My Local View Magazine | January 2010 by Paul Adamson

January 2010

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

A selection of articles Fun Quiz Page 8

Hi all, Happy New Year to all our readers. There is lots going on in this month’s magazine including an editorial on the Medieval Market that took place in December 2009. According to some of my advertisers they saw lots of new faces in their shops which is very good news given the current climate.

Kids Page Page 12

Beauty Tips Page 18

Motoring |A car to dribble over! Page 26

Martin Cook at the Visit Caerphilly Centre told me that they saw record numbers at the Visitors Centre and plenty of pictures were taken of Dr Who’s Tardis!

Wayne David MP

We are also featuring an article from Caerphilly Miners Community Centre Management Committee discussing local residents views regarding the future of our cherished hospital. You will find the article on Page 53.

Dr. Roger’s Gardening Column

Page28

Page 34

We have introduced a new and very humorous article from Seb Hunter - this month recalling a trip to Stonehenge.

Recipe | Pork Casserole

It seems that the puzzles in My Local View are very popular and I would like to apologise for the omission of the Fun Quiz answers in the October & November issues. I re-instated the answers last month but forgot to mention the fact!

What’s on in Caerphilly

Paul p.s. Deadlines for future issues can be found on my web site - www.mylocalview.co.uk/deadlines.html

Published by: Local View Advertising Limited Company Number: 5717569 Registered in England & Wales VAT registration number: 935 9733 80 Editor: Paul Adamson Business Address: 2 Kidwelly Court, Caerphilly, CF83 2TY Contact Details: Tel: 02920 880378 / 07737 610177 Email: paul@mylocalview.co.uk Web: http://www.mylocalview.co.uk While every care has been taken to ensure that the data contained in this document is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Page 40

Pages 52 + 60

Thought for the Month Page 54

Leanne Evans | Legal Eagle Page 56

Local View do not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Distribution We deliver to at least 10,750 homes in Caerphilly every month including: Castle View, Hendredenny, Watford Park, Watford Farm, Glenfields, Bondfield Park, Mountain View, Lon y Llyn, Cwm Ifor, Ty Isaf, Energlyn Park, Pontypandy, Bedwas, Trethomas, 700 homes in Machen, Castle Park, Town Centre. You can see the magazine online, get prices and deadline dates at www.mylocalview.co.uk

Front cover designed by: Andrew Griffiths | andescape Contact: andrew@andescape.co.uk

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

BRING THIS ADVERT WITH YOU AND RECEIVE 15% OFF YOUR HIRE!

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

CODEWORD

Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below. 1

14 22

18 10

3 18

5 22

22 23

14 1

8 5

26 21

17 5

6 14

17 6

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

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24 14

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Review Of The Year 1. In April 2009, Carol Ann Duffy became the first ever woman to be appointed to which position? 2. In which country did the 2009 outbreak of swine flu originate? 3. The Capocannoniere is an award given to the top scorer in Italian football. In 2009, who became the first non-Italian footballer to win this award since 2004? 4. In 2009, which former Pop Idol contestant took over from Lee Mead as Joseph in the West End production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat? 5. In 2009, Charlotte Edwards led England to World Cup glory in which sport? 6. Which Hollywood star announced his engagement to Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart in March 2009? 7. In March 2009, Alice Munday became only the second person to do what on TV? 8. Which politician was in the news in March 2009 when it was revealed she had claimed expenses for pay-per-view TV services, including two adult films? 9. In 2009, who appeared as a judge during the Manchester audition of Britain’s Got Talent, but didn’t appear throughout the rest of the competition, with producers saying that the format was too complicated with four judges? 10. In September 2009, what was removed from the map of the London Underground in an attempt to declutter it? Answers on Page 25

Rebecca Horner-Seddon

Guitar & Piano Tutor Tel: 07964 294643 9 Bovil View, Machen, Caerphilly, CF83 8LD E-Mail: rhornerseddon@googlemail.com

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Get fit Gadgets January and February are - as every gym will tell you - the two months of the year where people are most motivated to address their fitness levels. Whether you want to keep track of your fitness at the gym or with a personal trainer, or you need to find an exercise you can do in the privacy of your own home, there’s always a piece of technology available to come to your aid. Omron BF500 Body Composition Monitor www.omron-healthcare.com (also widely available from retailers) Approx £30 Just using bathroom scales to see if you are overweight is so last century. We’ve all done the shuffling from foot to foot to get the needle to move down a notch. But there’s no cheating with this device. The BF500 will of course tell you your weight; but more than that there are other internal factors that give you a better idea of your overall health. Using its sensor technology the BF500 will give you accurate readings for your body fat percentage, visceral fat level and skeletal muscle percentage. There’s a memory function for up to four users and a guest mode too. Domyos Fitness Cube www.fitness.domyos.com £99 If you like to keep exercise equipment in the house but dumbbells and exercise benches aren’t quite your idea of aesthetically pleasing furniture or space is at a premium, the Fitness Cube is going to be just the thing for you. This unit will happily blend into all but the most traditional of homes, and won’t take up much space either being a cube of just

50x50x50cm (19.5 inches). Its clever design conceals a range of accessories which enable you to do thirty exercises which the makers claim will work all the muscles in your body, The Fitness Cube weighs just 15kg, meaning you can move it from room to room. Also available in red or black. Powerball Pro Widely available From £9 to £30 depending on model Powerball is a unique training device which will help to develop strength and power in your wrists and forearm. It is particularly recommended for anyone who partakes in golf, tennis, badminton, squash, cricket or any other sport which particularly use your arms, wrists, shoulders or fingers. It is also good for those who play musical instruments. The Powerball is a little larger than a tennis ball and doesn’t need batteries to operate as it uses gyroscopic force. Apart from the training benefits users report that it’s really good fun and highly addictive. Omron Walking Style II Pedometer Widely available Around £12 Whether you walk regularly or see this as an easy and inexpensive way to get fit, a pedometer is a must-have to track your progress. The Walking Style II is equipped with a highly accurate acceleration sensing technology. It will track your total number of steps, total distance and the calories you burned during walking and jogging. After 10 minutes of walking at a consistent pace the aerobic mode is activated. This aerobic mode aims to motivate you to sustain a higher level of exercise whilst walking. Your totals for each day are stored in a 7 day memory bank that automatically restores itself every 7 days.

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Day Trip to Stonehenge by Seb Hunter

Salisbury Plain. The wind thundering across the countryside like several thousand jet engines is so strong you can lean fully into it – it’ll prop you up. Overheard, actual jet engines slung beneath multi-million-pound jetfighter wings criss-cross the charging bullclouds, adding a piercing top-end white noise to the inescapable blasting earclog. ‘Ah, what weather!’ says my longhaired Black Metal friend Christian (the irony of his first name escapes him not), visiting from Norway, rather like the Muppets’ Swedish Chef might have said it, i.e. in uncannily precise English that rises and falls in slightly the wrong place, like German spoken backwards. I scream back: ‘Eh?’ ‘This weather. It’s…’ but the wind steals the adjective from his thin Norwegian lips. This is Christian’s first time in the United Kingdom. I have brought him here almost directly from Gatwick Airport. It seemed like the right thing to do. ‘We will soon see it!’ I shout. He nods and we stride on, to the top of a ridge where we gaze out across the undulating, wind-blasted plain. A mile to the north we spy a small, vertical protuberance which from here could be anything – a house; a large bus; a herd of twenty-feet-tall Norwegian elk. Christian stiffens, sniffing a sacrifice. ‘There it is!’ I holler. ‘The mighty Henge! Fall to your knees and repent if you please.’ And Christian does indeed fall to his knees, because I’ve smacked the back of his legs with a stick. We approach Stonehenge in a wide circle: checking it out from every glorious angle while Christian, a Black Metal photographer, tries to take photographs, only the wind makes it impossible for him to hold his camera straight. Arriving beholden at the stones, Christian expresses his disappointment at being fencedoff from obeliskene interminglement; he’d hoped to butcher a sheep or a goat among the stones, seduced from a nearby field. Instead, we shuffle around among buffeted Yankee tourists who make Christian’s complicated arcane Black Metal

rituals difficult to enact without endless questions, questions: young man, is that bloodstained disembowelling device merely a large dagger or a scimitar? And isn’t it a tad windy for all these candelabra? Christian’s lustily-howled paeans to Satan complete, we sit at a picnic table out of the wind behind the Welcome Centre and eat cheese sandwiches. Giant black ravens stare menacingly down at us from a nearby fence. Christian is delighted. ‘We don’t have these birds in Norway! Very Black Metal!’ After lunch we walk back to my car, where I spend five minutes trying to explain what a rhubarb & custard boiled sweet actually is (‘Sweet yellow sauce? It sounds quite disgusting!’ We were to have a similarly confused discourse the following morning, over a jar of Bovril: ‘Liquid steak? It sounds quite disgusting once more.’). ‘We don’t have anything like this in Norway,’ says Christian, now staring at the extra-hot Pepperami I’ve just placed into his hands. And indeed he doesn’t eat it; he puts it into his bag, and frowns. ‘Look, I’m sorry, but we don’t really do herring in this country. You’ll just have to try and adapt.’ Christian grunts, and mutters something about liking crisps. Back at my house later, he’s on the phone to his wife back in Bergen and even though my Norwegian’s not great, I can tell he’s complaining about the Bovril and the rhubarb & custards and the extra-hot Pepperami and the general lack of herring. Over dinner my wife politely enquires as to his favourite kinds of herring recipes. “Do you like pickled? Or roll-mops? Or, um… raw?’ ‘I don’t like to eat the animals,’ replies Christian. ‘But if you please, pass those crisps.’

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

J and J Home Improvements • • • • • • • •

jayshome@hotmail.co.uk

Painting and Decorating (Internal & External, Coving and Wall Paper Hanging) Tiling (Wall & Floor) Carpentry Garden services (Decking, Fencing, Paving, Driveways) UPVC Windows and Doors Plumbing Repairs and Maintenance Other aspects of work also considered No jobs to Small Flat packs put together

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

16 Spiral Crossword

Starting top left enter the answers in the grid in a clockwise spiral. The last letter of one answer is the first letter of the next. The letters in the shaded squares can be rearranged to form the name of a country. 1

Ti g e r L i ly Visit our NEW FAIR-TRADE SHOP in Caerphilly

African Carvings, Lamps, Vases Clothes by “Namaste” Only supplier of Spanish hand made JARAPA Rugs in the area

Hand sewn Tapestries from Indonesia and Zambia 8

Most unusual silver Jewellery ( Hand-made and each one unique ) Wind chimes to Incense Oil burners to Fossils, and MORE.

6 3

1. Shortsightedness (6) 2. Mountain range which runs from New England to Alabama, USA (12) 3. Zodiacal sign of the archer (11) 4. Sleepwalker (12) 5. Country formerly known as Formosa (6) 6. Capital of Kenya (7) 7. Republic once called the Dutch East Indies (9) 8. Capital of the United Arab Emirates (3,5)

DAVID MORGAN

IRONMONGER AND TOOL MERCHANT

Caerphilly’s oldest established Ironmongers Established 1912 (Current Owner Since 1978)

We stock; Ironmongery, Tools, Hardware, Bicycle spares, Paints, Diy, Electrical, Gardening, Security etc. Ofﬁcial stockist of food recycling bags for council scheme PARAFFIN 4 Litre Can £5.25 Each, or Buy 4 for £20

MOST CALOR BOTTLES STOCKED

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY:- Ask for details. Stockists of the popular history book “Look back at Old Bedwas & Trethomas” Volume 2 - £15.50 - Hardback edition

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Call for advice on 029 20 885247 Email:- theironmonger@btconnect.com Cardigan House, 8 Central Buildings, Trethomas, Caerphilly CF83 8BU

Indian Head Massage - Tuesdays. Psychic Medium every Saturday. Call in or phone to book.

10% off with this advert in January 2010

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Models & Hobbies

Tel: 029 20880600

We stock a wide range of Craft & Modelling accessories Radio control: Cars • Boats • Aircraft Hornby Railways Plastic Model Kits: Airﬁx • Tamiya • Italeri • Revell Emhar Academy • Dragon • Zvezda

In time for Christmas!

We now stock Warhammer Games & Accessories

Stay warm and dry this Winter!

We stock a range of Craghoppers and Trespass clothing for keen Walkers & Hikers

Friendly advice for new Modellers You will ﬁnd us at

27, Bartlett Street, Caerphilly, CF83 1JS Open Mon-Sat 9.30am - 5.00pm We close at 1pm on Wednesday

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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Dav

Planning a Spring Wedding or having a special occasion? Please phone for a brochure.

Brook House. Dranllwyn Lane. Machen

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Beauty Tips

Blemish Control We all have minor blemishes to hide, for which a concealer stick is ideal. But some of us have harder to cover areas, such as dark circles under the eyes and broken veins. In addition to facial blemishes, there may be areas of our bodies we would rather cover up. Fortunately, there are products available to help.

Facial concealers

When selecting a concealer for spots, it is best to pick a colour one shade lighter than your regular foundation, but for broken veins or ruddy skin, a green concealer is the one to choose. For any dark circles or bruises, a concealer with yellow undertones works well.

The key to concealing scars lies in reducing the shine. The best method is to set concealer and foundation with matte powder.

How to apply

Although you can apply concealer either before or after foundation, I find it easier to use if applied before. Using a triangular sponge, dab the area until the concealer blends with your skin. Use a little at a time to avoid caking.

Minimize lines

To minimize lines around the mouth, eyes and forehead, apply concealer in pencil form directly on the line.

Body blemishes

Use leg and body cover cream to conceal varicose veins, age spots, birthmarks, burns, minor scars, bruises, stretch marks and tattoos. Most come in several shades, so you should be able to find the right tone for your skin. Look for one that is fragrance-free, waterproof, smudge-resistant and longlasting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; preferably up to eight hours.

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

PIECEWORD

This crossword has been cut into many pieces. Four pieces are already in place to give you a start in reassembling it.

We are a local company with over 20 years experience. We don’t have the overheads of larger Window Companies so you benefit from substantial savings. Installers of High Quality PVCu: • Windows & Doors • Patio Doors • French Doors • Conservatories We comply with Building Regulations Part L Pilkington “K” Glass used throughout

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

Exquisite Furniture great winter savings in 2010 We introduced great value furniture in Caerphilly last year! We now have some exciting new products in our Caerphilly showroom. Have a look at the great offers featured here and remember we have lots of other fabulous savings in store. We help you keep money in your pocket!

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We can supply any item of furniture at lower cost than any other store. Verona Suite: 3+2 Seater. Sumptuous 100% Leather Sofas. Was £1499, now £699

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

If your hair has stopped looking its best, don’t despair. Healthy Hair

by Lorraine Mace

There are plenty of things you can do to your healthy locks without resorting to products which claim to work miracles, but drain your bank balance. Assuming your hair problems are not related to other health issues, why is your hair not at its healthy best? To answer that question, we must first look at the most common causes of hair damage. These range from using bleach, perms and straighteners, hairdryers, curlers and tongs. Poor quality treatment products could also be to blame, causing loss of essential oils. It is important to use the best hair care products that you can afford, as well as going to a hairdresser for regular trims and deep conditioning. But what if you are using the correct products, don’t use damaging chemicals or equipment and your hair still isn’t your crowning glory? This is where the philosophy of what you do to your insides shows on the outside comes into its own. Water: Dehydration shows in your hair even if you aren’t aware you are suffering from it. Carbonated and/or caffeinated drinks can cause dehydration. This is often a factor in hair growth stoppage and breakage. Green Tea: Hair experts claim green tea contains compounds which relax blood vessels, helping to increase circulation. This in turn is believed to help nourish hair roots and the scalp. Exercise: It is said that walking at a quick pace for just 15 minutes each day will help to improve circulation. Good circulation to the scalp is essential in producing healthy hair follicles.

Sleep: For the body to nourish and grow hair, it is necessary to have the right amount of sleep. Most people need between six and eight hours each night. The more regular your sleep schedule, the better it is, but if you cannot get sufficient sleep at night, then a 20 minute cat nap during the day can provide an energy boost. But don’t sleep for longer than 20 minutes or you’ll end up feeling more tired than before you napped. Energy snacks: Almonds contain magnesium, which is essential for growing healthy hair. Other snacks with nutrients good for hair include yogurt, eggs and tofu. Vitamins good for hair: If you have a well balanced diet, the chances are high that your hair is getting all the vitamins it needs, but if not, there are vitamin supplements you can take that will the hair’s growth and condition. Things to avoid Caffeine and nicotine are both high on the list of things causing damage to hair. If you can’t cut out coffee and cigarettes, then cutting down will help your hair to recover some of its lustre. If you don’t get enough exercise and sleep, while following a healthy diet, your hair may never recover its true beauty, but just fixing one of those areas would bring immediate benefits.

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

Fun Quiz Answers 1. Poet Laureate 2. Mexico 3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic 4. Gareth Gates 5. Cricket 6. Harrison Ford 7. Win £250,000 on Deal Or No Deal 8. Jacqui Smith 9. Kelly Brook 10. The River Thames

home solutions

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560/4 Spyder It might not have a name that trips off the tongue, but the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder is still an incredible machine. The Italian supercar is a dramatic step on from the loud and hard to drive Lamborghinis of years gone by, now adding a touch of daily usability to its repertoire. This model features an astonishing 5.2-litre V10 lump that produces 560bhp and 540Nm of torque.

Oh, and they point. There’s always a lot of pointing too. Plus, those people that aren’t looking, oh they’re just trying very hard to make it look like they’re not looking. Of course they’ve looked, they’re just now furiously staring at the pavement in a vain attempt to make it look like they haven’t.

That’s enough to fire it to 60mph in just under four seconds and on to a top speed of 201mph. But the best bit is that mind-warping performance is accompanied by the most glorious soundtrack, a visceral roar that rattles through your rib cage as it hurtles up the semi-auto gearbox.

The Gallardo – which is far less of a mouthful, so let’s call it that – has permanent four-wheel drive which makes for an incredibly planted road car. It’s very hard to get it out of shape and as such very reassuring and complimentary to drive. Steering is superb and the brakes full of feel and capable. What is most staggering, though, is just how easy it was to get to grips with. Many people think of supercars as hard to drive and inaccessible, but the Gallardo is as easy to drive around town as a BMW or Mercedes. Yes, it’s lower and a bit harder to get in and out of, but still usable.

The six-speed E-gear box is one of the best ever, changing up in the blink of an eye. Normally we’d always put a paddle shift car into fully auto at one stage of the test, but such was the fun popping up and down this gearbox, never once did we put this model in drive. That, in our book, says a lot for its competence. What’s more, the glorious blips, as you rattle down the gears, is worth every one of those 150,000 pounds alone. Yes, that’s right, you won’t get much change from £150k after leaving a Lambo dealer… You can’t be shy if you’re thinking of buying one either. Everybody, and we mean everybody, looks at it. Other drivers, mums with pushchairs, school kids, old people, traffic wardens – you name them and they will stop and stare.

As a few people pointed out on the day, we’ve used the term ‘best car we’ve ever driven’ quite a few times over the years. But, for now, we can safely say this is our favourite. If that lottery win does ever come off, the first place we’ll be heading is a Lamborghini dealer and placing an order. Silly name or not… James Baggott, editor of Car Dealer Magazine, www.CarDealerMag.co.uk

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

Winter Glove Hailstone Hat Hibernate Ice Icicle Mittens Scarf Shiver

Blanket Bleak Boots Chilly Coat Cold Dark Freeze Frost Frozen Fun

Skate Ski Sledge Sleet Slide Slippery Sneeze Snow Wellies Winter

Find the words in the grid and the remaining letters will reveal a phrase relevant to the time of the year.

have a Mother & Toddler

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includes soft play, arts & crafts, squash & biscuits Tea & Coffee for Adults

Credit Crunch Deal Monday to Friday £4.95

includes Sandwich Box Meal and Soft Play in Main Area

Please note: We are closed New Years Day.

Tel: 029 2085 0580

time New Parties at Funtastic X factor party £8.95

karaoke, singing, soft play and choice of food

Funtastic party £8.95

Traditional party games, soft play and choice of food See website for further details & other party options.

Free Wi-FI

Funtastic, Forward House, Western Industrial Estate, Caerphilly, CF83 1BQ See our website for offers, opening hours and extended information: www.funtastic.info | email:manager@funtastic.info | Open 7 days a week from 10am to 6.30pm

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Wayne David MP / A Choir to be proud of. Last November, the Aber Valley Male Voice Choir made history. As part of its 50th year celebrations, the choir travelled to London to sing in the Speaker’s State Rooms in the House of Commons. The event was a splendid and unique affair. The choir, accompanied by wives and partners, and me as their President, joined Mr Speaker and a good number of Welsh MPs to celebrate the choir’s 50th ‘golden’ year – a true milestone in the choir’s history. After a champagne reception with canapés, and a few short speeches, the choir gave a powerful rendition of three favourites from its repertoire; “Tydi a roddaist”, “Ar lan y mor” and “Nessun Dorma”.

Like everyone else, Mr Speaker was genuinely impressed. This was the first time he had heard a Male Voice Choir and he was almost lost for words – and given John Bercow’s well known eloquence, that is quite something! The choir sang with gusto, passion and precision and demonstrated why the choir has developed for itself a reputation as one of the finest choirs in South Wales.

That this was a very special event, there is no doubt. But, it has been suggested that this was the first time ever that a Male Voice Choir has been given the honour of singing in the Speaker’s State Rooms. Certainly, there are no recent records indicating to the contrary.

The members of the Aber Valley Male Voice Choir in Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster

For fifty years the Aber Valley Male Voice Choir has been providing entertainment and pleasure to the people of the Aber Valley and the lower Rhymney Valley and to many much further a field. Their 50th anniversary year was packed with sparkling events, but the visit to the Speaker’s House was probably the “icing on the cake”. It was a fitting way to help round off a truly memorable year. Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

That’s a Funny Thing to Say! An apple a day keeps the doctor away Apples do contain vitamins and fibre essential parts of a healthy diet, but here is no real medical support for this particular expression which is believed to be of 19th century origin. Although it is argued that Benjamin Franklin used the expression a century earlier. To be on skid row – to be heading for trouble In America where this phrase originates, ‘skid row’ refers to the area of town populated with tramps, alcoholics etc. Someone said to be ‘on the skids’ was supposedly heading for this part of town. The term ‘skid row’, probably comes from the Seattle timber industry many years ago. A row of logs was used to slide the fallen timber down, and this row of logs was known as the ‘skid row’. Towns associated with the timber industry became prosperous

Piano Lessons & Vocal Coaching Experienced Caerphilly based, piano teacher has vacancies for pupils in: • • •

Piano Theory Vocal coaching* Tuition on music coursework for GCSE’s etc. also available. Practical examinations follow the ABRSM syllabus.

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and the loggers were keen to spend their earnings in brothels and buy alcohol. To send someone to Coventry – to ignore or refuse to speak to someone During the English Civil War ( 1642-1649) the citizens of Coventry were reputed to have so strong a dislike of the military that any woman seen speaking to a soldier was instantly shunned by all. The city was strongly Protestant and pro-Parliament and important captured Royalists were frequently ‘sent to Coventry’ for imprisonment and effectively into exile. To talk nineteen to the dozen – to talk quickly Considered to be taken literally from Cornish mines in the 18th century, when pumps were introduced to reduce the possibility of flooding. The pumps were able to pump out 19,000 gallons of water for every 12 bushels of coal used to operate them.

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

Need a Gas Man? Adrian Miles is an ex-British Gas central heating engineer with over 22 years experience in the gas industry. Adrian offers a wide range of services including: * Boiler breakdowns * Landlord certificates/Gas safety certificates * Boiler maintenance and servicing * Boiler installation specialist * British gas trained water treatment and power flushing engineer Fully insured ACS qualified Gas Safe registered.

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Nelson’s P Have a PRIVATE word with the Pharmacist We have a consultation room in our pharmacy so that if you’d prefer not to talk in public about any health issue, you can talk in private and have confidence that no-one can over hear your conversation. We also have “quiet” area’s in the shop where you can speak in confidence to one of our friendly members of staff.

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Dr Roger’s Gardening Surgery / Spud you like... Crookes family legend tells a thoroughly believable tale of a chubby young Roger – only a couple of months old – sat on his mum’s lap after his milky midday meal …. And it seems that I wasn’t satisfied to watch everyone else enjoying their roast dinner (understandable really), so before you could say ‘watch your dinners’ I had reached out, grabbed a whole roast potato and wedged it into my mouth and started chewing vigorously – a skill I have developed quite well over the years. There is something very British about potatoes – and we seem to have rediscovered our love of growing them over the last couple of years. It seems that everyone wants to grow their own; in the garden, on the allotment or in a pot – just so that we can enjoy the delicious flavour of fresh new Potatoes straight from the soil into the saucepan – oh yum!

You will be surprised how many varieties are available some centres offer upward of 50 different varieties, so you may need more than 1 pot. Once you have chosen some seed potatoes – which look like normal potatoes, maybe slightly smaller. You will then need to ‘chit’ these little seed spuds – this means that you encourage them to produce little shoots, again this is quite easy. You simply stand the little seed spuds in a tray (or an egg box is ideal) somewhere coolish and bright (in a conservatory or window sill, and wait for the shoots to appear. By Mid-March you should have plenty of shoots about 1 centimetre long – and then it is time to plant.

Well now is the time to start planning your potato planting; it is quite easy, but you do need to get hold of special seed potatoes and they should start appearing in the garden centres from now onwards.

If I can remember, we will look at how to plant and grow your spuds in the March edition of My Local View.

Last year the demand for seed potatoes was so huge that centres kept on running out of stock, so get up there a bit sharpish and start planning.

It is always good to hear from you on 07891 285 166 or apairofcrookes@lcsuk.net.

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Pictograms 3 words

LAMAW 4 words scapula that ﬁbula it tibia those humerus 3 words

D N A T S , D

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Instead of making New Year’s resolutions that you’ll probably break in a couple of months, make a slight change in behaviour that will help you evolve into the person you’d like to be anyway. Comfort zones are defined by Wikipedia as this: “One’s comfort zone refers to the set of environments and behaviours with which one is comfortable, without creating a sense of risk. To step out of the comfort zone raises the anxiety level engendering a stress response, the result of which is an enhanced level of concentration and focus.”

Be spontaneous: if you normally plan everything down to the last full stop, try doing something on the spur of the moment for a change. Buy an item of clothing in a style or colour you wouldn’t normally wear. Try smaller, personal boutiques where the sales assistant has more time and inclination to help you discover a new colour or style that you wouldn’t consider if shopping on your own. Or take a trusted friend shopping with you for a new perspective.

Everyone’s comfort zone is different; some people enjoy jumping out of aeroplanes with a sheet of silk attached to their back, while others find it hard to even step into a plane in the first place. Only you know your own limits and can make changes to expand and develop your life. The more you cling to your comfort zone and the less you move out of it, the narrower that zone becomes. Expanding your personal comfort zone leads to more opportunities and a happier life. By its very definition, moving outside of your comfort zone will feel uncomfortable, but this sensation only lasts a short while. Once you have conquered one step, you will find it easier to venture further afield, physically or mentally. If you don’t challenge yourself, you stagnate and become stuck in a rut that is hard to climb out of. You comfort zone is feels relaxed because you know what to expect: so the first step is to be more familiar with taking risk. Risk in this sense is not a life-threatening risk, it means stepping away from your perceived, and often unfounded, fears. Try some of the following gentle options to expand your horizons. To alter your personal comfort zone, rearrange the furniture and ornaments in your home. Put some new pictures on the walls and move those you see every day to somewhere else. Change your daily routine by taking a new route to work or even just having something different for breakfast. Take a walk around your area and open your eyes to new sights for visual stimulation.

Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. Brian Tracy Try a different restaurant. Visit a new place or try something different on the menu in your usual restaurant. If this is a step too far, then pick up something unusual from the supermarket. Even the smallest change is a step in the right direction. Finally, make just one New Year’s resolution – to try something new every day or at least every week. This is one resolution that’s easy to keep and by the end of this year you will have countless new experiences to look back on with pleasure. If you didn’t like one of your changes, you will at least have learned something new – you didn’t like that! Keep going until you find something you do like and enjoy. You’ll develop more interests and become more interesting in the process.

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Recipe of the month Piled onto creamy mash this hearty casserole makes a filling winter supper. It’s made with pork fillet (also called tenderloin) which is a lean cut of meat that doesn’t need long slow cooking so it can be on the table in under an hour. For a richer sauce stir a couple of spoonfuls of crème fraiche into the pan just before serving. Serves 4 Ready in approx 45 mins

Somerset Pork Casserole 25g (1oz) butter 1. Heat the butter in a large deep frying pan until melted and add the apple slices. Fry the slices 2 small red apples, cored for 1-2 mins on each side until they are just and thickly sliced tender and light golden. Remove from the pan 550g (1lb 4oz) lean pork using a slotted spoon and set aside. fillet, cubed 2. Add the oil to the frying pan and fry the pork over 1tbsp sunflower oil a medium-high heat until browned all over. Add 6 baby leeks, trimmed and the leeks to the pan and fry for a further 2 mins. sliced Pour in the cider and add a couple of tarragon sprigs. Simmer gently for 15-20 mins until the 350ml (12 fl oz) dry cider pork is tender and cooked through, stirring Few sprigs fresh tarragon occasionally. 2tsp cornflour 3. Blend the cornflour to a paste with 15ml (1tbsp) Mashed potato to serve cold water and stir into the pan. Simmer for a further 2-3 mins, stirring all the time, until the sauce has just thickened. 4. Return the apple slices to the pan and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Simmer for a further 2-3 mins. Serve with mashed potato and garnish with the remaining fresh tarragon sprigs.

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Beer of the Month – January Greene King Old Crafty Hen Launched in autumn 2008, Old Crafty Hen is one of a growing family of characterful bottled beers from Britain's biggest regional brewery and like its stablemate Strong Suffolk is actually a blend. Blended beers used to be common many years ago, but Greene King is, as far as I know, the only British brewery still producing them. If you're lucky enough ever to tour the brewery in Bury St Edmunds they'll proudly show you three enormous oak vats containing maturing stocks of the base blending beer, the mighty 5X which comes out at more than 10% alcohol by volume. It's never sold in its own right, more's the pity, but is one of two components of Strong Suffolk (the other being a special pale ale called BPA, which is also never sold unblended).

Old Crafty Hen is a blend of 5X and the well-known Old Speckled Hen, which was originally brewed by Morland of Abingdon 30 years ago. Greene King took Morland over some 10 years ago but kept Old Speckled hen (named after an MG manufactured at Abingdon) and turned it into a flagship brand that now sells some 30 million bottles a year. At 6.5% ABV, Old Crafty Hen is an extraordinarily complex and subtle beer. A dark copper colour, it has a very rich treacle-toffee aroma. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, while the flavour mixes mellow sweet malt and spicy hops with the merest hint of peardrops. The finish is long and not overly hoppy and carries a slightly acidic tang of apples. A beautifully balanced beer, it's definitely one for reflective sipping and is the perfect antidote to the tedious journey home from work on a cold, damp, dark January evening.

Quality Games Machines for your Home or Business S&S Enterprises in Caerphilly are leading local suppliers of amusement and gaming equipment to the licensed trade and general public, specialising in the supply and maintenance of: • • • •

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S & S Enterprises, Unit 5, Hills Court, Pontygwindy Industrial Estate, Caerphilly, CF83 3HU Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Bags of Style

There’s a wardrobe accessory for women that can be used to dress an outfit up or down, can be a piece of art, is immensely useful, a way to express your personality and even better, it will always fit. What is this miraculous item? A handbag! The right handbag can effortlessly pull an outfit together so you look stylish and besides, it’s also extremely practical. You can wear simple clothes, jeans and a t-shirt, which together with a lovely bag will look amazing. Whereas, someone all dressed-up but carrying a tatty handbag just looks as if they don’t care about themselves. Whether you choose a timeless classic or a trendy style, the right bag can make you feel sexy, chic, elegant, sophisticated, casual, dainty, or businesslike. Handbags come in any colour, most materials and can sometimes become an obsession. The perfect one is often elusive, which results in a cupboard full of unused items. It is important therefore to take time to try on handbags, the same way as you try on clothes and always decide what you actually need before buying. Choosing the right bag should be treated as an expedition. Take your lifestyle into consideration; a woman who spends her summers camping will choose something completely different from the lady who lunches at the Ritz, while a mother with small children will need something hardwearing and practical. No longer will a single bag suit all occasions. The modern girl’s diverse lifestyle means she needs a ‘dream set’ of bags. The ideal basic collection a woman should own is: a daily work bag to hold all the necessities for the day, a social bag for those casual nights out or shopping trips, a glamorous evening bag for special events and a fun bag which brightens your mood.

Different bags suit different people depending on their size and body shape. Having said that a handbag always fits, carefully choosing a bag that flatters can emphasise your good points and draw attention away from those parts of your figure that you’re less happy with. Concentrating on shoulder bags here are some pointers to help you choose the ideal style. Choose a bag that is the opposite of your body shape. So if you are tall and slim, select a slouchy, rounded bag while a shorter, heavier person should go for a tall, rectangular shaped bag. The rounder your figure, the more structured your bag should be. As a general rule, pick a bag that lies in the middle of your body as this length will complement most figures. Longer or shorter straps will draw attention down or up. Top-heavy women should choose a style that draws attention down, so select a bag that has a long strap while the most flattering style for a curvy lady is one that sits just above the waist. Proportion is also important; a tiny bag on a tall, large woman will make her look enormous, while a huge bag on a petite person will make her look worn by the bag, rather than the other way around. A lot of women buy a handbag just because it is fashionable. Don’t base your handbag choice solely on trends; it should last longer than that. Also, a handbag doesn’t have to match your outfit, but it should complement it. Now go out and find your perfect handbag while the sales make really good ones more affordable.

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

Dance Factor

Freestyle Jazz - Disco - Street - Hip Hop Class Revolusion

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

46 Spiral Crossword

©puzzlepress.co.uk

Starting top left enter the answers in the grid in a clockwise spiral. The last letter of one answer is the first letter of the next. The letters in the shaded squares will spell out a country.

1 Country, capital Kabul (11) 2 In Greek mythology, a man who fell in love with his own reflection (9) 3 Yellow ___, Beatles song title (9) 4 African or Indian animal with large ears (8)

5 Composer of the Little Russian symphony (11) 6 Port city on southeastern Honshu, Japan (8) 7 Old Testament patriarch, the father of Isaac (7) 8 Olympic foot-race (8)

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February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

list 2009 FTA Gold Meda alist 2008 FTA Silver Med

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

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Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

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029 20852560 Around the Garden Lawn Mowing + Strimming + Hedge Trimming All cuts bagged, taken away + recycled Domestic + Commercial cuts. Weekly, Fortnightly and Monthly cuts

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My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Caerphilly’s Medieval Christmas Fayre.... ......A bumper weekend Thousands of visitors descended on Caerphilly town this weekend as Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Tourism Unit and CADW hosted its largest Medieval Christmas Fayre to date. The town centre, adorned with over 60 stalls was jam-packed with Christmas shoppers. Traders were thrilled with the impressive turn out of visitors and are already asking about future events in the borough that they can attend. Visitors came from far and wide including Ireland and Lithuania! Many organised coach trips arrived from all over the UK bringing many more shoppers to the town. Caerphilly Castle saw its busiest ever weekend with over 7,000 visitors enjoying the many medieval stalls, re-enactment camp and Father Christmas, who was greeting children in the newly opened tower.

Caerphilly’s Medieval Christmas Fayre is largest Christmas Market in Wales, with many visitors making comparisons to well established and successful markets such as Bath and Lincoln. Councillor Lindsay Whittle, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council said ‘this year’s market has been a huge success and we will no doubt be organising the same event next year. We couldn’t have hoped for better weather and the event has been welcomed and enjoyed by everyone involved’.

Visitors were also able to climb the tower to see the much talked about Dr Who Tardis that is currently occupying the top of Caerphilly Castle and will be until the New Year. The many street entertainers and musical performances enhanced the buzzing atmosphere throughout the town and Caerphilly Castle. The arrival of Father Christmas on horse and cart on Saturday afternoon proved to be a real hit with families along with ‘Lenny the land train’ running trips across the town centre. Dragon Puppeteers, a Medieval Magician and a Juggling Jester all entertained the crowds as they browsed the stalls, Continental Market and Farmers’ Market.

As part of the promotion for the Christmas Fayre, several competitions were organised giving away shopping vouchers and luxury Welsh hampers. The competitions were extremely successful with hundreds of entries received.

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

* Offer ends Saturday 27th Feb 2010. Excludes Saturday nights, Sunday Lunch and Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nights. 20% discount applies to food items only. Applies to any size party.

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Event Guide / January 2010 Fit for Fun - Exercise Class Date: Every Thursday TERM TIME Time: 09.45-10.45 a.m. Venue: St Catherine’s Hall, Mill Road, Caerphilly Entry: £3 Fat Burning & Toning session for all fitness levels just bring a mat and come and have some fun getting fit. Call Hilary 07780 701856 or email hilary@fitforfun.co.uk Fit for Fun - Running for Beginners Date: Every Tuesday TERM TIME Time: 9.15-10.15 a.m. Venue: Morgan Jones Park, Car Park, Caerphilly Cost: £3 Jogging for beginners around the park and castle together with a few exercises as we go so bring

weights if you have them but not mandatory. Call Hilary 07780 701856 or email hilary@fitforfun.co.uk Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Date: 2nd Tuesday of every month Time: 10.15 am Venue: Windsor Church, Windsor Road, Caerphilly Attention: All civil service pensioners and their partners!! Why not make your New Year Resolution to join us on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at Windsor Church: Windsor Road: Caerphilly. We have guest speakers who can help you with your hobbies and share holiday experiences and much more. Telephone Barbara on 029 2086 2091 for further information.

Bedwas Bridge Club, Venue: Bedwas Community Education Centre, Newport Road, Bedwas. CF83 8BT. Entrance at rear of Workmen’s Hall. Every Thursday 7.00 until 9.30 pm There’s a warm welcome to all, £1 includes tea/coffee. Come with or without a Bridge partner. Tuition can be given to beginners if required. Contact Lynda on 02920 868137 for more info.

Grab your FREE listing in

2010

More events on Page 60

The Winding House is the museum for Caerphilly County Borough Inside this striking new building you can unearth the hidden history of the area, explore the latest exhibition, research your family’s past, take part in one of the many events, discover the Victorian winding engine, eat, drink and shop! Our exciting exhibitions and events programmes, reflect the rich and colourful history of Caerphilly County Borough – come along and discover for yourself!

Amgueddfa’r Tyˆ Weindio yw’r brif amgueddfa ar gyfer Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili Y tu mewn i’r adeilad trawiadol hwn gallwch ddod o hyd i hanes cudd yr ardal, archwilio’r arddangosfeydd diweddaraf, ymchwilio hanes eich teulu, cymryd rhan mewn un o’r nifer o ddigwyddiadau, darganfod yr injan weindio Fictoraidd, bwyta, yfed a siopa! Mae ein harddangosfeydd a’n rhaglenni digwyddiadau cyffrous yn adlewyrchu hanes cyfoethog a lliwgar Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili - dewch i ddarganfod ar gyfer eich hunan! Ar Agor: Dydd Mawrth-Dydd Sul, 10am-5pm Ar Gau: Dydd Llun - Pris Mynediad: AM DDIM

Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm Closed: Mondays - Admission: FREE

Winding House New Tredegar, NP24 6EG 01443 822 666 www.windinghouse.co.uk Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

Caerphilly Miners Community Centre looking forward to 2010! In January 2009 we asked readers of My Local View to tell us whether you thought The Beeches, the building bought by the Rhymney Valley miners in 1923 for a hospital should be retained and what it should be used for. We are grateful to the 52 of you who replied. The questionnaire was copied and distributed in the Outpatients Department, which together with a survey of the 50+ Forum produced 179 responses.

and will hopefully lead to a positive outcome. I’m extremely grateful to all the members and supporters of the Miners’ Hospital Group and I look forward to a successful conclusion.”

You said that the building should be retained in recognition of the miners who gave 6d out of their weekly wage of 12s 6d to raise the £30,000 needed to buy and maintain the building. Almost half of you thought the building should be converted into a community facility providing healthy living and leisure activities for all ages, supporting learning, information and community arts, a museum, and place for people to meet. There was also a call for respite care and convalescent / reablement facilities.

Katherine Hughes, Secretary

The Steering Group has used this expression of support to constitute itself into the Caerphilly Miners Community Centre Management Committee and set up a bank account. We have developed a Business Plan, agreed an Equal Opportunities Policy, and secured funding of £4,000 from UnLtd for development work. We have set up a web site: www.caerphillymcc. weebly.com, have an e-mail address: caerphillymcc@ gmail.com and we can even be found on Facebook!

Caerphilly Miners Community Centre Management Committee members outside The Beeches, 2009

We are working closely with United Welsh Housing Association, which also has an interest in providing affordable housing on other parts of the site To get the Welsh Health Estates (which owns the site) to agree to sell the site to us requires a lot of work behind the scenes. We need to be able to provide a business case to say that the project is feasible, financially viable, and sustainable. We have successfully applied to the Key Fund for a grant to assess this in the early part of 2010. One of our first activities will be to hold a coffee morning in the Twyn Community Centre on 23rd January. Jeff Cuthbert AM, Chair of the Caerphilly Miners Community Centre Management Committee says: “I’m delighted with the progress made so far. The partnership arrangement is working well. There are still important hurdles to overcome and there are no guarantees. But the efforts made so far are valuable

Caerphilly Miners Community Centre Management Committee Coffee Morning 23rd January 2010 11am – 1:30pm including formal launch of website: www.caerphillymcc.weebly.com Consultations about the future uses of The Beeches. Opportunity to sign up for free information up-dates Meet Jeff Cuthbert, AM Learn more about our activities

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

Thought for the Month / Spring is coming! As I sit and look out of the window …. as I often do … lost in my own little world… I looked at some of last year’s flowers and …. thought of you – fine folks of Caerphilly. Not much is left of those flowers; the once glorious petals are long gone - just a vague, though colourful, memory. All that is left are a few frost and wind scorched stems, which seem to be dissolving and disappearing below ground as each day passes. But that is the way of the plant world; the old has to die to make way for the new. What I notice is that those old leaves and stems feed the soil, by releasing nutrients as they decompose, to nourish the new seedlings which will surely arrive in spring. So what has this to do with you? Do you sometimes feel like the life has been sucked out of you? Plans and secret hopes seem a long way off track, jobs or relationships seem rocky, just jumping from one challenge to the next … ‘running to stand still’ is how U2 put it a few years ago. Well you now have one of the most valuable assets that this world needs; and no-one can sell it to you, you can only get it through life… and we call it experience.

Those disappointments from last year are gone: but they can be used, like those decaying leaves, to feed the next opportunity which will surely arrive … and you may be surprised at how the new thing presents itself, and how suddenly – like a snowdrop suddenly busting into flower on a sunny January day. Because of those dreams that seem to die, we are better equipped to grow and help others who may be going through similar stuff….and who knows maybe those old dreams and plans may yet come your way again…..Spring is always around soon after winter.

Roger Crookes - rogercrookes@lcsuk.net

Real People, Real God, Real Lives

Gateway Church Welcomes you to a relaxed Family Sunday Service at the Twyn Community Centre, The Twyn, Caerphilly Meeting Times Tea/ Coffee at 4.30pm Service from 5 - 6pm Further Information Tel: 07719 356240 www.gatewaychurchcaerphilly.co.uk

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

Bob Collins Heating & Plumbing Services I am a Local Installer, living in Abertridwr, with over 40 years experience. • • • • •

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07/11/2009 08:13:20

My Local View / www.mylocalview.co.uk

The Legal Eagle / Medical Negligence We often hear in the News alarming headlines concerning negligent treatment of patients by medical professionals. In reality the chance of you receiving substandard care is relatively low. We often hear in the News alarming headlines concerning negligent treatment of patients by medical professionals. In reality the chance of you receiving substandard care is relatively low. However if you are concerned as to the quality of advice or treatment received the NHS have a complaints procedure available to all patients. In the first instance your complaint should be addressed directly to your practitioner. If this fails to resolve the matter, then you are entitled to seek an independent review. If you are still unsatisfied you could ultimately refer the matter to the public services Ombudsmen for Wales. These methods however will not compensate you financially. If you feel that you have sustained injury or financial loss as a result of substandard treatment and wish to make a claim for compensation then you would need to commence separate proceedings in the Civil Courts.

For your claim to be successful you have to prove that the care received fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent and skilful specialist. As a result such claims can be complex and it is very important that you seek advice from a specialised Solicitor at the outset. It is also important to remember that there is a time limit on making your claim, which in the case of an adult is usually within three years of the date the injury was caused although there are exceptions. Leanne Evans - Evans & Greaves

Deadline for the February 2010 Issue is Wednesday 27th of January at 10am

February bookings now being taken: 029 2088 0378

A full range of fresh, quality meat is available to the public from Caerphilly’s only traditional Butcher. Take advantage of our FREE Refrigerated delivery service. Good discounts for Freezer orders, up to 15% discount.

January offer

Spend over £25 and get a FREE pack of Back Bacon & 1lb of Sausages Home Cooked Meat

A full range of Home cooked meat is available: Chicken, Roast Pork, Roast Beef, Turkey, Corned Beef, Brawn, Ham & Faggots. Open six days a week We accept all major credit & debit cards 2 Bartlett Street, Caerphilly, CF83 1JS

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Your handy guide to the 2010 6 Nations Rugby Matches.......

All the ga are bein shown at Cwrt Rawli starting 6th

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