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CONTENTS
Kirsty Williams exclusive Q&A. What is Kirsty’s most treasured possession? Page 3
Credit Unions How to avoid the loan shark’s bite. Page 4
Focus on Health Dealing with difficult emotions. Page 7
Out & About guide. Page 8&9
Focus on Gardening Top tips for September and October. Page 11
Mid Powys Youth Theatre: New junior groups to start this autumn. Page 11
Foodie’s Focus What do 41% of us have in our fridge? Page 12
Powys Training Celebrates 25 years. Page 13
Focus on Art. Page 13
Powys Carers. Are you a carer? 3 in 5 of us will be at some point in our lives. Page 15
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Kirsty Williams AM -
Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells LD1 5DY
Q&A
B
orn in Taunton in 1971 to a librarian from Llanelli and a housewife from Swansea, from the age of three Kirsty grew up in Brynea in Camarthenshire.
Describe yourself in three words. Determined, energetic mother What’s important in life? Family and Friends
She studied at Manchester University and the University of Missouri, before working at Carmarthenshire College and for a small business in Cardiff as a Marketing Executive.
What’s the least important thing in life? Worrying about things you can’t influence
Having joined the Liberal Party aged 15, Kirsty was selected as the Lib Dem candidate for Ogmore in the 1997 General Election.
Since being elected as Assembly Member in 1999, Kirsty Williams has gained a reputation as a tireless worker for the people of Brecon and Radnorshire.
Kirsty lives with her husband Richard Rees and their three young daughters, Angharad, Carys and Rachel, on the family farm near Brecon. Outside politics Kirsty enjoys spending time with her family, helping on the farm, and shopping!
Here at the FOCUS we’re very grateful to Kirsty for this exclusive Q&A interview.
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Page 3
photo courtesy of Kirsty Williams’ office
What single item would you save if your home was on fire? My limited edition Obama election Poster
mwcf@icloud.com / 01597 829789
What phrase do you over-use? “Absolutely”
Dogs or cats or both? Cats What's the single best piece of advice you've ever been given? Don’t take no for an answer. Which animal frightens you most? Rats Where would you like to retire to? I wouldn’t want to move anywhere else
Continues on page 4...
Kirsty Williams
W
Q&A
Continued from page 3
hich three people, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Jane Austen, Nelson Mandela and Eleanor Roosevelt
What’s your favourite snack? Nachos How would you spend your last day on earth? With my family
?
Sweet or Savoury? Savoury
What’s your guilty pleasure? “Dancing to 1970’s Disco music”
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If you could have any another career what would it be? I would like to work in the NHS in some capacity www.kirstywilliams.org.uk
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What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard in your political career? Some of the speeches at the Welsh Assembly
photo courtesy of Kirsty Williams’ office
If we stranded you on a desert island with one piece of music, one movie, one book, one meal and one luxury; what would you choose? Music- Handbags and Gladrags; Movie- Twelve Angry Men; Book- Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner; Meal- Steak and Chips; Luxury- My Duvet.
OWNED BY ITS MEMBERS , PROFITS RETURNED TO ITS MEMBERS
fficial figures show personal debt keeps rising. Overdrafts, store cards, credit cards, payday lenders, doorstep lenders and illegal loan sharks make borrowing so easy. Paying back is harder. The poorest
10% of households owe four times as much as they have saved. Often they have no savings at all
and they may be borrowing from a payday loan company to pay off somebody else. It's like being eaten alive by sharks and leeches. The sharks and leeches have also eaten the friendly bank manager who knew your community and knew your parents. If he
ever really existed. But for
over 150 years Credit Unions have been doing friendly local banking and they still are. They know the key to lending safely at low interest rates is knowing the locality and starting young. Red Kite Credit Union, serving Radnorshire and north Brecknockshire since 1995, has a Young Savers' Club. There is a pressing need to start branches in schools; if children learn about and save with Credit Unions they will have better access to safe borrowing when they are out in the world as young adults.
Contact Red Kite via www.redkitecreditunion.co.uk More discussion of Credit Unions: http://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article 3863-community-banking.html
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With Catherine Allan
Dealing with difficult emotions
E
xperiencing emotions is easy. Often we are not even aware of feeling anything. We’re so busy that emotionally, we are on autopilot. We race through life feeling amused, happy, irritated, joyful, indignant, surprised, hopeful, sad, envious, cross, proud or generous. Sometimes we can feel these in the space of an hour – think of watching a film. Going to an important event like a wedding with our nearest and dearest, with lots of alcohol, can also spark unexpected
emotions, not all of them joyful! Mostly, we bounce back from everyday knocks and put things in perspective.
If we are lucky, our friends and family help us re-establish a smooth emotional flow. There are times in everyone’s life though when emotions are a little more difficult to handle, when we are angry for days, when we dwell on what someone said or did and feel hurt. Taking note of the old saying, ‘You can’t change other people, you can only change yourself,’ can help. As can asking this: ‘Can I change the situation? No? Then I will have to accept it and deal with it.’
An event in our past can keep replaying over and over again. There are times when we don’t even know why we feel as we do, for example phobias, which often seem irrational and illogical. At other times we find ourselves experiencing difficult emotions when we don’t feel in control of circumstances.
‘You can’t change other people, you can only change yourself,’ Both these trite sounding sentences say a similar thing, that we can only alter our reaction to events or people rather than the events themselves – especially those in the past. But the lovely thing is, if we can be brave enough to change ourselves, things around us also begin to change.
Catherine Allan mid wales therapies
mid wales therapies offering clinics in Rhayader
And finally, I think that people who are mean, for example bullies, are not happy or peaceful people either. Sometimes, it can help to think about how much better your life must be than theirs. Living in their heads, being that mean, must be truly awful. It might take us a little while but we can regain our balance and feel peace within. Occasionally though, emotions stick around and blight our lives, we can’t think of anything else and the way we look at everything is coloured by what we feel.
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Not dealing with a difficult emotion can have a serious effect on our relationships and families. It consumes our time and energy. We can’t progress and don’t feel ‘whole’. It also has a negative effect on our health. Constant stress or dealing with unresolved emotions affects our immune system, which leads to many physical illnesses as well as putting us at risk of depression. That is when we may need to get help, either in the form of counselling, hypnotherapy or with the help of other professional skills. There are many techniques that can begin to help you regain peace of mind, reacquaint yourself with joy and be able to experience the wonderful variety of human emotions without feeling stuck in one.
Page 7
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. mwcf@icloud.com / 01597 829789
Out & About September
Saturday 7th September 7.30PM. Creatures Of The Night Llanerch y Cawr car park – Elan Valley 01597 811533 www.elanvalley.org.uk
Monday 23rd September NSA Ram Sale. Royal Welsh Showground 01291 673 939
Saturday 7th September and Sunday 8th September 10.00AM to Late. Newtown Festival. Around Newtown
Wednesday 25th September 8.00PM. Hook, Line And Singer With Cerys Matthews. Theatre Hafren 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk
Sunday 8th September 2.00PM. Apple Day The Willow Globe Theatre 01597 811487 willowglobe.co.uk
Thursday 26th September. 9.30AM – 4.30PM. Visual Impairment Course The Gwalia, Llandrindod Wells
Saturday 7th September 7.30PM. Albert Herring – Mid Wales Opera. Theatre Hafren. 01686 614555 ww.thehafren.co.uk
Sunday 8th September 9.30AM – 4.00PM. Walking Through History. Ty Gwyn Farm 01597 829298 www.tygwynfarm.co.uk Monday 9th September 2 – 4PM. Brecon Mental Health Carers Group. Steeple House, Steeple Lane, Brecon. Call Clare Lewis 07875 373 525
Thursday 5th September 7.30PM. Albert Herring – Mid Wales Opera. Theatre Hafren. 01686 614555 ww.thehafren.co.uk Thursday 5th September 10AM – 12 noon. Brecon Alzheimer's Support Group. The Wellington Hotel, Brecon Call Jean Nowell 01874 712083
Thursday 5th September 2.30 – 4PM. Talk by District Nurses. Do you know what services the District Nurses Provide? Come and find out. Howey Village Hall, Howey Friday 6th September 6.30PM. Benjamin Britten's Friday Afternoons. Theatre Hafren 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk
Saturday 7th September and Sunday 8th September. 8.30AM to 5.00PM and 10.00AM to 5.00PM. International Antiques & Collectors Fair of Wales Royal Welsh Showground 01584 873 634. www.continuityfairs.co.uk
Friday 20th September 8.00PM. Adam Hills – Happyism. Theatre Hafren 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk
Friday 13th and Saturday 14th September 8.00 PM till late. Samaritans of Brecon and Radnor Beer and Music Festival. Greyhound Hotel, Builth Wells 01597 822911 Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September British Isles Junior Men's Internationals Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club 01597 822504 llandrindod-bowling.co.uk Sunday 15th September 9.30 AM – 4PM. Dry Stone Walling. Ty Gwyn Farm 01597 829298 www.tygwynfarm.co.uk Tuesday 17th September 07.30PM. Opra Cymru - Barbwr Sefil. Wyeside Arts Centre 01982 552555 www.wyeside.co.uk
Tuesday 17th September 7.00 PM. Bracken Trust Fashion Show Metrepole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells 01597 823646
Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September Welsh International Four Days' Walks Llanwrtyd Wells www.green-events.co.uk Wednesday 18th September 10.30AM – 12 noon. Llanwrtyd Wells Health and Wellbeing Group The Memorial Institute, Llanwrtyd Wells
Activity based, friendly support group Call Mary Williams 01597 824 411
Thursday 19th September Tour Of Britain. See website for times. Throughout Powys www.tourofbritain.co.uk
Thursday 12th September 10 – 12 noon Wills and Trust with Dilwyn Solicitors. Do you have any questions? Would you know how to set up a trust for the person you care for? Plas Dolerw, Milford Road, Newtown Refreshments Provided
Wednesday 4th September 7.15 to 9.00PM. Elan To India – Water Of Life Talk. Elan Valley 01597 810390
Thursday 26th September 7.00PM. Othello – The National Theatre Wyeside Arts Centre 01982 552555 www.wyeside.co.uk
Friday 20th September Wyeside Comedy Club. £8 in advance, £10 on the door. www.wyeside.co.uk 01982 552555
Friday 20th, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September Llanbister's 4th Annual Beer and Cider Festival. Lion Hotel, Llanbister. Locally sourced tongue tingling beers and ciders served with sweet sweet music all weekend...what more could you want. Free entry during day, £3 entry to evening events. For Further info call 01597 840244, email lionhotel_llanbister@btinternet.com or visit www.lionhotel-llanbister.co.uk
Saturday 28th September 7.45PM. Jack The Ripper. Theatre Hafren 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM. Working weekend with your gun dog. Ty Gwyn Farm 01597 829298. www.tygwynfarm.co.uk Sunday 29th September 3.00PM BBC National Orchestra Of Wales. Theatre Hafren 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk
Sunday 29th September Bike For Bracken Cycle Challenge The Bracken Trust 01597 823646
Would you like to include your events in our November & December
Out & About - Free of Charge?
Contact us
mwcf@icloud.com Tel. 07966 841515
Saturday 21st September Farmer's Market Llanwrtyd Wells
Saturday 21st September 9.45AM to 4.00PM. The old Elan turf Roads Craig Goch dam – Elan Valley 01597 811299 www.elanvalley.org.uk
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September Autumn Open Weekend Llandrindod Wells Golf Club 01597 822247 www.lwgc.co.uk
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September 9.30 AM – 4.00 PM. Walking Through History. Ty Gwyn Farm 01597 829298. www.tygwynfarm.co.uk
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Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5BD, 01597 822 114
OutOut & & About About October October
Saturday October 8.00PM. Saturday 19th October19th 8.00PM. Jupitus Phill Jupitus Phill Wyeside ArtsWyeside Centre Arts Centre 01982 552555 www.wyeside.co.uk 01982 552555 www.wyeside.co.uk
Saturday 19th and Saturday 19th and Sunday 20thSunday October20th October 10.00PM. AMWorking – 4.00 PM. Working weekend 10.00 AM – 4.00 weekend with your dog. Ty Gwyn Farm with your gun dog. Ty gun Gwyn Farm 01597 829298 www.tygwynfarm.co.uk 01597 829298 www.tygwynfarm.co.uk
Sunday 20thSunday October20th October Ron Skilton Memorial Half Marathon Ron Skilton Memorial Half Marathon Llanwrtyd Wells www.green-events.co.uk Llanwrtyd Wells www.green-events.co.uk
Tuesday 22nd Tuesday 22nd October 2 – October 4PM. 2 – 4PM. October 11AM – 1PM.Age Cymru Powys Age Cymru Talk – for over 50s Tuesday 1st Tuesday October 1st 11AM – 1PM. Talk –Powys for over 50s Knighton Support Alzheimer's Support Group Howey Group Knighton Alzheimer's Howey Village Hall, Village Howey Hall, Howey Knighton Hotel Did you know that can Agehelp Cymru Knighton Hotel Did you know that Age Cymru withcan help with Call Enid Edwards 07715 805 661 finances, benefits finances, andservices have other services Call Enid Edwards 07715 805 661 andbenefits have other may find useful? that you maythat findyou useful? Friday 4th, Saturday Sunday 6th and Friday 4th, Saturday 5th, Sunday 5th, 6th and Thursday October 7.30PM. Monday 7th Monday October.7th October. Thursday 24th October24th 7.30PM. Clun Festival Valley Beer Festival Barnes Lecture. Hotel Metrepole Clun Valley Beer Barnes Lecture. Hotel Metrepole Knighton 01588 640300 www.rwtwales.org Knighton 01588 640300 www.rwtwales.org Friday 4th, 5th and 6th 25th October Friday 25th October 8.00PM. 5thSaturday and Sunday 6th Sunday Friday 4th, Saturday Friday 8.00PM. 09.30AM to 08.00PM, 06.30AM to 08.00PM TheTheatre Jive Aces. Theatre Hafren 09.30AM to 08.00PM, 06.30AM to 08.00PM The Jive Aces. Hafren and 07.00AM to 06.00PM 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk and 07.00AM to 06.00PM 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk Festival of Endurance RideDragon FestivalRide of Endurance Red Dragon Red Welsh Showground Saturday Royal WelshRoyal Showground Saturday 26th October26th October 01398 332 089 10.00AM to approx 4.00PM. 01398 332 089 10.00AM to approx 4.00PM. www.reddragon.endurancegb.co.ukExploring theExploring the Bronze AgeValley in the Elan Valley www.reddragon.endurancegb.co.uk Bronze Age in the Elan Elan Estate Office, Elan Village Elan Estate Office, Elan Village October 10.00PM. AM – 4.30 PM. 01597 811017 www.elanvalley.org.uk Saturday 5thSaturday October 5th 10.00 AM – 4.30 01597 811017 www.elanvalley.org.uk Straw bale building course. Ty Gwyn Farm course. Ty Gwyn Farm Straw bale building 01597 829298 www.tygwynfarm.co.uk 01597 829298 www.tygwynfarm.co.uk Sunday 27thSunday October27th October Welsh Welsh National FoalNational Show Foal Show October 11AM – 1PM. Welsh Showground 01559 370529 9th October 9th 11AM – 1PM. Wednesday Wednesday Royal WelshRoyal Showground 01559 370529 Breathe Easy Support – Newtown Support for www.welshnationalfoalshow.com Breathe Easy – Newtown group for group www.welshnationalfoalshow.com any type of lung condition, anyone with anyone any typewith of lung condition, friendsPlas andDolerw, family Plas Dolerw, Milford 1.00 to 4.00PM. friends and family Milford Wednesday Wednesday 30th October30th 1.00October to 4.00PM. Road, Newtown Call764 01792 455 764 DamElan Open Day 01597 Elan Valley 01597 810390 Road, Newtown Call 01792 455 Dam Open Day Valley 810390 Thursday Thursday October 08.00PM. Thursday 10th October10th 1 – October 3PM. 1 – 3PM. Thursday 31st October31st 08.00PM. Willswith andDilwyn Trusts Solicitors. with Dilwyn Daniels. Theatre Hafren Wills and Trusts DoSolicitors. PaulDo Daniels.Paul Theatre Hafren you have anyWould questions? Would you know614555 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk you have any questions? you know 01686 www.thehafren.co.uk how to set trust foryou the person you how to set up a trust forup thea person for?Centre, The Subud Centre, Canalside, care for? Thecare Subud Canalside, Brecon Refreshments Brecon Refreshments Provided Provided Friday 11th 7:00 to 8:30PM. Friday 11th October 7:00October to 8:30PM. Photographing The Night Sky Photographing The Night Sky Elan Valley Visitor Centre 01597 810390 Elan Valley Visitor Centre 01597 810390
Saturday Saturday 12th October12th October 9:00AM to 2:00PM. 9:00AM to 2:00PM. Knighton Farmers Market 01547 520096 Knighton Farmers Market 01547 520096
Sunday 13thSunday October13th October 1.30Lluest to 4.00PM. Lluest Cwmbach 1.30 to 4.00PM. Cwmbach lay-by summit of Aberystwyth lay-by at summit ofat Aberystwyth Mountain Mountain 01597 811299 www.elanvalley.org.uk Road 01597Road 811299 www.elanvalley.org.uk Tuesday Tuesday 15th October15th October Mule Breeding & Ewe Lambs Welsh Mule Welsh Breeding Ewes & EweEwes Lambs Welsh Showground 01982 553 614 Royal WelshRoyal Showground 01982 553 614 Friday 18th October 7.45PM. Friday 18th October 7.45PM. Ince - The of Importance of Being Robin Ince - Robin The Importance Being Interested. Theatre Hafren Interested. Theatre Hafren 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk 01686 614555 www.thehafren.co.uk
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Bringing dance to the people of Powys since 1979
Our community classes begin the week of 16th September, all over Powys including at the
Dance Centre, Llandrindod Wells, the Wyeside in Builth Wells and Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. From Totspot for toddlers to our Senior Moment(um) groups for the over 60s, we lead
New: THE SATURDAY STREET DANCE CLUB for 8 to 13 years. First session 21st September, 10am at the Dance Centre, Llandrindod.
creative sessions for all
ages and abilities. Prices range from ÂŁ2.50 to ÂŁ3.50 per class.
For more information call: 01597 824370 or email: powys.dance@powys.gov.uk www.powys.gov.uk/powysdance
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G ar den
F
Foc us
September
or many gardeners this month is the start of the new gardening year.
Now is a good time to review the successes and failures of this year and make plans so that next year will be the best ever. If you’re new to growing your own food, now’s the time to prepare the ground. Onions and potatoes! Harvest before the cold of autumn. Keep onions in the light and potatoes in the dark, somewhere frost free. Harvest apples and pears when ready and pick late season raspberries to keep them producing fruit. They will keep producing until the first frost.
Remove any green tomatoes and place them in a drawer or shoebox to ripen. Time to sow oriental vegetables. They germinate quickly, can withstand the winter and will provide a supply of food into next Spring
Sow hardy winter lettuce and spinach and plant earlier sown spring cabbage. Prune, train and tie soft fruit bushes, apple and pear trees. Feed late crops with a general fertiliser such as pelleted chicken manure. Dig up and compost any plants that have finished their season.
October
Beat the frost and lift your spuds. Harvest the last of the peas and runner bean crop for this year, and keep harvesting spinach, carrots, celeriac, and lettuce. Sow winter lettuce and a couple of short rows of winter hardy peas and broad beans towards the end of the month to provide you with an early crop next Spring. Plant out the types of onion and garlic that can survive the winter. Roughly dig over heavy ground and leave it in lumps to be broken down by frost and rain. Spread manure or compost on the ground when it’s hard with frost. Insulate your greenhouse, protect tender plants from frost with fleece, bubble wrap or even newspaper. Wrap pots in bubble wrap to insulate roots. Stake sprout and broccoli plants to withstand strong wind. Build up soil around the base of the plants to give them extra support.
l l e H e “C om h o r H ig ” r e t a W
Touchstones
T
he latest book written by local author Lauren D’Silva. Filled with practical exercises and advice the manual is a great guide for anyone interested in using crystals for their health and well-being. Lauren has loved crystals all her life. She has been healing with crystals for 15 years and training Crystal Therapists in Mid Wales for the last decade.
Michael Eastwood, author of the Crystal Oversouls, says, “Touchstones is imbued with an unusual degree of insight and wisdom. For me, it is as though the mineral kingdom is expressing itself through this luminous book. I could not recommend this wonderful book and Lauren’s crystal offerings through her teaching and healing work highly enough.”
D
espite being set adrift on uncharted and treacherous waters, the young people of Mid Powys Youth Theatre are successfully navigating their way to the launch of their annual production at Wyeside Arts Centre in Builth Wells this autumn!
“Touchstones is imbued with an unusual degree of insight and wisdom.”
Having recently conquered Offa’s Dyke, on a sponsored walk to raise much needed funds, the MPYTers are embarking on a hefty two month rehearsal process that will culminate on stage in six performances from the 6th to the 9th of November.
Focus Reader Giveaway: One lucky reader will receive a signed copy of Lauren’s book. Send your name & contact details to lauren@touchstonestherapies.co.uk
by 31st October for a chance of winning.
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“We're hoping to relaunch the organisation with a real splash” says Ralph Bolland, Artistic Director “As always with MPYT, this is full on, large scale theatre." "Upholding a reputation spanning 26 years isn’t easy, but as ever the MPYTers are mentored throughout by a team of professionals across all aspects of theatre making” he continued. “From lighting and sound to wardrobe, music, set design and marketing, and there’s still plenty of room if anyone else wants to jump aboard.”
Page 11
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Not only are MPYT recruiting for ages 14 and over for the Autumn Production but if you’re under 14 and fancied having a go then you’re in luck! From this autumn... MPYT are planning to start two junior groups. “But this is still MPYT and these younger members will be offered the same high quality, professionally led provision as the older group.” If you think you would like to be part of MPYT’s Autumn Production, then come along to a taster session at the Drama Centre, Llandrindod Wells on Saturday 7th September at 10am Or if you would like to join one of MPYT’s other groups, please phone the Drama Centre on 01597 824444, The Wyeside Arts Centre on 01982 552555 or e-mail MPYT@mail.com. for more details.
F o o d ie s ’F o c u s Hummus? Houmous? Hummous? Hommos? Humos? Hoummos?! Who knows? But it tastes good. It’s easy to make. It’s cheaper and nicer than the mass-produced stuff. It may even be good for you.
Info*: It’s an Arabic word meaning ‘chickpea’.
A survey of ‘fridge habits’ claims that 41 per cent of us have a dip such as hummus alongside the milk and butter.
In Britain we get through 12,000 tons of hummus a year, £60 millionworth. In May 2010, the Guinness World Record for the largest dish of hummus in the world was cooked by 300 cooks in a village near Beirut, and weighed approximately 10450 kg (roughly 23000 lb). You can also make smaller portions of it at home. It’s quick and easy, it saves you money if you’ve been buying it up to now; and you can create your own personal favourite. I add a spoon of peanut butter, some lemon zest, black olives and smoked paprika. You can add what you like. Ingredients:
Instructions:
1. Drain most of the water from the can of chickpeas and pop them in the food processor.
2. Add a couple of large spoonfuls of tahini; or peanut butter if you prefer. 3. Add as much or as little garlic as you fancy; chopped or crushed.
4. Add the juice of one lemon. Have another on standby in case you want to add more. 5. Add just a pinch of salt.
6. Blend for a minute or two to a soft creamy puree – or less time for a coarse paste if you prefer. You can add a bit of water if it’s too thick for you. 7. Transfer to a shallow bowl and stir in about four large spoons of extra virgin olive oil. I prefer the fruitiness of Greek olive oil rather than the peppery ones. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
A can of chickpeas. (You can soak dried ones for a day or so, then cook for hours to soften them – but I have other things I’d rather be doing.) Tahini (or peanut butter or both) Lemon juice Garlic Olive oil Salt
You can drizzle a little extra olive oil on top.
Garnish with sliced onions, either raw or fried.
Top with pine nuts lightly fried in butter.
Food processor (My better half just uses a bowl and hand blender.) Shallow bowl Spatula
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Optional Extras:
Sprinkle with paprika and/or ground cumin. Mix in chopped preserved lemon or chillies, or both.
Equipment:
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That’s it. Dip in with bread, sticks of vegetables, tortilla chips or, if you’re alone, your finger.
And a sprinkling of finely chopped parsley or coriander wouldn’t go amiss.
* Information gleaned from various online websites.
mwcf@icloud.com / 01597 829789
Focus on Art
Sharmila Samant Shakti Cymru
Shak•ti: noun a formidable engagement and channelling of creative powers, from the Sanskrit "he is strong"
14 September – 6 November 2013 Oriel Davies and Meadow Arts are proud to showcase work by Indian artist Sharmila Samant in her first solo show in the UK. Having exhibited widely and internationally, her visually arresting practice is politically engaged, often dealing with issues of globalisation. The work references current shifting economic centres of power and varying global trends against a background of local and traditional means of production within India and beyond. This exhibition at Oriel Davies features Against the Grain; one of Samant’s most significant installation, it draws attention to the controversial Bt cotton seed which is considered to be destroying indigenous strains of cotton while the necessary pesticides poison the ground water, get into the food chain and wreak havoc on the bio-diversity. The high maintenance and costs involved in raising such a crop are one of the major factors which fuelled the spate of farmer suicides across India, most notably between 20042006. “The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), into agriculture and food is a kind of ‘bio-terrorism’ unleashed in developing countries by five large-scale transnational companies” Sharmila Samant Exhibition Launch Saturday 14 September, Oriel Davies. From 3-5pm a celebration of South Asian culture including free drop-in arts workshops, food and festivities. The opening takes place between 6-8pm with an introduction by Sharmila Samant. Refreshments provided, all welcome. Oriel Davies Gallery, Café and Shop, The Park, Newtown, 01686 625041 Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm Admission free. www.orieldavies.org
Powys Training Celebrating 25 years 25 years of supporting individuals and local employers with their training needs is a service Powys County Council is pleased to have been involved with. Powys Training, part of the Mid Wales Based Learning Consortium, provides training and education across Powys and Ceredigion. Staff work with employers and individuals to ensure that the skills that are required for today’s workforce are developed. To support this there are various government funded programmes including;
Apprenticeship, Traineeship, and Young Recruits. Apprenticeships confirm that the workforce has the qualifications and practical skills both for now and in the future. Training offered includes Child Care, Teaching Assistant, Care, Information Technology, Administration, Accountancy and Construction. Many people now make a positive choice by becoming an Apprentice, to ensure they have both a job and qualifications for the future.
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Traineeship is a positive approach for Computer Skills Training. young people who are uncertain of what work they might want to pursue. If they are 18 or under they have an opportunity to try various types of working environments and also improve their employability skill, including up skilling, ICT, literacy and numeracy.
Powys Training offer a range of computer training which will improve your knowledge and skills to ensure you work in the most efficient and effective way. For example, creating spreadsheets, developing databases or producing a letters and presentation.
Young Recruits is an all Wales programme that offers support to employers who are prepared to recruit and train additional apprentices. This offers a wage subsidy for up to 52 weeks. (These programmes are part financed by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government).
Page 13
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If you would like any more information about any of the above please contact Jean Farmer on 0800 328 0881.
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there is a gap between those who have this support and those who may not of nearly 14,000 Carers who may want or need support but do not know that it is available.
Powys Carers Service
Powys Carers is running a year long campaign to make Carers Count, and would like to count
Incorporating Powys Young Carers
Do you help look after someone who, for whatever reason cannot manage without the extra help you give? If so, you are not alone, 3 out of 5 people will care for someone who is ill, disabled, has mental health or substance misuse problems at some point in their lives. Many Carers are children or young people. Powys Carers Service supports unpaid family Carers of all ages in Powys. Our service is Free and confidential. We offer, information, advice, someone to talk to, training and an emergency card for peace of mind.
Photo; Two young carers and Powys Carers Outreach worker Jane Fletcher at the Impact of Caring day , when the young carers spoke about their caring roles to a room full of health and social care professionals.
The iCare Card offers 50% off gym and swim at all council leisure centres and other offers and we have groups and activities for Young Carers. We give Carers a collective voice. If you want your concerns and opinions to be heard join our Voices project.
each Carer in Powys as knowing that there is help available if they would like it. The more Carers register with Powys Carers the stronger our voice will be to makes sure all Carers are recognised, valued and have a stronger voice to improve services for all. We can help Carers get their concerns and opinions heard by the service providers, get answers to your questions or just be
someone who can listen to you and understand how tough and complicated caring can be. Powys Carers services are free and conďŹ dential, we offer information, advice, Advocacy, someone to listen who understands, training and activities, dedicated services for Adult Carers, Young Carers and Young Adult Carers with groups, trips and school drop ins. Call 01597 823 800 or email info@powyscarers.org.uk, find us on facebook as Powys Carers Service or visit www.powyscarers.org.uk
Pass the word along, if you are not a Carer you will no doubt
know one, help us make sure
no Carers fall into the gap.
Mind the Gap!
There are over 16,000 unpaid family Carers in Powys. If you look after someone who is ill, frail, disabled, has mental health or substance misuse problems, and that person cannot manage without your help then you are one of those Carers. There are currently over 2,000 Carers registered with Powys Carers Service and these Carers have access to information, advice and more practical support at the end of a phone or the click of an email. Powys Carers Service offers free, conďŹ dential help to Carers of all ages throughout Powys. This means that
Photo: A recent celebration of a Young Carers project called Me and Mine,
Verzon Books & Gallery
Behind the happiness
Middleton Street Llandrindod Wells 01597 825171
The smiles
The Kindness
The hugs
There's a shyness that misses you
That hides what's really me
That hides a shadow
A shadow that overcomes me
Swallows up my words
Turns my brother into a monster
Punches me
Friendly helpful staff - visit us in store
Pinches me
Corners me into a wall
Makes me want to stay in bed
Makes me want to cry
Makes me want to scream and shout
And I want him to go away
But then this isn't really me It's just part of my life
By a Young Carer
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Page 15
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A warm welcome to the second edition of Our Aims: Of fer businesses, charities and organisations an effective method of reaching customers, clients and communities. Provide an informative guide to events and services in Mid Wales. Support people’s efforts to make Mid Wales thrive
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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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