Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 55

News | People | Features | History | Lifestyle | Interiors 

Whitchurch & 

Llandaff Living 

At the heart of the community 

Issue 55 Oct/Nov '19 

AUTUMN 

Your multi award-winning community magazine

2 

Inside this issue 

Interview 

Former Whitchurch 

High School 

student Sarah 

Gilford talks 

about her life as 

a professional 

soprano 

Autumn Home 

Get cosy this 

autumn with our 

hand-picked 

collection of 

homeware and 

goodies 

Outdoors 

Get your wellies 

on, wrap up 

warm and make 

the most of life 

in autumn by 

heading outdoors 

History 

Steve Nicholas 

takes a look at 

railway photos 

from the local 

area in times 

gone by 

Winter deadline: 

4th November 2019 

Published 20th November 2019 

a: 222 Pantbach Road, 

Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG 

t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 

w: www.livingmags.co.uk 

e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or 

danielle@livingmags.co.uk 

Distribution: 6,000 copies of Whitchurch and 

Llandaff Living are distributed to retail outlets and 

public places across Whitchurch, Llandaff and 

Llandaff North five times a year. 

While every effort has been made to 

ensure the accuracy of the contents, 

the publisher cannot accept any 

responsibility for errors or omissions, 

or for any matter in any way arising 

from the publication of this material. 

Every effort has been made to 

contact any copyright holders. 

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an 

independent, apolitical publication. 

No part of this publication may be 

reproduced without the express 

written permission of the publishers. 

Welcome / Croeso 

Autumn is here! After enjoying 

a glorious summer and an 

Indian summer for most of 

September, any remaining hints 

of warm sunshine can't stop 

the leaves defiantly changing 

colour and succumbing to 

nature's call. 

The beauty of autumn is upon 

us, and with it, opportunities 

to embrace a different way 

of living as we adapt to the 

rhythms of the changing season. 

We traditionally gather in and 

gather around as the nights 

draw in, so it's the perfect 

chance to spend quality time 

with loved ones indoors. We 

present some ideas for how to 

make the most of the extra time 

we tend to have at home as the 

storms roll in and we hunker 

down. 

Preparing our homes for the 

weather and season ahead 

helps us to embrace and enjoy 

the change, so we have written 

a feature with ideas on how to 

adapt our homes. Our interior 

design product feature also 

gives us ideas for how to adorn 

our abode for autumn. 

Cosy times at home, keeping 

warm and sheltering from the 

darkness and cold, is tempered 

with an opportunity to enjoy the 

beautiful autumn days, still often 

filled with sunshine. Even when 

the weather is not favourable, 

there are seasonal activities to 

encourage us to get outdoors 

and enjoy the brisk air. So, we 

have compiled 10 things to do 

outdoors in autumn to promote 

the wellbeing that being 

outdoors in nature brings. 

There are, of course, always 

things to do in the garden 

during autumn and Kevin Revell 

suggests ways to retain colour 

What’s on 

Winter Wonderland 

Opens Friday 8th November 

City Hall, Cardiff 

Christmas food, rides and of course 

ice-skating - all set on Cardiff’s City 

Hall Lawn. 

Rhiwbina Christmas Festival 

Saturday 30th November 4pm-8pm 

Rhiwbina Village 

The highlight of the Rhiwbina winter 

calendar. 

in our outdoor spaces as well as 

preparing for the seasons ahead. 

The changing of the season 

reflects a goodbye and we say 

farewell to Whitchurch Hospital 

as it faces possible demolition 

by showcasing a series of 

photographs taken by County 

Asylums after the site was 

abandoned. The photographs 

depict some of the hospital's 

story and historical significance. 

For our interview, we spoke 

to Sarah Gilford who attended 

Whitchurch High School and 

is now a professional soprano 

working in Munich. She shares 

the story of her roots to her 

rise to fame and reflects on 

some of the local support she 

has received to achieve her 

ambitions. 

With all our usual local 

community news and events 

presented, you will find plenty to 

read and enjoy in this issue. So, 

grab a cup of something hot and 

snuggle down- we have even 

written a short story for those of 

you that like to read fiction. 

Please generously support 

our advertisers as always and 

we will see you again before 

Christmas! 

Danielle and Patric 

Editors 

@Whit_Llandaff 

www.facebook.com/ 

whitchurchandllandaffliving 

Llandaff Village Christmas Lights 

Wednesday 27th November 

Llandaff High Street 

Llandaff's big Christmas Light Switch 

On. 

Whitchurch Reindeer Run 

Saturday 7th December 5pm 

Whitchurch Village 

A one-mile fun run around 

Whitchurch village and an evening of 

festive celebration.

First of its kind Patient Support Unit 

opens at Velindre Hospital 

Llandaff North 

allotments 

awarded Gold 

news 

Photo: Mick Lobb 

The first service of its kind in Wales, 

at Velindre Cancer Centre, will 

relieve the side effects of treating 

head and neck cancer. 

Three hundred people with the 

cancer are referred to Velindre 

every year. They are treated with 

radiotherapy and chemotherapy 

which often leads to pain in 

the mouth and throat, making 

swallowing extremely difficult. 

Nausea, dehydration, malnutrition 

and depression are among the other 

side effects. 

Velindre has set up a new service 

– the Patient Support Unit - to help 

patients manage the side effects 

earlier and more effectively by 

improving their nutrition and fluid 

intake. 

Dr Mererid Evans, the consultant 

leading the service, said: 

“Patients with head and neck 

cancer typically undergo a gruelling 

six to seven week programme of 

daily radiotherapy combined with 

chemotherapy. The side effects 

can be brutal but, thanks to the 

generosity of our donors, we are 

introducing early nursing, dietetic 

and speech and language therapy 

support to prevent the worst of 

them. 

“Based on experience of a similar 

service in Canada, we hope to make 

a major difference in our patients’ 

quality of life. We will give people 

the knowledge and skills to manage 

some of their own care in the 

comforts of their own homes. This, in 

turn, will reduce the need to admit 

them to Velindre as inpatients.” 

Nicholas Frost, one of the first 

patients to use the service, said 

that, after his chemotherapy and 

radiotherapy: 

“I thought I’d be up and running 

but this was so hard. I couldn’t eat. I 

couldn’t drink. I had a burning neck, 

so many different symptoms. 

"But the staff put me on a drip 

straight away. No going home or 

going back. It’s all been so easy. All 

here in one complex.” 

The service has been funded by 

a donation from Andrew Probert, 

whose wife Jean was treated at 

Velindre for throat cancer. 

Reindeer Run returns to Whitchurch 

There will be the sound of hooves 

and sleigh bells as the annual 

Reindeer Run takes place on 

Saturday 7th December. 

The village celebrates the festive 

one-mile fun run with stalls, crafts, 

rides and late-night opening in 

some shops. There will also be live 

music, a free giant outdoor cinema 

and a festive finale. Organisers hope 

to raise over £10,000 for the RNLI. 

This is the fifth year of the event, 

which has always sold out. 

Participants are urged to reserve 

their places early if they are looking 

to take part in the run. 

For more information and to 

reserve a place, head to 

www.reindeer-run.co.uk 

Llandaff North Allotments have 

been awarded the RHS Wales 

in Bloom Gold Award for Best 

Allotments in Wales. 

Karen Francis said: 

"Thank you to everyone who 

worked so hard on their plots 

this year to impress the Wales 

In Bloom judges this summer. 

The site really did look blooming 

lovely on the day and we've 

received the news that we have 

walked away with a Gold Award." 

The judges deemed the 

allotments as 'outstanding'. 

Demand for allotments across 

the city is booming, with the 

average waiting time being 

one year and six months for an 

allotment in Cardiff. 

City Hospice in Whitchurch also 

picked up Silver in the Health 

& Social Care Establishments 

category. Wales in Bloom is the 

regional element of the National 

Britain in Bloom Competition 

supported by the Royal 

Horticultural Society. 

By-election date 

set for October 

A by-election will held in 

Whitchurch and Tongwynlais on 

Thursday 3rd October. 

The by-election was triggered 

following the death of Councillor 

Timothy Davies. Davies, who was 

lord mayor from 1995 to 1996, 

died in June. 

3

news 

New planters 

brighten up village 

4 

Two new planters have appeared in 

Whitchurch, opposite the entrance 

to St Mary’s Church. 

The planters were provided by 

Cardiff Council and were delivered 

during the summer. They are now 

in the care of Cardiff Breakfast 

Rotary, who have filled them with 

drainage and compost that was 

also donated by the Council. 

Cardiff Breakfast Rotary gave 

their thanks to those who offered 

additional plants, and praise was 

also given to the staff of Deli a 

GoGo, who offered to keep the 

plants watered, especially during 

the periods of very hot weather. 

By July, the planters had come 

into full bloom and were a cheerful 

sight. Now the club's thoughts 

have turned to how best to keep 

them looking good throughout the 

autumn. 

Cardiff Breakfast Rotary meets 

every Wednesday morning at 

7.30am in the Whitchurch Golf Club. 

Visitors are always welcome. More 

information about the Club can be 

found at 

www.cardiffbreakfastrotary.org 

Forest Farm 

appeal launched 

An appeal has been launched to 

raise £10,000 to repair damage 

caused to two bird hides at Forest 

Farm. 

The hides were regularly used by 

visitors to sit and watch the local 

wildlife in the area. 

But a local photographer found 

the hides in ruins when he visited 

the area in mid August. Despite the 

heavy rain that fell that weekend, 

the photographer found one of the 

hides 'smouldering' and beyond 

use. 

A fundraising page that has been 

set up to raise money to fund the 

replacement hide can be found at 

www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding 

/FriendsOfForestFarm 

Llandaff Archaeological Dig throws 

up interesting finds in the village 

Llandaff 50+ has been holding a 

community archaeological dig 

throughout September. 

The Dig, funded by the National 

Lottery Heritage Fund and the 

Cardiff YMCA (1910) Trust, has been 

taking place on the site of the old 

medieval cattle pound, next to the 

13th century Bishop’s Castle on 

Llandaff's High Street. 

Local schools have been taking 

part to experience the fun and 

learning of a dig. They have been 

supervised by archaeologists Dr 

Tim Young of GeoArch and Louise 

Mumford, Archivist of The Cathedral 

School, Llandaff. They have also 

been learning about the history 

of the ‘city within a city’ from local 

storyteller, Dick Berry. Llandaff 50+ 

and Llandaff Society volunteers 

have also been working throughout 

the event. 

Dr Tim Young said: 

"This is a rare opportunity for 

people from Llandaff and Cardiff to 

take part in an archaeological dig 

in a previously unexplored part of 

Llandaff. We're sure there'll be lots 

of interest from history enthusiasts." 

A viewing area for locals and 

visitors was also set up to enable 

them to watch the dig in progress. 

They also had the chance to 

book a session to try digging or 

washing and identifying any finds 

themselves. 

After the Dig, the site will be 

redeveloped to become part of The 

Pound, a Centre for Older People 

and a Heritage Information Centre 

for Llandaff. Funded by Welsh 

Government and the National 

Lottery Community Fund, the old 

Cardiff Council public toilet will be 

transformed into an eco-friendly 

building with solar slates, a sedum 

roof and rainwater harvesting (to 

flush the accessible toilet). With the 

help of architects Downs Merrifield, 

the aim is to produce a centre for 

older people and Llandaff that is 

both financially and ecologically 

sustainable. 

Llandaff 50+ is a registered 

charity to promote social inclusion 

among the over 50s in Llandaff, 

by the provision of facilities for 

social interaction, recreation and 

opportunities for volunteering. 

Llandaff Hub to pilot new scheme 

Llandaff North Hub is set to pilot a 

birth and death registration service 

on its premises. 

Birth registrations are currently 

undertaken at City Hall, with a small 

number each week also being 

registered at University Hospital 

Wales, where most deaths are 

registered. 

In order to improve accessibility 

for residents who may struggle to 

get to City Hall, a pilot scheme for 

registrations will be taking place 

from November onwards. 

There is a legal requirement to 

register a new birth within 42 days 

and to register a death within 5 

days. Registering must be done in 

person with a Registrar. 

The pilot will begin Tuesday 

5th November at 9am and every 

Tuesday thereafter. The scheme 

will be reviewed in due course with 

a view to rolling out the service to 

other Hubs across the city in the 

future.

Your letters 

WE 

letters 

WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 

We love to hear what you've been up to 

so send us your letters and photos! 

We'll do our best to print them all. 

editor@livingmags.co.uk 

Congratulations - 

but can we come 

to a compromise? 

Thank you for your interesting 

article 'Llandaff City Church in 

Wales Primary School at 50'. It 

brought back happy memories of 

when our two daughters (now in 

their 50s), were educated there 

under the excellent care of Mr 

Penhallurick, Miss Samuel, and 

their staff. 

At that time, the local residents 

were allowed to walk through 

the school grounds to the High 

Street and our elderly neighbour, 

Granny Picken, was sometimes 

allowed to walk through to join a 

class, or even school assembly, 

to talk about her school days - it 

was living history. 

Eventually, it was realised that 

it was not in the pupils' best 

interests to have folk walking 

past classroom windows during 

school hours. A compromise was 

arrived at whereby in return for 

a small yearly sum, residents of 

the Insole Court Estate rented an 

electronic tag that operated the 

gates, but only after school hours 

ie. 5pm-9pm, weekends and 

school holidays. 

Recently, the school unilaterally, 

decided to end this arrangement. 

As a result, residents, frequently 

elderly, have to take the long 

way around via either Western 

Avenue or Fairwater Road, both 

busy thoroughfares. 

We talk of a Church School 

which surely would be expected 

to be more concerned with the 

well-being and opinion of the 

largely Christian community in 

which it finds itself. 

Is it too late to hope for a 

solution more in keeping with 

the 50th celebration of the 'love 

your neighbour' tenets that they 

presumably espouse? 

Brenda Isaacs 

Llandaff 

Cardiff 

Autumn Poem 

The morning sun illuminates the 

Graig 

enhancing the hues of golden 

trees 

where a rainbow seems to 

originate: 

a colourful bridge in the blue 

ether, 

mountain clouds framing the 

horizon. 

This alluring view from the autumn 

hill 

relaxes my soul more than any pill, 

Do you recognise 

anyone in this 

photo? 

I recently came across this photo 

which I thought you might like to 

include in your next issue. 

So far, I've been able to collect 

the names listed below with some 

gaps that readers might be able to 

fill in. 

Back row: Gordon Tout/.../.../Tom 

Llewellyn/Jack Tucker/.../... 

Centre row: /.../Bert Simmons/... 

Jack Mahoney/.../? Williams/.../ 

Buller Wright/.../Sgnt Smith? 

Front row: Bob Thomas/Steve 

Evans/Len Wright/?Whitcombe/ 

Tommy King/.../.../ 

Breath disappearing ghost-like in 

the air 

as raindrops drip as if a tap, 

glistening jewels in the sunshine. 

Then the rainbow weakens, 

vanishing 

as dark clouds menace the sky 

once more. 

The show's over but I'll remember 

this beautiful sight...deep in 

November. 

Guy Fletcher 

Rhiwbina 

Kneeling/Sitting: /.../Danny 

Thomas/.../Eddie Boyer/.../ 

Eddie Boyer, my Dad, was born 

in May 1907 and looks to be in his 

early 20s in this photo so that gives 

a rough idea of the date. It could 

have been a team playing for the 

old Tinworks or maybe another 

Whitchurch team. 

I'd also like to thank you for all the 

pleasure you bring to us readers. 

Jean Simmons 

Whitchurch 

Do you know anyone in the photo? 

Drop us a line at editor@livingmags. 

co.uk or write to us at our usual 

address on the inside front over of 

this magazine. 

5

Christmas 

at 

Pugh’s Christmas Shop Opening Weekend 

Friday 11th – Sunday 13th October 

Marvel in the magic of Christmas at Pugh’s! Wander down walkways of beautiful 

baubles and dazzling decorations and soak up the festive ambience. Give your 

Christmas some extra sparkle and get yourself ready for making magical memories 

with your family at the most wonderful time of the year. 

Festive Food Taster Weekend 

Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November 

Calling all foodies! Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a delicious display of free festive 

food tasters inside Pugh’s Food Hall. We’ll be showcasing speciality food to tempt 

your taste buds plus you can shop our huge range of Christmas culinary delights. 

You can even get your Christmas meat orders in from Farmers Pantry Butchers. 

‘Tis the season to indulge! 

Booking not essential for the events listed. More details can be found at our Facebook page 

Tynant Nurseries, Morganstown, 

Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8LB 

PughsGardenVillageRadyr 

02920 848000 

www.pughsgardencentre.co.uk/radyr

Also proudly sponsored by Whitchurch and Llandaff Living

The 

Voice 

The former Whitchurch High School 

student talks about her life as a 

professional soprano 

"I'm only back for a week," says 

Sarah Gilford. 

The 27 year old soprano is taking 

some much-needed time out at 

her North Cardiff home, although 

home these days can also be 

considered Munich, where she is 

currently undertaking a Young Artist 

Programme. Over the last 12 years, 

Sarah has been building her singing 

career and enjoying every moment 

along the way. 

"I'm trying to think of where it all 

started. It must have been at school. 

My parents still have videos of one 

of the nativity plays I was in and we 

put it on the other day. It was so 

funny watching it back. I went for 

the loud and wrong approach back 

then!" she laughs. 

"My aunty is an amateur singer and 

the idea of me singing has always 

been there. I went to Llanishen Fach 

Primary School and when they gave 

me a main role in their Christmas 

play, I started thinking about singing 

properly. I played the title role of 

Snow Robin. It was my first big 

break I guess and that’s where it 

started. I was in Year 2 so I was 7 

years old." 

With Sarah deciding what she 

wanted to do at an early age, her 

parents were the first to offer their 

backing. 

"My parents were never pushy 

and my mum waited for me to 

beg for singing lessons because 

they were so expensive. She didn’t 

want me doing them if I wasn’t 

that interested. You have to really 

commit to something like that. I 

started lessons at the age of 10, 

when I was also interested in doing 

8 

musical theatre. I soon realised 

that I was never going to be a high 

level dancer so my singing teacher 

suggested that I try classical 

singing. It was the best thing for me 

in the end." 

High school was the foundation 

of what was to become a 

professional career. Sarah began 

appearing in school concerts and 

other competitions like the Urdd 

Eisteddfod. 

"I went to Whitchurch High School 

where they had a great music 

department. Mr Phillips, the Head of 

Music there, was a big supporter of 

mine. Every year at school, we used 

to sing outside Queen’s Arcade to 

raise money for Velindre Hospital. 

My first proper singing teacher was 

a lady in Whitchurch called Angela 

Morris-Parry, who really helped 

me. I did wonderful things like the 

South Glamorgan Festival of Young 

Musicians and ended up at the 

age of 18 winning the best overall 

singing prize. I really worked my 

way up. I went from knee-knocking, 

terrible singing to winning a lot and 

it really built up my confidence. 

Angela taught me for about ten 

years and I learned a lot from her." 

While other teenagers would 

perhaps spend time on video 

games and social media, Sarah was 

setting about building a career for 

herself. 

"I was 15 when I made my first 

CD," she says. "During my last year 

of Sixth Form, I auditioned for four 

UK music conservatories and was 

unsuccessful. I auditioned again 

a year later and received a place 

at the Royal Northern College of 

Music in Manchester. That's where 

I went to do my undergraduate 

degree. Four years didn’t seem 

long enough. I got to my fourth 

year and felt that I was only just 

starting to understand what my 

teacher had been trying to get 

me to do. I stayed for another year 

where I continued lessons with my 

teacher Debbie Rees and gained 

some stage experience, including 

a substantial role in Mozart’s opera, 

Così fan tutte.” 

Sarah's years at the Royal Northern 

helped develop her language skills 

- as well as all-important stage 

experience. 

"They give you bum pads when 

you're working in period costume 

so you’re actually a lot wider than 

you think you are when you're on 

stage. I remember in my first dress 

rehearsal, I was supposed to be 

trashing this room up but in a very 

staged and organised way. But 

because of my bum pad, I ended 

up taking tables and chairs with me 

and destroying things I shouldn’t 

have. It was a great learning 

experience for me!" 

After five years at the Royal 

Northern, Sarah took a full year out 

but got involved with a few opera 

festivals, including landing a role 

with Longborough Festival Opera. 

"It was the same director who’d 

worked with me on the Mozart 

opera at the Royal Northern. Also 

that summer, I won the W Towyn 

Roberts Scholarship at the National 

Eisteddfod. It's the biggest singing 

prize that you can win there. 

"I don’t speak Welsh so I got some 

of my Welsh-speaking friends and

my first-ever singing teacher that 

I had in Cardiff to give me some 

guidance. Everyone was shocked 

when they found out that I don’t 

speak Welsh. I was lucky that the 

panel had all worked internationally. 

I won £5k which went straight 

towards my Masters degree in 

London." 

Effectively taking two years out 

had allowed Sarah to build on her 

skill levels and enrich herself with 

experience that was put to good 

use when she started her Masters 

degree. 

"It really paid off because 

throughout my masters at the Royal 

Academy of Music, everything I 

auditioned for, I got. I’d developed 

my experience and technical ability 

in those two years and it’s all helped 

propel me into this professional 

career." 

After completing her Masters, 

Sarah set about making her next 

move. 

"I'd decided that I didn’t want 

another year off and that I wanted to 

go into an opera school or a Young 

Artist Programme. I auditioned for 

several places and was offered a 

place at the Guildhall Opera School 

but then I also got an audition at 

the Bavarian State Opera and went 

there thinking ‘absolutely not a 

chance’. I didn’t feel that I was ready. 

"I got through to the second 

round and then to my surprise, 

they offered me a place. Out of 900 

people, they only took three of us. 

I’ve worked really hard and have 

never taken anything for granted." 

Her residency in Munich is set to 

last one year, but more often than 

not, young artists are kept on for a 

second year. 

"This one opportunity in Munich 

has made a big difference to my 

life. You have to have so much 

resilience in this trade. More 

importantly, you need to believe 

in yourself. Even when I was doing 

A Level Music, I realised that this 

industry is a very subjective one. 

Not everybody’s going to like you 

but there will be somebody out 

there who will. And you’ll always 

end up in the right place if you stay 

true to yourself and you know what 

you want, especially from an early 

age. If I didn’t get any parts that I'd 

auditioned for, I’d tell myself that 

it wasn’t for me. You have to fail in 

order to learn." 

Sarah's attitude to both her work, 

and life, speaks volumes about her 

tenacity and focus. 

"I was very academic but I’ve never 

needed the qualifications that I’ve 

achieved. In auditions, no one asks 

me whether I got a First or not. In 

the singing world, you might have a 

really great degree but you may not 

necessarily have a career in it. If you 

want to have a career in any of the 

arts, you need to be clear on what 

you want in life." 

For now, Sarah is focusing on 

honing her skills. 

"Classical singing is a fine art 

similar to ballet. You learn to 

use your voice and body in the 

most efficient way in order to be 

heard over an orchestra without 

amplification. 

"I will be nervous for my first 

official opera in Munich. I always get 

nervous but I do enjoy the set up 

of the stage and the audience. You 

can see the first few rows of people 

before they disappear in the dark 

but when I’ve got a costume on and 

I’m armed with stage directions, 

I feel less nervous because I feel 

less exposed than when I sing in 

concerts or recitals. The closer the 

audience is, the more nervous I get. 

"It’s perfectly natural for me to 

get nervous but I think what’s 

changed is the way I view it. I see 

it more as excitement now, rather 

than worrying about what might go 

wrong. Nerves can help as long as 

they’re kept at a manageable level." 

As well as keeping nerves under 

control, there's also the challenge 

of remembering all the words: 

"When I was younger, I used to 

learn the words no problem but the 

older I get, the harder I find it. I now 

write out what I’m learning, over 

and over. I speak it out if I’m walking 

down the street – it’s like a constant 

engagement with what I’m doing. I 

don’t feel like I can have time away 

from it. 

"With opera, when you go into 

production, it helps sometimes 

when you have to sing a line with a 

certain stage direction. The music 

is also a helpful association when 

trying to memorise the words. You 

end up remembering them forever." 

Sarah performs at the National Eisteddfod 2017 

interview 

Emboldened with skills, 

experience and talent, Sarah is 

looking to develop her career even 

further. 

"My proudest achievement to 

date is being offered a place on the 

Young Artist Programme that I'm 

now working through. I’ve learnt 

how to pronounce German, French, 

Italian, Welsh, Russian and Czech 

but I’ve never learnt languages. If 

there’s one thing I’d love to get out 

of being in Germany, it’d be to learn 

the language." 

And to prove that life works in 

circles, Sarah recounts a story that 

proves how far she'd come in just 

ten years. 

"Recently, Mr Phillips from 

Whitchurch High School invited me 

to do a Christmas concert with the 

Cardiff and Vale Youth Orchestra 

at Hoddinot Hall and it turned out 

to be exactly ten years later than 

the last time I sang with the same 

orchestra. It was nice to go back 

with so much more experience 

and it was nice to indulge in the 

nostalgia. 

"It’s been a great privilege winning 

lots of awards and I do feel very 

supported. The Arts Council of 

Wales, the Ryan Davies Memorial 

Trust, the John Fussell Trust 

and the Hartsheath Charitable 

Trust, all Welsh funding bodies, 

have all played their part and I’m 

hoping that this is the start of my 

professional career." 

Looking ahead, there are still a few 

achievements on the to-do list. 

"I would really love to compete in 

Cardiff Singer of the World and also 

sing with Welsh National Opera. 

But in the meantime, and in terms 

of my immediate career, I’m just 

going to keep taking everything in 

and working hard while I’m here in 

Munich." 

Find out more about Sarah at 

www.sarahgilford.com 

9

Outstanding School for Girls 

and Boys aged 3-18 

‘Excellent’ in all five inspection areas. Estyn 2018 

Ignite the spark 

OPEN AFTERNOON 

FOR YEAR 7 ENTRY 2020 

Friday 15th November, 2.00-3.00pm 

Volunteer 

with us 

We help older people to 

declutter their homes and 

record their memories 

Contact Safer Wales 

02920 22 00 33 

Visit www.cathedral-school.co.uk/opendays to book 

029 2083 8504 

registrar@cathedral-school.co.uk 

www.cathedral-school.co.uk

Top tips for a smooth start to the school year 

by Rebecca Salter of Kip McGrath Cardiff West 

If last year left you feeling 

concerned about your child’s 

progress, motivation or confidence, 

the following tips are a great way 

to ensure that they have the best 

possible start to the year! 

A good night's sleep 

Setting up a regular bedtime and 

wake-up routine is a crucial step to 

prepare your child for class. 

New year anxieties 

If your child felt a bit anxious going 

back to school, keep a positive 

attitude. Recall the fun and exciting 

events, field trips, projects, and 

so on from years past; show 

excitement about the opportunities 

for learning new things in the 

upcoming year. 

Get talking 

Asking your child about school is 

important. It shows her that you 

value her education. Try to avoid 

general questions, like "How was 

your day?" These will most likely 

produce one-word answers. 

Instead be more specific: “Tell me 

something that made you laugh 

today.” 

Homework help 

Helping your child with his 

homework is an effective way to 

show concern and interest into 

what he learns at school. Displaying 

your child's projects around the 

house also helps to keep learning 

excitement high. 

Keep your eyes (and ears) 

open 

If your child's eating or sleeping 

habits have changed drastically, 

it may be a sign that she's having 

difficulty adjusting to her new class. 

Read, read, read 

Reading with your child is an 

invaluable way to spend quality 

time together on a daily basis. 

In addition to other long-term 

benefits, reading together can also 

be a practical way to grasp an idea 

of his reading level. 

Communicate with your 

child’s teacher 

Teachers can alert you to any 

emotional, social, or academic 

difficulties they perceive in your 

child at school. The same works in 

reverse: notify the teacher about 

changes that might affect your 

child's behaviour in school. Some 

examples are illness, divorce, 

bereavement, a recent move, or a 

parent getting a new job. 

If you’re concerned that your child 

is going to struggle during the next 

school year, bring them along to 

Kip McGrath Cardiff West for a free 

maths and English assessment. 

Call Rebecca on 02920 628568 to 

discuss your concerns and make a 

plan to help them succeed. 

A: Unit 3, Hollybush Estate, Coryton 

Cardiff CF14 7DS 

T: 02920 628568 

W: kipmcgrath.co.uk/cardiff-west 

Sponsored feature

lifestyle 

All Gathered In 

The 

As the season turns, and the evenings get darker, it's the perfect 

time to have quality time indoors with friends and family 

12 

Movie Night 

There can probably be nothing 

more cosy than snuggling 

down with family and friends 

and having a good ol' movie 

night. 

Pick your movies in advance 

(why not go with a double bill?) 

and arrange the furniture so 

that you've all got the best view. 

Prepare some snacks and hot 

food in advance and make sure 

that you're stocked up on drink 

too. If you want to do it properly, 

you're going to have to have a 

good supply of popcorn at the 

ready. Don't forget the buckets! 

If you're wanting to be 

extra cosy, throw in a load of 

cushions and blankets for you 

and your guests to hunker 

down under. 

Bake 

The kitchen is often a hub of 

activity during the autumn 

months as we all turn in from the 

cold and prepare ourselves some 

nice warming meals. 

Baking is another way of 

spending quality time with 

friends and family. If you're 

spending time with young 

children, it's always worth 

involving them and helping them 

forge their childhood memories. 

You don't need to be an expert 

either. Grab some simple recipes 

- cookies or chocolate brownies - 

you can often find everything you 

need in one handy packet at the 

supermarket. 

Creating something together 

helps create a sense of 

achievement and strengthens 

bonds between family or friends. 

Plan a Party 

Autumn, of course, is a time of 

Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night 

parties. 

A successful party always has 

a good amount of planning put 

into it and if you are thinking 

of holding one, remember 

to invite people early so that 

they can put the date in their 

diaries. Friends and family often 

plan their calendars months in 

advance and you don't want to 

be left without any guests. 

You may want to think about 

what types of food and games 

your party will have and you 

may also want to think about 

what kind of decor you'll want 

to have in your home too. Either 

way, getting it all ready at least a 

week in advance will mean that 

you can spend quality time with 

loved ones instead of stressing.

Murder Mystery Evening 

A Murder Mystery Evening can be a huge amount of fun, bringing 

everyone together and creating new memories with old friends. 

Prior to the party, you can purchase a murder mystery party kit. The 

kit includes a story about a murder, which usually occurs either during 

the course of the dinner or before the party begins. Guests are cast 

as characters and should arrive in fancy dress as their nominated 

character. Together or separately, all participants (apart from the 

murderer) work to solve the mystery. 

Wine Tasting 

Evening 

Book yourself a night in with some 

wine and friends. If you're looking 

to do things properly, introduce a 

theme to your wine tasting evenings 

- maybe base it on geographical 

regions or by country. Also ensure 

that all of your wines are ready 

to serve at their appropriate 

temperatures 

Prepare fresh crusty bread and 

maybe some cheese to soak up the 

alcohol too. 

Games Night 

Board games aren't just for kids 

although you can include them if 

you wish. Always have a selection 

of games on hand to suit your 

audience. When the kids go to 

bed, you can bring out the more 

challenging and grown-up games. 

Invite close friends to make sure 

that the evening is an intimate 

affair - large groups are often hard 

to control whereas meaningful 

conversation can be had in smaller 

groups. 

Prepare some finger food in 

advance so that you don't have to 

keep people waiting while you're 

in the kitchen. You may also want 

to think about where you play the 

game. A dining table can be useful 

if you are serving food whereas 

playing around a coffee table can 

bring a more relaxed vibe to your 

evening. Background music is 

optional but don't make it too loud 

or distracting. 

Keep a good stash of drink so that 

you don't have to disappear during 

the evening and your guests may 

also appreciate a nice dessert as a 

victory prize - providing they win of 

course. Personalising their playing 

pieces, if possible, is also a nice 

touch. 

Crafting 

Autumn provides us with rich 

pickings to craft with, especially 

with children. 

Your local park can supply 

you with leaves for leaf printing, 

conkers for marbling, and other 

bits and bobs to create collages. 

Use nature's gifts to create an 

autumn wreath or why not create 

a garland that you can hang up in 

your home? 

You can also help craft clothing 

and blankets for the colder months 

ahead. Knitting has always been 

a popular pastime and creating a 

scarf, hat or jumper for winter will 

keep you busy for hours. 

Kids will love creating their own 

scarecrow too and you can always 

pop this in your garden to remind 

you of your autumn memories. 

Plan for Christmas 

It's not too far away and now is a 

good time to start planning. 

Getting the Christmas card list 

done is always a good place to 

start before you can think about 

Christmas gifts. Get your calendar 

out too and start planning any 

activities that you want to do. 

Involving friends and family in your 

plans will ramp up the excitement 

levels. 

Mince pies are probably on sale in 

some shops now so stock up, put 

the kettle on and plan for festive 

times ahead. 

13

We’re now fully 

open after our 

refurbishment for 

lunch, dinner and 

takeaways 

Monday-Saturday 12pm-2pm and 6pm-10pm 

All major cards accepted and 10% off for takeaways 

73B Merthyr Rd, Cardiff CF14 1DD 

029 2061 1222 

Polished. Professional 

+44 (0)29 20 

606 458 

Nail extensions, acrylic and gel. 

Full range of Shellac colours and 

extensive choice of nail art. 

1 st Floor, 3 Bishops Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1LT 

www.naildivas.co.uk 

• Child Care Law 

• Conveyancing 

• Employment Law 

• Family Law 

Service. Expertise. Community. 

• Litigation 

Call Robertsons today on 

• Personal Injury Claims 

029 2023 7777 

• Probate, Wills & Trusts 

www.robsols.co.uk 

law@robsols.co.uk

— FOR — 

GROWING 

FAMILIES 

— 

If you want a new home but don’t want to wait, 

Readymade homes are perfect for you. 

Choose a Readymade home and benefi t from hand-picked kitchen 

and bathroom designs expertly chosen by our Interior Designers. 

The Highgate 5 bedroom home - Plot 84 from £554,995. 

Your new home will also feature these exclusive incentives: 

✔ Kitchen upgrade ✔ Curtains & blinds throughout ✔ Silestone worktops 

✔ Polished chrome downlights throughout ✔ Carpet & flooring throughout 

Complete and ready for you to call home, discover our limited range 

of Readymade homes and book your appointment today. 

Parc Plymouth at Plasdŵr 

Cardiff CF15 8GU 

3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes from 

£309,995 

For more information contact: 

02920 600 754 

or visit: 

redrow.co.uk 

Details correct at time of going to print, terms and conditions apply, visit www.redrow.co.uk for full details. Images are indicative only.

history 

Soul Asylum 

Whitchurch Hospital is facing possible demolition in the near future. 

Historians were allowed into the grounds immediately after its 

closure, and were allowed to document its final chapter forever 

During its century-long tenure, 

Whitchurch Hospital saw many 

patients and staff pass through its 

doors. 

Its existence can be attributed 

to the boom of the city at the 

start of the twentieth century. 

Under extreme pressure from 

a ballooning population, Cardiff 

Council reluctantly decided to 

build the hospital. From a long 

list of candidates, Dr Edwin 

Goodall was appointed as Medical 

Superintendent. He insisted from 

the start that the new asylum 

should not be titled such; it was 

to be a mental hospital. He made 

no distinction between male and 

female staff; male staff were to be 

16 

nurses not attendants. Cure was a 

possibility and research vital. His 

therapies would go on to acquire a 

reputation at the forefront of mental 

health care. 

Costing £350,000 and taking ten 

years to build, the hospital opened 

on 15th April 1908. Like many 

Victorian institutes, it was designed 

as a self-contained institute, with 

its own 150 feet water tower atop a 

power house containing two steamengine 

powered electric generator 

sets. The site also contained a 

farm, which provided both food 

supplies and therapeutic work for 

the patients. 

During the First World War, the 

facility was renamed the Welsh 

Metropolitan War 

Hospital. During the 

Second World War, 

part of the hospital 

was turned over to the 

military, becoming the 

largest emergency 

service hospital in South 

Wales, treating British, 

American and German 

personnel. 

On 5th July 1948, the 

hospital was taken over by the 

Ministry of Health as the National 

Health Service came into existence. 

After the introduction of Care in 

the Community in the early 1980s 

the hospital went into a period of 

decline and the number of resident 

patients reduced. 

In November 2010, the Cardiff 

and Vale University Health Board 

decided that it was preferable to 

centralise all adult mental health 

care services at Llandough. The 

hospital finally closed its doors in 

April 2016. 

The Whitchurch Hospital Historical 

Society still keep the memories of 

Whitchurch Hospital alive through 

meetings and exhibitions. 

You can find more about the 

society at 

www.whitchurchhospital.co.uk. 

We are extremely grateful to the 

people at County Asylums, who 

have allowed us to reproduce 

images and information for this 

feature. You can find more of 

their work at 

www.countyasylums.co.uk 

Images and information courtesy of County Asylums and Ross Harverson

17

ST DAVID’S 

SIXTH FORM 

OPEN EVENINGS 

24th October / 13th November 

4:30pm - 7:30pm 

Register online at: 

www.stdavidscollege.ac.uk 

Inspiring and supporting success since 1987 

Christmas at 

CAERPHILLY 

GARDEN CENTRE 

Just off the A470 

RESTAURANT 

GIFTS & HOME 

GARDEN & 

OUTDOOR 

We’ve got a great Christmas lineup 

right here in our garden centre at 

Nantgarw, including delicious festive 

menus in the restaurant, dazzling 

Christmas decorations to get you in 

the festive mood and of course Santa 

in his grotto from November 11th! 

Penrhos, Nantgarw, Cardiff CF15 7UN 

www.caerphillygardencentre.co.uk 029 2086 1511

HYD AT 

30% ODDI AR Y PRIS – 

TANYSGRIFIWCH NAWR! 

UP TO 30% OFF – 

SUBSCRIBE 

NOW! 

CYFRES 

CYNGHERDDAU 

RHYNGWLADOL 

2019/20 

INTERNATIONAL 

CONCERT SERIES 

2019/20 

Nos Fercher 9 Hydref | Wednesday 9 October 2019 | 7:30pm 

MOSCOW PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 

Simonov/Donohoe 

Dydd Sul 27 Hydref | Sunday 27 October 2019 | 3:00pm 

CERDDORFA OCC/WNO ORCHESTRA 

Hanus/Muller-Schott 

Nos Wener 8 Tachwedd | Friday 8 November 2019 | 7:30pm 

PRAGUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

Inkinen/Pavlů/Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral Choir 

Nos Fercher 27 Tachwedd | Wednesday 27 November 2019 | 7:30pm 

PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA 

Ashkenazy/Shoji 

Nos Fawrth 3 Rhagfyr | Tuesday 3 December 2019 | 7:30pm 

MANCHESTER CAMERATA & CRAIG OGDEN 

Dydd Sul 15 Rhagfyr | Sunday 15 December 2019 | 3:00pm 

THE SIXTEEN 

Dydd Sul 19 Ionawr | Sunday 19 January 2020 | 4:00pm 

CERDDORFA A CHORWS CENEDLAETHOL CYMREIG Y BBC, 

CERDDORFA OCC/BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA & CHORUS OF 

WALES, WNO ORCHESTRA – BEETHOVEN 1808 BENEFIT CONCERT 

Nos Iau 30 Ionawr | Thursday 30 January 2020 | 7:30pm 

EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA 

Stegeman/Goldscheider 

Nos Iau 13 Chwefror | Thursday 13 February 2020 | 7:30pm 

ICELAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

Tortelier/Bavouzet 

Nos Wener 6 Mawrth | Friday 6 March 2020 | 7:30pm 

ARMONICO CONSORT 

Monks 

Nos Wener 13 Mawrth | Friday 13 March 2020 | 7:30pm 

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 

Fischer/Little 

Nos Wener 3 Ebrill | Friday 3 April 2020 | 7:30pm 

PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA 

Heras-Casado/Kharitonov 

Dydd Sul 26 Ebrill | Sunday 26 April 2020 | 3:00pm 

CERDDORFA OCC/WNO ORCHESTRA 

Hanus/Adams 

Nos Lun 18 Mai | Monday 18 May 2020 | 7:30pm 

AURORA ORCHESTRA 

Collon/Benedetti 

Nos Sadwrn 6 Mehefin | Saturday 6 June 2020 | 7:30pm 

ROYAL LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 

Chan/Kanneh-Mason

Hunker down 

Autumn is a beautiful season, bringing with it colours of reds, oranges and 

yellows. It's the perfect time of year to get your house ready for winter 

An Autumn Welcome 

As well as cheering up any guests 

you get to your house, a warm 

welcome to your home is a nice 

thing for you to come home to. 

It should still be warm enough to 

give your door a lick of paint if you 

have a wooden one. If you don't 

have a wooden door, you may want 

to invest in a new door handle or 

20 

letterbox. 

Late summer is also a good time 

to tidy up the outside of the house, 

especially the front as that'll be 

the area that will be getting more 

attention during the colder months. 

If you have room, consider 

planting a few small evergreens 

to maintain some colour during 

the autumn and winter. Winterflowering 

plants are also an option. 

Inside the doorway, put away any 

summer sandals and flip flops. This 

is Wellington boot season after all! 

Make sure that your clothes pegs 

are strong enough to take the 

winter coats that will no doubt 

be hung on them. A new sturdy 

welcome mat will also be a good 

addition, as well as getting some 

kind of umbrella stand for those 

rainy days. 

Keeping Warm 

It goes without saying that as 

the colder weather approaches, 

you're going to need to think about 

keeping warm. 

It's worth getting someone to 

bleed all your radiators and maybe 

even check your boiler is in working 

order before you start using it. 

The last thing you want is to find 

yourself stuck without warmth 

when you most need it. 

If you're fortunate enough to have 

a wood-burning fire or a working 

fireplace, get your chimney cleaned 

before you start using it. It's also 

prudent to start stocking up on 

firewood and kindling - you can 

never get enough of this when it 

gets really cold! Also make sure 

that all your fire alarms are in good 

working order. 

It may also be worth investing 

in some pipe lagging now. When 

winter comes in earnest, burst 

pipes are a most unwelcome 

problem. 

If you spend most of your time in 

your living room, get yourself some 

throws and blankets to snuggle 

under on stormy nights. As well as 

feeling cosy, these can also have a 

more practical purpose by helping 

to limit heating costs. They look 

very nice too!

Light up dark corners 

with table lamps 

Sorting 

Getting your house in order always 

makes you feel better. As autumn 

and winter roll in, we're not able to 

utilise the outside spaces as much 

as we'd like. It's worth making 

the best of the last summer 

sunshine to clear out our sheds 

and outhouses so that we can use 

them properly in winter. 

Inside the house, go through your 

kitchen cupboards and throw out 

any items that you're not going 

to use or are gone off. You'll be 

surprised at how long some things 

have been there! It's also a good 

idea to stock up on larder basics, 

so that you can quickly rustle up a 

nice warming meal when you get 

home. If you've made home-made 

jams or chutneys with harvest fruit, 

store these away for a rainy day 

and decant pasta or rice into nicelooking 

jars. Clean out the fridge 

and if you have time, get the oven 

cleaned too. 

Elsewhere, pack away summer 

clothes and give your winter coats 

a good airing. Get your comfy 

slippers out and leave them in the 

hallway so that you can pop them 

on when you come in. 

Blankets are not only comfortable 

but can save on your heating bills 

Lighting 

With natural light fading by the 

day, we turn to other means to 

illuminate our homes. 

Lamps are probably one of the 

best ways to make our homes 

cosy, lighting up any darks corners 

of the house and bringing a sense 

of warmth. 

Wooden bases bring depth to 

your home and if you add autumncoloured 

shades, you'll be bringing 

the outside in without the weather. 

Make the brightness appropriate 

to the room. 

One thing you won't want to 

overlook is the type of bulb that 

you're using. You won't want to use 

anything that will give off too much 

glare but you also don't want to 

leave yourself too short on light. 

Dimmer switches can help if you 

have the budget to install these. 

Exterior lighting can welcome 

any autumnal visitors, especially 

around your front door and porch 

area. If you are lucky enough to 

have a front garden path, consider 

adding lamps or even a security 

light that will come on when 

triggered by a sensor. 

home 

Dining 

Autumn is an ideal time of year to 

invite friends over for cosy suppers 

so if you have a separate dining 

area in your house, you'll want it 

looking its best. 

Keeping it simple is one way to 

go, with clean white linens and 

dark wood to stay in-keeping with 

the season. If you are planning 

on serving up hearty casseroles, 

go for deep bowls and chunky 

cutlery, serving up chunky bread 

in rattan baskets. Candles will 

provide visual warmth and a 

runner across your dining table will 

add a touch of luxury. 

Finishing touches 

Now is the time of year to take 

down any light curtains and put 

up thicker, heavier versions. If your 

front door is draughty, consider 

hanging a door curtain there. It 

will help keep your house warm 

throughout the day and night. 

Throwing a few rugs underfoot 

will help, especially on hard floor 

surfaces such as stone or wood. 

You'll appreciate this when you're 

stepping out of bed or the shower. 

The final finishing touches should 

include soft furnishings that will 

help complete the look. Heavy 

throws and blankets are perfect for 

snuggling down with, both for you 

and any guests. 

If you're the sort of person that 

likes buying nik-naks for the home, 

look for ones made of wood or 

other natural products. It could 

also be a good time to hang some 

new pictures on your walls that are 

more in keeping with this time of 

year. 

If you don't have a log burner, you 

can now buy candles that give off 

the aroma of burning wood and 

even crackle as they burn. Smells 

are just as powerful as sights in 

creating a seasonal home. 

21

10% OFF 

all AW19 

collection 

with this 

advert 

until 10th November 

Step into Autumn 

Independent Boutique in Rhiwbina 

Find us in Rhiwbina village 

Park outside the store in Lon Fach Shopping Mews 

9-11 Lon Fach 

Rhiwbeina 

CF14 6DY 

www.calonrhiwbeina.com 

tel: 029 20610722 

email: info@calonrhiwbeina.com

COLOURFUL KITCHENS at Leekes 

With the changing season you may 

be spending more time indoors. As 

the heart of the home, the kitchen is 

the ideal sanctuary during the colder 

months so if you are looking to take 

the first step to update your kitchen 

you’ll find all the inspiration you need 

at Leekes. 

Trends in kitchen design are constantly 

evolving so it’s essential to choose a 

style that suits you and your property. 

Sleek lines, matt finishes and handleless 

cabinet options will create a 

contemporary edge and are ideal for 

newer properties. For period-style 

homes opt for a more traditional look 

that incorporates versatile painted 

finishes with neutral tones to add 

character and warmth. 

With dark greys and blues dominating 

the kitchen market in recent years, look 

forward to a change in mood through 

Autumn/Winter with more adventurous 

and bold designs now taking centre 

spot light. Sultry shades of blue and 

green will continue to be popular, but 

bright and beautiful colour are also 

being introduced. Use colour sparingly 

on an island or with the use of splash 

backs, or be as bold as you desire with 

colours used throughout. 

At Leekes we’ve an extensive 

array of design options available to 

suit every style and budget from 

leading brands including Rotpunkt, 

Symphony and Laura Ashley to 

choose from, the possibilities are 

endless. Visit one of our kitchen 

designers in store today for your free 

consultation. 

FOR OVER 

120 YEARS 

EST. 1897 

Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road RCT. CF72 8XU 

Tel: 0800 038 3050 | Online: leekes.co.uk/kitchens

1 

2 

4 

3 

The autumn home 

1. Chequered Faux 

Suede Cushion £15 

Add a burst of colour to 

your home with this lively, 

colourful faux suede 

cushion cover featuring a 

stunning patchwork. The 

delicate, furry material 

provides a soft touch which 

is easy to maintain. 

www.ethical.market 

24 

2. Stovax Vogue Midi 

Log Burner £1409 

Offering a superb 

view of the flames, the 

versatile styling of the 

Stovax Vogue Midi wood 

burning and multi-fuel 

stove fits perfectly into 

contemporary and 

traditional interiors alike. 

Limegreen 

3. British Made 100% 

Recycled Wool Throw 

£18 

This British-made recycled 

100% wool blanket is made 

from all the excess material 

and yarn left over from 

the production of other 

blankets. 

www.thefuturekept.com 

4. Seasonal Spice 

Candle £9.99 

Rich undertones of 

Seasonal Spice include 

nutmeg, clove and 

cinnamon, creating a deep 

and warming fragrance 

that gives your home a 

fantastically autumnal feel. 

www.northumbrian 

candleworks.co.uk

home 

6 

5 

6 

7 

5. Orange Mosaic 

Mirror £17.99 

Made from hand-painted 

and hand-cut glass, all parts 

of this brightly coloured 

mirror are put together 

by hand in Bali, Indonesia. 

Because of this method, 

each mirror is unique. 

www.gringofairtrade.com 

6. Himalayan Salt 

Natural Night Light in 

Forest Design £21.99 

Made from natural 

Himalayan crystal salt rock, 

it contains at least 84 types 

of minerals beneficial to 

the human body. The lamp 

creates a romantic and 

charming environment. 

www.amazon.co.uk 

7. Helix Hurricane 

Lamp £54 

Made from 18/10 stainless 

steel with a mirror-polished 

finish, walnut and thermalresistant 

borosilicate glass, 

this hurricane lamps has 

three flowing steel arms that 

gracefully encircle the glass 

cylinder within. 

Leekes 

8 

8. Gothic Boot Store 

from £300 

Made from pressure treated 

timber, this boot store has 

a raised decking floor, two 

shelves and is finished off 

with a cedar shingled roof. 

There's ample room for 

wellies and boots, as well as 

parcels and newspapers. 

www.theposhshedcompany.co.uk 

25

Millennium 

Blinds Wales 

Boost your 

child’s 

confidence 

Plantation shutters 

British made by Luxaflex 

4 week turnaround 

5 year guarantee 

Roller • Roman • Vertical • Woods 

• Conservatory • Patio Awnings 

70 Merthyr Rd 

Whitchurch Cardiff 

Tel 02920 621111 

Kumon’s maths and English study 

programmes work to build your 

child’s confidence and inspire a 

passion for learning. 

To unlock your child’s potential, contact your 

local Instructor for a free assessment. 

Cardiff Whitchurch 

Cardiff Llandaff 

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre. 

02920 626256 

02920 214396 

kumon.co.uk 

DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIR SERVICE 

* Broken Glass 

Replacement 

* Misted Glass 

Replacement 

* Faulty/Broken 

Hinges, Locks, Doors, 

Handles 

* Patio Door Problems 

* Draughty/Leaking 

Windows, Doors, 

Conservatories 

* Catflaps, Letterboxes, 

New Door Panels 

* Stained Glass 

Repairs and 

Replacements 

* Glass/mirrors of all 

types cut to size 

* uPVC New 

Windows/ Doors 

Installed 

* Upgrades to Locks 

and Handles 

* Fascias, Guttering, 

Cladding 

* Shop Fronts 

For a free quotation by a reliable, 

competitive company, please feel 

free to get in touch 

UPVC WINDOWS AND 

COMPOSITE DOORS 

Composite doors are 

a great choice if you 

are thinking about 

replacing the doors 

in your home. They 

offer excellent energy 

efficiency and are 

available in a range of 

colours and designs to 

suit your budget. With 

a choice of glazing 

options and styles, 

we are sure to have 

the right door for you. 

Our UPVC windows 

and doors come in a 

range of styles and 

colours and conform 

to insurance standards. 

All new installations 

have an insurance 

backed guarantee. 

Decostains@aol.com 

www.doubleglazingrepairscardiff.co.uk 

Unit 3 Western Business Centre, Robert St, Ely, Cardiff , CF5 5AS 

(formerly of Western Avenue, Llandaff) 

02920 566694

LOCAL SERVICE 

LOCAL TO YOU 

Join us for our 

OPENDAYEVENT 

Thursday October 24 TH and Thursday 7 TH November 

Cardiff Clinic - 161, Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 1TZ 

JOIN US FOR; 

FREE hearing checks 

Chance to try a range 

of hearing aids 

Opportunity to speak to 

audiologists and hearing 

aid companies directly 

FREE refreshments and more... 

Enjoy 

10% OFF 

All orders with 

this advert* 

Styletto Connect. 

IT’S MORE THAN JUST 

A HEARING AID. 

It’s a revolution in sound, 

style, streaming and 

charging-on-the-go. 

OUR SERVICES 

Comprehensive hearing assessments 

and ear examinations 

Speech perception testing 

Tympanometry 

Custom made hearing protection and 

noise reduction solutions 

Micro suction ear wax removal 

Tinnitus assessments 

Free no-obligation hearing aid trials 

Hearing Wales are private 

independent hearing care 

practitioners offering unparalleled 

care and the best hearing aids 

available. Wherever you live, we 

offer free home visits or have local 

hearing clinics in Wales and South 

West England. All our hearing tests 

and free and no obligation. 

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION 

T 0800 313 4304 

W hearingwales.com 

* Ts&Cs apply: 10% off all orders placed on the day or from any orders from appointments booked on the day. 

Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion during this time. 

JN10044 | 09.2019

10 things 

to do 

outdoors 

in 

Autumn 

6 1. GO FOR A WELLY WALK 

We may grumble at the autumn weather but 

there's actually something very uplifting about 

wrapping up warm and enjoying the new smells, 

sights and sounds. If you've got a pair of wellies, 

you've got no excuse to get out there! 

8 2. COLLECT CONKERS 

There's a fascination in looking for conkers. You'll 

always be on the lookout for bigger and better. And 

when you're fully loaded up, it'll be time to take 

them home and decide which ones you are going 

to thread onto old shoelaces. 

65 3. FIND SOME BATS 

Late summer and early autumn is mating season for bats. 

They migrate from their summer habitat to new sites where 

mating occurs and where they seek out places to hibernate 

for the winter. They also focus on building up reserves of 

fat, which will help them through the colder months. Torpor 

also begins, where bats lessen activity to save vital energy. 

6 4. COLLECT PINE CONES 

Heading into the forest, you'll find plenty of pine 

cones on the ground. You can use these for craft 

projects nearer to Christmas so if you find any that 

are damp, it'll be worth storing them so that they 

are dry when you come to use them. If you find any 

still attached to its branch, keep these too as they 

will add some variety. 

28

5 5. GO SCARECROW 

SPOTTING 

Often the stars of harvest festivals, you can spot 

scarecrows doing their work in the fields in autumn. 

It's worth taking a camera to document any that 

you do see but be careful not to encroach on 

private property or damage any crops nearby. 

8 6. GO APPLE PICKING 

Make the most of harvest season by visiting a local 

orchard and picking some juicy apples. There's 

nothing better than enjoying the crisp autumn air 

and heading home with a bag of fruit - perfect for 

baking tasty apple pies. 

65 7. PLANT SPRING BULBS 

Garden centres will be bursting with spring bulbs at this 

time of year because now is the time to plant them. You are 

best getting them done between October and December, 

after which, the first frosts tend to arrive. Go for plump, firm 

bulbs and aim to plant within a week of purchasing as you 

may find that they start sprouting. Always remember to 

plant the bulbs with its top facing upwards. 

8 8. GO ON A GHOST HUNT 

It's the season of Hallowe'en and the darkening nights 

provide the perfect setting for a ghost walk. 

There are plenty of organised walks at this time of year 

but if you want to do it yourself, make sure that you put 

safety first and seek permission if you are looking to 

venture around private property. 

65 9. FEED THE BIRDS 

Although birds tend not to struggle for food in the 

autumn, it's worth preparing your garden now for 

the lean times ahead during winter. 

Placing a few bird feeders around now will help 

let the birds know where they can get food in 

the winter months. Fat balls are a good source of 

energy for birds and these can be hung from trees 

if you have any. You can make these yourself from 

kitchen scraps and suet if you like. Serve small 

portions to avoid them going off or attracting rats. 

6 10. WATCH AN AUTUMN 

SUNSET 

Watching the sun go down is one of life's great pleasures 

and autumn often throws up some spectacular ones. 

Prepare some flasks of piping hot tea, head out to find 

a good spot and make sure that you're there about 15 

minutes before the sun's due to go down. It will go down 

quicker than you think. Then head home for dinner. 

29

OVER 25 YEARS 

EXPERIENCE 

INDEPENDENT 

WHITCHURCH- 

BASED COMPANY 

FENSA Certified Company 

38074 

PIDGEONS • PIDGEONS • PIDGEONS • PIDGEONS • PIDGEONS • PIDGEONS • 

PIDGEONS 

Arrange your funeral needs through Pidgeons, Cardiff's family operated 

Funeral Company. The company and dedicated staff have over 

300 years experience in the profession. 

You are assured of the highest level of professionalism from our dedicated staff 

• Cardiff's leading Funeral 

Company 

• We offer a personal service, 

sympathetic advice and very 

competitive rates 

• Pre-arranged funeral plans, 

tailor-made to your requirements 

• Professionally qualified staff 

available 24 hours a day - every 

day 

PIDGEONS 

Our Family Serving Your Family 

PIDGEONS 

Tel: 029 2022 6604 

• Licensed Funeral Directors 

• Advice given on possible grants 

from DSS 

• Air-conditioned service chapel 

and offices with no steps or 

stairs to negotiate 

• The finest Daimler limousines 

• Simply the best to meet your 

needs 

• Eco and Green Funerals, 

Traditional Funeral Specialists 

J. PIDGEON & SON LTD, 539 COWBRIDGE ROAD EAST, CARDIFF 

As professional Funeral Directors, the company subscribes to the Membership of the National Association of Funeral Directors 

Online price list and brochure www.pidgeonsofcardiff.co.uk

What our patients 

are saying 

Welcoming New Patients 

Comprehensive New Patient Examination 

8 Stage Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment 

• X-rays Included • Photographs• 3D Tooth Scanning 

• Oral Cancer Screening JUST £45 

We offer affordable dentistry in ground floor, state-of-the-art 

facilities with free parking. We also provide free check-ups for 

under 6s and free consultations for everyone else. Pop in for a 

coffee with one of our team and a tour around the practice! 

We pride ourselves on how we care for our nervous patients, from 

the moment you step through the door. None of the sights, sounds 

or smells will remind you of any past bad experiences. We do 

Dentistry, Differently. For those that have a severe dental phobia, 

we can also offer SEDATION to make treatment much more 

comfortable for you. 

Exceptional service from Emily 

the Dental Hygienist and Imran 

the Principal Dentist. Very 

impressive top of the range 

equipment. Lovely relaxing 

environment. Both Emily and 

Imran were attentive, explained 

everything thoroughly and put 

me at ease throughout. Highly 

recommend. 

Louise 

The surroundings are 5 star! 

The treatment is 5 star! I’ve 

found my happy place! 

Sian 

DIRECT ACCESS Hygiene appointments available 

High Gloss Diamond Polish - you can book to see our Hygienist 

without having to see one of our Dentists first 

**Affordable monthly VIP membership plans 

and 0% Finance available** 

General care & family dentistry • Sedation • Wedding 

packages • Teeth whitening • Teeth straightening • 

Veneers, crowns & bridges • Dental implants • Emergency 

dental care • Dentures • Facial aesthetics 

Look out for our 

Grand Opening Party 

in the coming weeks! 

Mon-Thur 8am-8pm 

Fri 8am-2pm 

Sat 9am-1pm 

(Phone Lines 24/7) 

02922 679 999 

www.clovesdentalcare.co.uk 

165 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 1TZ 

#YourSocialDentist

Autumn garden 

In his final installment on perennials, Kevin Revell shows how we can 

maintain a garden of colour before the first frosts of winter arrive 

As summer draws to a close, 

many of the mainstays of the 

mid-summer border are still going 

strong, providing that conditions are 

to their liking. 

Typical prairie flowers such as 

Helenium and Echinacea will still be 

looking good, but are now joined 

by other members of the daisy 

family or Asteraceae, along with 

the ornamental grasses with which 

they look most at home. That the 

most popular partner, Miscanthus 

sinensis or Chinese silver grass, 

originates on the other side of the 

world is surprising. 

The most noticeable flowers 

now are the golden yellow stars 

floating above the sandpapertextured 

foliage of Rudbeckia 

fulgida ‘Goldsturm’, which is by 

far the strongest-growing and 

most popular variety, reaching 

a metre high. The swept back 

golden petals surround a domed 

chocolate brown central boss and 

they last for absolutely ages. They 

will eventually need dead-heading 

however, to continue the display 

long into autumn. If left, the faded 

seed heads give shape to the winter 

garden and look good after a sharp 

frost to accentuate their structure. 

The variety ‘Deamii’ is less coarse 

and less robust and differs in having 

a flat button of a central boss. More 

useful and increasingly popular is 

the smaller form of ‘Little Gold Star’ 

which barely reaches 30cm tall 

but also produces a mass of gold 

floral stars over a long period. It 

makes a very good choice for the 

front of the border, or for pots and 

containers. In recent years, many 

new hybrid Rudbeckias have been 

released with yellow, orange and 

brown colouration to the petals, 

often all within the same flower. 

These new forms are not reliably 

hardy however and will not come 

back in subsequent years so are 

best treated as late summer annual 

bedding plants. 

Japanese Anemones or Anemone 

japonica are popular cottage 

garden plants, being virtually 

indestructible and long-lived, if a 

little invasive, once established. 

They have long been divided and 

passed around by neighbouring 

gardeners so distinct local 

populations will form along blocks 

of streets. Tolerant of dry shade, 

they are a useful plant to have in 

the garden. They sit minding their 

own business for most of the year 

until wiry stems bearing clusters of 

pretty pink or white daisy flowers 

rise up in late summer and autumn. 

Some of the older varieties such 

as ‘Hadspen Abundance’ will reach 

up to 1.5m tall but most named 

varieties are usually a little shorter 

and make fine subjects for the back 

of a border. 

They are sufficiently tough not to 

need any support so can be left 

pretty much to themselves apart 

from being cut down in winter 

or ideally in early spring before 

growth recommences. The most 

popular forms are the single white 

flowering ‘Honorine Jobert’ and

semi-double ‘Whirlwind’, whose 

ghostly blooms loom out of dark 

corners at dusk. The single deep 

pink variety ‘Splendens’ is another 

winner along with the double 

form ‘Queen Charlotte’. Although 

great in borders, these plants do 

not lend themselves to container 

gardening. As with many other 

varieties of plants, there has been 

a drive towards miniaturisation 

over the past few years to cater 

for today’s smaller gardens and a 

tendency to grow plants in pots for 

maximum effect over a short period. 

The imaginatively named Fantasy 

Series that include ‘Cinderella’, 

‘Pocahontas’ and ‘Red Riding Hood‘ 

come in a similar range of single 

and semi-double pink forms but 

only grow to about 45cm tall. 

" 

The Whirlwind’s 

ghostly blooms 

loom out of dark 

corners at dusk 

It would be remiss of me to discuss 

the daisy family without covering 

those which give the family its 

name. Asters or Michaelmas daisies, 

as their common name suggest, is 

a late flowering perennial which are 

surely the last flowers of the year. 

They are eagerly sought out by the 

last butterflies of the year as they 

take on stores prior to migration or 

hibernation. They really do come 

in all shapes and sizes from the 

towering Novi-Angliae or New 

England asters which can reach 

almost two metres tall. They are 

more at home at the back of large 

borders typically found in parks 

and stately homes. Much of the 

breeding of these plants took place 

in Germany which may explain the 

less than memorable names such 

as ‘Alma Potschke.’ 

The formerly popular Island Series, 

named after South Sea islands 

such as ‘Samoa’ and ‘Bahamas’ 

are shorter at 30cm and colourful 

but are disease prone and have 

now been superseded by new 

Aster dumosus forms which are 

disease free and wonderfully 

compact and floriferous. ‘Crystal 

Rose’ and ‘Sapphire’ are fine 

examples. Another superior form is 

Aster frikartii ‘Monch’ which is late 

flowering with beautiful lavenderblue 

flowers, compact at 45cm and 

deserves to be more widely grown, 

being completely trouble-free 

giving a final injection of colour to 

the autumn border. Sadly, many of 

the Novae-Belgii or New Belgian 

asters fall prey to mildew late in the 

season just as the flowers come out 

but this is less of a problem when 

grown in borders rather than in 

pots and containers. It can spoil the 

appearance of the foliage however 

and shortens the display that would 

otherwise run until the first frosts. 

Old favourites such as ‘Ada Ballard’ 

and ‘Marie Ballard’ are still widely 

grown but may require staking in 

exposed positions growing to 60 to 

80cm or so. 

Liriope muscari, a rather unusual 

gardening 

flower, is perhaps the last to 

flower in the autumn and looks 

more like a grass for most of the 

year. In September and October, 

blue flowers which resemble the 

spring bulb, grape hyacinth, appear 

partially hidden by the foliage. The 

common name of lily turf does 

nothing to improve its popularity, 

but it is an extremely tough plant, 

surviving in dry shade and only 

coming into its own late in the 

year. The variety ‘Big Blue’ is worth 

seeking out. 

With that, the season for flowering 

herbaceous perennials comes 

to an end. A few flowers may be 

seen in October and November 

on hellebores, but these are more 

plants of winter and early spring but 

are a welcome sight, nonetheless.

DIRTY DRIVEWAY, 

DECK, PATIO OR 

PAVING? 

Like everything else about the 

house, from time to time your 

driveway, deck, patio or paving 

will benefit from a really good, 

professional clean… 

You’ll 

be amazed 

at the 

difference 

Specialist Glaziers with over 30 Years Experience 

After 

FREE 

NO-OBLIGATION 

QUOTATIONS 

Before 

Visit our website for more information 

and customer testimonials 

Tel: 02920 700571 / 07767 310618 

Email info@valejetclean.co.uk 

www.ValeJetClean.co.uk 

Repairs & Renewals 

Experts in the repair of windows, doors and conservatories 

uPVC Products 

We offer a full range of quality replacement uPVC products 

Mirrors & Processed Glass 

Mirrors, glass (standard, safety, greenhouse & picture) 

Secondary Glazing 

A less costly option to reduce noise & heat loss 

Unit 4 St Catherine’s Park, Pengam Road, Cardiff CF24 2TY 

029 2048 6797 

contact@wrightglass.co.uk www.wrightglass.co.uk 

The best home 

to be in is 

your own 

Having Home Instead Senior Care 

help me around the 

house means I don’t 

have to go anywhere. 

COMPANIONSHIP | MEALS AND NUTRITION 

PERSONAL CARE | MEMORY CARE 

If, like Stanley, you would like to remain 

in your own home, we can help. 

homeinstead.co.uk/cardiff 

or call 02920 569483 

Each Home Instead Senior Care ® franchise office is independently 

owned and operated. Copyright © Home Instead Senior Care 2019.

Whitchurch & Llandaff 

Through Time 

In our historical series, Steve Nicholas takes a look at life in Whitchurch 

and Llandaff North in bygone eras, featuring this issue on railways 

Left: The black bridge on Ty Mawr, carrying the main railway line to the valleys from Cardiff. In the early 1900s, the 

area from this bridge to the Royal Exchange was know as Primrose Hill. Right: Llandaf station c.1970 The Station 

Master's house is on the right platform. 

Left: Coryton Railway Station, May 1955 The station was opened by the Cardiff Railway on 1st March 1911 as 

Coryton Halt. The line beyond here closed to all traffic in 1952. The station was renamed Coryton on 5th May 1969 

Right: Llandaff loop junction signal box The first box here was known as Llandaff Fourth Line Junction, but this 

was replaced by the box depicted here in 1900. The box is of the Taff Vale's second design - most of the windows 

are of the large-paned variety, but those nearest the staircase have at some time been replaced by some more in 

keeping with Great Western design. It was closed in 1998. 

36

history 

37276 at Radyr 1979 

Radyr Shed 1960s Radyr was originally a major 

railway junction and the location of sidings formed a 

marshalling yard for freight trains used in the industries 

in the Glamorgan valleys. It was first opened by the Taff 

Vale Railway in June 1863, and was originally named 

Penarth Junction. At one time there were four running 

lines through the station. 

Radyr Junction Signal Box, September 1997 

No 3861 at Radyr Station May 1963 In 1987 passenger 

services were introduced on the City Line by British 

Rail. This made Radyr a bottleneck, as the terminating 

trains coming from that line occupied the down 

platform and delays along the line to the Valleys were 

inevitable. 

Radyr Sheds No 9615 & 9656 The Shed closed in 

July 1965. Following the downturn in coal traffic, the 

marshalling yard closed (in 1993) and the sidings were 

greatly rationalised, becoming a permanent way depot. 

Steve Nicholas was born in 

Llandaff North and has published 

several photographic books about 

Whitchurch and Llandaff North. 

He also runs a website which is 

full of historical information about 

the area and lots of photos. You 

can find more at 

www.whitchurchandllandaff.co.uk 

A distinguished visitor at Radyr Shed on 18th March 

1964 was ex-LNER 4-6-2 No. 4472, Flying Scotsman. 

It had conveyed its then owner, Alan Pegler, from 

Doncaster to Cardiff to receive an award for services 

to tourism in Wales, in particular, in recognition of his 

work on the Ffestiniog Railway. During the ceremony, 

No. 4472 was taken to Radyr for servicing and 

replenishment of coal and water. 

37

f''I Right 

I I 1:.me 

Quality Care In Your Home 

Quality care in your own home 

from hourly visits to Live-in 

Our local team of friendly reliable 

carers specialise in assisting people 

who may need a helping hand with 

day-to-day tasks in their own home. 

Areas covered: 

Cardiff and Newport 

• 

02920 794050 

• Companionship 

• Meal preparation 

• Light housekeeping 

• Medicine reminders 

• Holiday and respite cover 

• Help with washing, dressing and 

personal care 

• Transport and errands 

• Post-operative support 

• Managed live-in 24/7 hour care 

as an alternative to a care home 

@) www.rightathomeuk.eo.uk/cardiff-and-newport

pets 

Your pet 

questions 

answered 

Chris Troughton is clinical director of Heath Vets. He’s here to answer all your pet 

questions. If you’d like to ask Chris a pet-related question, drop us a line 

When I take my dog out for 

a walk, his back legs start to 

tremble. He’s is 6 now but 

I’ve only noticed it in the last 

two years or so. It hasn’t ever 

bothered him in any way but I 

wondered if this is something 

that happens as they get older? 

Although many older dogs get 

tremors in their legs (especially 

the back legs), there are also 

several quite serious conditions 

that could cause them. So 

before just accepting that they 

are a normal harmless part of 

growing older, it’s important to 

rule out those conditions. Look 

for signs of him feeling unwell 

– change in appetite, increased 

drinking, sickness, diarrhoea, 

reduced interest in exercise. 

If any of these are present, it’s 

worth getting your vet’s opinion. 

You say that the tremors do not 

affect him, but if they do start 

to impact on his exercise, they 

might relate to pain, so again, 

see your vet. 

My beloved dog has taken up 

scooting across our lovely new 

carpets in the last few months. 

I don’t think she’s deliberately 

doing it just because I’ve got 

new carpets but I do wonder if 

the carpet is somehow irritating 

her? What would be your best 

advice going forward? 

The scooting you’re describing 

is a sign of an itchy bottom. 

Sometimes you do get reactions 

to carpets, but these usually 

show as itchy inflamed skin in 

the areas in contact with the 

carpet – mainly the feet and 

the belly; if these areas are not 

Sponsored feature 

affected, I think it’s unlikely that 

the new carpets are causing this 

behaviour, but because they’re 

new, you are noticing it more! 

Rarely, worms can be the cause 

but the commonest reason for 

itchy bottoms in dogs is anal sac 

problems. The anal sacs are little 

scent glands beside the anus 

which can become blocked 

or infected and cause variable 

degrees of itch and pain. The 

problem is usually easily sorted 

out with a visit to your vet, so 

don’t delay – save your dog 

from further discomfort and your 

carpets from further injury! 

My cat has started getting bad 

breath. I have tried (and failed) 

to brush her teeth but her teeth 

look in good condition. Could it 

be related to her intestines or 

something similar? 

Bad breath is often a sign of oral 

disease. There may be problems 

with her teeth at the back where 

it’s more difficult for you to look, 

or there could be other issues 

(like tonsillitis for example). 

However, bad breath can also 

be a symptom of problems 

elsewhere - stomach, lung liver 

and kidney problems can all 

cause it, so it’s important to get 

your cat properly checked out 

as soon as possible. 

A fellow dog walker was telling 

me about her friend’s dog that 

died of canine pancreatitis. It 

sounds quite scary and I do 

worry a lot so I wondered what 

signs and symptoms I needed 

to look out for with my own dog. 

Is it catching? 

Pancreatitis is inflammation 

of the pancreas, an organ that 

produces digestive enzymes as 

well as insulin. Symptoms can 

vary from mild inappetence to 

severe vomiting and intense 

pain. Usually patients recover 

with intensive treatment, but 

occasionally it is fatal. Most 

that recover do not suffer any 

long-term health effects, but 

some suffer recurring bouts 

of illness. There is no specific 

treatment for pancreatitis, so 

therapy is aimed at supporting 

the body while it heals, with 

intravenous fluids, analgesia and 

antemetics. Pancreatitis is not 

contagious so there’s no need 

to worry on that count. Often we 

don’t know what has caused a 

bout of pancreatitis, but it can 

certainly be associated with 

overindulgence in rich food – for 

example, stealing a pat of butter.

Rhys Gosling 

Plumbing & Heating Ltd 

boiler repair/install • all basic plumbing & gas • bathrooms specialist 

www.rhysgosling.plumbing 

07740 871469 

This is Sarah. She’s busy 

cleaning her oven... 

10 

YEARS 2006 - 2016 

RELIABLE QUALITY 

& SERVICE 

Sarah called the domestic oven cleaning 

specialists, so she could relax and enjoy a coffee 

while it’s done! 

The 

Clean Oven 

Co 

• Ovens • Agas • Grills • Hobs • Extractors • BBQs • Microwaves • 

CALL 

TODAY 

02920 990 287 

Clever Sarah! 

www.thecleanovenco.com 

Put the sparkle back into Your kitchen today!

PRW Construction are a family run business with 

over 32 years of experience within the building 

and construction industry, references available. 

Our company is a progressive family run 

business, offering a variety of building and 

maintenance services. We recognise the 

importance of planning and control in the 

execution of building projects, whilst using 

a great deal of creativity and innovation in 

successfully managing projects to your timescales 

and your costs. 

Contact us for your free quotation 

Andrew 07718 621716 

Rachael 07753 293444 

Office 02920 842333 

www.prwconstruction.co.uk 

enquiries@prwconstruction.co.uk 

Some of the services we offer: 

• House extensions 

• House 

refurbishments 

• Luxury bathrooms 

• Design and 

architectural 

services 

• Full structural 

design services 

• Building repairs 

• Garage conversions 

• Roof repairs 

• Plumbing and 

heating 

• Painting and 

decoration 

• Electrical works 

• Patio & garden 

works 

QualitySolicitors 

J A Hughes 

Offering a range of legal services for you and your business. 

We’re your friendly local solicitors, working hard to get the best outcome for you. 

Our legal services include: 

• Family Law 

• Conveyancing 

• Wills, LPAs and Probate 

• Personal Injury 

• Disputes 

Changing the way you see lawyers. 

02920 619 700 solicitors@jahughes.com www.qualitysolicitors.com/jahughes 

89 Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 6LW 

We also have offices in Barry and Penarth 

• Commercial Business 

• Criminal Law 

• Child Care 

• Equine Law

Summer's End 

"We need to get you home now. 

Your mother will be waiting for you." 

Paul took Eve's small hand and led 

her out of the forest and into the 

late summer sunshine. 

"Why do I have to go Daddy? I 

don't want this day to end." Eve 

looked up at her father. Paul could 

see the sadness in his daughter's 

eyes. He saw it every time he had to 

take Eve home. 

"Mummy wants you back so you 

can have your tea." 

In truth, Paul didn't want to take 

Eve back either but since the split 

from Beth, both parents had to 

play by the rules. Both father and 

daughter had enjoyed a wonderful 

day together. It had started with an 

early breakfast at the local café. 

At the age of 8, trying out her first 

cooked breakfast was something of 

a treat for Eve but she still couldn't 

get her head around eating savoury 

food first thing in the morning. 

"These aren't exactly Coco-Pops," 

she'd mumbled as she tucked into 

her baked beans. 

After breakfast, they jumped into 

the car and headed out to the 

beach a few miles away. Paul had 

packed some food into a cool bag 

and they spent the day digging 

holes and burying Eve's Barbie dolls 

up to their necks. They spent most 

of the day on the sands but Paul 

knew that he had to have Eve back 

home early for teatime - she was 

back to school the next day. 

As one last treat, he parked the car 

up at a woodland park near home, 

and they had gone exploring in the 

nearby forest. 

They pretended that they were 

detectives looking for spies. Eve 

had found some clues - a scruffy 

42 

old football, a pencil that had been 

split in two and some acorns. 

“Look at this one!” Eve called. She 

held up a bright shiny acorn. 

“It’s huge!” replied Paul. 

“I’m keeping that one,” said Eve, 

popping it into the pocket of her 

summer dress. 

"These clues will lead me all the 

way to the spies!" she exclaimed, 

walking off. 

Paul looked at this young girl, 

stepping over logs and walking 

through muddy puddles with her 

sandals on. He was going to miss 

her so much. Since the split from 

Beth, he'd begun plans to start a 

new life on his own on the other 

side of the world. He knew he 

wouldn't get days like this again. 

"Oh, look at that dog!" remarked 

Eve. Up ahead, charging through 

the forest, a small brown and cream 

dog came bounding over towards 

them. In its mouth was a green 

tennis ball. Walking briskly behind 

the dog came a woman dressed in 

a strappy top, a pair of jeans and a 

big pair of Wellington boots. 

She was about the same age as 

Paul and she certainly caught his 

eye. He'd seen her before in the 

village several times. 

The dog reached Eve and ran 

around her feet playfully. It dropped 

the tennis ball at their feet, in the 

hope that they would throw it. Eve 

clung to Paul, excited, but not quite 

sure if the dog would nip her. 

The woman finally reached Paul 

and Eve, a little out of breath. 

“Sorry about her. She just wants to 

make new friends,” she said. 

Paul looked at the woman. All of 

a sudden, he felt very shy. She was 

pretty. Very pretty. There was a 

slight flush in her cheeks and Paul 

couldn't take his eyes off her as she 

wiped the hair from her face. 

Eve bent down and finally gave the 

dog a stroke on her head. 

"She's gorgeous isn't she?" said 

Eve. 

Paul was still captivated by the 

woman. 

"Yes. She is," he replied. The 

woman caught him looking at her 

and for a second, they got lost in 

their own world as they passed 

each other on the small forest 

pathway. 

Paul turned to watch her walk 

away, hoping she'd turn back. 

"Bye bye doggie," said Eve as the 

dog went scampering away. As the 

dog caught up with her, the woman 

turned and smiled at Paul before 

disappearing into the forest. 

"She was nice wasn't she?" said 

Eve. Paul was still smiling inside. 

He turned to head out of the forest 

when Eve suddenly noticed the 

dog's tennis ball still lying at her 

feet. 

"Oh no. The dog's left his ball!" she 

cried, bending down to pick up the 

damp and scraggly ball. "I'm going 

to give it back to him," she said. 

"Ok," replied Paul rather hesitantly. 

Eve dashed off up the forest path 

where the woman and dog had 

gone and within seconds, she had 

disappeared totally. 

Immediately, Paul regretted 

leaving her go. As the minutes 

went by, his anxiety slowly gripped 

him. He thought he should go look 

for her but just then, his phoned 

buzzed. He took it out of his pocket 

to read the message that had just 

arrived. 

"Don't be late. Bx" read the

message. Paul didn't bother 

replying. He was more worried 

about his missing daughter. He 

quickly put his phone back in his 

pocket and as he looked up, much 

to his relief, Eve came leaping back 

through the forest with a big smile 

on her face. 

"I shouldn't have let you go like 

that," Paul said. 

"I was ok. I'm a big girl now and 

I followed the path. The dog was 

happy to have his ball back." 

"We need to get you home now. 

Your mother will be waiting for you." 

And just like that, their day was 

over. Their summer was over. 

As the couple made their way 

across the field to the car, Paul 

cast his mind back over the last six 

weeks. Together they recounted all 

the things they had done together - 

the visit to the castle on that boiling 

hot day; the sleepover where they’d 

stayed up late watching cartoons; 

the time they flew a kite and it hit a 

man on the head; that time they'd 

taken shelter from a summer storm 

in a shop doorway. This would be 

Paul's final summer in Wales for a 

long time. 

Eve reached up and placed her 

hand in his as they strode across 

the field together. In the sky, 

towards the west, a large grey cloud 

lumbered overhead. 

"Looks like rain. Autumn's on its 

way," said Paul. 

Eve ignored him. “Do you have to 

go away?” she said. 

Paul took a big breath. Every time 

she asked, it wrenched his heart. 

“I haven’t decided yet. I’ve got 

nothing here. Apart from you of 

course.” 

“Am I not enough?” 

Paul stopped in his tracks. He 

realised the enormity of what he 

had just said. He felt like he’d just 

crushed her. He crouched down, 

took both of Eve’s hands in his 

and looked into her eyes. In that 

moment, he envisioned saying 

goodbye at the airport. And it was 

too much to bear. 

“I’m so sorry. Yes of course you are 

enough.” 

“Then you'll stay?” 

Paul smiled and paused. “Yes. Yes 

I will stay.” 

Eve threw her arms around him. 

It was one of those hugs that only 

daughters can give. Paul stood 

up, lifting her up and carried her 

towards the car, her arms still 

around his neck. 

The journey back to Eve’s house 

was a quiet one. Paul wasn't sure 

that Eve believed him when he told 

her he'd stay. He'd promised many 

things in the past but never fulfilled 

them. He considered turning the 

radio on but decided that he’d 

only be doing that because he was 

uncomfortable with the silence. 

He glanced at Eve in the rear view 

mirror. She was looking out of the 

window. And she was still clutching 

the battered old football; still 

clinging on to the day. 

By the time they arrived at Beth’s, 

the night was closing in. Paul put 

his arm around Eve as they headed 

down the side of the house to the 

side door that led straight into 

the kitchen. From the look at the 

steamed up windows, it looked like 

tea was on the hob. 

A shape appeared in the glass at 

the door, before it opened and Beth 

stood there, apron wrapped around 

her. 

“Oh hi,” she said. “Come on in.” Eve 

stepped inside with her mother and 

then turned to Paul. 

“Can you wait just two minutes?” 

asked Eve. “I just need to get 

something for you.” 

“Yes, of course.” 

Paul was tempted to pull the door 

closed but thought that it would 

appear rude. So he stood there 

awkwardly and waited as the rain 

finally started to fall from the sky. 

He felt the warmth of the kitchen 

seeping out, wrapping itself around 

him. A gust of wind blew a few dead 

leaves around his feet. In the dark, 

he could only feel them as they 

rattled around his shoes. 

He peered into the kitchen. A waft 

of warm casserole drifted out and 

although Paul no longer ate meat, it 

still smelt homely. 

Beth's new man busied himself 

around the kitchen, folding a tea 

towel and bending down to open 

the oven. A great plume of steam 

escaped and whooshed up to the 

ceiling. He placed the casserole pot 

down and laid the tea towel next to 

it. 

Paul’s eyes lingered on the tea 

towel. He cast his mind back to 

the day both he and Beth bought 

it. They’d made a casserole that 

day too. In fact, it was the first meal 

they’d cooked together in their new 

home. That was when they had a 

lifetime of dreams ahead of them. 

Things didn't turn out quite as 

they'd hoped. 

Beth appeared back at the door. 

“You ok?” 

she asked, 

drying 

a plate 

with a 

piece 

of 

short story 

kitchen towel. 

“Yes thanks,” replied Paul. 

"Good," said Beth, disappearing 

back into the kitchen. 

Eve reappeared. 

"This is for you," she said, handing 

Paul a small envelope. He looked at 

it and smiled. Then he put it in his 

pocket. 

"Thank you." He crouched down 

and the pair embraced one last 

time. 

"Thank you for a lovely day," said 

Eve. "You're the best." 

He didn't feel it but even at 8 years 

of age, Eve always knew how to 

make Paul feel better about things. 

As he made his way to the car, he 

pulled his collar up to the wind and 

the rain. He opened his car door, 

flopped and put his hands on the 

wheel. 

As the rain gently pit-pattered on 

his windscreen, he thought about 

the summer. He thought about Eve, 

his wonderful daughter. And he 

wondered whether he really could 

leave her to start a new life in New 

Zealand on his own. He thought he 

could escape the past but in reality, 

he would be escaping his present. 

He reached into his pocket for his 

car key but instead found the small 

envelope that Eve had given him. 

He took it out. 

It was a small white envelope with 

a big lump in the middle, stuck 

down with twisted bits of Sellotape. 

Paul carefully opened it and 

peered inside. 

He took out the first item - an 

acorn. It was the big shiny one that 

Eve had found in the forest. 

Then he reached in and carefully 

pulled out the other item - a small 

scrap of paper. It had been carefully 

folded over so Paul unfolded it. 

In Eve's own handwriting, it read: 

“Her name is Mary and this is her 

number.” Underneath was a mobile 

telephone number. 

“She says she’s free tomorrow 

night and she'll leave her doggie 

at home with his ball if you fancy a 

drink together.” 

Paul smiled for a moment. He read 

it a second time. 

"Thank you Eve," he said. 

“Thank you.” 

Then he started his car 

and drove off into the 

night. 

43

House Clearances 

2nd 

time around 

2nd Time Around 

specialise in 

house clearance 

We provide a professional and 

friendly service for full or part 

clearance, attics to cellars. 

We also offer the following services: 

• Reports for probate purposes 

• Valuations & advice on selling at auction 

• Auction service 

• Cleaning service 

• Sympathetic handling of deceased’s estates 

• Small removals & deliveries, nationwide 

• Rubbish removal 

• Recycling 

Calling all Over 60s 

Keep Fit and Flexible 

with Rubicon Dance 

Rubicon’s weekly dance 

session for over 60s 

Where? Whitchurch Community Centre (Old Church Road) 

When? Every Monday from 1.30-2.30pm (term time) 

Gentle exercise to music for £3.50 per session. 

All over 60s Welcome! Contact Sharon Teear: 

Photograph taken by Sian Trenberth 

02920 491477 

info@rubicondance.co.uk / www.rubiconcdance.co.uk 

We comply with current legislation; we are waste 

management registered and have public liability insurance. 

House Clearance Specialists 

www.houseclearancecardiff.com 

Contact: Jan Richards 

T: 02920 692704 M: 07715 622406 

E: janrichards4@hotmail.co.uk 

W: www.houseclearancecardiff.com 

at Brook House, Brook Road 

Providing full tree, grounds 

and estate maintenance and 

landscaping services. 

We’re very proud of what we do for our clients and like most 

people who work in nature we spend a lot of time on our 

knees in one way or another. This is always humbling. 

Now, whether you call it humility or respect or admiration 

for nature, if you’re looking to work with a company that 

cares about these things TR33 could be what you’re after. 

For a free no obligation quote please contact 

0800 298 3686 I info@tr33.co.uk 

www.tr33.co.uk 

1 st 

Choice 

• Building & Property 

Maintenance 

• Interior & Exterior 

Painting 

• Wallpaper Hanging 

• Carpentry & Decking 

• Patios 

• Plumbing 

Painting & 

Decorating 

Specialists 

City & Guilds Qualified 

• Varnishing 

• Small Building Work 

• Tiling 

• UPVC Gutters & 

Downpipes cleared 

(of all rubbish, debris, 

moss etc) 

• Public Liability 

Call Gary on 

02922 472160 or 07717 154011 

garywoldfield@hotmail.co.uk 

Whitchurch and 

Llandaff Living 

Issue 56 (Winter) 

Booking deadline 

4th November 

Published 

20th November 

Rhiwbina Living 

Issue 49 (Winter) 

Booking deadline 

8th November 

Published 

27th November

A Great Place To Call Home 

At Sunrise of Cardiff it’s our mission to provide the highest 

standard of personalised residential or dementia care 

and support for the elderly, delivered by a highly-trained 

professional and compassionate team. 

Located within the suburban location of Cyncoed, our homelike 

interior and picturesque landscaped garden provides the 

backdrop for a range of en-suite rooms and suites, many with 

kitchenettes, which are perfect for either singles or couples. 

Combined with freshly prepared nutritious home-cooked 

meals and a variety of daily activities and social outings, it’s 

no surprise that Sunrise is a UK leading care home provider. 

Join us for complimentary refreshments at our 

Friendship Café every Thursday at 2.30pm. 

Sunrise of Cardiff 

127 Cyncoed Road, Cyncoed, 

Cardiff CF23 6AF 

029 2167 2244 

SunriseCardiff.co.uk 

CARDIFF 

ADV_CAR_0919_WhitchurchLlandaff_01.indd 1 09/09/2019 11:47

One Pot 

Wonders 

The simplicity and delight of a slow-cooker is best savoured shut away 

from the world on a cold autumn night. Here are our favourites 

Skirlie Stuffed Mushrooms 

4 large flat mushrooms 

4 spring onions 

1 leek 

25g butter/vegan alternative 

4 leaves of fresh sage 

2 sprigs of fresh thyme 

1 sprig of fresh rosemary 

400ml water 

200g oats 

salt and pepper to season 

mushroom. Add 100ml of water to your slow cooker 

and put the lid on. Don't worry too much if all of the 

mushrooms don't fit on the floor of the cooker. They 

can be slightly stacked up. 

☐ Cook the mushrooms on a high setting for 2-3 hours, 

or on a low setting for 4 hours. 

☐ Serve with kale or cabbage on the side. 

☐ Clean and scrub the mushrooms but do not peel 

them. Remove the stalks and chop finely. Put the 

chopped stalks to one side. 

☐ Line your slow cooker with baking liner and place 

your mushrooms onto it. 

☐ Finely slice the spring onions and leek. Over a 

medium heat, melt the butter in a frying pan until it 

is soft. Add the chopped mushroom stalks and the 

herbs, mixing them well so that the chopped stalks are 

covered. Add in the porridge oats, allowing them to 

toast for about 3-4 minutes when they will start to smell 

nutty. 

☐ Stir in the water, 50mls at a time. Your mixture should 

absorb the water and swell up. If it starts looking too 

much like porridge, stop adding the water. Remove 

from the heat and season well with salt and pepper. 

☐ Spoon your mixture into the mushrooms, packing 

it in tightly to the edges to maintain the shape of the 

46

Beef bourguignon 

3 tbsp vegetable oil 

1½ kg stewing or braising steak, cut into small chunks 

2 large onions, chopped 

2 carrots, chopped 

2 celery stalks, chopped 

2 bay leaves 

2 thyme sprigs or rosemary sprigs 

3 tbsp plain flour 

750ml bottle red wine 

1 beef stock cube 

1 tsp caster sugar 

2 tbsp tomato purée 

100g unsmoked bacon lardons 

6 small shallots or baby onions, halved or quartered 

300g closed cup mushrooms, halved or quartered 

mashed potatoes or crusty bread, to serve 

recipes 

☐ Turn the slow cooker to low and heat the oil in a large frying pan. Season the meat and fry for 3-4 minutes in 

batches until browned all over. Transfer to a plate. 

☐ Add the onion, carrot and celery to the pan and fry for 5-10 minutes until soft. Add the herbs and flour and 

cook for another 2 minutes. Pour a splash of the wine into a bowl, then add the stock cube, sugar and tomato 

purée and mix to form a paste. Scrape the paste into the onion mix and pour in the remaining wine. Bring the 

mixture to a bubble, then transfer to the slow cooker. Stir in the browned beef and simmer on low for 6-8 hrs. 

About 35 minutes before serving, fry the bacon, shallots and mushrooms for 5-8 minutes until caramelised and 

the veg is starting to soften, then tip into the slow cooker. Simmer the stew gently on high for 30 minutes. 

Slow cooker 

ultimate curry 

1 tbsp vegetable oil 

1 large onion peeled and chopped 

3 chicken breasts boneless and 

skinless, diced 

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 

1 large piece of ginger about the size 

of your thumb, peeled and finely 

chopped 

1 tsp salt 

½ tsp ground black pepper 

3 tsp hot chilli powder 

1 tbsp ground coriander 

½ tbsp cumin 

1 tbsp curry powder 

1 tsp paprika 

1 tsp cinnamon 

240ml chicken stock 

400g tinned chopped tomatoes 

2 tbsp tomato purée/paste 

2 tsp sugar 

400ml can full-fat coconut milk 

To Serve: 

Rice, chopped coriander and finely 

chopped chillies 

pepper, chilli powder, ground 

coriander, cumin, curry powder, 

paprika and cinnamon. 

☐ Stir to coat the chicken and cook 

for 1-2 minutes. 

☐ Add in the stock, tinned 

tomatoes, tomato purée, sugar and 

coconut milk. 

☐ Stir, bring to a gentle bubble 

then pour into your slow cooker and 

cook for 3-4 hours on high or 5-6 

hours on low. 

☐ Take the lid off and give 

everything a stir (the oils will have 

risen to the top, so you can spoon 

most of it out, or just stir it back in). 

Sprinkle with coriander and serve 

with rice. 

Cucumber raita 

½ cucumber 

a pinch of sea salt flakes 

1 x 150g pot natural yogurt 

1 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves 

☐ Peel the cucumber and coarsely 

grate it onto a board. Take a handful 

and squeeze out the excess juice 

over a sink; transfer to a bowl. 

Repeat the squeezing process with 

the rest. 

☐ Season the cucumber with the salt, 

and stir in the yogurt and mint. Cover 

and keep in the fridge until serving. 

☐ Preheat your slow cooker to high. 

Heat the oil in a large pan (or the 

slow cooker if it has a sear function), 

add in the onion and cook on a 

medium heat for 5-6 minutes until 

softened. 

☐ Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 

minutes until just sealed. 

☐ Add in the garlic, ginger, salt, 

47

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 55

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?