Cardiff NOW November 2014

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November 2014 Issue 4

Now •ON November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk HOME & GARDEN • FOOD & DRINK • COUNTRY WALKS • NATURE NOTEBOOK Cardiff • WHAT’S • COMPETITIONS

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Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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contents Cardiff Now 2nd Floor, Richardson House, 24 New Street, Worcester. WR1 2DP 01905 723011 dawn@pw-media.co.uk www.pw-media.co.uk

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Home & Garden

n Heating Your Home With Solid Fuel, Wood or Biomass

n Is Your Conservatory Too Cold to Enjoy Through

For advertisting enquiries please contact:

n Cardiff Pointe Enhances The Cardiff Bay Area

n Help to Buy Wales Drives Sales Success

Emma Cox 01905 727908 emma@pw-media.co.uk Alison Jones 01905 727907 ali@pw-media.co.uk Suzie Scott 01905 727904 suzie@pw-media.co.uk Contributors Glynis Dray Amelia Hanson

Design Paul Blyth

Publisher Dawn Pardoe P W Media & Publishing Ltd

COMPETITION WINNERS Tickets to The Clothes Show Live at the Birmingham NEC J. Griffiths, Cardiff L. SHort, Nottingham L. Wood, Roath R. Darlington, Cardiff ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without permission. Colour transparencies, prints or any pictoral media for this publication are sent at owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, neither PW Media & Publishing Ltd or its agents accept liability for loss or damage. No editorial submissions will be returned unless accompanied by a Self Addressed Envelope. DISCLAIMER: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, PW Media & Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. Please note that if you enter a competition in the Worcestershire Now magazine your name and address may be forwarded to the host of said competition.

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November 2014

the Winter Months?

12 Property

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at Penarth Heights

16 Nature Notebook

n Winter at Parc Slip

18 Health & Beauty

n Winter Saviours

n Made in Movember

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22 Food & Drink

n Glastonbury Chilli

n Glen-Yr-Afon House Hotel

n Win a Table For Two at Fine Wine Dinner

n Drunken Sailor Pop-Up Waffle Shop

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26 Motoring

n Get Your Car Winter Ready

28 Cardiff Walk

n Monmouth – the ‘Picturesque’ Wye Valley

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30 Cardiff Past

n The Severn Railway Tunnel

n The Sudbrook Tunnel Centre

32 Education

n The Benefits of Extra Tuition

n Cyncoed Kumon Maths and English

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34 Senior Living

n What Does Retirement Mean to You?

36 What’s On

n Christmas in Cardiff

n Cardiff’s Creatives Collaborate for Charity

and Christmas Cheer

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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home & garden

Heating Your Home With Solid Fuel, Wood or Biomass Wood is the oldest fuel known to man, and is still one of the most popular for providing a warm welcome in many homes.

“With fuel costs rising, more and more people are choosing to use wood burning stoves to provide heat for individual rooms”

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hilst open fires and wood burning stoves remain very popular, many homes also use biomass boilers to provide full central heating and hot water. Of course trees use carbon dioxide as they grow, wood fuel and biomass are considered carbon neutral.

It’s important to make sure your heating is installed safely, works efficiently, and is maintained regularly. In the UK, HETAS is the official body for testing and approval of solid fuel and biomass appliances. It publishes lists 6

of approved appliances, fuels and equipment designed to help consumers, installers, retailers, designers and specifiers meet the relevant building regulations and safety standards.

With fuel costs rising, more and more people are choosing to use wood burning stoves to provide heat for individual rooms. Anecdotal evidence suggests this can help reduce total fuel bills as opposed to switching on the whole central heating system all the time. Biomass boilers are also gaining in popularity as a source of renewable energy, which will be further

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

enhanced next year with the introduction of financial support from the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Use a professional Whether you’re thinking of installing a wood burning stove or a biomass boiler, all heating installations must comply with building regulations. In addition, your local authority must be notified of the work. The two routes to

Continued on page 8

home & garden

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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home & garden achieve this are either by applying for a works notification from your local authority building control, which will require an inspection and a fee. Alternatively, a HETAS registered installer is trained and approved to comply with these requirements and can self certify their own work, notifying the job for you. They will also be insured to work in your home.

You can search online at www.hetas.co.uk to find your nearest HETAS registered installer, service engineer, retailer or chimney sweep.

Always ask to see a HETAS identity card as proof of HETAS registration, and if in doubt you can call HETAS to check their identity.

equipment, fuel quality, carbon monoxide alarms, smoke control zones and chimney sweeping. You can find your nearest approved retailer by visiting the HETAS website.

Tip top condition

Buy with confidence Make sure you get the right advice and the right product by shopping at a HETAS approved retailer or stove shop. Staff will be trained to help with a range of topics from energy efficiency through to building regulations. Plus any products on show at a HETAS approved retailer will have full product information on display. From July 2013 all wood burning and multi-fuel stoves which have been sold in the UK and throughout European member states should have been CE marked. CE marking gives the retailer, installer and customer an indication of product quality, safety and efficiency.

HETAS approved retailers can advise customers on a whole range of topics including choice of

Quality assured fuel Make sure you use a good quality logs, pellets, briquettes or wood chips. A high moisture content is the biggest enemy and will reduce heat output and efficiency as any water in the fuel has to evaporate away before the wood or biomass will burn, using up energy and reducing the amount of useful heat as opposed to steam up the chimney.

Check your fuel supplier is verified by a scheme such as the Woodsure fuel quality scheme. The independent assessment recognises quality wood fuel suppliers and is proof of a reliable supply chain for safe and efficient wood fuel.

Once your system is installed, make sure you keep your heating system working efficiently by getting it serviced every year by a HETAS registered engineer. Clogged up boilers and stoves will have to work harder to burn fuel, wasting money. If your solid fuel or biomass heating equipment has a chimney, you need to make sure it’s swept annually to keep it clear.

Chimney fires are a common source of house fires, but can be avoided by regular sweeping to keep flues clear. n For more advice on heating your home with wood or biomass please visit www.hetas.co.uk or call 01242 681270.

#honestman4hire • Garden Clearance • Tidy Up • Physical Oddjobs • No Job Too Small • Work in Any Weather

Contact Mark on:

Tel: 07801 432863 chopper.11@hotmail.co.uk @oddjobscardiff

Reliable Cleaning Services supplied across the whole of Cardiff Weekly Cleans only £11 per hour (minimum 2 hours)

One-off Cleans only £15 per hour (minimum 4 hours)

All cleaners carefully vetted and fully insured

Call 07785 267 409 or email sales@homecleancardiff.co.uk Further information and rates can be found on

www.homecleancardiff.co.uk 8

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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home & garden

Is Your Conservatory Too Cold to Enjoy Through the Winter Months?

It’s a sad fact that all those dreams we had when we bought our shiny new conservatory (ours was installed in 1998) - cosy, candle lit dinner parties and the kids playing on the tiled floor in the Summer sunshine soon evaporated after the first cold or hot weather spell - and when it rains, you can’t even hear yourself speak!

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he chances are that you, like every other conservatory owner - and there are about 5 million of us, can only use your investment for 6 months of the year and for the rest of the time it’s at best an empty space or more likely a dumping ground for toys, clothes, hobby equipment or a place where the dog sleeps.

Well, it doesn’t have to stay that way thanks to a new generation of lightweight solid conservatory roofs which can replace the one you currently have without disturbing the windows, décor or flooring.

There are a few versions to choose from, but the market leader is the Guardian Roof which has been around for several years in Ireland and is now available in this country through approved ‘Team Guardian’ installers. Installation only takes about a week but the transformation 10

is incredible. Looking like a traditional roof with plastered ceiling and the option of trendy down lights your conservatory will look a million dollars.

You really will be able to have that candle lit dinner party in the middle of Winter, see the children enjoying their toys on a Summer afternoon or listen to polite conversation even in a downpour.

The Guardian Roof has all the environmental credentials you would expect from a high quality product, already approved by Building Control so no need for any complicated paperwork.

Better still, now is the time to purchase one as companies are looking to build their portfolio of installations and some good genuine deals can be obtained.

It is very important to only choose approved suppliers who can offer genuine insurance

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

backed guarantees. Fortunately all the accredited ‘Team Guardian’ roof installers have been fully trained so that you can purchase with total confidence.

Another good second supplier reference resource is Checkatrade, a completely independent review for a variety of trades. All you have to do is Google www.checkatrade.com and type in your suppliers name and see what other customers have said about them.

So if you want to get the best out of your conservatory then changing the roof can achieve that for you in a few days and at far less cost than knocking it down and building an extension.

Innovations seldom come along but this is one of them and will be the most popular home improvement of the decade. For more details go to www.guardianroofs.net or call 0800 988 5938. n

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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property

Cardiff Pointe Enhances The Cardiff Bay Area Cardiff Pointe enhances the Cardiff Bay area, providing quality bespoke homes for families and professionals alike.

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n array of shops, leisure facilities and dynamic sports compliment Cardiff Pointe’s commitment to excellence.

Cardiff Pointe offers a comprehensive range of one and two bedroom apartments through to three, four and five bedroom spacious family homes at a unique waterside location. Cardiff Pointe delivers the benefits and convenience of city centre living, combined with waterfront views and carefully landscaped open spaces.

At Cardiff Pointe our homes have been designed smartly with sleek interiors and to a high quality finish. We want our fixtures and fittings to be durable, flexible and adaptable creating a home you can be proud of from the day you move in.

From German engineered quality kitchens by Rational with integrated kitchen appliances by Siemens to contemporary bathrooms supplied by Porcelanosa every part of Cardiff Pointe has been designed with luxury comfort and ease in mind.

The recently opened ‘Bireme’ show home has 12

been received very positively with high demand for this stylish four bedroom home offering a vibrant lifestyle. The ‘Bireme’s’ modern design offers spacious accommodation over three floors with the added benefit of a roof terrace (on selected plots).

The accommodation to the ground floor comprises a bedroom/study, a spacious through hallway with high quality oak and glass door from the inner hall area. The quality of the oak wood continues through the stair spindles and handrails throughout the house. There is a spacious utility room with ceramic tiled floor and Siemens washing machine as standard. Ceramic floor tiling is standard to all wet areas including the ground floor WC. From the ground floor, the integral garage can be accessed which has electric operating solid wood garage doors. There is also access to a fully walled and gated rear garden.

To the first floor this beautiful home enjoys open plan living, flowing through from the lounge, the kitchen and dining area and through

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

to a further living area. Off the lounge is a sit on balcony with glass surround, ideal for a relaxing coffee or glass of wine.

The second floor has three bedrooms and main bathroom. Off the main bedroom there is an ensuite shower room and walk in wardrobe.

Heated towel rails and mirrors with lights are standard to bathroom and ensuite.

The stunning full roof terrace can be accessed from the second floor. The roof terrace has the benefit of lighting and electric power points providing a unique outdoor living space and superb social environment. Ideal to entertain or just relax and enjoy the surrounding waterside views and Cardiff Pointe. Four bedroom homes start from £349,950 and apartments start at £150,000. n For more information please call the Sales & Marketing Suite open daily from 10am – 5pm.

T: 02920 343473 E: cardiffpointe@sequencehome.co.uk

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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property

Help to Buy Wales Drives Sales Success at Penarth Heights Crest Nicholson’s Penarth Heights is proving so popular that the award-winning housebuilder has sold a fantastic 31 homes and apartments since January. 71% of sales have been through the Help to Buy initiative, proving that the scheme is really helping house-hunters in Wales get moving.

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aunched on 2 January, Help to Buy - Wales is an initiative designed to make buying a new home more achievable for both firsttime buyers and existing home owners, and is available on new-build homes up to a value of £300,000. The initiative enables homebuyers to own their own home for just 80 per cent of the purchase price with a deposit of as little as five per cent. The remaining 20 per cent of the property price is lent to the purchaser by the Welsh Government through the HCA and is interest free for the first five years.

One home available at the development is the three storey, three bedroom Phoenix house.

This beautiful home enjoys a large living room with French doors and Juliet balcony, an openplan kitchen / dining room and spacious master bedroom with hotel-style en-suite shower room and large picture window. In addition, the Phoenix’s second bedroom is an exceptionally good size and the house benefits from a separate study and WC on the ground floor, not to mention its own garage and undercroft parking.

Rebecca Gripton, Sales Manager for Crest 14

Nicholson South West and Wales, commented: “Help to Buy is already proving really popular, with 22 of our homes at Penarth Heights being snapped up since the scheme launched. I’d definitely recommend speaking to our sales advisors to find out how the scheme could help get you moving.”

With beautiful views across the Marina, Penarth Heights offers a mix of stylish one, two and three bedroom apartments and two, three, four and five bedroom houses, suitable for a wide variety of purchasers, from first time buyers to growing families and those looking to enjoy their retirement with the peace that comes with a

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

new build home. The development is within easy access of the independent and big name bars, cafes and shops found in Penarth town centre, as well as Penarth seafront and the local railway station, which provides quick and easy access to Cardiff and beyond.

Prices using Help to Buy – Wales at Penarth Heights currently start from £227,960 for a Phoenix house and £125,560 for a two bedroom apartment.

Help to Buy Wales enables purchasers to own their own home for just 80 per cent of the purchase price. The remaining 20 per cent is lent to the purchaser by the Welsh Government through the HCA and is interest free for the first five years. n For more information please call into the on-site Sales and Marketing Suite (open daily 10am-5pm), call 02920 711 357, email penarthheights@crestnicholson.com or visit www.crestnicholson.com/penarthheights. To avoid disappointment book your viewing of the show home now.

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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nature notebook

Winter at Parc Slip Take part in some fun activities to help our feathered friends at Parc Slip nature reserve this winter.

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he iconic lapwing is fast disappearing from our skies and we need your help to stop this.

This striking black and white farmland bird is sometimes called a ‘peewit’, because of its ‘pee-wee’ call and its males are famous for their impressive courtship display.

Over the next few months, The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales will be working hard to reverse the decline of the lapwing at the Parc Slip Nature Reserve, near Bridgend. We’re looking for enthusiastic Lapwing Champions to help us tackle scrub which has taken over the lapwings’ breeding grounds. We also need volunteers to help us research and monitor the wider landscape to try to understand and conserve this remarkable species If you fancy something a bit more sedate, why not try a bit of bird watching? Small garden birds like bullfinches and robins can be seen from the comfort of our coffee shop and out on the reserve, 16

winter wildfowl such as teal and tufted duck can be spotted on the ponds and the elusive bittern can often be seen from the bittern hide. And of course, lapwings will be singing their unique call in early spring next year.

These activities are suitable for all ages and abilities so grab your binoculars and come and join us at Parc Slip for a wildlife winter spectacle! For more information contact our People and Wildlife Officer Rose. Email: r.revera@welshwildlife.org or call 01656 724100 to register as a volunteer.

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is part of Wildlife Trusts Wales, the largest voluntary organisation in Wales dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places for future generations.

Our six local Wildlife Trusts across Wales manage 216 nature reserves and we are supported by over 25,000 members. For more information visit http:// www.welshwildlife.org n

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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health & beauty health & beauty

ESTEE LAUDER

Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion Synchronized Recovery Complex II. Re-ignite the youthful light of your eyes. Renews the look of past damage around the eyes.

Helps reduce the look of every key visible sign of ageing around eyes. £46.00

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AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES

LANOLIPS

For extremely dry, rough, itchy and Experience the deeply penetrating and unhappy skin. Winter skin disasters conditioning powers of rich murumuru can range from sore red noses to butter, coconut oil and a blend of essential very dry hands and feet. Lanolips oils to leave your hair looking smooth, Golden Ointment is a powerful sleek and revitalised. beauty hero which will nourish and £28.00 soothe the driest skin patches leaving it soft, dewy and healthy. £17.99

NOURISH Containing extracts from the miraculous Rose of Jericho to detect changes in the skin and repair and hydrate dramatically based on skin type and environment.

Skincare is proactive, protective and individual. £25.00

COLOR WOW SHAVATA Three eyebrow shadows in a sleek compact that can be used individually or together to create the perfect shade when enhancing your brows. The Shadows can be used to fill in brows and also to darken lighter hairs. The powders tint the skin and hair giving a more natural finish than a pencil. £19.50

BENEFIT Majorette booster blush to amplify your flush. Pep, poise & popularity! Majorette is your cream-to-powder booster blush. Wear this peppy pink-peach shade alone or under your favorite blush for an instant “pepup.” £23.50

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

CLARINS Eye Quartet Mineral Palette.

This new ‘skintones’ shade collection is a harmony of natural shades perfect for autumn.The blend of soft beige, intense warm brown and two taupe shades offer a sophisticated and captivating look. £32.00

Apply to dry hair to transform damaged-looking, distressed hair into liquidy-smooth, silky hair with healthylooking shine. £16.50

Stockist Details: Estee Lauder - 0870 034 2566 - www.esteelauder.co.uk. Aromatherapy Associates - 020 8569 7030 - www.aromatherapyassociates.com. Lanolips - www.lanolips.com. Nourish - www.nourishskinrange.com.Shavata - www.shavata.co.uk.

Clarins - 0800 036 3558 - www.clarins.co.uk. Color WOW - www.colorwowhair.com

Winter Saviours

health & beauty

iLash LIFT An amazing alternative to lash extensions. The iLash lift treatment revolutionises old fashioned perming techniques in a number of ways, the innovative technique gently lifts & straightens using comfortable silicon shields, giving you thicker looking and more voluminous lashes. The iLash Lift straightens the lash giving you stunning length, volume and lift for your natural eyelashes.

£10 off

an iLash Lift at The Lash and Brow Boutique @ Triniti with this advert

Opening Times: Monday Closed Tuesday 10.00 - 18.00 Wednesday 10.00 - 19.00

Thursday 10.00 - 19.00 Friday 10.00 - 18.00 Saturday 09.00 - 17.00 Sunday Closed

ELS Training provides solutions allowing Mums and Dads to work out without childcare. Bring your babies and children with you, inspiring them to also follow active lifestyles!

A wide variety of class types in varying locations throughout Cardiff, suitable for all fitness levels. Family First Aid courses, giving parents and carers invaluable knowledge that can really save lives. Of course, babies and children are welcome to attend these also.

Mum and Baby Fitness • Core Regain • Core Blast TRX • Body Tone • MMA • Meta-Hiit • Yoga for Mums For more information please visit

www.els-training.co.uk

14 Churchill Way, Cardiff, CF10 2DX Tel: 029 2023 1666 E: info@teamtriniti.co.uk W: www.trinitisalons.co.uk

debris

or contact Emily Lintern-Schewitz on

07727 123 205

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NOW If you would like to advertise in Cardiff Now please contact one of our sales team:

Emma Cox JEWELLERY CRYSTALS FOSSILS 1 Pontcanna Place Cardiff, CF11 9JY T: 029 2025 6554 E: info@debrisonline.com W: www.debrisonline.co.uk

Tel: 01905 727908

emma@pw-media.co.uk Suzie Scott Tel: 01905 727904 suzie@pw-media.co.uk Follow us on Twitter Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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health & beauty

Made in Movember The Movember Foundation is the leading global organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health. We achieve this by challenging men to grow moustaches during Movember (the month formerly known as November) to spark conversation and raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.

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ince Movember’s humble beginnings in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia when 30 men grew moustaches, Movember has become a truly global movement, inspiring more than 4 million men and women to participate across 21 countries. The Movember community has raised over £345 million, and has funded more than 800 programmes to date. This work is saving and improving the lives of men affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems. Men and women SIGN UP AT MOVEMBER.COM to grow or support the moustache. Men start November 1st clean-shaven and grow their moustache for 30 days, getting friends, family and colleagues to donate to their moustachegrowing efforts.

Men with their new moustaches (also known as Mo Bros) become walking, talking billboards.

Similar to a run or walk for charity, they use their hairy ribbon to spark conversations around the often ignored issue of men’s health and seek to raise funds to support the work of the Movember Foundation.

Movember’s not just for men. Women who support men’s health, known as Mo Sistas, are an important part of Movember’s success. They get involved in the same way as men, except they don’t need to grow a moustache. They sign up at Movember.com, start a team, recruit the men in their lives to participate, donate, fundraise, plan and participate in events. Most importantly they rally the men they know to join the movement, grow moustaches and have important conversations about men’s health.

“Our vision is to have an everlasting impact on men’s health, and the Movember moustache puts a fun twist on this serious issue. We encourage Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to sign up at Movember. com, grow and support awesome moustaches, and raise crucial awareness and funds to address the most pressing issues in prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health,” said Sarah Coghlan, UK Country Director for Movember.

“We look forward to seeing our communities having open conversations with friends, family and colleagues about their health in 2014, and making it the hairiest Movember yet!”

Meaningful strides have been taken toward achieving our goals, but there is more work to be done. Each of the causes we support remains in desperate need of further funding, and continue to be issues that men are often uncomfortable discussing. We’re committed to raising vital funds and awareness to improve the lives of men and their families. Sign up at movember.com to join the movement and have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. n

WHEN Movember started in Melbourne, Australia in 2003. It is now seen around the globe every November 1st – 30th, with campaigns in 21 countries.

WHY To create conversations about men’s health and to find breakthrough solutions that produce tangible improvements in the lives of those dealing with prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.

HOW Mo Bros (guys who grow a Mo) sign up online. Starting clean-shaven on November 1st they donate their face for 30 days by growing and grooming the best moustache they can muster, raising funds and awareness along the way. Women (known as Mo Sistas) play a key supporting role by signing up often as team captains, recruiting Mo Bros, helping to raise funds, and also encouraging the men in their life to action when it comes to their health.

FUNDS Funds raised are committed to combatting prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems and to date we have supported over 800 men’s health programmes. Our goal is to make a significant impact on men’s health through increased understanding of the health risks men face, encouraging men to take action to remain well, and ensuring that when men are sick they know what to do and take action.

Specifically: PROSTATE CANCER Men living with and beyond prostate cancer have the treatment and care needed to be physically and mentally well.

TESTICULAR CANCER Men living with and beyond testicular cancer have the treatment and care needed to be physically and mentally well.

MENTAL HEALTH Men and boys are mentally healthy and take action to remain so. Those who experience mental health problems take action early and live lives free of stigma and discrimination.

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Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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food & drink

Glastonbury Chilli Courtesy of www.ethicalchef.co.uk

Preparation Time:10 Minutes Cooking Time: 30 Minutes Serves 6 Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

400g Cooked Kidney Beans 1x Tinned Tomatoes 1x Red Chilli 2x Onions 3x Garlic Cloves 1/2 TSP Cumin 1 TSP Coriander 1/4 TSP Chilli Powder 1 TBSP Smoked Paprika 1/2 TSP Turmeric 1/8 TSP Cayenne Pepper 200g Sour Cream 200g Grated Cheese Fresh Coriander

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Method

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Start by dicing your onion and adding to a hot pan with a splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt to encourage the release of the water content in the onions. Cook your onions until they start browning then chop your garlic up and add to the mix until cooked.

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Gather all your spices, measure out and put into one bowl so you can add them at the same time. Give the pot a nice stir and cook off the spices for a minute or so before adding your tomatoes, kidney beans & chopped fresh chilli.

whatever you fancy putting it with.

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Garnish with some cheese, sour cream and as much coriander as humanly possible!

Tips If you have time to soak beans overnight before starting this recipe then please do so as it just makes the dish that little bit more special.

Also, try to use organic ingredients where possible and these seem to generally taste much purer and are better for the environment.

3

All these spices really do tantalise the taste buds at different times and leave your mouth feeling extremely satisfied.

You can also add some cooked red lentils, potatoes, buckwheat to thicken things up if you like, all work really good in this recipe. n

4

For more inspiring recipes please visit www.ethicalchef.co.uk

Add a splash of water, bring to the boil and leave to simmer while you cook your rice or

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

food & drink

Glen-Yr-Afon House Hotel The popular Glen-Yr-Afon House Hotel, in Usk, Monmouthshire invites you to celebrate the festive season with friends, family or colleagues.

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ith a wide selection of dining options available, there is still time to make your booking. The Hotel has a great reputation for excellent service, food and entertainment. For the festive season of 2014, the team at the Glen-Yr-Afon will again be offering their wide selection of traditional menus and more and invite you to come and sample the festive hospitality!

Dance the night away...

Dinner dance evenings are a particular favourite for office parties or a great night out in the company of family and friends whilst enjoying the sumptuous menus that are always offered at this highly recommended popular hotel. These events are guaranteed to be an entertaining and lively event for those who like to dance the night away. So why not take your party to their party?

Evening Elegance If you prefer a special dining occasion, you can experience a festive dinner menu designed with a contemporary twist served in the relaxing surroundings of Clarkes restaurant.

Lunchtime Luxury

New Years Eve Gala Ball

The lunchtime Christmas menu offers the same excellent service and great food - offering a choice of dishes with all the trimmings!

After the lavish Gala dinner put your dancing shoes on and enjoy music from live entertainment. At midnight the celebrations will begin with a cascade of balloons and fireworks on the lawn. n

See Santa!

The Glen-Yr-Afon cater for those looking to dine with young children - the family lunches are a delightful family occasion with a delicious five course meal with coffee and mince pies to follow and a visit from Santa with a gift for each child.

Should you require any assistance in selecting your dining experience, please contact the Hotel’s Christmas Coordinator Gemma on 01291 672302 or email enquiries@glen-yr-afon.co.uk www.glen-yr-afon.co.uk/christmas

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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competition food & drink

Win a Table For Two at Fine Wine Dinner Local wine merchant Viader Vintners has teamed up with fine dining restaurant Arbennig to bring you an evening of fine wines and fabulous food, with a Spanish flavour.

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wned and operated by John and Ceri Cook, Arbennig is a relaxed and friendly restaurant that you’ll want to return to again and again. With a long history in the restaurant trade, John and Ceri wanted to couple fine dining with real food serving up satisfying portions on white plates.

The menu at Arbennig is changed every week, to ensure that they only use the finest seasonal products. Award winning Head Chef and owner John sources only the best quality produce from trusted suppliers, to guarantee that their customers only get the best. All their bread is made daily to go with the week’s menu, using organic Welsh flour.

Viader Vintners is one of the leading independent wine merchants in Cardiff,

established in 2001 by local Frenchman Gilbert Viader. Previously, Gilbert had spent many years on the restaurant scene as proprietor of Le Cassoulet, one of Cardiff’s top French restaurants during the 1980s and ’90s.

Viader Vintners supplies wines to both private and trade customers. Quality of customer service is a company priority, and as well as providing all the well-known wines, they enjoy sourcing ‘little-known gems’ to make a wine list more interesting and the drinking more pleasurable.

This collaboration between Viader Vintners and Arbennig takes place on 24th November 2014 at Arbennig,6-10 Romilly Crescent, Pontcanna. Doors open at 7.15pm with the evening commencing at 7.30pm sharp.

Competition

For your chance to win a table for two at this exclusive event, simply fill out the entry form with the correct answer to the following question:

For more information or for reservations at Arbennig please call 02920 341264 or visit www.arbennig.co.uk.

For more information and orders, please contact Viader Vintners on 02920 369222 or visit www.winemerchantscardiff.co.uk

Answer: Name:

In what year did Gilbert Viader establish Viader Vintners?

Address:

Send your answers in a sealed, addressed envelope to: Fine Wine CN, PW Media & Publishing Ltd, 2nd Floor, Richardson House, New Street, Worcester, WR1 2DP. Closing date for entries is 17th November 2014.

Tel:

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Attendees will be treated to a 5 course dining experience with a specially selected wine for each course, introduced by Ed Adams, Master of Wine, one of the two men behind the wines of La Bascula with South African born winemaker Bruce Jack. Tickets are just £60 per person and can be purchased via Arbennig or Viader Vintners and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. n

Cardiff Now • November 2014 •information www.nowcardiff.co.uk If you do not wish to receive on forthcoming events, news and offers from Viader Vinters and Arbennig please tick this box

food & drink

Drunken Sailor Pop-Up Waffle Shop Cardiff has seen a huge rise in street food and pop-up culture during the past year or so.

We’ve got bbq pop-ups, fried chicken pop-ups, burger and hot dog pop-ups and even a new breakfast pop-up, but one thing we are lacking is more dessert diversity!

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ot your average waffle stand, we will be offering a menu that features ‘Dunken Specials’ such our Merlyn’s Beard waffle that is smothered in a cream sauce made using Meryln from Penderyn Distillery, as well as waffle cones, which will be chip cones filled with waffle squares with an array of toppings, such as maple syrup and candied bacon. All made in Wendy our waffle iron. We will also be selling waffle dogs; frankfurters on a stick and covered in waffle batter. It sounds wrong but if you can put a burger in between a doughnut, you can put a sausage in a waffle.

We strive to make our waffles as local as possible, hence the ‘Waffles of Wales’ Twitter handle, and whereas many waffle stands use pre-made mixes where you simply add water, we will be sourcing our ingredients, where possible, from local producers. Our flour for

example comes from Felin Ganol, one of Wales’ last working watermills, situated on the River Wyre in Ceredigion. Our milk and cream, for the batters and toppings, come just down

the road from us at Ty Tanglwyst Dairy, and our frankfurters come from none other than Charcutier Ltd. and are the only frankfurters made to authentically in the country. It’s important for me to know where my food comes from and by using these ingredients, I hope to put a Welsh twist on the waffle.

We will be launching on Saturday December 13th, in the afternoon, in The Gravity Station, where the huge array of beers, especially the dark beers, will go down a treat with our sweet menu. Winter is coming and it is stout season after all! We will be providing the perfect break from your Christmas shopping to have a little beer and a waffle or two, to numb the pain of all the crowds and queues. n Follow Drunken Sailor Pop-Up Waffle Shop on Twitter: @WafflesofWales

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

25

motoring

Get Your Car Winter Ready

Buy breakdown cover Whether your car conks out on the motorway in the snow or you accidentally lock your keys inside car while de-icing it, a breakdown policy could save you potentially hundreds of pounds.

Comprehensive cover starts from as little as £30 a year, so driving without it could prove a false economy if you consider that some call-out fees are more than double this. More importantly, it also means you have someone to call when you are stuck. Otherwise, you’d risk having to join the queue for your nearest garage - and you won’t necessarily be a priority.

protection from a weather-related breakdown.

Now is a good time to consider investing in a new car battery too. Most have two to four years of reliable life, so if yours is older then consider replacing it before it gives up the ghost and leaves you stranded.

fully clearing your windows of ice and condensation. If you caused an accident because you couldn’t see clearly, your car insurance premiums could rocket.Clear snow from the roof of your car to prevent it falling across your windscreen once you get up to speed.

Plan every journey carefully

Keep your lights clear

When driving conditions are hazardous, you should limit the time you spend on the road as much as possible. Getting lost or taking longer routes increases your chances of trouble, so plan every journey in advance.

In this filthy weather, it isn’t just your windscreen that gets grimy. Regularly wipe your lights and check the bulbs so that you can be confident other road users can see you.

Check your tyres Pack warm things

Pack a few essentials

If you’re planning to hop into a warm car and drive to a warm office, you may not bother taking a coat. But if you do break down, the safest place to be is outside the car and away from the road. That means it’s essential to take warm clothes with you on every journey.

With so many drivers getting stuck in traffic overnight because of snow, it’s also a good idea to pack blankets or even a duvet in the boot.

You won’t be able to keep your engine running indefinitely and you don’t want to freeze. If you’re going on a long journey in the cold, you might also want to pack a flask of hot tea or coffee in case you end up stranded.

As well as warm clothes and blankets, if you can take a few minutes to pack some winter gear in your vehicle, you’ll be better placed to cope with anything the big freeze throws at you.

You should carry a torch, de-icer and scraper, battery jump leads, first aid kit and even a shovel if you’re experiencing particularly heavy snow.

Don’t forget sunglasses so that the low winter sun doesn’t make it difficult to see the road, and make sure your phone is fully charged before you set out.

Get your vehicle serviced If you want to have real confidence in your car this winter, why not get it serviced? If your vehicle is in good running order then you can feel more confident about the journeys you do have to make.

Ask your garage to check and replace the anti-freeze in your radiator too, giving you extra 26

Have a clean windscreen Are your wiper blades worn and is your screen washer running low? This is not a good idea in the winter, when visibility is dramatically reduced by the weather, while a low sun highlights every smear on the screen but makes it hard to see the road. Replace your windscreen wipers if needed and top up your screen washer. Consider adding less water to the concentrate solutions, to make it even less likely to freeze over.

Also, never be tempted to drive off without

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

Are your tyres up to the gruelling weather? While many of us would prefer not to kit our car out with expensive snow tyres unless it’s absolutely essential, there are still ways to help your tyres get through the winter. Check they have a suitably deep tread so that they can grip the road in icy conditions, and ensure they are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure for the vehicle and load.

Drive well No matter how ready your car is to brave the weather, if you’re not driving carefully then you’re still at risk. Leave extra time for journeys so that you aren’t rushing in poor weather conditions and don’t be tempted to speed when visibility is bad and the roads are icy or wet.

Remember to leave an extra long stopping space between vehicles and to be aware of how the wind can affect your steering, especially in exposed locations like bridges.Never speed in wintry weather; you may not be able to see what you’re speeding towards and black ice could cause you to skid out of control. n

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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cardiff walk

Monmouth – the ‘Picturesque’ Wye Valley In the late 18th century, a number of artists were taking ‘tours’ in the Wye Valley. One of these artists was William Gilpin. In June 1770, he and others took a covered rowing boat from Ross-on-Wye to Monmouth and eventually on to Chepstow. In his journal he wrote ‘the hills gradually descend into Monmouth which lies too low to make any appearance from the water but on landing we found it a pleasant town and neatly built. The Town House and Church are handsome’. This walk starts in Monmouth and goes along the Wye Valley Path to Redbrook. The route then climbs gently along the Offa’s Dyke Path up to ‘The Kymin’. The Round Tower on its heights was built in 1794 and was an early acquisition of the National Trust. The views from here are worth the effort and it is all downhill from here!

Start / Finish: The walk starts and ends on the old Monnow Bridge.

Public Transport: The nearest Railway Stations are at Abergavenny, Chepstow and Hereford, There are bus services connecting these places to Monmouth.

Please check timetables and set out early.

Parking: There is all day parking in the car park near the old Bridge.

O/S Maps: Landranger 162 / Outdoor Leisure 14 Distance: approx. 9 miles or 8 miles (slightly shorter walk).

Time: You can allow all day to enjoy the route at a leisurely pace and maybe have a picnic en route.

(Note: The walk can be done in two halves using bus 69 either to or from Redbook on A466).

Refreshments: There are plenty of eating and food places in Monmouth but nothing along the route. A Picnic is a good idea!

Terrain: The outward walk through the Wye Valley is fairly flat but from Redbrook there is a steady climb almost up to ‘The Kymin’. Try a ‘there and back’ walk along the River Wye to Redbrook or catch the bus back to avoid the hill. Sensible walking shoes or boots are recommended and poles are useful. There are some spectacular views across the valleys from higher up and a lovely view of Monmouth from ‘The Kymin’ on a clear day. The walk is not ‘wheel-friendly’ but the town of Monmouth itself and the riverside along the River Monnow (see map) has a pleasant triangular route marked for those with wheels’. There are numerous gates and kiss-gates along this pretty walk. Warning: If the River Wye is in flood, please do not attempt this walk!

Route: (1) The walk starts on the Monnow Bridge, a 14th century fortified bridge. Walk up into the town and take a path between the shops just beyond Waitrose. This leads to Chippenham Mead. Walk diagonally through an avenue of Lime trees to exit the park in the far corner. Walk straight on and follow the road round to Glendower Street.

Turn right, passing Glover Music School then right along Almshouse Street (the Almshouses on your right were founded in 1615 and have recently been redeveloped). Further along is the original Grammar School first built in 1614 and rebuilt with the Chapel by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1865. Continue into St James Street then turn right down Wye Bridge Street, 28

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

cardiff walk

crossing to the Wye Bridge opposite via the subway beneath the busy A40.

(2) Walk to the far end of this beautiful bridge and turn right down the track leading to the Monmouth School Sports Centre. You are now on the Wye Valley Path and this goes through a kiss-gate to the right of the pavilion and along the riverside path which skirts the playing field.

This area is known as ‘The Gamblings’ and it was once a ship-building yard. The ‘Monmouth’ boat was built here in 1920. If you look at the top of the hill on your left, you will see The Kymin Tower featured in the painting here. After 650 yards, you will reach an iron viaduct which carried the Ross to Monmouth railway line. It was built in 1873. Just beyond this are the remains of a beautiful stone viaduct, sadly falling into disrepair. This carried the line from Monmouth to Pontypool and was built in 1857. Passenger services to Monmouth stopped in 1959 and goods traffic stopped in 1964. Local stone was used to build this viaduct, the pinkness of the stone comes from the iron content. Iron production in the nearby Forest of Dean was one reason that the railways were built.

back on yourself gently uphill to join the lane at Upper Redbrook. You have just walked along the old track-bed of one of the industrial railways from the Forest of Dean ironworks that closed in the 1950’s. Just ahead of you is an incline that crosses the road over a bridge. Follow the road below for a half mile to a footpath on your left.

Upper Redbrook had several inns, a watermill, malthouse and forge. The village takes its name from the iron-stained stream beside the road.

(5) Fork left up the ‘Offa’s Dyke Path’ (O.D.P.) and keep climbing gently until you reach open fields high up the slopes near Duffields Farm.

Look back at the network of valleys and forested slopes that characterize this area. The River Wye is hidden down below on your left.

(3) Continue along the Wye Valley Path (marked by posts) with glimpses of the beautiful River Wye below until you come out onto the A466 at Lower Redbrook.

(6) Keep climbing up to Cockshot Ash Barn where the slightly shorter route goes downhill to Monmouth. The main walk continues through a wooden kiss-gate a little further along on your right. The O.D.P. goes along the left side of this field and through a small wooden gate, along another path to another gate into woodland. Climb up the bank and follow the path along the edge of this woodland to Harpen’s Grove. Go through a gate and up the slope to a metal kiss-gate that leads along a woodland path between two fences exiting onto Kymin Road via another kiss-gate.

(4) Walk carefully along the pavement for 300 yards, passing the road to Newland, to a path opposite the Riverside car park. Follow this track

(7) Go straight across this road to the National Trust area known as The Kymin. First you will reach the Naval Temple built in 1800 to honour 16 Admirals.

You will then come to The Round Tower, built a few years earlier (1794) as a two storey Georgian banqueting house for use as a dining club for the gentry who mastered the wooded slopes. From here there are lovely views of Monmouth on a clear day.

The walk continues along the front of this Round House and it is important to find a direction post 100 yards further on. Turn left down the stone steps.

Follow the O.D.P. to the right down more steps and down an ancient hollowed out path. Take the right fork down the wooded slope and through a kiss-gate into a track, turn right for 75 yards and take the path on the right. Follow this well marked route downhill past a series of paddocks to the Kymin Road.

(8) Continue down the road to a corner and turn left passing an orchard. After 150 yards, take the O.D.P. on your right and walk down a wide woodland path that contours round the hillside dropping down to the River level once again. On reaching the Coleford Road, turn left, passing the Mayhill Hotel.

(9) Here, the shorter route rejoins the main walk.

Continue with care down to the Wye Bridge and retrace the outward route to St James Street.

(10) Turn right down St Mary’s Street then left down Church Street. Turn left through the shops to Agincourt Square, passing the statue of Charles Rolls of Rolls - Royce in front of the Shire Hall built in 1724. Walk on down Monnow Street back to the Monnow Bridge where the walk ends. n Written and Illustrated by Glynis Dray

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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cardiff past

The Severn Railway Tunnel The Severn Tunnel (Twnnel Hafren) links South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn.

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source became known as “The Great Spring”.

Thomas A. Walker was the contractor entrusted by the chief GWR engineer Sir John Hawkshaw with rescuing and completing the tunnel after the 1879 flooding. Holding the Great Spring in check required the installation of greatly increased pumping facilities, and a diver had to be sent down a shaft and 300 m along the tunnel heading to close a watertight door in the workings and seal off the waters. This troublesome task was finally achieved in November 1880 by lead diver Alexander Lambert using Henry Fleuss’ new self contained breathing apparatus, but work in the area of the Great Spring was unable to continue until January 1881 when the Great Spring was temporarily sealed off.

Work was later disrupted in 1883 by further flooding from the Great Spring, and again Lambert managed to save the day. Additional mishaps afflicting the workings included a large tidal wave and a breakthrough of the bed of a pool (the “Salmon Pool”) on the English side.In the intervening period the Severn Railway Bridge from Sharpness to Lydney was opened.

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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The tunnel was completed during 1885 and a goods train passed through it on 9 January 1886, but regular services had to wait until the pumping systems were complete. The tunnel opened to goods trains in September and to passenger traffic in December 1886, nearly 14 years after work had started. Fixed Cornish beam engines pumped out the Great Spring and other sources of water until the 1960s, when they were replaced by electrically powered pumps.

In the 1930s the availability of the reliable fresh water supply from the Great Spring led to the choice of an adjacent site for the Royal Navy Propellant Factory, Caerwent. Water was also supplied for paper manufacture to a mill at Sudbrook, now closed.

In 1924, the Great Western Railway started a service to transport cars on rail trucks through the tunnel between Pilning and Severn Tunnel Junction. The service was an alternative to the Aust Ferry, which had an erratic timetable determined by the tides, or the long road journey via Gloucester. The service continued after the war, but was made redundant by the opening of the Severn Bridge in 1966. n

Thomas A. Walker was the contractor entrusted by the chief GWR engineer Sir John Hawkshaw with rescuing and completing the tunnel after the 1879 flooding

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he tunnel was built by the Great Western Railway (GWR) between 1873 and 1886. It is 4 miles 624 yd (7,008m) long, although only 2¼ miles (3.62 km) of the tunnel are under the river. For well over 100 years it was the longest mainline railway tunnel within the UK, until the two major High Speed 1 tunnels (London East and West) were opened in 2007 as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

The tunnel is a critical part of the trunk railway line between London (and southern England generally) and South Wales, and carries an intensive passenger train service, and a significant freight traffic.

Prior to the building of the tunnel, the railway journey between the Bristol area and South Wales involved a ferry journey between New Passage and Portskewett or a long detour via Gloucester.

The rail journey time could be significantly shortened by construction of a tunnel; work began in March 1873 and proceeded gradually through the 1870s.

As Thomas Walker, the contractor for the work, notes in his book, the GWR had expected the critical part of the work to be the tunnelling under the deep-water channel of the Shoots.

However, the real difficulties began in October 1879, when, with only 130 yards (119 m) separating the main tunnel heading being driven from the Monmouthshire side and the shorter Gloucestershire heading, the workings were inundated. The incoming water was fresh, not from the Severn but from the Welsh side, and the

cardiff past

The Sudbrook Tunnel Centre The story of the Severn Railway Tunnel, one of the many great feats of Victorian engineering, was brought vividly alive for local youngsters at the official launch of the newly refurbished Sudbrook Tunnel Centre.

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Storyteller Francis Maxey, dressed as the foreman, also opened their eyes to what life used to be like in Sudbrook

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hildren from Archbishop Rowan Williams Primary School in Portskewett were invited to visit the Tunnel Centre to meet local historian Peter Strong and hear more about the challenges of constructing the tunnel, which for some of its length is about 50ft beneath the seabed, and 180ft beneath sea level and for more than a century remained the UK’s longest mainline railway tunnel.

Storyteller Francis Maxey, dressed as the foreman, also opened their eyes to what life used to be like in Sudbrook, which was largely built to provide homes for the men working on the 13-year project (1873 to 1886), which employed 3,628 workmen at its height.

Invited guests also had the chance to walk around the Tunnel Centre, a local history centre run by volunteers from the Caldicot & District Local History Society, co-ordinated by Peter Strong. Here, new interpretation, including video footage and panels, enabled them to dig deeper into the history of the four-mile tunnel and learn some of the fascinating facts surrounding it.

The new interpretation has been provided with support from adventa, part of Monmouthshire’s rural development plan. The Tunnel Centre is conveniently situated for walkers on the Wales Coast Path, which gives views over the Severn and an insight into the route which Victorian rail travellers would previously have had to make to get from London into South Wales – by ferry across an estuary renowned for having the highest tides in Europe.

The centre is housed in a room provided by The Sudbrook Non Political Club, where local artist David Woolnough has created a railway mural on the walls leading to the history centre. Refurbished toilet facilities and hot beverages are also now available to visitors to the centre and to walkers on the Wales Coast Path.

The Sudbrook Tunnel Centre is open daily from 10.30am until dusk. For more information about the Sudbrook Tunnel Centre, visit www.caldicothistory.org. uk/sudbrook.html. For more information about adventa visit www.adventa.org. uk. n

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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education

The Benefits of Extra Tuition Just as the careful placing of bricks and mortar will create a strong structure to any building, a solid primary education will lay firm foundations for children that, like a well built property, will stand the test of the time.

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esearch shows us that a child, who has managed to grasp the basic fundamentals in primary education, will progress more quickly and is better equipped for the more complicated subject areas that will arise at secondary school and during further education. And if there are any gaps in this primary education, he or she may be playing catch up through secondary school and beyond.

To supplement school education, to keep their children ‘up to speed’, and help them in areas of difficulty, many parents look to extra tuition.

Of course, this comes at a price.

Expect to pay anything from £15 to £25 per session. It’s worth shopping around; some tutors may offer reduced rates - especially if a child needs help in more than one subject or if a sibling also needs tuition.

Initially, tuition prices may appear on the steep side, but, on the whole, most parents really value the extra help and consider the money well worth spent as a wise long-term investment.

Additional tuition can make a huge difference to a child’s confidence. And this is often 32

matched with an eagerness to learn more. Plus, during the course of individual or concentrated learning, certain traits or sources of concern may be identified, such as dyslexia, which can be positively remedied using proven recognised techniques.

If you have decided to invest in additional education for your child, what options are open to you?

The choice of different tutoring styles is pretty varied, and much of the success depends on how the individual child adapts to a particular programme.

Private Tuition The first option available is to employ a tutor who educates on a one-to-one basis or who teaches in very small groups – usually no bigger than six. Sessions last between 30 minutes to one and a half hours, depending on the age of the child. But children will receive focussed personal attention. The tutor, who is often usually a fully qualified primary school teacher, can steer the pupil in the right direction, working on strengths and addressing weaknesses.

Often, after sessions, children are given ‘homework’ to complete

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

independently at home. By employing a private tutor, parents avoid those occasionally fraught moments teaching their children themselves. And as time moves on, with improved knowledge and skills, children will need less help with their school homework, too. To find a good tutor, you could ask your child’s teacher or quiz other parents for recommendations.

Tutorial Guidance Another approach to providing extra tuition involves teamwork part tutorial advice, part parental support and guidance. Rather than age, children are assessed on ability, and follow a specially designed individual programme drawn up by a tutor, to actively encourage the child to grasp skills to learn for themselves.

This is then supported by daily ‘homework’, seen under the watchful eye of a parent. Parents are advised to guide their child towards total independent learning.

When a student can demonstrate total command of a topic, he or she can progress to a higher level.

Alternatively, parents can choose from an individual plans

using traditional distance learning resources such as DVD’s and interactive internet programmes.

Much of the success of these plans depends on the motivation and support of the parent. If cost is an issue, it’s worth rooting around in a decent bookshop where you will find a good number of Key Stage 1 and 2 workbooks. Many are simple to use and follow a day-by-day plan, using a star chart as physical proof of effort and progress. But again, although the books clearly demonstrate working out methods, a child will need parental help.

Parents who express an interest in helping with extra work will highlight its importance and reinforce the fact that it needs to be taken seriously. They will learn more about individual strengths, and identify subjects where more attention is required. Here, we’ve listed some ideas that should make things easier for your child to study: • Try to provide a quiet and welllit study area at home, away from the TV, for your child to work. Prerequisites are suitable stationery and a table.

• Encourage your child to complete the work as soon as possible.

education looking things up and increasing their knowledge on specific topics, children will do better at school.

• Remember to keep up regular communication with the tutor for help and advice.

Extra help for Dyslexic Children

• Positive praise will boost your child’s confidence but you will need to be extremely patient.

If your child has difficulty in understanding the topic, try different explanations until he or she does.

• Explain the benefits of working independently. For example, by learning to work independently,

Sometimes, it can be confusing if a child who appears to be very intelligent is struggling at school.

If this sounds familiar, it’s worth checking to see if your child is dyslexic. Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which mainly affects language and literacy related skills. Many dyslexic children find school work difficult when their literacy and memory skills render them unable to tackle tasks they have been set. Many specialist tutors gear one-to-one sessions around particular needs, making allowances for the fact that dyslexic children are often exhausted after a day at school. Study is well structured. To find out more and a tutor near you go to: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/ n

Cyncoed Kumon Maths and English

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t your local Cyncoed Study Centre, Kumon offers individualised maths and English study programmes which are tailored to all ages and abilities. Established for over 50 years, the Kumon programmes enable children to develop their study skills and confidently tackle advanced work.

One parent wrote: “Thank you, Tina, for the care and attention you have shown to Anya over the past year. We have been amazed and delighted to watch as she progressed, just as you said she would, from being a scared little girl who hated math, to being in the top group. She loves her maths lessons now and her new-found confidence is spreading to all corners of her life!” Tanya Buchanan.

The Kumon English Programme progresses from basic word and sentence building and culminates in critiquing advanced texts. Through

daily study of this programme, students develop a wide range of reading comprehension skills, ultimately enabling them to interpret information in advanced literature and become proficient readers.

The Kumon Maths Programme leads students from basic numbers to the mastery of arithmetic, algebra and calculus, all without the use of a calculator. From a start-point, determined through individual assessment by Tina, students progress from strengthening their basic skills through daily study of this worksheet-based programme, developing an affinity for mental maths and the confidence to apply a range of skills when faced with a new challenge.

Individual assessment is free, to book your appointment or for more information, contact Tina Vincent on 07906 760895 or email cardiffcyncoed@kumoncentre.co.uk n

Cyncoed - Tina Vincent Tel: 02920 639195 or 07906 760 895 Email: cardiffcyncoed@kumoncentre.co.uk

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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senior living

What Does Retirement Mean to You? Instead of the end of the road retirement can be a new beginning. You can cope with the transition into this new stage in your life. It’s time to start getting ready for life after work.

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raditionally, we’ve been told that retirement is about relaxing, taking things easy, exploring new hobbies; travelling to places you’ve always wanted to visit; improving your relationships with friends and family; convincing them that you are able to do all the things you want to do; proving that you are as fit as they are and that getting older doesn’t affect you; keeping busy; having a life.

It’s about confidence, persistence and motivation and it may be more difficult than you thought it would be.

In contrast, getting ready for retirement is about planning. It means deciding what you want to do, how you want to spend your time, and your money, being open to opportunities, and then taking the action you need to achieve what you want to change for the better in your life. If you do that you can have a life after work!

A good metaphor for this would be the rehearsal for a play, learning the lines and the actions compared with going on stage without having seeing the script and expecting a faultless 34

performance.

Years ago life expectancy was so short most of us wouldn’t have lived beyond our 30s or 40s.

Some would have succumbed to infection or other disease and others died in childbirth. Now we can expect to live for at least our fourscore years and more. Many people are living now into their nineties.

The generation of people retiring are younger in outlook and fitter in body than their counterparts in the past (and maybe in the future too) We can look forward to many years of enjoyment and exciting times ahead and because of this I want to enable you to have a life after work which is exciting and fulfilling.

So when you get ready for retirement you will be like the well rehearsed actor, ready to respond to the audience reaction but with a path forward already in your mind.

Are you ready to learn the script or do you want to go forward onto the next phase of your life without any preparation?

Going on a journey not knowing where

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

you are going may be what you want. But it’s appealing to have a plan however much you want to take a path this way or that from time to time away from it. You can always come back to the path you left and move forward towards your goal.

So getting ready for retirement is like planning your itinerary for the next stage of your life.

Enabling you to travel through the transition from work to retirement and encouraging you to explore the highways and byways as you go. It’s an opportunity to shift the way you think about retirement.

You can take a chance and walk onto the stage of life with no preparation if you want to, or you can make life much easier for yourself.

Are you apprehensive about retirement or making a big change in your working life?

Do you wonder how you’ll manage without the routine of regular work? Are you wondering how you’ll cope with your change of identity from professional to retiree? n

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

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upload your event for free on www.nowcardiff.co.uk

Christmas in Cardiff Cardiff has everything you need for the perfect Christmas; showcasing a wide variety of award winning events and entertainment to help you celebrate the season in style.

The Official Start to Christmas In Cardiff 13 November | City Centre | 4.30-7.30pm FREE EVENT Come and see the city’s festive lights twinkle to life for another year and enjoy a cornucopia of Christmas entertainment, featuring over 90 fun and festive performances in various locations throughout the city centre. Entertainment and attractions include Santa and his Reindeer who will parade through the city centre from Central Library at 4.30pm to their pen on St Mary St, appearances from The SnowmanTM and The Snowdog at intervals throughout the evening outside St David’s Hall plus The Diamond a spectacular aerial acrobatic display outside the Capitol Shopping Centre from performers suspended 11 metres high above Cardiff.

The evening also marks the opening of Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland on City Hall Lawn featuring the ever popular open air ice rink and Alpine Village. The last session on the night will be at 9.00pm so book your tickets now to avoid disappointment by calling TicketlineUK on 029 20 230 130. As well as the opening of the Cardiff Christmas Markets

Cardiff Winter Wonderland Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland |13 November 5 January | City Hall Lawn | Civic Centre The highlight of Christmas in the city has to be Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland. This festive treat is set on City Hall Lawn with a backdrop of Cardiff’s iconic Civic Centre With 7 over weeks of skating on offer from 13 Nov to 5 Jan 2015 this is a must do Christmas experience!

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Christmas at the Castle Cardiff Castle | 6 December - 21 December Santa’s Grotto | Every weekend in December Santa returns to his magical grotto with presents for all good boys and girls. Please check www. cardiffcastle.com for tickets as there is limited availability.

Christmas Wreath-Making 7 December 10.30am Come along and join us in the Undercroft and learn how to make an authentic Christmas wreath and decorate it in traditional style. Foliage and berries will be supplied, plus expert guidance will be on hand to help you create a masterpiece that you can take home.

Please book in advance on 029 2087 8100 Tickets: £25 per wreath, additional guests, £7.50 including coffee and mince pie

The Castle After Dark 10 December & 11 December from 6pm As night falls, take a grand tour of the interiors of Cardiff Castle with your costumed guide, see Lord and Lady Bute’s apartments, beautifully decorated for Christmas. The evening culminates in a visit to the wine cellar followed by Christmas carols and mulled wine in the atmospheric candlelit 15th century Undercroft.

Please book in advance on 029 2087 8100.

Tickets: Adults £17.50; Seniors £16; Children £11 10% discount for Cardiff Castle Key and Season Ticket holders on above ticket prices in person at the Ticket Office. Please bring your Castle Keys / Season Tickets with you to claim your discount

Christmas Ballets, St David’s Hall 20 December - 3 January | St David’s Hall

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St David’s Hall has the festive season all tied up with three magical ballets from one of the world’s leading ballet companies, the Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia - the perfect Christmas present!

The series of captivating ballets begins with The Nutcracker. Feel the warmth of the open fire as presents lay beneath the tree before drifting away to the Land of Snow when midnight strikes.

Guaranteed fun for the whole family.

Every toy has a story and Coppélia tells the charming portrayal of life in a doll-maker’s workshop. This light-hearted tale of mistaken identity and confused lovers is ideal for first-time ballet-goers.

The series climaxes with the greatest romantic ballet of all time, Swan Lake, which features Tchaikovsky’s haunting score. From the majesty of the palace ballroom to the moonlit lake where swans glide in perfect formation, this compelling tale of tragic romance has it all.

The Nutcracker: 20 -24 December Coppélia: 27 -29 December Swan Lake: 30 December -3 January Matinee and evening performances (excluding 1 January). Tickets are available now at www. stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or at the Box Office on 029 2087 8444.

Christmas in the Bay Don’t forget there’s plenty to see and do on the waterfront this winter... enjoy a show, shop for gifts or take a scenic boat ride.

Look out for the ‘2014 Winter Guide’ at the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre and other attractions, or discover all that the Bay has to offer this festive season at www.visitcardiffbay.info n

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Cardiff’s Creatives Collaborate for Charity and Christmas Cheer The National Youth Theatre Wales, Somewhereto_, ProMoCymru, The Modern Alchemists and fundraiser and performance poet Sophie Hickson present The Cardiff Christmas Bazaar, a creative Christmas event taking place in the heart of the city.

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overseas, contributing to ethical and sustainable projects, broaden skills and confidence and create international networks.

Inspired by the objectives of the organisation, Sophie spent three months volunteering in the Philippines and has since been fundraising for the charity.

“I’m so excited to be raising money for such a good cause, whilst also giving back to the local community where I grew up. Cardiff is such a thriving city and it’s so wonderful to be able to

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icking off at 11am on Saturday November 29th at The Abacus on Wood Street, The Cardiff Christmas Bazaar is set to host a broad mix of Christmas market stalls including gifts and cards, art, face painting and nail art and creative workshops and performances. Stall holders include the adorable Tipi Tots selling handmade children’s toys, illustrator Patrick Coombes, Dolen Cymru and home-ware crafts from Love and Lovelier.

The event is part of Sophie Hickson’s project ON iiiT, which has brought creative writing classes and workshops to Cardiff’s creative scene. ON iiiT, which is funded by O2 Think Big, aims to bring people of all backgrounds, beliefs, faiths, sexualities and genders together to participate in inclusive and creative sessions.

Sophie, a Cardiff native and experienced facilitator, is donating her time voluntarily to support Y Care International Citizen Service (ICS), a charity which provides young people with a once in a lifetime opportunity to volunteer

Cardiff is such a thriving city and it’s so wonderful to be able to add to the creativity here

Cardiff Now • November 2014 • www.nowcardiff.co.uk

add to the creativity here” said Sophie.

“The Cardiff Christmas Bazaar is more than a market, it’s an opportunity for the community to get together, celebrate and showcase Welsh talent, from visual art, gifts to performance. I wanted to make sure this event was accessible for all, there’s free crafts for all ages, open mic, stall holders and performers - it’s a festival in a day” n For more information visit www.oniiit.co.uk or contact Sophie Hickson at ONiiiTinfo@ gmail.com or on 07934011061 Twitter: @ON_iiiT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ events/620355351417894/

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what’s on NOVEMBER Until Sunday 11th January Disney’s The Lion King Wales Millennium Centre Bute Place Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL www.wmc.org.uk Cost: £20.50 / £55

Saturday 8th Remembering Them Caldicot Castle Church Road Caldicot Monmouthshire NP26 4HU www.rememberingthem.co.uk Cost: £20

Remembrance Service St Fagans National History Museum Cardiff CF5 6XB www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free

Saturday 8th Sunday 9th Everlasting Poppy Pins National Waterfront Museum Oystermouth Road Maritime Quarter Swansea SA1 3RD www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free

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Sunday 9th Riverside Market Fitzhamon Embankment Cardiff CF11 6AN Contact: 029 2019 0036 Cost: free

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Symphony Orchestra St David’s Hall The Hayes Cardiff CF10 1AH www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk Cost: £12.00

Monday 10th Breakfast at Tiffany’s St Donat’s Arts Centre Llantwit Major S Glam CF61 1WF www.stdonats.com Cost: £4.50

Tuesday 11th Behind the Scenes: Natural Sciences National Museum Cardiff Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NP www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free, limited spaces

www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk Cost: £9.95

John Bishop Motorpoint Arena Mary Ann Street Cardiff CF10 2EQ Contact: 029 2022 4488 Cost: ticket prices vary

Thursday 13th Fascinating Aida The Blake Theatre Almshouse Street Monmouth NP25 3XP www.theblaketheatre.org Cost: £19.50

Friday 14th Tea Dance St Donat’s Arts Centre Llantwit Major S Glam CF61 1WF www.stdonats.com Cost: £5.00

Saturday 15th Roath Farmers Market Mackintosh Community Centre Keppoch Street Cardiff CF24 3JW Contact: 029 2019 0036 Cost: free

CF14 4 XW www.steamchicken.co.uk Cost: £10, £8 concessions

Saturday 15th Sunday 16th Make a Movember Moustache!

National Waterfront Museum Oystermouth Road Maritime Quarter Swansea SA1 3RD www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free

Taking Over Museums Day National Roman Legion Museum High Street Caerleon Newport NP18 1AE www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free

Sunday 16th Lunchtime Concert National Museum Cardiff Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NP www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free, limited spaces

Wednesday 12th A Night of Musical Theatre

November Ceilidh with Steamchicken

Sunday 16th Monday 17th Ballet Cymru: Beauty and the Beast

St David’s Hall The Hayes Cardiff CF10 1AH

CMC Sports and Social Club University Hospital of Wales Heath Park Cardiff

Wales Millennium Centre Bute Place Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL

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NOW If you would like to advertise in Cardiff Now please contact one of our sales team: Emma Cox Tel: 01905 727908

emma@pw-media.co.uk Suzie Scott Follow us on Twitter

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what’s on www.wmc.org.uk Cost: £8 / £12

Friday 21st Rhiwbina Farmers’ Market Car park of The Butchers Arms Cardiff CF14 6NB Contact: 029 2019 0036 Cost: free

Bryan Adams: Reckless - 30th Anniversary Tour Motorpoint Arena Mary Ann Street Cardiff CF10 2EQ Contact: 029 2022 4488 Cost: ticket prices vary

Saturday 22nd Potter’s Wheel Workshop - One Day Eastnor Pottery Home Farm Eastnor Ledbury HR8 1RD www.eastnorpottery.co.uk Cost: £120

Christmas with Michael Bennett & friends Norwegian Church Arts Centre Harbour Drive Cardiff Bay CF10 4PA www.norwegianchurchcardiff.co.uk Cost: £8.50

Saturday 22nd Sunday 23rd Potter’s Wheel 42

Workshop - Weekend Eastnor Pottery Home Farm Eastnor Ledbury HR8 1RD www.eastnorpottery.co.uk Cost: £215

3D Advent Calendar National Waterfront Museum Oystermouth Road Maritime Quarter Swansea SA1 3RD www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free, booking required

Sunday 23rd Riverside Market Fitzhamon Embankment Cardiff CF11 6AN Contact: 029 2019 0036 Cost: free

Stir Up Sunday St Fagans National History Museum Cardiff CF5 6XB www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free

Toy Collectors Fair Three Counties Showground Malvern Worcester WR13 6NW www.threecounties.co.uk Cost: TBC

Monday 24th To Kill A Mockingbird St Donat’s Arts Centre

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Llantwit Major S Glam CF61 1WF www.stdonats.com Cost: £4.50

Monday 24th Sunday 30th Lee Evans Monsters Tour Motorpoint Arena Mary Ann Street Cardiff CF10 2EQ Contact: 029 2022 4488 Cost: ticket prices vary

Tuesday 25th The Sensational 60s Experience St David’s Hall The Hayes Cardiff CF10 1AH www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk Cost: £17.00 / £21.00

Thursday 27th Friday 28th Octave at Christmas Norwegian Church Arts Centre Harbour Drive Cardiff Bay CF10 4PA www.norwegianchurchcardiff.co.uk Cost: £8.50

Friday 28th An Evening with Monty Don The Blake Theatre Almshouse Street Monmouth

NP25 3XP www.theblaketheatre.org Cost: £12.00

Friday 28th Organ Recital National Museum Cardiff Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NP www.museumwales.ac.uk Cost: free, limited spaces

Saturday 29th Roath Farmers Market Mackintosh Community Centre Keppoch Street Cardiff CF24 3JW Contact: 029 2019 0036 Cost: free

Saturday 29th November - Wednesday 24th December Christmas Fantasy - The Perfect Christmas Tree Clearwell Caves Nr Coleford Gloucester GL16 8JR www.clearwellcaves.com Cost: £9 per person, includes gift from Santa. Under 2 years free - gift £4.50

Sunday 30th Riverside Market Fitzhamon Embankment Cardiff CF11 6AN Contact: 029 2019 0036 Cost: free

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