Rhiwbina Living Issue 39 by Rhiwbina Living

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Rhiwbina Living

At the heart of the community Issue 39 Summer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17

SUMMER

Your multi award-winning magazine for Rhiwbina

Inside this issue Derek Brockway

The popular weatherman speaks about his life, his career, and his love of the villages of North Cardiff

Competitions

Win yourself and your loved ones some family tickets to the FIM Speedway Grand Prix and to Superstars of Welsh Wrestling this summer

Outdoor Summer Fire up the barbeque and relax with some great local products for your garden

Gino D'Acampo

We caught up with TV's famous chef when he recently came to Cardiff. Find out why he took up cooking, why he still does it, and why he loves our great city

Autumn deadline:

23rd September 2017 Published 10th October 2017

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 Distribution: 6,000 copies of Rhiwbina Living are personally delivered by us to every house in the Rhiwbina ward four times a year in line with the seasons. We also distribute to local shops 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.

Welcome / Croeso Welcome to your summer issue of Rhiwbina Living. Our villages are full of talented and interesting people. Derek Brockway is one name that everyone is familiar with. The famous weatherman has great links with the villages of North Cardiff and he's told us all about his career to date and his love of everything meteorological. The arrival of the warm weather means that we can finally get out into the garden. Kevin Revell explains how hanging baskets can dramatically improve the look of our home. If your garden is the place to be this summer, we've featured some great outdoor garden furniture from our local advertisers to get you in the mood. If it's dining al fresco further afield you'd like this summer, local writer Sara Wells puts together the ultimate guide to picnicking so you can just get on with the eating and socialising. Gino D'Acampo came to Cardiff in May and we were delighted to speak to the celebrity chef about his love of Cardiff, his passion for cooking and his rise to stardom. In the second part of our new series, we hear from two Rhiwbina residents who have been recognised in the Queen's Honours List over the years. Their stories are inspirational. We've got some great competitions lined up for you too - the FIM Speedway Grand Prix arrives in Cardiff in July and you could be there courtesy of

Rhiwbina Living magazine. We also have a family ticket for the Superstars of Welsh Wrestling up for grabs. Whitchurch High School has played a very important role in the lives of many in the area and continues to do so. Former student Rachel Nurse looks at the history of the school and its place within the village today. As ever, we've got library and schools news, including the latest from Llanishen Fach Primary School. Lastly, we've got some delicious gin and tonic recipes to rustle up - perfect for a warm summer's evening. We'll see you next in October so until then, make the most of the sun and enjoy this issue!

Danielle and Patric Editors

@RhiwbinaLiving www.facebook.com/ rhiwbinaliving

What’s on Rhiwbina Summer Festival Saturday 1st July 11am-6pm Rhiwbina Village The highlight of the summer calendar. Rides, stalls, entertainment, food and drink - it's all here in the village. Monico Movies: The Artist Saturday 8th July 7.30pm Canolfan Beulah Nominated for ten Academy Awards and winning five, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Tickets £4 from Ginger Whites, Deri Stores and The Honeypot.

Vintage For Victory vintage festival Sat/Sun 15th/16th July Library Gardens, Whitchurch village Whitchurch's famous vintage festival includes live music, dancing, food, drink, emporiums and fancy dress. Tickets from vintageforvictory.co.uk Light Up The Night Walk Saturday 22nd July 9pm Rhiwbina Recreation Club Wear your brightest tutus, sparkles, wigs and fairy lights and join the 10k evening walk around Roath Park Lake. £8 for adults / £5 for children. Call 02920 768850 to register.

New parade for the 2017 Rhiwbina Summer Festival

Rhiwbina Events Committee have pulled out all the stops for this year's Rhiwbina Summer Festival. The popular event takes place on Saturday 1st July and promises to be the biggest and best festival yet. Rhiwbina Events Committee's Sue Harding told Rhiwbina Living magazine: "There are so many events taking place this year, and not just on Festival Saturday. We have produced a wonderful programme of events that you can pick up from the local businesses in the village." Proceedings kick off at the Edwards & Co Festival Stage at 11am. Throughout the day, there will be performances by HLC School of Dance, Suzanne Scale School of Performing Arts, Tippi Toes Ballet, Mundo Dance, Wonderland Studios and Debbie Chapman Dancers. From 5pm, there will also be the day's headline act, The Verge. "We have grown so large that we will now be holding some of our outdoor events at Parc y Pentre for the first time," said Sue. "We will also

be holding a new parade which will feature groups and organisations from the community. We are very proud of them and want everyone to join in the celebration. "In Rhiwbina, there is so much going on for all ages and abilities but we are mindful that not everyone has access to everything that goes on. We wanted to come up with a way of showcasing activities and clubs that take place. People may want to meet new people or learn new skills so we want to connect people and support our local clubs and societies that are in abundance in Rhiwbina. "The parade will begin from the Edwards & Co Festival Stage at 1pm, making its way down Pen Y Dre and finishing at Parc Y Pentre where we will have a celebration and an information tent where you can find a list and contact details of all the people taking part." The Festival will also have its usual mix of family fun, including children's rides, donkey rides, wall-climbing, stalls, competitions and food.

Tributes paid to Rhodri Morgan Tributes were paid in May to former First Minister Rhodri Morgan. Often described as the father of Welsh devolution, Rhodri had strong connections to Rhiwbina and the North Cardiff area. His family, including wife Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan, asked people to give charity donations rather than flowers after his passing. The former Whitchurch Grammar School pupil went to St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College, Oxford, where he took

a degree in philosophy, politics and economics (1961), and then to Harvard for a Masters in government (1963). He became MP for Cardiff West in 1987. He then went on to become leader of Welsh Labour and First Minister in 2000, and held the position until 2009, when he retired. His funeral was held at the Senedd at the end of May. He is survived by Julie, a son and two daughters, and his brother, Prys.

news

New MP for Cardiff North

The constituency of Cardiff North changed hands in June when Anna McMorrin ousted former Cardiff North Tory MP Craig Williams. She won with a majority of 4,174. Anna was employed by Rhodri Morgan in 2008, working as an advisor at the Welsh Government. She then served under Carwyn Jones, advising and helping deliver policy on energy, climate change and taking measures to combat poverty and growing the economy. She told the media: "I was delighted that both Jeremy [Corbyn] and Carwyn [Jones] helped us win in Cardiff North during this campaign and I am excited to work with them both to deliver on my promises to the people who supported me on June 8th." Outgoing MP Craig Williams said that the Tories had some 'deep thinking to do', and spoke of the challenge of selling the party manifesto on the doorsteps of North Cardiff. Anna is one of 19 female MPs now in Wales. Speaking before the election she said: "I believe that we have to get the right deal for everyone - not just one side or the other."

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We must look to the future and create the best deal for Cardiff, Wales and the UK 3

news

New Aldi store proposed on Caerphilly Road Plans to build a new supermarket on disused land have been announced by discount store Aldi. Aldi said that the new store would provide around 40 long-term jobs, in addition to the employment brought through the construction.

They said: "An Aldi food store on Caerphilly Road would provide a new store in a convenient and accessible location, bringing high-quality produce at discounted prices to the whole community. The proposal would introduce a brand new store, and provide greater choice for local residents." Aldi are currently seeking feedback from local residents with some mixed messages being discussed already. Some residents said that they would welcome the development of the current 'eyesore', while others questioned whether the area needed another store, particularly with Lidl and Morrisons being nearby. Access issues were also raised by residents. Aldi have said that they would provide 125 parking spaces in a new store, compared to the 141 that Lidl currently holds. Separate plans are also in the pipeline to create a housing development in the same area, plans for which are expected to be lodged later this year.

Waste delays Waste collection in Rhiwbina was delayed in early June as Cardiff Council requested the use of the refuse vehicles. The lorries were used as barricades during the Champions League Cup Final in the city centre, following the recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London.

Plans for new Velindre Centre revealed to the public Plans for the new proposed Velindre Cancer Centre have been published. The plans look to build a new Velindre Cancer Centre approximately 0.5 miles north east of the current Velindre Cancer Centre in Whitchurch, as well as new additional satellite units. Paul Edmonds of Velindre Cancer Centre told Rhiwbina Living: "Cancer is the second biggest cause of death in Wales. According to Public Health Wales, there were 19,088 new cases of cancer in 2015 compared to 17,389 in 2006. The increase in cancer cases is part of a long term trend in Wales. "The incidence of cancer is forecast to increase by 2% per year. Soon it is expected that one in two of us will develop cancer in our lifetime. As the incidence of cancer is forecast to increase, so too is the number of referrals to Velindre Cancer Centre. By 2025, we forecast to see an 18% increase in referrals along with a 48% increase in demand for our radiotherapy machines. Unless we transform the way we provide our cancer services, we'll be unable to meet the future needs of our patients." The Welsh Government has asked Velindre NHS Trust to develop a Business Case to improve cancer services across South East Wales. During 2017, the Centre will aim

Artist's impression

to finalise and seek approval of their Business Case to redesign cancer services across South East Wales which they are developing in partnership with Local Health Boards. Their proposals are designed so that more services are available closer to home. 2018 will see the start of the road improvements, in preparation of the new buildings. "The new Velindre Cancer Centre will be accessed via the M4 Coryton roundabout which will improve access for patients and visitors, as well as easing traffic congestion for the local community," said Paul. "Construction of the new Centre will begin in 2019. During 2018 and 2021, we also plan to open a number of satellite units across South East Wales. The new state-of-the-art Velindre Cancer Centre is planned to open in 2022," he added.

Council Election sees new set up Cardiff's recent Council Elections saw the re-election two familiar faces and the arrival of a new one. Cllrs Jayne Cowan and Adrian Robson were joined by fellow Conservative Oliver Owen as the three councillors for Rhiwbina and Pantmawr. Jayne told Rhiwbina Living magazine: "It has been good to talk to so many residents on the doorstep, in the shopping centres and at local events. There have been many views expressed as to how the Council can improve its services both locally and

throughout the city. We appreciated the kind feedback received, and used it to formulate our six pledges for the Council Elections."

Rhiwbina Living to celebrate 10th birthday Rhiwbina Living magazine will be celebrating its tenth birthday this winter. Editor Patric Morgan said: "We are looking for photos and stories of interest for our celebratory

winter issue. We want this issue to capture the last ten years of village life so if you have anything of interest, please get in touch. Our deadline is 14th November and we can accept anything by post or by email."

library

Tamar Williams

What's On Saturday 1st July

We'll be at the Library with a ‘Lucky Dip’ for the youngsters and our regular Saturday morning Jigsaw Library on Festival Day. Come and chat about events you’d like to see at Rhiwbina Library. Better still, join ‘Friends’ and lend a hand in supporting YOUR library.

Saturday 15th July

The children’s Summer Reading Challenge kicks off, encouraging children to read six library books during the school holiday. Our July/August events for children are focused on this year’s theme ‘Agent Animals’. Sign up at Rhiwbina Library.

Saturday 28th July

The Children’s Illustration Workshop will be led by renowned illustrator (and local boy) Eric Heyman. This workshop is an opportunity for young artists to find just what a career as an illustrator entails. Eric will show them how to use the tools of the trade, how to come up with ideas and he’ll also help them produce their very own pieces of artwork. This event takes place between 1.30pm and 3.30pm and is aimed at 8-11 year olds. It's a free but ticketed event and numbers are limited so book early!

Monday 7th August

Storyteller Tamar Williams is returning to Rhiwbina Library with her interactive family sessions, which will include Welsh myths and fairytales. In the afternoon, she’ll be leading a storytelling workshop for older children, discussing ideas and encouraging them to become young storytellers. Family Story sessions (4+yrs): 10am to 10.30am & 11am to 11.30am Storytelling workshop (7-11yrs): 2.30pm to 3.30pm This is a free but ticketed event.

Nichola Farr

Library News

All the latest news and events from Rhiwbina Library

Monday 14th August

Renowned children’s author B.B. Taylor (‘Weird and Wonderful Tales’) is visiting our library. Rumour has it that she’ll be bringing along some of her animal friends. 3.30 pm – 4.30pm. Free event.

Wednesday 27th September

This is our next Quiz and Cuppa (£2).

Tuesday 3rd October

The Cruel Streets Revisited Ex-policeman John Wake is the author of two books on policing Cardiff in the 150 years prior to 1969. His talk will cover the injustices of the Victorian times, the poverty, the crime, the notorious public houses, murder investigation, Tiger Bay tales etc. Fascinating stuff but not suitable for children. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £3.

Thursday 26th October

From Y-Fronts to Viagra Mike Wright (The Men’s Shed) shares his light-hearted take on the ins and outs of intellectual property rights, including copyright, design, trademarks and patents. Starts at 7.30pm. Free event. Charity raffle.

Other News We wish a fond farewell to our librarian Nichola Farr who has been at Rhiwbina Library since 2012. Nichola has been appointed Senior Librarian for Brecon’s new Cultural Hub which is due to open next year. We’re sorry (gutted, in fact) to be losing her and wish her all the very best for the future. We would also like to thank all our speakers, helpers and supporters for so generously giving their time, expertise, enthusiasm and CAKES!

Get Involved

If you have suggestions for events or would be willing to give a talk/demonstration on an interesting topic, please get in touch. Most importantly, support Rhiwbina Library by coming along to our events. Why not become a ‘Friend’? Membership is free to all.

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

letters WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We love to hear what you've been up to so send us your letters and photos! We'll do our best to print them all!

Star Letter

Boundary Confusion I am writing in response to settle a debate that was mentioned in an earlier issue of Rhiwbina Living regarding boundaries in the North Cardiff area. If you head down Pantbach Road towards Birchgrove from Rhiwbina, directly opposite St Thomas’s Church, there is a small concrete marker with the words 'City of Cardiff 1922' on it. This is the old boundary between Cardiff city and the rural suburbs. If you look up towards the Wenallt, this is what is technically Rhiwbina and if you look the other way, that’s Birchgrove. If you look to the west, this is what is officially classed as Whitchurch. The boundary runs along the brook, near the allotments. In 1905, Cardiff gained city status and in 1922, the boundaries were extended to encompass the remainder of Llandaff and most of the parish of Whitchurch. During the war, the boundary threw up a strange situation in that the children on one side of Pantbach Road were evacuated while those on the opposite side of the road were taking in evacuees. Mr Evans, Greenfield Road, Whitchurch

Your letters

The nightmare at Caerphilly Road continues

I wish to complain about the very dangerous junction of Caerphilly Road and Ty Wern Road, and ask why nothing is being done about this very dangerous set up. I had the unfortunate misfortune of having to use this junction after doing a spot of shopping with my two children. Heading down Caerphilly Road, I had to turn right to head into Ty Wern Road. To do so, I had to join the long queue of drivers who were hoping to do the same. It soon became apparent that this would take a while, due to the amount of traffic coming up Caerphilly Road from Birchgrove. As there is no filter light, drivers had to wait until the lights had actually turned red (which stopped the flow of traffic coming the other way) to make their move.

As you can imagine, with such little time, the lights were only letting one or possibly two cars through at a time. It's worse when there is a large vehicle in front of you as you can't see what's coming up the road. When it came to my turn, I had to move my car into position and like other motorists, had to wait until the lights had turned red, leaving me and my children vulnerable in the middle of a junction. If I had stalled my car, it would have been very possible that a flow of traffic would have started moving towards me. The whole incident was very stressful, especially as I had my two children in the car. It's only a matter of time before there is a serious accident there. The simple solution is to install a filter lane surely it can't cost the Council that much money or effort! Name and address supplied

What about Llanishen Fach?

It would be really nice to see some articles about Llanishen Fach Primary School in Rhiwbina Living as you only ever seem to feature Rhiwbeina Primary. Lots of people in Rhiwbina feel the same. Vanessa Brown, email Editor's Response Hi Vanessa and thanks for getting in touch. We are pleased to inform you that we had already been in touch with Llanishen Fach Primary School ahead of this issue. We felt that Llanishen Fach was missing out. As a result, you'll find all the latest news from the school in this issue of Rhiwbina Living. On that topic, we work very hard

to include as many local stories as possible but sometimes, it has to come down to individuals or organisations to get in touch with us as we can't chase everybody. There is so much going on in our local communities that it is impossible to cover everything with our very small team. We publish our copy deadlines in each issue and online so residents are more than welcome to submit stories of local interest.

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 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter

Fresh flowers · Deliveries · Weddings · Funerals Gifts · Sympathy · Workshops

A warm and friendly florist shop located in the heart of Rhiwbina. We stock quality flowers and plants along with gifts from Green Gate, Sia, Parlane and Burgon & Ball, and deliver to all areas in and around Cardiff

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

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Friday Fizz

Browse until 8pm on the first Friday of each month with a complimentary glass of fizz

Independent Boutique in Rhiwbina

Find us in Rhiwbina village Park outside the store in Lon Fach Shopping Mews

9-11 Lon Fach Rhiwbeina CF14 6DY www.calonrhiwbeina.com tel: 029 20610722 email: info@calonrhiwbeina.com

Year 5 Bowls

Schools News

All the latest success stories from Rhiwbeina Primary School Hay Festival

Year 6 Manor Park

A coach full of excited children arrived to a magical atmosphere at this year's Hay Festival. We listened to tales of zebras battling with animals to entertain the Romans. We watched illustrators bring their work to life. We also listened to how a story developed from a single idea into an amazing adventure.

In May, we set off for a weekend at Manor Adventure Centre in mid Wales. We took part in a range of exciting activities during our three day stay, enjoying the time with friends in dormitories, and also eating tasty hot meals in the canteen. Archery and rifle shooting tested our aim, while we built mini shelters and lit a fire in the 'Survival Skills' session. The water sports also proved to be very popular and made good use of the beautiful lake. Paddle boarding caused many children to test the temperature of the water - and it was icy cold! We played some fun games in the canoes and kayaks once we'd learnt how to steer them. The muddy obstacle course made us work in teams to conquer some challenging obstacles. The climbing wall also tested our nerve for heights, but the ultimate challenge was the zip wire. The rope ladder ascending into the trees, followed by a jump off a high platform caused many anxieties, but there were only beaming smiles after successfully completing this challenge! Well done to the 88 Year 6 children who came and conquered their fears (and to the 7 members of staff who survived the added challenge of sleep deprivation and sugar fuelled children!)

We clapped along to hilarious poetry that tickled our funny bones and the bookshop was crammed with all sorts of books, where authors were waiting to chat and sign our copies. "I liked watching Guy Bass - he was so funny!” said Katie. “I liked finding out more about the authors,” said Eva. "Gary Northfield is so clever," said Oliver. “I love the book shop," said Molly. “Steve Coles' talk was enthusiastic,” said Alesha. After an exhilarating but exhausting day, we climbed aboard our coach with tired but happy students. The behaviour of our Rhiwbeina children was exemplary.

Year 5 have recently been receiving coaching in lawn bowls from members of Rhiwbina Lawn Bowls Club. The children have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to develop a brand new sporting skill, thanks to the patience and dedication of the coaches. Many children have been inspired to develop their skills thanks to the free coaching sessions on a Monday evening at the club. The children are looking forward to the interschool tournament which we have won for consecutive years! No pressure then on this year’s Year Five!

Year 3 Eat Well Year 3 have been learning about the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. We've been investigating the 'Eat well plate' and planning menus to give a healthy lifestyle! Our next challenge was to design and make a 'healthy sandwich' using our knowledge of the different food groups.

We made our sandwich ready for 'Open Afternoon' when they were tasted and evaluated by our Parents and Grandparents - most received an excellent score! The final challenge was to work out how much our healthy sandwich had cost to make by using the price list and our maths skills to cost and total our ingredients. Some of us have been inspired to try and make some healthy sandwiches at home too!

schools Nursery Chicks

The Three Rs

Nursery has enjoyed another exciting topic called 'Amazing Animals'. The children have observed incubated eggs and have watched them hatch out in front of their very eyes! We have learned lots of new fascinating facts and vocabulary. We now know what chicks need to grow and thrive.

The topic in Year 2 during this half term has been all about the 3Rs Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

We have also learned how to handle them with care. As well as feeding them and cleaning them, we have described them, drawn and painted them, counted them and even made models of them. We have also used our maths skills to estimate and then weigh them using non-standard units. We have learned so much in such a fun way!

Stomp Chomp Roar For our topic, Stomp Chomp Roar, Year One visited Dan-Yr-Ogof Caves and we had a fantastic time. We explored the three caves looking at the different rock formations. Cathedral Cave was beautiful and we really loved walking under the waterfall! After our picnic lunch, we then explored the dinosaurs and found out lots of interesting facts. The dinosaur museum had a super app that we could use to create our own dinosaur pattern which was then projected onto a big 3D model.

We carried out Eco Surveys in the Foundation Phase to check if the classes were good at saving electricity by turning off the lights in the cupboards, toilets and the classrooms. Most classes remembered to turn the lights off when they were not in use. All the classes were very good at saving water by making sure the taps were turned off. We all made a big effort to make sure that there was no litter left in the playground at the end of playtimes too. To celebrate the end of the topic, we held a 'Really Rubbish Fashion Show' where we all came to school dressed in recycled clothes and costumes made from recyclable materials. Our teachers were very impressed with how imaginative our ideas were, and we all had lots of fun.

Understanding Religion - Key To Life Year 2 to Year 6 pupils in Rhiwbeina Primary participated in a most memorable, if unique, experience when the ‘Key to Life’ vehicle arrived overnight, almost like the Tardis, onto the school yard, where it stayed for a week. ‘Key to Life’ tells the story of Jesus through a unique, interactive and immersive session. Using huge floor-to-ceiling computer touchscreens, participants could watch films, interact with games and quizzes, and also take part in small group discussions – helping them explore what Christians believe and understand how the story of Jesus is key to Christianity. The organisers of the project plan to return to school in the near future to answer any questions the pupils have subsequently formed with regard to the Christian faith.

The Spring and Summer term introduced several new events for the PTA Team, including a Someone Special Stall for Mother’s Day and a Quiz Night for parents. This year, we also moved the Rhiwbina Fun Run event to a Sunday afternoon in June so that family and friends from our very youngest in the school could take part in a fun race. Our new 1k race was packed full of champion younger runners who all did a tremendous job. The 5k race proved as popular as ever for all ages groups. The PTA team would like to thank Rhiwbina Village Events, who join and support us in hosting this event each year, and also to our local St John Ambulance team, who do a wonderful job for us. On 14th July, we'll have all our fingers and toes crossed for some sunny weather to enable us to open the school gates to our keen campers. Families and small groups will hopefully be able to pitch a tent on the school fields and enjoy a BBQ and a fun evening with friends. When we come back in September, we will be busy with new events including a disco and fundraising activities for a school defibrillator. But don’t wait for our events to help support us, as you can do so through our School Lottery! It is simple, safe and quick to register online. Tickets cost £1 with £25,000 up for grabs EACH Saturday in a National jackpot and a local draw with guaranteed prizes! Register at www. YourSchoolLottery.co.uk/play. You can also support our school if you shop online. With access to over 2,700 online retailers from Amazon, Tesco, John Lewis and more, you can help us whether you are buying your summer holiday flights, holiday insurance or purchasing your shorts and flip flops. Simply register at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ causes/FOR or download the EasyFundraising app! Here’s how to get in touch with us: Email: committee@ friendsofrhiwbeina.org.uk Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter. com/FORhiwbeina Facebook: www.facebook.com/ friendsofrhiwbeina

The

Rhiwbina Summer Festival A SUMMER FESTIVAL OF LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, SHOPPING, COMPETITIONS, LAUGHTER AND LOTS, LOTS MORE!

1 JULY 17 st

RHIWBINA VILLAGE, CARDIFF 11am-6pm

new at parc-y-pentre! Parc-y-Pentre is our new venue for games, rides and activities such as: Donkey Rides · Dog Show · Parade · Haus Climbing Wall · Rides and Inflatables · Food and Drink · Children's Games and Activities

NEW! Celebrate our community! We have a very special parade this year to celebrate the wonderful groups and clubs of our Rhiwbina community. The parade starts at the Edwards and Co Festival Stage at 1pm and will make its way to Parc Y Pentre.

Festival Stage Acts (sponsored by Edwards & Co)

The Festival Stage opens at 11am with DJ Sparky Marky. There will be performances by:

HLC School of Dance · Suzanne Scale School of Performing Arts · Tippi Toes Ballet · Mundo Dance · Wonderland Studios · Debbie Chapman Dancers From 5pm, come and see our headline act - Live Band - The Verge

rhiwbina open gardens 2017 Saturday 1st July from 12pm-5pm • 57 Beulah Road, Rhiwbina CF14 6LU (including open air sculpture and ceramics exhibition - £2.50) • 66 Beulah Road, Rhiwbina CF14 6LY - £1.50 • 9 Gernant, Rhiwbina CF14 6NA - £1.50 • 38 Wenallt Road, Rhiwbina CF14 6SE - £1.50 All proceeds to go charity, including Rhiwbina Village Events. Light refreshments and plant sales available at some venues. PICK UP A FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FROM RHIWBINA BUSINESSES Follow us on Facebook at 'Rhiwbina Village Events' or Twitter at @RhiwbinaC ROAD CLOSURES: The following roads will be closed on Saturday 1st July from 9am to 9pm: Beulah Road from the crossroads with Heol-y-Deri to Heol y Felin; Pen-y-Dre from the crossroads with Heol-y-Deri to Lon-y-Dail

CAN YOU HELP? We need marshalls to help on the day. If you can help, please contact Simon Poulson on 07810 791473 or by email at simon.poulson@talk21.com

Schools News In 2015, the Welsh Government published the ‘Donaldson Report’, which looked at education in Wales. The outcomes of this fundamental review, titled ‘Successful Futures’, identifies the vital importance of schools to the future success and wellbeing of every child and young person growing up in Wales. Since its publication, here at Llanishen Fach Primary School, we have been developing the sector-leading innovation needed to make Professor Donaldson’s vision a reality as recognised by our ‘Hub School’ status and role as a ‘Pioneer School’, developing a new curriculum with Welsh Government. In his report, Professor Donaldson recommends the introduction of a new curriculum with ‘four key purposes’ at its heart, with all children and young people being: • Ambitious, capable learners • Enterprising, creative contributors • Ethical, informed citizens • Healthy, confident individuals In keeping with Professor Donaldson, our school community has a clear set of aspirations for our pupils. We have refined our effective learning and teaching approach which has resulted in the breadth of opportunities we have developed and are becoming acknowledged for taking a lead role in pushing the boundaries of educational provision. Mrs Coombes, our headteacher says: “It is our aim to make learning irresistible and ensure that all our children, on leaving Llanishen Fach, are equipped with the essential transferrable skills required to enable them to become fulfilled

lifelong learners.” We use a combination of class teachers and specialist teachers to provide first hand experiences, in particular the outdoors, to promote improved levels of wider skills, critical thinking, creativity and problem solving. We believe that our determination to invest time and resources, while keeping literacy and numeracy at the heart of our teaching, ensures skills are widely practised and applied across the whole curriculum. As part of our ‘University of Life’, each week every pupil spends a morning or afternoon working in the school grounds where the curriculum is delivered through engagement with environmental issues and health and wellbeing. We are delighted to have been selected as one of the flagship sites to help deliver the RSPB’s ‘Giving Nature a Home’ project. Thanks to the hard work of our pupils, we have made great strides with initiatives including the meadow, bee bank, bug hotels and the chicken coop; with the children learning about wildlife as they attract it. We shall soon be adding to the diversity of habitats thanks to a £5000 Tesco grant which will go towards creating a pond. We are also taking part in a research project being conducted by Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy to investigate the antibacterial properties of honey which has led to us establishing beehives in our vegetable garden. As you can imagine we regularly have visitors to the school who have included the Education Secretary,

Llanishen Fach Primary School has been recognised as a Pioneer School. Here are just some of the reasons why Ms Kirsty Williams AM, Mr Steve Davies, the Welsh Government’s Director of School Standards and Workforce, and a delegation from the Northern Irish Education Service. In addition, we continue to welcome both headteachers and teachers to our school as they seek to gain insight into how we are working to makes our curriculum ‘pioneering’.

Busy Bees “I’ve learnt that bees mean a lot more to us than I originally realised.” Peter H, Year 5 Working with the bees gives our pupils first-hand experience of the role that bees play in providing us with our fruits and vegetables as well as a wealth of scientific study opportunities. With the recent decline in honeybees, Llanishen Fach is also carrying out vital conservation work by establishing bee colonies. We have recently planted an orchard of rare Welsh apple trees to complement our existing vegetable garden, and to provide food for our busy bees whilst in turn taking advantage of their pollination service.

schools Outdoor Adventure

Every year, we include a residential trip in the Key Stage 2 curriculum calendar and this year was no exception. Our Year 6 pupils, including seven pupils from Dosbarth Enfys, spent a week at Llangrannog where they took part in a series of fun outdoor activities delivered through the medium of Welsh. Last term, our Year 5 pupils spent the night in the Ironbridge YHA and visited a number of museums linked to their Victorian topic, including the ‘Victorian’ town Blists Hill where they got to sample life in Victorian Britain. Our Year 3 pupils stayed at Storey Arms in the Brecon Beacons. Now in its fourth year, our Year 4 pupils will also be forsaking their beds for a night under the stars during our annual campout in the school grounds. Based on previous experience, this promises to be an unforgettable adventure closely linked to our outdoor learning curriculum, where pupils extend their learning by being at one with nature from dusk and throughout the night.

Lego Lab The Lego Lab at Llanishen Fach provides pupils with challenging opportunities to extend their computational thinking through collaborative hands-on exploration. Using iPad based ‘coding’, pupils explore science and technology challenges and apply their logical reasoning by working with simulations to test their ideas. Lego was first timetabled a year ago. Since then, pupils have spent time away from their classrooms enhancing and extending their

Alien Planet Pupils regularly visit the art room where they take part in an afternoon of specialist teaching which ensures that they gain the skills and experience to be able to express themselves creatively and independently. Recently the Year 2 pupils have been working on making an alien planet with homes for their aliens to live in. In keeping with the ethos of the school, this activity is part of a wider ‘context’ based approach and has seen the pupils extending their literacy skills, through writing to a friendly alien, maths skills through investigating 3D shapes, and digital competency skills through iPad based simulations.

“My art has got better because I keep trying harder as the lessons Outdoor Painting are different and interesting.” Each year, our Year 3 pupils spend a night in the Brecon Beacons where Evan S, Year 2 they have an opportunity to paint outdoors. During the weeks leading up to these trips, the pupils research the landscape paintings of Peter Prendergast and experiment with their own approaches to landscape painting before having an opportunity to create their own pictures of the Welsh landscape.

“We had to really think about the hillside and paint it while looking really hard.” Olivia G, Year 3

learning. As part of their Year 2 alien context, pupils used a Lego simulator which they built and programmed to explore how different buildings would react to the heavy footsteps of an alien approaching. The pupils from the Specialist Resource Base regularly have opportunities to work on their understanding of science concepts through Lego, recently exploring friction and how it impacts on the speed of a vehicle, making changes to their car in response to the data collected.

“I like tricky problems and trying again and again until I get it to eventually work.” Oliver E, Year 2 13

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The best-kept secret in the industry

Salon pop-up Cyntaf Caerdydd It remains the Coray and Co philosophy to make all clients, old and new, feel welcome in our Rhiwbina salon. Established in 1993, we specialise in colour and wedding hair. With our top-to-toe service, we have become one of the most prestigious salons in Wales. We use only the finest hairdressing and beauty products, a selection of which are available at the salon reception area. Our loyal clients love coming here and are enjoying the Rhiwbina community, especially our celebrity clients. Mark Coray, originally from Rhiwbina, graduated in London in November 2004 and was awarded the prestigious ‘Colour Degree Specialist’s Award’ by L’Oreal, placing Coray and Co into the top 1% of L’Oreal Colourists in the UK. As a result, Coray and Co is now the only hairdressing salon in Cardiff qualified to practice these specialist skills to the L’Oreal Degree standard and one of only 300 qualified salons nationwide. Mark has also represented Great Britain in World Championship standard competitions in both Washington DC and in Tokyo. He offers advice to TV and radio on hairdressing and hair care. Our Wall of Fame includes weather girl Siân Lloyd, Charlotte Church and Arfon Haines Davies.

238 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AX 02920 481 481 | www.corayandco.com

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Visit our showroom and be inspired by our extensive range of kitchens, cookers and stoves, then relax with a drink in our Cowbridge cafĂŠ. We look forward to welcoming you! We are Walesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; premier stockist of exclusive kitchen, stove and interiors brands, including Neptune, Aga, Everhot and Esse. Main showroom with kitchens, ranges, stoves & interiors Unit 42, Vale Business Park, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7PF Tel. 01446 771567 Monmouth showroom ranges and stoves Mayhill Industrial Estate, Staunton Road, Monmouth NP25 3LX Tel. 01600 711710

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Come Rain or Shine:

Derek Brockway -

our favourite weatherman Derek Brockway has become the face of Welsh weather over the last 20 years. He talks to Living Magazines about his life, his career and his passion for the weather

is name is synonymous with the weather and his face has been recognised all over the world. For Derek Brockway, becoming Wales’s bestloved weather presenter wasn’t something he set out to achieve. “It started when I was 8 years old during the drought and heatwave of 1976. It was an exceptional summer; I distinctly remember the TV and newspaper reports of that time. We had our water turned off and I became fascinated by the weather over the course of those long, hot weeks. My dad bought me a thermometer and I started watching the sky, taking measurements and I even kept a weather diary. “I was brought up in Barry and as

Derek is now filming his 11th series of Weatherman Walking 16

I grew older, I used to always pop in and see my grandparents. My grandfather would always keep a bag of potatoes under the stairs and he’d always rustle up some chips for me. I can still remember my nan’s apple tarts too! “Like most kids, I had a paper round plus a summer job working over Barry Island in my late teens. I’d push a trolley round the ballroom wearing a silly hat and selling seafood. After leaving school, I joined the Civil Service and worked briefly for the DSS in Barry but I applied for a position at the Met Office. I got the job and could have been posted anywhere in the UK but I was lucky - there was a vacancy at the Cardiff

people

Weather Centre. I started there in September 1986 and took weather measurements, plotted charts and observed the sky – much like I’d done as a kid. I was more of an assistant at that point and even worked at Cardiff Airport, keeping an eye on the weather for Air Traffic Control. “The Met Office offered me a posting to the Falkland Islands in 1993. I spent 8 months there which was quite an experience and I’d like to go back one day. It was my first time away from home. The RAF were very kind to me – if they had room in their helicopters, they’d take me to different parts of the islands for me to explore and then pick me up on their way back. There were hardly any trees but lots of penguins and a few sheep too! "I came back, got myself a few more science qualifications and became an official forecaster in 1995. “Eventually, I was posted to Birmingham Weather Centre which was fine by me as I love the Midlands. I passed my motor bike test there on my second attempt after a going through a red light in Acocks Green! But I wasn’t there long and applied for a job in London. It was a new contract to become a TV weather presenter. I went for the audition and got the job. And that’s how it all started. I had the pleasure of working

alongside Siân Lloyd, who gave me some great tips when I first started out. Then I got the job at BBC Wales in 1997. My TV appearances at first were very enthusiastic shall we say. My arms were waving about all over the place, probably due to nerves. Someone once called me Tigger because of my bouncy nature. Someone else said that it looked like I was feeding chickens and someone even once asked if I had nits! I’ve calmed down a bit now. I’ve being doing the job here in Wales for nearly 20 years. Like a lot of things in life, it was a case of being in the right place at the right time. “My job involves a lot of off-screen stuff. Some people think I just work a few minutes each day but I do all the preparation myself. Essentially, I’m a one-man band in that respect although all the nation’s weather presenters keep in touch so that we all sing from the same hymn sheet. I do all the forecasts, put all the TV charts together and prepare my script. I provide forecasts for BBC Radio Wales too and then there’s the social media side of things so a lot of work goes into it. It can be busy, especially when the weather is bad! “Away from work, I do enjoy walking which is why Weatherman Walking was such a great thing for me. We are now on our 11th series of the show and although we are

Photos: bbc.co.uk

I once got recognised in Cuba by a guy from Pwllheli

still finding places to go, we’ll run out of places to visit one day! I do love walking though – it’s not something I do just for the cameras. I’ll be taking part in a charity trek in Peru later this year for Velindre Hospital too. Rhod Gilbert will be leading the walk, so there’ll be plenty of laughs. “I never set out to become famous. I’m very lucky in that I love what I do and it’s also opened up other opportunities for me which may never have come my way. Weather is my passion – I never wanted fame for the sake of it. It’s also a doubleedged sword. The vast majority of people I bump into are lovely and want to chat about the weather but there are occasions when I would rather not be recognised. I was in the supermarket the other day and had a pair of sunglasses on because I wanted to just get on with my shopping. Someone sidled up alongside me and said ‘Don’t know why you’re wearing those. We can all see it’s you.’ I sometimes get recognised when I’m abroad too because there are Welsh people everywhere. I even got spotted in Cuba once by a guy from Pwllheli! “Looking forward, the BBC of course is moving from Llandaff to the city centre in a couple of years. I spend a fair amount of my time in North Cardiff. I often have breakfast in Llandaff and head to Whitchurch for an evening meal. They are great suburbs of Cardiff with plenty of shops, restaurants and places to chill out away from work. “As for myself, I’ll continue to do what I’ve been doing. There will always be someone waiting to jump in and replace me but I’m not ready to hang up the seaweed just yet.”

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The Garden Village Garage

Are you picking the best of the bunch? There are many local, well established service providers in our area, all of which are a good choice. However, are they the stand out choice? When choosing your garage are you comparing apples with apples? Do these others offer free collection and delivery, a clean car on return policy, high definition video reporting, award winning service, free phone calling, a female friendly team, click and collect and a social media review portfolio like ours? More importantly, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t trust your car or your safety to just anybody! Check out our feedback and call us when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready...the Garden Village Garage.

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The extraordinary people of Rhiwbina In the second part of our series, we hear from Rhiwbina residents who have been recognised in the Queen's Honours Lists over the years

Peter Humphries MBE I was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of June 2008, receiving the award itself in November of that year. I had been working as a civil servant for CADW and its predecessors for over 40 years by the time I retired. I was Interpretation Manager there and I was responsible for providing information to visitors about the various exhibits and monuments at the sites themselves. I was effectively a one-man band and over the many years there, I developed the style of information sharing that CADW ultimately adopted. I was responsible for site exhibitions, site information panels, audio tours and occasional contribution to guide books. In fact, I had developed much of that system before CADW was formed in 1984 as I had started researching and writing exhibitions and information panels from 1975. The whole emphasis on preserving ancient monuments had shifted towards the more interactional side so we needed to provide much better information about our sites. We had always provided the blue guide books but they were aimed at the more interested and educated visitors. We gradually shifted emphasis on making the presentation more accessible and more interesting to everybody. I developed new information panels, with plans and drawings of reconstructions, especially for the ruined monuments that we had in our care. These helped people visualise what the structures would have looked like, and were used in our new guidebooks too. We did overall reconstructions but if we wanted to show what was going on inside, we’d provide cutaway drawings. These were very useful in helping people understand what

they were looking at. By the time I’d retired, there were information panels across most of our sites. These all had to be bilingual, in Welsh and English; I don’t speak Welsh so the text had to be translated. This doubled the amount of words so the information had to be brief and succinct. I had an inkling beforehand about receiving the award but I had an official letter informing me that I’d been chosen, and should I be willing to accept, to attend an investiture. Each honours list contains the best part of 1,000 people, covering all types of awards and orders. It was both exciting and humbling to think that I had been chosen and it hadn’t occurred to me when I left CADW that anything like that would happen. It was the Prince of Wales who awarded me the honour at Buckingham Palace and I was allowed to take three guests with me. I took Marilyn my wife and I

"It was both exciting and humbling to think that I had been chosen"

also took my father, who was as proud as punch. We tossed a coin to choose between the children and Neil won the toss, Lisa coming up too with her husband and daughter. We all had a nice meal beforehand and went to the palace in the morning. As recipients, we were allowed to drive into Buckingham Palace so we did that as we were never going to have that chance again. It was a great day. My father was so pleased and I was very glad that I was able to take him. My mother had died when I was very young so Dad brought me up and followed my career all the way through. He was proud that he could come - a year or two later and he wouldn’t have been able to as he developed dementia. My grandchildren are also proud and it is nice for them to see my medals, as I also have my grandfather’s medals in my possession - he had a military OBE in 1919 and also a Territorial Service medal.

people

Sybil Williams MBE It all started at Ely Hospital. As a physiotherapist in the NHS, I found that people in Ely did very little exercise. I wanted to offer opportunities for them to exercise so that it would help them with their ailments. I found that a lot of people enjoyed cycling so I took a party of people to the Forest of Dean and everyone loved it. This was in 1996 and the idea of a bike hire facility came directly from that. That's when Pedal Power was born. Although we had initially set up as a charity to support the project in Ely Hospital, I persuaded trustees that the project could benefit everybody. I generally prefer things to be inclusive. When the charity came out of the NHS, it became a resource that was open to everybody - everyone from 6 months old to the oldest person we've had on a bike who was 92! We opened a building funded by the Big Lottery in 2006. We now get all kinds of nationalities hiring our bikes - we recently had a group of 50 children from France all hiring bikes. As well as our shop on Dogo Street in Pontcanna, we have a bike compound at Cardiff Bay too, which is open on weekends and school holidays. People come with all kinds of conditions - head injuries, cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome, adults with autism, Aspergers - we have all the bikes that enables everyone to cycle. Because we have specialist bikes, people travel from all over to come to us. We had one guy who came from Hereford every week. People regularly come here from the valleys. The service is an important one as it gives people the opportunity to exercise who perhaps cannot do so otherwise. There are often children who have disabilities or who can't go out with their families. It also helps people achieve. It's always good to see people from Rookwood get back on a bike - it gives something back to a life that has been ruined by an accident. In my mind, my award is for Pedal Power itself. You don’t get an MBE without the people who are with you - they are the ones that do all the work. They take the service forward and it's backed up by a good team of people. We also

provide volunteering opportunities and opportunities for work placements. We have had over 100 people on work placements and many of these have gone on to get jobs afterwards which is encouraging. Volunteers are incredibly important too as without them, we couldn’t deliver a service. When I received my letter, I felt proud but I thought 'Why me?'. I didn't do it all to get a medal. I did it because I was passionate about it. Seeing kids on bikes who thought that they would never cycle is a wonderful thing to see. I might have worked hard, but I didn’t really see it as work. I knew that I wasn't supposed to tell anyone but I had friends who said that they wanted to nominate me as they'd found out about the awards process. I had to admit to them that I already had the letter! I cycled from Pedal Power to London to pick up my MBE. People had made crowns and were cheering us off as we left. Four of us cycled all the way, some joined en route, some people met us in Bristol to take us out of the city and some people came from the Cycle Touring Club of Great Britain. It was a fun thing to do. We wore the crowns all the way, so it was a great topic of conversation! We went to Buckingham Palace in the October. My medal

was presented to me by Princess Anne. It was a fun occasion to go to the palace and go beyond those gates that you would normally just look through. My sister and nephew were with me to receive the award. Everyone is very pleased for me and they are also pleased for the charity as well. I'm quite new to Rhiwbina - I've only been here 18 months so I don’t tell a lot of people about my award, although I have spoken to two groups in Rhiwbina - the Women's Institute and an older ladies group in the Recreation Club. A few people know about it but it's not something I talk about a lot. I do use the letters against my name for work things and for applying for funding, but I don’t feel it has made any difference!

Supported by

Celebrating the 1940s to the 1960s

s n e d r a G y r a r L ib f if d r a c h c r u h c Whit 7 1 0 2 y l u J h t 6 1 15th/ L ive Music dancing fairground great food great drink

shops fashion Design by Living Magazines Cardiff

Big Mac's Wholly Soul Band • Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer • Elle and The Pocket Belles The Big What Band • Jackson Sloan & The Rhythmtones • The Daisy Chains Rocket Joe Joe and The Old Time Bangers

For tickets and information go to www.vintageforvictory.co.uk Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number: 1167290 Cancer Research Wales

Vintage for Victory Festival

Inspired by the romance and glamour of vintage fashion and nostalgia, we are delighted to announce the return of the Vintage For Victory weekend to The Library Gardens in Whitchurch Village this July

Live music

The hub of the Vintage for Victory Festival is the NAAFI Tent, where you will be able to see and hear some fantastic vintage-inspired performers, with plenty to get your feet tapping. If you are feeling brave, get out there and dance the night away!

Drift back in time to those halcyon days and soak up the unique atmosphere in the period costume of your chosen era. Set in the past, the Vintage For Victory vintage festival celebrates all that was great from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. It is an opportunity to dress up to the nines in timeless style, amongst a crowd of people doing the same. The festival’s organisers said: “We are looking to build on last year’s festival to make this an event that Whitchurch can be proud of. This type of festival doesn’t take place in any other suburb of Cardiff - we are looking to bring the community of Whitchurch together in a fun way. We want you to forget about your worries for a weekend, dress up and come and have a good time with your friends.” There will be plenty to see and do at the festival amid a very musical backdrop. Taking centre stage is the NAAFI Tent, which will be home to live music from vintage-inspired performers such as Big Mac's

Wholly Soul Band, Elle and the Pocket Belles, The Big What Band and Mr B, The Gentleman Rhymer. There will be plenty of toe-tapping music to dance to, including jive lessons. Away from the main tent, there will be an array of vintage emporiums to browse, as well as a wide range of great food and drink stalls. There will also be a formation of vintage military vehicles on display, including full-scale replicas of a Spitfire and a Hurricane. Cars and bikes from the 1940s, 50s and 60s will also be on show.

What to wear

The 40s, 50s and 60s were all key periods for fashion, much of which wouldn’t look out of place on the high street today. So let your imagination go wild and bring some glitz and glamour to the village.

Sat 15th July 2017 10am until 9pm Sun 16th July 2017 10am until 9pm Tickets are on sale via www.EventBrite.com Child under 12 FREE with a paying adult. Youth under 18 from £10 (plus fee). Adult 18+ from £15 (plus fee) Discount for Saturday/Sunday ‘Weekender Tickets’. Daily Pass Outs will be issued to allow you to exit and re-enter the site throughout the day. Please feel free to bring all you need to enjoy a family picnic, including hampers, blankets etc.

For tickets and information, go to www.vintageforvictory.co.uk

Vintage vehicles

An iconic full sized replica Spitfire and Hurricane will be on display, along with a re-enactment RAF flight crew to tell you all about the Battle of Britain, the people and planes.

competitions

Win a Family Ticket to see the FIM Speedway Grand Prix

The Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix is set to raise the roof in Cardiff this July – and you could be there! The Grand Prix returns on Saturday 22nd July for its 17th year in the Welsh capital and looks set to be one of the most thrilling SGPs ever with multiple World Champions competing including Great Britain’s double series winner, Tai Woffinden and reigning champ, Greg Hancock. 15 permanent riders will compete on 500cc bikes with no gears and no brakes over 23 exhilarating heats until the winner is decided in the final, nail-biting race. Fans from across the globe descend on Cardiff to watch the action-packed event,

while 114 territories worldwide tune in for the action. Outside of the stadium, Cardiff city centre will come alive with a carnival atmosphere as it plays host to the hugely popular and family friendly fan zone, this year featuring racing bike simulators, freestyle mountain bike stunt performers, Capital FM DJ Matt Lissack, Monster Energy entertainment and the chance to meet and greet the stars of the SGP. We’ve teamed up with the Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix organisers and have a pair of tickets to the SGP up for grabs. All you have to do to be in with a chance of joining in the thrilling

action is answer this question: Who is the reigning SGP World Champion? Send your answers by email to competitions@livingmags.co.uk or to our postal address (see inside front cover) no later than 12 noon on 14th July 2017. Tickets for the 2017 Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix start at just £25 and can be purchased at www.speedwaygp. seetickets.com. Family tickets and VIP packages are also available. Further information about the event can be found at speedwaygp.com.

Win a Family Ticket to see Superstars of Welsh Wrestling Get ready for a night of piledrivers and powerslams as the Superstars of Welsh Wrestling return to St

David’s Hall on Saturday 2nd September! Witness the thrills and spills of live wrestling for one night only, crammed with death-defying, aweinspiring, over-the-top-rope action in this fun-filled family show. Swansea sensation Stevie Starr is set to appear on the card alongside John ‘The Machine’ Titan and the mysterious masked Mexican highflyer Magico. The roster includes superstars from across the UK as well as Japan, Mexico and the USA as the best grappling talent from across the world collide. You can be there with a Family Ticket for 4 worth £40 with this

exclusive competition. To be in with a chance of winning, please complete this well-known catchphrase of the squared circle: Let’s Get Ready to... a) Tumble b) Rumble c) Jumble Please email your answer to SDHpress@cardiff.gov.uk with your full name, address and a contact number. Alternatively, please write to St David’s Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff, CF10 1AH. Closing date for entries is Friday 18th August.

Gino I

love Cardiff. Do you know of any sites here where I can open one of my new restaurants?” he asks. Gino D'Acampo is on the Cardiff leg of his latest tour and he's looking for somewhere to open a new eatery. Now an internationally-recognised chef and TV celebrity, Gino’s hectic tour schedule is a distant cry from his quiet childhood in Italy. Gino was born into a large family in Napoli. The food they ate was very traditional – simple recipes based on fresh and healthy fruit, vegetables, fish and meat. “I have great memories of my upbringing. My mother and my grandmother were always in the kitchen and always let me help with the cooking from the age of about 7 or 8. My grandfather said that a good recipe doesn’t need many ingredients because if the ingredients are good quality and full of flavour, why do you have to cover up or change their taste? "He used to let me help him in the kitchen and taught me so much not just about cooking but about life too. If I close my eyes, I can still see him rolling gnocchi into shapes while I helped him serve it to our Photograph: Matt Russell

people

TV chef Gino D'Acampo reflects on his life, his cooking and his love of Cardiff

huge family. When I saw the pleasure and happiness that good food can bring to people, I thought 'This is what I want to do'. Gino went to catering college at the at the age of 18, and in 1995, aged 19, moved to London to work in The Orchard Restaurant in London, followed by the Cambio Restaurant in Guildford. “London for me is the food capital of the world. The variety of restaurants and chefs there means that it really is the place to be if you want to be a chef. That’s why I came to the UK in the first place.” Gino’s original intentions weren’t to be what he has become today though: “I didn’t set to become famous – absolutely not. I feel at times as if I’m living someone else’s dream. I did set out to do things on my own terms though and I think that’s something that has happened. Nothing I do is false, I’m always myself and it works for me as I have a lot of fun. “My cooking is designed to inspire other people to cook. It’s not difficult – it’s tasty and colourful - anyone can do it. As a chef, it’s easy to over-complicate things but I’ve got better things to be doing in

life than that. I want my cooking to be quick and easy and when a total stranger comes up to me and says that they’ve cooked something, or gotten involved in food because of me, that’s when I know I’ve done my job properly. That’s my favourite part of the job. "For me, food is a lifestyle. People should cook from the heart and you should only cook when you are in a happy mood. It really does make a difference when you are in the right frame of mind. People should also not be scared to try out new things. You might even surprise yourself!" Despite his well-respected cookery skills, Gino reached a new audience when he appeared on ITV's I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. The show, set in the Australian outback put Gino's culinary expertise to the test but his personality shone through and he was duly crowned King of the Jungle in the show's ninth series. "It was an incredible thing to do and was even better to win it," says Gino. "Most of the people who knew me before the show knew me through my daytime TV work but I'm A Celebrity allowed me to reach new people. I did miss everything about food though - I missed buying it and cooking it. "One thing I did learn about myself was the fact that my family and my business carried on without me while I was away." But it's not TV work that's been Gino's biggest challenge to date. "Work isn't a challenge to me because it's fun and I am passionate about it. Being a father on the other hand it's fun but that's the greatest challenge for me. “I’ve been to Cardiff many times – it’s a place I really, really love. I already have restaurants open around the UK but would love to have one here in Cardiff. If you know anyone who can help me find a site, let me know!”

I didn't set out to become famous. I feel as if I'm living someone else's dream

Celebrating our 16th 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 located 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 and Laura are qualified to degree level and are registered HCPC health care professionals. 223-225 Pantbach Road Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AE

Living with Diabetes: Keep Your Feet Healthy

by C3 podiatrist Lynne Griffiths

According to Diabetes UK, there are: • 177,000 people in Wales living with diabetes and estimates suggest a further 70,000 people have diabetes but are unaware of their condition, or have no confirmed diagnosis. • A further 540,000 people may be at high risk of developing diabetes, and the number is rising each year. • If the current trend continues, it is estimated that 300,000 people in Wales will have diabetes by 2025. • 2,000 people with diabetes in Wales have foot ulcers at any given time and around 330 amputations are carried out each year. • Diabetes accounts for 10 per cent of the annual NHS Wales budget, which equates to approximately £500m a year and 80% of this figure is spent on managing complications, most of which could be prevented. People with diabetes are predisposed to developing foot problems for the following reasons: Reduced feeling (Neuropathy) - Diabetes can affect the nerves in the feet, which can result in reduced sensation or feeling, known as peripheral neuropathy, which means injuries may go unnoticed. Poor circulation - Some people with diabetes develop narrowing of the arteries, causing blood flow to the feet to be reduced. If the blood supply to the feet is poor, any break in the skin can take longer to heal. Increased risk of infection - Feet undergo a lot of wear and tear that can lead to injuries such as cracks, blisters and cuts, which can become infected and cause more serious problems for diabetics. If you have diabetes, taking care of your feet is important; follow these foot care tips: • Make inspecting your feet part of your daily routine. That way, you will recognise any changes and be in a better position to seek help if you have a problem. If you struggle to see your feet, try using a mirror,

or ask a friend or relative to check them for you. • Keep your feet healthy, as prevention is better than cure. Wash your feet daily, but don’t soak them for too long as you may dry out the natural oils in your skin. Dry them carefully, particularly between the toes. Apply a foot cream to keep the skin in good condition but not between the toes as moist skin here may split and encourage infection to develop. • Avoid socks with seams, which could rub and cause blisters. Check your shoes and socks for wear and foreign objects that may break the skin. Don’t walk around barefoot, even in your own home. The risk of injury and infection is too great if you have diabetes. • Exercise can help keep weight down and improve circulation but be sure to wear appropriate shoes to minimise the risk of injury. Have your feet properly measured and new shoes appropriately fitted. Remember foot size and shape may change over time and shoes that fit properly are important to those with diabetes. • Never try to remove calluses, corns, or warts yourself. Over-the-counter chemical products can burn the skin and cause serious damage to the feet of people with diabetes. • See your GP, practice nurse or podiatrist immediately if you notice any changes in the colour or temperature of your feet, breaks in the skin or discharge from wounds, or increased swelling. • Remember, a regular check up by a podiatrist - at least annually, is one of the best ways to ensure that your feet remain healthy. Book a consultation with Lynne or Laura at the C3 podiatry clinic in the heart of Rhiwbina for friendly, professional foot care and footwear advice.

02920 627888 www. c3chiropractic.co.uk

The

Secret Shed

Based in the heart of Rhiwbina village, The Secret Shed can help transform your garden into an outdoor wonderland

NEW! The Secret Garden Visit our new under-cover garden area - opening August 2017

Decking • Fencing • Plants Log Burners • Hanging Baskets Outdoor Furniture • Sheds Ornaments • Gifts • Containers

Rhiwbina Sheds & Fencing We design and manufacture bespoke sheds, cabins, pavilions, fencing, gates, decking, summer houses, log stores and home offices. Our buildings are built to suit your needs and requirements, whether it be a custom sized shed to fit your garden, a playhouse for your children or that office you’ve always promised yourself.

1c Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6LT

02920 616921

1 3 4

5 4

OUTDOOR LIVING 1. Table and chair set £129.99 A high quality set of table and chairs made from sturdy metal and finished in a beautiful summer blue. The perfect setting for evening drinks in the garden. From Secret Shed, Rhiwbina

2. Big Green Egg BBQ from £599 The 'Egg' can be used as an outdoor oven for great food, including low and slow roasts. Comes in various sizes and with different stands. From Topstak, Cowbridge and Monmouth

3. Flintshire Mini Casual Dining Suite £799 This tailor-made range has been professionally hand-crafted from completely environmentally friendly, recycled materials. From Pugh's Garden Centre, Radyr

4. R2D2 Log Burner £450 Everyone's favourite R2 series astromech droid has been hand-crafted from metal. Without doubt, this log burner will be the talking point of your garden party from the very start. From Secret Shed, Rhiwbina

home exteriors

Make your home feel bigger and make some new memories this summer by making the most of your garden and outdoor areas 5. Tub Tub from £3,995 A fun and easy way to enjoy a wood fired hot tub in your garden. Simply fill with water, then light the fire and hey presto. You can even water your garden with it afterwards! From Topstak, Cowbridge and Monmouth

6. St David's Sofa Suite £899 Working closely with one of the world's largest furniture manufacturers, Pugh's have hand-picked a brand new furniture range totally exclusive for you this summer. From Pugh's Garden Centre, Radyr

7. Design Toscano Biker Gnome £40 This guy is bad to the bone - a genuine class Gnome Biker with attitude. He has a tattoo, shades, a black gnome crumpled lid (helmet) and of course a big, bad bike. From Secret Shed, Rhiwbina

8. VW Bus Log Burner £650 (painted) The attention to detail on these log burners is incredible. From its iconic split screen to its VW badge, this burner even comes with its very own roof rack. From Secret Shed, Rhiwbina

Loft Pro are changing the landscape of South Wales one roof at a time After discovering I was pregnant and expecting our second child, we quickly established that we would need to create more room in our 3 bedroom semi-detached. With two double bedrooms and a smaller 3rd bedroom, we decided to make use of the attic to create a master suite in the loft. A perfect excuse to treat ourselves to a luxurious space whilst also improving our home and adding value!

Before

Loft Pro discussed our needs and in collaboration, plans were drawn up for a rear dormer the width of the house, to encompass a large bedroom, bathroom and attic storage space. The project was given a 7 week timescale and Loft Pro wasted no time in setting a date for the work - we had a natural deadline of a baby arriving and so it was all systems go very quickly!

Week 1

The scaffolding went up and a huge piece of steel arrived at the house on a crane, which was to become the back bone of the loft - providing the structure from which to build the new independent loft floor. A 6.5m long piece of steel was used to prop up the existing roof at the front of the house. Following this, the floor joists were laid to construct the floor for the

bedroom, bathroom and aperture for the stairs.

Week 2

A new ridge beam was formed and the exciting work of constructing the dormer began. It suddenly all felt very real to see the old roof being stripped off to build the new dormer around it. Loft Pro had told us that the space

sponsored feature Week 5

was going to be big and this had been hard to imagine, but seeing the dormer being constructed gave us our first real insight into just how much space we were gaining. The dormer was covered with a rubber roof system, which is more long-lasting than glass fibre and will expand and contract without creating cracks over time. Aesthetically, the rubber roof also looked amazing!

Week 3

Now that the structure of the loft had been created, the first fix of the electrics was done, which involved getting feeds up into the loft and loosely arranging the lights and electric mounts. The rooms were set out, with internal walls constructed, and this gave us a real sense of our new luxurious space. Wow! The small, dusty attic had been transformed into a beautiful, open and airy space already. And the views were fantastic! We decided to go for patio doors, rather than a window, and to have a juliette balcony to really make the most of the views over the lovely Rhiwbina gardens. Having a space which was warm in winter, cool in summer and above all, able to reduce the noise on a busy road was important to us; and so top end insulation was fitted throughout the walls and ceilings, and a sound proofing system installed. At the end of the week, the plumbers arrived to do the first fix of plumbing, in readiness for installing the bathroom. The speed at which this project was coming together was impressive.

Week 4

To make room for the new stairs, the wall to the 3rd bedroom was knocked down. Thankfully, we only lost 300mm of the bedroom to accommodate the stairs which was pleasing, as

the bedroom could still be easily used as a decent sized single room. This was a messy part of the project - being a 1930s property, the walls contained black ash mortar, a fine black dust that seems to have the propensity to travel and come back even when cleaned up! The carpenters were fantastic at minimising the mess and when I arrived home from work, the new stairs were in existence, in all their glory and a new wall to the bedroom had been built!

Outside, work began on cladding the exterior dormer with hanging slate- a beautiful option for giving the dormer the wow factor and ensuring it looked sympathetic to the style of the property, something that was hugely important to us. Inside, Velux windows were fitted to the front of the house to the bedroom and new stairwell, creating the most striking spaces filled with light and affording wonderful views over Rhiwbina and beyond, stretching all the way to the Principality Stadium! Having light flowing through the entire space from front to back created a real sense of space and openness.

All the new work was plastered and the existing landing and 3rd bedroom was made good, with picture rails and skirtings returned. The bathroom was tiled and suite fitted, creating a luxurious and impressively large space - bigger than our existing family bathroomto showcase a beautiful roll top bath and large glass shower. This was to be a 'grown up' space, a real haven for relaxation and luxury! We chose a solid oak floor and within no time, the space had been once again transformed to another level of beauty. Skirtings were fitted and the space was decorated to an exceptional standard.

Weeks 6-7

The electrician and plumbers returned for the second fix to bring everything to working order. New oak doors were hung and the new stairs were lavished with spindles and handrails that had been carefully chosen to link sympathetically to the existing stairs, keeping the integrity of the traditional 1930s facade. New oak doors were hung and finished with beautiful glass doorknobs. Outside, the rainwater goods were linked to the existing system. Finally, the crowning moment arrived in the form of the juliette balcony - made of striking wrought iron to compliment the grey slate and black rainwater system and to proudly showcase the new structure. In just 7 weeks, our 3 bedroom semi-detached has been completely transformed, creating a luxurious and spacious suite at the top of the house, a real haven of tranquillity and beauty.

A: 107 Caerphilly Rd, Cardiff CF14 4QA T: 029 2062 8387 W: www.loft-pro.co.uk 31

If we are not already the best value

ASK US TO PRICE MATCH We know that you would like to support small businesses, and have the peace of mind of buying locally. We also appreciate that you want the best price. We monitor prices daily so that we can offer you the best of both worlds. If however, we are not the best value for your purchase please ask us to price match.

www.buddenergy.co.uk SHOWROOM AT BIRCHGROVE ,CARDIFF

Budd Electrical 118-120 Caerphilly Road, Birchgrove, Cardiff. CF14 4QG Telephone: 029 2069 1286

Rhiwbina is where my heart is

Michelle Marshall talks to Living Magazines about Rhiwbina, her salon - and why her team make each visit something special Michelle Marshall Salon is celebrating its third year in Rhiwbina

Tell us a bit about your own background. I started my hairdressing career as a Saturday girl when I was in my last year of high school. I loved every minute of it and I was in awe of the cool hairdressers who were creating amazing styles on their clients’ hair. Once I had left school, I worked in a few hair salons around Cardiff but none of them really worked for me. Then I got a job in this really upmarket salon in Rhiwbina called Aquarius. It was the place to go to get your hair done. It was so busy and everyone wanted a part of the success. It was here that I found my love for education - it was at the heart of what made this salon so special. After a few years, I tried working in a few different salons and I even worked part-time in the local college. But everything kept leading back to Rhiwbina and in 2000, I became a partner in a salon for around five years. Everything changed when I decided to go it alone and I got myself a studio above Kats Claws up at the crossroads. There I developed what I wanted to see in a business and how I wanted the ethos to feel from a guest’s point of view. We outgrew the space that we had and in 2015, we opened Michelle Marshall Salon on Beulah Road. What inspired you to open a salon in Rhiwbina? Rhiwbina is where my heart is. It’s where my real hairdressing journey started and where I knew our style of salon would work so well because of its great community feel. All routes that I seem to have taken over the last 30 years have led me back

to my roots. You’ve got to love Rhiwbina village, the people who live here and also the people who visit. You have a very exciting team. What qualities can they offer? Yes, I’m very proud of each and every member of my team. They are loyal, hard-working, boundarypushing, creative-thinking and they have a real passion for delivering our brand values. I couldn’t ask for more from them. They really do embrace every idea that I throw at them with open arms and that’s all you can ask for. I feel that this really does create a great environment for us to work in, and for our guests who come to us for a hair service. What products do you use in the salon? We are a 100% Redken Elite Salon. In my humble opinion, these are the best products around. Their heritage is science and education and they were the first company back in 1961 to use the pH scale in all of their products. Our hair is naturally acidic and most products on the market are alkaline which swells the hair and opens the cuticle – letting the colour out and letting dirt in! Redken also focus on what the hair is naturally made of, which among other things, is protein and moisture. All the products are prescribed individually to what your hair is lacking at that time. The education is so important to me as this, I feel, is the basis to growing a brand that has longevity. What areas do you specialise in? We offer all services to our guests but we do specialise in colour, cutting and styling. The team all have their individual strong fortes we like to think that as a team, we cover all areas of the hairdressing spectrum. I’m an International Redken

Artist and travel all over the world educating other salon professionals to be the best that they can be. My team are no exception to developing their talents and keeping on top of the current trends. Balayage is big for all of us here too - the team is really strong in this style of highlighting hair in a freestyle way, without foil enhancing the natural contours of your hair. I was also responsible for implementing this across the UK on behalf of Redken UK. You’ve picked up several awards in the short time that you’ve been in the village. How important are these to your business? Yes we have! I’ve been so very thrilled and proud of how far we have come in such a short space of time. Two years and we have had so much recognition, it’s insane. They really do give us that stamp of approval and it really motivates the whole team. I think from a business point of view, it lets people know that you are serious about what you do and that you take the time to be the best that you can be. Our guests know that we’re not going to let the grass grow under our feet. What are you most proud of here at the salon? The Team! Without them, we have no business to offer our lovely guests. They are my priority. What can first-time guests expect when they walk through your doors? A friendly smile and a welcome from all the team awaits anyone who comes through our doors.

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

The Art Workshop Art courses for all abilities

Join one of our friendly classes taught by a team of qualified tutors Drawing Classic and contemporary Oil Painting The versatile medium Watercolour Bring your paintings to life Printmaking Collograph and linocut magic Mixed Media Collage, inks, gouache and more

Adult Courses · Young Artists Art Academy (ages 7-12) Half term and Holiday Workshops · Private tuition · Group and Corporate Events

3 Lon Fach, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6DY For timetable and booking see w: www.theartworkshop.co.uk e: theartworkshop@live.co.uk t:075 61 507638

emyr pierce solicitors

Take the stress out of moving Longer hours for your convenience. 9.00am-5.30pm and on Saturdays from 10.00am-4.00pm. Immediate detailed quotes are available on request

Our conveyancing services include: • • • • • • • • • •

Sales and purchases Remortgages Lease extensions Purchases of freehold interests Deeds of gift Help to Buy purchases Equity releases Commercial leases Transfers of equity Landlord and Tenant issues

Legal expertise close at hand 1 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6HA

02920 616002 www.emyrpierce.co.uk

Set sail with us... At Passion for Cruises we pride ourselves on offering the highest standards of customer service combined with incredible savings. We boast some of the most experienced cruise agents in the industry with over 50 years experience in selling cruises. When booking with us your every cruising requirement is catered for whether you are a first time cruiser or a single traveller. We are specialists in low or no single supplement cruises and are committed to helping find the perfect choice for you. We have the best variety of cruises to exciting destinations across the world many with exclusive prices and extra benefits such as free cabin upgrades, car parking or spending money.

Call 029 2061 9961

Monday - Saturday 9am - 5.30pm | www.passionforcruises.co.uk Cartwright Travel, 23 Heol Y Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 6YF

gardening

Hanging around

Hanging baskets and window boxes can bring your garden alive with colour. Kevin Revell shows you how to create and maintain them

anging baskets have become a universal currency in our gardens. Those with small flats or no garden at all can usually put one or two by a door or find room for at least one window box. Those with large gardens can find numerous places to site them - on walls, fences, sheds and around seating areas. These baskets of joy bring a smile to the faces of visitors, improve the visual amenity of the area and are often employed as a tactic to encourage potential house buyers, brightening up a house that has been on the market too long. The arrival of the hanging basket

plants in garden centres in April is treated with the same level of fevered excitement as hearing the first cuckoo of spring; invariably too early, wise gardeners wait until the reliably warm weather of May before planting. Some people just can’t wait, but provided they are given protection at night in a greenhouse or porch, they usually get away with it. They also steal a march on the neighbours who are left scrabbling around in crowded garden centres, for the greater diversity and availability of plants is found early in the season. Of course, some people can’t be bothered with all the fuss and they buy a hanging basket kit which contains all the plants necessary to plant a basket in a pre-ordained range of pastel or hot shades. Pre-planted baskets are also readily available but most keen gardeners engage in the annual ritual of planting their

own. Hanging baskets come in all shapes and sizes but the pre-lined woven rattan or willow baskets now seem to have taken over from the rather fiddly wire baskets which require lining with moss, the advantage being that it is possible to plant many trailing plants under the basket rather than just spilling over the sides. On the downside, nesting birds will frequently make off with the moss and invariably more is needed than stated on the packet. Artificial liners made from coir or recycled wool may prove easier to use but are less easy on the eye. Pre-formed papier-mâché lines are thankfully largely banished these days. Large wrought iron manger-style baskets are perhaps the preserve of pubs and restaurants and will require some industrial strength fixings for the average house. When filling the basket, don’t skimp on the compost - this is the engine room of the basket and will keep the basket going right through the summer. Multi-purpose compost alone will not be up to the task. Either add additional slow-release fertiliser and wetting gel or buy a specific hanging basket and container compost formulated for this task.

gardens

When it comes to planting, there are no rules - it is entirely up to you as to which plants in what colours are used, but tradition dictates that there should be a taller plant in the middle to give a bit of height to the arrangement. Three or five smaller or trailing plants are then arranged around this and if possible, trailing plants are inserted around the basket sides and base to give an all-encompassing show of foliage and flowers. Ideally, no trace of the basket or liner should be visible once the plants are established. Usually it will be a fuchsia or geranium giving height, and trailing forms of fuchsias and geraniums are a popular choice for the rest of the basket. Baskets planted with single varieties of these plants can make a spectacular long-lasting display but a mixture of other plants will add to the interest. Trailing

lobelias are the best plants for inserting in the sides of the basket as they cascade down to a great length and are available in a range of shades from white, pink, pale blue and dark blue. Trailing petunias or surfinias are another popular choice coming in many bright colours, including outrageous shades of hot pink and hot red. These plants are extremely vigorous and three to five plants will be more than enough to fill a basket with colour long into the summer. The trumpet-shaped flowers blast out the message that summer is here – enjoy it while it lasts! Double forms have become popular recently but both types will need regular dead-heading to keep them looking good. They have now been superceded by mini petunias or million bells which have masses of tiny flowers in many hot

bright or cool pastel colours. Other useful contenders include the tiny white stars of bacopa, fragrant nemesia, colourful verbena and the cool, contrasting foliage of nepeta and helichrysum. All these smaller flowering plants require little in the way of ongoing maintenance. Having planted the basket, give it a good water and feel the weight – this will enable you to judge whether it needs watering in the future. A lightweight basket is on the verge of collapse. Keeping the display looking good is not easy, particularly if the baskets are exposed to too much wind or sun. They will need watering on hot days and perhaps twice a day but always try to water in the cool of the evening or early morning to avoid scorching the plants. The compost used in the basket will be good enough to get the plants growing but once established, they will need regular feeding once or twice a week to keep the display looking good. The volume of compost for the plants to root into is relatively small and great demands are made of it once the flowering display is in full swing. If the display starts to look a bit ragged in mid-summer, don’t despair – a hard trim and a good feed will have it back in good fettle long into the autumn. Of course, a hanging basket or window box doesn’t need to be full of flowers if these are not your thing. It is a very good way of growing herbs and salad vegetables which can still look attractive and will be out of the way of marauding slugs and snails. In hot positions, a display of garden succulents will be a low maintenance alternative for those with less time on their hands and they make a very stylish, on-trend display while bees would certainly appreciate a window box full of flowering lavender or thyme.

AccurateAerials improving reception since 1979

For the design, supply and installation of aerial, satellite and internet TV services, call your local Registered Digital Installer (RDI)

Mark Jones 07836 265259 ID: 18266724

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Why a Mortgage Valuation is NOT a Survey with Jones Battye

“I don’t need a survey if the bank has already sent round a valuer for my mortgage, do I?” That’s a question many people ask when going through a house purchasing process and it’s easy to see why. Buying a house is an expensive business and it’s tempting to try to save as much as possible. But, is it wise to forget about getting a proper survey and to hope for the best? ComRes research on behalf of the RICS calculated that on average, home buyers spend £5,750 on repairs once they have moved into their new home and this is often down to not commissioning a proper home survey.

Tel: 07988 835301

So why isn’t a mortgage valuation a ‘proper’ survey? If you apply for a mortgage, the lender will commission a valuation of the property, rather than a survey, to answer three key questions. Firstly, does the property actually exist(!), secondly, how much is the property really worth, and thirdly, is it going to fall down any time soon? It is important to remember that the valuer carrying out this inspection is working solely for the benefit of the mortgage provider and not for you. During a mortgage valuation, the valuer will carry out a brief inspection, usually lasting less than 20 minutes. You may, or may not, see a copy of the valuation report and usually you would not be able to speak directly with the valuer who carried out the inspection. How is a survey different? In contrast, if you commission an RICS Home Survey, your surveyor will carry out a detailed inspection and produce an in-depth report on your behalf. This report may identify issues which could help you to negotiate a lower offer, plan for any necessary repairs or even to back out of an unwise purchase. Jones Battye offer several different levels of RICS Home Survey depending on the age and condition of the property, which can be tailored to answer any specific worries or concerns you may have. As an independent surveying practice, who does not work for banks or building societies, Jones Battye is completely on your side and our surveyors are available to answer as many questions as you may have. In the long run, having a home survey could save you a lot of expense and will provide you with peace of mind and a thorough knowledge of what you are getting into. For professional advice, property valuation and RICS Home Surveys, give us a call on 02920 625433, visit www.jonesbattye.com or pop in to see us at 5 Heol y Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff

history

A school rich

WITH HISTORY AND CULTURE

'Dysgu Gydol Oes', or 'Learning for Life' is the motto for the foundation school that we all know as Whitchurch High School. Many young people study at Whitchurch High School; many people work there and thousands have passed through its doors over the years. The school is rich with history and culture, and can claim many success stories for its alumni. At the start of the 20th century, Whitchurch village had a population of nearly 5,000 people, due mainly to the development of the Melingriffith Tinplate Works. The village's first school was founded by Thomas Phillips, and he ran the school for over 35 years until his retirement in the 1850s. Several other private schools existed in and around the area but many parents could not afford to send their children there. In 1934, 21 acres of land were acquired for a large secondary

school in Whitchurch. The new school was opened on November 17th, 1937. Mr AJ Richard was appointed Headmaster. Even so, the new school proved inadequate to meet the needs of the community and a proportion of pupils requiring secondary education had to travel to Penarth. Extensions to Whitchurch School were delayed by the outbreak of war in 1939. Whitchurch High School, as it became known, was founded in 1968, following the government circular of 1965 that saw many Local Education Authorities converting their schools to the new Comprehensive System. There had previously been a threetier system of schooling, but the new circular reflected the Labour government's view at the time that schools should

It's currently the largest school in Wales with 2,400 pupils registered there. Former student Rachel Nurse takes a look at its history and its place today in our community provide entitled curriculum to all children. As a result, it marked the abolition of the old grammar schools and secondary moderns, and the 11-plus examination. Whitchurch High School was thus created by combining the existing Whitchurch Grammar School with the Whitchurch County Secondary School that accommodated for a large catchment area. The two were combined into one at the beginning of 1967 and followed the traditional idea of catering

getting in to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. The school uses the media platform Moodle to update students about homework, extra work and to add additional materials from taught lessons. for as many students as possible ranging from Rhiwbina, over to Llandaff and all the way to Tongwynlais situated in northern Cardiff. Originally, Cardiff County Borough ran the school programme until the reform of 1974, where Whitchurch and several areas of Cardiff North became part of the new County of South Glamorgan. In 1996, the school reverted back to Cardiff County Council. The school was granted foundation status in 2011 by the Welsh Assembly. This arose from the debate by the local authorities around reducing the school’s intake or keeping it over-subscribed. The decision was made to allow the school to decide for itself about how it was organised. As a result, the school received more powers, more financial freedoms and more choices over teacher hiring. Today, the school's intake is drawn from seven link primary partner schools based in northern Cardiff. These are Birchgrove, Coryton, Gabalfa, Hawthorn, Llanishen Fach, Rhiwbeina and Whitchurch Primary. The school is based on two sites - Years 7, 8 and 9 are based on the lower school site off Manor Way, with Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 students on the upper school site in the village. As a foundation school, the Governors are the Admissions Authority and therefore directly manage all mainstream admissions. This means that parents and carers can apply directly to Whitchurch High School to secure a place. Whitchurch High School also has the largest SEN Specialist Resource Base (SRB) in the city, located on both sites which admits up to 70 pupils from across the city. The school is now a mixed gender school, with ages ranging between 11-18 year olds. The school's Sixth Form offers AS/A2 levels, stages of the Welsh Baccalaureate, and some vocational courses. Up until 2012, it was one of a few secondary institutions in Wales to offer the International Baccalaureate. The Welsh Baccalaureate regularly receives high grade standards and the school helps support students

Facts and Figures Recent statistics for Whitchurch High School show a strong attendance score and students reaching expected academic levels. Many A level students go to Russell Group universities with additional students attending Oxford and Cambridge each year. The school released this data in 2016: Number of students: 2,202 Pupil teacher ratio: 19 students Attendance during the year: 95.1% Pupils who have reached the expected level - Core subject indicator (Key Stage 3): 94.5% School budget per pupil: £4,616 • The white church tower on a blue background is the school’s badge with the words ‘Album Monasterium’ around the sides. This is the Latin translation of the school’s name and is not to be confused with the school’s motto. • Whitchurch High School was first awarded the prestigious International School Award validated by the British Council in 2005.

A Student's View When I studied at Whitchurch High School, I enjoyed studying English, Government and Politics, Geography, and Sociology. The teachers are helpful and encourage each student to do their best. During my A levels, I did the Welsh Baccalaureate and received an ‘A’ grade thanks to Mrs Thompson and Ceri Lane [pictured with myself] supporting me throughout each unit and re-reading numerous drafts of my work. Studying at Whitchurch High School was a great experience to prepare me for university life.

The Wall of Fame Whitchurch High School has a ‘Wall of Fame’ in the upper school, near the hall and the reception desk. The school has had many success stories over the years, especially in the field of sporting achievements. Its strong sports department has many facilities on offer, including a swimming pool and AstroTurf pitches. Students can participate in many extra-curricular activities such as water polo, rugby, netball and rock climbing. The school has shaped many athletes who have represented Wales or Great Britain at the highest level in recent years. It was classed as the Sports State School of the Year in the 7th Annual Aviva Daily Telegraph School Sports Matters National Awards in November 2011, in recognition of its sporting achievements. Some of these notable pupils include: • Sam Warburton, captain of the Wales national rugby union team. • Gareth Bale, football player for Wales and Real Madrid. • Elliot Kear, rugby league player and Wales international. • Matt Elias, athlete who represented Wales and Great Britain. • Geraint Thomas, cyclist, gold medalist at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

Constituency News with Julie Morgan AM

I’d like to start this month by thanking everyone for the comfort and support they’ve given my family and I in the last month since my husband, Rhodri Morgan, passed away on May 17th. We have had literally hundreds of cards, so many bunches of flowers, visits from friends and kind messages via social media and from all over the world. I am very grateful to everyone for their messages and for sharing their memories of Rhodri. The family and I are also amazed at the generosity of people who have contributed to the fund we’ve set up in Rhodri’s memory. It is hoped the fund (www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rhodri-morgan-wales) will raise £5,000 and we will announce the charities that will be supported very soon. We hope to support a variety of small charities mainly in Rhodri’s former constituency of Cardiff West and the focus will be on issues he was passionate about from sport to equality, to scientific and medical research. Of course, since my last column we’ve also had a change of MP in Cardiff North after the snap General Election on May 8th. I will be working closely with Anna McMorrin who I know will do all she can to serve the needs of the Rhiwbina area and the whole of Cardiff North. It was great to go out and about with Anna to meet people and one of the events I most enjoyed attending was the new produce market in Rhiwbina (pictured). I hope this continues to be well supported and successful. Anna lives in Cardiff and has two teenage daughters who attend schools in the city. She has previously worked as an adviser for the Welsh Government and in public affairs (specialising in climate change and environmental policy). She is very personable and approachable so I am sure that she will do a great job for her constituents. Regardless of your political allegiances, Anna and I are both here to serve everyone in the community. I would also like to wish outgoing MP Craig Williams good luck for the future. How to get in touch If you have any concerns or issues please contact my office on 029 2061 4577. I can also be contacted via Twitter @juliemorganlab and email julie.morgan@ assembly.wales.

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pets

Your pet questions answered

Chris Troughton is clinical director of Heath Vets. 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’ve heard that grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs. Is this true and if so, how toxic are they? Sadly, this is true. In recent years, it has been realised that on rare occasions, dogs develop kidney failure after eating grapes, raisins or sultanas. The toxicity appears to be very inconsistent, in that many dogs will have eaten some without any effect, and others will succumb after eating literally one or two. Lots of research has failed to identify the toxin, and because the toxic dose can be so low, it is essential to be sure your dog never eats any. If he does ingest some, take him to the vet immediately, where he can be made to vomit them up. If you are too late for this, we recommend 2-3 days of intravenous fluids to try to flush the toxins from the blood before they can harm the kidneys. My cat always seems to get himself into fights of some sort. Up until now, he’s never suffered any nasty wounds but I’m worried that one day, he’s going to come home with a wound that could get infected. If this happens, what do I need to do before I can get him to a vet? Cats are very territorial creatures and will defend their patch against all trespassers. This applies to male and female, neutered and entire – the only difference is the size of the territory. Intruders will be warned off by displays of hissing and howling, and actual physical fighting is only a last resort when all else fails. Given the number

of weapons cats have available to them (18 claws and 4 fangs) that’s fortunate! Even so, the damage done is not usually severe in terms of wounds, but bites often get infected and cause abscesses. So if you suspect your cat has been fighting, check him over very carefully. A bite can be identified by a tiny tuft of hair matted with blood. Part the fur and look at the skin to find the wound. First aid for these injuries is limited to cutting the hair away so the wound is visible and applying some antiseptic (not TCP – toxic to cats). If the area becomes red, swollen or tender, get your cat to the vet as he will need antibiotics. The sooner these are started, the less severe the infection will be. I’m thinking of getting a rabbit for my son as a pet but I’m worried about flystrike as I hear that this is unpleasant. Is it common and what would I need to look out for? ‘Flystrike’ is a very nasty condition where bluebottle and greenbottle flies lay their eggs in damp soiled fur of animals. When the maggots hatch out, they feed on the dirt in the coat, and then will often progress to feeding on the skin and tissues, particularly if there is a wound or if the skin is inflamed. Most animals keep themselves clean and do not have a risk of developing flystrike, but some rabbits get accumulations of faeces stuck to the fur around their anus and this is the commonest area to suffer flystrike. There are several reasons this happens, most

of which can be prevented. A poor diet with not enough grass and hay and too much concentrate food is a major cause. Poor grooming behaviour can be because the rabbit can’t reach the anal area due to obesity, or arthritis in the spine in older animals, or because of oral discomfort from dental problems. Rabbits should be examined every day, checking that there are no faeces stuck to the fur. If there are, they must be cleaned off. There are several effective insecticides to prevent the problem, but they should only be necessary if you are unable to keep the rabbit clean, or if he is elderly or debilitated. Rabbits should never be kept singly. They are social animals forming very strong bonds, and their mutual grooming behaviour helps to prevent flystrike. So please don’t buy your son a rabbit – buy him two!

feature

A-ZSummer

of holidays

Coloured deck chairs, a 99 in one hand and a stick of rock in the other? Or lying in a leaking tent, wishing you'd booked that short break to Greece? What things do you associate with Summer Holidays?

Ants

Big ones, little ones, ones that casually take a stroll across your picnic, ones that come out of the ground and GROW WINGS AND FLY! What kind of horror movie is this?

Back to School

As a kid, the very first day of the Summer Holidays was the day you'd been looking forward to for months. A quick visit to the High Street would soon see to that though because every shop window would be stuffed with 'Back to School' paraphernalia.

Camping

More commonly known as Divorce in a Bag, camping can either go one of two ways - the romantic/ like it is in the movies/never going to happen in real life kind of way. And the other way. The one with the leaking tent, the bad back from sleeping on the floor and the longing for your own bed.

Droughts

A little less common these days, but back in the day, we all loved a good old drought to moan about didn't we? Oh we had some beauties.

Egg sandwiches

The summer holiday is the perfect time for getting out in to the garden, pulling up the weeds, mowing the lawn and...oh forget it. I'll pay someone else to do it. There's a bottle of white in the fridge and it's got my name on it.

Holiday

The highlight of the erm...holiday. That's right - the official holiday. And no, not the one you spent thousands on - the one you need when you get back from the one you spent thousands on.

Ice Cream

Whether it's picnics or school trips, warm egg sandwiches are guaranteed to make you the least popular member of the party.

No summer holiday would be complete without an obligatory ice cream. Nothing more satisfying than sitting in a deck chair, downing a 99 is there?

Flip flops

Jelly

You know it's summer when grown men take to wearing these grisly pieces of footwear. Who wants to see gnarly toenails when you're trying to eat your egg sandwiches?

Gardening

Sunday teatime dessert. With a plate full of blancmange. Going to bed when it's still light outside and knowing that even though it's Monday the following day, there's no school. Magic.

feature Kite-flying

There's something therapeutic about holding on to the string of a kite and reaching for the summer sky. Sigh.

Luggage

When it comes to going away, Dad will pack a pair of shorts and a few t-shirts; the kids will pack all their favourite toys; and Mum will pack her entire wardrobe.

Memories

Summer holidays are all about memories. If it's not the stretch of neon lights and ice cream parlours of Barry Island on a gentle summer's evening, maybe it was feeling like you were on top of the world when Dad put you on his shoulders when you were out walking.

Navigation

Theoretically, it should all be a lot easier now that we have Satnav. But it wasn't always that way. Do you remember physical maps? Ones that you actually held in your hand? You know the ones - the ones that Mum couldn't read and Dad said he didn't need. Some people still actually use them.

Outdoors

What summers are all about. Just ignore the bugs. And the noisy kids. And next door's barbeque smoke.

Postcard

We've got a good chalet. Plenty to do here. Thousands of people here and the sands are packed. Jack says the beer is weak. Wish you were here? Love Us xxx. Sent on a piece of card with a picture on the front. By post. With a real stamp stuck on it and everything.

Questions

Are we there yet? How long are we going to be here for? The questions are relentless.

Rain

In the weeks and months leading up to the summer holidays, you won't see a drop of this stuff. But come the first day of the holidays, you'll see a year's worth. It'll linger for about 6 weeks and disappear again when the kids go back to school. Guaranteed.

Sunburn

If, perchance, the sun doth shine, there is a high chance that it'll catch you off-guard. And if this does happen, there's a very high chance of you getting burnt. Should you find yourself in this position, feel free to moan about it to your friends with the following traditional phrase: "I was only out there for 10 minutes."

Teletext

Walk up to a group of kids these days and say the word 'Teletext' and you'll get a load of blank stares back at you. If you have children, or even if you know children, it is your duty to educate them about how we used to book our holidays.

Umbrella

See Rain. Or Camping.

Vacation

You have our permission to scold anyone who refers to their holiday as their vacation. It has been heard in and around Rhiwbina on a few occasions and these episodes have been reported to the relevant authorities. Be vigilant.

Walkman

An essential piece of kit for any respectable holiday-maker. You may know someone, or even be that someone who would make their own personal Mix Tape, usually taken from the Radio 1 Top 40 on a Sunday evening.

X-Factor

The one thing that heralds the end of summer and the run-up to Christmas.

Year

Yes. Another one gone. Another year older. Hurrah.

Zombie

This is, in effect, what you'll feel like by the end of the school holidays. If you time it right, you may be able to audition for The Walking Dead.

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A real voice for Cardiff’s older citizens

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Recliner Chair Centre

An award-winning, family firm, established for over 40 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. That's where the Recliner Chair Centre in The Heath can help

look for a showroom. "We finally found our spot here in Heath after I visited someone in UHW and saw a For Sale sign on the building. It was exactly what we were looking for and gave us a presence in the local community." The floor area showcases over 100 products and more lift and recline chairs than anywhere else. "We used the opportunity to move to major brands. We embraced

For more than 40 years, the Recliner Chair Centre has been providing the UK with the highest quality electric and leather recliner chairs. The story behind the business reveals the true extent of its first-class customer service. “We’ve been in these premises for 35 years and been in business for 40,” says owner Alun Williams proudly. "I was one of the first to bring rise and recliners into the UK and helped develop this product for a number of manufacturers in Wales and England. Our experience and knowledge has resulted in us claiming to be the UK's leading showroom retailer of the vast differences and ranges of actions used on this type of chair." At first, the chairs were made in Talbot Green but as it wasn’t deemed a safe place for their customers to visit, Alun decided to

Parker Knoll, Sherborne, Celebrity and Cintique, but stock all major brands for optimum choice." Every chair on display has to 'earn its place' by showing a different variation of size and mechanisms. "Lift and recline chairs now account for over 80% of our business and over the last six years, we have also sold the wonderful Sherborne motorised bed in all its variables. The bed essentially uses the same generic type of linear motors on which our expertise is founded - crossing the disciplines

31 St Anthony Road, Heath Cardiff, CF14 4DF

of engineering and upholstered furniture. I think this is why any new customers usually give us a pyramid of recommendations and therefore further sales," says Alun. Their genuine commitment to customer service is backed up with the fact that members of staff don't receive commission on sales. "We have heard terrible stories about people buying chairs at obscene prices or with a free offer of a bed, but if something goes wrong, there's often no ongoing support. Our team can offer their extensive knowledge about the products we display including the variety of rise and recline chairs available. Sue has been here for 20 years and Chris for well over a decade. "It’s in our nature to look after our customers. We've been here for such a length of time that we see people again and again over the years. It's lovely to deal with people and have that ongoing relationship with them."

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outdoors Picnics are the ultimate way to enjoy your food in the summer months. But being away from home does mean that you won't have everything to hand. Sara Wells' ultimate guide to picnicking will help make your next outing that little bit more stress-free

Summer dreams

Before you leave In this wonderful world of internet access, politics and interest rates, why not take a moment, grab a few essentials and head out to one of Cardiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many parks or gardens? There are plenty of places to visit near Rhiwbina - the Wenallt is the obvious choice but Forest Farm is also a place where you can chill out and have a relaxing picnic. A picnic is a brilliant way to spend time with a loved one, family and friends, or to simply take time out and compose your thoughts or read a good book. Who knows - you could even make a new friend? A picnic can be as simple or complicated, as cheap or expensive as you choose - it all depends on you. Plan your day from start to finish before you leave the house - this will

make things a lot easier. Don't be tempted to go taking folding tables and tents unless necessary. You will want to take something to sit on so a simple blanket will suffice in most situations. Most people take a blanket as they are easy to roll up afterwards. If the ground is a little damp, maybe an old shower curtain or plastic bag underneath your blanket will keep you comfortable. A blanket around your shoulders will keep you warm if it gets chilly - summer nights can get cold rather quickly. On hot days remember the sun block and a hat! Slice anything that needs slicing before you leave. The last thing you want to do is to be carrying around a knife. And lastly, remember to bring something to do, especially if you are taking the kids. Board games and colouring books should do the trick.

Your picnic basket You can buy off-the-shelf picnic baskets from any good retailer these days. Look out for enamel tableware - enamel plates are light but unlike paper plates, they are sturdy and won't collapse or go soggy. Always take a few extra cups, plates and utensils, just in case. Most picnic baskets now come with chopping boards, napkins, wine glasses and even a corkscrew. If you are thinking of cycling to your picnic destination, picnic backpacks are now also available. These include detachable wine storage and a blanket.

outdoors

Food Finger foods are the ideal things to take on a picnic. Sandwiches are

the obvious contenders but it goes without saying that you will need some kind of cool bag to keep everything in. Sliced meat sandwiches will be ok without refrigeration for about an hour so you'll need some ice packs to keep them cool if you are planning a longer trip and/or the weather is warm. Try and eat perishable items first. In terms of fruit, think fruit with peel - something that will hold up in your bag. Try and avoid bananas as they get easily bruised in transit. This also goes for fruits such as strawberries and raspberries. You can also avoid soggy salads by keeping any dressings in a separate (preferably chilled) tub. Mayonnaise will need to be refrigerated as its egg content could prove dangerous if left in a warm bag. Lastly, avoid bringing bottles of condiments. You’ll probably find that you don’t use much. If you really want to take them, maybe take small sachets or decant into a smaller containers.

Drink If you are heading out on a warm day, it's How to keep those wasps away Picnics can be disrupted by bugs, perhaps none more so than the wasp. Here are a few tried-andtested methods of keeping them at bay. • Spray-on repellents are effective, as these contain ingredients that wasps really don't like. Clip-on wasp repellents are available from most supermarkets and you may want to try these if you're worried about spray going in your food. • Brown paper bags are also a very effective deterrent. It sounds daft but these are one of the most effective and harmless repellents around. Simply inflate a large brown paper bag and tie it off on one end and hang it up. The wasps mistake this for an enemy wasp nest and will stay well away. • Tumble dryer sheets are an easy way to keep wasps away. Simply place them at various places around your picnic. • Mothballs are another firm favourite of picnic-goers. Though mothballs are intended to kill moths in enclosed areas, in open spaces they perfectly safe for humans.

important to remember to stay hydrated. Frozen bottles of water can double up as ice packs and should be suitably defrosted to drink by the time you're ready to eat and drink - very refreshing! Infused water can offer a delicious alternative to plain water. Iced tea tastes great on a hot day, as do herbal teas. If you're out on a cooler day, maybe a flask of hot water and a few different sachets will allow your guests to choose their tipple. Avoid carbonated sugary drinks as these go flat and sticky very quickly.

Desserts What better way to round off your

picnic than with a yummy dessert? Traybakes and loaf cakes are ideal since you can slice them before you leave the house. Brownies, shortbread and cookies are also easy to wrap up and share out. If you're after something more sophisticated, jars make perfectly portioned vessels to transport softer sweets such as strawberry and cream cheesecakes or Eton Mess. Prepare them beforehand for a no-stress dessert!

Local places to go • Hailey Park • Whitchurch Common • Llandaff Fields • Forest Farm • Bute Park • Cardiff Castle • The Wenallt • Victoria Park • Roath Park • Heath Park

Days out • Porthkerry Park, Barry • Waterfalls at Neuadd, Brecon Beacons • Pontsticill Reservoir, Merthyr • Rhossili Bay, Swansea • Oxwich Bay, Gower If you are likely to stay out after dark, remember a torch or a solar powered light to keep everybody safe, especially if you are near a river or somewhere that could become dangerous after dark.

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Windoor

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71 Clos Springfield, Talbot Green, Pontyclun CF72 8FE

Address: Dan-Y-Graig, Pantmawr Price: £289,950 Property Type: A 3 double bedroom semi detached house. Features: The current property has been sympathetically modernised throughout to provide well proportioned and neutral family accommodation. Situated on a corner plot, the property enjoys a sunny aspect and the well established gardens to the front, side and rear are well stocked with flowers and shrubbery. The property also benefits from a garden room, detached garage and off road parking.

Want to view this property? Just give us a call on 029 2052 2106

Chambers Estate Agents

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Our Professional Opinion: A competitively priced property offering ample accommodation in a popular residential location close to amenities, public transport links and schools. The current owner has put a lot of thought in to the modernisation of the property and a lot of effort has been made to create a very comfortable home with the kitchen/ diner a lovely feature room.

s c i n o T r e m Sum

Take the afternoon off, head out into the garden and pour yourself a refreshing Gin and Tonic. Here are some delicious variations on the old classic to help you unwind and relax

G&Fizz Cocktail 20ml gin elderflower cordial fresh mint sprigs and/or cucumber slices Prosecco

Watermelon & Basil G&T

· Pour a dash of elderflower cordial and 20ml of gin into a glass and simply fill with cold Prosecco! Decorate with a sprig of fresh mint or slice of cucumber if you wish!

The Juliette 30ml gin 60ml tonic water 4-5 cardamom seeds 4-5 raspberries ice · Chill a cocktail glass. · Add the cardamom seeds, raspberries and ice to the glass. Pour in the gin and tonic. · Garnish with a slice of lemon.

1/4 seedless watermelon, cut into chunks 1 tbsp white wine vinegar ice cubes, gin, soda water and basil leaves, to serve 110g caster sugar handful of basil leaves · To make the basil sugar syrup, combine 250ml water and the sugar in a small saucepan over a medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat and stir in the basil. Set aside for 2 hours to cool and infuse. · Strain the liquid, discarding the basil leaves. Pour the liquid into a warm sterilised bottle. · Place the watermelon, white wine vinegar and 60ml basil sugar syrup in a blender and purée until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve set over a jug to remove any pips and foam. · Fill a glass with ice. Fill one-third full with cordial, add gin to taste, then top up with soda water and garnish with basil. · Serve immediately.

Grapefruit, Fennel and Black Pepper 170ml gin 1/4 sliced fennel 230ml chilled tonic water 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns 2 slices grapefruit, to garnish 2 slivers of fennel, to garnish ice · Add the gin and fennel to a glass container and leave the gin to be infused for at least 8 hours. · Combine 85ml gin, 115ml tonic water, 1 teaspoon peppercorns, a grapefruit slice, and a sliver of fennel in each glass. · Top with ice and serve immediately.

Sapphire Blue 60ml Bombay Sapphire gin (or other premium gin), frozen 2 dashes blue curaçao 2 dashes dry vermouth lemon twist for garnish · Chill a cocktail glass. · Add a couple of dashes each of the dry vermouth and blue curaçao to the glass. Pour in the gin. Garnish with the lemon twist. · Alternaively, stir the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and strain it into the frozen glass.

Cool Cucumber 3 tbsp of gin 4-6 cucumber slices 1/4 lime, sliced 115ml tonic water 6 mint leaves 1 tbsp sugar (optional)

Blackberry and Lemon G&T

Cranberry & Thyme G&T 150g fresh cranberries 50g white granulated sugar 110ml cup water splash of orange juice 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract fresh thyme leaves gin of choice tonic of choice

· Add the mint, lime, gin, sugar (if required) to a shaker and muddle. · Add the cucumber slices to the shaker and shake vigorously. · Pour the mixture over the glass filled with ice and top with tonic water. · Stir and let the drink set for a few minutes for the flavours to enhance before enjoying. 12 blackberries 20 fresh mint leaves 2 lemons 55ml simple syrup 340ml good quality gin tonic water ice · Make a syrup by stirring the sugar with the boiling water until it's dissolved, then steep the mint sprigs in it until it is cool (about 15 minutes). Discard the mint. · Cook the blackcurrants in the syrup with the glucose for about 5 minutes until the fruit is soft. Whizz in a food processor, then strain into a bowl through a sieve to remove the pips. Stir in the lemon juice and cool. · Freeze in an ice-cream machine until it becomes a thick slush, then scoop into a freezer container and freeze (or pour into a shallow freezer container beating 3 or 4 times as it freezes). Allow to thaw and soften for about 10 mins and serve with sprigs of mint.

· In a small saucepan, mix together the cranberries, sugar, water, the splash of orange juice and the vanilla extract. · Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, pressing the cranberries with the back of your spoon until they pop. · Add the fresh thyme and smash them with the back of your spoon to release its aromatics. Note: The mixture should be much looser than traditional cranberry sauce. · Pour the mixture through a strainer, discarding the solids, and reserving the cranberry syrup. · To assemble the cocktail, add about 30ml of syrup to each glass. Top with a few cubes of ice, 60ml of gin and then top with tonic. Mix and garnish with fresh sprigs of thyme.

Unit 8, Fieldway, Heath, Cardiff, CF14 4HY