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YOUR FREE GUIDE TO EVENTS, SERVICES AND BUSINESSES IN MID WALES
Issue 5 March - April 2014
e Focus Interviews... Carl Cooper, CEO - PAVO
Foodbanks Easter Eggs &
Easter Bunnies
Make your Mother’s day
Puzzles
Out & About March & April
Kids’ Corner Garden Focus P e e r Pre ssu re in Cy be rspace
What is ‘holistic’ medicine?
Nature Focus
Printed on 100% recycled newsprint. Help reduce your carbon footprint - continue the cycle and recycle
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Spring is here at last!
-s
A warm welcome to the fifth issue of
Our Aims: Provide an informative guide to events and services in Mid Wales. Of f er businesses, charities and organisations an effective method of reaching customers, clients and communities. Support people’s efforts to make Mid Wales thrive
Events FREE OF CHARGE listings in our ‘Out & About’ guide. Inclusion will be on a ‘first come first served’ basis.
Services If you provide community services please contact us to discuss how we can help. If we can promote your information free of charge we will.
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“The number of calls we’ve had as a result of our advert in the Focus has been fantastic.“ - Phil Davies, Llandrindod Wells Golf Club.
Advertising Unbeatable value and coverage in Mid Wales. See our rate card on page 19. Contact us to discuss how we can help promote your business.
Ideas
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Please do get in touch.
Thanks.
The Mid Wales Community FOCUS team. 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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e Focus Interviews...
C
Carl Cooper, CEO PAVO
arl has spent the whole of his working life in the Voluntary Sector. He worked for the Church in Wales for 25 years and has held positions of senior management and leadership since 1999. A native of Wigan, he has worked and lived in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Gwynedd. He is a fluent Welsh speaker.
He holds degrees in French and Theology, together with a Master of Philosophy degree for research into the sociology and psychology of bilingualism. He took up his post as Chief Executive of Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations in July 2008. As such, he is involved in supporting and representing the third sector in many ways at local, regional and national level.
Describe yourself in three words. Dedicated, Argumentative, Reliable.
What's the single best piece of advice you've ever been given? Ask yourself: ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’
What phrase do you over-use? I overuse lots of phrases, much to my own annoyance as well as other people’s – examples include … essentially … in a nut shell … and so on and so forth …
Is there anything you regret? A dear friend recently died. I had intended to visit her and write to her, but never got around to it.
What do you think is the worst item of clothing ever invented? Elasticated waists – far too accommodating!
What’s important in life? People and experiences
What’s the least important thing in life? Possessions
If you could only possess one item what would it be? A photograph album of people and shared experiences.
What's your biggest accomplishment? Watching my three children and their families develop as mutual, close friends.
Which animal frightens you most? Anything with feathers. I think watching Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ as a young boy was a mistake.
Where are we most likely to find you at a house party? On the periphery of things. I never assume anyone actually wants to talk to me. Despite my natural extraversion, I find large gatherings of people very artificial and a bit of an effort. Smaller dinner parties are great! Which three people, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Nelson Mandela, Jean-Paul Sartre and Spike Milligan. What’s one of your favourite (short) jokes? Anything by Tommy Cooper: I said to the chef, 'Why have you got your hand in the alphabet soup?' He said, 'I'm groping for words!' Which do you prefer Facebook or Twitter? Why? Twitter. It’s quick & easy. It doesn’t try to convince you that you’re part of a social group. What do you think are the secrets of success? Authenticity, Vision, Diligence and
Engagement.
How would you spend your last day on earth? Telling those I love that I love them.
If you could travel back in time for a day, where/when would you go? Palestine, year 0 – is it as we believe?
Who or what has inspired you the most? Those who have suffered and grown through it. There are many examples, both well know people and those who experience these things every day in communities around the world. I have been privilieged & honoured to know a number of such saints.
What would make the world a better place? Sacrificial love and grace. Imagine a world where EVERYONE put the wants & needs of others before their own.
Continues on page 8 >
What is PAVO?
Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) is one of 19 Councils for Voluntary Service in Wales. It is an interdependent intermediary body whose purpose is to empower and equip the third sector in Powys, enabling it to deliver its aims and objectives effectively, and to represent and facilitate the engagement of the third sector at all levels of the strategic planning process.
Powys Volunteer of the Year Gwirfoddolwr Powys y Flwyddyn
Help for Organisations
Mae enwebiadau bellach ar agor ar gyfer y 5ydd Gwobrau Bleyyddol
Help for Trustees
Do you know of anyone who gives over and above to their community?/Yd ych chi’n gwybod am un rhyw un sy ’n rhoi’n ychwan egol at eu cymuned?
Help for Volunteers Free Fundraising Support Training
r
difference?/ what and makes a waeth beth Grwp sydd yno, ni ahaniaeth? gw ud ne ac sy’n gw
An un-su n
g hero th
at
glod sy ’n haeddu cydnabyd diaeth
Then nominate them in the 2014 Powys Volunteer of the year awards!!!!
Information & Newsletters
Yna enwebwch nhw yng Ngwobrau Gwirfoddolwr Powys y Flwyddyn 2014!!!!
Guidance on Developing Projects
/ r 25’s Unde 25 O dan oed
Help with Book-keeping & Payroll Policy and Partnerships
Groups / Grwpia u
Can we help YOU? Membership is FREE and open to all voluntary organisations and community groups in Powys. Visit www.pavo.org.uk or tel: 0845 009 3238 For Advertising, Editorial & Listings, contact us on
Gwirfoddolwr y Flwyddyn
5 categories/5 catergori 25-59 ye ar olds/ 25 -59 oed
Outstanding / Eithriadol
60 +
Ewch i pavo.org.uk neu ffoniwch: 0845 009 3288 I gael ffurflen enwebu erbyn 5 Mai 2014
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-
s
r u o y e k a M y a d ’s r e h Mot
F
rom the day you have a baby or adopt a child, your life changes forever. People tell you this when you’re pregnant, but it’s only when it happens that you really understand what they mean. Suddenly
family – carer, teacher, agony aunt, sergeant major, personal assistant, taxi driver… And it doesn’t stop when the children leave home. Now approaching 40, I still rely on my mum for advice, friendship, help with childcare, emergency loans and the occasional kick up the backside to get things done.
also do something special to show you care – maybe take on a job that she hates or treat her to a day of pampering.
It’s only as you get older, especially if you have children of your own, that you realise how your parents felt as you grew up – why they made you do your homework, go to bed, stop fighting with your brother, eat properly, save money and above all, be careful!
there’s someone who depends on you entirely. Every decision you make from now on will be based on their needs or desires.
Being a mother can be the best of jobs and the worst of jobs. For every heartwarming moment of pride and loveliness, there’s a blazing row or slammed door (but hopefully with a hug and a sorry afterwards).
This year, why not go beyond the message in the card and write a few personal lines of your own to tell your mother how much you love her. Make sure she knows that she really is the best mum in the world (like mine).
Mother’s Day gives us the perfect opportunity to say thank you to our mums for everything they have done and still do for us.
It’s lovely to buy or make a card and give flowers and chocolates. You can
Mums have to take on every role in the
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Mother’s Day is celebrated all around the world, usually in March or in May.
In the UK, it is a mixture of a Christian tradition, and the celebration of motherhood that began in the USA in the early 20th century. During the 16th century, people in service would return to their home or ‘mother’ church on the fourth Sunday in Lent – Mothering Sunday.
Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies In previous times people gave gifts of eggs carved from wood or precious stones. It is only in the last 100 years or so that sweet eggs have been eaten. The size and range of chocolate eggs available seems to increase every year.
E
The tallest chocolate egg was 10.39 metres tall and made in Italy in 2011. It weighed 7.2 kilograms and ggs have been used as symbols at festivals since was 9.6 metres at its widest before the time of Jesus, but point! are now particularly It is not known exactly who first created the story of the Easter Bunny, but it synonymous with Easter seems to have its origins in Germany. It and the story of the was first mentioned in German texts in resurrection. Eggs are said to the 16th Century. In the 1700’s German
represent new life, and for Christians when they are cracked open, they stand for the empty tomb following Jesus’ rising. Eggs are also considered special, because although they do not seem alive they have life within them especially in springtime when chicks hatch out.
immigrants told stories when they went to America of egg- laying rabbits, and they encouraged children to use caps and bonnets to make nests which the Easter bunny would fill with coloured eggs - if they’d been good. The first edible Easter bunnies appeared in Germany during the early 1800s and
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were made of pastry and sugar.
The symbol of the rabbit was probably chosen because of its associations with fertility and spring. It is believed that Eostre, the Anglo Saxon God of Spring, had a hare as a companion.
In addition to having Easter Egg Hunts to search for the eggs left by the Bunny, another common Easter activity is egg rolling. This is done using real hard boiled eggs, and time is usually spent decorating them beforehand. In years gone by the eggs were dyed using onion skin, today’s painting process is much easier. In the UK egg rolling is generally done by rolling eggs down a hill, and the winner is the one whose egg rolls further or survives the most rolls. In the early nineteenth century in Northern Ireland, egg rolling was described as ‘trindling’ or ‘trundling.’
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Another traditional game involves holding your egg in the palm of the hand and banging against your opponent's egg. The loser is the one whose egg breaks first.
In the USA one of the most well known events is held on the White House Lawn, and involves parents and children pushing eggs along through the grass with wooden spoons.
By Susan Brookes-Morris
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Food s k n a b
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I met with Tessa Bradley, Project Manager of Llandrindod foodbank, who explained to me who set up our local foodbank and how it all works.
growing problem. There are already over 400 foodbanks up and running with new ones opening every week across the UK.
estoring dignity and providing hope
“Over 10 million people live in poverty in the United Kingdom. 3.5 million of these are children. Half a million people are now dependent on food aid, relying on a rapidly expanding network of food banks and support programmes. One in five mothers report regularly skipping meals to better feed their children and 5,500 people were admitted to hospital in the UK for malnutrition last year compared with 3,000 in 2008.” - End Hunger Fast Campaign
The Trussell Trust has been partnering with churches and communities to open foodbanks nationwide as a response to this
We are very fortunate to have two foodbanks on our doorsteps – an independently run one in Knighton and a Trussell Trust foodbank in Llandrindod Wells.
A foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organisation that distributes food to clients who have difficulty buying enough food to avoid hunger. According to recent reports there are now over 500,000 people reliant on foodbanks and this number is set to grow as people continue to struggle to make ends meet. Redundancy, illness, changes to benefits, domestic violence, debt, family breakdown and the rising costs of food and fuel are just some of the reasons why people are coming to foodbanks for help. Many people accessing foodbanks are in employment but find themselves in crisis when their working hours are reduced or their contract comes to an end. People of all ages and from all walks of life are finding themselves in need of this invaluable service.
“The foodbank was set up by the New Life church but our committee now has representatives from the Holy Trinity, Tabernacle Baptist Church, The Quakers and Our Lady of Ransom. Our volunteer base includes people from Llanyre church, Newbridge church and many others who are not from any church at all. We are grateful to have received monetary support from Caebach and Rock Baptist Chapel too”. Since it opened its doors on 1st September 2013, the foodbank in Llandrindod has fed over 329 people including 59 children. This is a staggering amount of people considering we live in a rural, sparsely populated area but sadly this is a true reflection of the situation members of our community are finding themselves in. Clients accessing the foodbank have come from as far as Llanidloes and Brecon. In order to access the foodbank, people are referred by frontline care professionals who assess and identify a real need for help – these professionals include GPs, health visitors, social workers, the police, the CAB and the jobcentre. Clients are issued with a voucher which they bring to the foodbank where it can be redeemed for 3 days of emergency food. Tessa heads up a very friendly and hardworking team of volunteers whose responsibilities include sorting and packing donated food ready to be given out and also meeting with clients over a cup of tea and a biscuit to offer support and advice. Where possible volunteers chat to clients and signpost them to other agencies that might be able to help them solve the longer term problems they are facing.
The foodbank relies on the kind donations of non-perishable food from schools, churches, businesses and individuals to keep it going and the response from the local community has been tremendous but still more help is needed. Tessa explained, “At the moment the need is growing so much that the food being given out is considerably more than the amount coming in every month and we are surviving on the big collection amount we received before Christmas and by buying food in using the monetary donations that we have been fortunate enough to get. For example, this month (February), we have had 382kgs of food in and given out 573kg, so you can see we need more donations!” The biggest help people can give is in donations and these can be made at any of the churches mentioned above, at JO Spar in Llandrindod, Tesco now have a permanent collection point and very soon there will be a permanent collection point in the Co-operative supermarket here in Llandrindod too. A ‘shopping list’ of foods which are put in the food parcels is available on the foodbank website (see below). If you are interested in volunteering at the foodbank then you are most welcome to come along to the foodbank when they are open (Tuesdays & Fridays, 11am-2pm, New Life Church, Spa Rd East, Llandrindod) for a chat.
If you would like to know more about the foodbank and/or how you can help then please check out their website: www.llandrindod.foodbank.org.uk or email: info@llandrindod.foodbank.org.uk Telephone: 01597 822592
- By Amy Greaves
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Carl Cooper Q&A continued ... from page 3
If stranded on an idyllic desert island with one piece of music, one movie, one book, one meal and one luxury; what would you choose? Bach cello suites. Dad’s Army. Pollo Cacciatore. Spectacles.
Who or what winds you up the most? People who don’t do what they say they’ll do by the date they say they’ll do it by.
If you could have a whole year to do whatever you wanted, what would you do? Live in Provence or Tuscany writing a novel.
What would you say is your guilty pleasure? Strictly Come Dancing
What’s your favourite game? I enjoy watching international rugby – C’mon Cymru!
If you could only watch one programme on TV and hear one programme on Radio - what would they be? It would have to be the R4’s Today programme. Despite appearances to the contrary, I think the world might collapse if Humphrys, Naughtie, Montague et al weren’t around to oversee matters. I would be less concerned about TV, but may choose a serial drama – Homeland? What’s the worst thing anyone has asked you to do?
To lie for them – I refused!
Do you try to stay in shape? How? My lifestyle is far too sedentary. I try to keep an eye on my food & diet, but I am not very good at making time for exercise. We do walk the dog for about half an hour most days.
Reading books - on a tablet or the old fashioned way? I have lived with thousands of books around me for many decades. They become friends. I just can’t bring myself to befriend an ereader!
Who would you most like to give a piece of your mind to? What would you say to them? Anyone that tries to claim a right to discriminate against others – truth and freedom need not be mutually exclusive.
difference for the better.
What are the main responsibilities of the CEO of PAVO? To be accountable to my board of trustees for the effective delivery of PAVO’s purpose and business. PAVO is the umbrella body for Powys’ voluntary sector – over 4000 charities, groups and social enterprises. We support these organisations in many ways, always seeking to improve people’s lives as a consequence. What are the mains reasons people volunteer? Many people volunteer because they are generous and have time and skills to give in service of others. Increasingly, people also see volunteering as a means to an end eg to gain knowledge and experience that could lead to paid employment.
Why is volunteering important? Imagine a world where no-one did anything for anyone unless they received payment. Literally, society as we know it would collapse!
If you could have any another career what would it be? I heard a radio programme recently about the work of a chimney sweep – sounds quite interesting.
Where would be your ideal place on earth to live? I am an incurable Francophile. I’d love to be able to spend more time in the South of France. However, a bigger priority for me is being close to family. Do you spend much time on line? Can you recommend us a website to visit. BBC – a mine of trustworthy information.
What motivated your vocation and career choices? A desire to serve people and to make a
What’s been one of your most rewarding experiences as CEO of PAVO? Meeting the fantastic people in the voluntary organisations around Powys; being impressed by the quality of their services and being inspired by the ways in which people benefit as a result. What's been one of your most challenging experiences in the job?
PAVO is sometimes described as an ‘Intermediary Body’ i.e. the organization that stands as the interface between voluntary sector & others eg council and health board. Standing in the middle of the road means you constantly risk being run over from both directions.
What is the most important issue facing PAVO at the moment? The future role and viability of the voluntary sector in Powys. With public sector budgets being slashed, this will inevitably impact on voluntary organisations, particularly those in receipt of public funding. Equally, the sector is identified as a crucial part of the reconfiguration of public services in the future. The challenge is to try to ensure that we don’t make short term decisions that will deprive us of long term solutions. How would you like to see PAVO develop in the years ahead? Our mission and purpose is to help organisations and improve people’s lives. The world around us is constantly changing and organisations need to change in order to operate in a constantly evolving environment. I hope PAVO will be able to stay focused on its purpose and maintain the necessary relationships to enable a vibrant voluntary sector in Powys.
To find out more about PAVO and to register a Powys-based voluntary organisation for FREE membership, visit www.pavo.org.uk or tel: 0845 009 3238
Llandrindod’s Best Kept Secret Tucked at the bottom of Oxford Road, MRC has now been open 12 years. Created on the old Primary School site and opened in February 2002. 12 Rooms for 2 - 100 people g Good Value, High Quality Rooms with Great Service g All Inclusive Room Prices Including Projector, Sound, Laptop, Flipchart & Drinking Water g Eco Friendly Venue, Solar Powered and Waste Recycled g 5 Star Food Rating, all Food Freshly Prepared in our own Professional Kitchen, Homemade Cakes g Special Dietary Requirements catered for g Disabled Friendly Environment g Free Hearing Loops available g Free WIFI throughout the building g
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Focus Puzzles Sudoku
Crossword
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 - Astronomy
Cash ISAs
Here’s a simple rule – if you’ve got savings, you should have a Cash ISA! Individual Savings Accounts offer a tax-free form of investment - which means you get to keep every penny of interest you earn!
Anyone aged 16 or over can open a Cash ISA and during the tax year which runs from April 6th to April 5th can (at the time of writing) pay up to £5,760 into it – either in a chunk or as smaller amounts throughout the year. Once this limit is reached, no extra sums may be paid into the ISA - even if you have drawn money out during the year. There are several types of Cash ISA, some offering a fixed interest rate, with others giving instant access to the cash. Deals can vary between providers, but once you have
Asteroid Astronomy Black hole Bolide Celestial Cluster Comet Earth Eclipse Galaxy Gravity Jupiter Mars Mercury Meteor Milky Way Moon
Neptune Orbit Planet Pluto Quasar Red Dwarf Rings Rocket Saturn Spaceship Star Uranus Venus Zenith
Across 1 Cured meat, from a pig (5) 4 Bird, American emblem (5) Overwrought (8) 7 8 Nobleman, above a Viscount (4) 9 Confound (8) 11 Preserve (4) 12 Motif (6) 14 Overlook (6) 16 Heroic (4) 18 Thrown at weddings (8) 20 Honour fight (4) 21 Open air (8) 23 Impostor (5) 24 Low-priced (5)
chosen a certain provider, you don’t need to stay with them forever! Though you can only open one Cash ISA per year you can move providers and any cash you have in old ISAs can be transferred over without losing the tax-free benefits – as long as you don’t draw the money out yourself, but get the new provider to request a transfer on your behalf. So, what’s to lose? Nothing but your tax-free allowance if you choose not to open your own Cash ISA!
By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
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Page 9
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Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 13 15 17
19 22
Were beer is made (7) One of the Queen’s dogs (5) Hazel___ (3) Trip (9) Green pickle (7) Strange, sinister (5) Scrummy (9) Build-up (7) Catches rodents (3,4) Small weight, suspended from a string. (5) Run away to marry (5) Spasm (3)
21st March (Friday) – 8.15PM The Lunchbox, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Out & About March
5th April (Saturday) – 5.55PM La Boheme - The Metropolitan Opera Wyeside Arts Centre
22nd March - 26th March (Sat-Wed) 7.30PM, Dallas Buyers Club Wyeside Arts Centre
6th April (Sunday) – 10.00AM Brecon Beacons National Park Heritage Day, Theatr Brycheiniog
22nd March (Saturday) – 8.00PM Josh Widdicombe, Theatr Brycheiniog 22nd March (Saturday) – 7.30PM The Events, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
8th April (Tuesday) – 7PM The Adventures Of Alvin Sputnik Deep Sea Explorer, Wyeside Arts Centre
22nd March (Saturday) – 8.00PM Jess Hall (Live Trip-Hop/Folk) The Llanerch Inn – Llandrindod Wells www.thellanerchinn.co.uk
22nd March (Saturday) 7.30pm Dance. Gwyn Emberton & Foorloose: My People. Hafren, Newtown. 23rd March (Sunday) & 30th March (Sunday) – 3.30PM Tinkerbell & The Pirate Fairy 3D Wyeside Arts Centre
25th & 26th March (Tue & Wed) – 7.30PM The Mikado, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
20th March (Thursday) - 22nd March (Saturday) – 7.00PM The Selfish Giant, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
21st March (Friday) - 7.30pm Riding Lights Theatre Company perform ‘Inheritance' - a Passion Play. Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Tickets £5. Free to students and those on benefits. Suitable for over 12s.
21st March (Friday) - 7.30pm Field Notes - an extraordinary collaboration featuring specially commissioned new music and textile art. Lyde Court, Lower Lyde, Herefordshire, HR1 3AE Box Office: 01432 357753
26th March (Wednesday) – 8.00PM Salsa Celtica, Aberystwyth Arts Centre 26th & 27th March (Wed & Thur) South Powys Youth Music 2014 Theatr Brycheiniog
27th March (Thursday) – 8.00PM Elton John – The Million Dollar Piano Wyeside Arts Centre 28th March - 30th March (Friday - Sunday) – 7.00PM Cuban Fury, Wyeside Arts Centre
28th March (Friday) – 7.30PM Top Of The World – Music Of The Carpenters Theatr Brycheiniog
29th March (Saturday) Powys Transition and Low Carbon Communities Spring Conference MRC Llandrindod Wells For details and to book a place, please contact admin@powystransition.org.uk or phone 01982 553398 29th March (Saturday) – 8.00PM Andy Kirkpatrick – Inappropriate Climbing Theatr Brycheiniog
30th March (Sunday) – 3.00PM Munch 150 – National Museum, Oslo Wyeside Arts Centre 30th March (Sunday) – 7.30PM The Monuments Men Wyeside Arts Centre
28th March (Friday) – 8.00PM Seann Walsh, supported by Romesh Ranganathan, Wyeside Arts Centre
Out & About April
28th March (Friday) - 7.30pm Field Notes - an extraordinary collaboration featuring specially commissioned new music and textile art. Coronation Hall, Kingsland, Herefordshire, HR6 9SQ Box Office 01568 709579 / 07905 589830
21st March (Friday) – 7.30PM Dylan Thomas: Clown In The Moon Wyeside Arts Centre
21st March - 27th March (Friday - Thursday) – 7.00PM The Book Thief, Wyeside Arts Centre
21st March (Friday) – 7.30PM Magic Of The Beatles, Theatr Brycheiniog
21st March (Friday) – 5.45PM 7 Boxes, Aberystwyth Arts Centre For Advertising, Editorial & Listings, contact us on
10th April (Thursday) 7.30pm The Searchers in Concert Hafren, Newtown.
29th March (Saturday) – 8.00PM Faustus, Wyeside Arts Centre
24th March (Monday) – 7.30PM Science Cafe – Parasites Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Entry Free
2nd March – 27th April - 10am - 5pm The Way of the Wilderness - Lent 2014 15 titles - 15 artists a series of meditations on the "inner" life of Christ St Michael's Church, Discoed, nr Presteigne, LD8 2NW www.discoed.org 01547 560246 Free entry
10th April (Thursday) – 7.30PM SongChain | CylchCanu Theatr Brycheiniog
2nd April - 5th April – 7.30PM Under Milk Wood Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Theatr Brycheiniog
3rd to 5th April (Thursday to Saturday) 7.30pm & 2.30pm Sat only South Pacific, Newtown Musical Theatre Company Hafren, Newtown. 4th April (Friday) – 8PM The Doors, Live at the Bowl ’68 Wyeside Arts Centre
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11th April (Friday) 7.45pm Songchain / Cylchcanu Ten of Wales¹ finest traditional singers and musicians. Hafren, Newtown
11th April (Friday) – 7pm Builth Wells Cancer Committee are holding a Fashion Show at Builth Wells Primary School. Adult and childrens' clothes by Audreys.
12th April (Saturday) – 7.30PM Company, Stephen Sondheim - West End Theatre, Wyeside Arts Centre
15th 17th April (Tueto Thu) 7.45pm Under Milk Wood, Hafren, Newtown
24th April (Thursday) - 6.30pm Talk - Nicholas Alfrey, co-curator of the current touring exhibition Uncommon Ground: Land Art in Britain 1966-1979, examines the new art of landscape in Britain. Tithe Barn Gallery. Presteigne Free. 01544 260 149 info@sidneynolantrust.org 24th April (Thursday) 7.30pm Joe Mcelderry, Hafren, Newtown.
25th April (Friday) 7.45pm Vamos Theatre present: Finding Joy Hafren, Newtown.
26th April (Saturday) 2.00pm (45 mins long) Theatr Iolo & Theatre Hullabaloo Present: Luna An enchanting theatre experience for 2-5 year olds Hafren, Newtown. 26th April (Saturday) – 5.55PM Cosi Fan Tutte - The Metropolitan Opera, Wyeside Arts Centre
28th April (Monday) – 7.15PM The Winter's Tale - The Royal Ballet Wyeside Arts Centre Coming up in MAY…
4th May (Sunday ) 10am - 6pm Llandrindod Wells Food & Beer Festival llandrindodcouncil@btconnect.com 01597 823116 5th May, (Monday) May Fair, Trawsnewid Llandrindod Transition, Pavilion, Llandrindod Wells www.transitionllandrindod.org.uk
10th May (Saturday) 11am - late ‘On the Track’ Folk Music Festival, The Llanerch Inn, Llandrindod, participation welcome. www.thellanerchinn.co.uk
17th May (Saturday) - 7.30 pm "KCS Spring Concert - Dvorak, Brahms, Vaughan Williams", St Mary’s, Kington, £10 advance/£12 on the door. Children & Students Free entry. 07968 044853 / ts_gardener@yahoo.co.uk
Would you like to include your events in our next Out & About - Free of Charge? Contact us mwcf@icloud.com 01597 829789
2nd 3rd & 4th May (Fri - Sun) LANDED FESTIVAL Nr Rhayader, www.landedfestival.co.uk
Llandrindod Wells Food & Beer Festival
Llandrindod Wells Town Council is proud to announce it is organising the town’s first Food & Beer Festival in the Pavilion in the centre of Llandrindod Wells which was an initiative suggested by Cllr Jeff Green, Mayor of Llandrindod Wells.
This event will take place on Sunday 4th May 2014 and will run from 10am – 6pm. The Town Council is keen to promote the wealth of local food and producers within the area and the event has been organised primarily to promote these. It will also include demonstrations and outside entertainment. Representatives from CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) will be present and will be providing Real Ales and Ciders from around the area. The Town Council would like to invite all
locals and visitors to the area to attend and take advantage of this unique event for Llandrindod Wells.
On Monday 5th May Trawsnewid Llandrindod Transition will be holding their May Fair in the Pavilion in conjunction with this event. Combining both these events, we believe will encourage visitors to stay over and enjoy the many benefits of the town and its local facilities and will provide an interesting two days for Llandrindod Wells. Further information on the Food & Beer Festival may be obtained from llandrindodcouncil@btconnect.com or by telephoning – 01597 823116.
Further information on the May Fair can be obtained on www.transitionllandrindod.org.uk
Coming C o m i n g up up • Breakfasts, lunches, salads, paninis, sweet treats & fresh ground Italian coffee – all to eat in or take away a • Gluten & Dairy free catered for a • Delivered buff buffet et menu available a • Mediterranean Bistro Friday & Saturday nights with weekly changing theme a
Special offer
114th 4th – 115th 5th March M a rc h a LLebanese ebanese a 21st 2nd M March a rc h 21st – 222nd aM Maltese a l te s e a 228th 8th – 229th 9th March M a rc h a French Fre n c h a 30th M 30th March a rc h a Mother’s Mother ’s day day Mediterranean Mediterranean TTreat re at a
Fr e e s p e c i a l i t y c o f f e e , t e a , or milkshake OOne ne vvoucher oucher per person, per visit
• Weeknights available by prior arrangement for parties of 14 or more a For Advertising, Editorial & Listings, contact us on
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Iulgd| 58 Dsulo :163sp
Fkduolh Glpprfn D Sdvvlrq Iru Jdughqv Wkhdwu Eu|fkhlqlrj/ Euhfrq ER[ RIILFH 34;:7 944955 zzz1wkhdwueu|fkhlqlrj1fr1xn For Advertising, Editorial & Listings, contact us on
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Focus With Catherine Allan
N
W
h
’ medicin c i t e? at is ‘holis
owadays, the word holistic is slapped onto a lot of things but what does it mean when applied to health treatments?
Often in our society, only symptoms are treated rather than the things which might contribute to why the symptoms are there in the first place. Of course, pain in any form demands our attention and symptoms need addressing but in order to become truly well, we may need something more, a more ‘holistic’ approach. As a rough guide, for me, being well means; feeling okay, being able to cope with the ups and downs of life without staying either too up or too down and without feeling disconnected from the outside world. This means I can deal with any illness and feel I can both understand it and make informed choices about any treatment needed.
“A way to define the word ‘spirit’ is to describe it as everyone’s natural
Regular courses in Knighton & Builth Wells
connection with the wonder and energy of life...” The bit that can be a worry is the word ‘spirit’, in the phrase ‘mind, body and spirit’. For some, it conjures up a person imposing a faith, religious practice or
Tailor made courses created for your workplace Clinics for 1-1 appointments local to you... (Holistic Health Practitioner) BSc(Hons) and Dip. P.C. NSpH. THY&R Tel: 07807 523 330 email: dianemillbery@yahoo.com
worse on them. In fact, your
religious beliefs – or lack of them - are your business and would only be discussed if relevant to your treatment. (For example, someone
mid wales therapies
with a faith or belief may have forgotten that they may find a source of strength there to help them through a difficulty. It will be their belief not the therapist’s that they could be reminded of.)
offering clinics in Rhayader
Catherine Allan is an experienced therapist, helping people become more effective, healthier and happier at home and at work.
She offers: Hypnotherapy, Reflexology, Reiki, Crystal Therapy, Shamanic Healing and Counselling and Metamorphic Technique. These therapies can help with; anxiety, phobias, stress, changing lifestyles or unwanted habits, as well as supporting healing for a variety of physical conditions. They can help you reconcile difficult situations, deal with overwhelming emotions or events. Catherine can also help you choose which therapy or mix of therapies will best suit.
All consultations and treatments are confidential.
One of the common shorthand ways of defining a holistic treatment is by saying that a therapist treats mind, body and spirit. Most of us are familiar with the mind bit. This would cover creating peace of mind by dealing with difficult emotions as well as looking at which more deep seated emotions are driving unwanted habits, behaviour or illness.
We are also familiar with treating the body, by using medicines or surgery if needed and by looking at our diet or lifestyle.
A way to define the word ‘spirit’ is to describe it as everyone’s natural connection with the wonder and energy of life. We are, as human beings, affected by things we may have no control over and which can disturb us – our past, our genes, our family, our material circumstances, our neighbourhood or toxins in our environment. If we choose to develop and grow our compassion and our awareness of the beauty and goodness that is all that is around us, (despite the relentless diet of the opposite from newspapers and television,) we will eventually feel well and
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at peace. Personal development can be difficult but it strengthens this connection and in turn improves our mental and physical health. In conclusion a holistic therapy is one in which the therapist looks without judgement at things which are relevant to your treatment. This may include not only symptoms but also your sense of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, your lifestyle choices, your spiritual values or core beliefs about the world and your connections to family or society. By the time this article is published, the Mid Wales Association of Holistic Therapists should have its website up
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and running for you to look at. Next time, I’ll look at some ways to pick a therapist who suits you. After all, it is the therapist who is key to helping you, as much as the therapy. - Catherine Allen, Mid Wales Therapies
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Page 14
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I
Garden Focus
Climbing the walls
f your garden is short on space, rammed with plants, or you simply have an unsightly vertical surface to cover, climbing plants can be used to great effect: from clothing frameworks such as pergolas and arches to hiding sheds and even neighbours!
Whether it’s as fast growing as a Triffid, a dainty floral twiner, or an evergreen clinger, I’m certain there’s a climber out there for you, it’s just a case of meeting your perfect match.
For those of you lucky enough to have a south-facing doorway, why not spoil yourself with the highly scented fragrance of Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). Not only is it evergreen, but it boasts the added benefit of a claret-red leaf colour in autumn. For those with a north-facing entrance, how about a plant combo starting with an early flowering Clematis tolerant of shade, such as ‘Frances Rivis’, followed by the stunning pink flowers of Rosa ‘Zephirine Drouhin’, perfect in shade with the added bonus of being a thornless variety.
Ivy, but I understand many people are not huge fans, so why not put in the extra effort and seek out a great alternative known as Pileostegia viburnoides. It’s a bit of a mouthful but not only is it evergreen, it will provide white flowers in summer and like Ivy is a self clinger, but nowhere near as vigorous.
As well as the other common examples, such as Wisteria (only plant this in full sun and if you are prepared to tie it in and prune it twice annually), Honeysuckle and Pyracantha (great for deterring intruders due to its woody thorns), there is a whole range of other shrubs which can be grown against a wall or fence, not forgetting trees of course, such as the beautiful trained fruit trees we often see in Victorian walled gardens. Shrubs planted at around 30cm away from the base of the wall or fence can be manually tied in and make excellent wall cover, often with the added benefit of flowers. Photinia ‘Red Robin’ for example, or Garrya elliptica make unusual evergreen wall coverings, and look great with a second flowering climber twining through. Don’t forget the huge variety of annuals available which you can grow from seed, such as Sweet Peas, Morning Glory, or maybe try
climbing French beans as an edible wall covering?
Do ensure that you provide sturdy wires for plants to travel up. The best and most costeffective way is simply to fix vine eyes (spaced horizontally around 2m apart) to the fence or wall and vertically at 30cm intervals. Then use a taught network of
Jobs for April:
galvanised wires to provide support. Be sure to tie climbers in horizontally and not vertically as most people do … this way they will look great in your garden rather than flopping over the fence and delighting your neighbour … now that really would drive me up the garden wall!
Until next time, happy gardening. Lee
• Sow new lawns or repair bare patches.
• Protect fruit blossom from late frosts.
• If any of your plants need support this year, put the supports in now so the plants grow up through them. • Check any tree ties to make sure the tie is not cutting into the trunk. Loosen any that are tight to allow room to expand.
Once the soil has warmed up, •weed borders and apply a moisture-retaining mulch such as compost or bark.
CANOLFAN Y CELFYDDYDAU ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre 01970 62 32 32 /aberystwytharts ddiant Dylan Thomas wy £6.50 (£5.50) l m n a C £18 (£16) s Cent en ary a m o h T n a l y D £15 (£14) £8.50 (£7.50) grDŽpiau gr DŽpiau | groups £10 £20 WORLD WALES ONE FILM FESTIVAL SALSA CELTICA GwYL FFILMIAU UNDER MILK WOOD Dydd Mercher 26 Mawrth 8pm (CLWYD THEATR CYMRU) CLOWN IN THE MOON CYMRU A’R BYD Wednesday 26 March 8pm (RHODRI MILES) UNDER MILK WOOD 10-12 Ebrill 7:30pm 21-27 Mawrth Dydd Gwener 28 Mawrth 7:30pm AN OPERA (TALIESIN AC) 10-12 April 7:30pm 21-27 March Friday 28 March 7:30pm Dydd Mawrth 8 Ebrill 7:30pm Tuesday 8 April 7:30pm
If it’s a shady spot and a fast growing evergreen you require you really can’t beat
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An agricultural co-operative serving farmers and the local community.
Our five stores stock a wide range of
agricultural goods, we also have an extensive selection of pet supplies, gardening, equestrian and outdoor products on sale to the general public.
Hay & Brecon Farmers is
your first stop for farm supplies or outdoor goods,
so take a look at what we have to offer online, or pop in to any of our five depots.
Llandrindod Wells Builth Wells Hay-on-Wye Brecon Sennybridge
www.hayandbrecon.com
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Nature Focus
nest is that of the long-tailed tit, a delicate dome of interwoven lichens, spider webs and hair, lined with hundreds of feathers.
M
arch, and spring flowers are appearing:- yellow stars of celandine open under hedgerows, bold cups of marsh marigolds and intricate carpets of opposite-leaved golden saxifrage brighten stream sides while the delicate white flowers and soft green leaves of wood sorrel bring fresh colour to our woodlands.
On those first warm, sunny days look out for solitary queen bumble bees visiting spring flowering heathers and other garden flowers, feeding up after winter hibernation before searching out a safe place to build her nest, underground and often in the old nest of a field vole or mouse.
Some of our resident birds are already busy nest building too. The song thrush is one of the first, its hedgerow nest built of twigs, grasses and moss and finished with a hard lining of mud. Ravens nest high on a rock face or in a tall tree and by adding sticks to the
same nest year after year it can grow to six feet or more in height. A most beautiful, well camouflaged and cosy
descending trill of a song and proclaims its territory from high up in the canopy of oak woodland while its domed nest is very delicately built of grass stems, hidden in undergrowth on the woodland floor.
April heralds the return of migrant birds from southern climes. Wheatears are the first to
Most heart warming in April is to see the return of our swallows and to hear their cheerful chattering song as they swoop in and around our outbuildings, inspecting their last year’s nests to see what repairs are needed.
arrive in the uplands, the smart grey and black males with their conspicuous white rump advertising their presence as they flit between rocks and tussocks alongside mountain roads.
Mid Wales is renowned for its special woodland birds, three summer visitors – the pied flycatcher, redstart and wood warbler.
Pied flycatchers are the easiest to see as they seem to find woodland nest boxes irresistible. The black and white male birds arrive first and immediately set up their territory, around a chosen nest box, singing and often alarm calling and wing flicking, to attract the duller, brown females who arrive a few days later.
- Illustrations and article by Pam Knight
The male redstart is a very striking bird with chestnut red breast, black throat, white fore head, grey back and red rump and tail which it has the habit of flicking as it lands and perches. They prefer to find more natural nesting holes in old trees but will also nest in cavities of stone walled buildings.
Kids’ Corner
The wood warbler is a small bird, olive green with a yellow breast and white under-parts. It has a loud
s n o i t u Sol
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E R I C E VAN S C AR S A L E S LT D
11 (11) VAUXHALL ZAFIRA DESIGN 1.7 CDTi MPV, 27,000 miles, Silver Lightening Met............... £10,695 10 (60) VAUXHALL MERIVA 1.4 SE TURBO MPV, 10,230 miles, Sapphire Black Met........................ £8,995 10 (10) VAUXHALL ASTRA 1.6 EXCLUSIVE, 5DR HATCHBACK, 25,000 miles, Blue............................£7,995 09 (59) VAUXHALL ASTRA ACTIVE PLUS 1.7, 5Dr HATCHBACK, 40,500 miles, Aluminium/Silver Met.... £6,995 09 (59) CHEVROLET LACETTI SX SW 1.6 ESTATE, 23,200 miles, in Blue Met.................................... £3,995 09 (09) VAUXHALL CORSA 1.2 LIFE, A/C, 3Dr, 46,000 miles, in Sapphire Black Met........................ £5,695 07 (57) VAUXHALL ASTRA CLUB 1.4, 16v ESTATE, 67,000 miles, Glacier White................................£4,950 07 (07) VAUXHALL ZAFIRA CLUB 1.8, 16v MPV, 43,100 miles, Aluminium/Silver............................£5,395 04 (04) FORD FIESTA LX 16v, 3DR HATCHBACK, 39,780 miles, Aluminium/Silver...........................£3,995 02 (52) VAUXHALL ASTRA COMFORT 1.8, 16V 5Dr Hatchback, 83,600 miles, Rubens Red Met...... £2,895 02 (52) VAUXHALL ASTRA 1.8 SXi 16v, 5Dr 117,000 miles, Presteige Blue Met................................£2,595 00 (X) AUDI A6, 4Dr SALOON, 124,127 miles, Green Met..................................................................£1,995 00 (W) VAUXHALL ASTRA 1.4, 16v LS 5Dr, in Star Silver, Only 37,000 miles.....................................£1,395 99 (V) SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2.0 DIESEL, 5Dr, 4wd, in Dark Blue Met............................................£2,495
01597 824797
A f t e r h o u r s: 0 1 5 9 7 8 2 3 4 3 7 S t at i o n C r e sc e n t , L l a n d ri n d o d We l l s
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Pe e r Pre ssu re in Cy be rsp ace
I
f you were challenged to concoct a cocktail using the most potent alcohol you could find, put it in a pint glass and drink it as fast as possible, video yourself doing so, post the video online as proof, and nominate two of your friends to carry the mantle forward, what would your reaction be? Crazy idea? Dangerous? Why? Maybe if I gave you some (even worse) ideas to get you started? How about a pint of beer containing two live goldfish? A pint of vodka, drunk in the middle of the supermarket in nothing but your underwear? A mixture of lager, a pint of vodka with raw eggs, a cigarette, after first snorting a body building supplement, and ending off biting the head off of a small dead bird? All of the above may well sound ludicrous, cruel and lacking in sanity, but those examples were actually what people - mostly male - posted themselves doing when they were nominated by a ‘friend’, via the latest socialmedia led craze, which has become a real problem for the young people of Powys and the world over - ‘Neknominate’.
Originating in Australia the drinking ‘game’ has spread virally via the Internet’s social media platforms within just a year of its incarnation, peaking in this county at the start of 2014. In
essence it's a peer pressure driven desire to outdo or please a ‘friend’ or social group of ‘friends’ and not be looked upon as a ‘bottler’.
Two months into this year and in the UK alone there have been five deaths that have been linked to Neknominate, ranging from the obvious potentially lethal harm caused to the body and ramifications that drinking a pint of neat spirit brings; to the equally harrowing examples of somebody consuming their pint, becoming inebriated and following it up with an action that brought equally tragic consequences. The linked deaths follow a distressing trend; it's mostly 18-30 year-olds taking part in this deadly game of chain mail. Alcohol
consumption amongst young people is on the rise. Admissions to hospitals from alcohol related illness within the youth of our society has risen. In the year ending 2012 (the last full year of figures currently available) there were 8367 deaths among young adults in their 20’s directly caused by alcohol consumption. The fear is a surge in binge drinking, and the social-media led trivialisation of the consequences of consuming large amounts of alcohol, will lead to a rise in those numbers.
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Fortunately there are rational people amongst our youth who are stepping forward as shining lights to their peers. They are the pioneers of far less dangerous and in many cases more positive spin-offs. Remove the alcohol from the equation and the game can become a constructive incentive to build and bond peer groups.
Spin-offs come in various forms such as Donate Nominate, a game that sees people donate and nominate others to donate to a good cause, which is spreading and benefitting numerous charities, food-banks and good causes. There are others that challenge the creativeness of young people and give a far greater demonstration of what they are capable of. One of these is Pick & Play, which involves nominees playing a song, recording it and picking friends to do likewise; this derivative has already seen acoustic renditions of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star played on guitar, Any Old Iron on the spoons and Wherever You Will Go on the keyboard as young people get creative and showcase their performing skills whilst building confidence in a positive way.
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There’s a change happening online, where comments such as “Omg you nutta, you can drink!” have been replaced with “You are really stupid, people are dying from this!” The same peer pressure that saw the game spread in the first place might just bring an end to it. Whether it be people no longer pouring praise but scorn on those who partake, or the positive spin-offs nominating people to contribute and create, one thing is for sure - the change can't come
soon enough and hopefully any young person in Powys who might be reading this who has been nominated to do something risky, dangerous and potentially lethal, will think twice about the type of response they give.
- By Kevin Martin
For Information and advice, contact:
Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline www.dan247.org.uk Freephone: 0808 808 2234 Kaleidoscope Project www.kaleidoscopeproject.org.uk 0845 450 6307