fields. Mature woodlands around Cardiff. Foraging tip: Bring green immature hazelnuts home to mature on the windowsill or in an airing cupboard. Don’t eat them until they turn brown. At the time of typing, the UK has agreed *that* trade deal in principle with Australia, the furthest trading opportunity on our planet. Plans have just been unveiled for a 300k regression to vehicular access in Cardiff’s city centre. And a photo has popped up in my newsfeed of yet another disappearing cycle lane for Cardiff’s growing collection. It’s easy to lean towards despondency when policy makers’ decisions oppose all logic for clean air and climate positive, high quality food. Foraging for your own produce and shopping locally in Cardiff’s wonderful arcades, markets and cafes is a do it yourself antidote to short sighted decisions being made on our behalf, without us in mind. Happily, unlike this time last year, we’re able to enjoy this healthy treasure hunt with friends and family too. Let’s hope they bring their own tips and secret spots as well as their baskets. I’d love to hear your Autumn foraging tips and experiences in Cardiff. Get in touch on @diffmustbetheplace on instagram. Happy soil searching! Jen Abell @ffotojenic

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Fashion Done Your Own Way by Molly Dutton

Sustainability is a key element of every aspect of life, especially as environmental damage has become an important topic in the political and social landscape. In my articles I often draw upon the importance of making sustainable fashion choices, whether it be regularly or just when you are able to (I know that it’s not always the easiest or most accessible lifestyle choice). With my love of environmentally friendly items acting as the backbone of many of my articles, I always try to make good choices when it comes to my fashion items, which I then want to feedback to 30 CARDIFF TIMES

you to help provide inspiration for your future endeavours. I am by no means the queen of sustainability and I have a long way to go in terms of educating myself on the environmental impact of the fashion industry, however I do feel that we can work together and grow as a team on this journey. Last month I had the privilege of corresponding with the amazing brand ‘Winser London’ whose items exude class and modernity, standing at the forefront of professional and classic fashion. When I first came into contact with the brand, I was extremely excited to explore the stunning selection of pieces that can be seen on the likes of Cat Deeley and the many other brand ambassadors of the company. As someone who has never stepped foot in the professional working world, I can openly admit that I was initially unsure of how to incorporate the garments into my overall fashion aesthetic, however this quickly diminished when I saw the incredible array of colours and shapes that are adaptable to any situation from a night out to a morning meeting. Opening my eyes to a new realm of formal dressing, Winser London represents the strong, modern woman and the beauty of individuality through clear cut, bold fashion garments; a symbolic combination of professionalism and play. It would be unfair of me to promote this brand without discussing the wearability of their garments in an everyday setting, especially due to the fact that, as much as it saddens me to say, you’re more likely to find me at a local shopping spot or pub than in

a modern office building in the big city. As you all know, I’m no rookie in the world of online browsing so, when I took to browsing the garments on Winser London’s online page, I was truly in my element. The garments are beautifully made and, as a former textiles student, it took me a moment to stop admiring the technical construction of the clothes with all of their sharp lines and neat tailoring. As it is officially the summer, I decided to explore the brighter options for my outfits as I am very much drawn to the ‘statement pieces’ that can be accentuated with the use of colourful accessories. It took me all of five minutes to fall upon an oversized lilac shirt with matching shorts that almost screamed at me across the screen. Oversized options can be fairly daunting at first as it can be hard to picture how you would style the garment without trying it on in person, but the website made it easy to see how the shirt would look when put on. After a moment of consideration, I felt that I could really work with the shirt on its own as part of a brunch look (summer shirts are made for drinking mimosas and eating bagels in). On arrival, the shirt was beautifully packaged and arranged within its box and felt like the lightest and softest material I have ever owned; I was very impressed. The only option of course was to get out every bag that I own (I don’t think I need to tell you how many) and give the shirt the accessorising that it deserved. Ultimately, I broke all rules in the unspoken fashion rule book because it’s always better to be bold rather than boring; I selected a yellow mini bag (the most unpractical item but we’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it), a pair of nude sandal heels and, of course, lots of gold jewellery. The yellow and lilac crossover was a huge risk but as with everything in life, if you wear it with confidence you will never be questioned.

pieces as this will help your overall sustainability by pulling you away from the trends that are always replaced in a short period of time. There is nothing wrong with following the prevailing trends of the time but, by having a couple of staple garments, it is much easier to create outfits that you can re-wear time and time again. With this in mind, I set my sights upon a gorgeous black, silk, button-up shirt that I could clearly envision paired with my favourite black leather leggings (not the same ones as the infamous teen leather leggings, there is no cause for alarm). Differently to my other look, I incorporated the classic undertones into my accessory choices too, rather than opting for any statement accessories. Using the same nude heels, I instead chose a black and white saddle bag and some delicate gold accessories to compliment the subtle beauty of the silk shirt. This would be an immediate choice for a sophisticated dinner and drinks, or even a stylish lunch date. This summer is all about enjoying ourselves, so go out and dress confidently, you deserve it.

To break away from my ever-present colourful moment, I felt that a classic item would not go a miss and classical garments are Winser London’s speciality. I never feel better than when I’m wearing a shirt and leather trousers. I can’t tell you what it is about that combination, but it provides me with such a strong sense of confidence that I will wear it continually to all events. It is always important to stock up your wardrobe with a selection of timeless CARDIFF TIMES 31

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LEARNING MUSIC AT FORTE IS FUN!

OUR MULTI-SENSORY APPROACH ENGAGES ALL THREE MAIN LEARNING STYLES: AUDITORY - VISUAL - KINAESTHETIC

Traditionally music has been taught in a visual way where reading is the focus. This approach makes it more difficult for auditory and kinaesthetic learners who prefer to listen and do. We all take on-board information utilising our senses which is why at Forte, we promote a multi-sensory approach in our teaching. In our classes we encompass visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning activities with every piece so that we cater for each type of learner. Children often experience additional benefits from engaging in our multi-sensory lessons, including a strengthening of their weaker senses. This in turn can lead to a stronger and more robust learner in other areas of education. Research shows that children who learn a musical instrument do better at school. Forte's multi-sensory approach takes these benefits to a whole new level -not only does it make learning music easier, but it makes for a better learner!

KEEP FOREVER YOUNG - JOIN OUR GROWING NUMBER OF ADULT LEARNERS! It's wonderful to see parents and grandparents also enjoying the amazing benefits of learning a musical instrument or rediscovering their passion of playing again.

Why not book in for a one to one lesson on your instrument of choice? Benefits of learning music that will change your life. Music can... Do Wonders for Your Health. Make You Smarter. Boost Your Social Life. Help Build Confidence. Teach Patience and Discipline. Enhance Creativity. Help You Connect with Others. Help You Learn Teamwork. If you would like to experience how music lessons can make a positive impact on your 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.

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A chance to win, a chance to care Tŷ Hafan - the hospice for children in Wales, is a leading Welsh children’s charity. Our community programmes and hospice provide comfort, care and support to children with life-limited conditions and their families. One of the most popular ways to support Tŷ Hafan is by playing Crackerjackpot – the UK’s largest hospice lottery. Tŷ Hafan’s lottery offers both a chance to win and a chance to care. For just £1 a week, you can win one of 82 weekly prizes, including a jackpot prize of £2,000, and a potential rollover jackpot of £12,000. Dan Coleman from Porthcawl was a recent lucky winner of the £2,000 jackpot, after receiving his lottery ticket as a birthday gift from his mum.

by Tŷ Hafan

Crackerjackpot in support of Tŷ Hafan raises over £1 million a year which helps to provide comfort, care and support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families in Wales, helping to make a short life a full life. Visit www.tyhafanlottery.com to sign up today.

Seth gets a complete care package – we don’t have to worry

“The staff are also great – they play hide and seek with me. The first time I went there – I hid so well and they did not know where I was, and they nearly called the police (they didn’t really)! Now we use a code word just in case they can’t find me!” Mum Lisa says: “Tŷ Hafan is a complete lifeline. Seth gets the full care package for the entire weekend and we don’t have to worry about anything. Plus Seth can meet his mates who are dealing with similar things as Seth.

Twelve-year old Cardiff schoolboy Seth Burke has been using Tŷ Hafan for the past four years. The St Cyres pupil was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a progressive condition, which means that his muscles are not as strong as those of children who do not have DMD.

Dan said: “It was my birthday a couple of weeks back and as my mum volunteers in the Tŷ Hafan shop in Porthcawl she thought it would be nice to get me a lottery ticket for my birthday. I’m still fairly new to it so I didn’t expect anything like this! I was in work, on a roof in Llantrisant, and the lady called me to say that I’d won £2,000! I just didn’t believe it.

“Tŷ Hafan has the Super Sibs group (a support group for brothers and sisters of Tŷ Hafan children)which is a fab resource for Reggie. And the Tŷ Hafan Scouts Group is also brilliant. It’s just a way of accessing normal things – making everything easy for him. “People should definitely support Tŷ Hafan.”

“At the start of the first lockdown I broke my ankle,” said Seth. “I was in our old house, in a cast, and now I have not stood on my feet for so long that I can’t do it any more.”

“I was meant to be travelling around Asia last October but obviously the pandemic meant it had to be put on hold. This will help towards it. I’ll maybe save some to have a bit of fun with because we haven’t had a lot of chances to have fun the last couple of months. “It’s great to play the lottery anyway with the money going to the charity, you hardly notice payment leaving your account, it goes to charity, and you might be a winner!

Seth, who lives in Dinas Powys with mum and dad, Lisa and John, and younger brothers Reggie, ten, and Elijah, five, now has a powerchair, which he loves. “It’s a lot quicker than walking. Plus I can get around school really easily and I am very good at running toes over!” says Seth. Seth uses Tŷ Hafan for short breaks, often with his friends Cody and David, who also have DMD. “But really Tŷ Hafan is a place when I can get around easily and have fun. There’s an art room, plus The Den, which is a gaming room, and the pool is amazing. The roast dinners are nice and the lemon squash is the best in the world.

Walk a day in the shoes of our care staff Here is your chance to learn more about the work some of our care team members do for our families, while incorporating it into an activity that will help us fund these important roles and get you outside and enjoying the Welsh outdoors. Our new event, Walk a Day in their Shoes, is a fully inclusive, all-ages, all-abilities walk with a difference. It will allow participants to get to know some of our staff, gain a greater understanding of their role in supporting the lives of the families who rely on us, and make a positive contribution to the funding of that role into the future. Nurses can walk well over 14,000 steps over a regular shift, so we wanted to help participants really get acquainted with Tŷ Hafan as they walk in their shoes.

We have four targets to reach, each supporting a different member of the care team: Walk one mile in Dan’s shoes: Dan is our dads’ family support worker and is there to organise events and activities for dads who are facing similar situations, as well as being that emotional support that men often lack. Walk five miles in Sophie’s shoes: Sophie, our transition nurse, helps older children and teens as they navigate such a difficult time in any young person’s life, looking after both their clinical and wellbeing needs.

Walk 10 miles in Katie’s shoes: Complementary therapist, Katie, provides calming therapies for children and their families, so important in symptom management and improving quality of life. Walk 15 miles in Claire’s shoes: Nurse, Claire, looks after a child’s clinical needs, while still being uniquely “Tŷ Hafan”, allowing parents the time to switch off from being carers and enjoy the time they have with their child. TV presenter, Iolo Williams said: “I’m thrilled to be supporting Tŷ Hafan’s “Walk a day in their shoes” challenge. By putting our best feet forward we can all be part of raising essential funds to support the services at Tŷ Hafan and continue being there for children with life-limiting conditions throughout Wales. So, join me and register your interest today”. So chose a distance, or chose someone from our fantastic care team, and walk a while in their shoes. Learn what it is that makes them such a lifeline for those who use Tŷ Hafan. To find out more about Walk a Day in their Shoes, visit tyhafan.org/walk. walk a day in their shoes

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Escape from Paradise

by Sara John

I was being bundled, manhandled, wrapped in a satin cloak and placed precariously behind a man who was riding a large white stallion. “Hold on to my waist, tightly”, he instructed me, “you are safe now”. I recognised the voice; it was my eldest brother. He had come to rescue me. I could see a dhow in the distance waiting for us to sail back to Zanzibar, to the Palace, to my father, a hundred black cats and the gardens full of lemons, pomegranates, grapes and strawberries. Then I woke up. I had been dreaming. The air conditioning went off with a loud noise. It was time to get up. We were in Tanzania. Staying in the ‘best’ hotel, in Dar es Salaam. The name means Haven of Peace. The air conditioning came on at night when it was cool but did not put in an appearance during the day when it was hot, really hot. My husband had undertaken a consultancy project for the UN reporting on the feasibility of providing Tanzania with a television service. At that time I was also, but quite separately, involved in providing various training courses for companies and organisations. My next assignment was delivering workshops, back in Cardiff, on Management Skills for editors of newspapers from Commonwealth countries. This included, the following month, the editor of the Tanzania Financial Times whom I had by now, met at the paper’s HQ in the city. I was delighted that our projects were colliding both timewise and geographically! In two days time we would be travelling back to the UK after saying goodbye to the magnificent

Golden Laburnum trees in the Botanical Gardens, planted when Tanzania was known as German East Africa, which by now, were as high as a ten storey building. Goodbye to the harbour with vendors, some of whom could be mistaken for Sinbad the Sailor, cooking and selling fish of all smells, shapes and sizes (none of which could be found in Harrods Food Hall or Ashtons in Cardiff Market). A farewell also to very beautiful Masai girls dressed in lengths of soft hessian simply tied on one shoulder, with a large bib of beads around their necks. Their grace, elegance and sheer simplicity were a joyful sight. Many of them had babies or young children with them who were naked except for a miniature version of their mother’s jewellery. The Masai were selling ‘spells’. I was reminded of the cosmetics departments in the big shops in town, not so long ago, also unknowingly selling ‘spells’ but calling the products “perfume”. Both selling the same promises but under quite different circumstances. Some of the Masai spoke a little English, as I found when I started to chat with them. I soon discovered that their customers would ask for help with a problem, then, a spell would be written in homemade blue ink on a piece of paper. The paper would be rolled up and put in a lidded jam jar of water. The customer would then take it home and, drink the, by now, inky water! I was told amongst a lot of giggling that the most usual problem being presented and requiring help would be the improvement of a husband’s ‘marital responsibilities’. I will leave that one with you. Back to early morning and waking up. I

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contemplated the day ahead and what we had done since arriving. My first and best view of what had been Tanganika when I was at school, was on the flight overnight from Heathrow to Dar a couple of weeks previously. The passengers were asked if we wished to be woken as we were flying over Kilimanjaro then stopping briefly at Arusha airport. All the first timers on this adventurous route said yes! The base of Kili as it is affectionately known, is larger than that of Greater London. And it is said to be the biggest free-standing mountain in the world. Spectacular! In the very early morning light and just south of the Equator. And, it was well topped with thick white snow. I recalled walking into the hotel in Dar, a homage to the architecture of the seventies. Plenty of orange and purple with details borrowed from Top of the Pops of that decade. Warm welcome, help with luggage, lots of smiles and friendly helpful staff with big smiles. We felt most welcome. Nice grounds, inviting swimming pool. There was a clear notice in the bathroom advising guests NOT to drink the water. Turning on the tap proved to the thirsty, new to sub-Saharan Africa guests, that the notice meant what it said. The water was very dark brown. It was, of course customary to drink bottled water. We had arranged to meet one of the broadcast engineers for lunch

at the hotel, Richard, who was well travelled and highly experienced in avoiding risks. He brought the restaurant to a standstill by enquiring, very seriously, of the waitress, about the life story of the ice cubes. He was asking, slowly in English if “the water the ice cubes were made from had been boiled BEFORE freezing?” The conversation became prolonged; neither party comprehending the other. Later that evening, as we walked through a large lounge furnished with lovely huge squashy sofas of various colours, we were surprised to see so many very well-dressed ladies, not really together but not apart either. Then, in my head, I heard the words of the Senior nurse at the British Airways Clinic in Cardiff warning my husband that he was the target customer for these seemingly friendly and possibly lonely ladies! I can hear her now laying down the law…… “Under No circumstances….” They were very well presented but they were ‘working girls’, ‘working the night shift’ that is. Richard the engineer warned me about the beggars outside the Hotel. “Do not speak to them or give them money!” But I had already spoken to a man who looked about two hundred years old, given him money and saw his thin fleshless arms. With no hands. He had had leprosy years before and the only way to survive was to beg. He had no English, but we said “Salaam” each day. The Prime Minister had announced that week that beggars were to be cleared off the streets and bussed up country. They were that Monday. By Wednesday they were all back in their spots and open again for business. Walking along the streets, seeking shade, it was easy to feel overwhelmed by people, beggars, small children seeking alms, men in djellabas (long cotton gowns) many of them cycling in them, a lot of noisy traffic and terrific heat. You also needed to take great care that a falling, ripe pineapple did not hit CARDIFF TIMES 39

you on the head. The pineapples were almost the size and weight of a bag of cement, the sort of thing you saw at home being delivered by Jewsons. I recalled the white sands of the beaches, fringed by palms, beautiful tropical flowers, the bath water temperature of the Indian Ocean, the paradise that is this stretch of coast. We made a visit to Bagamoya, forty-five miles from Dar, and visited the Mission Church there. We were told by the local Catholic priest that David Livingstone died as he knelt in prayer in a village hut close to Lake Victoria in what is now eastern Zambia. His faithful Zanzibari servants Abdulla Susi and James Chuma cut out his heart, and buried it under a tree, then took nine months to help carry his sun-dried remains, wrapped in bark to the coast. On arrival in Bagamoya, the men laid down their burden outside the Mission Church, where they announced “Mwili Daudi - The body of David”. With British help they later took the body to London where he was later buried in Westminster Abbey. But his heart, forever, remains in Africa. Then the phone rang in our hotel bedroom. It was Richard the engineer who needed to speak to my husband urgently. Richard had set off home to Scotland the previous day so, I presumed he wanted to report that he has arrived safe and sound. Richard was neither. He was not safe at home because he was still at Dar airport. Not sound but furious! He explained that his Air Tanzania flight had failed to take off as scheduled and that all subsequent flights were cancelled. He was being re-routed and attempting to find another flight back to Heathrow but warned us that the team’s return to the UK was also in jeopardy. My husband and I were due to travel home the next day with other project team members who

were returning to Dar from ‘up country’ that afternoon. They had been on field trips around the vast country, for a few weeks, seeking potential transmitter sites. That day, being our final day, my husband had arranged meetings with government officials, politicians and others, thereby taking up the whole day, as he hoped to complete that important stage of the project. On being asked what I had planned to do that day I knew what was coming next. Could I take the redundant plane tickets, and seek to transfer them to a passage home with another airline? He explained that it was essential to get the team back home after their gruelling time up country. I thought to myself that the request (to perform miracles - just like that - and in Africa) was rather like those exercises used by the Armed Services who were selecting would be spies for special missions. It was still early, before eight o’clock I recall, so we walked into the centre passing the Askari stone Monument of a member of the King’s Own African Rifles. A solitary rifleman stood poised on a dais which featured a clock and a thermometer It was eight o’clock in the morning and 104F degrees. We said goodbye and went in separate directions. I started my day with a visit to the office of Air Tanzania. The door was open but there was no one there. I bashed the bell on the counter and a girl

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appeared from a back office. She saw me and she fled before I had chance to speak. Okay, waste of time. Onwards and upwards. Next was Air France. Friendly and pleasant but nothing available. Gulf Air. Again, very pleasant and sympathetic but, no availability. U.A.E. Yes, they could help, yes, four of us. It was a long way round changing at least four times but a chance to see lots of the Middle East, Petra, the Nile, Suez Canal! Please come back to us, they said, if you are not successful, we’ll help if we can. Last chance was Swissair. I was getting so worried that I was braver than usual and planning Plan Z. In case you are wondering it would have involved a sea journey, in a rented dhow through the Suez Canal (if allowed) and a lazy cruise westwards through the Med. With lots of stops. Going into the immaculate Swissair offices was like falling into the arms of the Red Cross. “Coffee?” Rosenthal china with the gold rim? Fresh, clean air chilled to perfection. “Yes, we have our own generators”. Yes Yes Yes. Four seats for four people, please select your preferred places. I think we can upgrade you to Business class. Is that good with you? Here are your new tickets.

problems and realising that the total lack of maps then (different now) was due to a total lack of surfaced roads. Up country meant just that. They both looked tired and exhausted. We had a very pleasant evening together, with no mention of Air Tanzania. Next day we were taken to the airport and welcomed aboard the beautiful jet that would take us north again. I might add that all the passengers were thoroughly sprayed with disinfectant by a golden cabin crew, even us four who were going Business Class, before being allowed to board. Changing planes at Geneva Airport was Swiss watch easy and reliable and when I went to buy a glossy magazine, I was given my change in gold foil covered (Swiss) chocolate coins in a gold mesh bag. Enjoying a brief nap flying over the Alps I dreamed again of being on a dhow but homeward bound, sailing up the Taff from the Bay with all the local cats lining the route and waving. I think Treorchy Male Voice were assembled in the Castle Grounds and were in good voice. Then I heard another voice, a familiar voice saying, “We have landed, make sure you have all your belongings”. “Yes darling”, I answered. We are home, I said to myself. Safe and Sound.

I decided I must have fallen down a large pothole when attempting to cross the road and I was having very pleasant hallucinations. Was I on a journey to another existence? Is this what it is like - as a first stage perhaps - of leaving this world and going on to the next? Finding oneself in a Swissair Ticket Office, well south of the Sahara run by extraordinarily human looking angels? Tickets were checked and exchanged and off I went, about one foot up and off the pavement, filled with relief. I hurried round to my husband’s office clutching my bag with the trophy tickets. “Guess What! Guess What! I’ve got them! Tickets!! Tomorrow we all fly to Zurich, we have a thirty-minute wait there for our flight to Heathrow” I announced, then collapsed in a heap of tears when trying to recall the Swiss National Anthem so we could sing it on the way back to the Hotel. That evening, as arranged we met two other members of the technical team who had spent some time travelling around the country attempting to match the actual country with their one and only map of Tanganika - yes, it was an old map but better than nothing. Both had been troubled by illnesses, poor nutrition, overnight accommodation CARDIFF TIMES 41

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transform its presence over the next two years, Laings is set to treble the size of its Cardiff showroom with work already underway on the site.

Laings, a luxury family jeweller with a flagship showroom in St David’s Centre, has announced ambitious new expansion plans which will begin here in Cardiff. Formerly Parkhouse, Laings has developed a strong relationship with its Cardiff clientele over the years and is proud to service jewellery and watch enthusiasts in the capital city. Now, in the first steps of a £10m investment to 42 CARDIFF TIMES

While already hosting a premier range of Swiss watch brands, the expanded Cardiff showroom will see Laings bring new brands to its Welsh clientele including Rolex and Patek Philippe in dedicated brand environments. Stuart McDowell, Retail Director at Laings, says: “The expansion in Cardiff is in response to our client’s enquiries – catering to the watch collectors of Wales who might not have Laings at

To meet the needs of the new space, Laings is recruiting for new positions in Cardiff. From Sales Advisory level through to Supervisory, the growing team will work to achieve Laings’ aim to “create unforgettable experiences”. The company is known for its thorough training delivered by in-house teams and brand partners, so career enquirers can be assured they will learn the intricacies of the industry from the very best. Katie Keefe, Laings Cardiff Showroom Manager, says: “The growing showroom means we are now recruiting for a number of roles in Cardiff in our watch, diamond and service departments. We look forward to welcoming the new team members to our Cardiff Laings family and embarking on the next exciting chapter of our journey together.”

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Prioritise parks this July! by Natalie McCulloch

Throughout lockdown many of us took comfort in the ability to enjoy the wide open spaces we are lucky enough to be surrounded by. Here in Cardiff we are fortunate to have a large amount of beautiful parks with an incredible array of appealing features. In fact, Cardiff has the most Green Flag Award-winning parks in Wales! An incredible 15 parks and green spaces hold this coveted award which is an international mark of quality. Weather permitting we could take a stroll in the stunning Bute Park and admire the colourful borders and sounds of water gushing, or explore the mesmerising marshlands of Forest Farm or (my personal favourite) relish in the rosy routes of Roath Park. What’s even better is that this is actually doing us some good which can’t be a bad thing! Research has shown that spending time in green spaces and bringing nature into daily life can be beneficial for both mental and physical wellbeing in a multitude of ways such as: • Improving your mood – a study of 2,000 adults found that 85% of people experience a positive effect on their mental state after spending time outside in a green space. Reducing stress – Let’s face it, life isn’t always a walk in the park but that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy one! “Take short walks in the park down a happy trail.” ~ Frederick Lenz • Improving physical health and helping you to be more

46 CARDIFF TIMES

active • Encouraging socialising (at a safe distance obviously!) • Encouraging hobbies (such as birdwatching, photography, running) As lockdown eased some activities which would have previously been held indoors, such as social groups, gym classes and meet ups, took to the great outdoors in order to resume safely in line with the current government guidelines, so really – where would we be without our parks? There may be some benefit to keeping going to these spaces even following the opening of indoor spaces - A scientific review of studies published in the journal Extreme Physiology & Medicine (2003) concluded that when we exercise in natural environments, we don’t feel as though we’re pushing ourselves as much, so we work out harder than we would do in a gym, our blood pressure returns to normal much faster, levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline drop right back to normal levels, our immune systems improve and it gives us a good mood boost, among many other benefits. (https://extremephysiolmed.biomedcentral. com/) Not bad for something that’s free as well! Now that we’ve got some signs of nicer weather, it would be a shame not to enjoy it and where better to, than a park! As the brilliant actor, Robin Williams said “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’” and after the year we’ve all had, some celebrations and feel good times are surely warranted?

Now it’s time to give ‘something back’ to parks! In order to recognise and encourage appreciation of our parks and other open spaces, Keep Wales Tidy – who run the Green Flag Awards in Wales – is calling on the public to ‘make memories not mess’ this summer. Working with councils across the country, the charity will be encouraging people to do the right thing and show some love for our treasured spaces. Our parks and green spaces definitely need some TLC! Rates of litter have increased as Coronavirus restrictions have eased, and the weather has improved. The actions of a small minority have had a negative impact on everyone’s enjoyment of nature. They have also put more strain on council workers who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep open spaces clean and safe while maintaining other essential services. It doesn’t have to be anything hugely taxing either, simply: • Taking litter home to stop bins overflowing (75% of litter by volume is empty plastic bottles!),

“So, it is disappointing to see that the easing of restrictions and good weather has led to another increase in litter. It is essential that our precious parks and green spaces are kept clean and safe for everyone to enjoy. “Every person has a part to play. It is not acceptable to expect somebody else to pick up the rubbish that you create. When you’re out, make memories, not mess – if bins are full, take your rubbish home.” The ’make memories not mess’ campaign is part of Caru Cymru (a Welsh phrases meaning ‘Love Wales’), Keep Wales Tidy’s biggest ever initiative to eradicate litter and waste. So why not spread the word and encourage others to act positively towards their parks. In the meantime, please share with others what your plans are on social media using the hashtags #CaruCymru and #GreenFlag Wales and remembering to @GreenFlagWales and @KeepWalesTidy.

• Not stubbing cigarettes out and leaving them (the most common type of litter present on the streets of Wales), • Respecting any regulations in place in the parks (i.e. designated routes, one way systems), • Clearing up dog mess, • Keeping the public toilets as you would hope to find them. – these small things all add up! Lucy Prisk, Green Flag Coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy said: “The pandemic has shown just how important high-quality parks and green spaces are to our communities. For many of us, they were a haven on our doorstep, benefitting our health and well-being.

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A Night of Boxing History in Cardiff by Ralph Oates History was made on the 1st of October 1993 at Cardiff Arms Park when Lennox Lewis defended his WBC world heavyweight crown against Frank Bruno. For the first time two British boxers faced each other in the ring for a version of the world heavyweight championship and it was also the first world heavyweight title bout to be staged in Wales. It was a fight greeted with much excitement by the fans of boxing, even casual followers of the sport were interested in the bout and the eventual outcome. The fight received a great deal of media attention. At the prefight press conference, the two men were not complimentary about each other; trading insults at every opportunity. The pair seemed to have a genuine dislike for each other. This added even more intrigue to their meeting inside the square ring. Lewis, a former British, European and Commonwealth, king was the betting favourite to retain his title. He was coming into the fight undefeated with a record of 23, winning 19 inside the distance this includes one bout won by a disqualification and was making the second defence of the crown. Lewis had a sterling amateur career being a gold medallist at super-heavyweight at the 1986 Commonwealth games which were held in Edinburgh, Scotland. He also won a gold medal at super-heavyweight at the 1988 Olympic games which took place in Seoul, South Korea. On both occasions he represented Canada; a country he had emigrated to when a youngster, returning to Britain when starting his professional career under the guidance of Frank Maloney. Make no mistake, Bruno was very popular and was the sentimental favourite. He was loved by the fans, many of whom were hoping that he just might be able to upset the odds and 52 CARDIFF TIMES

win the championship. Bruno was entering the battle with a record of 39 fights winning 36 with 35 of his victories coming inside the distance with three defeats. Bruno was also a former Amateur Boxing Association heavyweight title holder having won the crown in 1980, outpointing Welsh boxer Rudi Pika over three rounds. In doing so the 18-year-old Bruno became at that time the youngest man to win this title. The challenge against Lewis was Bruno’s third shot at a world heavyweight championship. His first bid came on the 19th of July 1986 for the WBA version of the crown challenging the then holder Tim Witherspoon of the USA at the Wembley Stadium, London. On that occasion many tipped Bruno to win and thus become the first British fighter to hold the heavyweight title since Bob Fitzsimmons who had reigned from 18971899. There was a great deal of pressure on the British fighter he had the hopes of the nation resting on his shoulders, the home fans desperately wanted to see a British fighter win a world crown at heavyweight and gave him great encouragement during the fight cheering his every move but sadly after a bright start Bruno was stopped by the ring wise American in round 11 of 15. On the 25th of February 1989 the second bid took place at the Las Vegas Hilton, Hilton Center, Las Vegas, Nevada against the fearsome undisputed king Mike Tyson. Tyson was nick-named Iron Mike and was undefeated in 35 bouts winning 31 inside the distance. He was a man with a seek and destroy mentality; he took no prisoners inside the square ring. At that time he looked unbeatable; a human tank which kept on rolling forward with no reverse gear he was

Photograph of Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis taken by Les Clark

ruthless inside the square ring. No one realistically thought Bruno would win this bout and as expected the Briton was stopped after putting up a brave performance. The referee duly stepped in to halt the proceedings in round five of a scheduled 12. It truthfully became obvious in the early stages of the contest that the challenger was not going to last until the final bell. It was a painful encounter for the Briton who did his best even hurting Tyson for a brief moment during the bout, but he was being out punched by Tyson when the end came. It appeared that the chance against Lewis would prove to be his last opportunity to become a world champion, a title he had worked for and desired since the start of his professional career. The contest was dubbed the The Battle of Briton. The fight was held in the open air. The night was chilly and damp with heavy rain having fallen earlier with the threat of more to come. However,

despite the inclement weather the fans were determined to enjoy the evening and ignored the conditions and gave fantastic support to the fighters who entered the ring. The referee in charge of the bout was Mickey Vann (UK) and the judges who officiated at ringside were Tony Castellano (USA) Jerry Roth (USA) and Adrian Morgan (UK). After the introductions the much anticipated bout got underway and the atmosphere was pure electric. Both men had power and were capable of ending the contest should they connect with their powerful punches. Bruno boxed extremely well from the first bell he was relentless giving Lewis all kinds of problems landing with his crisp and hurtful left jabs which penetrated the champion’s defence. Lewis appeared to be taken back by the man in front of him. Lewis had to do something to turn the tide and responded with left jabs of his own. The spectators were on the edge of their seats watching the action. There was no let up by the two warriors - two proud CARDIFF TIMES 53

men who were giving their very all. Bruno however looked to be getting the better of the exchanges. The excitement climbed to fever pitch. Many boxing pundits were wondering if the champion and his team had perhaps underestimated Bruno. The challenger was competitive and continued to attack as the rounds passed, Bruno had clearly shaken Lewis a few times when his punches landed. The champions corner was not exactly panicking but they were showing a degree of concern and for good reason. Bruno was boxing far better than many had expected. It seemed that the title just might change hands and an upset was in the making. Lewis had to remain not just physically but mentally strong to take charge of the contest. The champion then showed why he was a title holder and upped his work rate bringing his undoubted boxing ability into play plus his heavy punching power. The contest was concluded in round seven when the referee stepped in to stop the fight with Bruno taking punishment from Lewis. The contest was a pleasing one living up to all expectations. In the fullness of time Lewis would go on to become the undisputed title holder in the division and thus be ranked with the greats in the heavyweight division eventually becoming the undisputed title holder. Many felt at the time that the defeat to Lewis had finally put an end to Bruno’s hopes of becoming a world heavyweight title holder and he should perhaps consider retirement from a sport he had served so well. Bruno however had other ideas and pushed on with his career firmly in the belief that he could still become a world heavyweight champion. In truth few if any felt that he could now reach that milestone in his career. Bruno however would not give up on his dream and finally achieved his ambition at the fourth attempt winning the WBC version of the world title by outpointing the then champion Oliver McCall of America over 12 tough rounds on the 2 September 1995 54 CARDIFF TIMES

at the Wembley Stadium, London. It was a proud and emotional night for Bruno and a great night for British boxing. Unfortunately, The Briton had to make his first defence of the crown against his former conqueror and now former champion Mike Tyson. The contest took place on the 16th of March 1996 in the USA at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. It really didn’t seem likely that Bruno would come back with the crown and so it proved when he was stopped in the third round of scheduled 12 in what was his last professional bout. Bruno’s reign didn’t last long but perhaps it is better to be a king for a day than not at all. It should be noted that on the undercard of the Lewis-Bruno contest was a young Welsh southpaw boxer named Joe Calzaghe who was making his professional debut against Paul Hanlon an opponent who didn’t stay in the fight for too long. Hanlon was despatched in the first round of a scheduled four by Calzaghe. Every now and then in boxing someone a little special comes along and Calzaghe was special, he was very special. Many who watched Calzaghe in action against Hanlon would have been impressed but may not have realized that he would go on to be an outstanding fighter winning the British super-middleweight crown and then eventually becoming a world champion holding the WBO, IBF, WBC & IBF titles in the division hence retiring from the sport with an undefeated record of 46 bouts. Calzaghe was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014. That is some achievement. A Question of Boxing is Ralph Oates latest book. The book can be purchased at any good bookshop or Amazon. Alternatively go to the publisher’s website and use the code OATES 25 in the checkout and get 25% off any book www.jmdmedia.co.uk On sale at £12.99

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66 CARDIFF TIMES

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walk a day in their shoes

the hospice for children in Wales yr hosbis i blant yng Nghymru

Show your support for our incredible care team by taking a walk in their shoes

tyhafan.org/walk Tŷ Hafan’s fantastic care staff can walk well over 14,000 steps in a shift while providing extraordinary care to the families who rely on them. Take a walk in their shoes and help us raise money so they can keep doing what they do best! Find out more inside this issue of Cardiff Times. A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Wales: No: 3077406 Registered Charity No: 1047912

Cardiff Times July 2021

Articles inside

A Night of Boxing History in Cardiff

Prioritise parks this July

Escape from Paradise

Laings Set to Treble the Size of St David’s Showroom

Learning music at Forte is fun

A chance to win, a chance to care

Fashion Done Your Own Way

Foraging Four Months: July to October

Would you like to feel less anxious socially?

In The Words Of

My Journey as a Belly Dancer

Welsh towns put the business into show business

Cardiff Bus Launches New Routes

Chicken in a Basket or Soup on the Floor

PD, an update

May your memories be a blessing