The Community Mag - January 2022 by Phil Rowe

January 2022

Covering Ystradgynlais, Ystalyfera, Abercraf, Coelbren, Crynant, Banwen, Dyffryn Cellwen, Onllwyn, Seven Sisters, Glynneath, Cwmgwrach, Resolven, Cwmtwrch, Cwmllynfell, Cwmgiedd, Gurnos & Godre’rgraig,

Find us online at

www.communitymag.co.uk

07961 937238 E-mail: mail@communitymag.co.uk

photograph supplied by Carl Ryan, www.blackplanetphotography.com 1

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Editor’s Foreword So here we are at the turn of another lightning fast year. As I write, there is much uncertainty about the Omicron variant of Covid-19. It’s still newly discovered, and while it seems to be highly transmissible some South African virologists (where the variant was first discovered) are positing that this or the next generation could signal the eventual waning of the virus. Others disagree, but just for this moment at the start of the year, I’ll happily give up any New Year’s resolution to swap for the belief that they are right. Just for this brief amount of time, while nobody is certain, wouldn’t it be nice to have that ‘everything’s gonna be alright’ feeling’? The past couple of years have been so tumultuous that we’ve seen the best and worst of each other. Big political and social issues have divided friends and families. Political and social commentators have manipulated and used their followers, stirred up dark emotions and stoked hatred and fear. People on both sides of the divides have seen their constitutions reach fever pitch, labels and names have been called and assigned, and assumptions and accusations have been made with scant regard for reality. Enough. As a population, we have been dragged into arguments that should not have been placed upon us. Many, including myself, theorise about distraction and manipulation, but a step back shows that the real things that these issues distract us from are those around us. For those of us without power, our access to change and compassion is not found in the white noise of our TV sets and mobile devices. It is in our lives. In our dealings with those around us. In helping those less fortunate than us, and in binding together as communities so that our voices become stronger. As you will see in just a few pages, one community is showing just how much can be achieved with the spirit of community, and there are others around us too. The collective focus of a community is often irrepressible. It can sometimes achieve the seemingly impossible. Their strength is not derived from popularity, nor viewing figures, sales or focus groups. It comes from people, and from the overwhelming decency of the vast majority of us. For the past month I can barely bring myself to watch the news, or to scour social media. Like snake oil salesmen, they seem to offer easy answers to difficult questions. And while the standard of political debate is now so tainted and meaningless as to bear no relation to the lives of ordinary people, I cannot bear to watch, hear or read it. So this month I’m a glass half full kind of guy. I’m allowing my gut to tell me that this year will see the practical end of the problems that have vexed us as a society for the past couple of years. I know it’s naïve, but I don’t care, and I’ll keep going until I am forced kicking and screaming to look on the black side. Put on a smile and bring on 2022, I can’t wait! I sincerely wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Blwyddyn Newydd Dda I chi gyd.

Phil If you want to write to the magazine our address is: Community Mag, 8 Darren Road, Ystalyfera, Swansea SA9 2HP. You can also e-mail us at mail@communitymag.co.uk. DEADLINE FOR FEBRUARY 2022 EDITION - JANUARY 17th 3

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A Milestone (or two!) Reached For Community Playing Fields Ystradgynlais Community Welfare Ground Association are delighted to be able to announce that they have reached the first milestone in securing the grounds for future generations. Thanks to a grant of £25,000 from Ystradgynlais Town Council, we have now been able to make the first payment on the 50 year lease, effectively securing the grounds and ensuring that all of the community and user groups will suffer no disruption in accessing the facilities. And the good news keeps on coming – in addition to the grant from the Town Council we are currently in receipt of a further £34,832 pledged from the community and organisations, with £11,159 coming via our website, or through collections and donations. There is still a long way to go, but we are sincerely grateful for all your generosity, and it gives us immense pride to see how the community of Ystradgynlais is coming together to secure this historical facility for future generations. A more detailed breakdown of donors will be forthcoming soon, but for now we wanted to let you all know how well you are doing in achieving these milestones. We so appreciate all of your ongoing efforts in helping to hold on to this precious community resource, and the enthusiasm and generosity shown is testament to the character of our community. Collection boxes are still around throughout the town, or if you’d like to make a donation by cheque you can do so at Pethau Plant, Ystradgynlais. Online donations can be made through our website at www.ycwga.co.uk You can also find us on Facebook @YCWGA, and contact us by email on info@ycwga.co.uk

Ystradgynlais Community Welfare Ground Association is a charity registered by the Charity Commission, registration number: 1191663

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DOWN

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UNPAID CARERS - FIND OUT WHAT SUPPORT YOU COULD HAVE!

Powys County Council and the third sector organisation it commissions to support unpaid carers - Credu - are urging unpaid carers to be aware of their rights and support they may be entitled to. As part of a national campaign to support people who support members of their family or friends/neighbours to live independently, the two organisations are urging people to visit https://gov.wales/carers-rights to see what they are entitled to. The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act promises the following to unpaid carers:

• The right to Wellbeing; • The right to have information, advice and assistance; • The right to an assessment if your needs cannot be met by information and advice; • The right to have your voice heard and have control over decisions about your support; • The right to advocacy. Jenny O’Hara Jakeway, CEO of Credu commented: “Looking after someone can be the most rewarding and most important thing anyone can do for another, but can also be the toughest time of our lives. The rewards and challenges of caring are many and varied, and Credu is here for you.” If you are an unpaid carer and you’d like to find out more, please visit https://gov.wales/carers-rights or contact Credu at https://www.carers.cymru/credu by calling them on 01597 823 800 or by emailing carers@credu.cymru For ALL Your Plumbing & Heating Requirements

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We’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to all the local people, businesses and organisations who have donated to us so generously in 2021. This year, with the generous help of Community Dreams, we will be distributing Christmas dinner hampers to local households in need. Our opening hours over New Year are: Wednesday 29th, Friday 31st December 10.30am-1.30pm (Donations & collections) Wednesday 5th, Friday 7th January 10.30am-1.30pm (Donations & collections) You can also drop donations off in our donation trolley at ASDA Ystalyfera and the box in Home Bargains Ystalyfera.

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Email: phil@communitymag.co.uk or write to Community Mag, 8 Darren Road, Ystalyfera, Swansea, SA9 2HP

Dear Phil Could you please put this in next available issue Regards Les Poppy Appeal 2021 I would like to thank Alan, Aubrey, Chris, Dave, Ivor, Jeff, Jules, Hywel, Mair, Mike, Powys Army Cadets and the 1st Swansea Valley Oaks Scouts for their assistance In collecting at Asda Home Bargains and Tesco stores which between them raised £11,234.50 for this year’s appeal. My thanks also to the general public who gave so generously to this year’s appeal. L Jones Poppy appeal organiser. Hi Phil, Your forward this month as usual is a personal Political RANT! It should not be included in a community magazine as it presents your personal views and nothing else and as such should not be included or changed to more suitable content OR include a disclaimer that the views are yours and no one else’s. Regards, Name & Address Supplied.

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FOR FEBRUARY 2022

Photograph by Jeanine Bishopp. If you’d like to see your photo on The Weather Outlook send it to phil@communitymag.co.uk

Ystradgynlais Psychotherapy

by Jonathan Powell, Swansea Sound Weatherman

After a fairly lenient January, the focus shifts as in previous years to February to provide any seasonal blast of wintry weather. However, whereas some snow, ice, and generally cold conditions are naturally to be expected, their impact on the month does not look to be a significant or sustained one. We can expect a mix of rain/sleet/and snow at lower levels, with probably anything of any more serious wintry substance confined to higher ground. With mild temperatures seemingly operating for much of February, any rain will stay mostly as rain, and the risk of overnight frost activity duly kept largely to a minimum. A fair amount of dry days likely throughout the month with some late winter sunshine to accompany them, but all in all, the month looks unlikely to provide any major snow event. Rainfall is expected to be on or near the monthly average. A milder than average month is also expected. Jonathan Powell, Thursday, January 13th, 2022

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COUNCIL INJECTS £4M INTO KEY SERVICES TO GET COVID RECOVERY UNDERWAY

Councillors in Neath Port Talbot have agreed to reinvest more than £4m back into local services from a projected budget underspend to underpin the process of recovery from the pandemic. Council injects £4m into key services to get Covid recovery underway Council injects £4m into key services to get Covid recovery underway At a meeting of Cabinet on 24 November, members were presented with a budget monitoring report which outlined the current position and set out a number of proposals for reallocating £4m from the predicted end-of-year surplus. Half of the money will go into creating a £2m “service resilience reserve”. This will help restore services affected by the pandemic, enable the council to meet the additional service demands that it is facing as a result of the pandemic and begin to respond to priorities identified by residents through the Let’s Talk engagement campaign. The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr. Ted Latham said “Throughout the pandemic the council has worked with partners and our communities to protect vulnerable people, protect services and protect the NHS. Pressure on our services is now more intense than at any time since the pandemic began, a position shared across the public sector. “Whilst the situation is very tough, our employees remain motivated and committed to delivering services for Neath Port Talbot. “The creation of a ‘service resilience reserve’ will enable us to increase the size of our workforce to ensure we have more people available to provide care and support to elderly and vulnerable residents; that we catch up on our neighbourhood services and ensure we have a resilient response for the winter period when typically we see an increase in flooding and inclement weather. The reserve will also ensure we can continue to support our schools and that we can continue to support the NHS and Public Health Wales.” Cllr. Carol Clement-Williams, Cabinet Member for Finance added “Like all councils, we went into 2021/22 with an unprecedented level of uncertainty. It wasn’t possible to predict how Covid-19 would develop or affect the council’s service delivery, costs and income. “The Welsh Government Hardship Fund due to end in September 2021, was extended until the end of March 2022. To put this in context, during 2020/21 we benefited from £24m of financial support from this fund. “In addition, there are a number of ‘one-off’ situations, for example staff vacancies contributing to a Social Services underspend of £2.4m. “It is important that we use the underspend to the best benefit for the county borough. A big part of that will be to build service resilience. The funding will enable us to create a number of jobs across service areas and for the first time in many years we are in a position to recruit externally. I would encourage anyone who would like to be part of our drive to help communities recover from this pandemic to come forward and join Team NPT.” Latest vacancies for NPT Council can be found on the website www.npt.gov.uk/jobs

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Ystradgynlais Foodbank Thank you to all of our lovely supporters. We have teamed up with Community Dreams and with your support have distributed 35 Christmas Hampers to families in need this Christmas, full of treats including a full Christmas dinner of turkey, bacon, sausages, pigs in blankets, vegetables, chocolates, mince pies, cakes plus gifts for the children. We were overwhelmed with the donations and extremely grateful. We couldn't do it without your continued support. Happy New Year to you all.

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OPENING TIMES Tuesdays and Thursdays 10.00am until 12.00pm 29

The Old Remploy Factory, Wind Road, Glanrhyd, Ystradgynlais, Swansea Valley, SA9 1AF Tel: 01639 845 475 Email: yvcoutreach@gmail.com

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A psychological support programme aimed at reducing depression among carers of people with dementia has been recommended for use in Wales. START (STrAtegies for RelaTives), an eight-week programme of psychological support, has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce depression in those caring for people with dementia. The START programme offers sessions on coping strategies, planning for the future, techniques for behaviour management, self-care and education about dementia and can be tailored to suit carers’ needs. Researchers at Health Technology Wales (HTW) which assessed the evidence to support the programme, found it to be both effective and cost effective and that it has a long-term impact on the wellbeing of carers. They concluded that it should be made available to all carers of people with dementia in Wales. Find out more here: https://www.healthtechnology.wales/reports-guidance/strategies-for-relativesstart-intervention-to-improve-the-mental-health-of-carers-of-people-withdementia/

Y S T R A D GY N L A I S C O M M U N I T Y R E C YC L I N G We work with our communities to value the importance of the three ‘Rs’ to protect our environment - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle  

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We would like to wish all of our loyal customers a Happy New year. Thank you for your continued support. We accept donations of furniture, small electricals, clothes, bric-a -brac, books, DVD’s CD’s and LP’s. We do not accept divan beds, mattresses or wall units. Collections and deliveries available on request.

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Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera

Newyddion Adran Gynradd / Primary Department News Wythnos gwrth-fwlio / Anti-bullying and safeguarding week Cynhaliwyd llu o weithgareddau yn ystod wythnos gwrth-fwlio a diogelu ar y thema ‘Un gair caredig’. Gwnaeth bob dosbarth gynnal gweithgareddau amrywiol a gwnaethom ddathlu ein unigrywedd drwy wisgo dillad lliwgar a chodi ymwybyddiaeth o Syndrom Down’s. Roedd y gweithgareddau’n cynnwys ysgrifennu proffil person caredig; gwaith Celf ar y thema ‘caredigrwydd’; astudio pobl yn y cyhoedd sydd â rhinweddau gwych a sy’n helpu eraill, megis Captain Tom Moore; creu medalau i’n hunain am adeg yr ydym wedi bod yn garedig i eraill.

We held a variety of activities during antibullying and safeguarding week on the theme of ‘One kind word’. Every class held activities and we celebrated our uniqueness by wearing colourful clothing and we raised awareness of Down’s Syndrome amongst our pupils. The activities included writing the attributes a kind person would show; creating Art work based on the theme of ‘kindness’; studying examples of people who help others such as Captain Tom Moore; and creating medals in order to reward ourselves when we’ve been kind to others.

GWAITH ELUSENNOL YR YSGOL / OUR CHARITY WORK Red Poppy Appeal - Many thanks to our Year 6 pupils who sold the red poppy and raised over £50 for the Poppy Appeal.

Disgyblion yn mwynhau gweithgareddau ar ddiwrnod Plant mewn angen

Pupils enjoying the activities on Children In Need day

Ymgyrch y pabi coch - Diolch i’n swyddogion ym mlwyddyn 6 am werthu’r pabi coch a chodi dros £50 i Apêl y Pabi.

Plant Mewn Angen - Codwyd dros £200 o bunnoedd gan ddisgyblion Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur ar gyfer Plant mewn Angen. Cynhaliwyd nifer o weithgareddau hyfryd gan gynnwys taflu deunyddiau ‘ych a fi’ dros y Pennaeth, Mrs Laurel Davies; gwerthu cacennau; taflu sbwng gwlyb a ffa pob at aelodau o staff; dyfalu sawl losin oedd mewn jar a diwrnod gwisgo pyjamas. Diolch yn fawr i’r Senedd Ysgol am drefnu’r holl weithgareddau. Roedd y disgyblion yn wên o glust i glust wrth gymryd rhan yn y gweithgareddau. Diolch i bawb am eu haelioni a’u brwdfrydedd!

Children In Need - Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur raised over £2000 for Children In Need. We held a number of activities including throwing gunge over the Headteacher, Mrs Laurel Davies; cake stalls; throwing wet sponges and baked beans over members of staff; guessing how many sweets were in the jar and wearing our pyjamas to school. Thank you to the school Parliament for preparing and running all of the activities. The pupils had so much fun raising much needed funds for wonderful charities. Thank you to the whole school community for their kindness and enthusiasm.

Druan â Miss Lloyd a Mrs Davies! Llawer o sbri i’r disgyblion

Poor Miss Lloyd and Mrs Davies! The children and staff enjoyed!

Banc Bwyd - Rydym wedi gwneud ymdrech wych i gasglu eitemau i’r Banc Bwyd lleol ‘CATCH’ yn Ystalyfera. Casglwyd dros 1000 o eitemau. Diolch i holl gymuned yr Ysgol am eu gwaith wrth gasglu’r eitemau.

Food bank - We have made an excellent effort to collect items for our local food bank ‘CATCH’ in Ystalyfera. We collected over 1000 items. Many thanks to the whole school community for their effort. 35

Gweithgareddau Cwricwlwaidd ac allyrsiol yn yr awyr agored Mae disgyblion yr Adran wedi derbyn profiadau di-ri unwaith eto dros y cyfnod diwethaf i ddysgu a mwynhau yn yr awyr agored. Bu cyfleoedd i greu cynefinoedd anifeiliaid newydd gan ddefnyddio deunyddiau naturiol ar y mwyafrif a chyd-weithio fel tîm er mwyn cyrraedd y nod, a phlannu cennin pedr mewn partneriaeth gyda Mr Richard Davies o’r Adran Hanes a Dyniaethau. Mae pob disgybl wedi derbyn cennin pedr i’w plannu ac edrychwn ymlaen yn arw i weld ffrwyth eu hymdrechion yn y Gwanwyn, sydd yn arwydd hyfryd, gweledol o ddechreuad newydd yn ein hamgylchedd naturiol. Gwnaeth y tîm pêl-droed (bechgyn) fwynhau chwarae yn erbyn Ysgol Gymraeg Gwaun Cae Gurwen, gydag Ystalyfera yn fuddugol y tro hwn. Diolch i staff a disgyblion y Waun am ddod atom er mwyn cynnal y gêm ar ein cae 2G Newydd sbon! Roedd y disgyblion a’r staff oll wrth eu boddau.

Curriculum and extra-curricular activities in the outdoor area Pupils from the Deaprtment have been gaining invaluable experiences once agiain to learn and enjoy in the outdoor area. There were opportunities to create new habitats fo animals by using mostly natural resources, and working as a team to reach the expected outcome. Pupils have also planted daffodil bulbs with Mr Davies from the History and Humanities Departyment. All pupils have received a daffodil bulb to plant as a sign of fresh beginning in the Spring.. The boys football team enjoyed playing against Ysgol Gymraeg Gwaun Cae Gurwen, with Ystalyfera winning on this occasion. Thank you to staff and pupils from the Waun for visiting us here and using our brand new 2G pitch. The boys are delighted with this new facility.

Pupils from Culhwch enjoying learning in the outdoor area

Football match against Ysgol Gymraeg Gwaun Cae Gurwen 37

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YOUR GARDEN VISITS HELP CHANGE LIVES – THANK YOU Despite ongoing restrictions and uncertainty in the early months of 2021, severely curtailing garden opening activities, donations of over £3 million are being made to our beneficiary charities. National Garden Scheme funding allowed these charities to continue with the provision of critical services including the weekly provision of one million items of PPE to the hospice network and bereavement counselling for patients, families and staff. We also support charities doing amazing work in gardens and health, giving grants for community gardening projects. For details and an application see ngs. org.uk/cga-application submissions close on 28th February 2022. 2021 saw the National Garden Scheme celebrate 25 years of continued partnership and over £20 million of combined donations to three of its beneficiaries – Marie Curie, Hospice UK and Carers Trust. Our funding also supports the training of gardeners and offers respite to horticultural workers who have fallen on difficult times. Our Impact Report 2021 sets out all that our supporters, volunteers, garden owners and visitors have helped us achieve and looks at the impact of our donations - raised largely at our garden gates - and how our beneficiaries use those donations to support thousands of people across the UK. Thank you. This winter we are encouraging a love of trees and planting them. You’ll find lots of information on choosing trees, enjoying woodland walks and our partnership with the Woodland Trust ngs.org.uk/woodlandtrust and the Queens Green Canopy ngs.org.uk/national-garden-schemecontinues-to-champion-trees-with-the-queens-green-canopy The gardens for 2022 are now live too. If you are browsing seed ranges do you coordinate your seed buying? Rarely is a whole pack used and used over several years with diminishing returns. Why not meet and chat with your friends, village or group? Our first online talk of 2022 is on Tuesday 4th January, 7.00pm, The Winter Garden. Sarah Pajwani will share ideas and planting that keeps her garden looking good throughout winter. 39

MORE ROOM AND NEW CHILDCARE SETTING FOR NEATH PORT TALBOT COUNCIL WELSH-MEDIUM PRIMARY SCHOOL Pupils at Neath Port Talbot Council’s Welsh-medium 3-11 primary school Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg (YGG) Cwmllynfell are enjoying extra space and modernised facilities after the successful completion of a £640,000 renewal project.

to develop pre-school Welsh-medium provision.

The work, carried out on behalf of the council by contractors Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd, has provided an extra classroom and childcare setting, with the aim of increasing the capacity of the school, improving Foundation Phase provision and providing space

The project also aimed to prevent drift to other schools in neighbouring authorities, strengthening the development of Welsh language in the area and impacting positively on the Council’s Band B proposal at Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur (north campus) by increasing the number of children from the area choosing secondary education through the medium of Welsh. Before the renewal project, YGG Cwmllynfell was nearing its physical capacity of 92 pupil places with no scope to increase pupil intake without investing in additional accommodation. Foundation Phase operated from classes that limited pupils’ experience and there was no spare accommodation or flexibility in the existing building’s footprint to deliver childcare provision (the closest offer was a bilingual provision more than five miles away). The completion of the building work has now not only provided for an additional classroom but a Welshmedium childcare setting that will increase capacity of the school by 30 pupil places. Cllr Peter Rees, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, said: “This refurbishment project was made possible after Neath Port Talbot Council was successful in obtaining grant funding totalling £3.4m to improve facilities for Welsh medium education over three years. “This has gone on the work at YGG Cwmllynfell and on improvement and refurbishment projects on YGG Tyle’r Ynn (Briton Ferry) and YGG Pontardawe. “In addition, over the past 4 years there has been significant capital funding for major refurbishment projects in eight existing Welsh-medium schools. The investment, which secures the future of these schools, ranges from boundary wall and toilet/changing facility refurbishment schemes to a new build kitchen block, boiler replacement and re-roofing. “A new-build four block extension at YGG Rhosafan and a new 60 place Foundation phase provision at YGG Castell nedd has also been provided as part of the Reducing Infant Class Size grant.” In Neath Port Talbot, both the number and percentage of reception pupils in Welsh-medium schools has increased for the third year in a row with the percentage higher than it has been since 2013. The total spend to date (Bands A and B) under the 21st Century Schools programme in modernising Neath Port Talbot’s school estate has now reached £165m - a massive investment in Neath Port Talbot’s next generations and the biggest of any council in Wales outside of Cardiff.

The 21st Century Schools programme is a collaboration between the Welsh Government and local councils in Wales. It is a significant, long-term and strategic capital investment programme with the aim of creating a generation of 21st Century Schools across Wales.

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Who replaced Terry Wogan on Blankety Blank? Name the dog in Punch & Judy Name the largest castle in the UK Which detective series was set in Jersey? In what sport might you win a penalty corner? Prince Charles is Duke of which county? What does the letter ‘A’ mean in ‘A.I.D.S.’? Who created ‘Noddy’? Who lost part of his ear to Mike Tyson in 1997? Where is the Ceremony of the Keys held each evening? Which punctuation mark do Americans call a period? What does the green jersey signify in the Tour De France? Which man starred in the film ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’? Which 70’s group would you find Les, Eric, Woody, Alan & Derick? How many laps of the track in the 10,000 metres? What is the main airport in Germany? Name Boycie’s wife in ‘Only Fools And Horses’ In which U.S. state is Las Vegas? Who had a hit with ‘Young At Heart’? In what year was Lord Mountbatten murdered? Which cowboy had a horse called ‘Trigger’? Who was the first Briton to hold a javelin word record? Which motorway joins the m25 at Heathrow Airport? How many teats does a cow have? Which tribe did Sitting Bull belong to? In the film ‘Look Who’s Talking’, whose voice was used for the baby? What was abolished on Dec 18th 1969 in Britain? What is a pickled gherkin made from? Which kids tv show had the theme music ‘Barnacle Bill’? ‘Old west action’ is an anagram of which actor? Now turn the page for the picture quiz. Answers are printed at the back of the magazine. 43

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NEATH PORT TALBOT RESIDENTS THANKED FOR RECYCLING SUCCESS

New figures released by the Welsh Government show Wales’s recycling rate increased as a whole to 65.4% in 2020/21, a new record high. The data covers April 2020 to March 2021 during which 13 of the 22 councils in Wales reported an increase in their recycling rates compared to the previous year. Neath Port Talbot’s recycling rate jumped from 61.7% to 67% and Neath Port Talbot is now the seventh best council in Wales when it comes to recycling. A total of 1.47 million tonnes of local authority municipal waste was generated in the April 2020 to March 2021 period - a 2.6% fall from the previous year and the “lowest reported figure to date”. The recycling rate is the percentage of local authority municipal waste that was reused, recycled, or composted. Data is sourced from WasteDataFlow, which is monitored by Natural Resources Wales. Under current regulations, the present recycling target set by Welsh Government is a minimum of 64%, increasing to 70% by 2024/25. Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering, Cllr Mike Harvey, said: ”On behalf of the council I’d like to thank our residents for their recycling efforts which have allowed Neath Port Talbot to record a big increase in its recycling rates. “It also helps Wales retain its place among the top recycling nations in the world which is something we can all be proud of. While the improvement in our performance is something to be proud of, we need to work together to further increase our recycling rates, so we can continue to achieve the ambitious future recycling targets set by the Welsh Government ” Wales’s Minister for climate change, Julie James, said: “Our recycling statistics are world class thanks to a Team Wales effort. They show what we can achieve when government, business and the third sector work together towards a common goal.”

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VISITOR: WAXWING WELSH NAME: CYNFFON SIDAN If you manage to spot one of these this winter it’ll certainly be one to impress your ornithologically minded friends! The Waxwing hails from Scandinavia and when berry crops are poor over there can travel over, first into the east of Scotland and then south as berries are depleted along their path. They have been seen as far south as Swansea and Cardiff. Roughly the size of a starling, it’s difficult to mistake this distinctive tourist with it’s bold head crest, which is unusual enough to allow you to identify the waxwing even when silhouetted. Their pinky/buff plumage leads to yellow and white stripes on their wings, ending in red tips. They also have the distinctive super hero mask which makes them easy to identify. One waxwing eats more than twice its weight in berries per day, that ‘s 600 1,000 berries! It is the only bird in Europe that specialises in fruit (a frugivore), and their diet is often 100% fruit, mainly berries. Rowan trees, often used in landscaping out of town shopping centres, can be the ideal place to spot waxwings thanks to their large yield of berries. Large flocks can be attracted to these areas. If you’d like to attract them to your garden, lots of berry-bearing trees and shrubs are essential. If you know they’re in the area you could also attract them by hanging apple halves from tree branches.

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ARIES – A lot of focus and energy go into your career zone and this will give you opportunities. The new moon on the 2nd falls in this part of your chart and enables you to make new beginnings, in whatever field you are involved. This may cause you to make a complete change. Whatever the outcome, it will be positive. By the end of the month the assertive planet Aries will be in this part of your chart, giving you the means to be forceful and persistent in your goals. A surprising windfall of money will be of benefit to you. Taurus – A time of surprise, some of which you will enjoy, some not so much. By nature, you like to be organized, this gives you security. To look on the bright side of things, new horizons open up for you. Different perspectives and new challenges. The new moon on the 2nd falls in your travel zone and this will give you a nudge in the direction of discovering new things, new places and networking. Friendships grow and new opportunities come your way, through meetings and new connections. Gemini – You will be challenged until the 24th by close partnerships who seem to be very opinionated and hard to negotiate with. There could be friction and a mixture of ideas that need sorting out. The full moon in your money zone on the 25th gives you the chance to set finances straight and make any adjustments you believe will benefit you. A lot of activity and focus in your joint money zone, which could mean an inheritance or shared investments, which can be agreed upon. Travel plans may have to be delayed. Cancer – Jupiter in your travel zone pushes you into new ventures, ideas, skills and partnerships. This will be a time for beginnings, and a whole new outlook on life. You will want to take risks and make the most of opportunities. Actually travel appeals to you and you are ready for adventure. The full moon in your own sign on the 25th indicates goodbye to the past and hallo to a better future. You will be positive and enthusiastic and draw people towards you who will support your ideas. Leo – You will want to be getting the most out of your days, and work out all the best routines that can fit into a busy schedule. You feel this is the time to rearrange things so that you can be at your most productive. In this part of your chart on the 25th the full moon will give you a clear purpose to make your plans realistic. Sudden changes at work make you eager to go straight into things, taking the lead in the majority of cases. This is a good time to join forces with suitable partners and make investments for the future. Virgo – Close partnerships in business or love may be changing their minds or not giving you a clear picture of things. You are busy and making progress in personal ventures that you are intent on. The full moon in your friendship zone on the 2nd indicates new beginnings, networking and making connections with people who will be of help to you. You get the support you need. Jupiter the planet of good fortune and opportunity is entering your one to one partnership zone, which will give you material and emotional backing in projects. Libra – There are many changes and a focus to do with home and family. This is a good time to make your opinions clear. The full moon on the 25th in the career zone of your chart gives you the chance to end a cycle and start things heading in a different direction that you feel more comfortable with. Take the opportunity and start individual planning. You want to keep busy during the weeks ahead and when you make the effort, rewards definitely come your way. This can turn out to be a very positive time for you. Scorpio – Mars in your finance zone until the 24th puts you in the right state of mind to plan and budget for the future. You will be decisive and assertive. The new moon in the 2nd falls in your travel zone and this may be the start of planning or a trip away from home, which you feel is long overdue. You have many positive aspects which will make you extra confident and you will find things to get involved with which are individual to you and likely to succeed. You are surprised by close partners and feel both challenged and excited.

Sagittarius – You will be very sure of yourself and make decisions that make sense for you. Inner resolve and self confidence help others to follow your lead. The full moon in your finance zone on the 25th means

an end to something that has been on your mind perhaps weighing you down and sets the stage for a new start. You will be happy to move forward. A feeling of good luck at home or a new home is likely, you want to settle somewhere and be able to cover all that you and your family required. Capricorn – You are driven with energy and the need to get things done. If you have left pending issues, now is the time to catch up and get one step ahead. The new moon in your own sign on the 2nd will be a great time to wind up all those loose ends, giving you a clean slate. You are good at negotiations and can be very persuasive, bringing allies and friends over to your side. Anything new or different will appeal to you at this time and changes you make are going to beneficial. Aquarius – With Mercury in your sign for the most of this month, you will be feeling sociable and happy to exchange ideas, feel at ease with people. A build up of planets is making you stronger and more focused on things that are most important to you. The new moon on the 2nd falls in your daily routines and work zone, which will push you into making new routines and follow a more healthy diet, perhaps letting go of some of the habits you have grown out of. Jupiter is transiting your money zone and this will bring opportunity and good luck. Pisces – As Jupiter is in your sun sign you will have a boost of energy and optimism. You will be tempted to take risks and have lots of new opportunities. This will be a positive phase, that you can use in many areas of your life. The new moon on the 2nd falls in your friendship zone giving you the chance to start new endeavours. You may find time to go back and put work into something that you discarded and arrange things in a more practical way. A lot of social interaction and networking keeps you occupied.

The year ahead for

CAPRICORN

At exactly 05.30pm GMT on the 21st December 2021, the sun enters the sign of Capricorn and for all of you born under this sun sign, the following ingredients will colour your year ahead. Modifications and adjustments need to be made according to your own specific time, date and place of birth which are individual only to you! PERSONALITY – A sensitive, caring side of your personality will draw others to you. You will be happy to advise and listen to people s problems. You will feel protective towards family and those you see are in vulnerable situations. MONEY – You are about to focus on hard work and dedication. You will be motivated to make the most of your time and give of your spare time to others in need. You are willing to take risks and change your normal routines. The ability you have to keep going in the direction you choose guarantees success. LOVE – A genuine appreciation for loved ones and family will show in your actions and this will bring rewards and loyalty. You are usually a lot more defensive and aloof than you will be in the coming months. This will give others a chance to reciprocate. GENERAL – An even busier year ahead than usual, with strong one to one connections and partnerships in business. You will be willing to go that extra mile and are bound to get results in the things you pursue both in your personal life and your life which is tied up with work.

Lots of love and best of luck from Izabella Vlahavas

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£1.50 £1.00 90p 45p 55

The sharp rise in Internet and online scams and frauds over the past few years has been shocking. Recent bereavement can leave any one of us more vulnerable than usual and, sadly, there are many merciless characters out there willing to take advantage of that situation. Occasionally I come across customers who either have or are thinking about buying a memorial over the internet. To some, it may appear that the internet is an ideal place for the purchase of a memorial. The prices quoted as headlines often seem ridiculously low and the seller will travel to any part of the UK and do all of the administration for you. Unfortunately experience shows this to be far from the reality for many customers all over the country. In my previous role as Development Officer for an industry body, I had to deal with a company who took deposits from 176 customers right across the UK. The deposits amounted to over £220,000! We were able to put all of these people in touch with each other so that they were able to fight for compensation. This is not to imply that every internet company would act this way, but it is certainly worth being aware that if a company has their base, say, in Lincolnshire, it is highly unlikely that they would want to visit your memorial to touch up some gilding or make some adjustment to the line. Complaints on situations such as this were dealt with frequently. It is always worth knowing who is making and installing your memorial. Is it the person who is selling you the memorial, or a sub-contractor? Remember – your contract is with the seller, not the subcontractor. Make sure the seller knows what they’re talking about. Is your memorial being made locally, or in some remote location and then transported to the grave? If the price is low, why? Is the memorial of the same size as existing memorials on that plot? Is the granite of sufficiently good quality? Lastly, local regulations often vary from cemetery to cemetery. Whenever I work in a new area I have to take some time to understand the requirements of each cemetery. Sadly I have to deal with burial authorities, and customers, whose memorials were either fixed against the local regulations or even refused entry to the cemetery on too many occasions! Remember – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. There’s a lot to be said for the employ of a local tradesperson you can readily contact and place your trust in, and reputation is important for traders in their own localities.

Freephone 0800 1950 466 Email: info@vale-memorials.co.uk

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MARGAM COUNTRY PARK AMONG UK’S TOP TEN – AGAIN

Margam Country Park has been voted among the top ten most popular parks and green spaces in Britain following a public vote – the only one in Wales to get the accolade. The top ten rating comes after a UK-wide “People’s Vote” organised by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to find the country’s ten best Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces. The Green Flag Award scheme is the annual international quality standard for parks and green spaces. Following this year’s awards, in which Margam Country Park was once again the recipient of a prestigious Green Flag, members of the British public were invited to take part in the “People’s Choice” vote for their favourite park with tens of thousands joining in. Margam Country Park emerged as the only park in Wales to be voted into the country’s top ten. It follows a similar outcome of last year’s People’s Choice vote in which Margam also made it into the UK’s prestigious top ten parks and green spaces list. Since the start of the pandemic, parks have played an important role for communities the length and breadth of the UK. Research conducted by Keep Britain Tidy earlier in the year showed that more than nine in ten people (93%) think that parks and green spaces are extremely important to their local community. Now, those communities have spoken with the announcement of the winners in the 2021 People’s Choice Awards, the voting for which was held during October 2021. Cllr Peter Rees, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, said: “Thanks to the tireless work of our amazing staff and volunteers, Margam Country Park is a great place for recreation, sports, play, and relaxation and has yet again been shown, by a public vote, to be one of the very best in Britain. “I’d like to thank everyone who voted for Margam Park and I am delighted it has once again been recognised in the Green Flag People’s Choice Awards. The park is such an important landmark both for our local residents and visitors and this award shows just how much people value it.” Commenting on the result, International Green Flag Award Manager Paul Todd said: “Congratulations to our ten worthy winners! “The Green Flag Award includes some of the country’s best-known and iconic parks as well as community green spaces and university campuses. “To be voted one of the nation’s favourite parks is a real achievement and testament to all the hard work done by the thousands of parks staff and volunteers up and down the country who work tirelessly to make their parks fantastic places that everyone can enjoy.”

THE PIZZA PLACE 4 Capitol Buildings, Ystradgynlais SA9 2JS

01639 849024 HOUSE SPECIALS

MARGARITA - A traditional pizza base made to our own recipe, topped with a generous 7” £2.70

portion of tomato sauce and covered with Mozzarella cheese then lightly dusted with oregano herb for that Mediterranean taste.

SEAFOOD SPECIAL - A delicious pizza made with Tuna, Prawns and garnished with chopped Onions.

9” £5.00

12” £7.20

7” £3.90 9” £7.10 12” £10.20

MEXICANA - A spicy hot pizza made with Onions, Sweetcorn, Spicy Beef and Salami. Fresh 7” £4.40 green chilli are an optional extra.

HAWAIIAN - The taste of the tropics, a very popular pizza made with chopped Ham and

9” £7.30 12” £10.20

7” £3.50

chunks of Pineapple.

9” £6.40 12” £9.20

VEGETARIAN - A delicious pizza topped with Onion, Mushroom, Mixed Peppers and

7” £4.20

9” £7.10 12” £10.20

MEAT TREAT - A real meaty treat for the non-vegetarian. Lots of Spicy Beef topped with

7” £4.60

9” £8.10 12” £10.20

SPICY CHICKEN with PEPPERONI - Just as it says, slices of Spiced Chicken topped with

7” £3.50

9” £6.40

Sweetcorn.

Salami and Pepperoni. Pepperoni.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB - A delicious pizza made with Onions, Sweetcorn then spread with 7” £4.40 oven-cooked minced Lamb seasoned with Mediterranean Herbs then topped with Cherry Tomatoes.

CHOCOLATE PIZZA - That’s right, a pizza that is made using Chocolate Spread instead of

the normal tomato sauce. Very nice if you have a sweet tooth.

12” £9.20

9” £7.30 12” £10.20

7” £3.50

9” £6.20 12” £8.20

CREATE YOUR OWN PIZZA

Choose a few toppings from the list below then simply add to the Margarita size of your choice. 40p each for a small pizza

HAM SALAMI OLIVES TOMATOES MIXED PEPPERS SMOKY BACON BITS

70p each for a medium pizza

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£1.00 each for a large pizza

SWEETCORN PINEAPPLE SPICY BEEF EXTRA CHEESE ANCHOVIES SPICY PORK MEATBALLS

PEPPERONI CHICKEN MUSHROOMS SARDINES

If you would prefer a DEEP PAN pizza then please add an extra :£1.30 for the medium pizza £1.60 for the large pizza SOFT DRINKS Diet / Coke (cans)....................£1.00 Orange Fanta (cans) ................£1.00 Water.........................................£0.50

SIDE ORDERS Garlic Bread .............................£2.00 Garlic Mayonnaise...................£1.00 with Cheese ..............................£3.00 Sweet Chilli Dip.......................£1.00

Need advice? Antonina is here to help!

Dear Antonina Me and my best friend have decided to make a New Year’s Resolution to sort out our eating issues… and thought I’d write to see if you

could help. I’m overweight by 3 stone and have always been big because I love my food – I got really big when I was about 8 and started being bullied by a gang of girls at school. I never told my mam about the bullying but mam always used to feed me large portions and I packed on the weight even more. I really hated myself and hated being in school even more. The bullying stopped when the gang started on someone else and by the time I got to 13, I was skipping meals so that I could lose weight. It was when I was skipping meals that I became best friends with Molly. She found it really hard to eat at all and became anorexic and showed me how to purge my food. We both obsessed about our weight and followed social media blogs about how to lose weight. By the time we were 15 Molly ended up so thin that she used to pass out and then her parents made her go to Children and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and she ended up going to counselling. The past 2 years have been really difficult with all the lock downs in the middle of our A levels but we supported each other the whole time and passed our exams. From September I started a hairdressing course and Molly started a health and social care course. But we are still struggling with food issues and got into bad ways again – I overeat and crave snacks and sweets and Molly started purging again. We keep in touch most days and we are both really stressed and worried all the time. We want to support each other as we have been through so much together. We found out Adele (the singer) used a hypnotherapist so thought we would write in and ask for your help. Jess Dear Jess I am sorry to hear that you and Molly are so stressed but am pleased you have written in because this is something I believe my hypno- methods should be able to help you with. Many of the clients I see whether they are overweight, obese, anorexic or bulimic, complain they are really miserable when they first come to see me. Even though there is so much information online for support, it can be very confusing. They tell me they have already tried many different strategies: yo-yo diets, slimming clubs, carb counting, different diets and fasting, counselling and CBT, to mention but a few. However, they have not been able to maintain their regime and so by the time they seek my help they think they are a failure, weak willed and have lost much confidence and are in a cycle of stress, worries, anxiety, and misery which makes their problem worse. I find that underlying emotional causes which have not properly been dealt with tend to be at the heart of these issues. Many clients I have helped with weight control and habit breaking hypno-methods have experienced traumatic and other life changing events where they have felt no control whatsoever and have turned to emotional (or stress eating) which includes over – eating, bingeing or purging to feel some control.

It is worth reminding ourselves that young people like you and Molly will have experienced unprecedented pressures during GCSE and A levels. Exams can be stressful at the best of times and add the disruption of COVID rules to the mix it is no wonder you feel so anxious during so much change. You should be congratulated for having passed your exams at such a difficult time as many young people I see have not coped well with the changes and have become fearful of the unknown, feel out of control and are struggling. Did you know that stress and worry increase the levels of cortisol? This plays a major role in some hormonal and metabolic processes and too much cortisol can increase your appetite and cravings for unhealthy food. I look forward to setting up a remote call with you and Molly and we can discuss my hypnotherapy weight control programme. This has helped many people to use the right tools for them, introduce habit breaking methods and not be at the mercy of their emotions or stress. I sometimes work with friends as clients as I find having mutual support from someone who really cares about you can be a great help in creating a healthy lifestyle which you can both achieve. I wish you and all our readers a very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. Antonina I look forward to receiving all your letters in the coming months and encourage you to keep on writing with confidence as we edit and anatomise any we print. If your letter is printed you will get a free consultation. We can’t possibly publish every letter but as a special anniversary offer for the next 6 months anyone who writes in will receive a free consultation. Email your letters to antonina@communitymag.co.uk or write to the usual address.

To send us your articles of interest, stories, poems, photos, events and event reviews.

YOUR COMMUNITY IS WAITING! Just send them to: phil@communitymag.co.uk

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HEARTY CABBAGE SOUP

Sticking with the warming soups this month to see off the winter blues. This beautifully spiced recipe serves 6 hungry diners. If you use a soup maker you can comfortably

INGREDIENTS (serves 6) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 large onion , finely chopped 2 celery sticks , finely chopped 1 large carrot , finely chopped 70g smoked pancetta/ bacon, diced 1 large Savoy cabbage , shredded 2 large garlic cloves , crushed 1 tsp sweet smoked paprika 2 tsps finely chopped rosemary 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes 1.6L hot vegetable stock 200g Red Lentils 1 x Red Chilli, sliced (optional) Feta or Parmesan Cheese to serve

good pinch of salt and sweat gently for quarter of an hour or so until the veg softens. Turn up the heat and, making room in the base of the pan, add the diced pancetta or bacon and fry until it’s golden brown (take care not to let the veg burn during this). Add the cabbage and fry for a few minutes to soften (if it’s overfilling your pan, put the lid on to wilt it and then add more until you’ve added all the cabbage). Stir through garlic, smoked paprika and rosemary and cook out for 1 - 2 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, stock and rinsed lentils stir well and leave to simmer with the lid off for 30 mins, or until you are happy with the consistency.

Season well with sea salt and black Heat the oil in a large saucepan or pepper and serve topped with shavings casserole over a low heat, then add of parmesan or feta. the onion, celery and carrot with a Phil 63

A Little Local Knowledge... EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS Emergency only 999 Police (Non-Emergency) 101 NHS 111 Wales 111 Dental Emergency 08456 010128 Dyfed Powys Police 0845 330 2000 South Wales Police 01656 655 555 Glanrhyd Community Hospital

01639 844777

Floodline 0845 988 1188 Welsh Water (emergencies & sewerage problems) 0800 052 0130 Powys County Council 0845 602 7030 NPT County Council 01639 686868 Carms. County Council 01267 234567 Tai Tarian (NPT) 0300 777 0000 Repairs 0300 777 3000

DOCTORS SURGERIES Pengorof

01639 843221

Ystalyfera

01639 843251

Abercraf

01639 730225

Dulais Valley Surgery

01639 701660

Meddygfa’r Cwm Ystalyfera

01639 844738

Meddygfa’r Cwm Cwmllynfell

01639 830204

Glynneath

01639 509050

COMMUNITY POLICING (PCSO’s) Maria Edwards (Godre’graig / Ystalyfera)

07805 301533

Andrew Jones (G’neath/Cwmgwrach)

07469 907982

Aled Musselwhite (Resolven/MelynCt/Clyne)

07825 456539

Emily Tennet (Banwen/Onllwyn/S.Sisters)

07825 352047

COUNCILLORS D. Huw Williams (Ystradgynlais)

01639 845868

David A. Thomas (Tawe Uchaf )

01639 730033

Susan McNicholas (Ynyscedwyn)

01639 849912

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01639 730508

Glynog Davies (Cefnbrynbrain/Ystradowen) 01269 823240

AMs & MPs

Kirsty Williams AM (Brec & Rad) Jeremy Miles AM (Neath) Christina Rees MP (Neath) Fay Jones MP (Brec & Rad)

01874 625739 01792 869993 01639 630152 01874 624 796

HELP & ADVICE

Age Connect (NPT) 01639 617333 Citizens Advice 08444 77 20 20 Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 Victim Support 0845 30 30 900 Childline 0800 111 Domestic Abuse 0808 80 10 800 Welfare Rights (NPT) 01639 685225 RSPCA (Llys Nini) 01792 229435 Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06 AfanTaweNedd Neighbourhood Watch www.atnneighbourhoodwatch.org

SCHOOLS Maesydderwen

01639 842115

Cwmtawe

01792 863200

Y.G. Ystalyfera

01639 842129

Llangatwg

01639 634700

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01792 772006

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01639 846070

Y Wern

01639 842242

Hugh Jones (Cwmllynfell/Rhiwfawr)

01639 831282

Alun Llewelyn (Ystalyfera)

01639 849729

Ysgol Gymraeg Dyffryn Y Glowyr 01639 846060

Sandra Davies (Cwmtwrch)

01639 830835

Ysgol Bro Tawe

01639 846000

Rosalyn Davies (Godrergraig)

01792 862447

Ysgol Y Cribarth

01639 731500

Sian Harris (Crynant)

07814 127555

Caehopkin Primary

01639 730231

Stephen Hunt (Seven Sisters)

01639 700063

Dean Cawsey (Onllwyn)

07817 218556

Crynant

01639 750224

Del Morgan (Glynneath)

01639 722300

Blaendulais

01639 700342

Simon Anthony Knoyle (Glynneath)

07968 386108

Godre’rgraig

01639 843116

Dean Lewis (Resolven)

07854 424162

Blaendulais

01639 700261

Cwmllynfell

01639 830630

ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES Lumin Accountancy 0330 133 0344 www.lumin-accountancy.co.uk AERIAL & SATELLITE TV Aerial & Satellite Services Mark Williams 01792 713998 07778 737161 AIRPORT TRAVEL & MINIBUS Dragon Travel (Swansea Valley) 07877 604841 07951 111448 BUILDING SERVICES Ceri Edwards & Dean Breeze Ceri 07421 360 093 Dean 07496 450 144 CARPENTERS Matthew Harris Carpenter

facebook.com/matthewharriscarpenter

07837208446 matt-harris@live.com CARPETS Benjamin Poole 01269 824137 07768 061903 Glantawe Carpets 01639 842522 CHIMNEY SWEEP Tawe Sweep 01639 415019 07552 354726

Thomas Chimney Sweeps APICS & HETAS approved sweep & Installer Call Gerry 07974 001133 COMPUTER SERVICE Simon Panacz Dulais Valley Computers mail@dvcomputers.co.uk 07966 433 540

ROOFING, SCAFFOLDING & GENERAL BUILDING S&A Builders, call Steve 07977 587 449 01639 701 784 DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS builderbrothers.co.uk www.neilshomeservices.co.uk SCAFFOLDING WRK Scaffolding Ltd 07890 500670 Rhys: 07930 182758 ELECTRICIANS Wyndham: 07881 986160 KDY Electrics info@wrk-scaffolding.com 07971 861534 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIR Robert Owen 07737 325605 01639 843214

kdyelectrics@btinternet.com S&D Domestic Electrics 07868 172990 Choice.locks@icloud.com GARDENING SERVICES 3 Steps Gardening & Maintenance 07866 901911 01639 841827 3steps4@gmail.com

TAXIS IG’s Taxi Service Ystradgynlais based 07414 160 797

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Brecknock Wildlife Trust 01639 844273

GARDENING & BUILDING Leighton James Garden & Building Services 01639 701833 07967 280695 HEALTH & WELLBEING Cristina’s Wellbeing Chiropractic 01639 699573 07933 203166 HYPNOTHERAPY & RELAXATION CLINIC A Mendola Hypnotherapy 01639 730043 07971 260254 www.amendolahypnotherapy.co.uk

PLUMBING RAL Plumbing Call Anthony on 07813 822243 ra.llewelyn@gmail.com

PC Doctor 01639 843765 pcdoctorwales@gmail.com 65

FREE ARTWORK

TO USE WHEREVER YOU WANT! As most advertising businesses will know, getting your artwork drawn up can be a pain (not to mention expensive!) if you want to ensure that you keep a consistent image in all of your advertising. Almost every publication you could care to mention claims copyright over your advertisements after they’ve drawn them up.

NOT US!

We’ve always taken a different view here at The Community Mag. Yes, we offer free artwork (within reason) to anyone taking out advertising space, but when we’ve finished with it we are happy to pass the copyright for your advertisement onto you, the customer. After all, your advert is no good to us, so why stop you using it wherever you want?

If you already advertise, or are thinking of advertising in The Community Mag we will happily, upon request, supply you with a hi-res version of your advertisement to use wherever you want so that you can maintain consistency in your marketing.

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

BIG NEIL’S QUIZ ANSWERS

1 LES DAWSON 2 TOBY 3 WINDSOR 4 BERGERAC 5 HOCKEY 6 CORNWALL 7 ACQUIRED 8 ENID BLYTON 9 EVANDA HOLYFIELD 10 TOWER OF LONDON 11 FULL STOP 12 POINTS LEADER 13 BOB HOSKINS 14 BAY CITY ROLLERS 15 *25 16 FRANKFURT 17 MARLENE 18 NEVADA 19 BLUEBELLS 20 *1979 21 ROY ROGERS 22 FATIMA WHITBREAD 23 M4 24 *4 25 SIOUX 26 BRUCE WILLIS 27 DEATH PENALTY 28 CUCUMBER 29 BLUE PETER 30 CLINT EASTWOOD

DINGBAT ANSWERS

1. Doubled Up In Pain 2. Kick In The Pants 3. Last But Not Least 4. Mail On Sunday 5. More In It Than Meets The Eye 6. No Turning Back 7. Round & Round In Circles 8. Service With A Smile 9. Shining Example 10. Shrinking Violet

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01639 699216 www.pearsonshomeimprovements.co.uk

tool shed Tools, Paints, Ironmongery and more.

Almost everything you need to maintain home & garden on your doorstep, from a garden hose to bathroom sealants.

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uPVC Windows & Doors Available Fully Fitted or Supply Only Call in and see us for your FREE quotation

All uPVC Repair work undertaken: Misted Units, Broken Locks/Hinges etc.

find us opposite the entrance to ASDA Unit 7, Swansea Valley Business Park, Ystalyfera, SWANSEA, SA9 2EB

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