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WHITCHURCH AND LLANDAFF
Living
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Issue 26 Dec ‘13 / Jan ‘14
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Welcome Croeso Is it really the end of 2013 already? Really? Where has time gone? By now, we’re guessing that your Christmas will be more or less in full swing. But before we know it, January will be upon us and with it, spring, the Six Nations and if past experience is anything to go by, Easter eggs in the shops. Our last issue of 2013 should at least keep you entertained. We’ve got a fascinating feature on page 8, looking at the city’s secret underground bunkers. On page 13, Lynda Pritchard Newcombe from Siop Siarad will help you get your tongue around the Welsh language. On page 15, we have the remarkable story of Whitchurch’s Nick Salter. On page 16, Llandaff North’s Kevin Revell takes a look at the wild side of gardening, while on page 19, we have a festive short story by a local author. Another local writer, Gareth Hill (he’s won awards you know) reminisces about winters as a child on page 21. Local vet Chris Troughton answers your pet questions on page 25 and on page 31, we welcome our first guest columnist Nikki Delve. She shares her experiences of spending Christmas in Australia. Before we sign off for the year, we’d like to thank all our advertisers. These are the local tradespeople who make our magazines possible. Please remember to support local business where possible. That just leaves us to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We’ll be back in February with our first issue of 2014. See you then! Patric and Danielle (editors) 2
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contents 3 News 5 Letters erground 8 Going Und 10 Gardeningh 13 Learn Welsment 15 Reimburse 16 Gardening 19 Short Story re 21 Guest Featu 30 Recipes 31 Column
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Velindre Hospital Wins Top Award Velindre NHS Trust has won the ‘Enhancing Patient Dignity Award’ at the 2013 Nursing Times Awards.
PUB WATCH LAUNCHED Pubs, clubs and bars in Whitchurch, have joined together to form a new Pub Watch scheme in time for the Christmas party season. The key aim of the Pub Watch initiative is to achieve an even safer and responsible social drinking environment in the 13 licensed premises that have signed up to the scheme. The launch event, which took place on 4th December at The Maltsters Pub in Whitchurch, was supported by officers from the area’s neighbourhood policing team. PCSO Natalie Evans said: “Whitchurch is a thriving village and the scheme has been set up to further improve communication and work in partnership with the pubs. The aim of the scheme is to prevent disorder and create a safe environment for the premise staff and the public. “Pubs in these areas are safe and we want to keep it that way especially during the festive season. “Information about problem customers or suspicious activity can be shared with Pub Watch members and ourselves so swift action can be taken. It is a good way for us all to work together to prevent alcohol related crime.”
news
BLUE PLAQUE UNVEILED AT TERRY NATION’S BIRTHPLACE
The Llandaff Society recently unveiled a blue plaque at the birthplace of Terry Nation, the creator of Doctor Who’s archenemy the Daleks. The unveiling took place during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the first transmission of the popular BBC TV series. Tim Hancock, nephew of the late Tony Hancock, performed the unveiling ceremony and recalled memories of Terry Nation, provided by his widow Kate, who currently lives in Los Angeles. Children from Terry Nation’s old schools – Radnor Primary School and Kings Monkton School – also attended the unveiling ceremony. Terry Nation was born at 113 Fairwater Grove West, Llandaff,
LOCAL CHARITY OFFERS SUPPORT Long established charity, Age Connects Cardiff (Cardiff and the Vale) is offering all Cardiff and the Vale residents aged over 50 free help with planning for the future. Funeral costs are soaring but paying in advance can ease the pain for families and allow you to beat inflation by paying at today’s prices which can offer substantial savings in the future. Your local Age Connects
in 1930. There are stories of neighbours seeing him, as a boy, sitting on the back step jotting down story ideas in his notebook. He went on to include the Doctor’s adversaries in the second episode of Doctor Who in 1963. He thought up the idea after seeing a dance troupe wearing long skirts, allowing them to glide across the floor. They then returned in 1965 for the series ‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’, and have since been a favourite of Doctor Who fans, both old and young. representative can talk you through the options of pre-paid funeral plans in the comfort and privacy of your own home with absolutely no obligation to purchase. Let them help with friendly, easy to understand information so that you can then make decisions on which plan best suits your personal needs. If you or someone you know has expressed an interest in organising a pre-paid funeral plan to ensure peace of mind for the future, please get in touch today to find out more by calling: 029 2068 3604. 3
news
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL HIT HIGH NOTES
The Cathedral School’s impressive reputation for music is well-known. Distinguished by the range and quality of musical opportunities, music is enjoyed fully within the daily life of the school. Most recently, 165 Junior and Senior pupils took part in our major showcase concert in the Wales Millennium Centre’s Hoddinott Hall, in celebration of the feast of Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Showcasing the school’s flagship choirs and ensembles, such as Senior Chamber Choir and Orchestra, Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble, the concert culminated in an impressive performance of Fauré’s Requiem. Other highlights this term have included the House Singing Competition at the Royal Welsh
College of Music and Drama, a lunchtime recital at Llandaff Cathedral, Year 10 and 11’s Pop Concert and the Junior Soloists’ Concert, to name but a few. A level Music teaching began in September this year, characterised by a traditional, academic focus, together with extensive opportunity in practical music-making. Scholarships are available in the Senior Section, both at 11+ and 16+. The school has had a long and proud tradition of choral singing. For this living tradition to continue, they are always looking for young people to become committed singers, boys aged approximately 7-10, and girls aged 9+. Boys can become Cathedral Choristers, girls (and boys with lower voices in the Senior Section) can become Choral Scholars. For further information, please contact the Registrar, Mrs Pam Critcher on 029 2083 8504 or registrar@cathedral-school. co.uk.
GREEN BINS COLLECTED ONCE A MONTH During the off-peak season, green bins will collected once a month instead of every two weeks
Helpful Bus Stop Bench Unveiled The Disabled & Aged Group Llandaff have unveiled a new bench for those who need it older persons, disabled and the general public - to rest while waiting for their bus at the busy Llandaff main road bus stop. Previously there was nowhere to sit. The need for infirm and older people to have a bench to rest was recognised by Steve West, Chairman of the D & A Group. Liasing with the Highways Dept of the City Council, Steve, himself disabled, completed the project within six months. The cast iron bench matches the others in Llandaff High Street that were placed there as part of the High St Regeneration Scheme. Steve said “We hope the local community makes great use of this new asset and we are now seeking ideas for the next project we can undertake to make the lives of a large Disabled & Aged Minority Group easier.”
LOCAL SHOPS JOIN SHOP WATCH SCHEME A number of traders in Whitchurch Village have signed up to the Shop Watch Scheme, to share information of anyone suspected of shop lifting, acting suspiciously or stealing. The information will be shared via phone and text messages as well as during regular monthly meetings attended by police. The scheme is being run by officers from Fairwater Police Station. Around 30 shops in Creigiau, 4
Llandaff North, Fairwater, Gabalfa and Pentyrch are already in the scheme, which was boosted by another 40 shops in Whitchurch last month. Traders will post stickers in shop windows showing that they’re in the scheme. Launching the scheme at the Co-op in Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Sergeant Jason Wilcox told the press: “This has been set up to improve community engagement
by working in partnership with local traders and improve communication so we can share information and work together.”
If you’d like to get in touch, you can find our address on the inside front cover. Alternatively, you can email us at editor@livingmags.co.uk
letters
MORE GOING ON THAN YOU THINK
We write this as two people who together have 18 years of experience running separate Watches, in Whitchurch, and we read the articles on Neighbourhood Watch that you regularly print with interest. We thought that your readers may appreciate the broad range of activities and interests that we have developed at our own initiative over the years. Though preventing crime is important, our Watches are much broader and encourage community involvement. We have a 90% membership so we must be doing something right. Our Watches cater for all age groups so we communicate by word of mouth, emails and regular hand delivered Newsletters, recognising that not everybody has a computer and a printed newsletter can be read by all the family and even visitors. We have a good and close
LET’S TIDY UP THIS LITTER-STREWN CITY I’m not normally one to moan but I can’t help noticing that Whitchurch is becoming more strewn with litter. The bins dotted around the village seem to be emptied less and less and less. Once they’re full, their contents get blown around, making our streets look a right mess. I’m not too sure whether this is due to financial cuts made, but it is something that has become increasingly noticeable. I also read with interest that the council has recently started charging to collect bulky rubbish.
relationship with neighbouring Watches and at our own initiative over 5 years ago we set up a network reaching from the Philog to Tongwynlais so that we can all keep in touch. It is essential as a coordinator to establish good relationships with the Neighbourhood Police, the local councillors, relevant council services and charities such as Age Concern. We are both busy people; Pam has as her interest charity collection while Derek runs a national animal welfare network but our members know that they can contact us at any time and THEY DO – on cold callers/ rogue traders, scams, anti-social behaviour, burglaries, injured animals/lost pets, graffiti and litter removal, parking, help for the infirm especially in inclement weather, vacant house watch, mis-directed mail and local planning issues. You name it - we don’t turn anyone away. Suspected criminal activity is immediately reported to all members and the police. Up to three items for collection now costs £15. I don’t see the logic in this. Surely those who can afford to dispose of their bulky rubbish can do so? At the other end of the spectrum, those who can’t afford to dispose of their items are the ones who are going to find it harder to stump up the £15 charge. With a degree of certainty, I can confidently predict that fly-tipping will rise dramatically - costing the Council (and us!) more to clear up. Come on Cardiff Council. Let’s tidy up this village before we drown in litter! DANIEL EVANS Whitchurch
This all sounds hard work, and it is, but really rewarding but we do give ourselves time for fun and hold social occasions such as garden parties, barbeques, Christmas parties and singalongs. Other than initially setting up a Watch, there is no on-going support provided by the local NW association and all work to keep a scheme active is done with the help of committed volunteers. As we are very community orientated we tend to think of ourselves as Community Watch Coordinators. PAM COOMBES DEREK HECTOR 02920 658615
WHITCHURCH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Whitchurch has long led the way in Christmas decorations within the north Cardiff area. I’m not sure whether it’s me getting old or whether the lights are becoming more garish. If I pass through the village at night-time, I come away with a headache. Christmas is supposed to be about peace and tranquillity. And while I applaud those who go to the huge efforts of putting them up, is there any way we can tone them down just a little? W DAVIES email 5
SKI SEASON IS HERE! It’s the time of year when many people are looking forward to their much awaited skiing trip. While hitting the slopes is an enjoyable and rewarding sport, unfortunately aches and pains and injuries can be an all too common feature of this popular pastime. Knee: Pain in the knee is often caused by excessive stresses on the patella tendon or on the inner surface of the knee cap. Anterior knee pain responds very well to physiotherapy with specific stretching, strengthening and core stability exercises. Sports massage can also be helpful by loosening up tight muscles and assisting in maintaining lower limb function. A biomechanical assessment to identify any weakness, followed by a tailored exercise programme may help to prevent knee problems. Knee ligament injuries: Ligament sprains of the knee are common. The ligaments run inside and along either side of the knee joint and provide stability when it bends. Injury can range from a few torn fibres to complete rupture. Depending on the severity of injury, either surgery or conservative treatment with physiotherapy will be needed.
Skiers thumb: Skiers thumb accounts for 10% of all skiing injuries. Falling onto the hand with the stick held firmly can cause damage to the ligaments supporting the base of the thumb. Partial tears can be treated conservatively with physiotherapy to restore range of movement and function. Like all ligament injuries protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation will promote best possible recovery. To help prevent skiers thumb, unless you are in deep powder snow and are concerned about losing your poles, do not use the ski pole loop as this greatly increases the chances of skiers thumb. Snowboarders ankle: Snowboarders have their very own lower limb injury ‘snowboarders ankle. This is a fracture of the outside of the talus bone of the ankle and its symptoms are similar to those of an ankle sprain.
Shoulder: Acute shoulder injuries, more prevalent in snowboarders. Common injuries include fractures, dislocations and soft tissue strains and sprains. Good technique and conditioning should reduce the likeliness of a fall while clenched fists and keeping your arms tucked when coming off a snowboard could reduce the impact of a foreseen fall. Early physiotherapy management of most of these conditions should ensure a speedy recovery and promote the best possible recovery.
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all at Recovery and Beyond Physiotherapy Gift Vouchers Available
What can you do to reduce the risk of injury ? Our advice is to begin a conditioning programme at least 4–6 weeks before departure. From November through to February we run Pre–ski assessments, ski fit, and advanced ski conditioning classes at our clinic. These classes are run by our experienced physiotherapists who have a special interest in skiing and snowboarding. The small group classes allow for individual progression, and are suitable for those who are going skiing for the first time, those who are returning to skiing following an injury, and those who are wanting to improve their lateral movement, strength, agility and flexibility to maximise their potential on the slopes. New for this season, we have in clinic, a ‘Skiers Edge’ technical ski conditioner which is used by professional teams around the world as part of their training. Remember not every skier returns with an injury. We wish you an enjoyable, injury-free time on the slopes.
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Going Underground A short story by Whitchurch novelist Rhys Thomas
Take a look around you. We’re all familiar with the landscape around us. Or are we? Patric Morgan goes underground to discover some of North Cardiff’s subterranean secrets. Every town and city has its history. Yet here in North Cardiff, there lurks a little more than most. For those driving around Coryton roundabout, enjoying a stroll on Wenallt Hill, or visiting Insole Court this winter, there is little, if nothing to suggest that these areas contain secret constructions. Bunkers and war rooms, used or built to be used in the event of an all-out attack on the UK. Buildings that have now either vanished into history or conceal their past purpose. Buildings that signal a dark past,
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and the frosty shadow of the Cold War. For motorists driving around Coryton roundabout, there won’t be the slightest clue that up until quite recently, there stood a fairly substantial building. It was the Cardiff War Room. It was located at the rear of the Wales and the Marches Telecom Board HQ at Coryton, close to Junction 32 of the M4 motorway. Coryton was one of 13 Regional War Rooms built in 1952 to house the regional administration for Wales in the event of a devastating nuclear attack on Whitehall making central government impossible. It remained operational until approximately 1958 when the network of Regional War Rooms were replaced by the Regional Seats of Government; Coryton being replaced by RSG 8 at Brecon. The old war room was retained as a training centre for RSG personnel until 1965 when it was reactivated as the
Cardiff Corporation Main Control Centre. It performed this function until the disbanding of the Civil Defence Corps in 1968. With the formation of South Glamorgan County in 1974, it was reactivated as the South Glamorgan County Control and later South Glamorgan Emergency Centre, remaining in use until the end of the Cold War in 1991. After that date, the building was abandoned and once the ventilation plant was switched off the bunker deteriorated quickly. The building was of the standard Regional War Room design with one floor above ground and one floor underground. The other war rooms were at Tunbridge Wells, Reading, Cambridge, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Belfast, Birmingham and Bristol. In the early 2000s, local children broke into the Cardiff war room. There was little internal damage although all external walls were
covered with colourful wall art. The following paragraphs describe the inside of the building as it appeared in 2003: “The plant rooms, toilets etc. are much as they would have been in 1952 but the rest of the rooms are laid out for their most recent use as the South Glamorganshire County Emergency Centre. We entered through the wooden door in the west wall which has now has a steel grille added in front of it for extra security. Beyond this there is a dogleg and a heavy steel blast door giving access to the upper ring corridor. Moving round the ring corridor in a clockwise direction (left) there are stairs down to the lower floor. The first room on the left contains cable hauled message basket system down to the floor below; unfortunately the mechanism for this is now broken and the basket is resting at the lower level. The mechanism consists of a wire basket and a system of ropes and pulleys for lowering the basket to the lower corridor. The basket locks in position in the upper room but can be released by pulling on the rope from below. The system is manufactured by Lamson who are better known for the ‘Lamson Tube’, a pneumatic message handling system used in many government buildings and still used in some department stores. Similar message baskets still exist at the Bristol, Leeds and Birmingham war rooms. Beyond this is the ‘County Military Headquarters’ with the floor now strewn with wooden debris and wire mesh. The third room on the left is a radio room with two heavy duty cables going out through the roof and a radio workbench across the far wall. The next room at the corner of the ring corridor is the men’s dormitory with four rows of two double bunks and an electric heater on the wall. There is a very narrow walkway between the rows of bunks and no lockers or space for them. The corridor now turns to the right into one of the largest rooms in the bunker, the canteen and kitchen. There is a
large serving counter and food preparation table a few feet in front of the near end wall; there are five open bays beneath it. Behind this is a Belling electric cooker and oven and next to it a mini Belling oven and a Creda water heater. There’s a Butler sink with a wooden draining board on each side and a wooden plate rack above it. In the canteen area there are tables and chairs, a double metal cupboard, six hay boxes (containers for delivering trays of hot food). There are also a large number of cooking pots and pans on the floor and a four shelf glass fronted bookcase containing recreational books and some civil defence books.”
A landmark that is still familiar for most residents of North Cardiff is the telecommunications mast that overlooks the area from its position on Wenallt Hill. Originally, it was to become a War Room for Wales, taking over from Coryton but this idea was abandoned in the late 1970s. The former Anti Aircraft Operations Room instead became the main BT war headquarters for Wales. The distinctive curved glass galleries were stripped out, and new dormitories, air conditioning, canteen etc., were installed in the 1970s but the work was abandoned before completion and the bunker is now disused although the adjacent BT radio
Photographs and information courtesy of Nick Catford
history
site remains in service. Up until not too long ago, it was an area for urban exploration as an interesting site, but the contents have since been burnt not by urban explorers but by the vandals that frequent the site. The Cardiff Corporation Llandaff Sub Control is located in Vaughan Avenue, Llandaff, at junction with Harlech Road. It consists of a single story surface brick blockhouse, now partly hidden by trees and bushes. The sub-control was built in 1956, remaining operational until the disbanding of the Civil Defence Corps in 1968. After that date, it remained in use, manned by Cardiff Corporation’s voluntary Civil Defence Organisation until 1984. It was in theory operational as the Corporation’s County Standby Control until 1991, but in practice it was never used apart from the storage of some radiac equipment. Since 1991, it has remained locked and unused. The WW2 Control was located in the adjacent Llandaff Court and the building a civil defence garages are still extant.
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Use the Welsh you know Lynda Pritchard Newcombe, an experienced language teacher and author, who runs a Siop Siarad at Whitchurch Library every Thursday, has tips for you.
You’ve been learning Welsh for some time and getting on well. But when someone talks to you outside class you freeze and your mind goes blank. Other times you pluck up the courage to say something in Welsh and the Welsh-speaker speaks English! Don’t give up! You may even be talking too ‘posh’. Ever thought of that? It is not ability we lack, but selfbelief. New York Times best-selling author, Tim Ferriss recommends selecting the subject matter you wish to speak about and concentrating on learning that vocabulary – and just that. Practise these topics with your tutor and others. Have questions ready for Welsh-speakers. If you know they enjoy rugby have ready, “Welaist ti’r gêm ddydd Sadwrn?” (Did you see the game on Saturday?). Even learn a few adjectives to describe the match – “excellent gwych”, “incredible – anhygoel”, “disappointing – siomedig.” Build up a vocabulary on topics of interest to you and your contacts. If sport isn’t your thing
but socialising in restaurants is, there is no point in spending ages on learning words such as bachwr (hooker)! Learn words for food, drink, cutlery and crockery. Fish and chips for instance – pysgod a sglodion. Here’s an example of starter words for socialising from Steve Morris and Paul Meara from Swansea University. 1 Tafarn (pub) 2 Sinema (cinema) 3 Tŷ bwyta (restaurant) 4 Theatr (theatre) 5 Bwyta (to eat) 6 Mwynhau (to enjoy) 7 Mynd* (to go) 8 Yfed (to drink) 9 Pryd o fwyd (meal) 10 Ffrind (friend) * mynd am dro (go for a walk) / mynd â (to take) / mynd â’r ci am dro......(take the dog for a walk) + mynd dros ben llestri [!] (go over the top!) Learn words that are close to English such as ‘car’ but remember to roll the ‘r’. You may be surprised to learn that even if you are a complete beginner you already know many Welsh words. Why is this? Like other European languages, Welsh uses many international words and has some borrowings from other languages. Some of these may be spelt differently to English but you will recognise them. Heini Gruffudd lists over a hundred of these words in his useful book Live Welsh. Below are a few examples: Banc (bank) Beic (bike) Cloc (clock) Copi (copy) Gêm (game) Fflat (flat) Parc (park) Rygbi (rugby) Siop (shop) Stori (story) Tacsi (taxi) Do not be over-anxious about grammar mistakes. Many Welsh-
speakers are not too hot on grammar. It is more important to work on pronunciation. Do you know people who are learning English? Who are the easiest ones for chatting – those who have perfect grammar but poor pronunciation or those who make grammatical errors but have excellent pronunciation. No prizes for guessing. It’s pronunciation, of course! STARTER TIPS FOR GOOD WELSH PRONUNCIATION - dd as in dydd (day). As the ‘th’ in the English word ‘that’. - ll as in llaw (hand). Put the tip of the tongue just behind the top teeth and breathe out. - th as in gwaith (work). As the ‘th’ in the English word ‘thanks’. - r as in car (car). It is very important to roll the ‘r’ in Welsh in order to sound natural. Learners tend to forget to do so, particularly at the end of words. - wy as in pwy (who). Think of the English word ‘gooey’, remove the ‘g’ and say ‘ooey’ quickly. - yw as in byw (to live). Rhymes with ‘eue’ in the English word, ‘queue’. We have a friend from the Czech Republic who comes out with pearls such as, “I have broken the thumb on my left foot.” and “My wife she make chicken from India. She is a good cooker.” As this is delivered with an authentic English accent, chatting is fun. On the other hand, we have met second language English-speakers who have such poor pronunciation that a conversation leaves us reaching for paracetamol. The BBC has an excellent site for Welsh learners and it’s free! www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learning/ learnwelsh/ 13
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Reimbursement The remarkable tale of Nick Salter At the age of 12, whilst on Scout Camp, Nick Salter was involved in a mountain bike accident that nearly cost him his life. As a result of the serious head injuries that Nick sustained, he was left with no recollection of the day the accident occurred or the days that followed. There is one thing that he will remember for the rest of his life though and that is the critical importance of the Welsh Air Ambulance that day. He says ‘without the fast response of the WAA and their crew, I may not be here today. I owe them my life.’ Nick’s accident happened on the rough terrain of the Forest of Dean and therefore, being airlifted was his only chance of getting to hospital. Fortunately, Nick went on to make a full recovery with only a few scars to remind him of that fateful day and is currently at university studying International Wildlife Biology.
Nick raising money with friends
Aside from his studies, Nick has made it his mission to repay the WAA as a ‘thank you’ for saving his life. He has been fundraising tirelessly since the age of 13 in an effort to give something back to the charity he owes so much to. With the backing of friends, family, teachers ‘and anyone else daft enough to get involved in my extreme sports’, Nick has accomplished a number of daring feats raising thousands of pounds for the WAA. He has arranged a number of sponsored bike rides, including one of 55 miles over the Brecon Beacons, riding over similar terrain as that of his accident! On top of this, he has organised bungee jumps, parachute jumps and bog snorkelling, ‘to name but a few.’ Now aged 18, and six years on from his accident, Nick has recently been recognised for his fundraising endeavours on ITV’s ‘Surprise Surprise’ (3rd November 2013) which he describes as ‘lovely but a huge shock!’ The huge amount of ambition that Nick has is clear in the sheer scale of his fundraising plans. Raising the bar a little more, Nick’s future pursuits include cycling from Cardiff to London next year ‘and further afield, I hope to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and row the Atlantic.’
by Alice Morgan
Before Nick embarks on his bigger plans though, he is hosting a musical event closer to home for the festive season. The event will be held on the 23rd December in the Earl Haig Club, Whitchurch and is a tribute to Michael Buble and the Rat Pack era. If you would like to attend, tickets are for sale at £10 Nick, aged 12, after his serious accident from the Earl Haig Club or by telephoning 07775 656410. Alternatively, they are also available for purchase from Nick’s website http:// fundraisingwithnick.webs. com where you can also see information of Nick’s past and future pursuits. The ticket price includes a buffet and all monies raised will go towards the WAA. Nick says, ‘Please come along and support us, it should be a great night to get Christmas off with a swing!’ What’s more, you may be saving somebody else’s life in the process. 15
gardening
Wild at Heart
by Kevin Revell
Kevin Revell takes a look at wildlife in our gardens and how we can nuture the natural way of the world There is an inbuilt love of wildlife in all of us - we like to hear the singing of songbirds in the garden, even if they do start at an unsociable hour. These gregarious, inquisitive creatures really bring the garden to life. By feeding the birds in winter, we fulfil an urge to do something to help in the short term when conditions are harsh. But perhaps we should supply a long term nurturing habitat rather than providing instant gratification with bread and peanuts. Try to offer a range of trees or shrubs which are common in the surrounding area to create a continuous ‘corridor’ which links habitats and provides a sheltered undisturbed environment so the birds and other wildlife are encouraged over the fence into your garden. A good way to attract wildlife to the garden is to have a range of flowers available to bees and pollinating insects all year round. This is easy in spring and summer but early and late flowering plants are harder to find. Primroses and ivy are 16
among the best in this respect and native too. Native plants have had several thousand years to develop associations with the native fauna but any flower is better than none; some such as Buddleia, Hebe and Fuchsia flower over a long period from midsummer into autumn and are extremely useful being much loved by bees. There is no better feeling in the garden than to stand still and listen to the humming of honey bees or see oversized bumble bees noisily crashing around in delicate poppy flowers. A pond is invaluable, (ideally without shoals of hungry fish) and will bring in its fair share of visitors to drink and bathe; it’s also essential for the breeding of amphibians. Perhaps most importantly (and luckily for lazy gardeners), a few unkempt corners with piles of logs and rubble, sprouting nettles and wild flowers is ideal to attract beetles, hedgehogs and the caterpillars of many butterflies and moths. Overgrown hedges and scrubby shrubbery will encourage birds
to nest and offer hiding places from predators, while untidied twigs and brushwood will be a useful resource. Wildlife will show up in our gardens whether we want it to or not. Pigeons and squirrels may or may not be welcome but most of us will greet the appearance of butterflies, songbirds, frogs and newts. The arrival of foxes and badgers into our gardens tests the eco credentials of all but the most committed wildlife gardeners but time spent watching these wonderful creatures close up more than makes up for the damage they cause. Gardening is not a war and we are not ruled by a dictatorship; we can ignore the agents
provocateurs and vested interests of the garden chemical industry, urging us to kill those weeds and insects that stand in our way, with scant regard to the consequences. We can object to widely held, long practiced views and find another way, leaving a lighter footprint where we tread while working with the environment rather than steadfastly battling against it. The result will be a garden in harmony with nature. It will be a healthier place to live and work for ourselves and any passing visitors. It is ironic that as gardeners strive to improve their surroundings with brightly planted pots and hanging baskets, they are actually harming the environment without even knowing it. The peat present in most compost or growing media is extracted from peat bogs, rare habitats with their own specialised flora and fauna, developed over centuries but destroyed in a few decades by peat extraction. That such activity takes place in wild, farflung places does not make it any more acceptable and they also act as carbon sinks, absorbing large quantities of carbon dioxide. Add
to that their ability to absorb vast volumes of rainwater, slowing runoff to neighbouring areas and their existence can be seen to be of greater value than providing a convenient growing medium. Peat is expected to be removed from the DIY and garden centre market by the end of the decade now that plenty of alternatives are available. It now transpires that organophosphate systemic insecticides and neonicitinoides, present in agrochemicals and many garden products have been implicated in the decline of bees. The only surprise is that it has
gardening
taken this long to work out why a toxic chemical carried within the plant to lie in wait within leaves to have its deadly effect on passing caterpillars and aphids, should also find its way into the flowers where bees come to gather infected pollen and nectar. Although not in strong enough concentrations to cause instant death, the health of the bee is compromised and it may become disorientated and unable to return to the hive. If it does complete the journey, the deadly cargo is transported back to the hive where it contaminates the rest of the brood causing ill health and susceptibility to disease and parasitic mites. This new generation of insecticides replaces one that has been removed from circulation on the basis of being dangerous to human health. It is only a matter of time before these too are withdrawn to be replaced with the next “perfectly safe” product. A complete change of mindset is required if we truly wish to attract wildlife to the garden. We need to relinquish control and let the checks and balances of the natural world take over. Pests should not be seen as the enemy but rather the first link in a chain which is connected to another to create the whole web of life. The problem is that we cannot be selective and should not encourage one while discouraging another, without one, the whole community or ecosystem is weakened. Aphids and slugs, however annoying,
unpleasant and destructive, ultimately lead to higher life forms so by poisoning those at the bottom of the food chain we can expect this harm to work its way up as surely as poisoning the wells or reservoirs we depend on. Whole groups of creatures can be excluded by removing those at the base. Plenty of us welcome butterflies and moths to our gardens but don’t think twice at getting the sprayers out when caterpillars are seen on our precious plants. You can’t have one without the other. Why do we feed birds, through the winter only to deprive them of their natural food source in spring and possibly cause their broods to fail? Wasps invariably get a bad press but take note of their activities in the spring when they are actively hunting aphids and caterpillars to take back to their nests to feed their young. The ‘autumn clean up’ is really best left until spring, to make use of the insulating properties of the dead plant material and the wealth of creatures that shelter within. Weeds should be seen as potential food plants and cover for a range of invertebrates – a more relaxed attitude to neatness in the garden is required with a bit more observation and understanding and a bit less manic tidying and toxic spraying, (or ‘gardening’ as some people call it!) Kevin Revell is Plant Area Manager at Caerphilly Garden Centre and is a Llandaff North resident
17
great way out of reading (‘Treasure Island’ I seem to remember)! How did you end up playing for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales? After 3 years with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and 3 years with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in Reykjavik, I auditioned for a job with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. After a successful trial period I was given the job. That would have been 25 years this ago this January. What have been your musical highlights to date? There have been many musical highlight of my career to date - include the numerous foreign tours, particularly Japan, China and the USA. Some of my most memorable concerts must be the Doctor Who Proms we did at the Royal Albert Hall! What are you looking forward to in the 2013/14 season? I am really looking forward to our concert at St David’s Hall on the 9th May 2014 – where we’ll be playing Brahms’ Piano Concerto and Beethoven’s 7th Symphony with conductor Tadaaki Otaka. His concerts are always very special as he brings so much musicality to the music.
Local People Joe Williams is a violinist with BBC National Orchestra of Wales What instrument do you play? I play the violin in the orchestra. I am in the 2nd violin section - I may be biased, but I’m proud to be playing in one of the friendliest sections of the orchestra. What got you into playing this instrument? I started playing the piano, but was absolutely hopeless. When I gave up, my parents made me read for half an hour a day, as I had brothers having to do their piano practice and they didn’t think it fair if I did nothing. When the opportunity to learn the violin came at primary school, (aged 8), it was a 18
What’s your favourite part of what you do? My favourite part of the job is socialising with my colleagues, a great bunch of people and all fine musicians. I even get to socialise with my wife, Catherine, who is a keyboard player with the orchestra. What part of Cardiff are you from? I am from London originally, though my father is from Llanwrst, but since moving to Cardiff, we have lived in Whitchurch. What is a typical working day for you? A typical working day will start with coffee at 8: 00, whilst watching our favourite TV programme. Then it’s off for rehearsals, usually from 10:00 to 17:00. After which it’s off to my local gym, or doing some Open University work, (I’ve set myself the task of trying to get a physics degree)! then dinner with a nice glass of red wine. What can we look forward to from BBC National Orchestra of Wales at Christmas time this year? I personally am looking forward to the 2nd violin Christmas party this year. We are nearly all big fans of Strictly Come Dancing, and we are going to have an evening of dancing lessons in Whitchurch. Though the public can see us at St. David’s Hall on 17th December for a Christmas Celebration concert conducted by Grant Llewellyn. BBC National Orchestra of Wales presents their Christmas Celebrations concert at St David’s Hall, Cardiff on Tuesday 17 December, 7pm. Family tickets start from £12.50 – for more information call 0800 052 1812. Photo courtesy of Kiran Ridley
A Christmas night IN BY d Brown
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How much longer are we going to be Mum?” James looked at his little sister Lilly. Tesco was no place for a six year old boy and a four year old girl this late on Christmas Eve. “I just need to get a few more things. Then we’re done. I promise.” said Mum, rummaging among the frozen turkeys in the chest freezer. She was clutching an armful of vegetables. Lilly looked to James, more in hope than anything. Then Dad came running over carrying a Christmas pudding. Ten minutes later and they were in the car. They weren’t moving very far or very fast. Mum had put the radio on to find some Christmas music. But James wasn’t feeling very festive. “How much longer we going to be?” asked James again. “I’m going as quickly as I can.” flashed Mum. Dad turned around and glanced at the children. He could make out their glum faces underneath their woollen hats in the gathering dark. “Bless them. They’re very tired.” James hated that. Being told that he was tired when he wasn’t. In fact, he was far away from being tired. Santa was coming tonight. James was going to be staying up all night to catch him this year. Dad carried on talking to Mum: “I want them asleep early tonight so you and I can have some time together.” “Don’t go getting too many funny ideas love.” she said. “I’ve got to do the sprouts tonight.”
Through the glare and glow of headlights and taillights, the car slowly made its way out of the city to the suburbs, where the traffic thinned out and Christmas seemed more welcoming. They passed homes, with lights glowing in their windows and James wondered if they were all ready for their Christmas. Mum and Dad certainly weren’t. The house was cold when they got in and Dad was quick to get the heating on. “Put the lights on James.” asked Mum, “I need to get tea on.” James headed to the front room of the house and turned on the Christmas tree lights. Despite the hustle and bustle of the house, the coloured lights shone silently as stars. The wrapped gifts underneath the tree shimmered with their reflection. And it brought some peace to James. Bath time. James was in and out of his bath in minutes. “Have you had a good wash?” called Mum from Lilly’s bedroom. Lilly was already in her pyjamas and dressing gown. “Yes.” replied James, quickly splashing his face. He got out and patted himself down, taking his warm and freshly-washed pyjamas off the radiator and headed into his bedroom. On his bed, where he had left them before shopping, were some items. Items to catch Santa out the second he stepped into his bedroom later that night. On the half-closed bedroom door, he was going to balance an old bucket. As soon as Santa pushed the door open, the
bucket would fall and James would be alerted. Into the bucket, James placed a load of Lego bricks, just to make things more interesting. Then he laid down some bubble wrap on the bedroom floor. Should Santa manage to somehow get around the bucket, he’d wake James by stepping on the bubble wrap. Finally James checked Dad’s camera that he’d taken from Dad’s cupboard. The plan was set. Tea was wolfed down in a matter of minutes. “Is Santa really coming to the house tonight?” Lilly had asked. “Yes. And I’m going to catch him out.” replied James. “You’ll see.” After tea, James and Lilly headed into the living room where Mum and Dad were sat exhausted on the sofa. Mum had lit some candles and the fire had been lit. Carols drifted softly from the radio. At last, it really felt like Christmas. “Can you read us The Night Before Christmas Mummy?” asked Lilly. “Of course.” said Mum and they all snuggled up tight on the sofa. But after a few minutes of reading, all went quiet until Mum coughed and spluttered with a large snore. Dad was asleep too. James and Lilly rose from the sofa, covered Mum and Dad in a blanket and took themselves upstairs to wait for Santa. “Do you think they’ll be ok there?” said Lilly. “I think so.” replied James. “Bless them. They’re very tired.” 19
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There’s No Business Like Snow Business! Winter is upon us and, depending upon which newspaper you read, now would be a good time to batten down the hatches, keep your large shovels and wellies at the ready and head down to Tesco to stock up on tinned food and Kendal Mint Cake. This winter promises lots of wintery weather. We’re getting rather used to this snow business aren’t we? Three of the last four winters have brought with it more than a dusting of the white stuff and, following swiftly in its wake, a wave of wonderfully animated over-reactions. Supermarkets are overrun, people emptying shelves and filling their trollies as if Zombie Apocalypse has arrived while the roads and railway lines grind to the kind of gridlocked halt reminiscent of the final part of Deep Impact. A few inches silently falling to earth overnight tends to bring universal closure to the following day with families clamouring around the wireless (my dear departed Nan would be so thrilled that the word wireless has made such a comeback!) to see if the schools or offices in town are open. Homer Simpson style ‘WooHoos’ or ‘D’ohs’ accompanying the respective outcome. And all the while, somebody, somewhere will be scoffing at the clamour, muttering scornfully something along the lines of: “Two inches and we come to a standstill? They’ll be laughing their socks off in Canada or
Moscow.” And we all agree – because none of us get caught up in the panic / excitement do we? Do we? Of course, those of us old enough to remember, can recall the winter when we really did have snow deep enough to brag about it. The year was 1982; a new year, barely a few days old when Rhiwbina was cast back to the Ice Age. I was eight years old. I’d never heard the word blizzard used before. I loved how it sounded – blizzard. Some words just fit their meaning perfectly. It began snowing during the evening, shortly before bedtime. We lived on Heol-Yr-Efail back then and from the landing we had a view up the street, the Tax Offices of Ty Glas ordinarily offering a less than romantic view above the rooftops. But this night was magical. My brother and I looked excitedly out of the window, watching as huge, pancake-sized snowflakes swirled on the wind in the orange glow of the street lamp at the end of the drive. In a manner that would have delighted Dean Martin, it snowed and it snowed and it snowed. For two days, the winds blew and the snow continued to fall, shrouding Cardiff in a silent, white blanket that drifted six feet high against the doors and walls of our house and buried dad’s Morris Marina. The news was full of reports of people being trapped, of food
by Gareth Hill supplies running low, of the army being sent to help out – we were every bit as fraught about snow then as now. I, of course, thought it was great. Seeing snow piled as high as the back door, getting stuck up to my waist as I struggled to walk into the garden. Helping Dad and Bamps dig a path to the street, then watching them yomp off to the village to try and get some bread and milk; coming home an hour or more later following a sneaky detour at the Butcher’s Arms, who bravely kept the bar open throughout the ordeal. Brilliant! Rhiwbina had become Narnia. The lane which ran behind our back garden up to Beulah Road suddenly an enchanted, yet treacherous pathway of drifted snow and wiry brambles, of white witches and talking beavers (I was eight years old). The usual hazards of mud and dog poo buried deep beneath a heavy, icy quilt. For the first three weeks of 1982, the world was quiet, still and white. The snow finally melted midway through January. It shrank away in dirty grey puddles as colour and discernible shapes seeped back into the world. Normality swiftly resumed and the magic, within days, was gone. Gareth Hill is a Rhiwbina resident and an awardwinning writer. You can read more of his work at www.takenotewriting.com 21
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IF YOU HAVE ANY PET-RELATED QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE CHRIS TO ANSWER, PLEASE EMAIL US AT EDITOR@LIVINGMAGS.CO.UK AND WE’LL PASS THEM ON. We moved home two months ago and brought our 6 year old cat with us. She has always been a nervous cat (she came from the SHUA animal charity) but since our move she has been unable to toilet outside. We have gone back to using a litter tray as she was using our carpet. At our previous home she would go to the toilet just outside her cat flap in the gravel as she was too nervous to venture onto the grass. If you have any advice or tips we would be grateful. Nervous cats often take a long time to get over the trauma of moving home, and really you have only just arrived. It could easily take six months for a timid cat to settle in to a new home and garden territory, particularly if there are other cats in the neighbourhood. There are a few things you could do to help her. The cat-calming pheromone product “Feliway” is essential – use the room-diffuser form. Make the area you would like your cat to toilet in as easy to use as possible. It should be close to the cat flap, and you should make it secluded by having plenty of plants around it so she feels hidden when using it. The ground you want her to use should have a nice diggable surface – sand, compost or just well-dug earth. It is also worth investigating if she has a genuine reason to be fearful of going outside. Is there a neighbouring cat who bullies her? If so, you might be able to deter him from your garden by use of a water pistol, which will be unpleasant but harmless. In the end, you may have to accept that her timid nature might mean she always prefer to toilet indoors. If you force her to go out against her will, you will only make the situation worse. Page is sponsored by Heath Vets 02920 621511
We are planning on heading to Scotland to visit family over Christmas but I don’t want to leave my small dog (he’s only 6 months old) in a kennel. He’s only been in the car once when we originally brought him home but he was car sick. Is there anything I can do to prepare him for the journey in the car? Lots of puppies are a bit car-sick and seem to grow out of it, but some don’t. It is important to get all puppies used to travelling in the car as soon as possible even if they don’t need to use it often, because there will be times when it is unavoidable. If they are frightened of the car or sick when travelling, you need to start with short periods just sitting in a stationary car with the doors open, progressing on to short journeys with pleasant events at the end, like a walk in the park (rather than a visit to the vets!) It’s important not to progress too quickly so you don’t frighten the puppy or make him feel sick, as these feelings will themselves make him more worried about the car environment and exacerbate the problem. It’s also worth experimenting with where in the car he travels. Some dogs are much better in a covered crate in the car, where they feel safer and cannot see out of the windows; part of the cause of motion sickness is a mismatch between what you eyes are telling your brain (ie that you are moving rapidly) and what your balance system is telling it (ie that you are sitting still in the car). There are several treatments that can be used to help dogs with travelling. These include anti-anxiety products like Adaptil, a pheromone which you spray in the car, or various herbal remedies (which in my experience aren’t usually very effective). Then there are some powerful anti-nausea drugs that can be prescribed by your vet. It’s important to remember how unpleasant it is to feel nauseous, and that feeling can increase a dog’s aversion to the car, so it’s worth while doing everything you can to avoid him feeling ill.
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Seasons Greetings from all of us at
The Whitchurch Clinic First Floor, 2 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1DG. (029) 20617700 www.thewhitchurchclinic.co.uk
Your Questions Answered! What’s on at TWC
Karen Thomas H.P.D. Hypnotherapist & Psychotherapist Q. Can anyone be hypnotized? A. Almost everybody can be
hypnotised - the only exception are very young children, alcoholics and some hard drug addicts and those with learning difficulties.
Q. Is hypnotherapy useful for children?
A. Children respond exceptionally
well to hypnotherapy. Some common uses are academic and athletic improvement, bedwetting (Enuresis), test anxiety and increased self esteem.
Q. Will I lose Control in
Hypnosis?
A. No one loses control under
hypnosis, you are always in control and you cannot do anything in hypnosis you do not want to do. You are gently guided by your hypnotherapist into a deep comfortable level of relaxation and given beneficial suggestions that move you toward your goal.
Winter Remedies Work Shop
25th January 2014 – 10.30am till 3pm Learn to make your own cough syrup, throat sweets, vapour rub & more. Find out about antiviral herbs that can be found in your kitchen, & traditional and modern cold/flu remedies. Take home a winter remedy recipe booklet and several winter remedies. The cost of the course is £45 (£10 deposit to secure your place). A light vegetarian lunch will be included.
Andrea Howell D.C. Chiropractor Q. Who is chiropractic treatment suitable for?
A. Chiropractic treatment is adaptable
to people of all ages, including babies, pregnant women & patients with osteoporosis. All fitness levels can benefit from treatment, from the more sedentary to professional sports players. Chiropractic can help a wide variety of patients, both long & short term pain sufferers, with severe/intense pain to niggles.
Q. How many treatments will I need?
A. A patient’s recovery can be
influenced by many factors such as age, lifestyle, type, duration of their problem & all these factors need to be taken into account. During your report of findings, we explain how many treatments you are likely to need & the likely timescales, as each patient is individual. Some patients need physical rehabilitation as well as treatment to help restore correct joint & muscle function, prolonging the benefits of treatment & some need/want supportive care to ensure their problem doesn't return.
Local News
News in the Community Lisvane and we did this as part of our taking our General Meetings ‘on the road’. I attended a meeting of the All Wales Neighbourhood Watch Group in Llandrindod Wells on Since my last article, we the 2nd October, and as a result have been very busy with of this meeting we will now be Neighbourhood Watch. working more closely with the It has been very busy on the Gwent Association. On the 5th “New Watch” front, with three October, I attended an Operation being set up in the Insole Court Perception in Danescourt, and Area - Llandaff, one in Ffordd on the 8th October, I manned Morganwg, Whitchurch and our stand at the ‘Cheese and two others in different parts of Crime’ evening which was held the city. Our General Meeting at the Western Leisure Centre, on 18th September in Lisvane Ely. As a result of this, I have also went very well, with an been asked to attend a meeting excellent talk and presentation in Michaelston on the 2nd on “Policing in the 21st December to help set up possibly Century” by Sgt Louise Lucas, several watches in that area. Station Sergeant for Llanishen. Our next big event is ‘Operation We had been invited to take Christmas Spirit’ which is on Neighbourhood Watch into 11th December and again we will be using a Mobile Police Station as our base, this time improving reception since 1979 in Queen Street between 9.15am and 12.15pm and For the design, supply and installation will be advising of aerial, satellite and internet TV services, members of the call your local Registered Digital public about Installer (RDI) security marking of their valuables. Mark Jones If any of you are interested in 07836 265259 setting up a watch in your area please contact your local Neighbourhood ID: 18266724 Policing Team or call our office on 02920 527301 and if I am in the office I will speak to you direct or, if not, please leave your contact 18 Twyn Y Fedwen, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1HU details and I will www.accurateaerials.com get back to you as Tel: 07836 265259 Email:accurateaerials@gmail.com soon as I can. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH With Bill Farnham
AccurateAerials
ROLLING UP WITH RHIWBINA INDOOR BOWLS CLUB Formed in 1968, for many years, games of bowls in Rhiwbina were played on roll down/roll up carpets. However, the efforts of a working party of members in 1985 saw the provision of a permanent two-rink facility in the village. Both rinks come in at 66ft in length. In 2013, the rinks were upgraded with the installation of a new Greengauge carpet. The men play friendly matches with other clubs in South Wales, and have internal competitions and social events. The ladies play in the Welsh Ladies Indoor Short Green Bowling Association, where they have achieved success last season by coming top! Over the years, they have provided a number of players to represent Wales. Towards the end of each season, both clubs join forces to raise funds for a nominated charity. In recent years, these have included Cancer Research and Wales Air Ambulance among others. Over the years, the Club’s members have achieved many County and International honours. Idris Evans, a local baker, had the honour of becoming the first club member to represent his country. A warm welcome awaits new members. Call John Salaman on 02920 626539 (men) or Jill Pitt on 02920 843308 (ladies).
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recipes
s t a e r T e v E s a m t is r Ch The hustle and bustle is done. Everything’s ready for the big day. Kick your shoes off, put your feet up and usher in the Christmas season with a few home bakes. Perfect with a glass of mulled wine or hot drink.
Home-made Sausage Rolls olive oil 1 red onion, peeled and finely sliced 1 sprig of fresh sage, leaves picked 1 handful of breadcrumbs fresh nutmeg, for grating 6 high quality pork sausages 250 g ready-made puff pastry 1 free-range egg a little milk
1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and add the onions. Cook gently for about 20 minutes until soft and golden brown. Add the sage leaves, cook for a couple of minutes more and then spread out on a plate to cool. 2. With a sharp knife, slit the skins of the sausages and squeeze the meat out. Put it in a mixing bowl with the cooled sage and onion mix and the breadcrumbs, then scrunch well with your clean hands. Mix together well. 3. On a floured work surface, roll the pastry out into a big rectangle as thick as a pound coin and cut it lengthways into two long, even rectangles. Roll the mixture into sausage shapes with your hands and lay along the centre of each rectangle. 4. Mix the egg and milk and brush the pastry with the mixture, then fold one side of the pastry over, wrapping the filling inside. Press down with your fingers or the edge of a spoon to seal the join. Cut the long rolls into the sizes you want and space them out on a baking tray. Brush with the rest of
the egg wash and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until puffed, golden and cooked through. Serve with piccalilli or brown sauce
Mini Mince Pies
175g self-raising flour 100g light muscovado sugar 1 tsp mixed spice 175g softened butter 3 eggs 2 tbsp milk about 140g mincemeat icing sugar, for dusting 1. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Line 12 bun tins with paper cases. Put the flour, sugar, spice, butter, eggs and milk into a mixing bowl and beat with an electric hand whisk or wooden spoon for 2-3 mins, until the mix is light and fluffy. 2. Put a spoonful of cake mix in each case, then a rounded tsp of mincemeat. Cover the mincemeat with a spoonful of cake mix and smooth. 3. Bake for 15-18 mins until golden brown and firm. Dust with icing sugar and serve warm or cold.
Mini Wenallt Hills 32 mini meringues 300ml double cream 2 tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for dusting 16 tsp sweetened chestnut purée icing sugar, for dusting
Trim the tops off the mini meringues. Softly whip the double cream with the icing sugar and divide this between the meringues. Top each with ½ tsp sweetened chestnut purée and dust with icing sugar before serving.
Guest Columnist NIKKI DELVE
BBQs, BIKINIS AND TEARS - IT’S CHRISTMAS DOWN UNDER
So it’s that time of year again; in the blink of an eye it’s the reckoning of naughty or nice. I tend to buy my own things as I can’t rely on Father Christmas turning a blind eye to my antics. I love Christmas. There I said it. I get giddy with excitement and have been known to push young children out of the way for a cuddle with a festive character dressed up to promote one thing or another. I cry at the adverts, I drink the mulled wine, I pray that carol singers will call. I love the annual bookie’s odds on a white Christmas and totally buy
into all the hype. In short I’m a marketer’s dream - if it’s about Christmas, smells like Christmas or looks like Christmas, then I dear sir, will have three! But one year my Christmas was turned upside down – quite literally. I’d gone travelling for a year and was three months into my trip. I was about to spend my very first Christmas away from home in Australia. When I arrived in Sydney, via Thailand on December 12th, there were banners everywhere saying ‘Happy Christmas’. “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” was blaring out through the arrivals hall. I thought ‘keep dreaming it’ll never happen’. We were in the height of an Aussie summer, 40 degrees
sweltering heat and it couldn’t have felt further from Christmas if it tried. All the Brits were in the same boat, a bit like Captain Cook. But we were in a hostel in Coogee and not one of us felt Christmassy at all. We decided to make the most of it and decorate our mixed dorm with tinsel, banners, and crepe paper. It looked like a party popper had had a heart attack and we loved it. My Christmas morning began with a thumping headache met with cheers all around our room. We were all a bit fragile from our booze cruise around Sydney harbour the night before and the remnants of various fancy dress were strewn around the floor. It was a brilliant night but we were paying the price now, especially in the baking heat. Christmas dinner was to be a BBQ and picnic with the obligatory accompaniment of goon. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of drinking such a delight, it’s a box of cheap wine with a warning on the back that says ‘may contain fish bones’. Yummy! It all started off so well. Bikini, booze and a BBQ with new found friends. It was awesome (dude). That is until a well-timed aeroplane went over the packed beach and spelt out “PHONE HOME” in its pretty joined up writing engine smoke. So I made like ET and did just that. One of my brothers answered the phone and I could hear the typical Christmas day chaos going on, shouts for help in the kitchen, laughter at a re-run of
Only fools and Horses, choruses of ‘Hi Nikki’ and ‘G’day Sheila!’. And with that, I broke down into drunken-12-hour-timedifference-heat-stroke tears. I was in paradise, yet all I wanted was to be at home in Cardiff eating brussel sprouts with my family and arguing over the TV remote. My Mam grabbed the phone and tried to calm me down but the goon and its fish bones had won. I was going all out now with my Oscar-winning-GwynethPaltrow-sobbing-comedy-gold speech. I think the fact that my credit ran out on my pay as you go saved the day. It saved me from showing myself up further, saved my Mam from having to put up with my dramatics and saved the family’s turkey from burning- although secretly I wished it was rubbish just because I wasn’t there to enjoy it too. I rang back the next morningtheir Christmas night, and laughed at how silly I’d been. Christmas was almost over for them yet, I still had the trip of a lifetime ahead. But in those moments, I knew what truly mattered. It’s about being with the people who you care about the most. The best gift you can give to anyone is presence and just like Dorothy I realised that at Christmas there’s no place like home. Happy Christmas X Nikki Delve
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