October Gazette and Diary by jenna hopkins

Gazette & Diary Magazine

£1.50 - where sold

The Autumn Issue October / November Issue 07 / 2011

INSIDE: YOUR FESTIVE FUN MAGAZINE 3 PAIRS OF TICKETS FOR CLOTHES SHOW LIVE TO BE WON

■ Style & Fashion ■ Home & Garden ■ Entertainment ■ Competitions ■ Local Events ... and much more ...

FREE

With Aberga the ve Chronic nny le

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The Autumn Issue

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October / November

Your new guide to the finer things in life

Welcome

In association with

The Abergavenny Chronicle

Here we are again we cant believe its already October! One minute you are relaxing in the sun and the next digging out your winter warmers and before you know it we will be putting the Christmas decorations up! No need to panic as we have our festive fun magazine free inside to help you get in the mood! So dust off your party shoes and get ready to enjoy the festive season. Also this month we have 3 pairs of tickets for our readers to win the chance of visiting the Clothes Show in Birmingham. We have a profile on visiting Herefordshire for all those who like to get out & about and much much more. Enjoy.

Inside...

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ADVERTISING: Jenna Hopkins ext 26 Hazel Walding - Advertising Manager For information on how to advertise in our next issue, contact: advertising@tindlenews.co.uk or telephone 01873 852187 ext 34

When you have finished reading the Gazette & Diary Magazine - please recycle it. PUBLISHING: Printed and distributed by NWN Media. www.nwnmedia.co.uk Mold Business Park, Wrexham Road, Mold, CH7 1XY.

Page 22 Top Art Student in the Country

▲ Page 26 The history of Halloween

▲ Page 28-29 Fun pages

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Page 07 Welcome to Herefordshire

John Gaulton john.gaulton@nwn.co.uk

GENERAL MANAGER - Mary Purcell

Page 05 Abergavenny Market Spotlight

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Page 17 ‘Just call me Michael’

DESIGNERS: Dave Simkiss dave.simkiss@nwn.co.uk

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Page 09 Herefordshire Food Festival

Page 31 Strictly fabulous, darling

At NWN Media we are committed to addressing the key environmental impacts of printing and the production process, and preserving the environment for future generations. Our environmental policy is achieved through continuous monitoring, annual targets and action plans. The sourcing of newsprint is a major environmental concern for publishers and we at NWN Media source our newsprint from UPM Kymmene in Deeside, utilising their 100% recycled paper, which is produced as a natural, renewable and recyclable fibre from sustainable, responsibly managed forests. UPM is committed to forest management and forest harvesting practices based on the internationally accepted principles of sustainable forest management. UPM Kymmene is just a mile from the press site, which also keeps carbon footprint to a minimum in the obtaining of our paper. All newsprint waste is taken back to UPMʼs site and fully recycled.

FAST FUEL IS HOLDING A

PRIZE DRAW Anyone ordering* between NOW and 11th November will be entered into a prize draw.

wherever you are Industrial /

The winning name will be drawn in Mid November and will receive a free delivery of 500 litres. A nice Christmas present from your trusted local fuel distributor.

Domestic

(*All orders must be of 500 litres or over)

■

Independent local firm with depots in Raglan and Bream ■ Fuel and tank specialists ■ Next day delivery

Fast Fuel is one of only two remaining independent fuel suppliers in Gwent, Monmouthshire and the Forest of Dean. We are dedicated to our local community; we sponsor the Raglan Youth and Senior football teams, Usk rugby club, The Welsh junior horse trials and an Abercarn Youth football team. We are always looking at ways to give back the support we receive from our local customers and we are grateful for any ideas. Fast Fuel has been under new management since July 2010 and we have made customer service our number one priority, and at this we are unbeatable! We still employ the same friendly drivers and office staff who are always free to give you advice on tank and fuel purchasing. We promote group buying with our Fast Club scheme. Consortium or collective purchasing is a sensible to way to save you and your neighbours money when buying fuel and we offer any advice needed to set up these schemes. We are Fast Fuel - committed to working for you.

Address: Grangemill Industrial Estate, Raglan NP15 2BX Telephone: 0800 093 8445 ● Fax: 01291 691401 Website: www.fast-fuel.co.uk ● Email: info@fast-fuel.co.uk ●

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Wiltshire Farm Foods - Taking care of mealtimes Wiltshire Farm Foods deliver delicious and nutritious frozen ready meals to homes in Abergavenny and the surrounding areas. Your local outlet in Monmouth is run by Brian and Sara Stringer, who together with their small friendly team, provide a caring and quality service to their customers. Wiltshire Farm Foods main meals are made to the highest of standards in our own kitchens in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, by head chef Phil Rimmer and his team of cooks. There is a choice of over 250 tempting meals and desserts which also cater for many special dietary needs including those suitable for diabetics, those requiring gluten free meals, lower fat requirements and an award winning Soft & Pureed range.

If you can’t decide which meals to choose then why not try one of our excellent selection packs offering a range of the most popular meals and desserts. Give us a call on 01600 892855, we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. All deliveries are made by your regular, friendly CRB checked driver, he can even pop the meals away in the freezer for you! For more information, to order a free full colour brochure, or to check when we deliver to your door, don’t hesitate to give us a ring on 01600 892855. Alternatively you can shop online at www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com.

Meals are simple to heat from frozen and can be ready in minutes in your microwave or oven. Order as often or as little as you like – every week or as a special treat, the choice is yours. Delivery is absolutely free and there is no minimum order. Whatever you choose, you can rest assured of the best of service at all times.

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Your new guide to the finer things in life

■ Chris Wise with his range of cheeses at Abergavenny market

Restaurant

Cross Ash, Abergavenny Tel: 0845 388 1861 Lunch - Tuesday to Sunday Dinner - Tuesday to Saturday

Abergavenny Market Spotlight Eating cheese was not part of Chris Wise’s culinary experiences during his youth, but over the years he has grown to love the taste and now runs a thriving stall at Abergavenny market. Chris explained that 17 years ago he teamed up with Nicky Hurst and her mother Jacqui who had already been running the stall for over a decade, after he had chosen to opt out of being an engineer for the British aviation industry. “This was the era when things were beginning to change in the food industry,” said Chris. “Up to then people were only interested in a limited range of cheeses, but now there is an abundance of cheeses from an assortment of manufactures both large, small and cottage industry. “I’ve always enjoyed cheese, but working in this environment has been an adventure of discovery. I personally like to eat some fruit like grapes and apples with my cheese when I relax at home especially if its washed down with a glass of wine. “Another favourite is Welsh Raebit, gorgeous melted medium cheddar with the essentials of lashings of Worcester sauce sprinkled on top along with a liberal helping of mustard seeds.” Operating from Abergavenny and Hay-on-Wye markets Chris has found that people want to sample a range of Welsh cheeses. “There are a lot of speciality cheeses around like the Mynydd Du from the Black Mountains to favourites like Caerphilly cheese, even though its not made in the town is still a popular choice.” Over the years people have told the team of stall holders what cheeses work best in certain recipes. “This is the great part about the job is the interaction with the public,” added Chris. Sometimes we get asked how best to use a cheese and we tell them what other customers have told us, its like a recipe swapping service. “While I try out all the cheeses we sell, my personal favourites are still stilton and cheddar and occasionally a variety comes along that remains at the top of my list for a while like Hafod, a Welsh organic cheese.” Chris uses a technology that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years to slice his cheese blocks - a simple wire cutter.

“We get our cheeses where possible direct from the manufacturer from across Wales and across the English border while cheeses from further afield are obtained from an international importer. During the interview a second customer came up and asked for the long forgotten school pudding of tapioca. Chris explained that supermarkets, driven by sales of popular ingredients, no longer stocked certain ranges. He added: “People still want what they like and if supermarkets no longer stock items that customers have been buying for years, but which no longer sells in enough quantity for them to be viable then its the role of market traders to fill this the gap.” The stall also stocks a range of whole foods including dried fruit, oats, nuts, seeds as well as a range of herbs and spices. Chris added: “In the last ten years health foods have become more popular as people become more aware of their diet. Television programmes have helped broadened people’s minds. “Abergavenny market is one of the friendliest trading areas and despite the economic down turn customers are loyal to all the stall holders.”

Fantastic meals created with fresh local produce, on a daily changing seasonal menu Simon & Kate King (Skenfrith Road NP7 8PB)

ABERGAVENNY

MARKET Situated in the middle of the town known as the Gateway to Wales, Abergavenny Tuesday Market is well known as one of the major markets in Wales.

MARKETS EVERY TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAYS

St. Mary’s Bakery

Farmers Market Thursday October 27th

Arts & Crafts Thursday 13th October

Antiques Fair Sunday 16th October

Outside Catering:

Crafts Fair

Delicious Finger Buffets for Birthdays, Christenings, Weddings, Funerals, Children’s Parties or business lunches. Whatever the Occasion we can put together a tasty selection of Sandwiches, Savouries, Fruits and confectionary to your specification. No matter how large or small the order, buffets start at just £3.75 per head. For more information pop into the bakery or call -

Saturday 8th October

Abergavenny: 01873 268183 St. Mary’s Bakery, 15 Frogmore St, Abergavenny ●

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Cool, calm and collected Scandinavian style is taking us by storm on all fronts, from TV programmes to decor. GABRIELLE FAGAN showcases design from Denmark and beyond

Make no mistake, the Scandinavians have designs on us – whether they’re keeping us glued to the TV with dark Danish crime series The Killing or winning us over to their stylish home furnishings. While a select few may wish to emulate the scruffy look of DS Sarah Lund (Sofie Grabol), who wears thick, knitted jumpers from the Faroe Islands, transforming rooms is easier and arguably more visually impressive. After all, what’s not to like about furniture that has timeless good looks and colour schemes and settings that seem to make the most of every inch of space and every ray of light? That’s the essence of cool, calm, sleek Scandi-

Porthmawr Country House & County Marquees

Wedding Fayre 16th October 11am to 4pm Porthmawr Country House, Brecon Road, Crickhowell, NP8 1DE

style. Those appealing qualities probably explain why we don’t seem to be able to get enough of it. “Scandinavians don’t like showing off so their style is understated and more about relaxing and enjoying your home than making it a showpiece,” says Anne Tiainen-Harris, founder of Cloudberry Living, which specialises in interior pieces and accessories by Scandinavian designers. “It’s all about simple, pure and calm beauty combined with a high degree of functionality. I think it’s hugely popular in Britain because space is very expensive here and Scandi-style helps create the illusion of space and airiness in any interior.” While connoisseurs may yearn for pieces by iconic designers such as Denmark’s Arne Jacobsen, whose Butterfly chair was famously straddled in the sixties by a naked Christine Keeler, or fellow countrymen including Henrik Pedersen and Verner Panton, most of us probably get our Scandi-fix at affordable Swedish homestore Ikea. Its popularity was highlighted by recent Mintel research which found that we buy almost 10 per cent of our furniture from its 18 UK stores even though some may be tempted to commit a crime against the authors of its flatpack instructions. Whether you’re already a Scandi convert or keen to make the switch, check out our style selection.

tel: 01291 629377 www.countymarquees.co.uk 06

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Explore Herefordshire

Welcome to Herefordshire With a wealth of of varied landscapes, places to see and fascinating history Herefordshire has more to offer than you think. Herefordshire, a county of unspoilt countryside, market towns of distinctive character and a wealth of varied landscapes from a historic City to fascinating villages. The bulk of the county comprises of fields, meadows, small mixed woodlands - with streams and rivers, bridleways, footpaths and small country roads . An agricultural economy based on fruit farming, hops, grain, cattle and sheep. In In Herefordshsire there’s plenty to do to blow the cobwebs away. Follow the Black & White Trail or the Cider Route. Visit historic houses, local museums, castle ruins - an evocative reminder of early border strife - or gardens ranging from the traditional cottage garden to formal gardens in a country house setting. Families are especially welcome in Herefordshire with a wealth of interesting places to visit and activities to enjoy. For other local events, see www.myherefordshire.com as well.

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Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival ● Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October 2011 Herefordshire is abundant in lush landscape, picturesque market towns and villages with black-and-white buildings, unique craftspeople and a strong focus on food producers of many kinds. The River Wye, which gives the Wye Valley its lustrous appeal, is a haven for activities and famous for its fishing of succulent salmon and trout. Dotted around the county you’ll find the most charming restaurants, pubs and tearooms doing creative things with what’s grown on their doorstep and many of these are about to find out if they have won a prestigious award in this year’s Flavours of Herefordshire Food Awards, to be announced the night before the Festival at a gala dinner. Coinciding with harvest time, the Festival itself celebrates all that is scrumptious about the county and almost 100 producers will be exhibiting their home-grown, artisan made fayre, giving you the chance to meet the makers, growers and chefs behind the county’s very best flavours. With the area being world famous for its Hereford cattle and cider, you can also meet some of this year’s newly presented regional food award winners, jubilant from their success. Sample their prepared produce, hot and cold, and stock

● 10am – 4.30pm

up your larders from the Food Pavilion and Farmers’ Market shopping areas. Get mouth-watering inspiration as you watch demonstrations in the live cookery theatres and feast your eyes and your palette on someone very special in the gourmet world – culinary genius and celebrity chef, Jean Christophe Novelli. Known as Britain’s favourite French chef, the 5 AA Rosette and Michelin star award winner will be presenting three live demonstrations each day of the festival. He will also be judging the sizzling Cook-off between the two finalists of the Young Chef awards category, which will add some real competitive spice to the day. No pressure! Apart from this, local chefs and winners of the Flavours of Herefordshire Food Awards will also be treating you to live sessions across the cookery theatres and showing everyone how to make the very best of the county’s glorious produce. This is bound to inspire you to hotfoot it down to the extensive onsite Food Pavilion and Farmers’ Market and buy some delicious fresh goodies for yourself. Purveyors of quality meats, sweet treats, savoury nibbles, vegetables, preserves and condiments, dairy goods, wines, beers and cider and juices are just a taste of the things on offer.

Throughout the whole weekend there will be children’s activities, interesting educational and informative talks from food groups and societies like honey makers, hop growers, apple projects from this year’s Year in the Orchard, Hereford Cattle society, plus many more and insights in to the actual processes used to obtain the best from the county’s crops and meats. Understand more about the provenance of Herefordshire food while you try and buy everything from bread to beverages, vegetables to sweet treats, fruit and meat packed full of the taste of home. Irresistible Street Food of various kinds will be on sale all day for when you get peckish and there will be areas to take a break and enjoy some refreshment. All in all it will be a fantastic weekend for the whole family and we look forward to seeing you.

Day Tickets: Adults £7, under 14s £4, under 3s Free. Concessions (over 65) £6, disabled helpers Free. Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £22. 2 Day Tickets: Adults £12, Under 14s £6, Concessions £10, Family Ticket £38 Guide Book in advance on 01432 273560 www.hereford-racecourse.co.uk or pay on the day. dogs only. For group booking of 20+ apply in advance on 01432 273560. ●

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But now a new book could help you connect with your childhood, boost your brainpower and remind your kids just how clever you are.

How much can you remember? Caroline has put together the following quiz from her book. If you score more than seven out of ten, go straight to the top of the class. Those with less than five, must try harder ■ I Used To Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School, by Caroline Taggart, is published by Michael O’Mara Books, priced £9.99. Available now.

Caroline Taggart is the author of I Used To Know That: Stuff You Forgot From School. She was inspired to put together the selection of oldschool facts by realising how much she just thought she knew - but when taken to task and asked to explain Pythagoras’ theorem, or name the world’s second tallest mountain, she realised she no longer could. She says: “When I started to write the book, I discovered two things. One, that everybody had been to school and, two, they had all forgotten completely different things." She includes, among others, chapters on English grammar and literature, Maths, Geography, History and Science - all the staples of the old

QUESTIONS 1. ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Explain the following: phrase, clause, subject, predicate, transitive verb, intransitive verb. 2. ENGLISH LITERATURE: Who wrote odes to Autumn and to a nightingale? 3. GEOGRAPHY: What’s the capital of Canada? 4. HISTORY: In Greek mythology, who is the goddess of love? 5. HISTORY: When was the American Civil War, between who, and what about? 6. CHEMISTRY: For which chemical elements are these the symbols: Fe, Au, P? 7. MATHS: What do you call a triangle whose sides are all the same length? 8. BIOLOGY: What is photosynthesis? 9. PHYSICS: Define ‘mass'. 10.GENERAL STUDIES: What are the Seven Wonders of the World?

ANSWERS

1. A phrase is a group of words (in a sentence) that does not contain a verb. A clause does contain a verb and may be a whole sentence or part of a sentence (when it is often called a subordinate clause). Sentences - and each clause of a sentence - can be divided into subject and predicate. The subject is the noun or noun phrase that the sentence is about, the thing that does the action expressed in the verb. The predicate is everything else. A verb may be transitive or intransitive which means it may or may not need a direct object to make sense. (Intransitive does not need an object).

water into the carbohydrates they need for growth, using energy that they absorb from light (hence the photo element). Light is absorbed into the plant by the green pigment called chlorophyll, stored mainly in the leaves, which provides the green colour of so many plants. In fact plants need only the hydrogen element from water (H20), so photosynthesis releases oxygen back to the atmosphere, helping the rest of us to breathe. ●

2. John Keats.

9. It is the quantity of matter a body contains. Newton defined it more precisely by bringing in inertia, which is ‘a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force'. All that means is that a thing will be still until you push it.

www.nuffieldhealth.com/herefordhospital

As you grow up, dealing with work, finances and the general management of life means that knowledge, like the order of the Plantagenet kings of England and how to calculate the square root of 12, can end up in a dusty unused mental cupboard.

Whatever you may have forgotten there are always ways to remember. As Caroline says: “It’s not like you’re learning from scratch as you know it’s in the back of your mind somewhere."

3. Ottawa.

How do I book? Simply contact the Customer Service Department on 01432 262502 to book your appointment, our experienced and professional Customer Service Advisors are on hand to answer any questions you may have and guide you through every step of the booking process.

Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital – Don’t just go private, go personal We are a small private hospital with just 20 en-suite bedrooms to ensure you are afforded the utmost privacy and comfort during your stay. We have a highly trained professional team of health care professionals to look after you and get you back to health as quickly as possible.

Probably not. As Homer Simpson from cartoon series The Simpsons once complained - “Every time I learn something new it pushes some old stuff out of my brain."

“The book is supposed to spark enthusiasm and is purely a bit of fun. But if it helps lend a hand with homework then so much the better," she says.

4. Aphrodite (half a mark for Venus, who is the Roman equivalent).

For all other clinics you will need to get a referral from your GP, you just need to ask at your appointment for a referral letter. Your GP will have a list of consultants that work at the hospital and they can refer you to any one of them within the speciality you require.

What do I do next? For more information or to book an appointment please contact the Customer Service Department on 01432 262502. The office is open from 8.30am to 7pm weekdays.

If someone asked you to name the planets of the solar system, could you still do so as confidently as you once did in class?

days of three Rs schooling.

5. 1861-1865. It was between the Federal government and eleven breakaway Confederate states who objected to the anti-slavery policies of Abraham Lincoln.

Do I need to see my GP first? Some clinics don’t require a GP referral – our Well Woman Clinic, Breast Screening Service and Sports Injury clinic are all directly bookable, which means that you don’t have to wait for a GP referral before booking.

Do I have to be insured to go private? No, there are various ways to pay for your treatment privately, you can either use private health insurance if you have it, you can pay yourself or we can offer a 0% finance loan option to spread the cost of your treatment.

But before you admonish your children for their failure to reel off historical dates, this summer holidays perhaps you should look at your own powers of retention.

10. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, The Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, The Colossus of Rhodes, The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, The Great Pyramid of Cheops (or Khufu). Score another point if you know that of the seven, only the Pyramid is still in existence.

It means that you, the patient, can book an appointment quickly and at a convenient time to you. You will be given clear information on treatments and pricing to ensure you have all the information you require to make a decision.

Why go private? You will get to see a Consultant of your choice at a time convenient to you. You will also get peace of mind in knowing the full cost of not only your first appointment, but also any further tests and treatment that may be necessary. You will also continue to see the same Consultant throughout from consultation to treatment and follow up.

As we battle with getting older, we like to think that with age comes wisdom. Many of us also like to complain that modern teaching methods fail to drum in the basics, and that in our day, facts were committed to memory.

6. Iron, gold, phosphorus.

What is rapid access? Rapid access hospital treatment has been developed specifically with patient affordability and accessibility in mind.

Well what d’ya know!

7. Equilateral. 8. The process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and

Rapid Access Clinics from Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital

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SAYMORE FURNISHERS... Your Local Furniture Specialist

OUR BEST SELLERS HAVE BECOME EVEN GREATER VALUE FOR MONEY! “PARIS” DIVAN SET WITH SPRUNG / MEMORY MATTRESS... STAR BUY

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OTHER SIZES AVAILABLE INCLUDING 4’0” / 120cm

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COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF CHAIRS AND SOFAS ON DISPLAY

“Woburn”... recliner chair by Celebrity with 5 year guarantee... ASSTD colours only TM

Normal Price £699.95 Now only £499.95

BEDROOM FURNITURE, SOFAS, SOFA BEDS, HEADBOARDS, OCCASIONAL FURNITURE

www.saymorfurnishers.co.uk Cantilupe Rd, Ross-on-wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7AN

Pictures for illustration purposes only

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Green Granny Knows Best She likes to “reuse, refuse and recycle”, has a wardrobe that is impeccable although its two decades old, walks to the supermarket to do her weekly shop and never, ever, lets any food go to waste. While it’s long been said that Granny always knows best, for Barbara Walmsley, Oxfam’s ‘Green Granny', nothing could be more true. The 73-year-old grandmother of 11 grew up under Second World War rationing and has lived her whole life “using everything [she] possibly can” - making her a perfect font of knowledge for people looking for top tips on cutting costs and living a greener lifestyle. The former schoolteacher was chosen by Oxfam to be the face of its ‘Green Granny’ campaign two years ago and her green tips quickly became a global internet sensation. Now, along with Oxfam, she’s written a new book, Make, Mend, Bake, Save And Shine, to further help people reduce their carbon footprint by making things last as long as they can. Filled with tips on everything from mending clothes to shopping for seasonal bargains, the book is aimed at helping people make a difference, explains the white-haired gran from her home in Cookham, Berkshire. “People in the developing countries are not looking to wait to see what impact climate change is having on their lives: it’s here and now, with floods, evacuations and famine, so the message is that the more we can reduce our carbon footprint our end, the more we can help.” Walmsley’s message isn’t a new one. Loads of books already exist on the subject - most far more laden with factoids than

her own - but it’s Walmsley herself that sells the ideas. Her tone is light and friendly, her demeanor warm and chatty - making her green tips more of a recommendation than a scolding. The mother of six was awarded an MBE nine years ago for her charity work and has raised more than £178,000 for Oxfam by fasting every year in November for the past 24 years.

GREEN GRANNY’S TOP IDEAS: ■ Cut out meat for just one meal a week and try a vegetarian dish

instead - you could save £500 a year.” ■ A quarter of all trips in the car are to destinations less than two

miles away. Try walking the children to school, or doing the shopping by foot, instead ■ The average family throws away £650 worth of food each year.

Use those leftovers in stews or try www.notbeansagain.com for recipe ideas ■ Save a stale loaf of bread by running it quickly under the tap,

then baking it, to give it a fresh new taste ■ Don’t chuck out old clothes. Try customising them, such as

adding colourful braids to skirt hemlines for a ‘gypsy’ feel, or have a clothes swap with friends instead

This year, her ‘silver anniversary’, she hopes to raise the stakes a bit more - and plans on wearing a silver wig to make her “look special and noticeable”. She also started Oxfam’s bridal exchange from her back bedroom, which now has 13 shops across the UK. Being green isn’t really a matter of following rules, she says, so much as a way of life. “People always want to know what my ‘top tips’ are, but the most important one is to think,” she says. “Think before you turn the tap on - how much water do you really need? Think before you buy something - how much do you really need it? That’s really the trick to green living.”

WHAT U WANT - WHEN U WANT

01633 214710 Budget accounts available Boiler Service available web: www.stephensfueloil.co.uk 16

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Your new guide to the finer things in life

‘Just call me Michael’ Sir Michael Caine talks about the triumphs and turkeys of his career, loosening ties with Hollywood and how becoming a grandfather has changed his life Sir Michael Caine arrives at the five-star Chelsea hotel a stone’s throw from his London flat with a baseball cap shading his eyes and a new growth of white beard covering his chin.

Caine has made more than 100 films during his career and doesn’t try to avoid the fact that a good proportion of them have been turkeys think The Swarm, Ashanti and Beyond The Poseidon Adventure.

But when he opens his mouth, the Cockney accent is as recognisable as it was when he uttered that immortal line in The Italian Job.

“If you make a lot of movies, you make a lot of turkeys," he shrugs. “I was the first generation of actors whose films you remembered. If you look at John Wayne or Clark Gable they did 140 movies each, but if I asked you to name 10, you’d have a problem.

At 77, most pensioners might be going off for their afternoon nap, but not Caine, who strides towards his suite with the vigour of someone 20 years younger. Fitness, he says, is allimportant if he wants to make the most of his time with his three young grandchildren. He’s here to discuss his second autobiography, The Elephant To Hollywood, published 18 years after his first memoir, What’s It All About? At that time he thought his acting career was over and that the first book would round off his professional life. “I’d finished with the movies. Producers didn’t know what to do with me. I wasn’t Grandad, but in my late 50s I was too old to be seducing girls of 25," he reflects. He didn’t realise what events lay in store, including winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in The Cider House Rules in 1999, 13 years after he had won the same accolade for Hannah And Her Sisters. There have been many more successful movies since that first autobiography: Little Voice, for which he won a Bafta, critical acclaim for his roles in The Quiet American and, more recently, Harry Brown, for which he returned to his roots in the rough estates of south east London. As he became older, his career was revitalised with a string of father figure roles, as the paternal butler, Alfred, in the Batman series and playing Nicole Kidman’s dad in Bewitched.

Caine remains a down-to-earth soul who seems to know everyone who has ever been anyone in the movie business, loves talking about Hollywood and the extraordinary twists of fate in his career, but has no airs or graces. He was knighted in 2000, but doesn’t expect anyone to stand on ceremony for him. “Being knighted was the greatest honour I’ve ever received, but I don’t make people call me Sir. It’s for me alone. Everyone calls me Michael." The latest book goes over some well-trodden ground including his humble beginnings as Maurice Micklewhite, born in London’s povertystricken Elephant and Castle to a charlady and a Billingsgate porter.

Caine credits much of his happiness to his Indian wife, former model Shakira. He saw her in a coffee advert in 1973, thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, found out that she lived only a mile from his flat and soon obtained her number. They married in Las Vegas later that year and have been together ever since. “I was 38 when I met Shakira and knew she was the one. She was the most beautiful woman in the world, and still is. We’ve always gone on location together. I didn’t want to be apart from her." If movie work dwindles, he wants to write a crime novel although it won’t be a literary masterpiece, he stresses. But he’ll carry on with films if the roles are challenging and different. “I don’t want to go out and play a Cockney guy

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It’s filled with anecdotes of his movie career, his big breaks in Zulu and Alfie, as Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File and as the ageing professor in Educating Rita, his encounters with the rich and famous, from The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Brigitte Bardot to Laurence Olivier, Sidney Poitier, Jude Law, Scarlett Johansson and other stars both at home and across the pond. Today, the acting jobs are still coming in, although he doesn’t take on as much because he’s enjoying home and family life so much, and is absolutely smitten with his three young grandchildren, Taylor, two, and one-year-old twins Miles and Allegra.

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The Importance of Having Your Gas Boiler Serviced

Top 10 health tips for Winter

The current global recession has meant that the majority of people have had to try to find ways to cut spending, tighten their belts and carefully budget to manage money.

2. The second health tip is Mustard, Ginger & Cayenne powder added to your bath. Add ½ to 1 tablespoon of this mixture to running bath water. This remedy is especially helpful to those suffering with colds and flu. The diaphoretic (sweating) action of these warming herbs can also balance the circulation. (In other circumstances, they are also valuable for ‘sweating out’ a fever.)

During this time of financial hardship, it can be very tempting to cut costs that are not seen as priority or urgent. For example, many people may consider delaying or postponing their annual gas boiler check, in a bid to save money. However, making such a decision could end up costing you more money in additional boiler repairs, not to mention, put you and your family’s health and safety at risk.

3. A great health tip always - Exercise. Gentle or otherwise (especially ‘Cardio vascular’ stimulants such as running, skipping, swimming) gives a boost to the circulation, Immune System and body temperature. 4. Drink Ginger Root Tea. Ginger Root tea is a great winter warmer. Ginger is slow acting but it’s warming effects tend to last longer than the powerful initial ‘hit’ that Cayenne gives. Ginger teas can be found in your local supermarkets in convenient tea bags. However, using the fresh root (found in all good supermarkets) grated, gently simmered for 5-10 minutes and strained, makes a superior and costeffective tea, if you’ve got the time to make it.

Your annual gas boiler check ensures that your boiler is running efficiently and safety. Although modern gas boilers are generally reliable and considered safe, there is always the possibility of a leak – and we are all well aware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Further more, having a Gas Safe registered reliable tradesman check and perform your annual gas boiler maintenance, will ensure that any components that are dirty, or any deposits that have built up, can be cleaned. Also, the engineer will be able to check pressure and

general running of your boiler, all of which will make your boiler run more efficiently, thus saving you money on your annual gas bill. Annual gas boiler checks may not be cheap – costing from £50 upwards. So, consider taking out a boiler maintenance insurance policy. Many policies will allow you to pay a monthly fee and include regular check ups. Having a boiler insurance policy will also give you piece of mind, knowing that the engineer sent to check your boiler is correctly qualified and attended an accredited gas training course.

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5. Add a pinch of Cayenne powder to food and drink. Cayenne Pepper is available in powder from all good supermarkets. Just a pinch or even a few grains mixed into foods and drinks will increase body temperature and blood circulation. If used regularly, you will get more used to it, and you will gradually be able to use more and more of this fine herb. 6. A cold weather health tip is to make sure your ankles and wrists are always well covered. If these sensitive areas of the body are exposed to the cold, your hands and feet will naturally become colder too, and your whole body is soon affected. Cover them well. 7. Use multiple layers of clothing. In cold weather, layered clothing is essential. At least three layers should be worn. The layer closest to your skin should be very warm, but soft and comfortable such as thermal underwear, longjohns etc. Next, comes a padded or cushioned layer which is quite thick e.g.

October / November

woollen jumper or fleeced jumper. This traps air which is a great insulator. Finally, the outer layer which helps to keep the insulating air within the middle layer. This outer layer needs to be appropriate to your situation a light jacket for inside, or waterproof jackets and trousers of some sort if outside. 8. Maximise your chances of keeping warm by always wearing your ‘winter set'. Q: What is a ‘winter set'? A: Hat, Scarf and Gloves. A high percentage of heat is lost via your head, so, wearing a hat will minimise this loss. Your throat is the easiest pathway for bacteria and viral infections to enter the body. Your immune cells work more efficiently at higher temperatures. This is the reason why your body produces a fever during infections and why it is a mistake to try and lower the fever with aspirin (unless it gets dangerously high.) So keep your neck and throat warm with a scarf. If your hands are cold then the rest of your body will eventually feel very cold. Improving blood circulation will help to keep extremities warm. 9. Eat warming foods. This covers a large spectrum of foods. There are the hot foods which give a napalm blast but then the warming effects are over fairly quickly. For example, Chilli con carne; Vindaloo; Mexican tacos; Chilli sauce; Tabasco sauce; Horseradish sauce etc. More gentle but longer lasting warming foods would include Porridge oats; all winter root vegetables i.e. swede, turnip; Garlic; Ginger; Onions; Barley; Soups; Stews/Casseroles; Raw foods (this may seem strange, but more heat is produced through digesting raw foods then eating cooked foods). 10. Keep your Kidneys warm. Your Kidneys are in the small of your back just underneath your rib cage. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Kidneys hold the life force the ‘chi’ of the human body. Therefore these small but crucial organs need much care and attention which for the most part is rarely undertaken by their owners! The Kidneys are related to the Winter element, and Water. They are involved in rheumatism or arthritis and weakness in the knees or ankles. Keep warm!

Clocks move backwards one hour Sunday 30 October 02:00 BST** (01:00 GMT ) As the UK will be on BST (British Summer Time), we will change our clocks at 2 am on Sunday 31 October. What time do the clocks change? The clocks are always changed at 01:00 GMT (02:00 BST). ■ In the Autumn (October), as we are on BST (British Summer Time) before the clocks change, we change the clocks at 02:00. ■ In the Spring (March) we are already on GMT so change the clocks at 01:00

Protect yourself against the rising cost of energy and gain a fantastic income

1. First health tip: Skin brush every morning on awaking to feel re-invigorated. Skin brushing improves blood circulation and lymphatic circulation. Not only increasing body temperature but also improving general immunity.

When is the UK on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)? November to the end of March ■ At 2 am (01:00) GMT on the last Sunday in October, clocks move back by one hour for the end of British Summer Time. (We move our clocks back one hour from 2am to 1am) When is the UK on British Summer Time (BST)? April to the end of October ■ At 1 am (01:00) GMT on the last Sunday in March we move our clocks forward by one hour for the start of British Summer Time. ■ Summer time is from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October.

Why do we change our clocks? We’ve been changing our clocks forwards and backwards in the UK since 1916. It’s all to do with saving the hours of daylight, and was started by a man called William Willett, a London builder, who lived in Petts Wood in Kent (near our school). William Willett first proposed the idea of British Summer Time in 1907 in a pamphlet entitled ‘The Waste of Daylight'. Willett had noticed that the summer mornings light was wasted while people slept, and that the time would be better utilised in the afternoon by putting the clocks forward. After campaigning for years the British Government finally adopted the system a year after Willett’s death. When do other countries change their clocks? ■ European Union - Most countries change their clocks on the last Sundays of March and October. ■ North America and most of Canada on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. ■ Egypt, Namibia and Tunisia are the only African countries who observe daylight saving. ■ New Zealand and parts of Australia are the only countries in Oceania that currently put their clocks forwards and backwards.

Your new guide to the finer things in life

St. John’s-on-the-Hill School and Day Nurseries Opportunity is a key word at St. John’s-onthe-Hill School and Day Nurseries. At St. John’s we believe that education is much more than academic achievement.

us at the end of Year 8 do so with a scholarship to the school of their choice, testimony to our ability to prepare children fully for entry to a number of leading independent senior schools.

Widely recognised by experts, the importance of a rounded experience provides a positive and useful education. We embody this ethos at St. John’s ensuring all children in our care are given the best possible start to provide for the best possible future.

St. John’s welcomes children of all abilities and offers a range of scholarships, including Forces Bursaries and means-tested bursaries (up to 100%) to ensure that a wide spectrum of youngsters can enjoy the benefit of an independent preparatory school education.

With two Day Nurseries in Chepstow and one in Newport, the continuing programme of investment in nursery facilities reflects St. John’s commitment to providing even the youngest children with the best possible start. The approach to childcare in all three Nurseries is simple; that all children are different and so their needs and capabilities must be fostered and nurtured to develop and build individual success. Children from 3 months to pre-school age are cared for in a gentle and relaxed environment by a fully qualified team of experienced and friendly staff. The St. John’s philosophy is to ensure that all children achieve their full potential and all activities are through play in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum for learning. Children at all three St. John’s Nurseries are

guaranteed a place in the Pre-Prep Department at St. John’s in Tutshill, where they continue to learn in a number of different ways. They learn to swim in St. John’s own swimming pool. They learn to dance and act in the hall of the pre-prep and theatre of the Main School. They learn to count, read, use a computer and design as part of everyday school life. They learn about nature in the beautiful school grounds, but above all else, as family values are an integral part of life at St. John’s they learn how to grow up in a caring, sharing way by watching the older pupils who have already benefited from a wide variety of challenging and exciting activities; with the support of enthusiastic teachers, teaching small and manageable classes. Boarding is an intrinsic part of life at St. John’s. We aim to make boarding a rich and rewarding time for children, enabling them to form close friendships and develop independence, selfdiscipline and responsibility for themselves and

others within a friendly, family-based boarding community. The atmosphere in the boarding house is homely and welcoming. Children learn to live, work, share and play together, learning how to grow up being kind and considerate to others.

The next Open Morning takes place in Tutshill, Chepstow on Saturday 12th November from 9.30am – 12 noon. Visitors are also welcome at other times, including Saturday mornings by appointment.

We are experienced in dealing with service children, overseas children and as a fully coeducational school the environment is ideal for siblings.

If you would like further details, please contact Mrs Anne Etchells, Registrar on 01291 622045. E-mail: registrar@stjohnsonthehill.co.uk or visit the website: www.stjohnsonthehill.co.uk

A full programme of activities and trips is on offer for the many boarders who choose to remain at St. John’s throughout the term. We aim to discover and develop individual talents, whether they are creative, intellectual or athletic so that children leave St. John’s at the end of Year 8, fully prepared for the next stage of their education. Our senior school scholarship record speaks for itself. More than half of the children who leave

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Studio 49 Photography offer relaxed and informative Photographic tuition

All the courses are taught by Michael Taylor who, as well as being the Photographer at Studio 49, is an experienced & qualified tutor for Coleg Gwent, Coleg Powys and Glamorgan University Outreach Community Projects. He also works as an on-line tutor for the ‘Institute of Professional Photography’ training courses.

Each course is open to a maximum of 2 students at a time at a cost of £90 per person. All levels can be catered for, whether you’re new to digital photography or want to improve your existing skills. We try to get out of the studio, weather dependent, and take advantage of the amazing scenery so local to us. As the nature of the teaching offered is a

bespoke service, specific course structures are best discussed prior to the lesson. Vouchers make an excellent gift idea for the budding photographer!

Please contact for more information, or visit the Studio during the Open Day on Saturday 29th October between 2.30 and 5.30pm where you can also take advantage of the deals on offer.

Any spare weekends? Powys & Monmouthshire Short Break carers needed We need you to provide occasional overnight weekend stays for children and young people with learning and / or physical disabilities. Whilst experience and qualifications are not essential a passion for working with young people is. In return, we offer: ▲ ▲ ▲

financial allowances 24-hour support preparation and training

To find out more please contact:

Action for Children Telephone: 01633 270422 (main office) Email: taith.newydd@actionforchildren.org.uk

www.actionforchildren.org.uk Registered charity nos. 1097940/SC038092/company no. 4764232 Produced by Action for Children 04/2011. 10/11 0538

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Welcome to Llandovery College At Llandovery College, our pupils are thriving in an environment where they are encouraged to be the very best they can be. Teaching here extends well beyond the classroom; the school is kept deliberately small, creating a close community where every child is valued. From day one, boarding and day pupils embark upon a journey where values, respect, intellectual curiosity, emotional maturity and interpersonal skills are every bit as important as the primary aim of academic excellence.

classrooms will be fitted with up-to-theminute interactive Smart Boards. Music, drama and the arts flourish at Llandovery College. The ‘can-do’ spirit creates a sense of adventure perfect for our thriving Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme which foster vital life skills of leadership, responsibility, team work, consideration and endurance. When it comes to sport, our reputation for first class rugby is unparalleled: 45 full internationals have passed through the College gates and the school boasts two current British Lions, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell and George North in its Alumni.

Our academic results are impressive – This year a record 60 per cent of students achieved A*-B grades at A Level with 41per cent gaining the highest grades at GCSE. Llandovery College pupils continue to score exceptionally well in Maths, English and Science as well as History, Welsh and Chinese.

These three stars shone through when they scored the only three tries in the World Cup warm up against Argentina recently! Added to this, in a single year, an incredible 24 students played at national level in more than 17 sports.

From this September, Llandovery College is investing in the future of every pupil with a significant commitment to IT. Every pupil in College will be provided with a Samsung netbook, fully equipped with the latest software required to enhance their whole learning experience. Added to this, all

Come and see the school in action by visiting us on our Open Morning, Saturday September 15th at 9.30am. Call our Admissions Department on 01550 723 005 or email admissions@llandoverycollege.com to register.

Top Art Student in the Country Hereford Cathedral School Sixth Former, Chloe Gilbert, was celebrating last week at becoming one of UK’s top A-Level Art students. Chloe, the former HCS Deputy Head of School, recorded an astonishing 100% in her Fine Art A-Level, whilst also achieving a year earlier 100% in her AS-Level Fine Art. Across the four Fine Art papers she never dropped below an 100% pass rate. The former Greenhill School (Pembrokeshire) student also received an ‘A*’ in the History of Art Course after achieving 100% on one paper and 96% on the other. Her other A-Level, English Literature, witnessed an ‘A’ grade. These grades have meant that Chloe Gilbert will now start at Worcester College, Oxford University, reading History of Art from October. The nationally recognised HCS Art Department has also, again, found itself as one of the top Art Departments in the

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country, with a staggering 75% of all A-Level candidates achieving an ‘A*’ grade, and 92% achieving either an ‘A*’ or ‘A.’ In 8 of the last 10 years, HCS has had one of the top A-Level Art Students in the UK. Chloe Gilbert, Hereford Cathedral School student said: “I am delighted with my A-Level grades, and look forward to starting at Oxford University during October.” “HCS and the Art Department have been fantastic for me and made all the difference to my studies. I can not thank them enough for all that they have done.” Paul Smith, Hereford Cathedral School’s Headmaster said: “I am trilled for Chloe and her family. Chloe has been an exemplarily student for the school and it is fantastic that all her hard work has been rewarded. I wish her all the best for her future studies at Oxford University.

October / November

To register for our Open Morning, please contact tel: 01550 723005 • e-mail: admissions@llandoverycollege.com HMC Co-educational Boarding and Day School 4 - 18 www.llandoverycollege.com ●

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Gazette & Diary Magazine:

St. David’s Foundation Hospice Care Bringing Care Home – to all who need us St. David’s Foundation Hospice Care was established in 1979 and provides FREE community-based hospice care to people with cancer and other life threatening illnesses living within South East Wales. Last year we cared for nearly 3000 patients and their families, providing patients with real choices about where they receive their care. Our History: In 1979, Heulwen Egerton, a nurse tutor at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital set up the ‘Gwent Hospice Project Group.’ The group was made up of like-minded individuals who were concerned at the lack of palliative care available to the people of Gwent. From our first year of operation, when St. David’s cared for six patients, St. David’s has grown to become the UK’s largest provider

of hospice at home care, caring for over 2600 patients and families every year, at a cost over £4.6 million. Our Mission Statement To provide and continue to develop a free and comprehensive palliative care service of excellence throughout the unitary authorities of Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen and Monmouthshire for people, their families and carers facing a progressive lifethreatening illness which is no longer curable. This service recognises the need of the whole person and is given in cooperation with other agencies. To provide an educational resource using the special expertise and skills of the Foundation. To ensure that the resources are made available for the provision of the above services.

Our Services: ● Clinical Nurse Specialists, working in 4 locality-based teams ● Hospice at Home, 24-hour nursing care ● Rapid Response nurses ● Social Workers ● Welfare Benefits Advisers ● Bereavement Support ● Specialist Children’s Service – Unicorn Project ● Complementary Therapists ● Day Hospice Care ● Resource Centres ● On-Call Service outside normal office hours ● Education Team Do you feel we may be able to help you and your family? Please contact your GP and ask for a referral to be made www.stdavidsfoundation.co.uk Registered Charity No. 1010576

Did you know? 17% of our patients, that’s over 500 people each year, are suffering from a noncancer diagnosis such as cardiac failure, renal disease and dementia. We are indebted to the support of local people as it costs St. David’s Foundation over £5.5 million each year to provide our ‘free’ services, and we receive less than 20% of this funding from the NHS.

Tel: 01633 271364 Fax: 01633 272593 www.stdavidsfoundation.co.uk E-mail: enquiries@stdavidsfoundation.co.uk • fundraising@stdavidsfoundation.co.uk St. David’s Foundation Hospice Care, Cambrian House, St John’s Road, Newport, NP19 8GR

St. Davidʼs Foundation Hospice Care

Castle to Castle Walk

WIN TICKETS TO CLOTHES SHOW LIVE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SUZUKI! Following the route of one of Britainʼs most scenic canals we challenge you to take part in our 22 mile castle to castle walk

Sunday 30 October 2011

Clothes Show Live, the UK’s biggest fashion and beauty event returns for its 23rd year with even more fashion, beauty and shopping than ever from the 2-7 December at Birmingham’s NEC. With hundreds of leading fashion and beauty brands, non-stop catwalk shows, hair and beauty demonstrations, leading industry experts and the UK’s favourite celebrities - it’s the ultimate girls’ day out. And what’s more, you could be going for free. Clothes Show Live in association with Suzuki is giving 3 lucky winners a pair of tickets to this years show! (valid for Friday 2nd December only) Whether looking for the latest, cutting edge fashion; glamorous catwalk shows featuring not-yet-seen designer collections; the perfect opportunity to pamper and relax; AND much much more – this year’s Clothes Show Live is bigger and better than ever.

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Start: Abergavenny Castle (22 miles) ● Start: Goytre Wharf (15 Miles) Start: Star Inn, Mamhilad (11 miles) ● Start: B & Q, Cwmbran (5 miles) Sponsored by

For your chance to win this amazing prize, just answer this simple question: What is the name of the male celebrity pictured above? Send you answer, along with your name and address to: Clothes Show Live Competition. 13 Nevill Street. Abergavenny. NP7 5AA

Registered Charity No. 1010576

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St. Davidʼs Foundation Hospice Care For further information, please call 01633 271364, email fundraising@stdavidsfoundation.co.uk or visit www.stdavidsfoundation.co.uk

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Supported by

Answer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................

Head to clotheshowlive.com for full details Clothes Show Live in association with Suzuki and The Dance Show take place at Birmingham’s NEC, from 2-7 December 201. Tickets are available online now at clothesshowlive.com or by calling the box office on 0844 581 1256.

Your new guide to the finer things in life

Small really can be beautiful Gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh offers tips to help you transform a small garden into a haven to escape the city grind

“Keep it simple,” he advises. “You can make it interesting without it being fussy. Have clean lines and interesting angles. “Consider if it’s worth having a lawn at all. Bear in mind if it’s going to be big enough to be able to sit on and to be able to mow.

” Water is also a good design feature to bring into a small garden because the reflective surface anchors the sky and allows light into your garden.

OCTOBER SPECIAL YOUR EYE TEST FOR £10

“The reflective powers of a plain sheet of water are great and you can make a rill (formal canal of water) or a stream in the tiniest of gardens and it’s wonderful in bringing light in.” ■ Alan Titchmarsh How To Garden series, published by BBC Books, priced £6.99 each. Available now.

With this Voucher (usually £20) ✁

“Can you manoeuvre a lawn mower around it and easily dispose of the clippings? If the answer’s no to all of this, then go for a different surface, whether it’s gravel or paving or decking.”

“Don’t feel that everything has to be squat, or you’ll end up with what looks like a tray of scones. Allow yourself one, two or three architectural plants.

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“You’ll need less colour in a smaller garden. What’s more important is structure, form and perspective. Highlight the colour by giving it a good green background with foliage. Use colour more sparingly and it can still be effective.” Just because you have a small garden doesn’t mean you always have to go for dwarf plants, he adds.

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Abergavenny 67 Frogmore Street Telephone 01873 859898

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If you have a small garden you need to plan carefully to ensure it meets your individual needs, says TV gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh, whose new book, Small Gardens, offers a wealth of tips on how to make the most of even the tiniest plot.

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which can be pruned to appear tree-like in outline are perfect structural plants for small gardens. Colour won’t need to be so prevalent in a small plot.

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Even the smallest outside space can be made into an oasis of calm, a bolthole where you can unwind or entertain during the summer evenings.

Seating is likely to be the biggest priority, he observes. “Look at your plot to find out where the path of the sun is because the most important thing for most people in the garden is where they sit. “Work out the place that will be most convenient, whether you want to sit in the sun or the shade. You may need your patio to be at the bottom of the garden rather than next to the house.

Zumba with Maggie

“Always make the seating area bigger than you think you’ll need because once you put a table and four chairs out there and you’ve pulled them out you don’t want to be falling over the edge.” There are ways to make a small garden look bigger, he adds. Hiding your boundary with plants can increase the sense of space, while placing a small statue at the end of a narrow path will make the distance seem greater because your eyes want to believe the statue is life size. “Allow yourself some space. A blend of open and enclosed spaces will enable you to blur the boundaries and make your small garden seem more spacious.” Focal points are also important and a few large features are better than many small ones in a small space, says Titchmarsh. “Don’t think that because you’ve got a small garden you can’t have anything of stature. Tall plants are fine as long as they’re not spreading out too much or shading the garden or filling it with lots of foliage.

More than Three years experience, come join the fun. Monday: 6.00pm

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Tuesday: 5.30pm and 6.25pm Llanfoist Fawr primary school Abergavenny

£10 discount

Wednesday: 6.15pm Llanfoist Fawr primary school Abergavenny

when taking a month’s course on your first visit usual price £17 per week or £49 per month

Thursday: 5.30pm Deri view primary school Abergavenny

• Successful, tried and tested method

Thursday: 7.00pm

• Consultations with fully qualified Doctors

old school community center Gilwern

• Continued support

Saturday: 11.00am

• Works equally as well for men

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ALBANY CLINICS NEWPORT 01633 243533 PONTYPRIDD 01443 400391

”Small trees, neat evergreens and shrubs

St Hilda’s church Griffithstown Pontypool

Contact Maggie : 07815 143202 ●

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Gazette & Diary Magazine:

The history of Halloween

KEITH HOCKEY PLUMBING AND HEATING SERVICES & BUILDING SERVICES

TEL: 07960 442755

The festival of Halloween in the UK is over 2000 years old, dating back to the time of the Celts (600 BC-50 AD).

year. In addition, when peeling an apple, the longer the unbroken length of peel, the longer you would be destined to live.

The Celts celebrated the end of summer and the gathering in of the harvest with a festival called ‘Samhain', which took place on the night of 31 October. Even then, this date had links with ghosts and the spirit world, as on this night the Celts believed that the boundaries between our world and the next would weaken, allowing the souls of dead to cross over and communicate with the living.

Following the invasion of the Romans in 43 AD, two Roman festivals came to be celebrated at the same time as Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day when the Romans commemorated the passing of the dead.

A large part of the celebration involved the building of huge bonfires, which were thought to welcome friendly spirits and ancestors, but ward off those considered dangerous. People would dress up in animal heads and skins, and burn sacrifices and gifts in thanks for the harvest. Samhain was also a time for divination and the telling of fortunes. Apples feature widely in these divination techniques. For example, when bobbing for apples, a tradition that still survives until today, the first person to take a bite out of an apple would be the first to marry that

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The second was a day in which they honoured Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit trees who was symbolized by the apple. The Romans were very open to the cultures of people they invaded, and they sought to merge their beliefs with those of the indigenous Celts. It is perhaps easy to see why these two festivals became linked closely with Samhain. Christianity had spread into Celtic lands by the 800s and the Christian church appears to have practiced its usual policy of adopting pagan celebrations by converting Halloween into a Christian observance. By moving the old Christian festival of All Saints Day to 1 November, however, they maintained the link with remembering the dead.

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October / November

On All Saints Day, a mass was held to honour the saints and martyrs, and this was preceded on the day before (All Hallow’s Eve or Eve of All Saints - in Old English, hallow meant holy) by an overnight vigil. According to the early Christian church, this day also marked the release from purgatory of all souls for 2 days. All Souls Day, which commemorated the faithful departed, followed on 2 November. Together, the three festivals - the Eve of All Saints, All Saints Day and All Souls Day - became known as Hallowmass. The custom of ‘trick-or-treating', today a large part of Halloween celebrations, could possibly have part of its roots in the tradition of the baking of soul cakes. This was an important feature of All Souls’ Day (similar to the way we associate hot cross buns with Good Friday today), when beggars would wander from house to house, receiving gifts of food and money. In return for a soul cake, these ‘soulers’ would be expected to say prayers for those who had recently died, to speed up their passage through purgatory and into heaven. The ‘trick’ part of the custom appears to have arisen in the USA in the 1930s, where Halloween became to be associated with the playing of pranks and jokes. Although the Church was successful in

establishing Hallowmass as a Christian festival, many of the populace continued to practice the ancient customs and traditions linked with Samhain. With the reformation of the Church in the 16th century, celebrations of this sort were discouraged even more. However, following the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 many traditional Halloween practices, especially the building of bonfires, were transposed to 5 November (now known as Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night). Although in England the celebration of Halloween gradually fell out of fashion in favour of Bonfire Night, the tradition was maintained for longer in both Ireland and Scotland, because of the strong Celtic links in these countries. The resurgence in the celebration of Halloween that we have seen over the past 20 years or so, with its emphasis on dressing up as ghosts and witches, has largely been imported from the USA. Halloween and its more pagan traditions were first brought to the USA in the mid1800s, when huge numbers of Irish immigrants fled to the USA following the Irish Potato Famine. Over time, the festival and its traditions evolved and crossed back over the Atlantic - giving us the celebration that we know and love (or hate!) today.

Your new guide to the finer things in life

Pumpkin Carving Patterns We all love to let the kids design their perfect triangular eyed and one-tooth mouthed pumpkins but as they get older they’re starting to want fancier designs on their Halloween masterpieces. While you can muddle through some of the simpler designs with serrated knives, tablespoons and a small nail, you’ll be well served investing in some pumpkin carving tools if you plan on attempting some of the more detailed designs. Pumpkin carving sets are quite easy to find at the right time of year at your local store, home and garden store or even on-line.

Instructions: Prepare your pumpkin by: ★ Cut a hole in the top for the lid. Make sure you angle the saw inwards so your lid sits on top of the pumpkin and doesn’t just fall through ★ Scoop out the seeds and strings with a spoon ★ Scrape some of the flesh from the inside so your pumpkin is about an inch thick all the way around (or at least wherever you’ll be carving). You can poke a straight pin through it to estimate the thickness ★ Push a nail through the pumpkin skin where you want to start carving. ★ Turn and push until it’s all the way into the pumpkin, then remove. ★ Repeat anywhere you’re going to need to start carving (eyes, nose, etc).

Materials: ★ Pumpkin ★ Printer and paper ★ Spoon or pumpkin scoop ★ Small nail or pumpkin poker ★ Serrated knife or pumpkin saw (the more complicated the pattern, the more you’re going to want a pumpkin saw)

★ You want to do all the pushing before you start carving because it take some pressure (once you start carving, the pumpkin becomes weaker and applying pressure may cause it to break) ★ Using your nail hole as a starting point, cut the design with your serrated knife or saw. ★ start somewhere in the center of the design to keep from putting too much pressure on areas already carved ★ Use a sawing motion to cut out your design, using very light pressure… take your time and allow the sawing to do the work rather than applying pressure and forcing it. ★ When making curves, just slightly turn the saw. When making sharp corners, remove the saw and re-insert it at an angle. ★ To remove pieces, push them out from the inside. For larger pieces, you may want to cut them into smaller bits and remove them in sections. ★ Once your pumpkin is all set, use a pumpkin light (safer than a candle) or a candle in a candleholder designed for pumpkins to light it up.

★ Light the candle and place it on a piece of tinfoil inside the pumpkin. Put the lid on. Let it sit a minute ★ Remove the lid and there should be a smoke mark on it ★ Cut a vent in the lid where the smoke mark shows

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Gazette & Diary Magazine:

. . . o u D r a e D if you would like dear duo to help with your problems, please write to Dear Duo, The Gazette and Diary, 13 Nevill Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5AA.

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Dear Duo

I am 16 and met a guy of 20 online about a year ago. He comes from an abusive family and so do I, and we find it easy to talk about our problems. Sex is hardly mentioned so I know he’s not after one thing. We both suffer from occasional depression. Recently he had a bad bout which made him say he didn’t want to be with me any more. It was hard as we used to speak on MSN for five or six hours every day. I felt I’d lost my soulmate. I cried all the time demanding hugs from my mum. She just got angry and said I was pathetic to be like that over a boy. She thinks he lives locally and has no idea I met him on the internet. Last night this boy phoned and apologised, said he was missing me and loves me, but doesn’t want to take it further. Then he asked me to go and visit this weekend so we can talk. I live in the north-east and he lives in Devon. I am scared of the cost of travelling to the other end of the country and I only have £120 in savings and of the outcome when I get there. I’m scared of the whole situation but feel our bond is too close to break. I want to prove to him he means something to me by taking such a risk. Bethan

I’m 17 years old and have been with my 22-year-old boyfriend for around 6 months. We have always had a good time together and have always got on really well up until a few weeks ago when he started to act a little strangely. Over the past few weeks he’s been disappearing for a few days and know one has been able to contact him and when he has been around he’s been really paranoid and has been acting irrationally about everything. Up until a year ago my boyfriend was a cocaine addict but claims that he would never take drugs again because of the amount of things he lost when he was on the drugs, but with the way that he’s acting it makes me think that maybe he is back on cocaine. I really don’t know what to do because I love him so much and don’t want to loose but if he is taking drugs again I don’t think that it would be a good idea to stay with him. Fion

Bethan you obviously know this is not a good idea by saying ‘I want to prove to him he means something to me by taking such a risk', you realise this is a risk. You have no idea who this person is, he says he loves you but what person on this world would expect a 16 year old girl to travel all that distance alone. They may get mad but talk to your parents about this and then if you still feel you would still like to meet then you can arrange something with your parents. In all honesty I think you should leave this be, stop living life on the computer and get out, enjoy some hobbies and meet real people. J Hi Bethan I am sorry to say this but call it a day. Your to young to be travelling down to Devon on a whim. It is possible this guy is not what he seems. Try and make friends with someone in your area preferably not from the Internet as this is not the correct thing to do. Surely you have seen on tv and in papers the peril of this. H

Sorry to those who have not had their problems answered yet we have limited space but we will eventually get round to you!

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Hi Fion You need to find out what is going on, and if it is drugs you should part ways. Drugs can distroy lives and im sure you dont want to get caught in the crossfire. Tell him to get help and if you feel that the relationship could go the distance that you will be waiting when he has sought help and recovered. J

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Hi Fion I think you need to talk to him honestly about your concerns; in a calm way. Do not be judgemental and let him know if he does have any problems you will be there for him. Encourage him to open up and if he can’t talk to you about it suggest he discusses it with a friend, family member etc. Don’t be upset if he finds it harder to talk to you, it may be because you are too close and he doesn’t want you to be disapointed with him. It may take him a while to admit it to himself if he is using again; time, patience and understanding is all you can do atm. Sometimes writing things down can helpfor both of you. Maybe get him to remember the reasons he gave up before and things that helped him to do so. Hope this helps a bit. H

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October / November

Sudoku Challenge

TV to look out for...

Strictly come dancing 30th September BBC1 Celebrities are put through the grind as they pair up with professional dancers to compete in a ballroom dancing competition. Viewers vote for their favourites as one couple is voted off each week, a cheer to those dark weekends.

Colour me in

Your new guide to the finer things in life

Gazette Giggles!

October Movies

What is a Mummie’s favorite type of music? Wrap!!!!!

● The Hunt for Red October (1990) ● October Sky (1999) ● October 1917 Ten Days that Shook the World (1928) ● The Missiles of October (1974) ● First Monday in October (1981) ● October 17, 1961 (2005) ● October Sonata (2009) ● October Country (2009) ● Octobre (1994) ● The October Man (1947)

What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman? Frostbite... Why don’t skeletons go out on the town? Because they have no body to go out with... Where does a ghost go on Saturday night? Anywhere where he can boo-gie.

October 2011

Bristol, evening Daniel O’Donnell in Concert with Mary Duff. Coach/Hall £50. Limited tickets. Reservations 01873 852567

(for the 2nd) Byrdland. The Unicorn Singers with Dame Emma Kirkby, Dore Abbey, 7.30pm. Tickets Tel: 01600 780245

Pen Y Fal Boot Sale (see the 16th)

Bristol, Evening, Musical, ‘Dirty Dancing’. Coach / Theatre £60. Very limited tickets available due to demand. Early booking advised. Reservations 01873 852567.

Jumble Sale Llantillio Pertholey VPA, afternoon, Mardy Hall. Teas, Raffle

Pen Y Fal Boot Sale (see the 16th)

St Bartholomews Church, Llanover. Harvest Festival of Flowers. 10am – 5pm. Refreshments. Tel: 01873 880192.

Crickhowell Craft Fair at Clarence Hall 10-4pm. Tel: 01873 811618

Pandy Monnowside Ploughing Society. Pandy Hall, Ploughmans Supper with a comedian. 7.30pm. Tel: 01873 860637 / 890160

Memory Café, Trinity Hall 10.3012.30. Drop in for a coffee and a chat. Brunch now available

Christchurch, Govilon presents Blaenavon Male Voice Choir in concert with Katherine Thomas – Harpist. 7pm. Tel: 01873 830197

Crickhowell History Society. Malcolm Meadows ‘Building of the Grwyne Fawr Reservoir. 7.30pm Crickhowell Scout Hall, Castle Road, Crickhowell.

Abergavenny Alzheimers Carer’s Group, Angel Hotel 7.30 – 9pm. All welcome.

Bristol Musical, We Will Rock You, Tuesday Evening, Coach / Theatre £50 one visit only, Early Reservations, Tel; 01873 852567

Borough Theatre, 7.30pm. Tim Ryan will talk about the Aust Ferry and Rescue of the Severn Princess. Abergavenny Local History Society. Members are reminded to bring their card. Non-members may join on night, or call 01873 850220

Glangrwyney Baptist Chapel Harvest Service at 7.30pm. Minister Reverend Margaret Williams, Llangattock. All Welcome

Car Boot at Bailey Park 11am. £5 per car. Entrance via Park Avenue Entrance 01873 854477.

Why was the skeleton frightened to cross the road? Because he had no guts.

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St Bartholomews Church, Llanover. Harvest Festival of Flowers. 10am – 5pm. Refreshments. Tel: 01873 880192. Concludes with Songs of Praise Sunday 9th at 6pm

What do vampires have at eleven o’clock every day? A coffin break.

Pen Y Fal Boot Sale Gates open 10.30am (sellers) 11am (buyers) Tel: 01873 855500 / 07761363090

How does Dracula like to have his food served? In bite-sized pieces.

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Where do vampires go on holiday? To the Isle of Fright.

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What do vampires make sandwiches out of? Self-raising dead. Why did the vampire take up acting? It was in his blood.

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Why did the boy carry a clock and a bird on Halloween? It was for “tick or tweet” !

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October / November

Gazette & Diary Magazine:

Gazette Motors Maserati has unveiled an SUV in an unexpected move. The company is aiming to expand its product range and capture more buyers in what it calls the wider ‘sports luxury’ bracket. Citing ‘uplifting driving pleasure’ and a ‘luxury atmosphere', the brand says current SUVs just aren’t good enough. However, information on the Kubang also mentions inspiration from Maserati’s sister company Jeep, a company never renowned for driving pleasure or luxury atmosphere. Maserati will make the Kubang, defined as a ‘sport luxury SUV', very much their own, with their own engines, suspension, brakes creating the kind of performance and handling that keen drivers will look for in any other Maserati. In fact, the Kubang is destined to receive an entirely new Maserati-designed and Ferrari-built engine, which is under development in Italy under the watch of a former Ferrari Formula One engine chief. Needless to say, the Kubang is one for the current SUV crowd to look out for.

Special edition VW California announced Volkswagen has released the details of its new, limited edition California camper van, designed in conjunction with outdoor gear brand Berghaus. The model will be called the California Berghaus, and only 80 are to be made. As well as all the California’s standard equipment and space for four ‘residents', the Berghaus edition also features a bike rack, a side-mounted awning and waterproof seat covers, all of which is great news for outdoor types. Special two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, however, might not be such a good thing if campers’ destinations involve potentially stony fields. Each vehicle also comes with a ‘Berghaus Pack’ to help buyers make sure that they’re prepared for life outdoors. It includes a Berghaus ‘Freeflow 25’ rucksack, two ‘Flare’ sleeping bags, gloves, hats, insulated mugs, a travel water bottle, a flask and a map case. Sadly though, the Kendal mint cake has been overlooked. There is just one engine choice, called the BiTDI, which pushes out 178bhp and returns 36.2mpg with a careful mix of driving. Priced at £47,995 on the road, the Bergaus isn’t cheap. But owners will be almost guaranteed exclusivity on the campsite, and they can also rest assured that they’re using what VW calls the ‘ultimate vehicle for exploring and enjoying the outdoors in comfort and style.'

Book Corner The top 10 best selling books in the UK in August 2011 are as follows: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Cold Kill by Neil White Falling Star by Diana Dempsey Negotiate by Jill Laurell That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny The Dukan Diet by Dr. Pierre Dukan The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes Confessions of a GP by Benjamin Daniels One Day by David Nicholls When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

Gazette Magazine Poll This months poll Who do you think Peter Barlow should be with?

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October / November

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Your new guide to the finer things in life

Strictly fabulous, darling the last, and Tonioli is looking forward to the comedy acts just as much as the competitive ones. "I don’t think the comedy contestants undermine the competition at all. The point of it is that the show should be open to everyone. Some people that you think would be brilliant are not, and people you think are going to be terrible are brilliant. I think the charm is having a great variety of characters and seeing what happens once we’ve put them all together," he says. And although discussions among judges Alisha Dixon, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood can get heated, Tonioli is proud that cross words don’t spill out of the studio. By Lisa Williams

"We all get on very well you know," he says.

If Bruno Tonioli were to describe himself in the same way he rates the celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing, he would probably say he’s a ‘simmering ball of energy, bursting with Latin fire and brimming with promise'.

"We say what we want to say on television, we have our own opinions, we get fired up, but once the show is over, it’s over. There isn’t any backstabbing or bitchiness."

The Italian dancer, who looks remarkably young for his 55 years, is as flamboyant as they come. "It’s my Latin Italian nature darling," he purrs down the phone, pronouncing ‘darling’ as if it had several thousand ‘r’s. "When I talk, my hands go everywhere, it’s a way of communicating. My energy builds up so much, it’s how I express myself." Tonioli is bracing himself for the ninth series of the dance competition, hosted by Tess Daly and the newly knighted Bruce Forsyth, which sees stars of varying backgrounds and abilities compete with professional partners for the coveted Glitterball Trophy. "It will be too fabulous," he exclaims. "It’s going to be the golden season. Last year was the best we ever had. But we’re really keen to build on that achievement and make it even more exciting and more glamorous and more sexy, and finally there’ll be Sir Bruce - we’ll be almost royal!"

One thing they had to contend with was the backlash against Dixon, who in 2008 was brought in to replace former judge Arlene Phillips in what was perceived as an ageist decision. Singer Dixon was recruited to the panel on the strength of her having won the show in 2007 so, as a former contestant, she knows what it’s like to learn all the dances from scratch. But her judging style was slated by critics when she first started. "It was unfair," says Tonioli. "She won the show, what more do you want? She has an insight. But once you’re in the public eye you will take flack - it’s part of the profession." Tonioli is similarly stoical about his autumn/winter work regime, which sees him judge both Strictly Come Dancing in the UK, and Dancing With The Stars in the US. Asked how often he has to make that transatlantic flight, he replies in a matter-of-fact way: "Every week."

With a new line-up including Lulu, Nancy Dell’Olio and Jason Donovan, this year is bound to be as exciting as

Tonioli was born in a small town in northern Italy called Ferrara, where he says he was "the only gay in the

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Maybe he’s grateful because if he hadn’t moved to England, he may have ended up in Italy, working as a bank manager. "My parents wanted me to go into banking. Can you imagine? We would have been bankrupt. ‘How much do you want? Take it all, I’ll give it to you'," he says, chuckling. "I really can’t imagine it. My first job was as a dancer and I got to dance. I’ve never looked back."

Extra time - Who’s dancing with who? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

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One Show presenter Alex Jones is in a twosome with James Jordan. Tennis ace Dan Lobb is in a mixed double with Katya Virshilas. Former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson Squares up to Robin Windsor. Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey takes centre stage with Pasha Kovalev. Former Tory MP Edwina Currie gets Strictly political with Vincent Simone. McFly drummer Harry Judd will groove with Aliona Vilani. Boxer Audley Harrison takes to the ring with Natalie Lowe. Aussie singer Holly Valance will find her rhythm with Artem Chigvintsev. Former Neighbours star Jason Donovan moves in with Kristina Rihanoff. Lulu can shout about pairing up with Brendan Cole. Former footballer Robbie Savage tries out his footwork with Ola Jordan. Nancy Dell’Olio is a bella partner for Anton Du Beke. Rory Bremner makes an impression on Erin Boag. Russell Grant takes a star turn with Flavia Cacace. Strictly Come Dancing begins on BBC One on Friday, September 30

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"I could spend hours talking about staying in shape! I train, I go to the gym at least five times a week for an hour and a half, if I can, I eat very well, I cook. There are no secrets - if you’re fat, it’s because you’re eating too much of the wrong thing."

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Although he spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, he still considers the UK his home: "I love it here. In spite of the weather, I always come back. My career and all the opportunities I’ve had originated in London, it’s my home," he says, with a passion only Italians can get away with.

He puts his youthful energy down to the much-lauded Mediterranean diet and his fierce dedication to the gym.

Last year former EastEnders actress Kara Tointon clinched victory over Countryfile presenter Matt Baker and therapist Pamela Stephenson in a series which was partly dominated by the comedy performances of former MP Ann Widdecombe and her professional partner Anton Du Beke.

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village". His pursuit of a career in dancing brought him to England where he found work in music videos and toured with artists including Elton John and Tina Turner.

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