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Issue 7 September - October 2014
Q&A with... the High Sheriff of Powys
MID- P O W Y S F L I C K S LAUNCH Bee a Welsh Wildlife Hero
Help schemes tackle Wales' antisocial behaviour
School Phobia
Why make a Will? Tour of Britain 2014 Why Children Should Learn an Instrument
Jam Today
PLUS Chalk Paint, Back to School, the Green Garden & lots more inside!
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Our Aims: Provide an informative guide to events and services in Mid Wales. Offer businesses, charities and organisations an effective method of reaching customers, clients and communities. Support people’s efforts to make Mid Wales thrive DISCLAIMER Whilst every care is taken, the publisher takes no responsibility and makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information herein. Articles and Advertisements do not constitute a recommendation by the publisher.
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Q&A
T
The FOCUS Interviews...
P
Phil Bowen - the High Sheriff of Powys
he Office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. The origins of the Office date back to Saxon times, when the ‘Shire Reeve’ was responsible to the king for the maintenance of law and order within the shire, or county, and for the collection and return of taxes due to the Crown.
Today, there are 55 High Sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales each year. Whilst the duties of the role have evolved over time, supporting the Crown and the judiciary remain central elements of the role today. In addition, High Sheriffs actively lend support and encouragement to crime prevention agencies, the emergency services and to the voluntary sector. In recent years High Sheriffs in many parts of England and Wales have been particularly active in encouraging crime reduction initiatives, especially amongst young people. Many High Sheriffs also assist Community Foundations and local charities working with vulnerable and other people both in endorsing and helping to raise the profile of their valuable work.
Many High Sheriffs give their own personal awards to individuals, often unsung heroes within small voluntary groups, who have
made an outstanding contribution in some way. High Sheriffs receive no remuneration and no part of the expense of a High Sheriff’s year falls on the public purse. The key objectives of the role can be summarised as follows:
• To uphold and enhance the ancient Office of High Sheriff and to make a meaningful contribution to the High Sheriff’s County during the year of Office.
• To lend active support to the principal organs of the Constitution within their county – the Royal Family, the Judiciary, the Police and other law enforcement agencies, the emergency services, local authorities, and church and faith groups. • To ensure the welfare of visiting High Court Judges, to attend on them at Court and to offer them hospitality. • To support the Lord-Lieutenant on royal visits and on other occasions as appropriate.
• To take an active part in supporting and promoting the voluntary sector and giving all possible encouragement to the voluntary organisations within a County.
hil Bowen’s professional career started at Leatherhead in Puss in Boots playing the back end of the donkey. Seasons in rep followed at Guildford, Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, Oxford and Newcastle as well as television, radio and some film work in Hollywood.
Foreign touring for the British Council, including three years with Sir Michael Redgrave coupled with seasons at Regent’s Park and the Young Vic where he played Hamlet directed by Michael Bogdanov, developed a love for Shakespeare.
He met his wife, Sue Best, while they were touring with the English Shakespeare Company and together they set up the Charity Shakespeare Link. Their vision was to access Shakespeare beyond the confines of theatre or academe, as a stimulus for communication and debate.
Now settled on the family smallholding in the Upper Wye Valley they have been translating Shakespeare into BSL, working with local schools and groups and running ‘Have-a-go Shakespeare’ sessions with all comers. In 2006 they headed up a team to plant the magical Willow Globe, woven of living willow and open to the sky, which they run both as a producing and a receiving
house. Such is the success of The Willow Globe Community Company, under Phil’s guidance, that it has been invited to play CADW heritage sites and, by the RSC, to perform at Stratford.
Please describe yourself in three words. Hail Fellow Well-met How would your friends and family describe you in three words? Over The Top
What’s one of your favourite words? Matey What’s important in life? Love
If you could only possess one thing what would it be? A Boat
What's the single best piece of advice you've ever been given? Never let an Egyptian barber trim your eyebrows Continued on pg 4>>>
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Thank you in advance, Karla Vaughan and Lynsey Hendleman
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Q&A
Continued from pg 3
Phil Bowen High Sheriff of Powys
What phrase do you over-use? Well done matey
What do you think is the worst item of clothing ever invented? Low-slung jeans What is your favourite animal? Pig
Where are we most likely to find you at a party? In the centre of a collection of beautiful women
Which three people, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Shakespeare, my wife and Dr John Dee What’s one of your favourite (short) jokes? My dog’s got no nose Do you prefer Facebook or Twitter? Why? Neither
How would you like to spend your last day on earth? In peace
If you could travel back in time for a day, where/when would you go? London 1599 What’s been your most rewarding experience so far? Marriage
Who or what has inspired you the most? A now deceased actor called David Dodimead Do you enjoy cooking? What’s your signature dish? Yes. Roast lamb
Reading books - on a tablet or the old fashioned way? Old fashioned
When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up? An actor What’s your favourite means of transport? Sailing
What’s the best thing about living in Mid Wales? Peace What motivated you to become High Sheriff of Powys? I was invited
What are the main duties and responsibilities of the High Sheriff of Powys? Encouraging
To date - what’s been one of your most rewarding experiences as High Sheriff of Powys? A visit to Kerry Farm What’s been one of your most challenging experiences as High Sheriff of Powys? Having to give a speech off the cuff – (be prepared)
Why Children Should Learn an Instrument
M
usic is an important part of life – nearly everyone enjoys listening to it. Yet relatively few of us have the ability to create it. Scientists say that children who play an instrument do better academically than those who don’t. It can benefit their reading age because it enhances comprehension skills. Learning to understand beat, rhythm and scales improves their maths skills as children learn how to divide, create fractions and recognise patterns. Listening to pitch, rhythm and tempo helps to sharpen their concentration and using mnemonic devices to learn musical patterns can improve memory. Co-ordination and motor skills are also developed as a child learns to convert written notes to movement of hands, arms and feet. This improved co-ordination and timing can benefit children in other hobbies such as dance and sports. Children who learn as part of a group cultivate social skills as they interact with other class members. They learn to wait patiently for their turn, and show respect for others. It’s also a chance to make friends, especially if they play in a band or orchestra. Mastering an instrument and achieving goals takes months or even years. Perseverance and patience are useful qualities developed along the way, as is
MID-POWYS FLICKS Bringing film to a venue near you. Thanks to funding from the BFI Neighbourhood Fund, Flicks is pleased to be working with 13 venues in Mid Powys to develop a new touring cinema network. The first screenings start in September 2014
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Ralph Fiennes in Grand Budapest Hotel
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05/09/2014 06/09/2014 06/09/2014 08/09/2014 12/09/2014 13/09/2014 18/09/2014 19/09/2014 21/09/2014 24/09/2014 26/09/2014 27/09/2014 27/09/2014 03/10/2014 11/10/2014 12/10/2014 13/10/2014 15/10/2014 16/10/2014 17/10/2014 19/10/2014 25/10/2014 26/10/2014 29/10/2014 29/10/2014 31/10/2014 31/10/2014 07/11/2014 09/11/2014 10/11/2014 12/11/2014 14/11/2014 14/11/2014 20/11/2014 20/11/2014 21/11/2014 22/11/2014 23/11/2014 29/11/2014 05/12/2014 08/12/2014 13/12/2014 18/12/2014 20/12/2014 29/12/2014
self-confidence which grows further if they go on to perform in public. Caring for their instrument teaches a child responsibility, while managing their time to ensure that practice is done regularly helps them develop organisational skills. Finally, learning about and playing a musical instrument can help children discover the role of music in other cultures, and this familiarity from an early age helps foster open-mindedness about worlds and traditions beyond the ones they know. If your child shows an interest in learning an instrument, be sure to choose one that excites them (my daughter was horrified to be presented with a cello when what she coveted was a clarinet). Select an instrument that suits their ability and temperament, and make sure it produces a sound that you can tolerate for hours as you listen to them practise (I have memories of my mum banishing me to the furthest corner of the house because she couldn’t bear the sound of me screeching on the violin!). I was nine when my parents found me a piano teacher, and even though the road has not always been smooth, I am forever grateful to them for taking this decision, as I consider myself amongst the privileged few who have had the opportunity to learn an instrument and enjoy the benefits this brings. -By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
Abermule Community Centre Knighton Community Centre Knighton Community Centre Welshpool Assembly Rooms CARAD Llanbister Community Hall Llandinam Village Hall Sarn Village Hall The Old Mill Bar, Llanidloes Dolau Community Hall Knighton Community Centre The Drama Centre Walton Parish Hall Abermule Community Centre Evenjobb Village Hall Newbridge on Wye Community Centre Welshpool Assembly Rooms Dolau Community Hall Llandinam Village Hall Knighton Community Centre Newbridge on Wye Community Centre The Old Mill Bar, Llanidloes Llanbister Community Hall CARAD Newbridge on Wye Community Centre Sarn Village Hall The Drama Centre Knighton Community Centre Newbridge on Wye Community Centre Welshpool Assembly Rooms Dolau Community Hall Walton Parish Hall Abermule Community Centre CARAD Llandinam Village Hall Sarn Village Hall The Old Mill Bar, Llanidloes The Drama Centre Dolau Community Hall Knighton Community Centre Welshpool Assembly Rooms The Drama Centre Llandinam Village Hall The Old Mill Bar, Llanidloes Evenjobb Village Hall
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Skyfall Rio 2 The Monuments Men Kinky Boots TBC 12 Years a Slave 12 Years a Slave Undertaking Betty The Lego Movie Philomena Non-Stop Frozen Sing-A-Long Sunshine on Leith One Chance American Hustle Walking On Sunshine 12 Years a Slave Captain Phillips Non-Stop American Hustle Mr. Peabody and Sherman The Grand Budapest Hotel The Lego Movie TBC Postman Pat: The Movie The Railway Man Hocus Pocus Jimmy's Hall (TBC) The Grand Budapest Hotel Oh! What a Lovely War TBC Belle The Lego Movie TBC Skyfall Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War Frozen (2013) TBC Muppets Most Wanted Cuban Fury Jersey Boys (TBC) TBC The Lego Movie It’s a Wonderful Life Gravity
Fo cus Puzzles
Sudoku
How to play Sudoku It’s simple!
Fill the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition You don’t need to be a genius. These puzzles use logic alone.
Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive!
Wordsearch
Crossword Across 7 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 19 20 21 22
Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 13 15 17 18 19 20
Mexican drink (7) Wind instrument (5) Range cooker (3) Hired soldier (9) Coach, instruct (5) Anguish (7) Buffer, protect (7) Polishes, wipes (5) Occasionally (9) Glide over snow (3) Fleshy fruit (5) Barrel makers (7)
EXHIBITIONS WORKSHOPS MEDITATION TALKS MUSIC
Adhesive labels Batteries Box files Calculator Card Compact discs Drawing pins Envelopes Eraser Folders Glue Highlighters Hole punch Ink pad Notepad Packing tape Paper Pen Ruler
Second-largest ocean (8) Water (4) Pilot, aviator (6) Tenders, puts forward (6) Absconders (8) Fee, tariff (4) Designed to reduce drag (11) Make (8) Most treacherous (8) Contemplate, mean to (6) Absolute ruler (6) Drainage pan or pit (4) Spore, germ (4)
THE BLEDDFA CENTRE | THE OLD SCHOOL GALLERY AND THE HALL BARN
September and October
DIRECTOR BRITISH MUSEUM
‘What has been achieved at Bleddfa is a constant inspiration’ ~ DR ROWAN WILLIAMS
SEPTEMBER DIARY
OCTOBER DIARY
Tigers and Travel An exhibition of paintings by Marcia Gibson-Watt Saturday 6th to Saturday 27th in The Old School Gallery Open: Weds to Suns, 2pm to 5pm Free entry
Intricate Image An exhibition of felted and stitched images by Angela Dewar Saturday 4th to Saturday 25th in The Old School Gallery Open: Weds to Suns, 2pm to 5pm Free entry
Explore the life of Mandala A workshop day with Diogenes Mock Saturday 20th in The Hall Barn 10.30am to 4.30pm
£30
Intricate Images A workshop day with Angela Dewar Saturday 4th in The Hall Barn 10.30am to 4.30pm
£30
Saints and Sinners of the Marches A talk by Revd Michael Tavinor Saturday 25th in The Hall Barn 10.30am to 12.30pm
Exploring Universal Wisdom from India A day of practical spirituality with Pamela Thompson Saturday 27th in The Hall Barn 10.30am to 4.30pm Opening hrs: Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 5pm. Refreshments and large collection of secondhand books in the Reading Room; gifts and cards in the Gallery Shop. Wheelchair access and ample parking.
The Bleddfa Meditation Group Thursday 4th and 18th in The Hall Barn 10am for 10.30am COMING IN NOVEMBER
£6
The Bleddfa Meditation Group Thursday 2nd and 16th in The Hall Barn 10am for 10.30am
The Path of the Druid An exploratory day with Lorraine Munn Saturday 1st NOV in The Hall Barn 10.30am to 4.30pm
£30
The Bleddfa Trust The Bleddfa Centre, Bleddfa, Nr Knighton, Powys, LD7 1PA, UK For Advertising, Editorial & Listings, contact us on
£35
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Gollewin i’r Dwyrain | West to East An exhibition of landscape paintings by Huw Gareth Jones Sat 1st to Sat 22nd NOV in the Old School Gallery Open: Weds to Suns, 2pm to 5pm Free entry
t: 01547 550377 e: enquiries@bleddfacentre.com mwcf@icloud.com / 01597 829789
www.bleddfacentre.com
The Bleddfa Centre in the Radnorshire Hills between Llandrindod and Knighton is a place to explore creativity through our programme of exhibitions, workshops, meditations, talks and retreats - using the visual arts, music and philosophy. Our facilities are also available to hire for meetings, conferences and social events.To book for any event or for more information on our hire rates please contact us on 01547 550377. ‘The Bleddfa Centre is a place where the big questions of life are asked’ ~ NEIL MACGREGOR,
Sellotape Shredder Stapler Staples Twine Waste bin
M
The Green Garden
h ls e W a Bee in o r e H Wildlife
n! e d r a G your
any of us are spending more and more time enjoying our gardens, and so are all the wildlife that depend upon gardens for food and shelter. Sadly, much of our native wildlife is in decline – including bees and other pollinating insects – and something needs to be done to help them.
It doesn’t matter if your garden is about as big as a postage stamp, there are still many things you can do to help bees and a whole range of wildlife. Here at the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust office, we have converted our small back garden into a stunning wildlife haven (pictured) that is simply buzzing with activity! If you'd like to do the same, here are our top bee-friendly gardening tips:
Provide nectar opportunities for bees, butterflies and other insects by planting species such as Lungwort, Echinacea, Cornflower, and Yarrow. Keep in mind that insects need nectar sources throughout the year, so go for a wide variety of flowering plants. Fruit trees and bushes are good
early nectar sources for pollinators and have the bonus of producing tasty fruit! Building a log pile, rockery, or stone wall provides habitat for many insects, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Hollow stems of plants such as cow parsley, elder or bamboo, stacked in a waterproof sleeve can create an ideal nesting ground for many species of ‘solitary’ bee. For an ambitious and interesting feature, why not try building a 'bug hotel'? Go organic – Many pesticides and herbicides will not only target the pest you intend it for and can cause harm to beneficial plants and insects. The decline in bee populations across the UK and Europe has been partly linked to the intensive use of aggressive pesticides, such as neonicotinoids. A healthy, pesticide-free garden ecosystem, with lots of different plants and habitats, will attract animals to your garden that feed on pests such as slugs and aphids – natural pest control!
The Welsh Wildlife Heroes campaign is a partnership between Wildlife Trusts Wales and the Cooperative Food Wales. For more information on making your garden better for wildlife, go to: http://www.wtwales.org/welshwildlifeheroes Or, to find out about Welsh Wildlife Heroes projects in your area, contact your local Wildlife Trust. - Joshua Cooke, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
Sit back and enjoy the show! There's no need to be too tidy in a wildlife friendly garden, a little 'wildness' is always welcome, giving you more time to relax and appreciate your creation.
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Install big water butts - Save as much rainwater as possible and deploy it with care. Water generously only where it’s needed, in the cool of the evening, to encourage deeper rooting. Mulch well. Right plant, right place - For free-draining soil don’t plant thirsty plants which require a lot of water. If it’s clay, choose deep-rooted, strong plants, like roses and hardy fuchsias, which will withstand dry periods where the ground bakes.If an established plant can't survive on its own, it's probably not the right plant for your plot. Ban peat - Peat bogs are an essential part of our eco system. Once they’re gone they’re gone forever. There is no excuse for buying peat-based products…ever. Use only peat-free composts, soil-improvers and mulches. Recycle. Recycle. Recycle - Make a compost heap or buy a compost bin. Reuse plastic and crock pots. String old CDs and bottle tops over newly planted seedlings as bird scarers. Restrict chemical usage - Try nematodes for pest control. Encourage ladybirds for greenfly control by planting fennel, dill, white cosmos and scented geraniums. Leave a wild patch - Build your own army of slug and bug killers. A pile of logs and fallen leaves and a patch of nettles will provide shelter for all manner of garden wildlife, including hedgehogs, ladybirds and beetles. By Louise Addison
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Out & About September 3 Sep (Wednesday) to 6 Sep (Saturday) Mid Wales Opera - Carmen Hafren, Newtown, thehafren.co.uk
4 Sep (Thursday) Staunton Park - Open Garden for NGS, Staunton Park, Leominster, 01544 388556, www.stauntonpark.co.uk 5 September (Friday) Carmen - behind the scenes Theatr Hafren desk@orieldavies.org / 01686 625041 5 September (Friday) 9pm Wayne Martin’s Blues Deluxe The Exchange – Newtown 01686 621814
6 September (Saturday) 10.15am – 1.30pm Life Drawing Led by Caroline Ali Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown desk@orieldavies.org / 01686 625041 6 September & 7 September (Saturday & Sunday) International Antiques & Collectors Fair of Wales, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd 6 September & 7 September (Saturday & Sunday) 10am - 4pm Elan Helicopter Tours, Pont Ar Elan Contact: 01597 810880 or email elanrangers@dwrcymru.com 7 September (Sunday) 10am – 4pm Learn to paint Lakes,Streams and Waterfalls in Watercolour led by David Ward, Elan Valley Visitor Centre Contact: 01597 810880 7 September (Sunday) 11am - 4pm Gregynog Heritage Open Day Gregynog Hall & Gardens, Tregynon 01686 650224
10, 17 & 24 September (Wednesdays) 10.30am - 11.30am Great British Walking Festival Powis Castle, 01938 551929 or www.nationaltrust.rog.uk/powis-castle
12 September (Friday) 9pm Will Killeen, The Exchange – Newtown 01686 621814 12 September (Friday) 7.30pm Young Local Musicians Concert Methodist Church - Welshpool
13 September (Saturday) 10am – 5pm Exploring The Bronze Age Elan Valley Visitor Centre, for further info email info@elanvalleytrust.org, telephone 01597 810449 14 September (Sunday) 10.45am Race The Train, Raven Square Station 01938 810441 or info@wllr.org.uk
20 September (Saturday) The Bracken Trust coffee morning at The Minerva Centre, Llanidloes, 10.30am12.30pm. 26 September (Friday) Time: TBC 1960’s Evening Baytree Tea Rooms, Church Street, Welshpool, 01938 555456 28 September (Sunday) Time: TBC Car Boot Sale Tesco car Park - Welshpool 07822828952
28 September (Sunday) 10am - 4pm Forden Vintage and Classic Bike Show. Forden School and Village Hall, 01938 580 615 28 September (Sunday) 2.30pm Tour of Gregynog Hall Gregynog Hall & Gardens Tregynon, 01686 650224
Out & About October 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 October (Wednesday’s) 10.30am - 11.30am Great British Walking Festival Powis Castle, 01938 551929 or www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle
Back to School Bugs and Beasties
How does it happen? Your family has enjoyed a happy, healthy six week summer holiday, but within just days of returning to school your child comes down with a cold, or develops an itchy skin condition, or catches nits. Why, when they need to be settling into a new routine and you need to be back at work, do they suddenly get ill? Like it or not, children gathering in schools is one of the main ways germs circulate in communities. Their immune systems are less mature, they tend to be in close contact, and they have ‘germy’ habits like sticking fingers or pencils into their mouths, so it is inevitable that they are going to come home with something nasty at some point. That said, most illnesses can be avoided if a few good practices are followed. Top of the list is to make sure that your child’s immunisations are all up to date, and that all family members have had a seasonal flu vaccination, where appropriate. Prevention is definitely the best medicine. Next, make sure they wash their hands enough - and properly! The most common way to catch illness is through the mouth, eyes or nose after the hands have been in contact with infected surfaces. A thorough wash with soap and warm water to the back of the hands, in between the fingers and around the nails for 20 seconds (as long as it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice!) before eating or drinking, after a visit to the toilet, blowing their nose, or touching animals and waste, should be the minimum.
Preparation time: 15m Cooking time: 30m Serves: 4
5 October (Sunday) 10am – 12.30pm Wildlife Tracking and Field Skills Elan Valley Visitor Centre To Book 01597 810880/ 01685 624275
Ingredients 4 large Golden Delicious Apples 1 splash Lemon Juice 85g Walnuts, halved 1 tbsp Raisins 1 tbsp Soft Light Brown Sugar 25g Butter ¼ tsp Ground Cinnamon
9 October (Thursday) 7.30pm Syzyel Saxophone Quartet Methodist Church - Welshpool
15 October (Wednesday) 9.30am – 4pm Walking Thorugh History (1 Day Course) Ty Gwyn Farm 01597 829298 or www.tygwynfarm.co.uk
25 October (Saturday) Time: TBC Model Railway Show Town Hall - Welshpool
30 Oct (Thursday) to 2 Nov (Sunday) Glasbury Arts 11th Annual Visual Arts exhibition. Including works by Cedric Morris & Josef Herman Glasbury Village Hall, www.glasburyarts.co.uk 31 October (Friday) Time: TBC Halloween Party Night Baytree Tea Rooms, Church Street, Welshpool 01938 555456
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By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
Spicy Baked Apples with Walnuts
3 Oct (Friday) to 5 Oct (Sunday) Classical Music Weekend at Gregynog Gregynog Hall & Gardens Tregynon, 01686 650224
18 October (Saturday) 9am Table Top Sale Corn Exchange, Town Hall, Welshpool 01938 553142 to book a table
Teach your child ‘germ etiquette’. This means staying away from other children who may be sneezing or coughing, covering their own coughs and sneezes by using tissues that should be thrown away immediately, and avoiding head to head contact with others. If your child is older, warn them about sharing items such as lipstick, lip balm, make-up, razors, creams, lotions and other personal items such as towels and sports kit. There are some germ hotspots in schools, and cafeteria trays are one of them! One survey found that there were more bacteria per square inch on a cafeteria tray than there were on a toilet seat, probably because the trays don’t get cleaned as often. If your child drops food on a tray, they should throw it away! Finally, your child can build up their immunity by getting enough sleep and exercise, eating a well balanced diet that includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and by drinking plenty of water. Take these preventative measures and hopefully going back to school will be a happy, healthy time for everybody!
Method Preheat the oven to 180°C /Gas 4. Carefully cut a 2.5cm (1in) slice from the top of each apple and set aside. Using an apple corer or a small, sharp knife, remove the core from each apple.
Place the walnuts, raisins, sugar, butter, and cinnamon into a food processor and pulse several times, to produce a coarse, textured mixture. If you don't have a food processor, chop the walnuts roughly and mix thoroughly with the other ingredients. Page 8
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Stuff each apple cavity with the mixture and replace the reserved tops. Arrange the apples in a shallow, ovenproof dish so that they're upright, and then fill the pan 1cm (1/2in) deep with water. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the flesh is tender when pierced with the point of a knife. When slightly cooled, carefully remove the apples from the baking dish, transfer them to serving plates, and serve hot with crème fraiche or ice cream.
r u e Focus t a N October
September
Following the mild winter and long warm spring into early summer the September harvest this year looks as though it will be plentiful indeed. This is really good for both our resident and migrant birds – look out for flocks of goldfinches feeding on thistle seeds and blackcaps fattening up on elderberries ahead of their journey south.
Please do not be too tidy in your gardening but always leave some brambles and nettles to flourish as these plants are vital nectar and food sources for so much of our precious and beautiful wildlife tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies, bumblebees, bullfinches and blackbirds. Already the ground under hazel bushes is littered with nuts, raided by squirrels mostly but jays too will take both hazel nuts and acorns and bury them in the ground, stored away for leaner times at the end of winter and early spring. It is at this time that nuthatches live up to their name, for as well as enjoying the peanuts we provide for food, they more naturally like to feast on hazel nuts. After picking a nut the nuthatch will take it to a favourite crevice in the branch of a tree and wedge the nut firmly in place. Then, gripping tightly with its powerful claws, it uses the whole weight of its body to hammer the nut open with its strong beak – the tapping sound it makes can be heard some considerable distance away.
Marquee Hire Weddings • Parties • Shows • Concerts Wide range of sizes available Plus: furniture, lighting, heating, dancefloor, bar, toilets, personnel event support. Covering Mid Wales, Powys Contact Ceri Morris on: 07990 516066 / 01686 412471 morrisalun9@gmail.com
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By October temperatures have cooled and in early mornings droplets of dew appear as silvery adornment to the variety of spiders webs that festoon the meadows and hedgerows at this time of year. Spiders are not insects but arachnids with the obvious difference being that spiders have 4 pairs of legs whereas insects have only 3 pairs. All spiders feed on other small animals, mainly insects. Many species of spider catch their prey by spinning webs of sticky silk threads, some wait motionless to ambush their prey while others are fast running hunters with several pairs of very good eyes to help them see their prey.
Now is the time to go looking for toadstools – which are the fruiting bodies of fungi, designed to spread their spores from the many thin gills underneath their umbrella shaped tops. They come in many forms and colours and grow in all types of habitat. Among the most easily noticed are the poisonous bright red and white speckled caps of the fly agaric (sometimes referred to as the fairy toadstool) and the very large, pale fawn coloured parasol mushrooms. Slugs in particular like to feed on toadstools and are unaffected by eating poisonous varieties. - Article and illustrations by Pam Knight, Rhayader, Powys
RHAYADER RFC Training Tuesday 7:00pm Ladies Training Wed 7:30pm
Club available for hire for all functions. For all enquiries ring amanda on: 07756767199 email:- rhayaderrfc1@yahoo.co.uk
DC
AUTO REPAIRS NEWTOWN LTD
CARS, 4X4’S & SMALL FLEET
Newtown’s newest independent motor repair service.
Puzzle Solutions
From pg 5
With over 20 year’s local experience with full dealership training, our small dedicated team are guaranteed to help you with any motoring needs
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DIAGNOSTICS checks and analysis
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UNIT 21B, MOCHDRE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, NEWTOWN, (01686) 624445 / 07989 751616
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PRIVATE ENGLISH TUTOR Cheryl M Green BA (Hons); Assoc CIPD
Based in Howey, Llandrindod Wells 07772976934 cherylmgreen@ hotmail.co.uk
Your Ad HERE From just £12.75
Junk n Disorderly Vintage, Retro & Painted Furniture
• We offer a painting service • Stockists for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
M
From Haydn Lewis, Your Local Independent Financial Advisor
TM
any people do not stop to consider how much they are worth financially on death or consider the effect of taxation on that money.
Special Offer! Bring this advert into the shop for a chance to win Annie Sloan products TM
New Upstairs: Vast selection of Vintage Clothes, Shoes, Hats & Handbags
For more information pop into the shop or call Unit 1, Old Town Hall, Llandrindod Wells, 01597 829666
What is Chalk Paint®? Annie Sloan's unique decorative paint, Chalk Paint®, is a very special paint for very many reasons:
Chalk Paint® is very easy to work with. It very rarely requires any preparation, such as sanding or priming, and can be used indoors or outside, on just about any surface - from wood to metal, and matt plastic to terracotta. It can revitalise old furniture, walls, ceilings and floors with ease. It's easy, fun and makes amazing results accessible to everyone.
With a colour palette inspired by 18th and 20th Century decor and design, you can easily mix the colours together to extend the range. Chalk Paint® is eco-friendly too. It contains extremely low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and has no odour.
Add a little water to it to make it smooth, thicken it up by leaving the lid off, make it into a wash by adding even more water. Use flat brushes for a smooth look or bristle brushes for a more textured aged look.
1. Chalk Paint® is the BEST paint for painting furniture by a long way 2. No need to prime or prepare 3. Extremely low VOC so it is good for the environment 4. You can use it on any surface, indoors and out (the outside of our shop was painted in it -- perfect!) 5. You can use the paint by diluting it with water to make a wash to show the wood grain 6. The colours are mixed intelligently and the website shows how you can adapt your colours for your use 7. It's a girls' paint, but boys can use it too 8. It's flexible so you can be creative and change your mind 9. It allows your walls to breathe so it is perfect for cottage walls 10.You can use it as an impasto (thickly) leave the lid off to thicken 11.We've been making it since 1990 so it's tried and tested
Gorgeous results have never been so
simple and straightforward.
Would you like to include your events in our next Out & About - Free of Charge? Contact us mwcf@icloud.com
When responding to advertisments please mention the
FOCUS -Thanks01597 829789 mwcf@icloud.com
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Why make a Will?
A Will is also important as the person making the Will can express their wishes and nominate guardians for their children after death.
It also may be possible to potentially reduce the amount of tax payable on death and advice should be taken at the time the Will is made.
What if you die without making a Will?
If there is no Will or where the Will left was for some reason invalid then the deceased is said to have died intestate. The Court would then appoint people called Administrators who will take responsibility for getting together all the deceased’s assets and making sure all the debts are paid before distributing the estate. The surviving spouse may not inherit everything from the deceased.
The deceased’s estate is shared out according to strict divisions within their family – the deceased cannot decide to increase the benefit to one person or exclude another from benefiting without a will.
What happens if there is no Will?
Obtaining Letters of Administration and appointing an administrator can take months or sometimes even years. In the meantime your surviving spouse or partner has all the usual expenses.
Your surviving spouse or partner may not have access to money because the assets could be frozen until all the formalities have been sorted out.
If you have a valid Last Will it should take no longer than three months to obtain Probate. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Will Writing Services and Taxation advice.
If they are not married then they have no right to inherit anything. If there are minor children in the family it is not the parents’ choice who cares for their children – it becomes the responsibility of Social Services
Jam Today…
Autumn is the perfect time to start preserving. You can use home grown fruits or those you’ve foraged amongst the hedgerows. Preserving is relatively easy. Once the fruit has been picked, washed and prepared, you just need some simple equipment to turn it into marvellous produce. You can get lots of advice from your local cook shop on what’s required, but some basics are: a large heavy based saucepan, spoons and funnels, a sugar thermometer, containers and jars, lids and labels. The concept of preserving foods has been around since the earliest humans. To survive, ancient man had to harness nature. In frozen climates he froze seal meat on the ice. In tropical climates he dried foods in the sun. Food by its nature begins to spoil the moment it is harvested. So the ability to preserve food enabled ancient man to make roots, and live in one place and form a community. Preservation with the use of honey or sugar was well known to the earliest cultures. It was commonplace for fruits to be kept in honey. In ancient Greece quince was mixed with honey, dried and packed tightly into jars. The Romans cooked the quince and honey producing a solid texture. As there’s not enough sunlight in Northern climates to successfully dry fruits, housewives learned to make preserves, heating the fruit with sugar, and this is the method we know today. Whilst there is no longer a pressing survival reason for preserving, it can be very rewarding. As well as providing
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delightful food and drink for you to consume, you could also make your preserved fruits into lovely Christmas gifts. There are many possibilities including jams and marmalades, chutneys and pickles, and beverages such as sloe gin. Many establishments run evening classes which can help you create these and many other fabulous recipes, such as fruit butter or fruit cheese. When preserving, you should use fruits that are sun ripened, as the process will not improve green tasteless fruit. Using fruit that has a high acid content is recommended, as it less likely to harbour bacteria. When filling jars, you should ensure they are hot as temperature drops will increase the likelihood of bacteria forming. For the same reason, always cover your jars straight away and when the jars are cooled, you should recheck the seals and tighten lids to prevent any air entering and causing mould to form. Or you could use a waxed disc of paper and cellophane to act as a cover. Keep your preserves in a cool, dark, dry place. Chutneys and pickles can last for around a year, and fruit liqueurs and fruits in alcohol up to two years. Once opened, store in the fridge and use quickly.
-By Susan Brookes-Morris
Focus
Healing S tories
With Catherine Allan
I
magination is an underrated human skill. Stories are referred to as trivial, made up stuff and inferior to real, rational life. We all tell ourselves stories about our life and who we are, whether we are brave, stupid, artistic, tough, good at cooking, always ill or good drivers. This influences how we notice things, behave and interpret events.
As children, we understood the world as children, modelled ourselves and the world through our young experiences, without understanding wider adult perspectives. We blamed ourselves for our parent’s divorce, bad temper, alcoholism, violence, absence or illness. We believed it when we are told we are stupid. These negative stories or beliefs can remain to poison our adult lives and in turn, they poison our reactions and affect our behaviour, (just as positive ones support us.)
Beliefs about ourselves affect whether we work too much or too little, whether we eat too much or too little, love ourselves too much or too little. These beliefs even turn our genes on and off, cause hormones to be released to affect our tissues and so affect our health. If you learned to take the experiences of life and tell yourself that, even though there are difficult things to deal with, the world is essentially a place of opportunity, joy and beauty, then that is what you are likely to experience. Your brain is likely to notice those things and enable you to see and take opportunities someone else might miss. You are more likely to be connected with family and friends and take an interest in and care about the world around you.
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If your experience of the world was fearful, your brain will continue to notice that the world is unsafe and will only notice the potential for danger, even when the danger is long gone. You will have developed strategies to cope, often debilitating ones such as panic attacks, phobias, depression or addictions. These turn your attention inward and prevent you from reaching out to life to enjoy what it has to offer. In this case, although you can’t change the past, you can
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“deep imagination is a really powerful tool in reversing what may be habits of belief built up from childhood” stop it constantly affecting your present.
Changing our story so as to live more contentedly is possible. Life stories live in our subconscious. The subconscious is very literal. It cannot tell the difference between real events and imagined ones.
Experiments done by people unable to move have shown that their bodies respond to imagined exercise, so long as it is imagined deeply, with all senses engaged, as if they had actually carried it out. Both musical and sporting prowess have been improved by imagining and practicing the actions as much as by actually doing them. For creating better health, many illnesses respond well to such visualisation exercises. They are often used to support other treatments and enable those treatments to be more effective.
In terms of fighting fears and gaining selfworth, deep imagination is a really powerful tool in reversing what may be habits of belief built up from childhood. There are exercises on the internet, helpful books or CD’s and mindful meditation courses which can help change our subconscious self stories. There are therapists trained to help you relax deeply enough to talk you through different imaginary outcomes and so change your reality. This can put us back in touch with what is actually around us as opposed to what we fear might be. Develop your imagination, learn and do new things, listen to stories, music, look at art. We are hard wired to see meaning and pattern in our surroundings. Our brains respond to events and store them as memories which reinforce existing stories or alert us to the possibility of new ones. That’s why teaching tales – fairy stories, parables and myths were and are so successful in conveying warnings or explanations of how the tellers perceived the world. Finding a way to understand why we tell our story and present ourselves to others as we do can be deeply challenging. But the pay off in becoming the hero or heroine of your own story, is immense.
- Catherine Allen, Mid Wales Therapies
B Beth eth b bynnag ynnag rrydych ydych yn dymuno astudio neu ddy ddysgu sgu - o wneud g gemwaith emwaith a yd yn ch yfrifiaduron i g elf, g arddio a h chyfrifiaduron gelf, garddio hyd wrs i’w yoga - b ydd g ennym g oed yoga bydd gennym gwrs gynnig i chi! gynnig
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gael copi o ’n llyfr yn diw eddaraf I gael o’n llyfryn diweddaraf galwch 0845 4086 299 neu ymwelwch ymwelwch galwch F rom jew ellery making mak and computers From jewellery to art, g ardening and even yyoga... oga... gardening whatever yyou ou w ant to learn want w e will have a cours e ffor or yyou! ou! we course For a copy copy o ochure, For off our latest br brochure, please call 0845 4086 299 please www .nptcgroup.ac.uk www.nptcgroup.ac.uk
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T
Help schemes tackle Wales' antisocial behaviour
School Phobia here seems to be growing evidence of a condition known as School Phobia. It was first recorded in America around 1941, then gained further attention in the 1960’s, and has become more commonly diagnosed in recent years. Kay Mawson, the mother of sufferer Andrew, describes School Phobia as the ‘fear of school,’ which brings on debilitating symptoms. She says that to avoid the fear, children exhibit behaviour often called School Refusal. For her son the causes were a sensation of feeling trapped and out of control in school and therefore feeling insecure and unsafe. He also suffered from separation anxiety resulting from being apart and out of contact with those he cared about, and being fearful that something might happen to them. Kay feels it is important to raise awareness of the condition because it is commonly misunderstood, and often remains untreated. Many parents become distressed at finding themselves struggling with courts, schools and truancy issues. Last year Netmums and the TV programme This Morning carried out a poll of 1,054 parents. This suggested that one in five British children suffer from School Phobia but only half of parents are aware of it. Children aged five to six and 10 and 11 were the most frequent suffers. Common behaviours include faking illness to try to avoid school, or going for registration and then leaving. Many sufferers have temper tantrums and scream and kick if forced to attend. Forty six percent of those referred to in the study also
became ill with genuine stress related conditions such as headaches and stomach aches. Many had difficulty sleeping. Whilst in some cases the factors were not related to specific instances at school, the parents of other sufferers felt the condition had been triggered by bullying, under-performance or a general sense of being overwhelmed by school expectations. The study suggests that many parents struggled to get help; indeed some experts claim that parental behaviour has sometimes made cases worse. Some parents have been able to get their children medically diagnosed with School Phobia, and pupils in the UK have obtained places at special units for anxious and school phobic children. There remain differences of opinion on the best way to handle the condition. Some feel that getting the child into school is crucial even if it involves parental accompaniment and perhaps arranging special acclimatisation sessions. Some parents have found that moving their child to a more supportive school helped tremendously, while others believe that home schooling provides the solution. Kay Mawson advises parents to research all of the available options and discuss them with their child and perhaps an educational psychologist. That way there is a consensus on the best way to move forward, though arrangements should be reviewed on a regular basis.
By Susan Brookes- Morris
T
wo schemes to help people cope with the effects of upsetting incidents are being piloted in rural Wales. Those involved in conflict or suffering antisocial behaviour are being offered mediation by Victim Support across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys. Neighbourhoods experiencing problems in the Newtown area are being offered community mediation by the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO). The six-month pilots, running until this autumn, have been commissioned – and will be assessed - by Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon. They could lead to the future rollout of similar services across Dyfed-Powys. Mr Salmon said: “Neighbourhood issues such as noise, difficult behaviour, damage to property, boundary concerns and lifestyle clashes mean misery for many. “Other issues regularly reported to me include problems with neighbours’ rubbish, pets, young people and car parking. “I want those suffering such agony to have help in resolving – and preventing – issues. Neighbourhoods will be better places if problems are nipped in the bud before escalating and getting out of hand. “Mediation enables those involved to reach a satisfactory agreement. It can save police resources and can improve victim satisfaction and community confidence.
PAVO is a Powys charity whose purpose is to support community groups and voluntary organisations in the county to deliver their aims and objectives effectively.
More online: www.victimsupport.org.uk www.pavo.org.uk
Forthcoming Training Courses include September 2014 3rdʹ Taking Minutes (½ day) Llandrindod Wells 9thʹ An Introduction to Listening (1 day) Llandrindod Wells 25th- Staff Development (½ day) Newtown October 2014 2nd ʹ Introduction to Volunteering (½ day) Llandrindod Wells 2nd ʹ Self Support Skills for Managers (1 day) Llandrindod Wells 15th ʹ Governing your Organisation (1 day) Brecon November 2014 6th ʹ Accounting Basics (½ day) Newtown 20th ʹ Business & Strategic Planning (1 day) Llandrindod Wells 26th ʹ Writing Funding Bids (1 day) Llandrindod Wells December 2014 11th ʹ Being a trustee (1 day) Llandrindod Wells 11th ʹ An Introduction to tendering (1 day) Brecon Prices for training courses start at £10 per ½ day per person. For more information or bookings see www.pavo.org.uk or contact: 01597 822191 sarah.leyland@pavo.org.uk
We provide a range of information and support services, including support with funding and grant applications, recruiting volunteers and high quality, low cost, training for volunteers, trustees and staff. Find out more about how we can help you at www.pavo.org.uk or call 0845 009 3288. W sK͛Ɛ Transport Training Agency delivers specialist training on all aspects of transport related skills, including MiDAS, D1 PCV & fuel efficient driving as well as first aid and manual handling. For further information, including costs or to book a place on one of our driver training courses see www.pavo.org.uk or contact: 01597 822191 pttaadmin@pavo.org.uk
PAVO is Registered Charity No. 1069557 and a Company limited by guarantee 3522144. Registered in Wales www.pavo.org.uk 0845 009 3288
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“Clearly, there are times when mediation is not applicable – such as in cases of personal safety, serious criminal offences, institutional discrimination, mental health and extreme vulnerability.” The Victim Support scheme (cost: £20,000) sees trained volunteers carry out the mediation duties. Referrals, as with the PAVO scheme, come from the police and others. Mandy Wilmot, Victim Support’s Divisional Manager Wales, said: “We’re offering victims of antisocial behaviour practical and emotional support tailored to their needs. Addressing harm at an early stage can help prevent years of misery for victims.” The PAVO scheme (cost: £20,000) sees a range of methods used, including neighbourhood agreements, the establishment of residents’ associations and work that links different age groups. Michele Muireasgha, Head of Third Sector Development at PAVO, said: “We will work with the local communities, the police and the Newtown Neighbourhood management pilot to make a difference. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to build on our other community cohesion work.”
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Tour of Britain 2014
On the 9th September, Mid Wales will be holding Stage 3 of the Tour of Britain. Cycling has seen a great surge in popularity in recent years after the success of Team Sky at the premier cycling event, the Tour de France. Bradley Wiggins is a huge
part of said success and he will return this year to defend his title. The rest of the field are; largely, unconfirmed but will surely include some of the best bike riders in the World. Hopefully Welshmen Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe will join Wiggins in Team Sky’s star studded squad.
Kids’ Corner
The route itself starts in Newtown where at 11am the peloton will make its way from Newtown high street down onto the A483 then the B4355 to Knighton where there are points on offer for the King of the Mountains jersey. From Knighton the cyclists will take in Whitton, Evenjobb, Walton and Painscastle through to Erwood at approximately 1pm. A sprint will be a great spectacle for the villagers of Llyswen before the riders roll through Talgarth, Crickhowell and another sprint into Abergavenny. They will then head north west with the end of the stage taking in Llanover, Llanellen and a final King of the Mountains sector at the finish up the Tumble.
C CANOLFAN A N O L F A N Y CELFYDDYDAU CELFY YDDYDAU ABERYSTWYTH A B E R Y S T W Y T H ARTS A R T S CENTRE www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre www .aber.ac.uk/ /artscentre 0 01970 1 9 7 0 62 6 2 32 3 2 32 3 2 //aberystwytharts /aberys b stwythar t th £17 £27.50 (£25) £17.50 £36 £20 MARK CHRIS THE FAULTY ALED JONES AND WATSON SONGS OF HOPE BEYOND THE TOWERS DINING FLAWS BARRICADE INSPIRATION RAMSEY EXPERIENCE Dydd Mercher 29 Hydref 8pm Dydd Iau 2 Hydref 8pm CELEBRATING 15 Dydd Iau 16 Hydref 8pm 8pm 25-30 Medi Thursday 2 October 8pm FANTASTIC YEARS Wednesday 29 October Thursday 16 October 8pm 25-30 September Dydd Sadwrn 25 Hydref 8pm Saturday 25 October 8pm For Advertising, Editorial & Listings, contact us on
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