Rhiwbina Living Summer 2019 by Rhiwbina Living

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Rhiwbina Living

At the heart of the community Issue 47 Summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19

Your multi award-winning magazine for Rhiwbina

Inside this issue Interview

Maggie Harries talks about the inspirational local charity she created and her drive to provide its members with a special trip

Competitions

Win a family ticket for four to the Family Prom at St David's Hall this summer

Garden Party

Outdoor essentials for the perfect garden party this summer

A Century of Celebrations The story of summer festivals in Rhiwbina over the last 100 years

Autumn deadline:

12th September 2019 Published 27th September 2019

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 Summer is well and truly here and to celebrate that fact, we've themed this issue around The Great Outdoors. Being outside can provide us with many benefits, both physically and psychologically. With the warmer, sunnier weather being here, it really is the perfect opportunity to take time to enjoy all that being outdoors has to offer. We have written a series of features to help inspire you to spend time outside and to maximise wellbeing. Local children introduce the theme by telling us what they love about being outside and why they think it is important. The scientific evidence behind the claims that being outside is good for us is presented in our feature on the benefits of being outdoors. The proof is there! We have compiled a guide to camping and for any budding astronomers, a feature on stargazing. Maybe you could combine the two? One outdoor event that we all look forward to is the Rhiwbina Summer Festival. But do you know that this event's history stems back almost 100 years? We thoroughly enjoyed finding out about the festivals of yesteryear and how they have influenced the celebrations as we now know them. With the help of local residents, we raked up some fantastic old photographs from past festivities - are you in any of them? Let us know if you are! Rhiwbina is known for its beautiful greenery and its gardens, and what better way is there to enjoy being outside? We feature two very special gardens

from our readers this issue and the owners tell us what makes their garden special. Keeping with the garden theme, summer wouldn't be summer without garden parties, so we showcase some must-have products to make your outdoor party a success. The Rhiwbina community includes an abundance of inspirational people with stories to tell. For our people story, we interviewed Maggie Harries from Rhiwbina, who reflects on her life's work and how her locallybased charity has provided so much to its members with special needs over 37 years. She told us about her current mission and the dilemma she faces. Might you be able to help? To recognise the inspirational characters within our community, we have decided to launch our very first Rhiwbina Living Community Awards. If you would like to nominate someone special from our community, please look at the four categories and send us some details. We will be featuring the winners in the Autumn issue which will be themed around community and family.

Danielle and Patric

@RhiwbinaLiving

Editors

www.facebook.com/rhiwbinaliving

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Rhiwbina Summer Festival Saturday 29th June Rhiwbina Village The highlight of the summer calendar. Rides, stalls, entertainment, food and drink 2nd Rhiwbina Scouts 50th Anniversary Barbecue Saturday 6th July Rhiwbina Scout Hall Celebrating 50 years of 2nd

Rhiwbina Scouts Monico Movies: The Dish (12) Saturday 13th July Canolfan Beulah The true story of eccentric scientists manning a remote satellite dish Vintage For Victory Friday 12th - Sunday 14th July Whitchurch Library Gardens Vintage Festival including live music, food, drink and lots of nostalgia

Fire crew saves 4 year old rescue dog from Rhiwbina brook

Elizabeth Heathcote with Emily after the rescue

A dog was rescued by a fire crew after falling into a Rhiwbina stream in April. 4-year-old Emily fell more than 10 feet into the brook and was picked up downstream in Whitchurch nearly two hours later. Owners Elizabeth and David Heathcote, who had only taken ownership of the rescue Shih Tzu a few days previously, were left helpless as she was taken away by the water. "We'd just come back from a spot of shopping," says David. "Liz had run ahead into the house with some bags but I was still outside on Peny-Dre. A gust of wind had blown the front door open and before we knew it, Emily had come shooting out of the house and down our front garden towards me. She wasn't looking where she was going and went straight into the brook, which is at the very front of our garden." There was a splash and before they knew it, Emily was down in the brook. The couple instantly set about trying to figure out a way of plucking Emily out of the water. "I found the easiest way down into the brook and climbed down onto a water outlet to see if I could get hold of her," says Liz. "But because she's still a little bit nervous of us, she kept running away from me. She was waddling in and out of the running water and then tried swimming upstream back to us, but eventually, she disappeared out of sight under the railway culvert."

Several neighbours came out to help and messages were scrambled onto social media in case anyone in the area could help. People scoured the area in their cars looking for her. "We wanted to follow the stream through Caedelyn Park to see if we could see her but we had to go the long way around as the railway bridge was closed for repairs," continues Liz. "We decided to call the Fire Brigade. They came very quickly but by that point, Emily had disappeared altogether. The fire crew split into two teams and the longer it went on, the more we worried." The brook that Emily fell into is now part of the Rhiwbina Flood Defence Scheme. It was nearly two hours later when they had a phone call to say that Emily was safe and sound. "The fireman brought her home, wrapped up in his coat. He brought her in and placed her on the cushion next to the radiator to warm up and dry out," says David. "She was shaking like a leaf but other than that, she seemed ok. "We'd like to say a huge thank you to the fireman and firewoman who helped us," says Liz. "They were absolutely amazing. We often hear stories of them rescuing cats from trees and other similar stories and we always wondered where these stories come from and now we know." Emily recovered at home with treats and cuddles.

news

Blue plaque unveiled in Rhiwbina

The Rhiwbina Civic Society recently unveiled a blue plaque in Heol Wen, to commemorate the life of Sir Cyril Fox. It was unveiled by Charles Scott-Fox, his eldest son. Sir Cyril and his family lived in Heol Wen from 1928 until 1948. During this period, as Director of the National Museum of Wales, he oversaw the development of the museum in Cardiff, including input into the design of the building in Cathays Park. He also gave his backing and active support to the establishment of the Welsh Folk Museum at St Fagans. In 1928, he moved to Rhiwbina with his first wife, Olive, with whom he had two daughters. The family were the first occupants of 17 Heol Wen. Tragically, Olive died whilst on holiday in August 1932. Sir Cyril later married Aileen Henderson with whom he had three sons. Aileen was also an archaeologist and one of the first women to make an academic career in archaeology in Britain and later in New Zealand, after the death of Sir Cyril. Sir Cyril reached the top of this profession and was knighted in the Silver Jubilee honours of 1935 for his services to museums. He was also the author of a number of groundbreaking academic publications. Following the ceremony, there was a display and a Civic Society tea party in Canolfan Beulah. For further information about the activities of Rhiwbina Civic Society, please visit the website: www.rhiwbinacivicsociety.org

news

Plans for former Natwest Bank lodged

Plans to build two retail units and four flats on a site in Rhiwbina which previously hosted a bank have been submitted for consideration. Under the plans, the former NatWest bank, which has since become a hairdressing salon, would be demolished and replaced with a three-storey building. The building as planned would contain two retail units and a one bedroom flat on the ground floor, with three duplex apartments over the first and second floors. Up to 1,345 sq ft of retail space is planned, potentially providing four full time and two part time jobs. Cardiff Council will decide on the project in due course.

Rhiwbina hots up for Festival

Rhiwbina Summer Festival returns to the village, this year commemorating 150 years of the Periodic Table. The popular event takes place on Saturday 29th June and organisers have been in the process of planning it since the Spring. There will be live acts at the Edwards and Co. stage, as well as the usual street stalls, music, fairground rides and competitions. The Festival Parade will also make its way through the village and on to Parc-y-Pentre, starting at 1pm. The parade includes groups and individuals from the local community. Information about Festival week can be found at Rhiwbina Events Committee's Facebook page.

2nd Rhiwbina Scouts celebrate half century Young Squirrels success at Rugby Festival Rhiwbina Under 13s recently travelled to Bishops Stortford RFC in Hertfordshire for their Bank Holiday Festival. The boys played eight games over two days with six wins, one draw and one loss. They missed out on being overall winners by a head to head call, but their commitment, conduct and standard of rugby earned them the deserved award of Team of the Tournament.

2nd Rhiwbina Scouts are celebrating 50 years in the Rhiwbina Scout Hall this summer. The group has been active in Rhiwbina since 1955, starting in a church hall before moving to aluminium huts in the grounds of Rhiwbeina Primary School. Parents and volunteers then set about raising money and built the Scout Hall in 1969. The hall was officially opened by the Chief Scout of the Commonwealth, Sir Charles Maclean, in 1969. It is now also used by other community groups, including the Debbie Chapman Dancers, who once appeared on Britain's Got Talent. The Scout group will be celebrating their half century with a barbecue on Saturday 6th July.

Rachel's Day raises ÂŁ5,500

Hundreds of people turned out for Rachel's Day in May, to celebrate the life of Rachel Day and to raise awareness about sepsis. Rachel died of sepsis in 2017 and since then, friends and family have arranged events to raise awareness of the life-threatening condition. Crowds flocked to this year's event which was held in the grounds of Rhiwbina Recreation Club. There were stalls, food and drink and live music. Paw Patrol were also on hand to lead the Dog Walk, which saw about 100 owners and their dogs walk to Caedelyn Park. Owners were given pots of bubbles to release in Rachel's memory.

Rhiwbina councillor hands keys to Shirley Rhiwbina councillor Adrian Robson recently handed Dame Shirley Bassey the keys to the city when she was given the Freedom of the City. The ceremony took place in City Hall. The 82 year-old singer became the first musician to receive the award and had her first number one single in 1959.

Your letters

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! editor@livingmags.co.uk

Summer Heatwave Earth-dust, Embroidering the roadside greenery, Flies high into the slip-stream air As dazzling cars and motorbikes Slide breathless through the leafy lanes Toward the distant seaside sand... The distant pastures shimmer in the heat While cooling cows encamp within the shade Of low, impressionistic trees, And meadow grasses in the hedge-rowed lanes Revolve and whisper in the parching wind...

Farewell to a friend Sometime ago, I had a phone call to get to Y Groes as something ‘big’ was happening and was asked if I would go and get it sorted. I get these sort of calls. Anyway, off I dash and there was Dr Who and the Tardis. “Hello Mary,” he said (I know a lot of strange people), “I’ve just dropped in to see Aunty Sylvia.” Honestly. Everybody knew her. You may remember the Dr's visit. It was very exciting and yes, Aunty Sylvia was there, sat on a chair in her garden with her family till late. She enjoyed the event. We've had lots of events in Y Groes over the years. Kids dancing, Royal Wedding parties etc. I have enjoyed fussing about with the arrangements but always first and foremost was where Aunty Sylvia would be sitting. Is the chair safe on the grass? She would come out, take her seat, and watch the goings ons, sometimes with her attendants Margaret and Rene, and later, with her daughter Diane. She was part of the furniture in Y Groes. She was everyone’s ‘Aunt Sylv’, from the postman to the hairdresser. We are grateful to have had her for 98 years – a cornerstone of Y Groes and our Garden Village. During the last few days of her life, I had the privilege of sitting with her for a few minutes. Her bed was downstairs, looking across the Square. It was quiet, peaceful, familiar – all the things that she had enjoyed for so many years. We will remember ‘Aunt Sylv’ with love, pride and great admiration.

In school, the children flop and mope Amid the end-of-term-time somnolence And yearn for seas or pools of blue And lose all interest in the airless rooms... And in the towns the dusty parklands doze As trees and plants still lie wilting in the sun, Exposed to brightness and a scorching heat... No end, it seems, to blazing summertime And life itself dissolves into a golden haze... Now earth-dust settles on the withered grass... GA James Rhiwbina

Mary Clarke Rhiwbina

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

Rhiwbina Library Diary dates June

Tuesday 18th: ‘Blooming Rhiwbina’ (7pm) Tuesday 25th: ‘Ukulele Nights’ (7.30pm) Wednesday 26th: Quiz (3.30pm) Thursday 27th: Author talk (7pm) Saturday 29th: Cardiff Museum display

July

Saturday 13th: Board Games (1.30pm) Wednesday 24th: Quiz (3.30pm) Monday 29th: Board Games (1.30pm)

August

Saturday 10th: Board Games (1.30pm) Every Saturday: Jigsaw Library (10am-12.30pm) Every second Saturday of the month (1.30pm–3.30pm). Last Wednesday of each month: Quiz and a Cuppa (3.30pm) NB. No quiz in August

All the latest news and events from Rhiwbina Library Blooming Rhiwbina Our Summer programme launches with ‘Blooming Rhiwbina’. By popular demand, gardening guru Jim Goodwin returns with a panel of experts to answer your horticultural questions. (Tuesday 18th June: 7pm £3. Raffle proceeds to City Hospice).

Festival Week The ever-popular ‘Ukulele Nights’ returns to the Library with its inimitable selection of toe-tapping tunes. This is a very popular event and tickets are limited so be sure to book early. (Tuesday 25th June at 7.30pm. Raffle proceeds to Kidney Wales.) Our monthly Quiz has a festival theme. Join us for a chat, a cuppa and a little gentle exercise of the old grey matter. (Wednesday 26th June: 3.30pm) On Thursday 27th June (7pm), Australian author Liz Low discusses her memoir EagleHawk Girl. Liz was brought up in the 1950s in a small, former gold-mining town in an era when girls played with dolls and ‘boys had fun’. Determined to rectify this, she struck out as a ‘free range-child’, on a raft of perilous adventures. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘The Periodic Table’. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of its conception, we will be joined on Festival Saturday by staff from Cardiff Museum. Their display will focus on the high-profile element Carbon. They’ll be bringing a range of fossil, plant and herbarium specimens and

other items to marvel at and chat about. (The Library will also be running linked activities for all ages on the day).

Summer Reading Challenge This year’s theme is ‘Space Chase’, an out-of-this-world adventure inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. Registration opens 13th July. Proceeds from ‘Friends’ events support activities and enhance facilities at Rhiwbina Library.

Thanks to you, we have been able to commission a made-tomeasure storage unit for use by the increasing number of groups based at the Library. Can you spare the odd hour once in a while to lend a hand with our events? Nothing too onerous. No tedious meetings. In fact, jolly good fun. Contact: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary@gmail.com For details of all events, consult the Library notice board or Telephone: 029 2069 3276 Email: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary@ gmail.com Website: friendsofrhiwbinalibrary. weebly.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram too!

schools Year 4

Last half term in Year 4, we learnt all about life in Roman times. A highlight of our topic was a visit to Caerleon. We all loved dressing up as Roman soldiers and imagining a gladiator tournament in the amphitheatre.

Rhiwbeina Primary Reception

What a fantastic day of fun at Greenmeadow Farm Reception had this term! The sun was hot, the animals were all out and the children smiled all day long. The highlight of our day was watching the farmers shear the sheep and milk the cows. We even got to pet some of the farm animals in the Cuddle Corner. It was our first time on a whole day school trip and we even had our lunches as a picnic outside! Our teachers were so impressed with how we behaved but we were all exhausted and some of us even fell asleep on the way back to school on the big coaches.

Year One

Out and about, in school and at the museum, Year 1 have been in charge, thinking about what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to learn and how theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to learn it. We all have something to say and Year 1 have been using their Pupil Voice with amazing results. We had Block Play lava infested dinosaur worlds, dinosaurs in our school hall, construction sites, archaeological digs, tadpole habitats and even blue dinosaur wee in the classrooms! We have stomped, chomped and roared through dinosaur discovery but still have plenty of energy and ideas to make our Pupil Voice even louder!

Year 2

We have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landings by finding out all about the 'Space Race' between the U.S.A. and Russia. We were very excited to find out who won! We even visited the Planetarium at Techniquest, where we found out what it might be like to travel through space to the Moon. We have been developing lots of skills across the curriculum. We practised our research skills to make our own fact books about space and the planets in our solar system. We had fun investigating shadows and light, and finding out about day and night. In Music, we listened to the 'The Planets' by Gustav Holst and created our own compositions about Earth.

Year 3

This term in Year 3, we have been experiencing the life of a poor child at the start of the Victorian times. Through our drama lessons, we became pickpockets, crossing sweepers and also had to undertake all sorts of hard labour in the workhouse. We were then sent out to work, finding out about life down the mine at Big Pit. We were set free by Dr Barnardo and have now started to receive an education, although our first experience of this at Maestir School in St Fagans, led by Miss JonesWilliams, was a rather scary one!

Year 5

This month saw 90 Year 5 pupils from Rhiwbeina Primary conduct a day's visit to Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan. The aim of the geography fieldtrip was to compare the villages of Rhiwbina and Wick. Pupils enthusiastically conducted a traffic survey, interviewed local residents, explored land use and identified changes through time. Diolch to all those in Wick who helped make our studies so enjoyable and informative.

Our pupils decided that they would prefer to live in Rhiwbina. Nevertheless, we all had a fun day out exploring this small village and meeting its residents. We will be back!

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

29 June '19 th

RHIWBINA VILLAGE, CARDIFF 11am-5pm

The parc-y-pentre arena 11.30 Magic Show 12.30 Punch and Judy 13.00 Arrival of the Parade led by Cardiff Morris followed by a performance from Rock Choir 14.15 Dog Show 15.00 Magic Show 16.00 Tug Of War Competition

festival acts

At the Edwards & Co Stage The Festival Stage on Beulah Road opens at 11am with DJ Sparky Marky. There will be performances by:

Suzanne Scale Performing Arts School, Kinetic Theatre Arts, Izzy and Sean, Tenovus Sing with Us Cardiff Choir, Mundo Dance, India Dance Wales, Sway Dance, Vocal Harmony, Piping Hot, Popstars, Melodi 1pm Festival Parade 4pm Live Band - State of Fame

treasure hunt & science event PERIODIC TABLE Treasure Hunt Pick up an entry form from the One Rhiwbina information stall (corner of Pen-y-Dre and Heol y Deri). SCIENCE BOFFINS (Downstairs in Canolfan Beulah) Science Event for children aged 5-12. The event will be packed with jaw-dropping scientific experiments, mindblowing demonstrations and entertaining, interactive games â&#x20AC;&#x201C; specifically created to give children an unforgettable event! Make sure you book your place early at the One Rhiwbina information point as there is a limit of 12 children for each workshop, which run at 2.30pm and 4pm. ÂŁ3 per child including slime to take home. Each workshop runs for 30 minutes and children need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. BE GREEN There will be water refill points at the Library, Tenovus, Barnardos, Canolfan Beulah and Edwards & Co so you can bring your own water bottle.

Follow us on Facebook at 'Rhiwbina Events' or Twitter at @RhiwbinaE ROAD CLOSURES: The following roads will be closed on Saturday 29th June from 9am to 8pm: 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

kids

Why we love the outdoors We asked local children what they love about being outside

Dylan aged 6 What is your favourite thing to do outdoors and why? I love to go to the park on my bike because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to walk and I can go really fast!

Who do you like to spend time outdoors with?

My friends and family because I always have fun.

What is your favourite outdoor weather?

Snow! Because you can go sledding and make snow angels.

What are some of the good things about being outdoors?

Having fun, running around, seeing my friends in the park.

Why is it important to spend time outdoors?

So you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t watch too much TV and you get exercise.

Evie aged 8 What is your favourite thing to do outdoors and why?

My favourite thing is to go to the park on my scooter with my little brother because it's fun having his company.

Who do you like to spend time outdoors with?

My family and especially Barnaby my little brother.

What is your favourite outdoor weather? I like the rain as it feels refreshing on my face.

What are some of the good things about being outdoors?

It's nice to go different places and to get fresh air instead of being stuck in.

Why is it important to spend time outdoors?

It's good to be in the sun to get vitamin D and to move around and be healthy.

Lule aged 9

Ela aged 12

What is your favourite thing to do outdoors and why?

Going into the woods because I like adventures.

Who do you like to spend time outdoors with? All of the family.

What is your favourite outdoor weather? Spring because it's not too cold or hot.

Finding new places to visit and making up adventures with my cousins because I have the best time when I am with them.

Who do you like to spend time outdoors with? My family and friends.

What is your favourite outdoor weather? Sunny.

What are some of the good things about being What are some of the good things about outdoors? being outdoors? Having fun. Why is it important to spend time outdoors? To have some fresh air.

Holly aged 8 What is your favourite thing to do outdoors and why?

Going to the beach because I love to play in the water and build sandcastles.

Who do you like to spend time outdoors with?

I love to spend time with my family and my best friends. Also my cousins and my puppy Buddy.

What is your favourite outdoor weather?

I love being outside when it is really, really sunny. I also love the snow but the sun is my favourite weather.

Fresh air and that feeling of calm.

Why is it important to spend time outdoors?

To clear your head. Being outdoors makes me happy and relaxed.

Molly aged 8 What is your favourite thing to do outdoors and why?

I like playing in the garden and climbing trees because I can see everything from high above.

Who do you like to spend time outdoors with?

My Sister Lily because she is my best friend.

What is your favourite outdoor weather? The sunshine.

What are some of the good things about being What are some of the good things about being outdoors? outdoors? Being outdoors helps us get fresh air and stay healthy. It makes us more active because we can run around.

Why is it important to spend time outdoors?

You get more exercise and stay healthy and fit. You can always meet more people outdoors.

Seb aged 8 What is your favourite thing to do outdoors and why?

I like making things out of stuff outside, like a den out of sticks or a dam from the stones in a stream. It's great fun and creative.

Who do you like to spend time outdoors with? My friends and family.

What is your favourite outdoor weather?

I think it's best when it's windy and sunny because if I'm

Having fresh air on my skin, seeing nature and freedom to run around.

Why is it important to spend time outdoors?

Because you need fresh air and Vitamin D from the sun.

running around lots, the wind cools me down.

What are some of the good things about being outdoors? You could ride your bike, climb trees, go to lands that you can't get inside like a beach, mountains or waterfalls.

Why is it important to spend time outdoors?

It keeps you off electronics and you can explore.

Birkenstock and Salt-Water Sandals at...

The Art Workshop Art courses for all abilities

Join one of our friendly classes taught by a team of qualified tutors

Creative Kids Summer Holiday Workshops Tuesday 30th July to Friday 9th August

(except Monday 5th) 10am-1pm. £18. Ages 7-13. All dates individual, choose any session. Booking now for Autumn courses. Please enquire for details. Adult Courses · Young Artists Art Academy (ages 7-12)

· Drawing · Oils · Textile Art · Acrylics · Watercolours ·Printmaking

Children’s shoe shop supplying leading brands. Our fitters take time and care to ensure the best fit for your child. Ogam Igam, 5 Royal Buildings, Penarth CF64 3EB t: 029 20704254 w: www.ogamigam.com

3 Lon Fach, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6DY For timetable and booking see w: www.theartworkshop.co.uk e: theartworkshop@live.co.uk t:07947 003111

NEWBORN TO AGE 6YRS

serenade

Under new management NEW! Loyalty Card Scheme Pick up your free loyalty card in store!

· Terramundi Money Pots · Large selection of soft toys · Demdaco Willow Tree · Party balloons

· ty Beanie Boos · Top Model by Depesche · Wild Olive bath treats · Local and Welsh cards

13 Heol y Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6HA 02920 522424 www.serenadecardiff.co.uk

Ages: 4-14 Dates: 22nd July - 30th August 2019 (not including bank holidays) Venue: Whitchurch High School, Penlline Road, Whitchurch CF14 2xJ

Age groups 4-8

For children aged 4-8, each day is packed with activities such as Forest School, Mini Tennis, Football, Cookery, Crafts, Treasure Hunts and Team Games. Days out include trips to the seaside, farm parks, play parks, cinema and bowling

Age groups 8-14

Timetables pick up the pace for the 8 Years + groups with activities such as the Climbing Wall, Trash Fashion, Outdoor Sports, Street Dance, Karate, Swimming, Bake Offs and The Apprentice. Trips include Cardiff White Water, Heatherton, Wildlife Parks, cinema and bowling

ACTION PAK IS PART OF ACORN NURSERIES LIMITED AND HAS PROVIDED VARIED, FUN AND EXCITING EXPERIENCES SINCE 1992 For more information, visit our website at www.action-pak.co.uk or telephone 07825 500 987/029 20 382009

The Great Outdoors Spending time outdoors is fun but it also nourishes your body and soul. Here are just a few scientifically-proven reasons why you should spend more time in the company of Mother Nature

Being outdoors is good for children

A medical paper published in 2009 found that the benefits of living close to nature were particularly strong for children. The researchers found significant relationships between a lower number of childhood complaints of vertigo and severe stomach complaints. Walking to school through a park or spending plenty of time in the backyard was found to be beneficial for a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall health, as well as alleviating levels of depression. The researchers said: "There is increasing evidence for a positive relation between green space in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living environment and self-reported indicators of physical and mental health. The study stresses the importance of green space close to home for children and lower socioeconomic groups."

It feels easier to exercise outdoors

The colour green has been proven to help concentration. It may even help you exercise. In one small study, researchers had cyclists pedal in front of green, grey, and red video footage. The bikers who exercised in front of the green reported feeling less physical exertion and more positive moods - meaning that grass, trees, and plants could add a psychological boost to your workout.

Sunshine is vital for vitamin D

When the skin is exposed to sunlight, a reaction begins that starts vitamin D production inside the human body. This particular vitamin is essential for healthy tissues, skin, and bones. It also helps to manage insulin production and protect against diabetes; it supports cardiovascular and lung health, and provides many other benefits to human health. Being outside also helps maintain our vitamin D levels and can regulate our body clock, meaning we sleep better too.

Being outside relieves stress and depression

High levels of stress are associated with depression, obesity and high blood pressure. Stress is unhealthy when not managed properly but luckily, there is a natural stress reliever right outside your front door. Bloodstream levels of the stress hormone cortisol have been proven to be lowered after spending time outside. These lower cortisol levels persist for several days. A 2012 study also looked at mood levels of adults with a major depressive disorder, comparing those that took a walk in nature with those who took an urban walk. Participants showed greater increases in mood levels from walking in nature and the study concluded that 'interacting with nature may be useful clinically as a supplement to existing treatments for major depressive disorder.'

outdoors

Being outside can keep you fit

Getting outside doesn't have to cost you a penny! Walking is the ultimate no-cost activity and in addition to being a practical method of transport, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also great for your heart. The British Heart Foundation advocates regular walking to reduce the chance of developing a heart condition and to keep healthy. You can burn 149 calories each half hour of walking in the park, and 372 calories every half hour by riding your bike. To encourage kids to get exercise outside, find a fun activity to do as a family.

It can help you live longer

Air quality is known to increase longevity and is better in areas of more dense vegetation. Being close to parks and nature trails can encourage more frequent exercise, which helps maintain heart health. Time spent outside also increases social engagement and can improve mental health. Some GPs now prescribe getting outdoors in a bid to help people increase their physical activity and improve their overall health.

Being outside strengthens our immune system

For a group of adults that took part in a study in 2010, a threeday trip to the forest increased the number of white blood cells in their blood. These levels of white blood cells stayed elevated for more than 30 days after their adventure in the woods. White blood cells are crucial to your immune system.

Nature encourages creativity

A study in 2012 called Creativity in the Wild looked at the effects of four days of being immersed in nature, away from all modern technology. The subjects were a mixed-age, mixed-gender group and the results of the study showed some remarkable results. Participants were given a higher order creative problem-solving task known as the Remote Associates Test (RAT). A sample was taken before they undertook a four-day hike through the wilderness in Colorado or Alaska. All access to electronic technology was forbidden during this time. At the end of the hike, all participants took the RAT and a whopping 50% increase in performance was shown over the same tasks they have given before they went for the hike. Of course, not all of us can take four days out on this scale but the results showed that 'there is a cognitive advantage to be realised if we spend time immersed in a natural setting'.

Celebrating the 1940s to the 1960s

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LIVE MUSIC • DANCING • FAIRGROUND • GREAT FOOD • GREAT DRINK • SHOPS • FASHION • PERIOD VEHICLES LANCASTER BOMBER FLYPAST • CAMPING • AFTER PARTY • RE-ENACTORS • SPITFIRE • HURRICANE Design by Living Magazines Cardiff

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!

This summer sees the muchloved Vintage For Victory Festival celebrating its fourth year in the village of Whitchurch. It's the highlight of the summer calendar and draws in crowds from all over the UK and beyond. And the best bit about it is that it's right here on your doorstep! This iconic festival oozes nostalgia, helped along by guests embracing fashion from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. This is your chance to switch off, sink into a summer deck chair with a cool drink, and lap up the live music that's on offer all weekend. There will be everything from whimsical wartime songs through to toe-tapping rock and roll classics that are guaranteed to get you up and dancing. You can even learn to jive, swing or lindy hop on the day. Who knows - you may find a new hobby! Food and drink are provided courtesy of artisan vendors serving up handmade burgers, street food and crepes. And to accompany that, there are bars and drinks available

to quench even the driest thirst. The Emporium is also a great place to while away an hour or two - a place where you can pick up a retro outfit or even get your hair and nails done - vintage-style of course. A traditional carnival with fairground rides and sides shows can keep the kids entertained while for adults, two World War II replica planes - a Hurricane and a Spitfire will be on display. It was these famous fighters that could be spotted high up in the summer sky during 1940, battling to fend off the Nazi threat. Re-enactors will be on hand to provide you with the history of the aircraft. On Saturday, you'll hear the unmistakable rumble of a Lancaster bomber in the distance before it casts its shadow over the festival during its flyover. If you fancy making an entire weekend out of this family, dogfriendly event, camping is also available with early booking advisable. Don't forget your dancing shoes!

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

What to wear

The 40s, 50s and 60s were all key periods for fashion, much of which wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

Vintage vehicles and Lancaster flypast

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 the planes. This year's event also sees a flypast by a Lancaster bomber.

Maggie's Mission The Rhiwbina woman who has changed the lives of hundreds of local people with special needs and her mission to grant them the trip of a lifetime She's had lunch with Prince Charles and Yehudi Menuhin. She's carried the Olympic Torch. She's defeated cancer, twice. She's even got an MBE. But for Maggie Harries, none of these compare to the little things in her life that make her happy. For the last 37 years, Maggie has been running a youth provision for young people with a wide variety of learning disabilities. "I've always considered myself as a carer. My dad was severely disabled with arthritis later in life. My mum was also an inspiration. She was always doing things, always busy. A friend of hers took her to a day centre once and before long, she started working with adults with learning difficulties. She'd come home with such fantastic stories. She would take them all out on day trips and she always said that was the best thing she’d ever done in her life." Her mother's work with adults was to ignite Maggie's enthusiasm for helping others. Brought up in Caerleon, Maggie left home for university in Liverpool before starting a career in teaching. "I then met the man who would become my future husband and we moved down to Cornwall for a year. I fell pregnant and didn’t want to go back into teaching so set up Castle Sports in Castle Arcade. I felt like a mole, going to work in the dark and coming home during the dark, winter months." After another few years living in

Trinidad, Maggie returned to Cardiff where she started working at Whitchurch Youth Centre as a youth worker. "We had a little girl who lived next door to us at the time. She had cerebral palsy and never seemed to go anywhere. She'd go to school in the daytime, come home afterwards and that was it. It also meant that her parents could never go anywhere. So in one of our staff meetings in the Youth Club, I suggested that we set up a part of the club for special needs. "I'd visit youngsters with special needs in their schools and I think I became a bit of a nuisance because one day, I had a phone call from the Education Authority who said that they wanted to chat to me. I thought it would just be about the Youth Club but I walked out of the meeting with a job in a Special School. I only started for a term but ended up working at Riverbank School in Ely for 22 years." Maggie started what was to become Sunday Circle at Whitchurch Youth Centre in May 1981. “We left there after about 15 years because wheelchair access wasn’t great. We moved to Ty Celyn and were there for another 12 years but then we had to leave because the building was turned into a Sixth Form common room. We started off with eight local children but we were soon getting 90 and couldn’t get the staffing. We have about 50 come every week now.”

The weekly club offered facilities for the youngsters, including table tennis, pool and basic crafts. But Maggie has always pushed to provide extra experiences for her members. "Over the years, we've done all sorts of things. We go on days out, we go camping, we go and stay at Storey Arms," says Maggie, beaming. "But there's more. We've been skiing in the United States, kayaking in the fjords in Greenland, we've climbed in the Dolomites, and we've been to Norway and camped within sight of the ice cap. I stand back sometimes and think 'this is bloody lovely.'" Maggie and the club have helped transform the lives of the members in a positive way. "I’ve been at my happiest with the members at Storey Arms," says Maggie. "I see little ones with not much confidence in their physical capabilities, worrying about climbing a grass bank and getting their hands dirty when we first arrive. I then see them the next day, jumping around in the yomping pools, getting mucky and laughing their heads off." The experiences help develop the club's members in ways that would never seem possible. "One little girl from Whitchurch had severe learning difficulties and lots of issues. We got her to the top of Pen-y-Fan and to see the smile on her face was a pure joy. There was also one boy who was in two leg

people callipers and was registered blind. He wanted to climb Pen-y-Fan too so off he went with his callipers and white stick. You could take a normal group of children up there and half of them drop out two thirds of the way up because they can’t be bothered. But this boy did it. And when he got to the top, he turned to me and said: ‘Maggie. Have I been a pleasure to have?’" Maggie reels off story after story. There's the autistic boy who found his confidence skiing on the slopes in the US. Then there’s the child who was an elective mute and barely spoke, who started shouting out in the Dolomite mountains so that he could hear his own echo. Each and every story doesn't sound like much to the casual observer, but to Maggie, and more importantly, to the individual, it means the world. "We stayed in a log cabin in Margam once and what you need to remember is that children in wheelchairs don't experience the things that we do. They don’t know what mud or cold water feels like. So we took them out of their chairs and put their feet in the cold water, sat them in the wet grass and wrecked a few wheelchairs. "People would ask me how many children I had and I’d say 74 before realising that they were asking how many I actually had of my own." Maggie's two children grew up with the club. "They never got fazed by the members of the club. In fact, they'd often go up to children with special needs in public and tell them all about the club. My children gained massively from it all.” For Maggie, her devotion to her cause has been unrelenting, but one that she has undertaken with gratitude. "For 35 years, we never had any regular staff. In a Special School for 100 children, you would need to have about 70 members of staff to look after them. It's only recently that authorities have given me money to employ three part-time youth workers and that makes a massive difference. I’m very much tied to the youth club – I can’t go away when I want to." In 1995, Maggie was awarded an MBE for her work.

"I was given the award by Prince Charles at Cardiff Castle on St David's Day. Everyone was turning up in their posh cars and I turned up in our Variety Club minibus with some of our members! In 2001, I also picked up a Welsh Woman of the Year Award. That meant a lot to me because I’m proud of being a woman and proud of being Welsh. I wouldn’t want to be anything else." Now retired from teaching, Maggie is also reflecting on the club and its future. "South Wales Classic Car Club have supported us for many years. Last year, I went to pick up the cheque that they give us annually and there was a girl from Ty Hafan there. She was talking about end of life and how Ty Hafan make a difference. It made me realise that our club was not about end of life, but more ‘whole of life’. "I was told nearly 40 years ago that there wouldn't be much call for a special needs department at Whitchurch Youth Club as 'there weren't that many children around.' You see a lot more children with needs out and about these days.” Looking ahead, Maggie is considering life after the club. "I’m 67. At some stage, I’m going to have to say that enough is enough and leave it to the youngsters to carry on." But for now, as usual, Maggie and the team are planning for Christmas. "My best and my worst night of the year is our Christmas party and I’m always worried that somebody’s going to turn up that hasn’t been since last year and you need to have a present for everybody. We buy presents and wrap them up throughout the year. The volunteers are fantastic in this respect and the club wouldn't survive without them. Some have been with me for 30 years and that’s a massive commitment. “We always have a ‘visitor’ every Christmas and every member still believes."

Maggie's dream is to see out her tenure with one last hurrah that involves every member of the club. "I want to take all the members to see Santa in Lapland this Christmas. For past trips, we’ve had to limit places to who you think would enjoy that particular activity. But this time, I want to take all of them. That’s 60 members, but with the staff required, would be 100 people in total. I've even looked into chartering a plane. It would work out at about £400 per person just for the day. ” But Maggie is faced with a huge dilemma. "Our 17 year-old mini bus broke down and had to be scrapped. Do we take the money out of the money that we’ve already raised? But that would set the trip back by years. I'd already spoken to all the members and asked if there was anyone who didn't want to go. Not one person put their hand up. “They all want to go." Maggie and her team are looking at various ways of raising the money to make the trip a reality. “We’ve got a concert coming up where we hope to raise some funds.” For now, members continue to meet on Sunday evenings in Gabalfa to enjoy what Maggie has been able to provide for the last 37 years. Hopefully, with a lot of generosity and dose of good luck, Maggie’s members will be smiling again this Christmas. If you’d like to help Maggie in her quest, you can visit her Just Giving Page and search for Sunday Circle City Voices Cardiff Friday 27th September 2019 Cyncoed Methodist Hall 7pm www.sundaycircle.org.uk

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Thank you Rhiwbina Celebrating their 10th year in Rhiwbina, Edwards & Co. have gone from strength to strength, changing the perception of the estate agent industry ‘one sale at a time’. Owners Simon and Lisa Edwards look back at their decade in the village Every once in a while, a business becomes synonymous with the area in which it works. Although some thought them ‘crazy’ to do so, Simon and Lisa Edwards opened their Rhiwbina office during the last recession and since then, they haven't looked back. Rhiwbinabased, they are also Rhiwbina through and through. "I was born and bred here in Rhiwbina," says Simon. "My Mum, Dad and family still live here and I went to Rhiwbeina Primary." The pair met while Simon, a retired Police Officer, was working in Cardiff city centre over 23 years ago. "We met on the high street where I was working," says Lisa, a former senior retail manager. "I was opening a new store and helping unload a van with my team of girls outside when Simon and his colleague walked past," she adds. "My girls started wolf-whistling at the rather red-faced officers and after they had all got talking, my

assistant manager told me that she’d invited them to visit the new shop the following day for a coffee. They did, we met and that was it. We’ve never looked back." Lisa's background in retail would go on to benefit Edwards & Co. years later. "I started my working life helping out in markets when I was 13. I was bitten by the retail bug and eventually progressed through to become a General Manager," says Lisa. "I opened the first TK Maxx in Wales and had over 100 staff and five managers working for me. I’ve always successfully run other people’s retail businesses for them but was adamant that one day I would do this for myself." Simon actually took early retirement from the Police in 2002, following an accident. "We decided that as we both had a passion for property and a will to succeed and to stand on our own two feet, we would set up on our own," says Lisa. "The real catalyst for opening Edwards and Co. was the unsatisfactory experience we received from the estate agency industry after we moved back to live in the Rhiwbina area in the 1990s," she adds. "We were so disgruntled about the way that estate agents in general

were treating us. Before we moved back to Rhiwbina on a permanent basis, we’d moved around a lot and had used a number of different agents to buy and sell. We never went back to the same agent twice however, and we thought ‘we could do better than this’. I’m a business retail manager and we know that in business, it’s all about the people." After much deliberation, training and accreditation, the couple decided to set up on their own. "We’d been buying and selling, renting and renovating and even building our own properties for many years so we knew we had enough background knowledge in the industry to do it," says Simon. A chance meeting led to Simon and Lisa taking over the property management of one of Cardiff’s largest independent landlords at the time, and literally turned around their business in a very short period of time. Ultimately, it was to sow the seed for bigger and better things. "Although officially starting out in the industry in 2004, it was during the crash of 2008/09 that we opened our first high

The busy Rhiwbina office street agency – a time when many similar businesses were closing down. We opened in the middle of a recession! Our doors opened here in our Rhiwbina office on the 5th November and we were just lucky that this fantastic unit was available," says Simon. Perhaps the secret to Edwards & Co.'s success is that fact that they aren't your average ‘run-of-the-mill estate agents’. From the ground up, everything has been built around the vendor. "Virtually all of our team here are retailers and managers from the high street," says Lisa. “We always said that we’d never recruit from another agent at the time because we wanted to be organic and not inherit other agents’ ways. We set out to, and soon realised that we could, do things differently here. "We also had our daughter, Bethan, around the same time that we opened and it made us realise that we definitely had to make a success of it. It put everything into perspective and she’s been our main motivator to succeed," adds Simon. "When she was just 4, she was here after hours and the phone rang and, before we could answer it ourselves, she picked up the phone and said ‘Good afternoon, Edwards and Co., how can I help?’. Seems it runs in the family!" “We’re proud to stand out from the crowd,” says Lisa "We were invited to a Rightmove conference in Birmingham recently (as it happens as the only Cardiff Agent) that centred on ‘making your mark and therefore winning instructions’. We were the only ones there in smart jeans and jackets, and open neck shirts, engaging enthusiastically with everyone. We were also the only husband and wife team in attendance. Everyone else wore their generic ‘Estate Agency Issue’ shiny blue suits, big ties and their hair gelled back. During the conference, the Rightmove CEO actually addressed the attendees and asked 'Why do you all have to dress like, use the same language as, and look like every other estate agent?'. He then commented 'That’s with the exception of Lisa and Simon of Edwards & Co. Cardiff - they are the only ones that I will remember after today!’ "We will improve the way that this industry operates one sale at a time," continues Simon. "The way that people Sponsored feature

buy and sell houses has to change. We’re working for the people who are selling their houses and that’s where our priority lies. We listen to what they’ve got to say and aren't necessarily guided by what a buyer wants to pay. "We have a very tried, tested and trusted guide pricing system, unlike the majority of agents' old-school ‘offers in the region of’. We’ve got an exceptional team of 15 experienced professionals which allows us to provide a great service – our team here are just amazing!” Underlying the business is a solid work ethic: "It’s not just about the houses. It's about the people, simple as that," says Lisa. Edwards and Co. have also embraced Rhiwbina's community life to the full. From sponsoring the main stage at the Summer Festival to donating to and initially organising the installation of the Christmas lights in 2013, the emphasis has always been on integrating with the people and getting things done. "Getting the Christmas lights up was a story and half. We'd finally got the go-ahead from the Council and had been around the village, badgering the businesses to source funding. When, eventually, the money was raised and the lights were installed, we managed to contact our local legend Sam Warburton to see if he'd do the honour of turning them on for the very first time. He agreed without question, coming straight from training and didn't leave for hours afterwards until he'd had his photo taken with everyone who wanted it. The village was rammed! "In addition to sponsoring the stage at the Summer Festival, we always give prizes for raffles. On Bonfire Night, we supply the tea and coffee for Whitchurch Fire Station and Lisa, myself and as many of the team as possible go over to help serve and raise money for the local charities," adds Simon. The business also runs the popular Edwards and Co. Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page (with over 1,700 followers) and this has also been very well received within the community. "We share this high street with some fantastic businesses and we’re all doing our bit to make Rhiwbina a better place in which to live and work. Most importantly, we genuinely enjoy what we do

here," says Simon. Looking to the future, Edwards & Co. will continue to prioritise the vendor. "Our team are retailers so they don’t just show interested parties around a house, they’ll always look to sell the virtues of it and the area in which it is located," says Lisa. "Honesty and integrity are foremost. We don’t overvalue just to win an instruction. We discuss what we believe is the best achievable price, and we give the vendor the full information and market statistics so that they can make an informed decision. "We all work together as a team to keep the communication going at all times and to make sure that buyers are also looked after. We also ensure that everything is put in place quickly to limit the time the transaction takes. Our reputation is vital and we rely on recommendations. In terms of statistics, we’re now No. 1 across this area for the whole of the past year for new instructions and sales agreed, something we have worked long and hard to achieve. We must be doing something right!" beams Simon. "We didn’t set out for global domination," he adds. "Our main mission was to be successful in our area and look after our clients. We'd genuinely like to thank the people of Rhiwbina for their support in the last 10 years and for putting us where we are today - we really are very grateful. Thank you all so much once again!” (If you would like any assistance with buying, selling or renting and would like to organise a free, no obligation appraisal, call the team on 02920 616200) 19 Heol Y Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 6HA

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Constituency News

with Julie Morgan AM

In May, it was great to meet up with some of the volunteers who run the successful Rhiwbina community cinema, Monico Movies. The group shows films in the Beulah Assembly Rooms on the second Saturday of every month. The volunteers are film enthusiasts – Harley and Vivienne Jones are both former BBC staff and Harley was a documentary maker – and they choose films you can’t usually see at large multiplex cinemas. They started out in 2015 by putting their own money in and by borrowing the equipment but have now raised enough to buy their own and cover costs thanks to strong community support. It’s great that the films are attended by people from all over Rhiwbina village and that local shops offer support by selling tickets. Also in May, I was pleased that the Welsh Government declared a Climate Emergency and I held two events in the constituency to highlight the impact we’re having on our environment. The first event, a ‘Climate Summit’ held in Whitchurch Community Garden, was aimed at young people to seek their views on what we as politicians should be doing. I was joined by MP Anna McMorrin and the Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie Howe, and was thrilled that more than 60 people came along, including primary school children and older pupils from Llanishen High School and Whitchurch High School. The second event was a ‘clothes swap’ which was great fun and also highlighted the impact that the fashion industry has on the environment. We were shocked to learn that in the UK we buy 60% more clothes every year than they do in France. The idea was to offer people a chance to update their wardrobe without buying new clothes – it was a great event and if you’d like help setting up a similar event in your area, please contact my constituency office on 0300 200 6241. How to get in touch Constituency office: New number 0300 200 6241 Contact me via my website: www.juliemorgan.org.uk/ contact Facebook: JulieMorganAM Twitter: @JulieMorganLAB Surgeries: Mondays 10-11am, Llangranog Road, Llanishen; Fridays 12:30-1:30pm, 17 Plasnewydd, Whitchurch Sponsored feature

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competition

Win TICKETS TO THE family prom at st davids hall The Family Prom is back at St David’s Hall on Sunday 21st July at 3pm, and this time we are celebrating the wonders of weather! Come rain or shine, Conductor Michael Bell MBE and Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra are forecast to be on cloud nine as they take this year’s event by storm. And who better to present a concert all about the weather than BBC Wales duo Derek Brockway and Behnaz Akhgar? Joining them is a vibrant cast of young local performers, who are ready to take us on a journey over the rainbow and back. This captivating concert opens with the iconic sunrise opening

theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey (Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra) before a cold front comes in with Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. The temperature further plummets for a selection from the beloved Disney film Frozen, but the storm clouds are never far away as Johann Strauss’ cacophonous Thunder & Lightning Polka descends. Fear not, as sunny spells are soon on their way with RimskyKorsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee and many more. Whatever the weather, you're guaranteed an amazing afternoon. To be in with a chance of winning a Family Ticket for 4, please answer the following question:

What TV channel do weather forecasters Derek Brockway and Behnaz Akhgar appear on? a) Sky News b) Channel 4 c) BBC Wales Please email your answer to SDHpress@cardiff.gov.uk by Friday 12th July 2019 along with your full name and address, plus a phone number. Alternatively, please post your entry with your contact details to: Marketing Team, St David’s Hall, The Hayes, CF10 1AH. A Family Ticket for 4 can be made up of any combination of adults and children, but must include at least one adult.

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outdoors

Let's Go Camping Camping is a great way to experience the great outdoors. It'll provide you with quality time with friends and family, lungfuls of fresh air and some wonderful memories that will last a lifetime Tent, caravan or motorhome?

There are several ways to go camping, each with their own pros and cons. Whether you are looking to stay in a tent, a caravan or motorhome, getting away from it all needs a good deal of preparation. Camping in a tent usually means that you have to take account of your cooking, sleeping and sanitation needs. You will need to consider things like sleeping bags, outdoor cooking equipment and even things like torches. Caravans and motorhomes are more equipped and there are a good deal of places where you can hire them. Check to see if they come with adequate bedding for your needs and what provisions are on board for cooking. One positive (or negative!) is that you should have electricity in caravan or motorhome.

What to look for in a campsite

If you have never camped before, the best advice is to stay in the UK and choose a campsite that either has very good facilities or is close to a town or village. This way, you can always be able to top up on supplies or find somewhere to eat if things don't go quite to plan. Take into consideration whether your campsite is child-friendly and whether the facilities include showers and toilets. There are a number of other different aspects to look at before making a decision on where to stay: • Does the campsite allow barbecues and camp fires? • Does the campsite have a water view, whether it be coastal or a lake? Remember that moving water attracts flying insects • What are their rules about noise? • What are the parking facilities like? Not all campsites allow you to park beside your pitch, meaning you may need to carry your tent and camping gear.

• Is the campsite within a 3 hour drive from home? You may feel more relaxed if you know that you're not too far away from home comforts. • Does the campsite charge for the amount of people or the amount of tents? • Are there good walks in the surrounding area? Are there nice places to take photographs?

What you'll need

Sleeping

You can sleep warm and comfortable in a sleeping bag and there are now a variety of different shapes and styles. There's the traditional 'mummy' bag, which are available in double sizes but there are also body-shaped bags. If you move around a lot in your sleep, sleeping pods - wider shaped sleeping bags, are also available. Remember to get yourself a quality mat to go underneath.

Choosing a tent

Choosing a tent can be fun but tent berths are based around how many people the tent can hold without any luggage. Therefore, you'll need to bear in mind how many people are going, how much gear you are planning on taking, and whether you need any separate bedrooms for any of your campers. Take into account too whether your chosen campsite has limitations on large tents. Always pitch your tent at home to iron out any faults that need fixing.

Cooking

With the right tools and preparation, cooking outdoors can be as easy as cooking at home. Before you leave home, decide how you are going to heat your food. You can either prepare food at home to reheat, or you can take food with you to actually cook. Either way, you'll need some sort of cooker. Never use these in your tent. Many campers use a basic two burner camp stove, which is powered by propane canisters. Simply light the flame and cook your food in pots as you would at home. If you are wanting to use an actual camp fire, remember to cook over the coals and not the actual flames. Keep things simple if it's your first time. Cook food you'd normally eat, keep cold foods cold (bring a quality cooler or freeze before leaving) and remember to bring plenty of water with designated bottles for each camper.

Avoiding bugs

It's easy to be put off by the idea of camping because of the thought of flies and midges buzzing around but you can minimise this by camping in areas that aren't damp or near water. Keep the inside door of your tent closed, even if you are just popping in to grab something. It's also worth wearing clothing that can help avoid bites - long sleeved tops and bottoms. Using insect repellent around your ankles, wrists and neck will also help keep the bugs at bay. Smoke from camp fires is a natural deterrent to flies and keeping food wrapped up, especially sugary food, is recommended. Inflated brown paper bags also keep wasps away because they think it's a rival nest.

Remember to take plenty of photos

Part of the adventure of camping are the memories that you create. Most mobile phones have cameras inbuilt and there's no excuse for not taking a few pictures along the way to remind yourself of the time you had. You can also print them out when you get home and put them in an album to keep for years to come.

Staying safe

Of utmost importance must be the safety of you and your campers. Be prepared as much as you can, including checking the weather forecasts. Keep hydrated, pack and store your food properly and remember to always be aware of any potential medical risks such as allergic reactions to bites and stings.

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More sunshine and less scrubbing this summer Forget trying to clean your oven yourself with shop-bought products this summer. The Clean Oven Company are on hand to professionally do the job you hate, freeing up time for you to enjoy the sunshine For most of us, the summer months are there to be enjoyed. Sadly, that doesn’t mean that the household chores can be put on hold. Cleaning the oven is often faced with dread, especially as it can get messy, create fumes, take up a lot of time and still not give the perfect finish you want. That’s where The Clean Oven Company can help this summer. Covering all of Cardiff and South Wales, their team of professional cleaners can have your oven looking and smelling like new. Director Lee Moreton told Rhiwbina Living: “It’s our high level of service that sets us apart. From your initial call, to job completion, you can be assured that you are dealing with a company that values your business and respects your home. “The Clean Oven Company put you and your home first. We use our own branded eco-friendly solutions that are individually prepared for each customer. We do not use acids or caustics and all of our Sponsored feature

solutions can be handled without the need for gloves, goggles or masks. There’s also no need to vacate the kitchen during the process.” The team can clean a single or double oven with add-ons (hob or extractor) in around two hours. Range units and Agas will take up to three hours. Time you can be relaxing in the sunshine. “If the door has a vented system, we will be able to remove the oven door and split the layers of glass to clean both sides. This even includes triple glazed doors. “At the end of the appointment, your technician will heat the appliance to ensure it is working correctly and the oven is safe to cook in straight away,” says Lee. The Clean Oven Company have built up on their core values over the years, paying attention to the small things that matter. “We believe that as a cleaning service, the level of clean should come as standard. We therefore focus a lot of attention on the little things that make a big difference. For example, being polite, friendly and turning up for the appointment on time (we will always phone ahead if we are running early or late). We also care for your property by covering your kitchen floor and also any hallway carpets to ensure access routes are kept clean and tidy. “All of our technicians are also fully trained and insured so your property is fully protected. Existing

Receive a HALF PRICE hob or extractor clean with any oven clean. Readers must mention Rhiwbina Living and the half price deal at the time of booking. customers can also benefit from our regular payment plans, priority bookings in busy periods and also a discounted service to reward their loyalty,” says Lee. So if you’re looking to take some time out this summer and still get the oven cleaned professionally, call The Clean Oven Company today. Getting your oven ready for Autumn will be one less thing to worry about, leaving you to enjoy the sun with loved ones.

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Garden Party

Whether you want to spend time with friends or with loved-ones, holding a garden party is a great way to while away summer days

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Dancing in the moonlight! From fairy lights to festoon strings, garden lights create the perfect atmosphere for a garden party. Garden lanterns can also be placed around the lawn and solar-powered options mean that they can be left maintenance free all year round. www.lights4fun.co.uk

Firepits bring warmth to your garden party, as well as a focal point for your guests. There are many options available, including gas-fired pits that are adjustable and can be lit in an instant. www.thefirepitcentre.co.uk

Garden Bar

Have your own pub in your garden with a garden bar. Perfect for cool drinks with friends. www.sustainable-furniture.co.uk

Garden Furniture

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outdoors

Drinks trough

Keeping drinks cool in the garden means you can sit back and not worry about popping back indoors to your fridge every now and then. A drinks trough can be loaded up with ice, keeping your wines and beers ice cold. You can build it into your existing garden set up or just use one individually as and when you need it. www.gardentrading.co.uk

BBQ

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Tables and seating

Making sure that your guests can relax in style means that you'll need to think about seating arrangements. If your garden can take it, and depending on how many guests you have, a table is recommended if you are planning on eating. If space is limited, get yourself some deck chairs that can be easily collapsed away for easy storage when not in use. www.johnlewis.com

Heaters

Despite the onset of summer, it can get a little bit chilly when the sun sets so it's always worth investing in an outdoor heater. They can be economic to run with long lasting bulbs and some use clever infrared technology that heats the body as well as the surrounding air. Perfect for extending those evenings! www.leekes.co.uk

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What’s Love Got to Do With It? A Tribute to Tina Turner 13.09.19

Aled Jones & Russell Watson In Harmony 26.09.19

Belinda Carlisle Runaway Horses 30th Anniversary 30.09.19

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outdoors

Look up to the stars Do you ever look up at the night sky and wonder what you're looking at? Taking up astronomy is one outdoor activity that can be a fascinating and educational pastime What is Astronomy?

Astronomy is the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. We tend to use the term to describe the study of the planets and stars through the use of telescopes. Early astronomers noticed the patterns in the night sky and attempted to classify and organise them so that they could predict their movements. These patterns, known as constellations became useful because people could measure seasons, which helped grow food. The movement of the stars and other heavenly bodies was tracked around the world, but was prevalent in China, Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, Central America and India.

Where do I start?

One look at the equipment and information that's on offer can be overwhelming at first. It's therefore best to start small. Your first step will be to head outside at night and get familiar with the names of some of the constellations and the brightest stars. If you live in a denselypopulated area, you may want to head out to the countryside where there is less light pollution. It's also worth investing in sky maps and guide books to help you. In astronomy, you'll always be learning but guidebooks can show you the basics and where to start. You can learn a lot from other astronomers, especially in dedicated clubs. Stargazing clubs often hold star parties, where you can find out more about telescopes, what to look for, and other skills and tips.

When it's time to get a telescope

Before long, you'll want to get your first telescope. It's always worth doing your research before you commit to buying one because they do vary. Don't skimp on cost - your telescope should have high-quality optics and a sturdy, smoothly working mount. You'll also need to think about practicalities like portability. Whatever one you choose, make sure it's one that you'll want to use over and over again.

What to look out for

The Plough

Working your way around the sky can be daunting at first so a good place to start is with The Plough. It's a group of seven bright stars that are always visible in the Northern Hemisphere. It also has two stars called the Pointers that point to Polaris, the North Star. Polaris is positioned almost exactly above the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s axis at the North Pole, so unlike the rest of the sky, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t move and shows which way is north.

The moon

First things first - be careful! Looking at the moon through a telescope can be very uncomfortable, especially when it's a full moon. The brightness can cause eye damage so look to get yourself a moon filter, which you can place over the eyepiece of the telescope. Getting hold of a lunar map will help you work out what's what. The moon's craters and mountains will be perfectly visible, even using binoculars.

The planets

It's not just stars you'll be looking at. You can also view planets through a telescope or even a pair of binoculars. Each planet can be seen with differing clarity. Venus can often be picked out due to its brightness, and is therefore best viewed during the evenings or early mornings. Mars has a distinctive red hue about it but giant sandstorms often cover the detail that one would expect to see. Jupiter, on the other hand, is well worth a look. Its atmospheric bands, which fluctuate constantly, can be clearly viewed, as too can its Great Red Spot. You can see Saturn itself through a pair of binoculars but if you'd like to see its ring system, you're better off with a telescope. Further out, Uranus and Neptune look like small greenish discs through a small telescope and you'll need a powerful telescope to see Pluto.

Comets

Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rock and dust that orbit the Sun. When frozen, they are the size of a small town. When a comet's orbit brings it close to the Sun, it heats up and spews dust and gases into a giant glowing head larger than most planets. Comets are visible through telescopes and a good pair of binoculars. Often marked by a distinct greenish-blue haze, they are not to be missed. Unlike shooting stars, which can't be caught with a telescope, comets don't zip across the night sky at speed. Search the internet to find out where you can find the latest comets.

The Milky Way

Deep space

Stars and planets aren't the only things that fill the galaxy. There are also many nebulae - giant clouds of dust and gas. These are the places where stars are born. Deep space is also filled with other galaxies, varying in sizes and shapes. Some are spiral-shaped, some are spherical and others don't have any particular shape at all. What you'll be able to see will depend on the quality of your telescope and the darkness of your environment.

Escape the city lights to see our galaxy in all its glory. You'll be better off heading right out into the country to view the Milky Way, which rises after sunset and will span the sky by midnight. It is best viewed during the summer months when almost 2,000 stars are visible to the naked eye on a clear night. The Milky Way actually contains about 100 billion stars in total and every star you can see with the unaided eye is located within the Milky Way.

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m o o l b r e m Sum

Early summer sees our gardens burst into life and colour. Kevin Revell looks at some of the perennials that can transform the look and smell of your garden

f spring comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, as the old saying goes, then the bleating should be deafening by now. The danger of frost has passed, and warm spring weather drives a surge of growth in some of our most popular garden herbaceous perennial flowers which rapidly race up to flower. This spring saw some unseasonably early warmth but on the whole, plants have flowered at much the same time. Spring bulbs are still a source of colour; as the daffodils and tulips fade, so alliums come to the

fore, their purple or sometimes white globes of flowers punching through the emerging herbaceous groundcover and remaining through the rest of the year as attractive seed heads. One plant which grows rapidly in late spring and early summer is Columbine or Granny’s Bonnets, a typical cottage garden plant which seeds readily and spreads around the garden with little invitation. Progeny from favoured colours rarely come true to type but interesting new forms will often spring up. The romantic common names allude to the dove of St Columba or some antiquated Victorian headgear which the flowers are said to resemble. The Latin name of Aquilegia refers to eagle’s talons in which the large flowered hybrids in particular, exhibit large spurs projecting behind the flower. ‘McKanna hybrids’ are a popular variety along with the ‘State’ series, named after American

states such as Louisiana and Virginia with bright bi-coloured flowers. The ‘Barlow’ series is unusual in that the flowers are overly double and resemble little pom poms; Nora Barlow is a purple brown colour while Black Barlow or Blue Barlow are alternatives. Geums are a popular cottage garden plant and seem to be pretty much indestructible, a trait which sees them survive in long abandoned gardens. Traditional varieties such as the red ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ and the yellow ‘Lady Stratheden’ are staples of garden centres, the green rosettes of coarse leaves sending up flower spikes with many small flowers. In recent years, these stalwarts have been joined by the brightly coloured ‘Totally Tangerine’ which produces a profusion of pale orange flowers on tall airy stems up to a metre high and has justifiably become one of the best-selling plants. This has been helped no doubt by its inclusion in many RHS

gardens

Chelsea Flower Show gardens and featuring strongly in television coverage. The semi-double flowers of ‘Scarlet Tempest,’ another new cultivar with large flowers and improved colouration have also proved to be a winner. Paeonies are a darling of the garden designer set and are frequently seen at flower shows but in truth, the blousy flowers, though impressive, are outrageously shortlived. The plants themselves go on for decades and they take a few years to build up sufficient size to produce more than two or three blooms. These are easily damaged by windy weather, so it pays to support them as they grow, rather than after the collapse to protect the display. They seem to like neither too much sun nor too much shade so success with these plants is far from guaranteed. They resent disturbance and are relatively expensive too but if you are not easily put off then you cannot go far wrong with the variety ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ which is a lovely soft pink with double fragrant flowers or the deep pink ‘Bowl of Beauty.’ The red ‘Sword Dance’ or ‘Krinkled White’ are preferable for bees and pollinating insects having easily accessible single flowers. The easily pleased cottage garden favourite, Paeonia officinalis is sadly rarely found for sale in garden centres; most of what is on offer is the taller

Paeonia lactiflora. Another long-lived plant with a short flowering display is the Iris. Much breeding work has gone into these over the years to produce voluptuous blooms in fabulous colours but the holy grail of breeding a flowering spike that lasts more than a week or so remains frustratingly out of reach. It's another plant that flowers at about the time of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show; its beauty guarantees plenty of television coverage but sadly few satisfied gardeners. A sunny position in well-drained soil is a must to ensure the occasional flower. The variety ‘Kent Pride’ is an unusual orange brown colour while the near black Iris chrysographes is much sought after. Late spring is the main season of interest for flowering alpines which are small herbaceous perennials usually grown on rockeries or raised beds but more often these days, in pots and containers. A common request at this time of year is for the blue flowers which trail over many walls around Cardiff. This turns out to be a form of bell flower or Campanula which is well adapted to old walls, the old porous, mortar is often colonised by seedlings which soon gain a foothold. Although attractive, this is not a look that

is easy to replicate in a modern wall as it takes many decades of ageing and weathering to create the right conditions. Campanula muralis, as its name suggests, is a good variety while Campanula portenschiagiana ‘Resholdt’s Variety’, although difficult to pronounce, is worth seeking out as it has the best deep purple blue colour and seems to flower for many months. Alpine phlox is at its best now; dense carpets of evergreen foliage become studded with many small flowers in shades of pink and white. ‘Candy stripe’ is a colourful pink and white form, ‘McDaniel’s Cushion’ a good strong pink while ‘Early Purple’ offers a darker colour form. Alpine plants are available right through the spring and summer so it is worth selecting a few every month or so to keep the interest running through the year, safe in the knowledge that given a sunny spot and a gritty freedraining compost, they will come back year after year, gradually increasing in size and impact.

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history

A century of celebrations Thousands flock to the annual Rhiwbina Summer Festival each year. It's a tradition that's been kept alive for nearly 100 years. This is its history For nearly one hundred years, the village of Rhiwbina has been celebrating the season of summer one way or another. The Rhiwbina Recreation Club first opened its doors in 1922, offering residents outdoor delights such as bowling greens, tennis courts and croquet lawns. The club soon flourished and several years later in 1928, Rhiwbeina Primary School was created to make the Garden Village more desirable for young families to live. With the open spaces now available, a funfair came once a year, bringing with it steam organs and the smell of naphtha lamps. During that time, residents organised the May Day Parade. A May Day Queen would be crowned in a ceremony that took place on Y Groes, surrounded by her attendants. Many grown-ups would embrace the celebrations by Maypole dancing on Y Groes, 1920s

dressing up in Victorian fancy dress. Proceedings would be overseen by the Master Of Ceremonies and his Lady, and a Town Crier and Beadle would also be in attendance. Once the children had danced around the Maypole on Y Groes, the community would enjoy a feast together. The May Day Parade took place until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. After the war, the May Day celebrations were replaced with an annual fĂŞte. Floats would assemble near the Monico cinema and paraded in procession through the village, led by marching bands. The procession would end at the school fields where people could while away the afternoon with games and side shows. In 1962, the village celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in July. The occasion was marked with a Sports Day and dinner, with the tradition of Maypole dancing on Y Groes also being revived for the occasion. As the sixties progressed, the summer scene in Rhiwbina faded away and it wasn't until the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 that summer fĂŞtes made a welcome return. A group of younger residents centred around

50th Anniversary celebrations, 1962 Y Groes set out to revive the annual tradition. During that time, Rhiwbina Garden Village Ltd, the company that was responsible for the upkeep of the Garden Village, was being dissolved and it was felt that the idea of community shouldn't be lost. After obtaining permission from the Council, their first event was a low-key affair set in Parc-y-Pentre but over the following ten years, the Flower girls 1962

Fancy dress on Pen-y-Dre in the 1980s

Dancing on Heol-y-Deri in the 1980s event grew to become a summer favourite. Entertainment was mostly a basic affair. The organisers' day would start at 6am when they'd head out in a small lorry and collect tables and chairs and a small handturned roundabout for the children. Not long before the grand opening, kazoo bands would set off around the village to draw people to the fête in Parc-y-Pentre. The park was a perfect spot as its three entrances could be manned by volunteers. Entrance to the fête was usually £1 per person. Entertainment took many forms, some of which are still seen today, including a tug of war and a Tea Tent. Other activities that have dropped by the way include the egg and spoon race and coconut shies. Swing boats and even a small bouncy castle also made an appearance at one point. Electricity was run from some of the houses that backed onto Parc-y-Pentre but some of the entertainment was rudimentary. At one stall, fête-goers were challenged with hammering

summer event that was being put together by shopkeepers and other organisations. The group eventually abandoned their fête after the Council eventually refused them a public liability licence. The new summer festival centred more on the shops that graced both Heol-y-Deri and Beulah Road, rather than the Garden Village. In more recent years, the Rhiwbina Events Committee was formed to take on the role of organising the Summer Festival, as well as the Christmas Festival and other events throughout the year. Both festivals have grown in size and popularity. The Summer Festival now sprawls over both the main village and Parc-y-Pentre, paying homage to tradition and attracting thousands of visitors each year. Many of the traditional elements remain - the stalls, the parade and side shows. But new events have also now become firm favourites the dog show, the live music and stage performances. Other events take place throughout the summer to support the Festival, including quizzes, Elvis at the Juboraj and fun runs. It may be nearly hundred years on but the Summer always brings the residents of Rhiwbina together.

Harley Jones of Celtic Films has kindly donated some movie footage of the Rhiwbina summer parade from the 1960s. Head to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/ livingmags to view the short movie. We also have an extended film that we put together covering the 2018 Summer Festival.

The Bed of Nails a nail into a piece of wood with just three hammer blows to win a prize. During the early 1980s, there were even karate demonstrations that included participants lying on a bed of nails, something that Health and Safety would have something to say about these days. Towards the mid-1980s however, the fête started to clash with a new Images and information courtesy of Mary Clarke, Harley Jones, Martin Smart, Jim Taverner and Nigel Taylor

The Tug of War still proves a popular event to the modern day

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Rhiwbina Living

Community

This summer, we're looking to recognise the contribution made by four very special people or businesses in the Rhiwbina community. We have four categories so get nominating!

Community Champion

Business of the Year

Neighbour of the Year

Young Person of the Year

We're looking to reward one Rhiwbina individual with the title of Community Champion. This local individual will be aged 18 or over and will be someone who goes out of their way to help those around them. Our Community Champion will be a force for good, making Rhiwbina a better place to live. Whether it's fundraising, campaigning or just downright helpful, this individual will have made a real difference to our community.

Is there a business in Rhiwbina that's worthy of the title of Business of the Year? We're looking for a business that's integrated itself fully with the community. We'll be looking for a business that can demonstrate community-based projects, effective results and a focus on employee and/ or community engagement. Our Business of the Year will be one that's considered a real asset to Rhiwbina.

Rhiwbina is renowned for its great sense of community. And we're looking for Rhiwbina's 2019 Neighbour of the Year. Is there someone who goes out of their way to help those who live around them? Is there a big-hearted person who is always thinking of others or those less fortunate than themselves? Our Neighbour of the Year will have demonstrated great kindness and thoughtfulness over the last year.

Our village is full of youngsters who touch the lives of others with their actions and achievements. This local individual will be under 18 and will be someone who has perhaps helped support local groups. Maybe it's someone who has shown great bravery or could it be someone who has achieved a great milestone? We want to hear their stories and to reward one individual with the title of Young Person of the Year.

To nominate someone, please send details to Community Awards, Rhiwbina Living, 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG, including name and contact details of the nominee, along with a cover letter on why they should be shortlisted, and which category you want them to be nominated for. You can also nominate an individual online. Head to www.livingmags.co.uk/community-awards-2019/ and fill in the online form. Nominations close 31st July. Those shortlisted will go to a public vote and our winners will be announced in our Autumn issue.

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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 Last year’s heatwave gave my dog sunburn, something I never even thought about. I keep her out of the sun during the hottest part of the days but is there any sort of pet sun cream that I can use? It was a great summer last year, wasn’t it? – but not so good if your skin is sensitive. Fortunately, sunburn is rare in dogs, because their hair shields the skin from the worst of the rays, and there is only trouble if the coat is thin and the skin unpigmented, and the sun is very strong. Areas particularly at risk are the bridge of the nose and the ears. Cats suffer more from sun, and those with white ears or nose are very prone to sun-induced skin cancer. Some human sun-protection products are safe to use, but avoid ones with scent which can irritate, and especially avoid any containing zinc oxide which is toxic if licked. It is safest to use a product formulated specially for pets. These are usually a bit more expensive, but they will not put your pet at any risk; they are also easier to use on a hairy dog than human products which are designed for hairless skin.

precautions should we take to avoid our dog getting it? How awful to go away on holiday and then have that dreadful news! Bloat, otherwise known as ‘twisted stomach’ or ‘gastric dilationvolvulus’ (GDV), is a very serious problem that affects mainly large breed, deep-chested dogs. The stomach fills with air, then twists so the air cannot be released by vomiting or burping. It then distends more and more and eventually causes severe disruption of the circulation resulting in shock and death if not treated in time. Symptoms can appear very rapidly and the dog can go from being perfectly well to dying in a matter of a few hours. Treatment involves emergency decompression of the stomach, vigorous antishock treatment and surgery to replace the stomach in the correct position and fix it there to prevent recurrence. The success rate is much better these days than it used to be, but many dogs still die. The exact cause is not known so it’s very hard to advise how to prevent it. However, avoiding exercise and drinking large amounts after eating seems sensible. It is better to feed several small meals a day rather than one large one. Stress is believed to play a part in the development of bloat, so be alert if your dog is extra stressed for any reason. There is an operation that aims to fix the stomach in the correct position to prevent the twist, and this may be worthwhile for particular at-risk breeds. How do I go about cleaning my cat’s ears? Or do they clean themselves?

A friend recently lost their dog when they put it in kennels. Apparently, the dog died of bloat and it all sounded horrific. Why does this occur and what Sponsored feature

All cats and dogs (and people) produce wax in their ears, and this is normal in healthy ears; they shouldn’t need cleaning as the wax works its way out

naturally. However, if it is produced excessively, it can accumulate and cause problems, and then should be removed. To do this, use a liquid ear cleaner formulated for the pet in question. Squeeze a generous amount into the ear canal and massage the canal (which runs downwards from the ear-hole that you put the cleaner in). This will loosen up the wax, which will then come out of the ear in time. Wipe away any excess liquid and wax with a tissue or cotton wool. DO NOT attempt to clean deeper in the ear with a cotton bud. Repeat once a day or every few days until the ear is clean. If there is any smell or discomfort or itch, you must get the ears checked by a vet. If the wax accumulation recurs quickly, again you must get the ears checked by your vet. Does lungworm pass from pets to humans? No. There are parasites known as ‘lungworm’ that affect dogs and cats, but they are different worms and neither affects the other, and none of them can infect people. Lungworm in pets can be a lifethreatening illness, so it’s important to de-worm them regularly. Be careful because many over-thecounter worming treatments do not treat lungworm – it’s best to get the worming treatment from your vet.

Rhiwbina 02920 621 511 123-5 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6UH Danescourt 02920 564 626 Llantrisant Road Retail Park, Llantrisant Road, Cardiff CF5 2BF

gardens

Readers' gardens Rhiwbina is well-known for its greenery and gardens. Two Rhiwbina residents take us on a guided tour of their gardens and explain what makes them so special

John I’ve always had an interest in gardening but not to the extent of the last ten years when one day, the organiser of Cardiff in Bloom walked past our house. We were out at the time but she left a note suggesting that we enter the competition. We did just that and we won at our first attempt. We were classified as the novice section because it was our first entry. Following that, we won it quite a few times until the City stopped supporting it in 2014. We were fortunate that we did win it in that year. We still have the trophies that we picked up from the

event at City Hall. There were 300 people there, including the Lord Mayor. We’ve been in our house for quite a while now so this garden has developed over about 50 years. The rear garden is mainly trees and shrubs. We’ve got the common ones like magnolia and camelias everywhere. One of my favourites is the pieris as they grow through different stages. You get the red leaves and the white flowers and it’s a beautiful shrub. We’ve got a greenhouse too with climbing plants around it, including roses. Inside the greenhouse, it’s full of plants. I grow a lot of my own from cuttings, saving hundreds of pounds. But when it’s tomato time, it flows over with them. We’ve also got a pond with lilies growing on it. I get a lot of people asking me about plants and how to grow them, in particular the Salvia 'Hot Lips’. You can actually eat those flowers. I had a call one day from a friend who was staying in a hotel and he’d had the flowers served up on his salad. The bees love it too. I’ve got loads of dahlias and they’ll likely flower in July. The Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society Show have competitions twice a year in the Rhiwbina Scout Hall. People come from all over. We have also had Open Days to raise money for church charities.

The front garden is the one that’s on show. We had S4C here just over a year ago, filming Pobl a'u Gerddi (People and their Gardens). We were on one of the episodes and they paid us too! In my first Cardiff in Bloom, I said that my begonias were the things I was most proud of and I still stand by that. They’re a good all-rounder. They’re no trouble, unlike petunias, that can burn out in mid-August. Begonias keep on going. July is my favourite time for the garden. Most of the rear garden is self-maintained apart from the annuals but when we go away, I have an assistant who comes in and she’s excellent. I make my own hanging baskets too, so I’ve saved a bit on those as they’re quite expensive to buy. I must have about 300 flowers in my front garden, many of which I have propagated by cuttings and plug plants.

Jade Our garden is an adventure playground, one that's often visited by the other kids in our street. Our tree house is one of the main features in the garden. It's about 90% re-purposed - even the plastic slide - and is built totally from scratch from pallet boards. My father is the one who created it. In fact, he's made everything in our garden. Four years ago, my mum passed away very suddenly of a heart attack. My dad had been her carer as she wasn't able to walk due to ongoing back problems. He never left her side. None of us knew how to cope but after losing Mum, Dad found himself totally lost

and didn't leave the house for six months. I asked him if he could make a mud kitchen, a permanent outdoor 'kitchen' where my kids (his grandchildren) could get messy. It was the first thing he made for us and we were so pleased with it that we kept asking him to make other things for our garden. For the last three years, he's been keeping busy, making stuff for us and also for Llanishen Fach Primary School. He's also been selling some of his items. He's in his 60s now and it gives him something to focus on, as I know he struggles to get out of bed some days. But he enjoys making them knowing that his grandchildren and friends will have fun with something that he's made. We are very lucky where we are. We're at the end of a cul-de-sac which makes it very quiet apart from the sounds of the brook that runs past us. We get quite a lot of

squirrels here too. Our tree house is probably the kids' favourite but it's the mud kitchen I'm most proud of, as that was the start of it all. My Dad and my brother do the light maintenance that the garden needs. Dad is also planning on putting a tyre swing underneath the tree house and building a water wall.

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holidays

The You don't have to go abroad this summer to have a holiday. Having a staycation could be a better alternative What is a Staycation?

Traditionally, we think of summer months as a time of getting away from it all and jetting off to the sun. But if last year is anything to go by, we are often blessed with sun right here at home. There may be several reasons why you might not want to go abroad this year - it could be your budget or maybe you want to stay close to family. Whatever the reason, a staycation could be another way of taking time out from the daily grind but without having to leave home. Also known as a holistay, a staycation involves staying at home but visiting local places within driving distance or public transport routes. You'll save on accommodation costs and it'll also save you from the stress and jet-lag of long-distance travel. If you're conscious about the climate, you'll also be helping cut emissions and if you care about your local community, you'll also be contributing to the local economy by staying at home. Here are some ways that you can enjoy your staycation this summer.

Be a tourist in your own town or city

It can be surprising how much you can discover about your local area. Sometimes it helps to look at your usual surroundings and imagine that you're seeing them for the first time. But you can take that one step further by hopping on a local sightseeing bus and hearing all about the history of where you live. Acting like a tourist can help conjure up feelings of exploration and adventure. Visit a local museum and find out more about where you live. Visit parts of your home town or city that you've never been to before. Get on a bus or a train route that you've never been on before and see your local world as others visiting for the first time would.

Take up a class

Many people spend time on their holidays trying out new things and just because you're closer to home, that doesn't mean that you can't do that either. Take a moment to find out what classes are going on in your local area. It could be an art class, a cookery class or a pottery class. Whatever you decide to do, it'll provide you with new-found skills that you can put to good use later in your staycation. You could create a new piece of art for your home that will remind you of your time off. You could learn to cook a four-course gourmet meal and invite friends and family round at the end of your break. Or you could even make a piece of pottery to give as a gift much better than a lousy T-shirt. One of the other benefits of going to these kinds of classes is that you have an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Go sailing

While the idea of holidays can conjure dreams of sailing across the ocean on a yacht on a glorious summer's day, you can almost recreate the same experience closer to home. And if you don't want to head out to the sea, there are always sailing classes inland on lakes and reservoirs that you can take advantage of. If you're feeling brave enough, you can even learn a new skill. But nothing beats being out on the water's waves.

Take a day trip

Jump in the car, get on a train or hop on a bus. Visit somewhere you've never been before - it doesn't have to be too far away. Discovering new places will help create new memories and also give you more of an appreciation of your nearby surroundings.

Book a posh restaurant

One tradition of holidays is going out to eat and if you're saving money by not going abroad, why not use that money to book a table at the swankiest restaurant near you? It's the perfect time to get dressed up and spend the evening in the company of loved ones or friends. A staycation is also a good opportunity to catch up with those who you tend not to have time for throughout the rest of the year. What's better than having a good old catchup with old friends over great food and a bottle of wine or two?

Go on a social media diet

For some of us, social media takes up a huge amount of our day. The average person spends at least 1 hour and 40 minutes per day looking at their favourite social media sites and apps - time that could be better spent doing something else. Without realising it, we get caught up in other people's dramas and get bogged down by other people's day-to-day drudgery. There comes a time to take a break from that and being on staycation is a perfect opportunity to step away from it all. Turn your phone notifications off and enjoy the solitude of your time away from everyday life.

Book a spa day

Staying at home doesn't mean that you have to forego some self-love and a bit of indulgence. A staycation is a time to unwind and recharge and there's no better way of doing that than booking yourself a spa day. Taking a day to relax means that your body and mind can slow down throughout the day instead of trying to cram things in around daily life. Take a partner or a friend if you don't get much time to spend with them and give yourself the opportunity to catch up and share some quality time together.

Go and see a show or a concert

Here in Cardiff, we are lucky that our city is home to some great events. As well as the major, well-publicised events, there are literally hundreds of other performances, exhibitions and gigs. There are also a host of outdoor events and festivals of all kinds that take place throughout the summer. If that's not your thing, book some tickets to the theatre or a show. It's what you'd do if you were on holiday. Look online to find out what's going on in your local area.

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Let's go al fresco The late spring storms have passed. Lighter, warmer days are here. Time to rustle up some recipes and enjoy them in the sun 2 avocados, chopped 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon honey ½ teaspoon chilli powder

Shrimp and avocado salad 455g jumbo shrimp 3 limes salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped 100g cherry tomato, halved 15g fresh coriander, roughly chopped

☐ Toss the shrimp, salt, pepper, and juice from one lime into a medium bowl and mix thoroughly to form a quick marinade. ☐ Sauté the shrimp in its marinade for around 1-2 minutes on each side. The shrimp should be pink and cooked through. You may need to sauté the shrimp in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Once cooked, set to one side. ☐ Place the chopped lettuce, tomatoes, coriander and avocados into a large salad bowl. ☐ In a separate small bowl, place the olive oil, the juice from two limes, honey, chilli powder, salt and pepper to form the dressing. Mix the dressing thoroughly so that there are no lumps of chilli powder. ☐ Pour the dressing over the salad and toss. ☐ Add the shrimp and toss. Serve with a glass of cold white wine.

Summer vegetable panini 60g Parmesan cheese, shaved 8 large fresh basil leaves 1 small yellow or red pepper, seeded and cut into 6 wedges 1 small courgette, thinly sliced 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced 1 small French baguette, halved 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 minced garlic clove ☐ Preheat a sandwich grill. In a small bowl, stir the oil and garlic together. Brush both sides of the pepper, the courgette and onion with about half of the garlic oil. Season them with salt and pepper and then place the vegetables in the grill. Cook until just tender and lightly charred before transferring to a plate. ☐ Brush the crust sides of the baguette with the remaining garlic oil. On the bottom half of each baguette, layer a quarter of the Parmesan, 2 basil leaves, and half of the vegetables. Divide the remaining Parmesan and basil leaves on the top. Cover with the top halves of the baguette, oiled sides up, and press gently until warmed.

food

Pasta and creamy spinach sauce 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 garlic cloves sliced 450g fresh baby spinach, washed salt and pepper to taste 450g pasta of choice optional grated Parmesan cheese ☐ Heat the olive oil in a large deep frying pan on a medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook it until soft. ☐ Add the spinach and sauté with the garlic until the spinach is wilted. Season with salt and pepper, then remove it from the heat and set aside. ☐ Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve 250ml of the pasta water before draining. Drain, and set the pasta aside. ☐ Add the spinach and garlic mixture to a food processor or blender with the cheese (if desired) and half of the pasta water until it forms a sauce. Add the sauce back into the pan to combine and heat through, adding more pasta water if needed. ☐ Once thoroughly heated through, season with more salt and pepper if necessary and sprinkle with cheese if desired.

Grilled salmon 450g salmon fillets 70ml soy sauce 70ml brown sugar 70ml water garlic powder to taste lemon pepper to taste ☐ Season the salmon fillets with the lemon pepper, garlic powder, and salt. ☐ In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, and vegetable oil until the sugar is dissolved. Place the fish into a large resealable plastic bag with the soy sauce mixture. Seal it and turn to coat the fish. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours. ☐ Preheat a grill to a medium heat. Lightly oil the grate and place the salmon onto the preheated grill. Cook the salmon for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

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Providing full tree, grounds and estate maintenance and landscaping services. We’re very proud of what we do for our clients and like most people who work in nature we spend a lot of time on our knees in one way or another. This is always humbling. Now, whether you call it humility or respect or admiration for nature, if you’re looking to work with a company that cares about these things TR33 could be what you’re after.

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A-Z of the Great Outdoors

The summer months give us the opportunity to get out of the house and to explore all that the outdoors has to offer. Here's our tongue-in-cheek look at some of them Adventure

Leaving the house and venturing to new places will always be full of adventure. Even putting the bins out can lead to new adventures. Not very exciting ones, granted. But adventures nonetheless.

Backpacking

Often an extended journey, backpacking is outdoor walking but with all your gear carried on your back. It may or may not include camping, depending on whether the wife has had enough and just wants to go home.

Camping

Otherwise known as Divorce-ina-Bag. The traditions of camping are quite clear. You put everything in a bag, relocate to a field, empty your bag to find that you don't have everything and then you argue about who packed what and why the tent isn't up yet. Most men will readily assume all responsibility and try to patch things up by making a barbeque (providing he's remembered to pack the food).

Diving

Don't get this confused with the theatrical antics of Premier football players. Diving in its traditional form means swimming under the water to discover new worlds. If you're diving in the tropics, you can discover beautiful fish, coral reefs and exotic shipwrecks. Closer to home, you're more likely to get your flippers tangled up in a discarded Tesco trolley.

Environment

Emotionally, it really does you the world of good to step out of your everyday environment and discover new ones. Practise new things and view the world from different perspectives.

Firewalking

Not a traditional outdoor activity but always best to try it outdoors. It's the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot embers or stones and is often used as a rite of passage or for teambuilding exercises. A handful of hardcore walkers have gone on to walk barefoot on Lego bricks.

Gliding

Recreational gliding involves sitting in a powerless aircraft and using updrafts of warm air called thermals to lift you up into the sky where you can soar for hours with no-one around to bother you. Apart from the odd seagull and a confusedlooking swallow.

Hiking

Nothing can beat a long, vigorous walk through the country can it? Also known as rambling, a bit like this feature.

Insects

You don't even have to go looking for these little fellas. All you need to do is unpack your picnic and they'll find you.

Jacuzzi

One of the more pleasurable outdoor activities known to man. Add champagne and strawberries to get the best of out it.

Kitesurfing

This is a cross between snowboarding, wakeboarding,

feature windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding and sailing. Stand on a small surfboard, stick a large kite up in the air and hold on for dear life. In 2017, Nick Jacobsen achieved the world record for the highest kite jump measured during a session with 40-knot winds. Jacobsen's jump reached 28.6 metres high.

Lazing

An outdoor activity for those with too much time on their hands.

Metal detecting

You can often spot beach combers at Barry Island during the winter months. Sweeping their magic devices across the sand, they often come across great discoveries such as 2 pence coins, Fanta cans and hordes of Roman treasures.

Navigation

Back in the day, outdoor navigation relied on a map, a compass and a dose of good fortune. These days of course, we rely on GPS, Google maps and a dose of good fortune.

Orienteering

Orienteering is an outdoor sport where participants use the aforementioned map and a compass to reach a certain point on unfamiliar terrain at speed. It's a bit like doing a supermarket sweep in an unfamiliar superstore.

People watching

This is one outdoor activity that can be done at any time of the day, in any place in the world. Apart from places where there are no people, obviously.

Quad biking

Here in Wales, these four-wheeled bikes are best suited to the rugged terrain of the mountains and you'll often see farmers using them to round up their animals. In the Mediterranean, almost anyone can ride them almost anywhere they want.

Rafting

This is one of the more leisurely of the outdoor pursuits. All you need to do is sit in a big dinghy-type thing and float leisurely downstream, just avoiding any 40mph rapids and 50ft waterfalls where you can.

Survival

When you're in the Great Outdoors, your primal survival instinct kicks in. Your brain automatically starts figuring out where the next Starbucks is and how long you can go before you need another wee.

Tombstoning

Often seen during the summer months, tombstoning requires the participant to jump into the sea from a cliff or other high point. Points aren't awarded for entry into the water but you do need to get it right or you'll end up with broken legs or worse.

Undergrowth

If you are out exploring the countryside, beware of dangerous creatures hiding in the undergrowth. North Cardiff has a particular problem at this time of year with tigers, who sit and wait to pounce on unsuspecting passersby. Only last year, one woman was mauled by a huge tiger that leapt out from the undergrowth alongside the Taff Trail. Actually, it may have been a squirrel but don't let a few facts get in the way of a good story, eh?

Viewpoints

One of the great benefits of the great outdoors are the wonderful viewpoints you can come across on your travels. Stand there for a moment and take in the sheer beauty of what's before you. Look out over vales and valleys. Breathe in the fresh air. Take in a sunrise, or maybe a sunset; and tut at someone dumping an old mattress and speeding off in their Ford Mondeo.

very first windsurfer was no different and thus decided to attach a sail to his surfboard and see what happened. Windsurfers can move in almost any direction on the water, apart from about 45 degrees each side of the wind direction. They can also fall into the water, which is a common occurrence for those learning.

Xeriscaping

An outdoor landscaping method that employs drought-resistant plants and special techniques to conserve water. Useful for such tropical places as Llandaff North and Gabalfa.

Yoga

This is a bit like indoor yoga. Except it's outdoors. In fact, it's exactly like indoor yoga, except it's outdoors.

Zorbing

Who'd have thought that there was an outdoor pursuit beginning with the letter Z. But yes - there is! It's called zorbing and it's basically rolling down a hill inside a large (usually inflatable plastic) ball. You can do it on water too but it's more fun rolling down a hill at speeds of up to 30mph and not being able to stop yourself.

Windsurfing

Windsurfers are people who can't decide whether to go sailing or to become surfers. The world's