Rhiwbina Living Issue 36 Autumn 2016

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Rhiwbina Living

At the heart of the community

Issue 36 Autumn 2016

From Rhiwbina to Rio and Olympic Gold Autumn Home DĂŠcor Ideas

AUTUMN Your multi award-winning magazine for Rhiwbina

Contents

What’s on in Rhiwbina

3-4 News 5 Rhiwbina Library 6 Letters 8 From Rhiwbina to Rio

Owain Doull and

Olympic Gold 12 Rhiwbeina

Primary School 16 Halloween Party

Fun and games 20 Autumn Crafts

Get creative 25 Shakin’ Stevens

Cardiff’s legendary musician 27 Cider Harvest

Rhiwbina’s

blossoming cider trade 28 Local Authors 32 Autumn Décor

Cosy home ideas 36 The Bomb Factory

Local history 40 Gardening 44 Cycle the Taff Trail 49 Competitions

WIN! WIN! WIN! 51 Pet Questions 56 38 Things You’ll Only

Understand If You’ve

Lived in Rhiwbina 60 Autumn Warmers 62 Autumn Soup

A Short Story

Baking Competition Beulah Community Hall Saturday 1st October 11.30am For further details contact: 02920 626234 Bethany Baptist Church Open Day Bethany Baptist Church Saturday 1st October 9am-3pm Handmade Craft Fair All Saints Church Hall Saturday 15th October 11am-2pm Halloween Dinner Dance Rhiwbina Recreation Club Friday 28th October 7pm Tickets £21.50 per person available from the club Made by Hand Wales Cardiff City Hall

Winter Issue deadline: 7th November 2016

Published 18th November 2016

a: 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 w: www.livingmags.co.uk e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or danielle@livingmags.co.uk While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any matter in any way arising from the publication of this material. Every effort has been made to contact any copyright holders. Rhiwbina Living is an independent, apolitical publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publishers.

Winners at the 2014 UK Independent Magazine Awards 2

Friday 28th October - Sunday 30th October Tickets £6 each Seasonal Market Rhiwbina Baptist Church Saturday 19th November 11am-4pm Tickets £1 per person on the door Fireworks Party at The Pantmawr Inn 3rd November from 7pm Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society Show Rhiwbina Scout Hut, Heol y Bont 9th November 2pm-4.30pm Rhiwbina Christmas Festival Rhiwbina Village Saturday 3rd December 4pm Details to be announced

Welcome / Croeso Autumn arrives and nowhere is this wonderful season more keenly felt than in our lovely village of Rhiwbina.

Our greenery turns into a blaze of reds, oranges and golds and there’s always the smoky aroma of log fires drifting through the air.

To celebrate all things Autumn, we have put together an issue which reflects the wonder of the season and enables us to really savour this time of the year.

The evenings are already darker and there is a distinct autumn chill in the air.

If you are looking for inspirational ideas to make your home cosy this autumn, head to our Autumn Décor feature and bring some warmth into your home.

To keep the kids entertained now that the warmth of the summer sunshine is a distant memory, head to the Autumn crafts page that we have put together to enjoy some quality time creating together.

Talking of the summer, Team GB put in such a performance at the Rio Olympics, that we ended up coming second in the Gold Medals table. That cause was helped along by one young man from North Cardiff by the name of Owain Doull. Along with Sir Bradley Wiggins, Steven Burke and Ed Clancy, he picked up Wales’s first gold medal of the Games - and we got to chat with him afterwards. Read our exclusive interview with him and discover how Rhiwbina played a part in his journey to the Games.

We also had a chance to speak to 80s heart-throb, Shakin’ Stevens. Shaky has just launched his latest album and he spoke to us about his music - and

www.facebook.com/ rhiwbinaliving

about growing up here in Cardiff.

As the kids head back to school for another year, Rhiwbeina Primary School highlights all their latest news.

And with Halloween fast approaching, if you are thinking of throwing a party, take a look at our party feature for all kinds of ghoulish games to incorporate!

The community and people of Rhiwbina are celebrated in our local authors feature, and Rhiwbina’s Andrew Thomas explains how he and several others have planted the seeds of a community-based cider orchard.

We’ll be looking forward to that coming to fruition in years to come!

For history buffs, there’s a feature about the local factory on the outskirts of Rhiwbina that used to make nuclear weapons. It’s a fascinating read.

Local gardener Kevin Revell shows you how to make the most of your garden’s autumn colour and if you fancy getting out and about to make the most of the beautiful autumn scenery, we’ve put together a Taff Trail Cycling Guide.

We’ve got three excellent competitions for some lovely prizes this issue on page 49.

Finally, with our Autumn Warmers, short story and a celebration of things about living in Rhiwbina, this issue should keep you busy for a while. So make yourself a hot drink and snuggle down to read our cosiest issue yet!

As always, we’d encourage you to shop local and use the services of our advertisers who continue to support our community life.

Danielle and Patric Editors

@RhiwbinaLiving

news

Major gasworks programme Popular wine taking place in Rhiwbina store closes Rhiwbina A programme of major gasworks has started in Rhiwbina and Pantmawr.

Wales and the West Utilities are replacing the vast majority of gas pipes in the two areas.

Preparatory work has already begun in Clos Yr Wenallt, Brynteg and Clos Yr Bryn. The aim is to replace all the old metal gas pipes with new plastic ones.

Wales and the West Utilities say that residents should only be without gas for less than a day, and will work to keep disruption to a minimum.

A statement from Wales and the West Utilities has been published, providing information for residents.

They said: “We will do our best to provide alternative heating and cooking facilities if required. To turn your gas back on after it has been switched off, we will need access to your home. It will not be possible to use your gas appliances until we do this and we confirm that they are safe for you to use. Those who do not have gas at their property may still face some

its doors

disruption as there will be a level of work going on around their property while we work on neighbouring properties.”

A Facebook page has been set up to keep residents updated with the very latest news regarding the gasworks programme. Search for Rhiwbina Gasworks on Facebook. A free telephone number has also been set up should anyone need alternative cooking facilities. The number is 0800 912 2999.

Rhiwbina schoolchildren take part in UK wide project Llanishen Fach A group of Rhiwbina and Whitchurch schools are buzzing with delight having been chosen to help to protect the dwindling population of Britain’s pollinating insects.

As four of the schools selected for the UK-wide ‘Polli:Nation’ programme, the pupils of Llanishen Fach Primary School, Coryton Primary School, Whitchurch Primary School and Whitchurch High School will now transform their outdoor spaces to become pollinator-friendly habitats, with the support of the national school grounds charity, Learning through Landscapes.

Over a period of three years, each of the schools will now be supported by a Polli:Nation facilitator from Learning through Landscapes - the national charity responsible for the project.

Linking to the National Pollinator Strategy, schools will now explore how they might: 1. Grow more flowers, shrubs and trees 2. Let it grow wild 3. Cut grass less often

4. Not disturb insect nests and hibernation spots 5. Think carefully about whether to use pesticides The schools have already contributed vital data to a UKwide pollinator survey from OPAL, Imperial College London. Pupils at each school took part in a survey of their grounds at the start of the project, the results of which will help scientists develop an accurate understanding of the current state of the habitats for Britain’s pollinating insects, and the potential to develop these further.

Beulah Road One of Rhiwbina’s most-loved shops has closed its doors for the last time.

Wine Store at Number 4 was a popular destination for many Rhiwbina locals. The news was posted on Rhiwbina Village Events Facebook page.

They said: “Rhiwbina has lost a little treasure of a business in the village. The Wine Store at Number 4 has ceased trading. It provided a friendly, unique hub for local people to just pop into and enjoy a fabulous glass of something, and on festival days, it helped transform Beulah Road, providing drinks and a place for people to stop and catch up or watch the live bands.

“We are very lucky to have so many independent businesses in Rhiwbina, but losing The Wine Store is a stark reminder of just how hard it is to survive as a small independent business and

“

Losing the Wine Store is a stark reminder of just how hard it is to survive as a small independent business

how we must all support and shop local when we can.

Their knowledge of wine was extensive, their welcome wonderful and their pop-ups just the best. We will miss them but we are grateful that they came to Rhiwbina and gave it a go.”

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news

Wedal Road Closure

Rhiwbina residents have expressed concern that Wedal Road Household Waste and Recycling Centre could be closed by the end of October.

Despite large opposition from local residents, Cardiff Council have earmarked the Roath site for closure, despite the Council not being able to give a definite date.

The Council did announce that the closure is dependent on work being completed to increase capacity at Lamby Way in Rumney.

Along with Bessemer Road, these are the two sites that the Council want to convert into ‘super sites’.

Cardiff North MP Craig Williams said: “Cardiff Council’s Cabinet have voted unanimously to close the Wedal Road Household Recycling Tip, against the views of thousands of residents from Cardiff North who signed petitions, wrote in to the Council and made representations.

“I think this is absolutely the wrong decision.”

Councillor Jayne Cowan, along with ward councillor Adrian Robson and Craig Williams held public meetings against the plans.

Councillor Cowan said: “I feel really aggrieved that the Labour cabinet failed to listen to the people of Cardiff who spoke strongly about the closure of the Wedal Road Site.

“This site is well used by residents in Cardiff North and when it is closed in a matter of weeks, it will prove hugely problematic. Even at this final hour, I’m urging Phil Bale’s cabinet to think again and listen to the hundreds and hundreds of people who signed a petition, attended a public meeting and made their views known,” she said.

Liberal Democrat councillor (Gabalfa) Ed Bridges said: “This has confirmed what residents had been expecting for months. Those of us in the north of the city will lose our local tip.”

Great Tennis Weekend

Rhiwbina residents were treated to a summer of tennis as Rhiwbina Tennis Club proudly displayed the Davis Cup. The club also offered free tennis lessons and coaching during the morning of Saturday 6th August.

More than 500 people attended the event, which formed part of the Davis Cup Legacy Tour.

Rhiwbina ‘nominated’ as the capital of Wales A recent discovery in a very old Western Mail newspaper has shown that Rhiwbina was being considered as the Welsh capital by students at Cardiff University.

A report published in 1897 found that students were so enamoured with the village that they gave several reasons why it should be named as the Welsh capital.

The article read: “Rhiwbina as the capital of Wales.

At a meeting of the debating society of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, held on Friday evening, the question of which town should be the capital of Wales and the location of the university offices was discussed. After many perfervid speeches in favour of Cardiff and Swansea, it was decided by a practically unanimous vote that the capital should be Rhiwbina, on the following grounds which were deemed conclusive: · It is surrounded, like Rome, by seven hills · It was reported to have once had a castle · It had a large and important industry, viz., the manufacture of cheese and quarrying

· It was situated in the centre of an extensive railway system, being three miles and a half from five important stations: Llanishen, Caerphilly, Radyr, Walnut Tree and Llandaff · The inhabitants get healthy exercise in walking two miles and a half for a postage stamp · Its rapid growth, having recently increased from one house and three souls to nine houses and 40 souls.

Rhiwbina Summer Festival proves to be a scorching success The sun shone on Rhiwbina in early July as the village once again celebrated its Summer Festival.

Hundreds of people turned out to enjoy the event, which boasted new activities, including a street theatre production which was particularly well received.

The Rhiwbina Village Events

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Organisers Tom James and Paul Williams were recognised for their efforts in securing the Davis Cup, and for arranging the day by Councillor Jayne Cowan, who nominated them for the South Wales Echo’s ‘Bouquet of the Week’.

Committee worked hard to make sure it was the best one yet.

Sue Harding, one of the members of the organising committee, said: “Wow, what a turnout. I don’t think we’ve ever seen it so busy.”

The RVE are already planning this year’s Christmas Festival, to be held on December 3rd.

library

Library News Art Room We took over the upstairs room for two fun mornings of papier mâché, clay modelling, painting and T-shirt printing. Eighteen youngsters had a great (and extremely messy) time.

Our thanks to Owain Mears for organising this popular event.

All the latest news and events from Rhiwbina Library

Rhiwbina Festival Saturday On Rhiwbina Festival Saturday, we signed up young readers for this year’s National Summer Reading Challenge. We also recruited new ‘Friends’, and fund-raised with a Lucky Dip and sold knitted items generously donated by Rhiwbina Knitting and Crochet Group. Proceeds, as with our events, go towards enhancing facilities and activities at Rhiwbina Library.

sessions, several reading groups – including a new reading group for 8 to 10 year olds called the Code Club, free computing and family history sessions, as well as various Adult Education classes. Further information can be obtained from the library.

Tel: 029 2069 3276

Dates For Your Diary 6th October: National Poetry Day 3.30pm onwards We’ll be holding a ‘Pop up Poetry’ session at the Library. Come along and read or listen to your favourite poems. (Details to be announced) 15th October: Creative Writing Local author Jo Verity will be leading an informal creative writing workshop focusing on short stories.

10am – 1pm. Ticket required (£10).

Limited places.

Every Saturday morning – 10am to 12.30pm Jigsaw Club

The Big Friendly Read

The National Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to borrow and read six library books during the holiday. We were happy to support the staff at Rhiwbina Library in promoting this worthwhile initiative. At the FoRL party, marking the official launch, 60 children signed up. We are delighted to report that, over the following weeks, a further 460 children rose to the challenge!

Children’s Book Bank We continue to collect new and nearly-new children’s books to give to those not lucky enough to have books of their own. Please leave donations in the red suitcase in Rhiwbina Library foyer if you would like to contribute.

You may not know that Rhiwbina Library is the venue for many regular clubs and activities, including: ‘A Good Yarn’ Knitting and Crochet Group, ‘Golden Oldies’ sing-along

Contact Us

Become a ‘Friend’ or if you have any comments/ suggestions, get in touch. Email: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary@gmail. com or leave your details in the ‘Friends’ box at the library desk.

Website: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary. weebly.com You’ll also find us on Facebook and we tweet @FoRhiwbinaLib

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letters

Your Letters

I feel deceived I enjoyed reading through the summer issue as I always do even the (many) advertisements are interesting and potentially useful.

However I was disappointed and offended to read the highlighted letter in praise of Jayne Cowan, the losing Conservative AM candidate.

To start with, it betrays your impartiality - you should surely now print pointless tributes to all the other candidates.

Secondly - and more seriously - I know that I am not alone in feeling wholly deceived by Ms Cowan who has represented my ward as an allegedly ‘independent’ councillor for many years. She has now revealed her true colours. Apparently she is a life-long Tory who some years ago fell out with the leader of the Conservative group on the Council.

It is disingenuous to portray yourself as independent when you have lifelong ties to a political party. So instead of praise, I feel Ms Cowan deserves condemnation for that subterfuge.

Linda Hopkins Rhiwbina Editor’s Response Many thanks for your letter, Linda.

When we first launched our magazines in 2007, one of the first decisions we took was to be apolitical. As well as aiming to promote local business, our magazines have always looked to publish factual and politicallyneutral information.

Our letters page is a place where local residents can have their say on relevant topics. We decided to print Mr Wilkins’ letter because we want to reflect the viewpoints of our readers.

In a similar vein, we are happy to publish your letter, to which some readers will agree and some will disagree. Our letters page is a forum for varying viewpoints and is in no way a reflection of our own personal perspectives.

Regardless of political viewpoint however, we can vouch that Jayne Cowan is one of the most hard-working councillors we’ve ever met.

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If you have anything you’d like our readers to know about, drop us a line at editor@livingmags.co.uk or by letter to our postal address which can be found on the inside front cover

Julie is such a jewel Having read Howard Wilkins’ endorsement of Jayne Cowan’s work in the Rhiwbina constituency in the summer issue of your excellent magazine, I am sure that in the interests of fair play you will allow me to say a few words on behalf of Julie Morgan, current AM for Cardiff North.

Julie Morgan’s resounding victory in the last Assembly elections (statistically, one of her most significant in Wales), reflected the gratitude of many in North Cardiff for her longstanding dedication and hard work on their behalf. Her success was achieved despite the severe cuts imposed by the coalition government and recently, the Conservative Party on the diligently led Labour Cardiff City Council.

Julie’s attributes, which have clearly resonated with her constituents, include the ability not only to address problems, but more importantly, to initiate speedy and often successful responses to threats facing Rhiwbina and Cardiff North generally.

Her numerous activities have included her liaison with Natwest following its decision to leave Rhiwbina, as a result of which, it agreed to provide a weekly mobile service; her support over many years for the Reservoir Action Group, which ultimately contributed to the success of her campaign and her launch of a petition to attempt to ensure

Green Belt protection to the North Cardiff landscape.

It was reassuring to see Jayne Cowan’s support for a number of such interventions instigated by Julie.

I can personally attest to Julie’s thoughtfulness and expertise when responding to individual concerns raised by her constituents, and have benefitted from her advice and support. In fact, after meeting her, following several years of disenchantment and cynicism, she reignited my interest in local and national politics.

Bearing in mind all of the above, I can confidently assure your readers that despite the erratic nature of the current government’s trajectory, at least the future of Cardiff North is in good hands.

Noah Upfold Rhiwbina

Woman caught stealing from Rhiwbina shop caught and fined A woman from Ely has been fined after stealing a vase from Victoria Fearn Gallery.

The 49 year-old was caught on CCTV stealing the vase, worth £280, in June. She was seen putting the vase into her handbag and walking out of the shop.

An effective social media campaign followed in a bid to identify her.

The woman pleaded guilty to theft at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court and was fined £120 and ordered to pay compensation of £280.

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Steven Burke, Owain Doull, Ed Clancy and Sir Bradley Wiggins with their medals

From Rhiwbina to Rio Living Magazines talks to the man who took Gold and became the first ever Welsh speaking Olympic Champion

12th August 2016.

A date that Cardiff’s Owain Doull

will never forget, as he took Olympic Gold in the Team Pursuit in Rio alongside his teammates Sir Bradley Wiggins, Steven Burke and Ed Clancy. It was a dramatic final against the Australian team that gave Owain his first Gold medal at his very first Olympic Games.

But how did it all start for the 23 year old from Llanishen who spent much of his childhood in the North Cardiff villages of Rhiwbina, Whitchurch and Llandaff?

“I used to play quite a lot of sports in Whitchurch and Llandaff as I was growing up, but I always knew I would ride my bike. Luckily for me, I got started at the Maindy Flyers when I was around 14, got half decent and enjoyed it enough that I thought I would like to make a career out of it if I could, and I went

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from there.”

In less than 10 years since starting at the Maindy Flyers on the outdoor track of Maindy Leisure Centre, Owain has become an Olympic Champion.

“I came into cycling relatively late. A lot of people have been racing all over the country since they were 6 or 7.” He credits much of his progression to the Welsh development system and his old club in particular.

“There are a lot of good clubs like Maindy Flyers that can help you out massively. I owe a lot to them.”

As for his initial interest in cycling, Owain recalls family days out on their bikes cycling around Cardiff: “We used to do mountain bike rides and cycle on the Taff Trail and it went from there that I thought I would like to give it a bit more of a go.” Once Owain had made the decision to focus on cycling as a career, his parents were massively supportive.

“I remember we did one cycling holiday where we cycled all over France,” Owain laughs as he recalls the memories. “My brother and sister weren’t too happy about it, but my Mum and Dad enjoyed it!” Owain’s dedication to cycling seems to have fuelled his family’s passion for cycling.

“Now my Dad’s got the bug, my Uncle’s got the bug and all their mates too, they’ve got their own group and go out on a Sunday. It’s really nice to see cycling growing in popularity.”

After years of training, Owain secured a place to go to Rio, his first Olympic Games. So what did the man from Cardiff anticipate was going to happen?

“Going in, off the back of training and everything we had been doing, we knew we were in really good shape. We broke the World Record a couple of times in training, so we knew that we were in peak physical condition, but obviously you never

know what the other team is going to do. It was more excitement than nerves. We knew that we were in such a good place that we just wanted to get out there and perform and luckily for us, we won!”

On the evening of the final, there was a lot of expectation for the foursome, including an added anticipation that Sir Bradley Wiggins was going to take his fifth Olympic Gold medal and eighth Olympic medal in total, which would put him ahead of Sir Chris Hoy’s tally of seven. But did Owain really expect them to take the gold?

“A couple of weeks before, we thought someone’s going to have to do something pretty special to beat us here, because we knew from the times and the data we were producing that we were in for the ride of our lives across the whole team.”

Despite this confidence, Owain asserts “You never take it for granted though, not for one second.

We always knew it was going to be us and Australia in that final and we always knew it was going to be close, and in the end it was.”

The team from GB ended up finishing in just under a second faster than the Australians, securing a new World Record in the process.

“I think we would have preferred to have had a bit more of comfortable margin, but a win is a win so we can’t complain too much!”

There wasn’t much to complain about, as Owain and the team broke the World Record twice that night, beating the World Record just ninety minutes beforehand in the semi-final as well.

“It’s nice to win but to get the World Record too; it’s another bonus to know that the four of you are the best four in world and the quickest that anyone has ever been.”

It’s hard not to ask what it was like to win gold alongside Sir Bradley Wiggins himself: “It was crazy, a lot of people asked me beforehand ‘do you feel pressure?’ Obviously having Brad in the team, everyone assumes that Brad is going to win. So it’s the opposite really, because when you’ve got people of Brad’s calibre, and Ed Clancy and Steven Burke, and they’ve all won the event before, you don’t really feel pressure. It gives you confidence more than anything, because you know you’re lining up with the best three guys in the world at what they do, so you think, ‘I’d rather have these guys in my team than anyone

else’. It’s nice to know they’ve got your back, so across the board it’s a pretty special experience.”

And as if an Olympic Gold medal and world title wasn’t enough, Owain also won Wales’s first gold medal of the Games.

“I managed to sneak it first, which was quite nice! Obviously, Wales did unbelievably well at the Games anyway, but it was nice to get the ball rolling.” It’s clear that succeeding for Wales means a lot to Owain.

“Someone actually told me afterwards that I am the first ever Welsh speaking gold medal winner.

That’s makes me really proud!”

Team GB had unprecedented success in the cycling in Rio. Owain explains: “They’ve got a tried and tested template which they’ve repeated over the last Games from Beijing to Rio, so it’s 12 years of dominance.

Everything is geared towards the Olympics. We’ll happily sacrifice World and European Championships just to make sure that when it comes to those Olympic Games we are the best we can possibly be. I think that’s a concept which is quite hard for a lot of other nations to understand.

A lot of their funding comes off the back of the World Championships but ours is funded off the Olympics, so we are in a fortunate situation where the Worlds aren’t as important. They still hold a big place obviously, but the focus is always on the Olympics.”

So what does Owain’s family think of his success?

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in for any of us. I was very lucky that my Mum, Dad, sister, brother, aunty and uncle were out in Rio so they were there on the night, so I got to see them minutes after winning.

I think we were all as shocked as each other. It was a really special moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life and I don’t think they will either.”

Owain recently completed the Tour of Britain which brought him back through Wales and gave him an opportunity to see his family again.

“My Mum loves cycling so she had most of the week off. She booked it off specifically so she could watch most of the racing around the UK. She had her own Tour of Britain as it were! So it was nice to see her after most days. The reception I got from everyone in Wales during the tour was a lot more than I expected. Loads of people were

“

I’ve got a lot of fond memories of after school, tearing around on our bikes around Rhiwbina near the tennis courts

queuing outside the bus for photos and signatures, and everyone was shouting my name as I was riding along - it was a bit surreal but it was nice.”

Owain signed for Team Sky in May and now plans to focus on switching from the track to the road.

“That’s what I’m going to focus on for the next couple of years, and then leave that for a few years and potentially come back for Tokyo.

The next couple of years I want to try and do as much I can on the road - follow what Geraint Thomas has done in the team.” An Olympic Gold and World Record has not done anything to dampen Owain’s ambitions: “I’m looking forward to stepping up and racing the biggest bike race in the world on the road and looking forward to fulfilling ambitions of riding certain races and trying to do well in them.”

Not bad for the boy who used to cycle around Rhiwbina on his bike.

“When I was growing up, a lot of my friends lived in Rhiwbina so I’ve got a lot of fond memories of after school, tearing around on our bikes around Rhiwbina near the tennis courts, not far from where my Mamgu lives.”

He reflects on his memories of the village: “Most days after school we’d go back to my Mamgu’s. It’s a really nice area and I’ve got a lot of fond memories of growing up there.

What I loved about Rhiwbina was the general relaxed feeling; I was always a bit jealous living in Llanishen to be honest, as all my friends in Rhiwbina lived so close to each other and it is such a relaxed place.”

After living in Manchester for the past six years, Owain is now looking forward to returning to live in Cardiff in November.

“I miss seeing friends and family it’s the little things.” After his travels to the other side of the world, Owain appreciates even more what Cardiff has to offer.

“Cardiff is great as there is enough going on but it’s still small enough at the same time.”

There will be a welcome waiting in the hillside for him, we’re sure.

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11 Heol Y Deri, Rhiwbina : 029 2062 8894 w w w . ju b o ra jg ro u p . co m

DON’T FORGE T

RHIWB CHRIS INA T FESTI MAS VAL SAT 3.12.16

Skiing Success!

Pupils from Year 4 and Year 6 entered the Cardiff Schools Skiing Competition and our school won first prize!

School News

All the latest success stories from Rhiwbeina Primary School Roald Dahl Day We celebrated Roald Dahl Day and lots of the children and staff dressed up as their favourite characters.

Roald Dahl wrote many of the books we love and he was born in Cardiff.

We had prizes for whoever found the Golden Ticket and a special assembly where the Best Dressed Characters won prizes!

Headteachers Conference @ Cardiff City Football Stadium Mrs Bricknell accompanied a group of six Year 4 pupils who had been invited to present their Computing Unlocked Multi Media Skills to Headteachers at Cardiff City Stadium.

The children showed how they incorporated many different applications on the iPad to create an ebook using Book Creator. The theme of the book was the difference between Rhiwbina village and Chembakolli in India.

All the Headteachers present were very impressed with the skills of the pupils.

Rhiwbina Bowls Club Pupils recently took part in a tournament between three schools at Rhiwbina Bowls Club. Pupils, teachers and club coaches had a very enjoyable morning. The tournament was eventually won by Rhiwbeina Primary School.

Certificates were presented to every player by Mrs Harry before they broke up for the summer holidays.

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South Wales Final of Year 3 & 4 Red Tennis Tournament On Tuesday 28th June, Rhiwbeina’s Tennis team took part in a schools tournament at David Lloyd Tennis Club. Our Year 3 and Year 4 boys fought hard against strong contestants from across South Wales, some from as far away as Tenby! The knockout competition was very competitive and our team progressed all the way to the final!

The following week our Year 5 boys team also reached the final and were narrowly beaten in the final set.

Our grateful thanks go to Rhiwbina Tennis Club for allowing our school to use their tennis courts on a weekly basis.

schools Year 6 residential weekend at Kingswood Our Year 6 children had a fantastic time at the Kingswood Centre in Staffordshire.

They participated in a number of exciting activities including the zip-wire, archery, timeline and Laser Tag to name only a few. All of the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and most did not want to leave!

For many of our children, our Kingswood visit was an opportunity to try something new and learn a new skill.

The skills-based activities ranged across the programme. It was difficult not to learn something new every day, whether it was stepping off the zip-wire platform thirty feet above the ground, learning to ride a quad bike, scoring a bullseye on the archery range or even making a bed for the first time!

Learning a new and practical skill was an inspiring and motivating experience for our children. The children and staff were exhausted on their return. However, all of them had a brilliant time with plenty of exciting stories to share with their family and friends.

Junior Sports Day National Indoor Athletics Centre On June 7th, all the Key Stage 2 pupils went to NIAC to participate in our annual sports. The children were all dressed in their appropriate house T-shirts - Nofydd, Wenallt, Briwnant and Deri. The children amazed the staff and parents with their skills in both the track and field events. The competition for first place was very tight but the eventual winners were Deri. The sportsmanship shown during the afternoon impressed us all.

Mr Hill visits our school Year 6 pupils were delighted to welcome Mr Hill, a published author of short stories to the school. He worked with the children to explore creative writing techniques with particular attention to ‘observation leads to imagination’. He helped the children to put these writing techniques into practice and has hopefully inspired a new generation of budding authors.

Rotary Club Art Competition A big thank you to the Rotary Club for the opportunity once again to enter the Cardiff Schools Art Competition.

We are very proud to say that we won the competition for the 7th year in succession. The girls swept the board with their exceptional artwork gaining first, second and third places plus the Overall Winners School Trophy. There was an excellent turnout of parents and teachers at the presentations; we are all very proud of the children. Well done!

School Orchestra performance Our school orchestra impressed an audience of relatives, friends and staff with a performance of ten pieces they had been practising during the year.

Our school orchestra is a great way to improve the children’s musical and teamwork skills. They have recently started rehearsals again and are looking for new members.

We started the school term with a Whizz, Pop and a Bang! Golden Ticket Wonka Bars found their way to school and we have lots more Whoopsy-splunker PTA activities scheduled this term.

We are now selling tickets for our day trip to Bath on November 26th.

Travel in style and comfort straight from Rhiwbeina School and back to enjoy the Christmas markets, Bath Spa or afternoon tea! Keep a look out for tickets for Band Night, which will be held upstairs in The Deri Inn on November 18th, and we really look forward to welcoming you all to our annual Christmas Fayre at the school in early December!

Community support and generosity plays such a vital role in our fundraising activities, and there are several ways in which you can get involved from home through a few clicks of a mouse.

It’s never too late to join in our school lottery and become a winner!

Tickets cost £1 with £25,000 up for grabs each week. Plus, there is a guaranteed smaller prize for a Rhiwbeina Primary supporter every week! Registering is quick, easy and secure at : www.YourSchoolLottery.co.uk/play Have you heard of EasyFundraising?

You can get involved in supporting our school fundraising every time you shop online. Many large retailers such as Amazon, supermarkets, insurance companies and travel agents offer donations when you shop with them at no extra cost to you. Simply register at: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/FOR or download the EF app!

If you would like to support Friends of Rhiwbeina PTA with our upcoming fundraising through donations, match funding and raffle prizes, or if you can help out at our key events, then please do get in touch with the PTA Team at committee@friendsofrhiwbeina.org.uk

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Rookwood Close, Llandaff Cardiff CF5 2NR Tel: 029 20562485 Email: schooloffice@bishopofllandaff.org Website: bishopofllandaff.org

ENROLLING NOW!

French Canolfan Beulah, Tuesday 2.15pm. Under 5’s and their grown-ups Rhiwbina Primary* Tuesday 3.30pm. Infants Rhiwbina Primary* Wednesday 3.30pm. Juniors

Spanish Canolfan Beulah, Tuesday 1.30pm. Under 5’s and their grown-ups Rhiwbina Memorial Hall, Tuesday 3.30pm. Ages 5 to 8 * only children from Rhiwbina Prmary can attend these classes

For more info or to book, contact Annie Harding 07866 522 266 annie@frenchtastic.co.uk www.frenchtastic.co.uk/cardiff facebook/frenchtasticannie

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Pugh’s Christmas Shop Preview Evening

On Thursday 13th October, get an exclusive first look at our Christmas Shop before it opens to the public

From 17.30 - 19.30, the following will be taking place: Exclusive after-hours shopping and first look at the new Christmas Shop 10% off for Garden Club Members on selected items (sign up in-store or on our website) Free mince pies and mulled wine in the Farm Shop Christmas Carols sung by an in-store choir

Tynant Nurseries, Morganstown, Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8LB

02920 848000

www.pughsgardencentre.co.uk

October Half Term Fun Come down to Jump during October half term for some spooky fun and games.

Holiday tariff applies

o c s i D n e e w o l l a H

Friday 28th October

Prizes to be won Colouring Competitions

6.30pm-8.30pm

Join us for our spooktacular disco, enjoy our fancy dress competition, freaky face paints and tricky treasure hunts!

Call 02920 747300 for more information

Halloween Games

Free

entertainment

Standard terms & conditions apply. Tickets to be purchased at reception only

Parc Ty Glas, Llanishen Cardiff CF14 5DU www.123jump.co.uk 02920 747300 www.123jump.co.uk

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For a fright night in!

Halloween is the perfect excuse for a party

KIDS

The Really Horrible Feely Game The Bubbling Cauldron

Setting the Scene

You can’t be expected to recreate the set from Thriller but reserving one room of your house and putting in a bit of planning can pay dividends.

You’re probably best turning the ‘big lights’ off and carefully making use of lamps. Coloured bulbs especially can add a great sense of creepiness and this can be extenuated by placing the lamps behind furniture or on the floor. Creating shadows is one thing you’re looking for and this can be aided by a combination of lights, furniture and plants.

The Jack O’ Lantern

If there’s one thing you need at a kids’ party, it has to be the Jack O’ Lantern. When cutting the lid, cut into the pumpkin at an angle as opposed to simply slicing it straight off. This will stop the lid constantly falling off. It’s also useful to cut a small hole in the lid to allow smoke to escape.

If you’ve got an ice-cream scoop, set the kids to work with it, scooping out the pumpkin seeds. They’ll need to leave the pumpkin wall about an inch thick. Next, it’s probably best to take care of the carving yourself.

Draw an outline of the face you want onto a piece of paper and tack it on to the side with some tape.

With a pin or a nail, poke holes all along the lines of your template. Remove the paper and using a knife, carefully carve out the face. You can use a traditional tea light to drop inside but battery-operated tea lights are now also available and are probably much safer.

Grab a large bucket or container (as cauldronlike as you can find, or try painting a large bucket black). Add in baking soda, vinegar, washing up liquid, food colouring (red or green are good choices) and some warm water. The cauldron will start to bubble and overflow so make sure it’s in a suitable place (outside is usually the best place).

Add in plastic spiders, snakes and anything else that takes your fancy, and with a large wooden spoon, get the kids to take it in turns creating spells!

Worm Pie

You will need a large bag of jelly worms, some bowls and some spray cream for this game. Be warned - this game gets messy!

Place several jelly worms in each bowl and then cover with spray cream. Contestants then have to catch all the worms from their bowls without using their hands. First player to catch all their worms is declared the winner.

Everyone’s favourite game from childhood.

Line up five plastic dishes and cover them all with a black cloth. Each player must stick a hand in each dish, under the cloth so that the contents can’t be seen. The aim of the game is to try and guess what is under the cloth.

You can tell the guest that the first dish holds eyeballs (really peeled grapes) and see what he or she guesses.

The second dish is said to hold brains (damp coarse sponge). The third is said to hold veins (cold, cooked spaghetti).

The fourth is said to hold cut-off fingers (cocktail sausages) and the fifth to hold skin (pieces of a soft flour tortilla). The person who guesses the most actual contents wins.

Sleeping Zombies

After what has probably been a hectic evening, this game is one to wind the kids down. All the kids need to lie perfectly still on the floor like sleeping zombies. Anyone who moves is out. Last person remaining wins.

BIG KIDS Why should the little ones have all the fun?

Horror Movie Remake

Murder Mystery Game

This is a great way to spend the entire evening, especially if you are hosting a dinner party.

There are many board game versions of this but you can also get free downloads from the internet. You’ll need to let your guests know in advance which character they will be playing so that they can turn up in fancy dress. Most games come with costume suggestions that you can pass on to your guests ahead of the event.

It’s also great fun if you and your guests remain in character until the end of the game.

Jinx

This game isn’t as easy as it sounds. Firstly, draw up a list of words that are to be ‘banned’ for the duration of the evening and hand a copy of the list to each guest as they arrive. As it’s Halloween, you may want to pick words such as ‘ghost’, ‘creepy’ or even ‘Halloween’ itself.

The rule of the game is that guests are not allowed to say any of the words on the list. If they do, the person who hears them saying the word calls out ‘Jinx!’ and their list is taken off them and they are out of the game.

The offending guest then has to pay a penalty (of your choice). You can make the game tougher by sticking a label to each guest’s back with their own individual forbidden word.

The winner is the last person holding a list.

If you have a mobile phone, it’s very likely that you’ll have the technology to record a small 5 minute movie.

Get yourself into small groups and the idea is to recreate famous horror movie scenes with your team mates and any props that you are able to find.

Alternatively, get your guests to create short original movies ahead of the party based around Halloween.

If you have the technology and the know-how, you can show the series of movies in one sitting on your TV. The more movies there are, the better!

Balloon Pop

Fancy being a kid again? Here’s a simple game that’s likely to leave you gasping for another drink.

All players must tie Halloween balloons around their ankles.

On the word ‘Go’, each player must try to pop the balloons belonging to the other players.

The person who has the last remaining balloon wins. Just be careful to watch your toes!

Witch’s Brew 500ml dark rum I litre apple cider 150ml ginger liqueur 1 litre diet ginger ale 250ml sparkling water (optional) Food grade dry ice, for special effects DIRECTIONS Make sure you’ve thoroughly cleaned your cauldron with soap and water. If serving directly from the cauldron, place your food grade dry ice in the cauldron.

Pour the ingredients in over the dry ice.

IMPORTANT: Make sure your punch ingredients are room temperature! If you pour in cold ingredients over dry ice, it could crack and break the cauldron.

If serving from a punch bowl, place dry ice in the cauldron, and pour water over the dry ice. Place the punch bowl inside the cauldron, and pour all the ingredients into the punch bowl.

Stir, and serve into cups with a ladle.

Makes: 10-12 servings

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The Garden Village Garage...saving you time you can never get back!

www.GardenVillageGarage.co.uk

Our customers are at the heart of our organisation

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It is said, that time and tide waits for no man. It’s true, for none of us can control time. In fact, it controls us. At The Garden Village Garage, we save time. Offering the client a motoring alternative.

It seems to take on average an hour and a half to get your car to

and from the garage. Your time which is lost time, time that can never be recovered. Offering by appointment collection and delivery, video reporting and a clean car on return, our award winning service, however, is not for everybody. Is it for you? Can

you afford to waste time? Call us for free on 0333 121 2012, it’s a free call number, so we will save you that cost too! The Garden Village Garage, an alternative, three time award winning service provider.

The Garden Village Garage, 227 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AE

Call for free 0333 121 2012

...more than just a florist

Weddings · Gifts · Sympathy

The Flower Lodge is moving to No. 4 Beulah Road!

After trading for over 40 years at No. 14 Beulah Road, The Flower Lodge is moving just a few doors down to No 4, the former site of the Wine Store.

Owner of The Flower Lodge, Tracy Bell says: “We’re really excited about the move, in addition to having the shop we’ll be opening up a flower school and running regular workshops, as well as offering the space for local crafters to use in the evenings too.”

The workshops are for anyone interested in flowers from beginners through to the more experienced who wish to refresh their skills. Tracy and her team will start by hosting Christmas workshops, where local residents can learn how to make festive wreaths and table centres plus pick up some new gift wrapping ideas.

“Our workshops will run regularly and will focus on making things appropriate to the season such as seasonal hand-tied bouquets, flowers for mum, Easter baskets or simply flowers for the house.”

Workshops start from half day classes which are fun, friendly and relaxed. Groups are also welcome and workshops can be tailoredmade, such as for birthdays and hen parties.

For full details and a list of the events planned for the festive season and new year either pop into the shop, have a look on the website or checkout the Facebook page.

Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6LX www.flowerlodge.co.uk

02920 627587

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With over 40 years experience in the property market you can be assured of receiving professional advice and knowledge when selling your property with us.

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE OPEN MARKET VALUATION – COMPETITIVE FEES We are working in association with Fenton’s Lettings & Property Management who provide a professional and friendly approach to property lettings and will look after your property by offering sound advice and guidance to make it as stress-free as possible. Fenton’s are both ARLA and Rent Smart Wales accredited and offer a fully managed or let only service.

CONTACT LAURA FENTON ON

029 2052 1600

FOR A FREE RENTAL VALUATION 3 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6HA www.mansellsestateagents.co.uk

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Autumn crafts

Leafy Jars

These autumnal jars look great when finished but are so easy to make.

Pick up some Mod Podge from your local hobby store. It’s a type of glue.

Dab your brush into the Mod Podge and apply a thin layer on to a clean jar. Ensuring that your leaves are clean, start applying leaves to the outside of your jar.

Finish your jar by adding a ribbon or rafia to complete your look.

Lovely!

Leaf Monsters Acorn Owls

Acorns will often be found at the base of large oak trees. Scoop them up and once home, give them a good clean to remove any mud or dirt. You may want to bring home a small twig on which to set your acorn owls.

Arm yourself with some scissors and glue and set about cutting out beaks, wings and eyes from pieces of felt. These will need to be fairly small to take into account the size of your acorn.

Take your time glueing your bits onto your acorn. Feel free to play around with different shapes to give each acorn a different character.

20 20

Here’s a quick and easy way to bring those dead leaves back to life!

You’ll need some googly eyes that are available from any hobby stores.

Simply glue your googly eyes onto your leaves and leave to dry.

Once dry, glue your leaf monsters onto a piece of paper or card and leave to dry.

Which monster is your favourite?

Autumn Mobile

The great thing about mobiles is that you can put almost anything you want on to it.

You’ll need a circular piece of wood for a traditional look, although it can be any shape you want.

With some fishing wire, start hanging your autumnal goodies from the ring. These can be natural items such as pine cones or leaves, but you can also add anything you may have made - cut out felt leaves for instance. These will last longer than natural leaves. Once you have finished, hang it up and admire your work!

crafts

Apple Print banners

Autumn Leaf Garland

You’re most likely to have plenty of canvas shopping bags hanging around your house and you’ll need a few of these to create your banners.

Cut out 8-10 squares from your canvas bags. Try and keep them all a similar size - a template can help.

Cut some apples in half, dip them in paint and apply to the canvas.

Allow to dry before finishing off any detailing with a marker pen.

Attach each square to a piece of string with some metal jump rings.

Here’s a very quick and easy way to add autumn colour to your home.

Cut out leaf shapes from pieces of felt. You can either attach the leaves at one end, or using a jumbo needle and some thread, stitch the leaves together using thread long enough to include all the leaves.

Tie a knot in the ends and hang in your house, wherever it can be fully appreciated.

Window Display

You can use folded up coffee filters as leaves in this wonderful window display. You’ll need to paint them (you can do this a number of times to achieve depth of colour). Cut out the shape of a large tree from a roll of brown paper and stick it to your window with double-sided sticky tape.

Then take your time to add the colourful leaves which will shine lovely colours when the autumn sunshine shines through them.

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Celebrating our 15th year in the heart of Rhiwbina village

CHIROPRACTIC Established since 1998, Rainer Wieser and our team at C3, Chloe Stamper, Lia Biancheri and Niki Douglas have been providing effective chiropractic care to thousands of patients. Our team are qualified and experienced members of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) the Royal College of Chiropractors (RCoC), and are registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).

They work within a professional setting, utilising the latest equipment and techniques in order to provide effective diagnosis and treatment for many conditions including back and neck pain, arthritic pain, headaches and migraine, hip, knee and ankle pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, sports injuries, repetitive strain injury and sciatica.

Our team are also registered practitioners with leading health insurance companies including BUPA, AXA PPP, AVIVA and many more.

CHIROPODY / PODIATRY Our chiropody/podiatry clinic situated within C3 Chiropractic clinic located in the heart of Rhiwbina Village is now in its fifth year and continues to go from strength to strength, providing professional foot care for residents in Rhiwbina and North Cardiff.

Our team of Podiatrists/ Chiropodists, Lynne Griffiths and Laura Dommett are qualified to degree level and are registered HCPC health care professionals.

223-225 Pantbach Road Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AE

with Lia Biancheri Doctor of Chiropractic

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a regulated primary healthcare profession. Chiropractors are trained to diagnose, treat and manage musculoskeletal disorders (bones, joints, muscles) as well as the effects these disorders have on the nervous system and general health. A range of techniques are used to reduce pain, improve function and increase mobility. Recent studies suggest that chiropractic care is a safe and costeffective treatment, and it is included as a treatment option in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

What does treatment involve? Chiropractors provide a package of care which usually includes adjustments, which are quick, precise thrusts to free restricted or painful joints. Treatment may also include mobilisation, massage, stretching and electrotherapy as well as acupuncture techniques. Self help advice on how to manage the condition to help prevent it from recurring, rehabilitative care with therapeutic exercises and lifestyle changes are also an important part of care.

Who do Chiropractors treat?

Chiropractors treat many different conditions and see a wide age range of patients from babies to the elderly.

Chiropractors treat sports injuries in novice and elite level competitive sports, pregnancy related back pain, and arthritic pain seen in joint degeneration to name a few.

Sports Injuries Repeated stresses can result in loss of proper movement in the joints, which in turn can lead to

dysfunction in the muscles and nerves.

Chiropractors often see patients present with injuries to their neck, shoulders, elbow, back, hip, knees and feet. Injury is not the only problem for sports players, as many find they reach a threshold of performance or ability and cannot improve further. Chiropractic treatment can restore normal joint, muscle and nerve function which may help to strengthen the injured area, improve flexibility and increase your control, coordination and keep your body working at its optimum. It is no wonder many top sports teams use a Chiropractor as part of their medical care!

Pregnancy Pain Back and pelvic pain is a common complaint during pregnancy, especially during the latter trimesters. Research has shown that Chiropractic is safe and effective in treating pregnancy related back pain.

Laxity of the ligaments of the pelvis and postural changes causes the low back and pelvis to function differently.

Chiropractic care aims to decrease joint stiffness and pain, and relax muscle tension, as well as correct inuteral constraints in order to allow minimal stress to mother and baby during delivery.

Wear and Tear Degeneration of your joints develops silently over a period of time and can gradually become symptomatic. Chiropractic care and management can often help to relieve arthritic pain to help you enjoy a better and more fulfilling quality of life, and may also decrease the need for prescription painkillers. Patients who have osteoporosis (a decrease in bone density) can also receive Chiropractic care, as modifications to treatment can be made, as well as advice on posture, lifestyle and exercise.

02920 627888

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At Coco Beauty and Hair, we believe that every haircut and style needs to be individual to each person.

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people

shakin

stevens

Living Magazines meets Shakin’ Stevens as he releases his new album He was the heart-throb of the 1980s and his name still brings a smile to those who used to dance away to his hits. Michael Barrett, or Shakin’ Stevens as he’s known to millions, was born in Ely, Cardiff.

“Things are very different now. We used to play cricket in the streets on Marcross Road where I was born. Everything seemed bigger back then. There was a large area of scrub land that we’d play on with our bikes that we’d have made ourselves from old bike frames.

“On Saturdays, we used to go to the Empire Pool in Cardiff city centre and dive off the top boards.

We were invincible - we’d make mock gold medals and award them to each other and then go to Astey’s café afterwards.

“Then on hot summer days, we would head up to the Drope and swim in the River Ely to cool off.

We’d dry ourselves off by lighting a fire and watching the sun go down.

On the way home, we’d stop off at a farm house that was up one of the lanes and ask for a glass of water because we were always thirsty.”

Shaky’s trip down memory lane serves to remind him of the role his childhood played in his career later in life.

“I went to the New Theatre once to watch Morecambe and Wise. I also went to watch Emile Ford which was great, especially when I ended up covering his song What Do You

Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For? years later.

“My mum was wonderful – she had 11 children and all 13 of us lived in a tiny 3 bedroomed house. My school, Hywel Dda, was a good school. I was there a few weeks back and found out that the place had been burnt down, which was very sad.”

Shaky’s journey into music started at a young age.

“I’d always wanted to sing and I’d stay behind in school after all the other kids had gone home to work on it. I got myself into a few school shows. After leaving school, I was in a band called Shakin’ Stevens and the Sunsets. We’d play at the New Moon Club and there was another one called the Kayak Club during the 1960s.”

Shaky’s career blossomed in the early 1980s after going solo. He scored his first UK chart-topping number 1 with This Ole House and would follow up with ten more songs reaching the top five, including three number 1 hits with Green Door, Oh Julie, and Merry Christmas Everyone, while You Drive Me Crazy and A Love Worth Waiting For reached number 2 in 1981 and 1984 respectively. But it’s his new album that Shaky wants to talk about.

“The new album is called Echoes of Our Times and people who have already listened to it don’t recognise the fact that it’s me. It’s

quite a bluesy album, a style myself and my band have been doing for quite a while. Not too long ago, we decided to get ourselves into a studio and get some of it down and this album is the result of that.

“The story behind it was actually inspired by my family. I had got to a point in my life where I realised that I knew nothing about my ancestors.

Within families, you’re always going to get those secrets that no one is allowed to talk about. We had them in ours and the songs on the album reflect that. The song Down In The Hole is about my grandfather who used to be a copper miner.

I saw the photos of the hole that he’d go down into from the age of 10 – there was no health and safety in those days and he’d literally be lowered down this huge hole on a piece of rope. Conditions were horrific.

“I also found out that my grandmother, who used to play the squeezebox and banjo, used to help out with the Salvation Army.

There’s a song about her on the album too. We’ve used similar instruments to the ones that she played on the album.

“It’s a very personal album for me.

Time goes so quickly.”

Time may go quickly but Shaky’s memories of home are as vivid as ever.

Echoes of Our Times is available from amazon.co.uk

25

Take the stress out of moving You’ve had an offer accepted on your dream house. Now what? In the first instance, you need to instruct a solicitor who will liaise with the Sellers’ Solicitors to ensure that appropriate searches are carried out, that all enquiries are dealt with, that your mortgage offer is in hand and that the title to your property is in order before you commit to the purchase.

But how do you know who to choose?

Here, Emyr Pierce, Managing Partner of Emyr Pierce Solicitors in Rhiwbina, sets out your eight-point guide to appointing your Conveyancing Solicitor.

1. Get advice early - moving house can be a daunting journey, particularly if you are a first time buyer. A firm such as Emyr Pierce Solicitors are happy to listen to your concerns and discuss preliminary issues or queries to help steer you in the right direction and point out potential pitfalls at the very outset.

2. Speak to your Solicitor first before you do anything else so that you can receive impartial advice and guidance before you commit to any other financial obligations.

3. Do not necessarily go with your estate agent’s recommendation - particularly if there is commission payable to the agent for such a referral.

4. Fixed fees — specialist Conveyancing Solicitors, like us, will charge fixed fees. We offer highly competitive quotations and happily provide a detailed breakdown of costs and disbursements at the outset, calculated to the penny, so you can budget accurately and with confidence so there are no “hidden” extras to surprise you at the end of the transaction.

5. Choose genuine specialists - Solicitors accredited with the Conveyancing Quality Standard (CQS) are experienced specialists in the field of residential conveyancing so that you can be sure that you are being looked after by experts.

6. Accessibility - choose a Solicitor who is available at times to suit you. We recognise that our clients have busy schedules so our offices are open on Saturdays and later than you would expect on weekdays.

7. Competent and quality services — our lengthy list of positive client testimonials emphasises the level of our competence and endorses the quality of our services.

8. Access to other quality professionals — it is equally important to have access to other reputable and respected professionals. We work closely with established specialists in other professional fields in order to provide you with access to a wider range of expertise if required during the house buying process.

The Christmas season will soon be upon us Make sure that your home insurance has adequate cover for the festive season.

Please contact us to check over your current policy or to arrange new cover.

11 Thornhill Road Cardiff CF14 6PD 02920 751 939 www.westmoreinsure.co.uk

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Emyr Pierce Solicitors provide a comprehensive range of Conveyancing Services to include, sales, purchases, re-mortgages, deeds of gift, equity releases, transfer of equity and a dedicated auction service.

For an immediate quotation or to discuss your concerns with a specialist, please telephone us on 02920 616002 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and on Saturday 10am to 4pm or visit www.emyrpierce.co.uk or email us at law@emyrpierce.co.uk

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T: 02920 626237

community

Cider Harvest Andrew Thomas explains how a recently-started community project in Rhiwbina could reap rewards in years to come

H

istorically, cider making and drinking has been a community-based event.

This is epitomized by the ancient tradition of wassailing, which refers to the custom of people gathering together to visit orchards, drink cider, recite incantations and sing to the apple trees to promote a good harvest for the coming year.

This tradition inspired the idea of planting a community cider orchard in Rhiwbina.

There is also a story that there was once a communal orchard within Parc-y-Pentre when the park was used as an allotment area. So last autumn, a group of Rhiwbina residents agreed to plant a cider apple tree or two in their gardens, with the intention of creating a communal orchard. Now over 30 heritage cider and perry (pear) tree varieties have been planted in various gardens in the Rhiwbina Garden Village. The big idea is that in a few years time when the trees have matured, a community event can be organized to harvest and press the fruit and produce a unique local cider for everybody to share and enjoy.

The key to making good cider is to use a blend of different cider apples in a similar way that wine producers blend different grape varieties. Cider apples are very different to the usual dessert and cooker style apples that are found in most of our gardens. Cider apples are usually smaller in size and have a dry bittersweet taste due to the higher levels of tannins present in the fruit. Most of these old cider tree varieties have been lost from our communities, but a small cider producer called Welsh Mountain Cider, based on a small hillside orchard in Llanidloes, has preserved many of these British heritage varieties including some old Welsh stocks such as Pig Aderyn, GlyndĹľr, Pen Caled and Hughes Cariad.

They also produce a very good organic, sulphite-free cider using only the natural native yeasts and the fermentation is performed in old oak whiskey barrels.

If you are interested in purchasing a heritage apple tree variety or sampling their cider then please visit their website at www. welshmountaincider.com. Cider apples can also be used to produce very tasty apple juice and can also be used in baking and cooking.

A number of people in Rhiwbina have made their own cider presses and have been making cider on a small scale for a number of years.

The production of cider is quite a simple process and involves mulching the apples followed by pressing to harvest the juice and

then fermentation. The fermentation can either be carried out by the natural yeast which are already present on the apple skin or by adding a wine making yeast. Once the fermentation has finished, the cider is treated with a small amount of sulphite to prevent bacteria from converting the cider into vinegar and then it is stored in an airtight container or bottle. Cider is best fermented over the winter at low temperatures and in large volumes (25l) and then in the spring when the temperatures rise, the cider undergoes a second fermentation step called a malolactic fermentation.

A typical cider made in this way will have an alcohol content of around 6-7% but this really depends on the sugar content of the apples used in the first place. The cider is best drunk in May through to July. although it can be kept for longer periods of time if it is bottled.

27

local authors

Remarkable Rhiwbinans A recently published book charts the lives of 18 remarkable Rhiwbinans. Author Anne James explains how the book came into being, how she compiled it and what she learned during the process It took three years from start to finish but a new book that charts the lives of 18 Rhiwbinans was officially launched this summer by the Rhiwbina Civic Society.

Rhiwbina resident Anne James began the task of writing Remarkable Rhiwbinans three years ago after previously writing a book about Rhiwbina’s war years.

“After I’d finished Rhiwbina’s Home Front, I was always keen to write another one. We [Rhiwbina Civic Society] were doing a bit of work for Open Doors and one of their events highlighted the amount of famous residents from Rhiwbina and that got me thinking.

“Around the same time, I had to give up work as a manager at Cardiff University because I was diagnosed with Sjorgen’s Disease. It’s a condition that’s similar to Lupus and affects my autoimmune system.

The hardest part is the fatigue that comes with it, but the Civic Society was very good to me. There was never any pressure to get the book published and I spent a fair amount of time visiting libraries across the country researching the book. I spent a week in Aberystwyth and I was even invited down to Exeter to meet one gentleman who was very gracious and made me lunch.”

The aim of the book was to document the lives of eighteen individuals who had strong links to the village.

“We decided that we’d feature

Rhiwbina’s

history provided a rich backdrop to

the characters

who inhabited

the village

28

the lives of those who are no longer with us and whose lives were complete, as it were. We also decided that we wanted to do a cross section of people so that the book would appeal to many different readers.

A lot of the work involved crossreferencing the research and eighteen individuals were chosen in all. Some people were easier to write about than others. There were also people whose world I had no idea about – I love some sport, tennis especially, but when it came to writing about the footballer John Charles, I had to ask a few friends about the finer aspects of the game.

Rhiwbina’s history provided a rich backdrop to the characters who inhabited the village.

“Rhiwbina was originally conceived to provide homes for workers but it quickly became a place for academics, intellectuals and many Welsh speakers. It was often referred to as the Hampstead of Wales.

“I met a lot of interesting people during the process – from professors to families of the individuals I was writing about.”

The book was launched on June 25th at Rhiwbina Library along with Julie Morgan AM. “The book was launched two days after the EU referendum but Julie didn’t let that affect her,” Anne laughs.

“We were selling it at the Rhiwbina Summer Festival and we’ll also be selling it at the Christmas Festival in

December.

“I’d like to write another book. I’ve done a lot of work on my mother’s history. She was born in Salford and was brought up in poverty. Even if I don’t publish it, it’ll be nice for the grandchildren to find out about their family.

“I’m also thinking of writing another book about the people of Barry, where I am originally from. There’s a rich history of people there that doesn’t seem to have been tapped into yet.”

The Rhiwbina Civic Society exists to promote and preserve Rhiwbina.

The society forms part of the Civic Trust of Wales and meet every third Tuesday of each month at Canolfan Beulah to listen to interesting talks of local interest. The Society also takes part in planning consultations that are put forward in the village.

All profits of Anne’s book will be ploughed straight back into the Society.

Remarkable Rhiwbinans can be bought from Victoria Fearn Gallery, Heol-y-Deri, or from the Rhiwbina Civic Society, priced £10

Rhiwbina writer adds history and teenage fiction to her portfolio As a child, I loved writing stories.

I used to scribble away for hours in my bedroom creating my own versions of Enid Blyton adventures and pony club tales. It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I started to think about writing in a more serious way, with the hope of one day getting published. The 1980s were a really busy time for me at home with our five children, but when the youngest started nursery, I signed up for a correspondence course in creative writing (no internet then of course!) and since then, I haven’t wanted to stop!

One of the assignments involved writing the opening chapter to a novel. The feedback I received encouraged me to carry on and Keeping Secrets was published in 2006. It’s the story of a teenager called Ceri who, feeling out of place in her adoptive family, decides to secretly trace her birth mother. The story follows the ups and downs of Ceri’s journey and the way it affects her relationships with her adoptive family and friends. In order to give the story a strong sense of identity, I decided to set it in Pontypridd where we lived for a while.

A year or so later, I was approached by a publisher asking me to write the text for the Cardiff and Welsh Valleys books of their Hometown History series. The books are a bit like the Horrible Histories but less gory! I’d read history at university and the idea of bringing local history to life in a fun and educational way for children was a dream come true. I’ve lived in South Wales all my life and thought I knew

RBC at

80 The Story of Rhiwbina Baptist Church

Sue Barrow

the area pretty well, but I couldn’t believe how much fascinating stuff I discovered once I started researching. The books have sold well and it’s been good to hear from teachers I meet when I do workshops for World Book Day, what a valuable resource they’ve become in primary schools.

I’ve carried on with my fiction writing for teens over the years, but a completely different opportunity came up last year when I was asked to compile the history of my local church, Rhiwbina Baptist, for its 80th anniversary celebrations.

It’s a warts and all story. Not many churches can claim that they were so desperate for unity that they worked with the people who brokered peace in Northern Ireland.

I can honestly say I have enjoyed writing (and researching) all my books. That’s not to say I haven’t got stuck from time to time and spent hours working through a particular aspect of a plot line.

But I think it would be well nigh impossible to see a story through to the last page if you didn’t derive some pleasure from the writing process. It doesn’t suit everyone but I actually prefer the discipline of writing to a deadline. I had to complete both Hometown History books in 12 weeks and that kept me very focussed. Fiction writing on the other hand, unless you have an editor breathing down your neck, allows for far too many distractions to creep in!

All of my books were launched locally and it was a particular pleasure to have a launch party for the first three at Rhiwbina Library which I joined at the age of 7. Over the years, the library staff there have always been so supportive and interested in my writing efforts. Like a lot of writers, you always hope the ‘breakthrough’ book is the one you’re working on!

All my books are available on Amazon. RBC at 80 is also on sale at the Olive Branch bookshop in Rhiwbina village.

My current work in progress is a novel, based on real-life accounts, and I’m looking to publish it next year as an ebook.

“

While my mother spent most of the Second World War cracking German codes at Bletchley Park, my father was a conscientious objector

Gethin Russell-Jones is a journalist and pastor at Rhiwbina Baptist Church I have been writing as a journalist and more creatively since 1998.

My first book, Sweet Tales from the Bitter Edge, was published in 1999 and my fifth and most recent book, Conchie, came out in March 2016.

My two most recent books were inspired by my parents. My Secret Life in Hut Six is about my mother’s work in Bletchley Park during WW2, something she kept largely silent until she was in her 80’s. Conchie is about my dad’s refusal to fight in WW2 and the influences which shaped that decision.

Deadlines are always tight, but the process of writing is immersive.

There’s nothing quite like getting lost in your own story!

Gethin’s books are available at The Olive Branch, Waterstones and Amazon

29

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Slow cooked belly pork with black pudding & apple fritters Salmon with lemon tarragon & garlic sauce Succulent turkey

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LIVING MAGAZINES TALKS TO PHILLIP COGIN OF RHIWBINA’S LIFESTYLE SALON

“

The name Gondi originates in part from the African village of Gondwana, a place which is known as being a place of safety,” says Phillip Cogin, Director of Gondi Lifestyle Salon. Phillip explains that Ghandi is the other influence on the salon’s choice of name. “I put the two names together and got Gondi.”

Moreover, “the symbol of Gondi means attraversiamo or ‘we cross over’. Ashley, our senior stylist suggested I added the Bonsai tree to represent my roots, as Rhiwbina is where I started my hairdressing career and where I have been brought back, full circle.”

It was when he was in Bali that Phillip came up with the name of the salon “I met Ketut Liyar, the guy from the film Eat, Love, Pray and he told me I was going to set up a salon before he even touched my hand. As my travels continued, I convinced myself that this was what I was going to do, then when I returned to Rhiwbina and the previous salon closed in Llanishen Fach it was just the right time and the right opportunity.”

Phillip’s extensive travels around the globe have influenced the ethos, ethics and design of the salon. “All the products are naturally derived and are able to be put back into the environment. The packaging has to be sustainable and the ingredients are locally sourced; for example, our roucou oil is from the Amazon and is synthetic and paraben-free. This makes Gondi one of the few salons across Cardiff that are able to offer naturally derived products.”

“

Gondi is one of the few salons across Cardiff that are able to offer naturally derived products

Even the interior of the salon is ecofriendly, with the walls being made up of cotton wool imported from Lanzarote, energy saving lightbulbs and a focus on recycling. The decoration of the salon reflects inspirations from Phillip’s travels, featuring design from around the world, including street art from Melbourne which gives the salon an edgy, urban feel.

As well as the ethics behind the salon’s products, Gondi is very much about the community and about charity; something that became close to Phillip’s heart whilst travelling.

“If every business or person could do one thing to help, it would make a change,” he says; “working alongside a team who share my passion for charitable work means we can make more of an impact.” Gondi has only been open for a few months but already the salon has been recognised for its contribution to charity, having already held a pamper evening in aid of Cancer Research Wales which was attended by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff.

Phillip started his hairdressing career in Aquarius in Rhiwbina eight years ago and trained in Covent Garden as a Aveda Colourist. He became a senior technician at Kamigata which was the first salon in Wales to introduce Balayage and Freelights/Ombre. He then moved to Bauhaus and Blush.

The high skill set of the team is one of the reasons that Phillip believes people flock to the salon. That and the friendly, open approach from the team with complimentary consultations and a glass of wine as standard offerings.

There is a customer loyalty

programme in place as well as a range of beauty treatments on offer, including microdermabrasion. Men are equally catered for with a dedicated barber in the salon.

The salon is already up for a number of prestigious awards including the Cardiff Lifestyle Awards, the Welsh National Hair Federation Awards and the I Sustain Beauty Awards.

Despite the salon’s national acclaim, returning to his roots in Rhiwbina is bringing happiness to the man who has spread his wings and brought his values from far and wide across the globe.

“I love looking out of the salon at the trees, being part of the Rhiwbina community again and having a chance to make a difference to people.”

A: 105 Heol Llanishen Fach, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6RE T: 02920 624038 W: www.gondilifestylesalon.co.uk Phillip Cogin – Director/Colourist Ashley Jones- Senior Stylist Jenni Lee- Stylist Tammy Hobbs – Barber Jo Hillberg - Beautician Ann Buckridge - Holistic Therapist Natalie Reed - Holistic Therapist

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2 1

5

3

Autumn Decor 1. Chilli Penguin ‘88’ Stove £2090 This is 8 kW of warm glowing chilli-hot heat. The generous clear glass window offers a huge view of the fire and it takes logs measuring up to 430mm. Made in Wales too!

2. Sian o’Doherty Cushions from £62 Sian O’ Doherty is an award winning textile artist and designer located in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. She will be featuring her work at the Made by Hand event.

3. Glosters Handmade Pottery Glosters is the venture of Tom and Myfanwy Gloster; located in the seaside town of Porthmadog, and will also feature in the Made by Hand event.

From Decoheat.co.uk

From sianodoherty.co.uk

www.glosters.co.uk

32

4 It’s time to batten down the hatches, cwtch up and get cosy. Here are some great products for your home to help you do just that

4. Scented Candles from £4.99 Brighten up your home with these beautifully-scented candles.

These candles come in various sizes and with various scents.

From Flower Lodge Prices from £4.99

5. Welcombe Chunky Hand Knitted Throw £280 Hand made in Devon on gigantic knitting needles, this super chunky blanket is cosy, stylish and a real talking point.

From laurenastondesigns.com

outdoors décor

9

6

7 10 8

6. Parlane Hand Carved Wooden Mirror £150 Exquisitely ornate hand-carved wooden mirror, made in Bali.

This huge wooden mirror will produce a stunning focal point to a room.

From Next

7. Romo Damaris cushions from £22.50 per metre Inspiring a slower pace of living, the Damaris collection offers a subtle use of design and layers of texture, creating a haven of calm.

From Curtain Raisers, Whitchurch

8. Copper and Slate Candle Holder £22 A stunning candle holder with a solid copper cup fixed to a piece of their hand-crafted slate.

The illumination and shadows created by the copper when lit are amazing.

9. Casablanca Pendant Light Rose Gold £99 A stylish, contemporary pendant light that would suit any modern country interior, finished in a beautiful rose-gold brushed metal.

From notonthehighstreet.com

From notonthehighstreet.com

10. Plum Crackle Glass Table Lamp £32 Stylish table lamp designed with a decorative glass base. This beautiful lamp will add autumn warmth and colour to any home.

From Next

33

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the Bomb Factory

O

n the night of Monday 27th March 1944, a group of German bombers set off from their base in Northern France and headed north and west. The city of Cardiff had experienced some devastating bombing a few years previously, and although the German raids were now dwindling, the defences across South Wales couldn’t afford to drop its guard.

Down at Gabalfa sat a 3.7 inch heavy anti-aircraft gun. Its job like those dotted strategically around the city, was to shoot down German bombers. But on this particular night, things didn’t go quite to plan.

Over in the Royal Ordnance Factory in Llanishen, thousands of workers were hard at work building munitions for the war effort. Without any warning whatsoever, a huge explosion ripped through the factory,

36

killing and injuring several of its workers.

The Western Mail newspaper ran a story about the explosion the following Wednesday. It read: “Anti-aircraft shells, one of which exploded in a crowded factory, killing 12 people, including seven women, and injuring as many more, were the chief cause of damage during activity over the South Wales coastal area on Monday night.”

The report was deliberately vague, mostly in part to the stringent wartime censorship that the British government had over the press. What the report also failed to disclose was the reason behind the explosion - a stray shell from the gun at Gabalfa had hit the factory.

Two memorial services were held at the factory to remember the fallen but things quickly moved on.

On the outskirts of Rhiwbina lies a housing estate, a retail park and even a supermarket. But the area has a very different past - one that involved the creation of weapons of mass destruction and dangerous work The Royal Ordnance Factory in Llanishen had been originally created during the re-armament of the 1930s. With the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich deemed to be vulnerable to aerial attack, it was decided that there was a need for new munitions factories across the country.

ROF Llanishen’s first orders were for gun barrels and work on them began in August 1940 while the factory was still being built.

Air defences against paratroopers were built around the factory and these were strengthened in 1941 when the RAF established a regiment base and a glider training school at Glider Field where Llanishen Leisure Centre now sits.

When the Americans joined the war in 1941, their troops became a common sight around the factory.

One resident recalled seeing a convoy of American tanks heading up Caerphilly Road and stopping to ask if they were heading the right way to go to Newport. They were told to go back into Cardiff and head east. The Americans turned the entire convoy around, totally decimating the grass verges.

ROF Llanishen produced antiaircraft guns, pontoon couplings and aircraft cannon. Priority was given to tank and anti-tank guns and in a single month in 1944, the works produced 1,784 tank guns, a record for any factory in the British Empire.

Over 20,000 people worked at the factory during the war

history but with peace returning to the country, the factory’s importance declined.

By the early 1950s, the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) had been created to look after the UK’s atomic weapons. By the early 1970s, the department was transferred to the Ministry of Defence who used the Ordnance Factory at Llanishen (in addition to RAF Burghfield) to manufacture parts.

In 1987, AWRE was combined with ROF Burghfield and ROF Cardiff to form the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).

The facility began producing non-fissile components for all United Kingdom nuclear warheads. Nuclear weapon component production started in 1961-63 and continued until the facility closed in 1997. It had a workforce of 400, and had metallurgical capabilities for melting and casting, powder production, impact milling, ball milling, hot-pressing, isostatic-pressing, heat and surface treatment.

The facility specialised in high precision components and complex assemblies, including thermonuclear weapon components.

From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, approximately 7,00010,000 lb of Beryllium a year was processed in this facility - a volume that declined gradually year on year. By 1992, output was just a tenth of its most productive phase.

The factory closed down in February 1997 and has since become the site of major housing development: George Wimpey called theirs ‘Parklands’, Barratt built ‘Ty Glas Square’ and Leadbitter built ‘Llys Enfys’, with Bellway and Persimmon/ Charles Church creating even more housing between the AWE site and the HMRC building.

The site also hosts a public open space, the final element including a children’s play area, sports pitch and community garden.

The George Wimpey development was named ‘Watkins Square’ and the Barratt Images of factory courtesy of People’s Collection Wales

The site where Watkins Square now sits. At the bottom left of the picture is the crossroads where Beulah Road, Ty-Glas Road and Caerphilly Road meet

development ‘Tasker Square’ – after Wales’ famous Victoria Cross winner Sir Tasker Watkins, who died during 2007.

Sir Tasker Watkins VC GBE Kt PC QC DL was a Lord Justice of Appeal and deputy Lord Chief Justice. He was also the President of the Welsh Rugby Union from 1993 to 2004. In World War II, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest British award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

During the landings on Normandy on D-Day, Tasker led an assault on a German Army machine gun post.

His Victoria Cross citation read: ‘On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, France, Lieutenant Watkins’ company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps.

The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out.

Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle.’

A war hero who was prominent in the law and in Rugby Union, Tasker was described as The Greatest Living Welshman. A statue of him stands outside the main gates to the Principality Stadium.

Today the area we live in and around is a lot quieter than it used to be, but the legacy of its history lives on in its street names and memories.

37

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Autumn Colour

With the cool smell of autumn on the winds, Kevin Revell shows you how to capture the colours of the season

A

utumn flowers are few and far between, but colour is provided in the garden by the changing tapestry of autumn foliage colour which intensifies as the season advances.

This annual show is as eagerly anticipated as the first flower of spring by many keen gardeners and garden visitors. The ‘New England Fall’ colours are typified by larger trees such as Maples, Liquidambar and Rowans. There are nevertheless, a range of smaller shrubs which are easier to accommodate in our modern gardens, where everything has to justify its place and not outgrow its welcome.

The changing foliage colour is caused by pigments in the leaf used for protection from ultra-violet light being revealed by the breakdown of the

chloroplasts. These contain the green pigment chlorophyll, a valuable molecule for the plant, the constituent parts of which are reclaimed and stored through winter. This reveals the anthocyanins and carotenoids within the leaf which gives us the familiar autumn colours.

The season can be frustratingly short as the colour exhibited by the fading foliage can be lost to an overnight storm. The autumn display is vital in marking the turn of the seasons; a careful choice of plants can extend the season over several weeks.

Occasionally a long spring followed by a warm summer will lead to a wonderful show where the autumn colour goes on and on. Japanese Maples are the epitome of good autumn colour and to see them at their best, it is worth visiting local parks, stately homes and arboretums to see a display which is impossible to replicate in our own modest circumstances.

Plant combinations can be

copied and a little bit of Westonbirt brought home can add to the seasonal interest of our own gardens.

Top Five Shrubs for Autumn Colour Acer palmatum – Japanese Maple Although perhaps regarded as a small tree, these plants are a varied bunch and many of them are extremely slow growing and multi-stemmed, making them at least nominally a shrub, for a few years at least. Even fully grown they rarely exceed 4m and the weeping types with the dissected foliage are a lot more manageable at less than 2m. Fallen leaves reveal the tortured, twisting tracery of branches which make an attractive sculptural feature through winter. The green form Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ exhibits the greater change in colour as the apple green leaves

turn orange and red, while the upright form ‘Osakazuki’ turns from green to cerise pink. Best left unpruned to prevent disease getting into the wood, they rarely outgrow their allotted position and are happy in pots and containers which will also restrict their height, rather like a bonsai tree. A sheltered, partshaded position is ideal both to prolong the autumn display and to protect the emerging foliage in spring which can be scorched by wind and strong sunlight.

summer progresses before turning shades of orange and red in autumn. Although compact growing, it is capable of reaching 2m if left alone.

With hard pruning in autumn or winter, taking the stems below 50cm, its size can be restricted to less than 1.5m and the foliage colour and leaf size will be enhanced. The smoke-like haze of wispy red inflorescences are produced on mature growth, being absent from hard pruned plants. With a range of attributes from bright foliage colour to good, autumn colour, this is a highly recommended shrub which gives a welcome alternative to the usual green palate of garden colour.

Amelanchier lamarckii – Snowy Mesphilus A useful all-round shrub in the garden, with three seasons of interest between the spring flowers, summer fruit and rich autumn foliage. It is also an attractive plant for wildlife and a good indicator of warmer spring weather approaching when it erupts into a cloud of blossom which fades to reveal the emerging coppery new foliage which itself matures to mid green. Usually grown as a large shrub of 2-3m, it can also be grown as a small, single stemmed tree where it will eventually reach 4-5m. A low maintenance plant, no pruning is necessary and little feeding required, it has a rather untidy habit which is usually disguised by the abundant cloak of summer foliage.

Cotinus coggygria ‘Ruby Glow’ – Smoke Bush A new compact variety of this superb deciduous shrub which starts the year olive green, the new shoots becoming suffused with ruby red as

Euonymus alatus ‘Compacta’– Winged Spindle While Euonymus is best known as an evergreen groundcover plant, there are a number of deciduous forms which display excellent autumn colour. The large growing native spindle Euonymus europaeus has bright red autumn colour but the smaller winged spindle goes a shocking cerise crimson which in a sheltered spot, will persist for a number of weeks.

They may be accompanied by shocking coloured pink fruits which split to reveal bright orange seeds. A further benefit is provided by the corky winglike structures which develop on the bark as the stems mature, giving winter interest to the mature plant. This is another low maintenance shrub which requires no pruning and should not exceed 1.5m.

Although attractive to look at, care needs to be taken with placing this shrub as all parts are toxic.

Viburnum plicatum ‘Maresii’ Viburnum That few viburnums have acquired a common name perhaps explains their relative unpopularity, but they are surely one of the best groups of plants for the garden. This one is a real winner, having attractive ribbed, oval green leaves on evenly tiered branches which fill out over time to 1.5m-2m.

Complex flower heads like mini lacecap hydrangeas add to the interest in early summer which turn to bright red berries by late summer. The highlight is surely the red and purple hues of the winter colour which is extremely persistent and is only lost with the extreme storms of early winter weather. Other varieties such as ‘Pink Beauty’ are equally garden worthy, having a pink blush to the fading flowers and a stronger red tinge to the autumn colour.

Kevin Revell is Plant Area Manager at Caerphilly Garden Centre

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Property Advice with Chambers Estate Agents Advice on the upcoming Rent Smart Wales Scheme from Kathy Challinor, Lettings & Property Management Consultant at Chambers Estate Agents.

You may, or may not, be aware of new legislation being imposed by the Welsh Government for landlords who let their properties in Wales to become fully licensed by the 23rd November 2016.

What do I do if I rent a property out in Wales?

You need to determine whether you simply need to register with Rent Smart Wales, or whether you need to register and be licensed.

What’s the difference between registration and a licence?

If you already use a managing agent for your property, then you simply have to register yourself and your property, which is a simple process and if done online will cost you £33.50, or £80.50 if via paper application form.

If you find tenants yourself and manage the day to day running of your properties however, then you will not only have to register, but become a licensed landlord too.

You will, if you haven’t done so already, need to undertake a Landlord Training Course before being granted a licence. There are many training days still available, as well as online training via the Rent Smart Wales website.

Traditional Quality Butchers in Rhiwbina

The Landlord Licensing Fee is £144, if done online, or £186 if via paper application form. This licence lasts for 5 years.

Require further information or advice?

Chambers Estate Agents have been in business for over 25 years and have tremendous experience in the private rental sector. I personally have many years experience in all aspects of the rental market and will happily advise you on your rental portfolio, as well as your ongoing obligations in order to comply with the new legislation.

Please feel free to contact me on 029 2052 2106 or via email kathy@chambersestateagents.co.uk

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Sweeping out from the hustle and bustle of Cardiff city centre to the rugged hills of Brecon, the Taff Trail has become one of the finest cycle rides in Wales. You'll pass castles, reservoirs, waterfalls and natural wonders on this big autumn day out follow the signs out of the Bay and up towards Cardiff City Centre.

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Bay

The Taff Trail officially starts at the Roald Dahl Plass (formerly the Oval Basin) and winds its way 55 miles north to town of Brecon.

There are plenty of places here in Cardiff Bay to stock up on a hearty breakfast before heading out.

Formerly known as Tiger Bay, the area has become the largest waterfront development in Europe.

All in all, there are 149 pubs, bars and nightclubs (18 of them on the waterfront), 73 restaurants and 125 hotels.

The construction of the barrage is one of the largest engineering projects in Europe.

To begin your Taff Trail experience,

44

Before long, you'll reach Cardiff's famous castle.

The original motte and bailey castle was built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a 3rd-century Roman fort.

The castle changed hands many times over the next 700 years but it was 3rd Marquess of Bute, who in 1866, employed the genius architect William Burges to transform the Castle lodgings.

Within gothic towers he created lavish and opulent interiors, rich with murals, stained glass, marble, gilding and elaborate wood carvings. Each room has its own special theme, including Mediterranean gardens and Italian and Arabian decoration. The 3rd Marquess died when he was only 53 in 1900.

Despite huge death duties on the estate, the 4th Marquess completed many of his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restoration projects including the

reconstruction of the Roman wall.

The Bute family continued to stay at the Castle throughout the 1920s and 1930s, although they had sold off many of their business interests in south Wales.

A gift to the city of Cardiff following the death of the 4th Marquess of Bute, the family decided to give the Castle and much of its parkland to the city of Cardiff.

For 25 years, the Castle was home to the National College of Music and Drama and since 1974, has become one of Walesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most popular visitor attractions.

Images courtesy of Visit Wales, Cardiff Castle and Wales Tourist Information

On to Merthyr

Castle Coch

As you head out of the city on the Taff Trail, you'll pass the well-known Llandaff Cathedral and several weirs before stumbling across Castle Coch (Castell Coch to give it its Welsh name).

The castle is a 19th century Gothic revival castle built on a site that was originally built by the Normans in 1081.

The castle offers tea rooms and gives great views back over the city.

At Pontypridd, there are opportunities to take other pathways such as the Celtic Trail.

There are plenty of attractions including the Rhondda Heritage Park at Trehafod where you step back to another time and experience life underground at the Lewis Merthyr Colliery with the help of a former miner guide.

Continuing on the Taff Trail, we'll be heading for the historic town of Merthyr Tydfil. The area was built on iron and coal, and of course, was where the infamous Merthyr Rising took place.

You can take the opportunity to visit Cyfartha Castle where there is a museum and an art gallery.

The Taff and Pontypridd

Leaving Cardiff, you'll soon be heading into Rhondda Cynon Taff where you will follow the River Taff on to Pontypridd.

The Taff was once a key trade

Brecon Mountain Railway

The section of line chosen for the Brecon Mountain Railway was part of the abandoned Brecon and Merthyr Railway, originally built in 1859. It finally closed in 1964. This railway fought its way through the Brecon Beacons using steep gradients to the summit at Torpantau, 1313-ft above sea level.

Between 1982 and 1996, a large station and workshop was built and subsequently extended.

This provides passenger facilities including toilets, cafe, shop and booking office as well as the extensive workshop used to build and maintain the railway locomotives, carriages and wagons.

Brecon Up into the hills and through the Beacons

Leaving behind the populated areas of Merthyr, the Taff Trail now heads out to Pontsticill Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons, The route crosses the spectacular Cefn Coed Viaduct and passes through woodlands as it climbs gently up to the reservoir at Pontsticill. There are stunning

route between the valleys and the Bristol Channel but these days, it is a haven for wildlife, reflecting how much cleaner it is today than a generation ago. Look out for kingfishers and grey heron feeding on the banks of the river.

On the trail there is plenty of opportunity to stop and picnic before arriving at the industrial heritage town of Pontypridd, the birth home of singing legend Tom Jones, where you will find a museum, a distinctive old bridge and Ynysangharad Memorial Park.

The park is now home to Pontypridd Lido, which has been restored to its former glory, including 1920s turnstiles, wooden cubicles, and the newly-built Waterside CafĂŠ.

views of the highest mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

While the route is mostly traffic-free following a disused railway line, the final section to the reservoir is on quiet roads.

The historic town of Brecon boasts Georgian architecture and a fine cathedral. You can follow the Captain's Walk and see the remains of Brecon's medieval walls, or visit the South Wales Borderers Museum at Brecon Barracks. Take advantage of good weather to cruise the canal that links Brecon with Newport.

Brecon's town walls were constructed by Humphrey de Bohun after 1240. The walls were built of cobble, with four gatehouses and was protected by ten semi-circular bastions.

If you are planning to cycle the entire Taff Trail, please ensure that you dress appropriately and that you are well prepared for the 55 mile ride. Check the weather forecast beforehand and take plenty of food and drink with you. More information at www.sustrans.org.uk

45

CRAIG WILLIAMS MP Working hard for Cardiff North SS GERIES ACRO DROP-IN SUR N TH O CARDIFF NOR NINGS R O M AY SATURD PPOINTMENTS ONE-TO-ONE A ON FRIDAYS SURGERIES ‘SKYPE’ VIDEO THE WEEK THROUGHOUT

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Councillor News with Eleanor Sanders

It’s incredible to see that 2016 is shortly coming to an end. As I reflect back on this past year, I am also taken back to 2012 when I was first elected to represent Rhiwbina as an Independent Councillor on Cardiff Council.

I have continued as your Independent Councillor since then with these past 4+ years having been some of the best I’ve ever had. It has been a privilege to help and support so many of you with a variety of issues, suggestions or just friendly conversations. I’ve got to know so many of you, particularly now I have taken up running around Rhiwbina, saying good morning to many of you as I run past. Sorry but they’re all the words I can get out as I’m usually a bit short of puff! It has also been such a privilege to either organise or attend so many events across the ward.

I also remember how we took the Council on, challenging the potential closure of our library and turned that decision around. Who could forget that public meeting I chaired with over 350 in the building and many hundreds outside. A community truly coming together.

Since then many groups have started in the library showing how essential this Council provision remains. I really enjoyed joining in with the singsong run by Goldies Cymru a couple of months ago. It’s held on the third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am in the library. Glad to know that we don’t have to ‘shhhh’ anymore.

One of the highlights each year is when I bring together the organising committee for the summer and winter Rhiwbina festivals. Both festivals have grown year on year and I want to say a huge thank you to so many who give of their time voluntarily to make sure we have an amazing time. This last summer saw us expand into Parc y Pentre with our very first ‘street theatre’ production and land train. Please get in touch if you want to come and help us plan for the winter festival on Saturday 3rd December.

The Local Council elections take place again in May next year. I’d be honoured to again be your Independent Councillor representing your views, thoughts and ideas to the Council, helping and supporting you again with individual issues that need resolving, as well as meeting you in all the various settings across the ward. My intention always, as completely independent, is to support the community where I live, in whatever way I can.

Look out for my article in the next edition of Rhiwbina Living where I’ll tell you about all the things I’ve been up to across the city, as well as ways you could help me be re-elected should you wish to help.

As your Local Independent Councillor, if I can help in any way please contact me on 07802 225425 or Eleanor.sanders@cardiff. gov.uk Twitter: @IndependentRhi1

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Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra are set to open their most exciting season yet with a helping hand from a Hollywood A-lister!

Iconic Welsh actor and director Michael Sheen OBE will be the special guest narrator in Concert of Unexpected: A Celebration of Roald Dahl at St David’s Hall on Friday 21st October.

Michael will narrate the World Premiere of a work entitled Mr Dahl, which is based on the legendary author’s wonderful and whimsical life. The captivating piece is written by respected Welsh composer Bernard Kane Jr, who has collaborated with the likes of Manic Street Preachers, Bryn Terfel, Sir Karl Jenkins and Catrin Finch to name just a few.

This magical family concert has been preceded

by Cardiff’s City of the Unexpected festival, which celebrated 100 years of Dahl who was born in Llandaff in 1916.

The rest of the programme outlines Dahl’s war years as a pilot (Walton’s Spitfire, Prelude and Fugue); his Norwegian roots (Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite) and one of his most popular tales (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

You could be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to this unique concert. All you need to do is answer the following question: What is the name of the Hollywood star who will be the special guest narrator for the World Premiere of Mr Dahl?

a) Martin Sheen b) Charlie Sheen c) Michael Sheen Send your correct answer, along with your name, address and telephone number to sdhpress@cardiff. gov.uk by Friday 14th October at the latest.

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Spread across three days in the heart of Cardiff in the historic and prestigious City Hall, Made by Hand brings together a handpicked selection of leading makers from all over Wales and the UK. The highly selective collection includes jewellers, potters, furniture makers, textile artists, glassmakers and many more, all selling directly to the public.

New this year, following the huge success of The Pottery Showdown in June at The Contemporary Craft Festival, Made by Hand will welcome the potters from the BBC’s hit TV show to Cardiff. You can meet Matt, Tom, Sally-Jo and Jim throughout the weekend, buy the ceramics they make and challenge them in the Made by Hand Showdown.

To win a pair of weekend tickets to the fair, simply answer this question: How many makers will be displaying at the Made by Hand Craft Fair? (answer located within this magazine).

Send your answer, name and telephone number to competitions@livingmags.co.uk, or by post to our postal address on the inside front cover of our magazine. Entries must reach us no later than 21st October. The fair runs from 28th - 30th October. madebyhand-wales.co.uk

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Send your answer, name and telephone number to competitions@ livingmags.co.uk, or by post to our postal address on the inside front cover of our magazine. Entries must reach us no later than 31st October.

49

Your pet questions answered

Chris Troughton is clinical director of Heath Vets in Rhiwbina. He’s here to answer all your pet questions. If you’d like to ask Chris a pet-related question, drop us a line I give my dog a worming tablet every month but my dog has never got used to taking a pill. Are there any easier ways of administering his monthly tablet? Vets make it look so easy.

There are lots a ways to hide a pill, and I expect you’ve tried most of them – in a sandwich, encased in a bit of soft cheese, in the toffee in the middle of a Rolo etc. Many newer wormers have flavouring added and some are like tasty chews. Most dogs will take these voluntarily, but some are very suspicious and can’t be hoodwinked!

If you are really struggling, there is a great spot-on medicine for dogs which treats roundworms, lungworms and fleas in one go. I recommend asking at your vets for advice, because the most effective medicines are prescription-only so you won’t get them in the pet shops.

My cat’s teeth seem to be accruing a lot of tartar. In the past, I’ve attempted to clean his teeth with a feline toothbrush but I don’t

seem to be able to remove the hard stuff. Is there a procedure that you can do to help?

Plaque is a soft whitish coloured material that forms continuously on teeth from the effects of normal bacteria in the mouth.

When minerals in the saliva are deposited in the plaque, it forms hard tartar which is a yellowbrown colour. You can remove plaque by daily brushing and other oral hygiene procedures, but the hard tartar can only be removed with a hard scraper or an ultrasonic scaler.

This is NOT just a cosmetic procedure. If left on the teeth, tartar will cause gum disease, leading to pain and inflammation and eventual tooth loss. General anaesthesia is essential to allow removal of the tartar in the tiny spaces between the teeth and close to the gum – the areas where it does most harm.

It takes 24-48 hours for plaque to begin to harden into tartar, so to be effective you need to brush your pets’ teeth every day, using a toothpaste specially for pets, and a suitably sized and shaped brush. There are lots of chews, foods, toys and devices designed to help keep pets’ teeth clean and they can be useful aids, but there is nothing better than a daily brush.

However, in spite of everything you do, it is inevitable that tartar will accumulate and almost all dogs and cats need professional dental scaling from time to time to keep them in good health.

I read on the news that there is a nasty virus that kills

rabbits within days and has no UK vaccine. I’ve read it’s called rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD2) and wondered if you had any information or advice.

We have had rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in the UK for many years now.

It is a very nasty illness which strikes very rapidly and is usually fatal. Fortunately there’s a good vaccine which protects against RHD and also myxomatosis, and this should be given to all bunnies every 12 months.

Recently a new strain of RHD, known as RHD2, has been recognised in Europe, and it has now spread to the UK. RHD2 is actually less virulent than the original virus but is still often fatal, with 20-50% of affected rabbits dying. It is very difficult to find any hard facts about the incidence of the new infection and I suspect it is quite rare in South Wales. However, that could easily change and we should not be complacent.

Unfortunately, the vaccine we have in UK against RHD does not give protection against the new RHD2 strain of the virus.

However, there are vaccines available in Europe, and vets are getting special import licences to use these but supply is a bit erratic. The new vaccine needs to be given in addition to the conventional 2-in-1 dose, and cannot be given at the same time.

A: 123-5 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6UH T: 02920 621511 W: www.heathvets.co.uk

51

Recliner Chair Centre

An award winning, family firm,established for over 30 years We all have a favourite place to sit in our homes, whether it’s our seat at the dinner table, our spot on the sofa, or the plush chair in the living room. Unfortunately, for many of us, there comes a time in our life when our favourite chair no longer gives us the support we need. There are 3 main questions to ask yourself if you feel your favourite chair is no longer sufficient: 1. Are You Sitting Comfortably?

If comfort is an issue when you are trying to sit and relax it could be a sign your chair is offering you insufficient support.

2. Do You Sit In Your Chair For Extended Periods?

When your mobility needs change you can find yourself spending long periods of time in the same chair. If this is the case you need to ensure your chair is giving you the maximum support possible.

3. Do You Find It Difficult To Sit And Stand?

Sitting and standing eventually becomes a problem for the majority of people, and it can cause individuals to find themselves restricted and dependent on help. A rise and recline chair can help you retain independence by easing your mobility.

How A Rise And Recline Chair Can Help Rise and recline chairs give you support when and where you need it most. The right chair should support your entire back and neck, so you are sitting comfortably when you are in the chair for an extended period of time, and help you to sit and stand.

• Rise – There will be a button located on the hand control which raises the whole chair upwards. When you are sitting the chair will ease you into a standing position, and when you want to sit you simply position yourself on the raised chair and press the button which will ease it down slowly.

• Recline – The recline function allows you to get into more comfortable positions when you’re sitting so you can avoid soreness and pain. They also allow you to put your feet up and lie back, which can relieve pressure and allow you to rest without having to go to bed.

At Recliner Chair Centre we have a wide range of premium quality and stylish rise and recline chairs that are ideal for any environment.

We have been providing excellent mobility solutions in South Wales for over 30 years, and our dedicated and experienced team are always on hand to offer you impartial advice and fantastic products.

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Constituency News with Julie Morgan AM

It has been a busy summer with plenty of events including, of course, the Rhiwbina Summer Festival where I had a stall and many constituents stopped by to say hello.

I was also delighted to attend an event organised

by Rhiwbina Civic Society to launch the book by Anne James on Remarkable Rhiwbinans.

The book proves that Rhiwbina was a hotbed of ideas and culture and many of the 18 people featured in the book are in tune with my beliefs and interests – for example Edgar Chappell, a campaigner for social housing and an early proponent of devolution.

Rhiwbina was also home to the foremost early 20th century Welsh writer Kate Roberts who was a passionate supporter of the Welsh language.

This summer has seen a jam-packed schedule of events throughout the city from the beach in the Bay to the Grand Mêlée in Cardiff Castle. It was great to attend the city’s Pride Cymru march in the city centre on August 13, along with many constituents from Cardiff North.

But the highlight of summer 2016 for many children and adults alike was surely the city’s Roald Dahl celebrations, marking 100 years since the writer’s birth and his links with Cardiff where he spent his early years in Llandaff.

I hope many of you had a chance to see the fantastic collection of Quentin Blake illustrations on display at the National Museum this summer – with his illustrations from Matilda and The Twits among the highlights.

Lastly, there was good news for Cardiff this summer as the city’s first hydro-electric scheme at Radyr Weir started producing power this summer.

The turbines produce enough green electricity to power 550 homes and its two Archimedes screw turbines will generate 1.8 million kWh of electricity every year.

Congratulations to the Council for pushing through the completion of this £2.6m project in time for the city to benefit from better feed-in tariff payments.

Julie Morgan is the Assembly Member for Cardiff North. She holds regular surgeries on Mondays in Llanishen and Fridays in Whitchurch and her Whitchurch office at 17 Plasnewydd is staffed Mondays to Fridays. You can call 029 2061 4577 to make an appointment or drop in. Find out more about Julie here: www.juliemorgan.org.uk or email Julie.morgan@ assembly.wales. You can also follow Julie on Twitter @juliemorganlab or like her Facebook page: www.facebook. com/JulieMorganAM

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Exciting things are taking place down on Beulah Road.

In a short space of time, Michelle Marshall Salon has not only firmly established themselves within the village, but they’ve scooped a host of national awards and accolades.

After picking up an award at the 2016 Welsh Hair and Beauty Awards, the Rhiwbina-based salon has recently been shortlisted for the Cardiff Lifestyle Awards, a prestigious event (produced by Made in Cardiff TV) which will be held on 9th November at Portland House in Cardiff. The salon is among the finalists for the Best Cardiff Hair and Beauty Salon.

Salon director Michelle Marshall said: “We’ve also been shortlisted in the National Hairdresser’s Federation ‘Welsh Awards’, which will be held on 6th November. We’re up for Salon Team of the Year, which makes us very proud as earlier this year we were recognised for our team service when we won the Welsh Hair and Beauty Award for Best Team Service.

“We’ve had such a busy year. Back in July, we styled all 30 contestants of the Miss Universe Great Britain competition which was held at Newport Waterfront. We will also be working on Cardiff Fashion Week in October, as we have in previous years.”

Michelle will head up the styling team for 30 models at Cardiff Fashion Week, a much anticipated event being held at the iconic Cardiff Masonic Lodge in Churchill Way. The event will showcase runway shows from new and emerging designers from all over Wales, along with students from the University of South Wales and other colleges. High street labels and local boutiques will be featured

and styled by fashion stylist Wenda James Rowe.

But it’s not all about awards and runways. Providing the Michelle Marshall experience to the Cardiff public is at the beating heart of the salon.

“Although we are firmly established in Rhiwbina village, we have guests who travel from all over to come here. As well as guests from Cardiff, we have guests who travel from as far afield as West Wales and London. We believe that the service we provide is the reason why people keep coming back - we take more time and care to provide them with our unique experience.”

Playing a key role within the community also endears the team to Rhiwbina residents: “We are sponsoring Rhiwbina Ladies Football Club for two seasons. This is a local team who recently won the South Wales Women’s and Girls’ League Cup, beating a team that were unbeaten in League 1 to achieve it!”

But it’s in the salon itself where Michelle Marshall’s team win: “We offer a range of specialist services here at the salon including Balayage. This is hair painting without foils to place contour and add light in a natural looking way to hair. It’s a unique technique with French origins (balayage is the French word ‘to sweep’) and transforms hair by actively painting with colour like an artist would paint a canvas. This creates light and shadows to enhance the natural

characteristics of your hair.”

Michelle believes the salon’s success is in part due to them always seeking to offer something different: “I want the salon to be innovative and to push boundaries. Training in New York really inspired my passion for cutting edge approaches and techniques.” Michelle has been a Redken certified hair colorist for the past 12 years and believes that education and training is the key to keeping the team at the forefront of hairdressing. “Most recently being awarded the 1st Colour specialist in Cardiff from the Good Salon Guide, has cemented what we do and how we do it.

“We are now offering Great Lengths Hair Extensions and Kerastraight, a smoothing treatment that lasts for three months and eliminates frizz, bulk and defines curls. We will soon be launching the revolutionary pH bonder which protects, bonds and balances the pH level of the hair, while preserving the hair fibre and integrity during colouring.”

The salon continues to build a following across social media and can be followed on Instagram @michellemarshallsalon and their Facebook page.

To experience their award winning team, call the salon today to book in for your FREE consultation.

A: 12 Beulah Rd, Cardiff CF14 6LX T: 029 2061 1566 W: www.michellemarshallsalon.co.uk

55

38

things you’ll only understand

if you’ve

lived in Rhiwbina Whether you’re new to the area or whether you’ve lived here all your life, there are a few things that other people just won’t understand unless they’ve lived here.

1.

You stop in your tracks when you get the waft of warm bread and cakes from the bakery on Maes-y-Coed Road.

You know the most popular place in Rhiwbina after the kids’ football on a Saturday morning is going to be Parsons bakery.

When you mention to someone outside of Cardiff that you live in Rhiwbina, you have to smile politely when they say ‘You live in Ribena?’

You think you’re cheating the system when you pop into the library to pick up your green bags, and then send your other half in a few minutes later to pick up a second batch.

You’re never quite sure what day is black bin day so you have to look out onto your road to see what your neighbour has put out.

You wish you had a smaller car, or possibly a bike, when you are coming down Beulah Road in rush hour.

You secretly get excited when you see the village’s Christmas tree being put up.

You dread going to Morrisons because it means you have to use the roundabout at Thornhill crossroads.

You’ve met at least one person who is over the age of 70 and still lives in the Rhiwbina house that they were born and brought up in.

You were gutted that the Wine Store closed its doors because you have nowhere to drink your wine on a Friday night now.

Rhiwbina and Birchgrove are two completely different places. Like totally different.

You always curse the person who’s reverse parked at a very odd angle outside the shops on Heoly-Deri because it means you have to wait for all the traffic to come down the hill before you can go up it.

You’ll see the captain of Wales and the British and

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

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Irish Lions in your local Co-op. Unless you are the captain of Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

You mix up visiting different coffee shops in the village so that you feel like you are supporting all of them.

You know if there’s an important event happening in the village because Jayne, Adrian and Eleanor are there.

You swear you used to see a guy walking around the village with a sheep on a lead.

14.

15.

16.

28.

“

29.

SAYS THAT

grass or trimming their hedge.

You can’t decide which is your favourite festival - summer or winter.

You love that warm smell of curry that hangs over the village in the evenings.

You’ve had to wait in the rain and wind at Rhiwbina train station while the train you need to get on to head into town, heads up to Coryton to come back.

You’ve got on a Number 21 bus on match day and wish you hadn’t.

You’ve been for a walk up the Wenallt and when you’ve got there, you say to yourself ‘I should come here more often’. But you don’t.

You’ve gone to the Co-op to stock up on fresh vegetables and come out with a pizza, a packet of Giant Chocolate Buttons and a bottle of wine.

When someone mentions the Monico cinema, you go all dreamy eyed and drift away to years gone by. You’ll also not be able to help saying what film you remember seeing there.

You’ve heard of the Twmpath but you’re never quite sure where it is.

You miss the village having a Post Office, two banks and a petrol station.

You’d love to live in the Wendy House but think it’d be too small in practice.

You’re not exactly sure where the Garden Village ends.

You wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

26.

27.

30.

31.

32.

17.

You’ve always wanted to whizz down Rhiwbina Hill on a bicycle with your legs in the air like those people did on the Hovis advert.

You know when there’s sport being played at Caedelyn Fields because you can hear them from your own living room.

You didn’t like the thought of a pizza shop opening up on Beulah Road when they first announced it but you’ve had one from there at least once since.

If in doubt, ask Mary Clarke.

You’ve been told off at least once for parking on the grass verges.

Rhiwbina Living is your favourite community magazine (probably).

You often mutter to yourself that you wish there was a chip shop in the village.

You bump into at least three people you know when you pop out for a pint of milk.

There’ll always be someone cutting their

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YOU SMILE POLITELY WHEN SOMEONE

YOU LIVE IN RIBENA

“

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With this season comes misty nights and autumn storms. Time to shut the world out and hunker down with these wonderfully warming recipes

welsh cakes

By Pearl McCabe 1 lb of plain flour 1 heaped tsp of baking powder 10oz of good quality butter 6oz of sugar Pinch of salt 6oz of currants or sultanas (sultanas are softer and juicier) 1 heaped tsp of cinnamon I egg 2 tbsp of milk (three if you only have a small egg)

Autu mn

warm ers ☐ With freshly washed but cool hands, mix

together the flour with the baking powder and the salt. ☐ Rub in the butter, cupping your hands about six inches apart with fingers facing each other and passing the mixture over your fingers but under your thumbs. Do this until it feels like fine breadcrumbs. Be patient. ☐ Add the sugar, cinnamon and sultanas; mix all these dry ingredients together evenly. ☐ Mix the egg and milk separately in the small bowl and stir thoroughly with a fork. ☐ Add the liquid just mixed to the dry ingredients stirring initially with a fork, then mixing with your hands (this is the only bit that needs a little practice). Gather the dough into your hands and knead gently to achieve the overall consistency of modelling clay. This will need a few minutes to get right. If your mixture is too wet to stick to itself, add a sprinkle of flour. If your mixture is too dry and crumbly add a tiny amount of milk. ☐ Heat the bakestone or griddle on the top of your cooker on the largest ring at the highest setting. After a few minutes, place your hand over the centre of the bakestone (about three inches above it), then when it feels very warm to hot, turn

60

the regulo down to maintain the heat.

☐ Split the dough into three and roll out one

portion at a time on a well floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness. Use the cookie cutter to cut out as many cakes as possible, then gather up and re-roll the dough, cut out more and so on until all the dough is used up. ☐ By now your bakestone should be ready.

Carefully lay a test cake in the centre with the help of a palette knife, it should make a gentle ‘sizzle’ sound. If it does not ‘sizzle’, turn up the heat and try a minute or two later. The smell of burning indicates the opposite! Cook for a few minutes on each side, trying to achieve the traditional ‘sandy’ texture. ☐ Lift off the cooked cakes and let them cool, replacing them with the uncooked ones until you have cooked them all. Sprinkle with sugar while they are still hot. ☐ Serve with good quality tea and enjoy. They can also be spread with butter, jam or honey and should be stored in an air-tight container and can stay fresh for several days.

COOK’S TIP: Replacing fruit with grated lemon or orange rind is just as delicious!

marshmallow 250g icing sugar, mixed with 250g cornflour for dusting 2 tbsp agar powder 200ml water 200g granulated sugar 100g glucose syrup 3 free-range egg whites 1 tbsp guar gum 1/4 tbsp cream of tartar 2 tbsp vanilla bean paste

☐ Line a 20cm square baking tin with cling film and dust in a small portion of the 50/50 sugar/ cornflour mix. Dissolve the agar powder in 120ml of water in a small saucepan and put to one side. ☐ Mix the sugar, glucose and 80ml water in a pan and bring to the boil to make a sugar syrup.

Cook the mixture until it reaches 120°C on a sugar thermometer. ☐ Put the dissolved agar mixture on the heat, bring it to the boil and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously. ☐ Combine the egg whites, guar gum, cream of tartar and vanilla and whisk in a whisker until it is stiff. This usually takes about 4 minutes. Gently pour in your sugar syrup, keeping your mixture on a medium setting. Increase the speed and whisk for another 2 minutes. Add in the cooked agar mix and beat for a further 12-15 minutes at full speed.

The mixture should be stiff and able to produce firm ribbons. ☐ Leave to set by pouring into your tin, smoothing over with a damp palette knife and leaving to set overnight at room temperature. ☐ Once set, prepare a work surface by dusting

recipes it with some of the dusting mixture. Tip the marshmallow slab out of the tin, using the cling film to give you some leverage. Dip a sharp knife into hot water and warm it up. Then trim neatly around the edge of the slab before cutting it into squares. Roll the squares in the dusting mix and leave to dry for 24 hours.

Choc Chip Cookies 125g butter, softened 100g light brown soft sugar 125g caster sugar 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 tsp vanilla extract 225g self-raising flour ½ tsp salt 200g chocolate chips

☐ Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. ☐ Cream the butter and sugars. Once creamed, combine in the egg and vanilla. ☐ Sift in the flour and salt, then the choc chips. ☐ Roll into walnut size balls for a more homemade look, or roll into a long, thick sausage shape and slice to make neater looking cookies. ☐ Place on ungreased baking paper. If you want slightly gooey cookies, then bake for just 7 minutes until the cookies are just setting - the cookies will be really doughy and delicious.

Otherwise cook for 10 minutes until just golden round the edges.

ultimate hot chocolate 2 pints of semi-skimmed milk 2 tbsp Horlicks 2 tbsp cornflour 3 tbsp icing sugar 4 tbsp quality organic cocoa 100g good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), finely grated 1 pinch ground cinnamon 1 pinch sea salt

☐Pour the milk into a large pan, and bring almost to the boil over a medium heat. Meanwhile, add all the chocolate mix ingredients to a large jar and give it a good shake to combine.

You need around 10 heaped tablespoons of the chocolate mix for this amount of milk.

Simply spoon the chocolate mix into the hot milk, give it a good whisk and leave to bubble away for a few minutes before serving.

61

short story

Autumn Soup

A short story by Alice Morgan

T

he school bell rang and Miss Lipman shouted over the babble of the children as they packed up their things.

‘Thank you for a wonderful first day, Year Three! Make sure you’ve got your bags to go home with.’

Alex pulled on his new coat that Mum had bought him and rolled up the sleeves that were too long. He hadn’t wanted to go back to school after a long, lazy summer spent at the beach, in the park and on the sofa. He’d thought about all the jobs he could do as a grown up that meant staying home every single day. Maybe he could be a writer.

He pulled his backpack on to his shoulders and started to line up with his friends. Miss Lipman let them out one at a time. Alex could

They walked

back home together through Caedelyn Park and Mum stuck

to the path while

Alex ran through

the huge piles of leaves that were under

the trees

62

see Mum waiting with her blue anorak on and he shouted a quick ‘See you tomorrow!’ to his friends as he ran over to her.

‘Hello you!’ Mum said as she bent down to hug him. ‘How was your first day back?’

‘Good,’ smiled Alex.

‘What did you get up to?’ Mum asked as they walked towards the school gates together.

‘Not much.’

‘Always the same,’ Mum laughed.

They walked back home together through Caedelyn Park and Mum stuck to the path while Alex ran through the huge piles of leaves that were under the trees. They crunched under his feet and he kicked them up in the air so they fell like a red and gold shower around him.

‘Look Mum!’ he called. ‘Look at my leaf shower!’

She smiled and beckoned him over to her so he kicked one last time and ran back to the path.

‘Do you know that those trees have been there since before Nanny was in school?’ Mum said.

‘Have they?!’ asked Alex, in disbelief.

‘Yep. They’ve been there for a very long time.’

‘Wo-o-ow!’ Alex said, marvelling at the old trees that surrounded the park.

Maybe I could be a park-keeper when I’m older, he thought, and look after all the old trees.

‘We’ve got soup for tea tonight,’

Mum said.

‘Ohhh, I didn’t want soup!’

‘I guessed that so I bought us some chocolate fudge cake to have as a treat for afters.’

‘Yessss!’ Alex said, hugging Mum tightly.

As they walked through the front door of their house, Alex noticed his dad crouching down in front of the fireplace.

‘What are you doing, Dad?’ he asked, throwing his school bags down on the floor.

‘Lighting the fire, son. There’s gonna be a storm tonight,’ Dad said, with excitement in his eyes.

As he watched the flames dance in the grate, Alex made a very big decision.

‘I’m going to be a fireman when I grow up,’ he said, proudly.

‘Are you?’ Mum asked. ‘I thought you wanted to be an astronaut, a vet, a sailor, a policeman and an archaeologist.’

‘I do but now I want to be a fireman too!’

Mum laughed.

‘Well, whatever you’re going to be, just make sure you’re still my Alex,’ she said, kissing his head and ruffling his hair. ‘Now, who wants some soup?’

Alice Morgan is an award-winning writer and blogger. You can find more of her work at www.alicemariarose.com

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