Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 55
Autumn 2019 issue of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living
Autumn 2019 issue of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living
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News | People | Features | History | Lifestyle | Interiors<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> &<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff <strong>Living</strong><br />
At the heart of the community<br />
<strong>Issue</strong> <strong>55</strong> Oct/Nov '19<br />
AUTUMN<br />
Your multi award-winning community magazine
2<br />
Inside this issue<br />
Interview<br />
Former <strong>Whitchurch</strong><br />
High School<br />
student Sarah<br />
Gilford talks<br />
about her life as<br />
a professional<br />
soprano<br />
Autumn Home<br />
Get cosy this<br />
autumn with our<br />
h<strong>and</strong>-picked<br />
collection of<br />
homeware <strong>and</strong><br />
goodies<br />
Outdoors<br />
Get your wellies<br />
on, wrap up<br />
warm <strong>and</strong> make<br />
the most of life<br />
in autumn by<br />
heading outdoors<br />
History<br />
Steve Nicholas<br />
takes a look at<br />
railway photos<br />
from the local<br />
area in times<br />
gone by<br />
Winter deadline:<br />
4th November 2019<br />
Published 20th November 2019<br />
a: 222 Pantbach Road,<br />
Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG<br />
t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920<br />
w: www.livingmags.co.uk<br />
e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or<br />
danielle@livingmags.co.uk<br />
Distribution: 6,000 copies of <strong>Whitchurch</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff <strong>Living</strong> are distributed to retail outlets <strong>and</strong><br />
public places across <strong>Whitchurch</strong>, Ll<strong>and</strong>aff <strong>and</strong><br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff North five times a year.<br />
While every effort has been made to<br />
ensure the accuracy of the contents,<br />
the publisher cannot accept any<br />
responsibility for errors or omissions,<br />
or for any matter in any way arising<br />
from the publication of this material.<br />
Every effort has been made to<br />
contact any copyright holders.<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> <strong>and</strong> Ll<strong>and</strong>aff <strong>Living</strong> is an<br />
independent, apolitical publication.<br />
No part of this publication may be<br />
reproduced without the express<br />
written permission of the publishers.<br />
Welcome / Croeso<br />
Autumn is here! After enjoying<br />
a glorious summer <strong>and</strong> an<br />
Indian summer for most of<br />
September, any remaining hints<br />
of warm sunshine can't stop<br />
the leaves defiantly changing<br />
colour <strong>and</strong> succumbing to<br />
nature's call.<br />
The beauty of autumn is upon<br />
us, <strong>and</strong> with it, opportunities<br />
to embrace a different way<br />
of living as we adapt to the<br />
rhythms of the changing season.<br />
We traditionally gather in <strong>and</strong><br />
gather around as the nights<br />
draw in, so it's the perfect<br />
chance to spend quality time<br />
with loved ones indoors. We<br />
present some ideas for how to<br />
make the most of the extra time<br />
we tend to have at home as the<br />
storms roll in <strong>and</strong> we hunker<br />
down.<br />
Preparing our homes for the<br />
weather <strong>and</strong> season ahead<br />
helps us to embrace <strong>and</strong> enjoy<br />
the change, so we have written<br />
a feature with ideas on how to<br />
adapt our homes. Our interior<br />
design product feature also<br />
gives us ideas for how to adorn<br />
our abode for autumn.<br />
Cosy times at home, keeping<br />
warm <strong>and</strong> sheltering from the<br />
darkness <strong>and</strong> cold, is tempered<br />
with an opportunity to enjoy the<br />
beautiful autumn days, still often<br />
filled with sunshine. Even when<br />
the weather is not favourable,<br />
there are seasonal activities to<br />
encourage us to get outdoors<br />
<strong>and</strong> enjoy the brisk air. So, we<br />
have compiled 10 things to do<br />
outdoors in autumn to promote<br />
the wellbeing that being<br />
outdoors in nature brings.<br />
There are, of course, always<br />
things to do in the garden<br />
during autumn <strong>and</strong> Kevin Revell<br />
suggests ways to retain colour<br />
What’s on<br />
Winter Wonderl<strong>and</strong><br />
Opens Friday 8th November<br />
City Hall, Cardiff<br />
Christmas food, rides <strong>and</strong> of course<br />
ice-skating - all set on Cardiff’s City<br />
Hall Lawn.<br />
Rhiwbina Christmas Festival<br />
Saturday 30th November 4pm-8pm<br />
Rhiwbina Village<br />
The highlight of the Rhiwbina winter<br />
calendar.<br />
in our outdoor spaces as well as<br />
preparing for the seasons ahead.<br />
The changing of the season<br />
reflects a goodbye <strong>and</strong> we say<br />
farewell to <strong>Whitchurch</strong> Hospital<br />
as it faces possible demolition<br />
by showcasing a series of<br />
photographs taken by County<br />
Asylums after the site was<br />
ab<strong>and</strong>oned. The photographs<br />
depict some of the hospital's<br />
story <strong>and</strong> historical significance.<br />
For our interview, we spoke<br />
to Sarah Gilford who attended<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> High School <strong>and</strong><br />
is now a professional soprano<br />
working in Munich. She shares<br />
the story of her roots to her<br />
rise to fame <strong>and</strong> reflects on<br />
some of the local support she<br />
has received to achieve her<br />
ambitions.<br />
With all our usual local<br />
community news <strong>and</strong> events<br />
presented, you will find plenty to<br />
read <strong>and</strong> enjoy in this issue. So,<br />
grab a cup of something hot <strong>and</strong><br />
snuggle down- we have even<br />
written a short story for those of<br />
you that like to read fiction.<br />
Please generously support<br />
our advertisers as always <strong>and</strong><br />
we will see you again before<br />
Christmas!<br />
Danielle <strong>and</strong> Patric<br />
Editors<br />
@Whit_Ll<strong>and</strong>aff<br />
www.facebook.com/<br />
whitchurch<strong>and</strong>ll<strong>and</strong>affliving<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff Village Christmas Lights<br />
Wednesday 27th November<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff High Street<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff's big Christmas Light Switch<br />
On.<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> Reindeer Run<br />
Saturday 7th December 5pm<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> Village<br />
A one-mile fun run around<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> village <strong>and</strong> an evening of<br />
festive celebration.
First of its kind Patient Support Unit<br />
opens at Velindre Hospital<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff North<br />
allotments<br />
awarded Gold<br />
news<br />
Photo: Mick Lobb<br />
The first service of its kind in Wales,<br />
at Velindre Cancer Centre, will<br />
relieve the side effects of treating<br />
head <strong>and</strong> neck cancer.<br />
Three hundred people with the<br />
cancer are referred to Velindre<br />
every year. They are treated with<br />
radiotherapy <strong>and</strong> chemotherapy<br />
which often leads to pain in<br />
the mouth <strong>and</strong> throat, making<br />
swallowing extremely difficult.<br />
Nausea, dehydration, malnutrition<br />
<strong>and</strong> depression are among the other<br />
side effects.<br />
Velindre has set up a new service<br />
– the Patient Support Unit - to help<br />
patients manage the side effects<br />
earlier <strong>and</strong> more effectively by<br />
improving their nutrition <strong>and</strong> fluid<br />
intake.<br />
Dr Mererid Evans, the consultant<br />
leading the service, said:<br />
“Patients with head <strong>and</strong> neck<br />
cancer typically undergo a gruelling<br />
six to seven week programme of<br />
daily radiotherapy combined with<br />
chemotherapy. The side effects<br />
can be brutal but, thanks to the<br />
generosity of our donors, we are<br />
introducing early nursing, dietetic<br />
<strong>and</strong> speech <strong>and</strong> language therapy<br />
support to prevent the worst of<br />
them.<br />
“Based on experience of a similar<br />
service in Canada, we hope to make<br />
a major difference in our patients’<br />
quality of life. We will give people<br />
the knowledge <strong>and</strong> skills to manage<br />
some of their own care in the<br />
comforts of their own homes. This, in<br />
turn, will reduce the need to admit<br />
them to Velindre as inpatients.”<br />
Nicholas Frost, one of the first<br />
patients to use the service, said<br />
that, after his chemotherapy <strong>and</strong><br />
radiotherapy:<br />
“I thought I’d be up <strong>and</strong> running<br />
but this was so hard. I couldn’t eat. I<br />
couldn’t drink. I had a burning neck,<br />
so many different symptoms.<br />
"But the staff put me on a drip<br />
straight away. No going home or<br />
going back. It’s all been so easy. All<br />
here in one complex.”<br />
The service has been funded by<br />
a donation from Andrew Probert,<br />
whose wife Jean was treated at<br />
Velindre for throat cancer.<br />
Reindeer Run returns to <strong>Whitchurch</strong><br />
There will be the sound of hooves<br />
<strong>and</strong> sleigh bells as the annual<br />
Reindeer Run takes place on<br />
Saturday 7th December.<br />
The village celebrates the festive<br />
one-mile fun run with stalls, crafts,<br />
rides <strong>and</strong> late-night opening in<br />
some shops. There will also be live<br />
music, a free giant outdoor cinema<br />
<strong>and</strong> a festive finale. Organisers hope<br />
to raise over £10,000 for the RNLI.<br />
This is the fifth year of the event,<br />
which has always sold out.<br />
Participants are urged to reserve<br />
their places early if they are looking<br />
to take part in the run.<br />
For more information <strong>and</strong> to<br />
reserve a place, head to<br />
www.reindeer-run.co.uk<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff North Allotments have<br />
been awarded the RHS Wales<br />
in Bloom Gold Award for Best<br />
Allotments in Wales.<br />
Karen Francis said:<br />
"Thank you to everyone who<br />
worked so hard on their plots<br />
this year to impress the Wales<br />
In Bloom judges this summer.<br />
The site really did look blooming<br />
lovely on the day <strong>and</strong> we've<br />
received the news that we have<br />
walked away with a Gold Award."<br />
The judges deemed the<br />
allotments as 'outst<strong>and</strong>ing'.<br />
Dem<strong>and</strong> for allotments across<br />
the city is booming, with the<br />
average waiting time being<br />
one year <strong>and</strong> six months for an<br />
allotment in Cardiff.<br />
City Hospice in <strong>Whitchurch</strong> also<br />
picked up Silver in the Health<br />
& Social Care Establishments<br />
category. Wales in Bloom is the<br />
regional element of the National<br />
Britain in Bloom Competition<br />
supported by the Royal<br />
Horticultural Society.<br />
By-election date<br />
set for October<br />
A by-election will held in<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> <strong>and</strong> Tongwynlais on<br />
Thursday 3rd October.<br />
The by-election was triggered<br />
following the death of Councillor<br />
Timothy Davies. Davies, who was<br />
lord mayor from 1995 to 1996,<br />
died in June.<br />
3
news<br />
New planters<br />
brighten up village<br />
4<br />
Two new planters have appeared in<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong>, opposite the entrance<br />
to St Mary’s Church.<br />
The planters were provided by<br />
Cardiff Council <strong>and</strong> were delivered<br />
during the summer. They are now<br />
in the care of Cardiff Breakfast<br />
Rotary, who have filled them with<br />
drainage <strong>and</strong> compost that was<br />
also donated by the Council.<br />
Cardiff Breakfast Rotary gave<br />
their thanks to those who offered<br />
additional plants, <strong>and</strong> praise was<br />
also given to the staff of Deli a<br />
GoGo, who offered to keep the<br />
plants watered, especially during<br />
the periods of very hot weather.<br />
By July, the planters had come<br />
into full bloom <strong>and</strong> were a cheerful<br />
sight. Now the club's thoughts<br />
have turned to how best to keep<br />
them looking good throughout the<br />
autumn.<br />
Cardiff Breakfast Rotary meets<br />
every Wednesday morning at<br />
7.30am in the <strong>Whitchurch</strong> Golf Club.<br />
Visitors are always welcome. More<br />
information about the Club can be<br />
found at<br />
www.cardiffbreakfastrotary.org<br />
Forest Farm<br />
appeal launched<br />
An appeal has been launched to<br />
raise £10,000 to repair damage<br />
caused to two bird hides at Forest<br />
Farm.<br />
The hides were regularly used by<br />
visitors to sit <strong>and</strong> watch the local<br />
wildlife in the area.<br />
But a local photographer found<br />
the hides in ruins when he visited<br />
the area in mid August. Despite the<br />
heavy rain that fell that weekend,<br />
the photographer found one of the<br />
hides 'smouldering' <strong>and</strong> beyond<br />
use.<br />
A fundraising page that has been<br />
set up to raise money to fund the<br />
replacement hide can be found at<br />
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding<br />
/FriendsOfForestFarm<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff Archaeological Dig throws<br />
up interesting finds in the village<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff 50+ has been holding a<br />
community archaeological dig<br />
throughout September.<br />
The Dig, funded by the National<br />
Lottery Heritage Fund <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Cardiff YMCA (1910) Trust, has been<br />
taking place on the site of the old<br />
medieval cattle pound, next to the<br />
13th century Bishop’s Castle on<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff's High Street.<br />
Local schools have been taking<br />
part to experience the fun <strong>and</strong><br />
learning of a dig. They have been<br />
supervised by archaeologists Dr<br />
Tim Young of GeoArch <strong>and</strong> Louise<br />
Mumford, Archivist of The Cathedral<br />
School, Ll<strong>and</strong>aff. They have also<br />
been learning about the history<br />
of the ‘city within a city’ from local<br />
storyteller, Dick Berry. Ll<strong>and</strong>aff 50+<br />
<strong>and</strong> Ll<strong>and</strong>aff Society volunteers<br />
have also been working throughout<br />
the event.<br />
Dr Tim Young said:<br />
"This is a rare opportunity for<br />
people from Ll<strong>and</strong>aff <strong>and</strong> Cardiff to<br />
take part in an archaeological dig<br />
in a previously unexplored part of<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff. We're sure there'll be lots<br />
of interest from history enthusiasts."<br />
A viewing area for locals <strong>and</strong><br />
visitors was also set up to enable<br />
them to watch the dig in progress.<br />
They also had the chance to<br />
book a session to try digging or<br />
washing <strong>and</strong> identifying any finds<br />
themselves.<br />
After the Dig, the site will be<br />
redeveloped to become part of The<br />
Pound, a Centre for Older People<br />
<strong>and</strong> a Heritage Information Centre<br />
for Ll<strong>and</strong>aff. Funded by Welsh<br />
Government <strong>and</strong> the National<br />
Lottery Community Fund, the old<br />
Cardiff Council public toilet will be<br />
transformed into an eco-friendly<br />
building with solar slates, a sedum<br />
roof <strong>and</strong> rainwater harvesting (to<br />
flush the accessible toilet). With the<br />
help of architects Downs Merrifield,<br />
the aim is to produce a centre for<br />
older people <strong>and</strong> Ll<strong>and</strong>aff that is<br />
both financially <strong>and</strong> ecologically<br />
sustainable.<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff 50+ is a registered<br />
charity to promote social inclusion<br />
among the over 50s in Ll<strong>and</strong>aff,<br />
by the provision of facilities for<br />
social interaction, recreation <strong>and</strong><br />
opportunities for volunteering.<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff Hub to pilot new scheme<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff North Hub is set to pilot a<br />
birth <strong>and</strong> death registration service<br />
on its premises.<br />
Birth registrations are currently<br />
undertaken at City Hall, with a small<br />
number each week also being<br />
registered at University Hospital<br />
Wales, where most deaths are<br />
registered.<br />
In order to improve accessibility<br />
for residents who may struggle to<br />
get to City Hall, a pilot scheme for<br />
registrations will be taking place<br />
from November onwards.<br />
There is a legal requirement to<br />
register a new birth within 42 days<br />
<strong>and</strong> to register a death within 5<br />
days. Registering must be done in<br />
person with a Registrar.<br />
The pilot will begin Tuesday<br />
5th November at 9am <strong>and</strong> every<br />
Tuesday thereafter. The scheme<br />
will be reviewed in due course with<br />
a view to rolling out the service to<br />
other Hubs across the city in the<br />
future.
Your letters<br />
WE<br />
letters<br />
WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!<br />
We love to hear what you've been up to<br />
so send us your letters <strong>and</strong> photos!<br />
We'll do our best to print them all.<br />
editor@livingmags.co.uk<br />
Congratulations -<br />
but can we come<br />
to a compromise?<br />
Thank you for your interesting<br />
article 'Ll<strong>and</strong>aff City Church in<br />
Wales Primary School at 50'. It<br />
brought back happy memories of<br />
when our two daughters (now in<br />
their 50s), were educated there<br />
under the excellent care of Mr<br />
Penhallurick, Miss Samuel, <strong>and</strong><br />
their staff.<br />
At that time, the local residents<br />
were allowed to walk through<br />
the school grounds to the High<br />
Street <strong>and</strong> our elderly neighbour,<br />
Granny Picken, was sometimes<br />
allowed to walk through to join a<br />
class, or even school assembly,<br />
to talk about her school days - it<br />
was living history.<br />
Eventually, it was realised that<br />
it was not in the pupils' best<br />
interests to have folk walking<br />
past classroom windows during<br />
school hours. A compromise was<br />
arrived at whereby in return for<br />
a small yearly sum, residents of<br />
the Insole Court Estate rented an<br />
electronic tag that operated the<br />
gates, but only after school hours<br />
ie. 5pm-9pm, weekends <strong>and</strong><br />
school holidays.<br />
Recently, the school unilaterally,<br />
decided to end this arrangement.<br />
As a result, residents, frequently<br />
elderly, have to take the long<br />
way around via either Western<br />
Avenue or Fairwater Road, both<br />
busy thoroughfares.<br />
We talk of a Church School<br />
which surely would be expected<br />
to be more concerned with the<br />
well-being <strong>and</strong> opinion of the<br />
largely Christian community in<br />
which it finds itself.<br />
Is it too late to hope for a<br />
solution more in keeping with<br />
the 50th celebration of the 'love<br />
your neighbour' tenets that they<br />
presumably espouse?<br />
Brenda Isaacs<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff<br />
Cardiff<br />
Autumn Poem<br />
The morning sun illuminates the<br />
Graig<br />
enhancing the hues of golden<br />
trees<br />
where a rainbow seems to<br />
originate:<br />
a colourful bridge in the blue<br />
ether,<br />
mountain clouds framing the<br />
horizon.<br />
This alluring view from the autumn<br />
hill<br />
relaxes my soul more than any pill,<br />
Do you recognise<br />
anyone in this<br />
photo?<br />
I recently came across this photo<br />
which I thought you might like to<br />
include in your next issue.<br />
So far, I've been able to collect<br />
the names listed below with some<br />
gaps that readers might be able to<br />
fill in.<br />
Back row: Gordon Tout/.../.../Tom<br />
Llewellyn/Jack Tucker/.../...<br />
Centre row: /.../Bert Simmons/...<br />
Jack Mahoney/.../? Williams/.../<br />
Buller Wright/.../Sgnt Smith?<br />
Front row: Bob Thomas/Steve<br />
Evans/Len Wright/?Whitcombe/<br />
Tommy King/.../.../<br />
Breath disappearing ghost-like in<br />
the air<br />
as raindrops drip as if a tap,<br />
glistening jewels in the sunshine.<br />
Then the rainbow weakens,<br />
vanishing<br />
as dark clouds menace the sky<br />
once more.<br />
The show's over but I'll remember<br />
this beautiful sight...deep in<br />
November.<br />
Guy Fletcher<br />
Rhiwbina<br />
Kneeling/Sitting: /.../Danny<br />
Thomas/.../Eddie Boyer/.../<br />
Eddie Boyer, my Dad, was born<br />
in May 1907 <strong>and</strong> looks to be in his<br />
early 20s in this photo so that gives<br />
a rough idea of the date. It could<br />
have been a team playing for the<br />
old Tinworks or maybe another<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> team.<br />
I'd also like to thank you for all the<br />
pleasure you bring to us readers.<br />
Jean Simmons<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong><br />
Do you know anyone in the photo?<br />
Drop us a line at editor@livingmags.<br />
co.uk or write to us at our usual<br />
address on the inside front over of<br />
this magazine.<br />
5
Christmas<br />
at<br />
Pugh’s Christmas Shop Opening Weekend<br />
Friday 11th – Sunday 13th October<br />
Marvel in the magic of Christmas at Pugh’s! W<strong>and</strong>er down walkways of beautiful<br />
baubles <strong>and</strong> dazzling decorations <strong>and</strong> soak up the festive ambience. Give your<br />
Christmas some extra sparkle <strong>and</strong> get yourself ready for making magical memories<br />
with your family at the most wonderful time of the year.<br />
Festive Food Taster Weekend<br />
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November<br />
Calling all foodies! Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a delicious display of free festive<br />
food tasters inside Pugh’s Food Hall. We’ll be showcasing speciality food to tempt<br />
your taste buds plus you can shop our huge range of Christmas culinary delights.<br />
You can even get your Christmas meat orders in from Farmers Pantry Butchers.<br />
‘Tis the season to indulge!<br />
Booking not essential for the events listed. More details can be found at our Facebook page<br />
Tynant Nurseries, Morganstown,<br />
Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8LB<br />
PughsGardenVillageRadyr<br />
02920 848000<br />
www.pughsgardencentre.co.uk/radyr
Also proudly sponsored by <strong>Whitchurch</strong> <strong>and</strong> Ll<strong>and</strong>aff <strong>Living</strong>
The<br />
Voice<br />
The former <strong>Whitchurch</strong> High School<br />
student talks about her life as a<br />
professional soprano<br />
"I'm only back for a week," says<br />
Sarah Gilford.<br />
The 27 year old soprano is taking<br />
some much-needed time out at<br />
her North Cardiff home, although<br />
home these days can also be<br />
considered Munich, where she is<br />
currently undertaking a Young Artist<br />
Programme. Over the last 12 years,<br />
Sarah has been building her singing<br />
career <strong>and</strong> enjoying every moment<br />
along the way.<br />
"I'm trying to think of where it all<br />
started. It must have been at school.<br />
My parents still have videos of one<br />
of the nativity plays I was in <strong>and</strong> we<br />
put it on the other day. It was so<br />
funny watching it back. I went for<br />
the loud <strong>and</strong> wrong approach back<br />
then!" she laughs.<br />
"My aunty is an amateur singer <strong>and</strong><br />
the idea of me singing has always<br />
been there. I went to Llanishen Fach<br />
Primary School <strong>and</strong> when they gave<br />
me a main role in their Christmas<br />
play, I started thinking about singing<br />
properly. I played the title role of<br />
Snow Robin. It was my first big<br />
break I guess <strong>and</strong> that’s where it<br />
started. I was in Year 2 so I was 7<br />
years old."<br />
With Sarah deciding what she<br />
wanted to do at an early age, her<br />
parents were the first to offer their<br />
backing.<br />
"My parents were never pushy<br />
<strong>and</strong> my mum waited for me to<br />
beg for singing lessons because<br />
they were so expensive. She didn’t<br />
want me doing them if I wasn’t<br />
that interested. You have to really<br />
commit to something like that. I<br />
started lessons at the age of 10,<br />
when I was also interested in doing<br />
8<br />
musical theatre. I soon realised<br />
that I was never going to be a high<br />
level dancer so my singing teacher<br />
suggested that I try classical<br />
singing. It was the best thing for me<br />
in the end."<br />
High school was the foundation<br />
of what was to become a<br />
professional career. Sarah began<br />
appearing in school concerts <strong>and</strong><br />
other competitions like the Urdd<br />
Eisteddfod.<br />
"I went to <strong>Whitchurch</strong> High School<br />
where they had a great music<br />
department. Mr Phillips, the Head of<br />
Music there, was a big supporter of<br />
mine. Every year at school, we used<br />
to sing outside Queen’s Arcade to<br />
raise money for Velindre Hospital.<br />
My first proper singing teacher was<br />
a lady in <strong>Whitchurch</strong> called Angela<br />
Morris-Parry, who really helped<br />
me. I did wonderful things like the<br />
South Glamorgan Festival of Young<br />
Musicians <strong>and</strong> ended up at the<br />
age of 18 winning the best overall<br />
singing prize. I really worked my<br />
way up. I went from knee-knocking,<br />
terrible singing to winning a lot <strong>and</strong><br />
it really built up my confidence.<br />
Angela taught me for about ten<br />
years <strong>and</strong> I learned a lot from her."<br />
While other teenagers would<br />
perhaps spend time on video<br />
games <strong>and</strong> social media, Sarah was<br />
setting about building a career for<br />
herself.<br />
"I was 15 when I made my first<br />
CD," she says. "During my last year<br />
of Sixth Form, I auditioned for four<br />
UK music conservatories <strong>and</strong> was<br />
unsuccessful. I auditioned again<br />
a year later <strong>and</strong> received a place<br />
at the Royal Northern College of<br />
Music in Manchester. That's where<br />
I went to do my undergraduate<br />
degree. Four years didn’t seem<br />
long enough. I got to my fourth<br />
year <strong>and</strong> felt that I was only just<br />
starting to underst<strong>and</strong> what my<br />
teacher had been trying to get<br />
me to do. I stayed for another year<br />
where I continued lessons with my<br />
teacher Debbie Rees <strong>and</strong> gained<br />
some stage experience, including<br />
a substantial role in Mozart’s opera,<br />
Così fan tutte.”<br />
Sarah's years at the Royal Northern<br />
helped develop her language skills<br />
- as well as all-important stage<br />
experience.<br />
"They give you bum pads when<br />
you're working in period costume<br />
so you’re actually a lot wider than<br />
you think you are when you're on<br />
stage. I remember in my first dress<br />
rehearsal, I was supposed to be<br />
trashing this room up but in a very<br />
staged <strong>and</strong> organised way. But<br />
because of my bum pad, I ended<br />
up taking tables <strong>and</strong> chairs with me<br />
<strong>and</strong> destroying things I shouldn’t<br />
have. It was a great learning<br />
experience for me!"<br />
After five years at the Royal<br />
Northern, Sarah took a full year out<br />
but got involved with a few opera<br />
festivals, including l<strong>and</strong>ing a role<br />
with Longborough Festival Opera.<br />
"It was the same director who’d<br />
worked with me on the Mozart<br />
opera at the Royal Northern. Also<br />
that summer, I won the W Towyn<br />
Roberts Scholarship at the National<br />
Eisteddfod. It's the biggest singing<br />
prize that you can win there.<br />
"I don’t speak Welsh so I got some<br />
of my Welsh-speaking friends <strong>and</strong>
my first-ever singing teacher that<br />
I had in Cardiff to give me some<br />
guidance. Everyone was shocked<br />
when they found out that I don’t<br />
speak Welsh. I was lucky that the<br />
panel had all worked internationally.<br />
I won £5k which went straight<br />
towards my Masters degree in<br />
London."<br />
Effectively taking two years out<br />
had allowed Sarah to build on her<br />
skill levels <strong>and</strong> enrich herself with<br />
experience that was put to good<br />
use when she started her Masters<br />
degree.<br />
"It really paid off because<br />
throughout my masters at the Royal<br />
Academy of Music, everything I<br />
auditioned for, I got. I’d developed<br />
my experience <strong>and</strong> technical ability<br />
in those two years <strong>and</strong> it’s all helped<br />
propel me into this professional<br />
career."<br />
After completing her Masters,<br />
Sarah set about making her next<br />
move.<br />
"I'd decided that I didn’t want<br />
another year off <strong>and</strong> that I wanted to<br />
go into an opera school or a Young<br />
Artist Programme. I auditioned for<br />
several places <strong>and</strong> was offered a<br />
place at the Guildhall Opera School<br />
but then I also got an audition at<br />
the Bavarian State Opera <strong>and</strong> went<br />
there thinking ‘absolutely not a<br />
chance’. I didn’t feel that I was ready.<br />
"I got through to the second<br />
round <strong>and</strong> then to my surprise,<br />
they offered me a place. Out of 900<br />
people, they only took three of us.<br />
I’ve worked really hard <strong>and</strong> have<br />
never taken anything for granted."<br />
Her residency in Munich is set to<br />
last one year, but more often than<br />
not, young artists are kept on for a<br />
second year.<br />
"This one opportunity in Munich<br />
has made a big difference to my<br />
life. You have to have so much<br />
resilience in this trade. More<br />
importantly, you need to believe<br />
in yourself. Even when I was doing<br />
A Level Music, I realised that this<br />
industry is a very subjective one.<br />
Not everybody’s going to like you<br />
but there will be somebody out<br />
there who will. And you’ll always<br />
end up in the right place if you stay<br />
true to yourself <strong>and</strong> you know what<br />
you want, especially from an early<br />
age. If I didn’t get any parts that I'd<br />
auditioned for, I’d tell myself that<br />
it wasn’t for me. You have to fail in<br />
order to learn."<br />
Sarah's attitude to both her work,<br />
<strong>and</strong> life, speaks volumes about her<br />
tenacity <strong>and</strong> focus.<br />
"I was very academic but I’ve never<br />
needed the qualifications that I’ve<br />
achieved. In auditions, no one asks<br />
me whether I got a First or not. In<br />
the singing world, you might have a<br />
really great degree but you may not<br />
necessarily have a career in it. If you<br />
want to have a career in any of the<br />
arts, you need to be clear on what<br />
you want in life."<br />
For now, Sarah is focusing on<br />
honing her skills.<br />
"Classical singing is a fine art<br />
similar to ballet. You learn to<br />
use your voice <strong>and</strong> body in the<br />
most efficient way in order to be<br />
heard over an orchestra without<br />
amplification.<br />
"I will be nervous for my first<br />
official opera in Munich. I always get<br />
nervous but I do enjoy the set up<br />
of the stage <strong>and</strong> the audience. You<br />
can see the first few rows of people<br />
before they disappear in the dark<br />
but when I’ve got a costume on <strong>and</strong><br />
I’m armed with stage directions,<br />
I feel less nervous because I feel<br />
less exposed than when I sing in<br />
concerts or recitals. The closer the<br />
audience is, the more nervous I get.<br />
"It’s perfectly natural for me to<br />
get nervous but I think what’s<br />
changed is the way I view it. I see<br />
it more as excitement now, rather<br />
than worrying about what might go<br />
wrong. Nerves can help as long as<br />
they’re kept at a manageable level."<br />
As well as keeping nerves under<br />
control, there's also the challenge<br />
of remembering all the words:<br />
"When I was younger, I used to<br />
learn the words no problem but the<br />
older I get, the harder I find it. I now<br />
write out what I’m learning, over<br />
<strong>and</strong> over. I speak it out if I’m walking<br />
down the street – it’s like a constant<br />
engagement with what I’m doing. I<br />
don’t feel like I can have time away<br />
from it.<br />
"With opera, when you go into<br />
production, it helps sometimes<br />
when you have to sing a line with a<br />
certain stage direction. The music<br />
is also a helpful association when<br />
trying to memorise the words. You<br />
end up remembering them forever."<br />
Sarah performs at the National Eisteddfod 2017<br />
interview<br />
Emboldened with skills,<br />
experience <strong>and</strong> talent, Sarah is<br />
looking to develop her career even<br />
further.<br />
"My proudest achievement to<br />
date is being offered a place on the<br />
Young Artist Programme that I'm<br />
now working through. I’ve learnt<br />
how to pronounce German, French,<br />
Italian, Welsh, Russian <strong>and</strong> Czech<br />
but I’ve never learnt languages. If<br />
there’s one thing I’d love to get out<br />
of being in Germany, it’d be to learn<br />
the language."<br />
And to prove that life works in<br />
circles, Sarah recounts a story that<br />
proves how far she'd come in just<br />
ten years.<br />
"Recently, Mr Phillips from<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> High School invited me<br />
to do a Christmas concert with the<br />
Cardiff <strong>and</strong> Vale Youth Orchestra<br />
at Hoddinot Hall <strong>and</strong> it turned out<br />
to be exactly ten years later than<br />
the last time I sang with the same<br />
orchestra. It was nice to go back<br />
with so much more experience<br />
<strong>and</strong> it was nice to indulge in the<br />
nostalgia.<br />
"It’s been a great privilege winning<br />
lots of awards <strong>and</strong> I do feel very<br />
supported. The Arts Council of<br />
Wales, the Ryan Davies Memorial<br />
Trust, the John Fussell Trust<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Hartsheath Charitable<br />
Trust, all Welsh funding bodies,<br />
have all played their part <strong>and</strong> I’m<br />
hoping that this is the start of my<br />
professional career."<br />
Looking ahead, there are still a few<br />
achievements on the to-do list.<br />
"I would really love to compete in<br />
Cardiff Singer of the World <strong>and</strong> also<br />
sing with Welsh National Opera.<br />
But in the meantime, <strong>and</strong> in terms<br />
of my immediate career, I’m just<br />
going to keep taking everything in<br />
<strong>and</strong> working hard while I’m here in<br />
Munich."<br />
Find out more about Sarah at<br />
www.sarahgilford.com<br />
9
Outst<strong>and</strong>ing School for Girls<br />
<strong>and</strong> Boys aged 3-18<br />
‘Excellent’ in all five inspection areas. Estyn 2018<br />
Ignite the spark<br />
OPEN AFTERNOON<br />
FOR YEAR 7 ENTRY 2020<br />
Friday 15th November, 2.00-3.00pm<br />
Volunteer<br />
with us<br />
We help older people to<br />
declutter their homes <strong>and</strong><br />
record their memories<br />
Contact Safer Wales<br />
02920 22 00 33<br />
Visit www.cathedral-school.co.uk/opendays to book<br />
029 2083 8504<br />
registrar@cathedral-school.co.uk<br />
www.cathedral-school.co.uk
Top tips for a smooth start to the school year<br />
by Rebecca Salter of Kip McGrath Cardiff West<br />
If last year left you feeling<br />
concerned about your child’s<br />
progress, motivation or confidence,<br />
the following tips are a great way<br />
to ensure that they have the best<br />
possible start to the year!<br />
A good night's sleep<br />
Setting up a regular bedtime <strong>and</strong><br />
wake-up routine is a crucial step to<br />
prepare your child for class.<br />
New year anxieties<br />
If your child felt a bit anxious going<br />
back to school, keep a positive<br />
attitude. Recall the fun <strong>and</strong> exciting<br />
events, field trips, projects, <strong>and</strong><br />
so on from years past; show<br />
excitement about the opportunities<br />
for learning new things in the<br />
upcoming year.<br />
Get talking<br />
Asking your child about school is<br />
important. It shows her that you<br />
value her education. Try to avoid<br />
general questions, like "How was<br />
your day?" These will most likely<br />
produce one-word answers.<br />
Instead be more specific: “Tell me<br />
something that made you laugh<br />
today.”<br />
Homework help<br />
Helping your child with his<br />
homework is an effective way to<br />
show concern <strong>and</strong> interest into<br />
what he learns at school. Displaying<br />
your child's projects around the<br />
house also helps to keep learning<br />
excitement high.<br />
Keep your eyes (<strong>and</strong> ears)<br />
open<br />
If your child's eating or sleeping<br />
habits have changed drastically,<br />
it may be a sign that she's having<br />
difficulty adjusting to her new class.<br />
Read, read, read<br />
Reading with your child is an<br />
invaluable way to spend quality<br />
time together on a daily basis.<br />
In addition to other long-term<br />
benefits, reading together can also<br />
be a practical way to grasp an idea<br />
of his reading level.<br />
Communicate with your<br />
child’s teacher<br />
Teachers can alert you to any<br />
emotional, social, or academic<br />
difficulties they perceive in your<br />
child at school. The same works in<br />
reverse: notify the teacher about<br />
changes that might affect your<br />
child's behaviour in school. Some<br />
examples are illness, divorce,<br />
bereavement, a recent move, or a<br />
parent getting a new job.<br />
If you’re concerned that your child<br />
is going to struggle during the next<br />
school year, bring them along to<br />
Kip McGrath Cardiff West for a free<br />
maths <strong>and</strong> English assessment.<br />
Call Rebecca on 02920 628568 to<br />
discuss your concerns <strong>and</strong> make a<br />
plan to help them succeed.<br />
A: Unit 3, Hollybush Estate, Coryton<br />
Cardiff CF14 7DS<br />
T: 02920 628568<br />
W: kipmcgrath.co.uk/cardiff-west<br />
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lifestyle<br />
All Gathered In<br />
The<br />
As the season turns, <strong>and</strong> the evenings get darker, it's the perfect<br />
time to have quality time indoors with friends <strong>and</strong> family<br />
12<br />
Movie Night<br />
There can probably be nothing<br />
more cosy than snuggling<br />
down with family <strong>and</strong> friends<br />
<strong>and</strong> having a good ol' movie<br />
night.<br />
Pick your movies in advance<br />
(why not go with a double bill?)<br />
<strong>and</strong> arrange the furniture so<br />
that you've all got the best view.<br />
Prepare some snacks <strong>and</strong> hot<br />
food in advance <strong>and</strong> make sure<br />
that you're stocked up on drink<br />
too. If you want to do it properly,<br />
you're going to have to have a<br />
good supply of popcorn at the<br />
ready. Don't forget the buckets!<br />
If you're wanting to be<br />
extra cosy, throw in a load of<br />
cushions <strong>and</strong> blankets for you<br />
<strong>and</strong> your guests to hunker<br />
down under.<br />
Bake<br />
The kitchen is often a hub of<br />
activity during the autumn<br />
months as we all turn in from the<br />
cold <strong>and</strong> prepare ourselves some<br />
nice warming meals.<br />
Baking is another way of<br />
spending quality time with<br />
friends <strong>and</strong> family. If you're<br />
spending time with young<br />
children, it's always worth<br />
involving them <strong>and</strong> helping them<br />
forge their childhood memories.<br />
You don't need to be an expert<br />
either. Grab some simple recipes<br />
- cookies or chocolate brownies -<br />
you can often find everything you<br />
need in one h<strong>and</strong>y packet at the<br />
supermarket.<br />
Creating something together<br />
helps create a sense of<br />
achievement <strong>and</strong> strengthens<br />
bonds between family or friends.<br />
Plan a Party<br />
Autumn, of course, is a time of<br />
Hallowe'en <strong>and</strong> Bonfire Night<br />
parties.<br />
A successful party always has<br />
a good amount of planning put<br />
into it <strong>and</strong> if you are thinking<br />
of holding one, remember<br />
to invite people early so that<br />
they can put the date in their<br />
diaries. Friends <strong>and</strong> family often<br />
plan their calendars months in<br />
advance <strong>and</strong> you don't want to<br />
be left without any guests.<br />
You may want to think about<br />
what types of food <strong>and</strong> games<br />
your party will have <strong>and</strong> you<br />
may also want to think about<br />
what kind of decor you'll want<br />
to have in your home too. Either<br />
way, getting it all ready at least a<br />
week in advance will mean that<br />
you can spend quality time with<br />
loved ones instead of stressing.
Murder Mystery Evening<br />
A Murder Mystery Evening can be a huge amount of fun, bringing<br />
everyone together <strong>and</strong> creating new memories with old friends.<br />
Prior to the party, you can purchase a murder mystery party kit. The<br />
kit includes a story about a murder, which usually occurs either during<br />
the course of the dinner or before the party begins. Guests are cast<br />
as characters <strong>and</strong> should arrive in fancy dress as their nominated<br />
character. Together or separately, all participants (apart from the<br />
murderer) work to solve the mystery.<br />
Wine Tasting<br />
Evening<br />
Book yourself a night in with some<br />
wine <strong>and</strong> friends. If you're looking<br />
to do things properly, introduce a<br />
theme to your wine tasting evenings<br />
- maybe base it on geographical<br />
regions or by country. Also ensure<br />
that all of your wines are ready<br />
to serve at their appropriate<br />
temperatures<br />
Prepare fresh crusty bread <strong>and</strong><br />
maybe some cheese to soak up the<br />
alcohol too.<br />
Games Night<br />
Board games aren't just for kids<br />
although you can include them if<br />
you wish. Always have a selection<br />
of games on h<strong>and</strong> to suit your<br />
audience. When the kids go to<br />
bed, you can bring out the more<br />
challenging <strong>and</strong> grown-up games.<br />
Invite close friends to make sure<br />
that the evening is an intimate<br />
affair - large groups are often hard<br />
to control whereas meaningful<br />
conversation can be had in smaller<br />
groups.<br />
Prepare some finger food in<br />
advance so that you don't have to<br />
keep people waiting while you're<br />
in the kitchen. You may also want<br />
to think about where you play the<br />
game. A dining table can be useful<br />
if you are serving food whereas<br />
playing around a coffee table can<br />
bring a more relaxed vibe to your<br />
evening. Background music is<br />
optional but don't make it too loud<br />
or distracting.<br />
Keep a good stash of drink so that<br />
you don't have to disappear during<br />
the evening <strong>and</strong> your guests may<br />
also appreciate a nice dessert as a<br />
victory prize - providing they win of<br />
course. Personalising their playing<br />
pieces, if possible, is also a nice<br />
touch.<br />
Crafting<br />
Autumn provides us with rich<br />
pickings to craft with, especially<br />
with children.<br />
Your local park can supply<br />
you with leaves for leaf printing,<br />
conkers for marbling, <strong>and</strong> other<br />
bits <strong>and</strong> bobs to create collages.<br />
Use nature's gifts to create an<br />
autumn wreath or why not create<br />
a garl<strong>and</strong> that you can hang up in<br />
your home?<br />
You can also help craft clothing<br />
<strong>and</strong> blankets for the colder months<br />
ahead. Knitting has always been<br />
a popular pastime <strong>and</strong> creating a<br />
scarf, hat or jumper for winter will<br />
keep you busy for hours.<br />
Kids will love creating their own<br />
scarecrow too <strong>and</strong> you can always<br />
pop this in your garden to remind<br />
you of your autumn memories.<br />
Plan for Christmas<br />
It's not too far away <strong>and</strong> now is a<br />
good time to start planning.<br />
Getting the Christmas card list<br />
done is always a good place to<br />
start before you can think about<br />
Christmas gifts. Get your calendar<br />
out too <strong>and</strong> start planning any<br />
activities that you want to do.<br />
Involving friends <strong>and</strong> family in your<br />
plans will ramp up the excitement<br />
levels.<br />
Mince pies are probably on sale in<br />
some shops now so stock up, put<br />
the kettle on <strong>and</strong> plan for festive<br />
times ahead.<br />
13
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history<br />
Soul Asylum<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> Hospital is facing possible demolition in the near future.<br />
Historians were allowed into the grounds immediately after its<br />
closure, <strong>and</strong> were allowed to document its final chapter forever<br />
During its century-long tenure,<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> Hospital saw many<br />
patients <strong>and</strong> staff pass through its<br />
doors.<br />
Its existence can be attributed<br />
to the boom of the city at the<br />
start of the twentieth century.<br />
Under extreme pressure from<br />
a ballooning population, Cardiff<br />
Council reluctantly decided to<br />
build the hospital. From a long<br />
list of c<strong>and</strong>idates, Dr Edwin<br />
Goodall was appointed as Medical<br />
Superintendent. He insisted from<br />
the start that the new asylum<br />
should not be titled such; it was<br />
to be a mental hospital. He made<br />
no distinction between male <strong>and</strong><br />
female staff; male staff were to be<br />
16<br />
nurses not attendants. Cure was a<br />
possibility <strong>and</strong> research vital. His<br />
therapies would go on to acquire a<br />
reputation at the forefront of mental<br />
health care.<br />
Costing £350,000 <strong>and</strong> taking ten<br />
years to build, the hospital opened<br />
on 15th April 1908. Like many<br />
Victorian institutes, it was designed<br />
as a self-contained institute, with<br />
its own 150 feet water tower atop a<br />
power house containing two steamengine<br />
powered electric generator<br />
sets. The site also contained a<br />
farm, which provided both food<br />
supplies <strong>and</strong> therapeutic work for<br />
the patients.<br />
During the First World War, the<br />
facility was renamed the Welsh<br />
Metropolitan War<br />
Hospital. During the<br />
Second World War,<br />
part of the hospital<br />
was turned over to the<br />
military, becoming the<br />
largest emergency<br />
service hospital in South<br />
Wales, treating British,<br />
American <strong>and</strong> German<br />
personnel.<br />
On 5th July 1948, the<br />
hospital was taken over by the<br />
Ministry of Health as the National<br />
Health Service came into existence.<br />
After the introduction of Care in<br />
the Community in the early 1980s<br />
the hospital went into a period of<br />
decline <strong>and</strong> the number of resident<br />
patients reduced.<br />
In November 2010, the Cardiff<br />
<strong>and</strong> Vale University Health Board<br />
decided that it was preferable to<br />
centralise all adult mental health<br />
care services at Ll<strong>and</strong>ough. The<br />
hospital finally closed its doors in<br />
April 2016.<br />
The <strong>Whitchurch</strong> Hospital Historical<br />
Society still keep the memories of<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> Hospital alive through<br />
meetings <strong>and</strong> exhibitions.<br />
You can find more about the<br />
society at<br />
www.whitchurchhospital.co.uk.<br />
We are extremely grateful to the<br />
people at County Asylums, who<br />
have allowed us to reproduce<br />
images <strong>and</strong> information for this<br />
feature. You can find more of<br />
their work at<br />
www.countyasylums.co.uk<br />
Images <strong>and</strong> information courtesy of County Asylums <strong>and</strong> Ross Harverson
17
ST DAVID’S<br />
SIXTH FORM<br />
OPEN EVENINGS<br />
24th October / 13th November<br />
4:30pm - 7:30pm<br />
Register online at:<br />
www.stdavidscollege.ac.uk<br />
Inspiring <strong>and</strong> supporting success since 1987<br />
Christmas at<br />
CAERPHILLY<br />
GARDEN CENTRE<br />
Just off the A470<br />
RESTAURANT<br />
GIFTS & HOME<br />
GARDEN &<br />
OUTDOOR<br />
We’ve got a great Christmas lineup<br />
right here in our garden centre at<br />
Nantgarw, including delicious festive<br />
menus in the restaurant, dazzling<br />
Christmas decorations to get you in<br />
the festive mood <strong>and</strong> of course Santa<br />
in his grotto from November 11th!<br />
Penrhos, Nantgarw, Cardiff CF15 7UN<br />
www.caerphillygardencentre.co.uk 029 2086 1511
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2019/20<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
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2019/20<br />
Nos Fercher 9 Hydref | Wednesday 9 October 2019 | 7:30pm<br />
MOSCOW PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA<br />
Simonov/Donohoe<br />
Dydd Sul 27 Hydref | Sunday 27 October 2019 | 3:00pm<br />
CERDDORFA OCC/WNO ORCHESTRA<br />
Hanus/Muller-Schott<br />
Nos Wener 8 Tachwedd | Friday 8 November 2019 | 7:30pm<br />
PRAGUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA<br />
Inkinen/Pavlů/Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral Choir<br />
Nos Fercher 27 Tachwedd | Wednesday 27 November 2019 | 7:30pm<br />
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA<br />
Ashkenazy/Shoji<br />
Nos Fawrth 3 Rhagfyr | Tuesday 3 December 2019 | 7:30pm<br />
MANCHESTER CAMERATA & CRAIG OGDEN<br />
Dydd Sul 15 Rhagfyr | Sunday 15 December 2019 | 3:00pm<br />
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Dydd Sul 19 Ionawr | Sunday 19 January 2020 | 4:00pm<br />
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CERDDORFA OCC/BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA & CHORUS OF<br />
WALES, WNO ORCHESTRA – BEETHOVEN 1808 BENEFIT CONCERT<br />
Nos Iau 30 Ionawr | Thursday 30 January 2020 | 7:30pm<br />
EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA<br />
Stegeman/Goldscheider<br />
Nos Iau 13 Chwefror | Thursday 13 February 2020 | 7:30pm<br />
ICELAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA<br />
Tortelier/Bavouzet<br />
Nos Wener 6 Mawrth | Friday 6 March 2020 | 7:30pm<br />
ARMONICO CONSORT<br />
Monks<br />
Nos Wener 13 Mawrth | Friday 13 March 2020 | 7:30pm<br />
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA<br />
Fischer/Little<br />
Nos Wener 3 Ebrill | Friday 3 April 2020 | 7:30pm<br />
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA<br />
Heras-Casado/Kharitonov<br />
Dydd Sul 26 Ebrill | Sunday 26 April 2020 | 3:00pm<br />
CERDDORFA OCC/WNO ORCHESTRA<br />
Hanus/Adams<br />
Nos Lun 18 Mai | Monday 18 May 2020 | 7:30pm<br />
AURORA ORCHESTRA<br />
Collon/Benedetti<br />
Nos Sadwrn 6 Mehefin | Saturday 6 June 2020 | 7:30pm<br />
ROYAL LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA<br />
Chan/Kanneh-Mason
Hunker down<br />
Autumn is a beautiful season, bringing with it colours of reds, oranges <strong>and</strong><br />
yellows. It's the perfect time of year to get your house ready for winter<br />
An Autumn Welcome<br />
As well as cheering up any guests<br />
you get to your house, a warm<br />
welcome to your home is a nice<br />
thing for you to come home to.<br />
It should still be warm enough to<br />
give your door a lick of paint if you<br />
have a wooden one. If you don't<br />
have a wooden door, you may want<br />
to invest in a new door h<strong>and</strong>le or<br />
20<br />
letterbox.<br />
Late summer is also a good time<br />
to tidy up the outside of the house,<br />
especially the front as that'll be<br />
the area that will be getting more<br />
attention during the colder months.<br />
If you have room, consider<br />
planting a few small evergreens<br />
to maintain some colour during<br />
the autumn <strong>and</strong> winter. Winterflowering<br />
plants are also an option.<br />
Inside the doorway, put away any<br />
summer s<strong>and</strong>als <strong>and</strong> flip flops. This<br />
is Wellington boot season after all!<br />
Make sure that your clothes pegs<br />
are strong enough to take the<br />
winter coats that will no doubt<br />
be hung on them. A new sturdy<br />
welcome mat will also be a good<br />
addition, as well as getting some<br />
kind of umbrella st<strong>and</strong> for those<br />
rainy days.<br />
Keeping Warm<br />
It goes without saying that as<br />
the colder weather approaches,<br />
you're going to need to think about<br />
keeping warm.<br />
It's worth getting someone to<br />
bleed all your radiators <strong>and</strong> maybe<br />
even check your boiler is in working<br />
order before you start using it.<br />
The last thing you want is to find<br />
yourself stuck without warmth<br />
when you most need it.<br />
If you're fortunate enough to have<br />
a wood-burning fire or a working<br />
fireplace, get your chimney cleaned<br />
before you start using it. It's also<br />
prudent to start stocking up on<br />
firewood <strong>and</strong> kindling - you can<br />
never get enough of this when it<br />
gets really cold! Also make sure<br />
that all your fire alarms are in good<br />
working order.<br />
It may also be worth investing<br />
in some pipe lagging now. When<br />
winter comes in earnest, burst<br />
pipes are a most unwelcome<br />
problem.<br />
If you spend most of your time in<br />
your living room, get yourself some<br />
throws <strong>and</strong> blankets to snuggle<br />
under on stormy nights. As well as<br />
feeling cosy, these can also have a<br />
more practical purpose by helping<br />
to limit heating costs. They look<br />
very nice too!
Light up dark corners<br />
with table lamps<br />
Sorting<br />
Getting your house in order always<br />
makes you feel better. As autumn<br />
<strong>and</strong> winter roll in, we're not able to<br />
utilise the outside spaces as much<br />
as we'd like. It's worth making<br />
the best of the last summer<br />
sunshine to clear out our sheds<br />
<strong>and</strong> outhouses so that we can use<br />
them properly in winter.<br />
Inside the house, go through your<br />
kitchen cupboards <strong>and</strong> throw out<br />
any items that you're not going<br />
to use or are gone off. You'll be<br />
surprised at how long some things<br />
have been there! It's also a good<br />
idea to stock up on larder basics,<br />
so that you can quickly rustle up a<br />
nice warming meal when you get<br />
home. If you've made home-made<br />
jams or chutneys with harvest fruit,<br />
store these away for a rainy day<br />
<strong>and</strong> decant pasta or rice into nicelooking<br />
jars. Clean out the fridge<br />
<strong>and</strong> if you have time, get the oven<br />
cleaned too.<br />
Elsewhere, pack away summer<br />
clothes <strong>and</strong> give your winter coats<br />
a good airing. Get your comfy<br />
slippers out <strong>and</strong> leave them in the<br />
hallway so that you can pop them<br />
on when you come in.<br />
Blankets are not only comfortable<br />
but can save on your heating bills<br />
Lighting<br />
With natural light fading by the<br />
day, we turn to other means to<br />
illuminate our homes.<br />
Lamps are probably one of the<br />
best ways to make our homes<br />
cosy, lighting up any darks corners<br />
of the house <strong>and</strong> bringing a sense<br />
of warmth.<br />
Wooden bases bring depth to<br />
your home <strong>and</strong> if you add autumncoloured<br />
shades, you'll be bringing<br />
the outside in without the weather.<br />
Make the brightness appropriate<br />
to the room.<br />
One thing you won't want to<br />
overlook is the type of bulb that<br />
you're using. You won't want to use<br />
anything that will give off too much<br />
glare but you also don't want to<br />
leave yourself too short on light.<br />
Dimmer switches can help if you<br />
have the budget to install these.<br />
Exterior lighting can welcome<br />
any autumnal visitors, especially<br />
around your front door <strong>and</strong> porch<br />
area. If you are lucky enough to<br />
have a front garden path, consider<br />
adding lamps or even a security<br />
light that will come on when<br />
triggered by a sensor.<br />
home<br />
Dining<br />
Autumn is an ideal time of year to<br />
invite friends over for cosy suppers<br />
so if you have a separate dining<br />
area in your house, you'll want it<br />
looking its best.<br />
Keeping it simple is one way to<br />
go, with clean white linens <strong>and</strong><br />
dark wood to stay in-keeping with<br />
the season. If you are planning<br />
on serving up hearty casseroles,<br />
go for deep bowls <strong>and</strong> chunky<br />
cutlery, serving up chunky bread<br />
in rattan baskets. C<strong>and</strong>les will<br />
provide visual warmth <strong>and</strong> a<br />
runner across your dining table will<br />
add a touch of luxury.<br />
Finishing touches<br />
Now is the time of year to take<br />
down any light curtains <strong>and</strong> put<br />
up thicker, heavier versions. If your<br />
front door is draughty, consider<br />
hanging a door curtain there. It<br />
will help keep your house warm<br />
throughout the day <strong>and</strong> night.<br />
Throwing a few rugs underfoot<br />
will help, especially on hard floor<br />
surfaces such as stone or wood.<br />
You'll appreciate this when you're<br />
stepping out of bed or the shower.<br />
The final finishing touches should<br />
include soft furnishings that will<br />
help complete the look. Heavy<br />
throws <strong>and</strong> blankets are perfect for<br />
snuggling down with, both for you<br />
<strong>and</strong> any guests.<br />
If you're the sort of person that<br />
likes buying nik-naks for the home,<br />
look for ones made of wood or<br />
other natural products. It could<br />
also be a good time to hang some<br />
new pictures on your walls that are<br />
more in keeping with this time of<br />
year.<br />
If you don't have a log burner, you<br />
can now buy c<strong>and</strong>les that give off<br />
the aroma of burning wood <strong>and</strong><br />
even crackle as they burn. Smells<br />
are just as powerful as sights in<br />
creating a seasonal home.<br />
21
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Independent Boutique in Rhiwbina<br />
Find us in Rhiwbina village<br />
Park outside the store in Lon Fach Shopping Mews<br />
9-11 Lon Fach<br />
Rhiwbeina<br />
CF14 6DY<br />
www.calonrhiwbeina.com<br />
tel: 029 20610722<br />
email: info@calonrhiwbeina.com
COLOURFUL KITCHENS at Leekes<br />
With the changing season you may<br />
be spending more time indoors. As<br />
the heart of the home, the kitchen is<br />
the ideal sanctuary during the colder<br />
months so if you are looking to take<br />
the first step to update your kitchen<br />
you’ll find all the inspiration you need<br />
at Leekes.<br />
Trends in kitchen design are constantly<br />
evolving so it’s essential to choose a<br />
style that suits you <strong>and</strong> your property.<br />
Sleek lines, matt finishes <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>leless<br />
cabinet options will create a<br />
contemporary edge <strong>and</strong> are ideal for<br />
newer properties. For period-style<br />
homes opt for a more traditional look<br />
that incorporates versatile painted<br />
finishes with neutral tones to add<br />
character <strong>and</strong> warmth.<br />
With dark greys <strong>and</strong> blues dominating<br />
the kitchen market in recent years, look<br />
forward to a change in mood through<br />
Autumn/Winter with more adventurous<br />
<strong>and</strong> bold designs now taking centre<br />
spot light. Sultry shades of blue <strong>and</strong><br />
green will continue to be popular, but<br />
bright <strong>and</strong> beautiful colour are also<br />
being introduced. Use colour sparingly<br />
on an isl<strong>and</strong> or with the use of splash<br />
backs, or be as bold as you desire with<br />
colours used throughout.<br />
At Leekes we’ve an extensive<br />
array of design options available to<br />
suit every style <strong>and</strong> budget from<br />
leading br<strong>and</strong>s including Rotpunkt,<br />
Symphony <strong>and</strong> Laura Ashley to<br />
choose from, the possibilities are<br />
endless. Visit one of our kitchen<br />
designers in store today for your free<br />
consultation.<br />
FOR OVER<br />
120 YEARS<br />
EST. 1897<br />
Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road RCT. CF72 8XU<br />
Tel: 0800 038 3050 | Online: leekes.co.uk/kitchens
1<br />
2<br />
4<br />
3<br />
The autumn home<br />
1. Chequered Faux<br />
Suede Cushion £15<br />
Add a burst of colour to<br />
your home with this lively,<br />
colourful faux suede<br />
cushion cover featuring a<br />
stunning patchwork. The<br />
delicate, furry material<br />
provides a soft touch which<br />
is easy to maintain.<br />
www.ethical.market<br />
24<br />
2. Stovax Vogue Midi<br />
Log Burner £1409<br />
Offering a superb<br />
view of the flames, the<br />
versatile styling of the<br />
Stovax Vogue Midi wood<br />
burning <strong>and</strong> multi-fuel<br />
stove fits perfectly into<br />
contemporary <strong>and</strong><br />
traditional interiors alike.<br />
Limegreen<br />
3. British Made 100%<br />
Recycled Wool Throw<br />
£18<br />
This British-made recycled<br />
100% wool blanket is made<br />
from all the excess material<br />
<strong>and</strong> yarn left over from<br />
the production of other<br />
blankets.<br />
www.thefuturekept.com<br />
4. Seasonal Spice<br />
C<strong>and</strong>le £9.99<br />
Rich undertones of<br />
Seasonal Spice include<br />
nutmeg, clove <strong>and</strong><br />
cinnamon, creating a deep<br />
<strong>and</strong> warming fragrance<br />
that gives your home a<br />
fantastically autumnal feel.<br />
www.northumbrian<br />
c<strong>and</strong>leworks.co.uk
home<br />
6<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
5. Orange Mosaic<br />
Mirror £17.99<br />
Made from h<strong>and</strong>-painted<br />
<strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>-cut glass, all parts<br />
of this brightly coloured<br />
mirror are put together<br />
by h<strong>and</strong> in Bali, Indonesia.<br />
Because of this method,<br />
each mirror is unique.<br />
www.gringofairtrade.com<br />
6. Himalayan Salt<br />
Natural Night Light in<br />
Forest Design £21.99<br />
Made from natural<br />
Himalayan crystal salt rock,<br />
it contains at least 84 types<br />
of minerals beneficial to<br />
the human body. The lamp<br />
creates a romantic <strong>and</strong><br />
charming environment.<br />
www.amazon.co.uk<br />
7. Helix Hurricane<br />
Lamp £54<br />
Made from 18/10 stainless<br />
steel with a mirror-polished<br />
finish, walnut <strong>and</strong> thermalresistant<br />
borosilicate glass,<br />
this hurricane lamps has<br />
three flowing steel arms that<br />
gracefully encircle the glass<br />
cylinder within.<br />
Leekes<br />
8<br />
8. Gothic Boot Store<br />
from £300<br />
Made from pressure treated<br />
timber, this boot store has<br />
a raised decking floor, two<br />
shelves <strong>and</strong> is finished off<br />
with a cedar shingled roof.<br />
There's ample room for<br />
wellies <strong>and</strong> boots, as well as<br />
parcels <strong>and</strong> newspapers.<br />
www.theposhshedcompany.co.uk<br />
25
Millennium<br />
Blinds Wales<br />
Boost your<br />
child’s<br />
confidence<br />
Plantation shutters<br />
British made by Luxaflex<br />
4 week turnaround<br />
5 year guarantee<br />
Roller • Roman • Vertical • Woods<br />
• Conservatory • Patio Awnings<br />
70 Merthyr Rd<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> Cardiff<br />
Tel 02920 621111<br />
Kumon’s maths <strong>and</strong> English study<br />
programmes work to build your<br />
child’s confidence <strong>and</strong> inspire a<br />
passion for learning.<br />
To unlock your child’s potential, contact your<br />
local Instructor for a free assessment.<br />
Cardiff <strong>Whitchurch</strong><br />
Cardiff Ll<strong>and</strong>aff<br />
Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.<br />
02920 626256<br />
02920 214396<br />
kumon.co.uk<br />
DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIR SERVICE<br />
* Broken Glass<br />
Replacement<br />
* Misted Glass<br />
Replacement<br />
* Faulty/Broken<br />
Hinges, Locks, Doors,<br />
H<strong>and</strong>les<br />
* Patio Door Problems<br />
* Draughty/Leaking<br />
Windows, Doors,<br />
Conservatories<br />
* Catflaps, Letterboxes,<br />
New Door Panels<br />
* Stained Glass<br />
Repairs <strong>and</strong><br />
Replacements<br />
* Glass/mirrors of all<br />
types cut to size<br />
* uPVC New<br />
Windows/ Doors<br />
Installed<br />
* Upgrades to Locks<br />
<strong>and</strong> H<strong>and</strong>les<br />
* Fascias, Guttering,<br />
Cladding<br />
* Shop Fronts<br />
For a free quotation by a reliable,<br />
competitive company, please feel<br />
free to get in touch<br />
UPVC WINDOWS AND<br />
COMPOSITE DOORS<br />
Composite doors are<br />
a great choice if you<br />
are thinking about<br />
replacing the doors<br />
in your home. They<br />
offer excellent energy<br />
efficiency <strong>and</strong> are<br />
available in a range of<br />
colours <strong>and</strong> designs to<br />
suit your budget. With<br />
a choice of glazing<br />
options <strong>and</strong> styles,<br />
we are sure to have<br />
the right door for you.<br />
Our UPVC windows<br />
<strong>and</strong> doors come in a<br />
range of styles <strong>and</strong><br />
colours <strong>and</strong> conform<br />
to insurance st<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />
All new installations<br />
have an insurance<br />
backed guarantee.<br />
Decostains@aol.com<br />
www.doubleglazingrepairscardiff.co.uk<br />
Unit 3 Western Business Centre, Robert St, Ely, Cardiff , CF5 5AS<br />
(formerly of Western Avenue, Ll<strong>and</strong>aff)<br />
02920 566694
LOCAL SERVICE<br />
LOCAL TO YOU<br />
Join us for our<br />
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JN10044 | 09.2019
10 things<br />
to do<br />
outdoors<br />
in<br />
Autumn<br />
6 1. GO FOR A WELLY WALK<br />
We may grumble at the autumn weather but<br />
there's actually something very uplifting about<br />
wrapping up warm <strong>and</strong> enjoying the new smells,<br />
sights <strong>and</strong> sounds. If you've got a pair of wellies,<br />
you've got no excuse to get out there!<br />
8 2. COLLECT CONKERS<br />
There's a fascination in looking for conkers. You'll<br />
always be on the lookout for bigger <strong>and</strong> better. And<br />
when you're fully loaded up, it'll be time to take<br />
them home <strong>and</strong> decide which ones you are going<br />
to thread onto old shoelaces.<br />
65 3. FIND SOME BATS<br />
Late summer <strong>and</strong> early autumn is mating season for bats.<br />
They migrate from their summer habitat to new sites where<br />
mating occurs <strong>and</strong> where they seek out places to hibernate<br />
for the winter. They also focus on building up reserves of<br />
fat, which will help them through the colder months. Torpor<br />
also begins, where bats lessen activity to save vital energy.<br />
6 4. COLLECT PINE CONES<br />
Heading into the forest, you'll find plenty of pine<br />
cones on the ground. You can use these for craft<br />
projects nearer to Christmas so if you find any that<br />
are damp, it'll be worth storing them so that they<br />
are dry when you come to use them. If you find any<br />
still attached to its branch, keep these too as they<br />
will add some variety.<br />
28
5 5. GO SCARECROW<br />
SPOTTING<br />
Often the stars of harvest festivals, you can spot<br />
scarecrows doing their work in the fields in autumn.<br />
It's worth taking a camera to document any that<br />
you do see but be careful not to encroach on<br />
private property or damage any crops nearby.<br />
8 6. GO APPLE PICKING<br />
Make the most of harvest season by visiting a local<br />
orchard <strong>and</strong> picking some juicy apples. There's<br />
nothing better than enjoying the crisp autumn air<br />
<strong>and</strong> heading home with a bag of fruit - perfect for<br />
baking tasty apple pies.<br />
65 7. PLANT SPRING BULBS<br />
Garden centres will be bursting with spring bulbs at this<br />
time of year because now is the time to plant them. You are<br />
best getting them done between October <strong>and</strong> December,<br />
after which, the first frosts tend to arrive. Go for plump, firm<br />
bulbs <strong>and</strong> aim to plant within a week of purchasing as you<br />
may find that they start sprouting. Always remember to<br />
plant the bulbs with its top facing upwards.<br />
8 8. GO ON A GHOST HUNT<br />
It's the season of Hallowe'en <strong>and</strong> the darkening nights<br />
provide the perfect setting for a ghost walk.<br />
There are plenty of organised walks at this time of year<br />
but if you want to do it yourself, make sure that you put<br />
safety first <strong>and</strong> seek permission if you are looking to<br />
venture around private property.<br />
65 9. FEED THE BIRDS<br />
Although birds tend not to struggle for food in the<br />
autumn, it's worth preparing your garden now for<br />
the lean times ahead during winter.<br />
Placing a few bird feeders around now will help<br />
let the birds know where they can get food in<br />
the winter months. Fat balls are a good source of<br />
energy for birds <strong>and</strong> these can be hung from trees<br />
if you have any. You can make these yourself from<br />
kitchen scraps <strong>and</strong> suet if you like. Serve small<br />
portions to avoid them going off or attracting rats.<br />
6 10. WATCH AN AUTUMN<br />
SUNSET<br />
Watching the sun go down is one of life's great pleasures<br />
<strong>and</strong> autumn often throws up some spectacular ones.<br />
Prepare some flasks of piping hot tea, head out to find<br />
a good spot <strong>and</strong> make sure that you're there about 15<br />
minutes before the sun's due to go down. It will go down<br />
quicker than you think. Then head home for dinner.<br />
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Autumn garden<br />
In his final installment on perennials, Kevin Revell shows how we can<br />
maintain a garden of colour before the first frosts of winter arrive<br />
As summer draws to a close,<br />
many of the mainstays of the<br />
mid-summer border are still going<br />
strong, providing that conditions are<br />
to their liking.<br />
Typical prairie flowers such as<br />
Helenium <strong>and</strong> Echinacea will still be<br />
looking good, but are now joined<br />
by other members of the daisy<br />
family or Asteraceae, along with<br />
the ornamental grasses with which<br />
they look most at home. That the<br />
most popular partner, Miscanthus<br />
sinensis or Chinese silver grass,<br />
originates on the other side of the<br />
world is surprising.<br />
The most noticeable flowers<br />
now are the golden yellow stars<br />
floating above the s<strong>and</strong>papertextured<br />
foliage of Rudbeckia<br />
fulgida ‘Goldsturm’, which is by<br />
far the strongest-growing <strong>and</strong><br />
most popular variety, reaching<br />
a metre high. The swept back<br />
golden petals surround a domed<br />
chocolate brown central boss <strong>and</strong><br />
they last for absolutely ages. They<br />
will eventually need dead-heading<br />
however, to continue the display<br />
long into autumn. If left, the faded<br />
seed heads give shape to the winter<br />
garden <strong>and</strong> look good after a sharp<br />
frost to accentuate their structure.<br />
The variety ‘Deamii’ is less coarse<br />
<strong>and</strong> less robust <strong>and</strong> differs in having<br />
a flat button of a central boss. More<br />
useful <strong>and</strong> increasingly popular is<br />
the smaller form of ‘Little Gold Star’<br />
which barely reaches 30cm tall<br />
but also produces a mass of gold<br />
floral stars over a long period. It<br />
makes a very good choice for the<br />
front of the border, or for pots <strong>and</strong><br />
containers. In recent years, many<br />
new hybrid Rudbeckias have been<br />
released with yellow, orange <strong>and</strong><br />
brown colouration to the petals,<br />
often all within the same flower.<br />
These new forms are not reliably<br />
hardy however <strong>and</strong> will not come<br />
back in subsequent years so are<br />
best treated as late summer annual<br />
bedding plants.<br />
Japanese Anemones or Anemone<br />
japonica are popular cottage<br />
garden plants, being virtually<br />
indestructible <strong>and</strong> long-lived, if a<br />
little invasive, once established.<br />
They have long been divided <strong>and</strong><br />
passed around by neighbouring<br />
gardeners so distinct local<br />
populations will form along blocks<br />
of streets. Tolerant of dry shade,<br />
they are a useful plant to have in<br />
the garden. They sit minding their<br />
own business for most of the year<br />
until wiry stems bearing clusters of<br />
pretty pink or white daisy flowers<br />
rise up in late summer <strong>and</strong> autumn.<br />
Some of the older varieties such<br />
as ‘Hadspen Abundance’ will reach<br />
up to 1.5m tall but most named<br />
varieties are usually a little shorter<br />
<strong>and</strong> make fine subjects for the back<br />
of a border.<br />
They are sufficiently tough not to<br />
need any support so can be left<br />
pretty much to themselves apart<br />
from being cut down in winter<br />
or ideally in early spring before<br />
growth recommences. The most<br />
popular forms are the single white<br />
flowering ‘Honorine Jobert’ <strong>and</strong>
semi-double ‘Whirlwind’, whose<br />
ghostly blooms loom out of dark<br />
corners at dusk. The single deep<br />
pink variety ‘Splendens’ is another<br />
winner along with the double<br />
form ‘Queen Charlotte’. Although<br />
great in borders, these plants do<br />
not lend themselves to container<br />
gardening. As with many other<br />
varieties of plants, there has been<br />
a drive towards miniaturisation<br />
over the past few years to cater<br />
for today’s smaller gardens <strong>and</strong> a<br />
tendency to grow plants in pots for<br />
maximum effect over a short period.<br />
The imaginatively named Fantasy<br />
Series that include ‘Cinderella’,<br />
‘Pocahontas’ <strong>and</strong> ‘Red Riding Hood‘<br />
come in a similar range of single<br />
<strong>and</strong> semi-double pink forms but<br />
only grow to about 45cm tall.<br />
"<br />
The Whirlwind’s<br />
ghostly blooms<br />
loom out of dark<br />
corners at dusk<br />
It would be remiss of me to discuss<br />
the daisy family without covering<br />
those which give the family its<br />
name. Asters or Michaelmas daisies,<br />
as their common name suggest, is<br />
a late flowering perennial which are<br />
surely the last flowers of the year.<br />
They are eagerly sought out by the<br />
last butterflies of the year as they<br />
take on stores prior to migration or<br />
hibernation. They really do come<br />
in all shapes <strong>and</strong> sizes from the<br />
towering Novi-Angliae or New<br />
Engl<strong>and</strong> asters which can reach<br />
almost two metres tall. They are<br />
more at home at the back of large<br />
borders typically found in parks<br />
<strong>and</strong> stately homes. Much of the<br />
breeding of these plants took place<br />
in Germany which may explain the<br />
less than memorable names such<br />
as ‘Alma Potschke.’<br />
The formerly popular Isl<strong>and</strong> Series,<br />
named after South Sea isl<strong>and</strong>s<br />
such as ‘Samoa’ <strong>and</strong> ‘Bahamas’<br />
are shorter at 30cm <strong>and</strong> colourful<br />
but are disease prone <strong>and</strong> have<br />
now been superseded by new<br />
Aster dumosus forms which are<br />
disease free <strong>and</strong> wonderfully<br />
compact <strong>and</strong> floriferous. ‘Crystal<br />
Rose’ <strong>and</strong> ‘Sapphire’ are fine<br />
examples. Another superior form is<br />
Aster frikartii ‘Monch’ which is late<br />
flowering with beautiful lavenderblue<br />
flowers, compact at 45cm <strong>and</strong><br />
deserves to be more widely grown,<br />
being completely trouble-free<br />
giving a final injection of colour to<br />
the autumn border. Sadly, many of<br />
the Novae-Belgii or New Belgian<br />
asters fall prey to mildew late in the<br />
season just as the flowers come out<br />
but this is less of a problem when<br />
grown in borders rather than in<br />
pots <strong>and</strong> containers. It can spoil the<br />
appearance of the foliage however<br />
<strong>and</strong> shortens the display that would<br />
otherwise run until the first frosts.<br />
Old favourites such as ‘Ada Ballard’<br />
<strong>and</strong> ‘Marie Ballard’ are still widely<br />
grown but may require staking in<br />
exposed positions growing to 60 to<br />
80cm or so.<br />
Liriope muscari, a rather unusual<br />
gardening<br />
flower, is perhaps the last to<br />
flower in the autumn <strong>and</strong> looks<br />
more like a grass for most of the<br />
year. In September <strong>and</strong> October,<br />
blue flowers which resemble the<br />
spring bulb, grape hyacinth, appear<br />
partially hidden by the foliage. The<br />
common name of lily turf does<br />
nothing to improve its popularity,<br />
but it is an extremely tough plant,<br />
surviving in dry shade <strong>and</strong> only<br />
coming into its own late in the<br />
year. The variety ‘Big Blue’ is worth<br />
seeking out.<br />
With that, the season for flowering<br />
herbaceous perennials comes<br />
to an end. A few flowers may be<br />
seen in October <strong>and</strong> November<br />
on hellebores, but these are more<br />
plants of winter <strong>and</strong> early spring but<br />
are a welcome sight, nonetheless.
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<strong>Whitchurch</strong> & Ll<strong>and</strong>aff<br />
Through Time<br />
In our historical series, Steve Nicholas takes a look at life in <strong>Whitchurch</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> Ll<strong>and</strong>aff North in bygone eras, featuring this issue on railways<br />
Left: The black bridge on Ty Mawr, carrying the main railway line to the valleys from Cardiff. In the early 1900s, the<br />
area from this bridge to the Royal Exchange was know as Primrose Hill. Right: Ll<strong>and</strong>af station c.1970 The Station<br />
Master's house is on the right platform.<br />
Left: Coryton Railway Station, May 19<strong>55</strong> The station was opened by the Cardiff Railway on 1st March 1911 as<br />
Coryton Halt. The line beyond here closed to all traffic in 1952. The station was renamed Coryton on 5th May 1969<br />
Right: Ll<strong>and</strong>aff loop junction signal box The first box here was known as Ll<strong>and</strong>aff Fourth Line Junction, but this<br />
was replaced by the box depicted here in 1900. The box is of the Taff Vale's second design - most of the windows<br />
are of the large-paned variety, but those nearest the staircase have at some time been replaced by some more in<br />
keeping with Great Western design. It was closed in 1998.<br />
36
history<br />
37276 at Radyr 1979<br />
Radyr Shed 1960s Radyr was originally a major<br />
railway junction <strong>and</strong> the location of sidings formed a<br />
marshalling yard for freight trains used in the industries<br />
in the Glamorgan valleys. It was first opened by the Taff<br />
Vale Railway in June 1863, <strong>and</strong> was originally named<br />
Penarth Junction. At one time there were four running<br />
lines through the station.<br />
Radyr Junction Signal Box, September 1997<br />
No 3861 at Radyr Station May 1963 In 1987 passenger<br />
services were introduced on the City Line by British<br />
Rail. This made Radyr a bottleneck, as the terminating<br />
trains coming from that line occupied the down<br />
platform <strong>and</strong> delays along the line to the Valleys were<br />
inevitable.<br />
Radyr Sheds No 9615 & 9656 The Shed closed in<br />
July 1965. Following the downturn in coal traffic, the<br />
marshalling yard closed (in 1993) <strong>and</strong> the sidings were<br />
greatly rationalised, becoming a permanent way depot.<br />
Steve Nicholas was born in<br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff North <strong>and</strong> has published<br />
several photographic books about<br />
<strong>Whitchurch</strong> <strong>and</strong> Ll<strong>and</strong>aff North.<br />
He also runs a website which is<br />
full of historical information about<br />
the area <strong>and</strong> lots of photos. You<br />
can find more at<br />
www.whitchurch<strong>and</strong>ll<strong>and</strong>aff.co.uk<br />
A distinguished visitor at Radyr Shed on 18th March<br />
1964 was ex-LNER 4-6-2 No. 4472, Flying Scotsman.<br />
It had conveyed its then owner, Alan Pegler, from<br />
Doncaster to Cardiff to receive an award for services<br />
to tourism in Wales, in particular, in recognition of his<br />
work on the Ffestiniog Railway. During the ceremony,<br />
No. 4472 was taken to Radyr for servicing <strong>and</strong><br />
replenishment of coal <strong>and</strong> water.<br />
37
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pets<br />
Your pet<br />
questions<br />
answered<br />
Chris Troughton is clinical director of Heath Vets. He’s here to answer all your pet<br />
questions. If you’d like to ask Chris a pet-related question, drop us a line<br />
When I take my dog out for<br />
a walk, his back legs start to<br />
tremble. He’s is 6 now but<br />
I’ve only noticed it in the last<br />
two years or so. It hasn’t ever<br />
bothered him in any way but I<br />
wondered if this is something<br />
that happens as they get older?<br />
Although many older dogs get<br />
tremors in their legs (especially<br />
the back legs), there are also<br />
several quite serious conditions<br />
that could cause them. So<br />
before just accepting that they<br />
are a normal harmless part of<br />
growing older, it’s important to<br />
rule out those conditions. Look<br />
for signs of him feeling unwell<br />
– change in appetite, increased<br />
drinking, sickness, diarrhoea,<br />
reduced interest in exercise.<br />
If any of these are present, it’s<br />
worth getting your vet’s opinion.<br />
You say that the tremors do not<br />
affect him, but if they do start<br />
to impact on his exercise, they<br />
might relate to pain, so again,<br />
see your vet.<br />
My beloved dog has taken up<br />
scooting across our lovely new<br />
carpets in the last few months.<br />
I don’t think she’s deliberately<br />
doing it just because I’ve got<br />
new carpets but I do wonder if<br />
the carpet is somehow irritating<br />
her? What would be your best<br />
advice going forward?<br />
The scooting you’re describing<br />
is a sign of an itchy bottom.<br />
Sometimes you do get reactions<br />
to carpets, but these usually<br />
show as itchy inflamed skin in<br />
the areas in contact with the<br />
carpet – mainly the feet <strong>and</strong><br />
the belly; if these areas are not<br />
Sponsored feature<br />
affected, I think it’s unlikely that<br />
the new carpets are causing this<br />
behaviour, but because they’re<br />
new, you are noticing it more!<br />
Rarely, worms can be the cause<br />
but the commonest reason for<br />
itchy bottoms in dogs is anal sac<br />
problems. The anal sacs are little<br />
scent gl<strong>and</strong>s beside the anus<br />
which can become blocked<br />
or infected <strong>and</strong> cause variable<br />
degrees of itch <strong>and</strong> pain. The<br />
problem is usually easily sorted<br />
out with a visit to your vet, so<br />
don’t delay – save your dog<br />
from further discomfort <strong>and</strong> your<br />
carpets from further injury!<br />
My cat has started getting bad<br />
breath. I have tried (<strong>and</strong> failed)<br />
to brush her teeth but her teeth<br />
look in good condition. Could it<br />
be related to her intestines or<br />
something similar?<br />
Bad breath is often a sign of oral<br />
disease. There may be problems<br />
with her teeth at the back where<br />
it’s more difficult for you to look,<br />
or there could be other issues<br />
(like tonsillitis for example).<br />
However, bad breath can also<br />
be a symptom of problems<br />
elsewhere - stomach, lung liver<br />
<strong>and</strong> kidney problems can all<br />
cause it, so it’s important to get<br />
your cat properly checked out<br />
as soon as possible.<br />
A fellow dog walker was telling<br />
me about her friend’s dog that<br />
died of canine pancreatitis. It<br />
sounds quite scary <strong>and</strong> I do<br />
worry a lot so I wondered what<br />
signs <strong>and</strong> symptoms I needed<br />
to look out for with my own dog.<br />
Is it catching?<br />
Pancreatitis is inflammation<br />
of the pancreas, an organ that<br />
produces digestive enzymes as<br />
well as insulin. Symptoms can<br />
vary from mild inappetence to<br />
severe vomiting <strong>and</strong> intense<br />
pain. Usually patients recover<br />
with intensive treatment, but<br />
occasionally it is fatal. Most<br />
that recover do not suffer any<br />
long-term health effects, but<br />
some suffer recurring bouts<br />
of illness. There is no specific<br />
treatment for pancreatitis, so<br />
therapy is aimed at supporting<br />
the body while it heals, with<br />
intravenous fluids, analgesia <strong>and</strong><br />
antemetics. Pancreatitis is not<br />
contagious so there’s no need<br />
to worry on that count. Often we<br />
don’t know what has caused a<br />
bout of pancreatitis, but it can<br />
certainly be associated with<br />
overindulgence in rich food – for<br />
example, stealing a pat of butter.
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Summer's End<br />
"We need to get you home now.<br />
Your mother will be waiting for you."<br />
Paul took Eve's small h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> led<br />
her out of the forest <strong>and</strong> into the<br />
late summer sunshine.<br />
"Why do I have to go Daddy? I<br />
don't want this day to end." Eve<br />
looked up at her father. Paul could<br />
see the sadness in his daughter's<br />
eyes. He saw it every time he had to<br />
take Eve home.<br />
"Mummy wants you back so you<br />
can have your tea."<br />
In truth, Paul didn't want to take<br />
Eve back either but since the split<br />
from Beth, both parents had to<br />
play by the rules. Both father <strong>and</strong><br />
daughter had enjoyed a wonderful<br />
day together. It had started with an<br />
early breakfast at the local café.<br />
At the age of 8, trying out her first<br />
cooked breakfast was something of<br />
a treat for Eve but she still couldn't<br />
get her head around eating savoury<br />
food first thing in the morning.<br />
"These aren't exactly Coco-Pops,"<br />
she'd mumbled as she tucked into<br />
her baked beans.<br />
After breakfast, they jumped into<br />
the car <strong>and</strong> headed out to the<br />
beach a few miles away. Paul had<br />
packed some food into a cool bag<br />
<strong>and</strong> they spent the day digging<br />
holes <strong>and</strong> burying Eve's Barbie dolls<br />
up to their necks. They spent most<br />
of the day on the s<strong>and</strong>s but Paul<br />
knew that he had to have Eve back<br />
home early for teatime - she was<br />
back to school the next day.<br />
As one last treat, he parked the car<br />
up at a woodl<strong>and</strong> park near home,<br />
<strong>and</strong> they had gone exploring in the<br />
nearby forest.<br />
They pretended that they were<br />
detectives looking for spies. Eve<br />
had found some clues - a scruffy<br />
42<br />
old football, a pencil that had been<br />
split in two <strong>and</strong> some acorns.<br />
“Look at this one!” Eve called. She<br />
held up a bright shiny acorn.<br />
“It’s huge!” replied Paul.<br />
“I’m keeping that one,” said Eve,<br />
popping it into the pocket of her<br />
summer dress.<br />
"These clues will lead me all the<br />
way to the spies!" she exclaimed,<br />
walking off.<br />
Paul looked at this young girl,<br />
stepping over logs <strong>and</strong> walking<br />
through muddy puddles with her<br />
s<strong>and</strong>als on. He was going to miss<br />
her so much. Since the split from<br />
Beth, he'd begun plans to start a<br />
new life on his own on the other<br />
side of the world. He knew he<br />
wouldn't get days like this again.<br />
"Oh, look at that dog!" remarked<br />
Eve. Up ahead, charging through<br />
the forest, a small brown <strong>and</strong> cream<br />
dog came bounding over towards<br />
them. In its mouth was a green<br />
tennis ball. Walking briskly behind<br />
the dog came a woman dressed in<br />
a strappy top, a pair of jeans <strong>and</strong> a<br />
big pair of Wellington boots.<br />
She was about the same age as<br />
Paul <strong>and</strong> she certainly caught his<br />
eye. He'd seen her before in the<br />
village several times.<br />
The dog reached Eve <strong>and</strong> ran<br />
around her feet playfully. It dropped<br />
the tennis ball at their feet, in the<br />
hope that they would throw it. Eve<br />
clung to Paul, excited, but not quite<br />
sure if the dog would nip her.<br />
The woman finally reached Paul<br />
<strong>and</strong> Eve, a little out of breath.<br />
“Sorry about her. She just wants to<br />
make new friends,” she said.<br />
Paul looked at the woman. All of<br />
a sudden, he felt very shy. She was<br />
pretty. Very pretty. There was a<br />
slight flush in her cheeks <strong>and</strong> Paul<br />
couldn't take his eyes off her as she<br />
wiped the hair from her face.<br />
Eve bent down <strong>and</strong> finally gave the<br />
dog a stroke on her head.<br />
"She's gorgeous isn't she?" said<br />
Eve.<br />
Paul was still captivated by the<br />
woman.<br />
"Yes. She is," he replied. The<br />
woman caught him looking at her<br />
<strong>and</strong> for a second, they got lost in<br />
their own world as they passed<br />
each other on the small forest<br />
pathway.<br />
Paul turned to watch her walk<br />
away, hoping she'd turn back.<br />
"Bye bye doggie," said Eve as the<br />
dog went scampering away. As the<br />
dog caught up with her, the woman<br />
turned <strong>and</strong> smiled at Paul before<br />
disappearing into the forest.<br />
"She was nice wasn't she?" said<br />
Eve. Paul was still smiling inside.<br />
He turned to head out of the forest<br />
when Eve suddenly noticed the<br />
dog's tennis ball still lying at her<br />
feet.<br />
"Oh no. The dog's left his ball!" she<br />
cried, bending down to pick up the<br />
damp <strong>and</strong> scraggly ball. "I'm going<br />
to give it back to him," she said.<br />
"Ok," replied Paul rather hesitantly.<br />
Eve dashed off up the forest path<br />
where the woman <strong>and</strong> dog had<br />
gone <strong>and</strong> within seconds, she had<br />
disappeared totally.<br />
Immediately, Paul regretted<br />
leaving her go. As the minutes<br />
went by, his anxiety slowly gripped<br />
him. He thought he should go look<br />
for her but just then, his phoned<br />
buzzed. He took it out of his pocket<br />
to read the message that had just<br />
arrived.<br />
"Don't be late. Bx" read the
message. Paul didn't bother<br />
replying. He was more worried<br />
about his missing daughter. He<br />
quickly put his phone back in his<br />
pocket <strong>and</strong> as he looked up, much<br />
to his relief, Eve came leaping back<br />
through the forest with a big smile<br />
on her face.<br />
"I shouldn't have let you go like<br />
that," Paul said.<br />
"I was ok. I'm a big girl now <strong>and</strong><br />
I followed the path. The dog was<br />
happy to have his ball back."<br />
"We need to get you home now.<br />
Your mother will be waiting for you."<br />
And just like that, their day was<br />
over. Their summer was over.<br />
As the couple made their way<br />
across the field to the car, Paul<br />
cast his mind back over the last six<br />
weeks. Together they recounted all<br />
the things they had done together -<br />
the visit to the castle on that boiling<br />
hot day; the sleepover where they’d<br />
stayed up late watching cartoons;<br />
the time they flew a kite <strong>and</strong> it hit a<br />
man on the head; that time they'd<br />
taken shelter from a summer storm<br />
in a shop doorway. This would be<br />
Paul's final summer in Wales for a<br />
long time.<br />
Eve reached up <strong>and</strong> placed her<br />
h<strong>and</strong> in his as they strode across<br />
the field together. In the sky,<br />
towards the west, a large grey cloud<br />
lumbered overhead.<br />
"Looks like rain. Autumn's on its<br />
way," said Paul.<br />
Eve ignored him. “Do you have to<br />
go away?” she said.<br />
Paul took a big breath. Every time<br />
she asked, it wrenched his heart.<br />
“I haven’t decided yet. I’ve got<br />
nothing here. Apart from you of<br />
course.”<br />
“Am I not enough?”<br />
Paul stopped in his tracks. He<br />
realised the enormity of what he<br />
had just said. He felt like he’d just<br />
crushed her. He crouched down,<br />
took both of Eve’s h<strong>and</strong>s in his<br />
<strong>and</strong> looked into her eyes. In that<br />
moment, he envisioned saying<br />
goodbye at the airport. And it was<br />
too much to bear.<br />
“I’m so sorry. Yes of course you are<br />
enough.”<br />
“Then you'll stay?”<br />
Paul smiled <strong>and</strong> paused. “Yes. Yes<br />
I will stay.”<br />
Eve threw her arms around him.<br />
It was one of those hugs that only<br />
daughters can give. Paul stood<br />
up, lifting her up <strong>and</strong> carried her<br />
towards the car, her arms still<br />
around his neck.<br />
The journey back to Eve’s house<br />
was a quiet one. Paul wasn't sure<br />
that Eve believed him when he told<br />
her he'd stay. He'd promised many<br />
things in the past but never fulfilled<br />
them. He considered turning the<br />
radio on but decided that he’d<br />
only be doing that because he was<br />
uncomfortable with the silence.<br />
He glanced at Eve in the rear view<br />
mirror. She was looking out of the<br />
window. And she was still clutching<br />
the battered old football; still<br />
clinging on to the day.<br />
By the time they arrived at Beth’s,<br />
the night was closing in. Paul put<br />
his arm around Eve as they headed<br />
down the side of the house to the<br />
side door that led straight into<br />
the kitchen. From the look at the<br />
steamed up windows, it looked like<br />
tea was on the hob.<br />
A shape appeared in the glass at<br />
the door, before it opened <strong>and</strong> Beth<br />
stood there, apron wrapped around<br />
her.<br />
“Oh hi,” she said. “Come on in.” Eve<br />
stepped inside with her mother <strong>and</strong><br />
then turned to Paul.<br />
“Can you wait just two minutes?”<br />
asked Eve. “I just need to get<br />
something for you.”<br />
“Yes, of course.”<br />
Paul was tempted to pull the door<br />
closed but thought that it would<br />
appear rude. So he stood there<br />
awkwardly <strong>and</strong> waited as the rain<br />
finally started to fall from the sky.<br />
He felt the warmth of the kitchen<br />
seeping out, wrapping itself around<br />
him. A gust of wind blew a few dead<br />
leaves around his feet. In the dark,<br />
he could only feel them as they<br />
rattled around his shoes.<br />
He peered into the kitchen. A waft<br />
of warm casserole drifted out <strong>and</strong><br />
although Paul no longer ate meat, it<br />
still smelt homely.<br />
Beth's new man busied himself<br />
around the kitchen, folding a tea<br />
towel <strong>and</strong> bending down to open<br />
the oven. A great plume of steam<br />
escaped <strong>and</strong> whooshed up to the<br />
ceiling. He placed the casserole pot<br />
down <strong>and</strong> laid the tea towel next to<br />
it.<br />
Paul’s eyes lingered on the tea<br />
towel. He cast his mind back to<br />
the day both he <strong>and</strong> Beth bought<br />
it. They’d made a casserole that<br />
day too. In fact, it was the first meal<br />
they’d cooked together in their new<br />
home. That was when they had a<br />
lifetime of dreams ahead of them.<br />
Things didn't turn out quite as<br />
they'd hoped.<br />
Beth appeared back at the door.<br />
“You ok?”<br />
she asked,<br />
drying<br />
a plate<br />
with a<br />
piece<br />
of<br />
short story<br />
kitchen towel.<br />
“Yes thanks,” replied Paul.<br />
"Good," said Beth, disappearing<br />
back into the kitchen.<br />
Eve reappeared.<br />
"This is for you," she said, h<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
Paul a small envelope. He looked at<br />
it <strong>and</strong> smiled. Then he put it in his<br />
pocket.<br />
"Thank you." He crouched down<br />
<strong>and</strong> the pair embraced one last<br />
time.<br />
"Thank you for a lovely day," said<br />
Eve. "You're the best."<br />
He didn't feel it but even at 8 years<br />
of age, Eve always knew how to<br />
make Paul feel better about things.<br />
As he made his way to the car, he<br />
pulled his collar up to the wind <strong>and</strong><br />
the rain. He opened his car door,<br />
flopped <strong>and</strong> put his h<strong>and</strong>s on the<br />
wheel.<br />
As the rain gently pit-pattered on<br />
his windscreen, he thought about<br />
the summer. He thought about Eve,<br />
his wonderful daughter. And he<br />
wondered whether he really could<br />
leave her to start a new life in New<br />
Zeal<strong>and</strong> on his own. He thought he<br />
could escape the past but in reality,<br />
he would be escaping his present.<br />
He reached into his pocket for his<br />
car key but instead found the small<br />
envelope that Eve had given him.<br />
He took it out.<br />
It was a small white envelope with<br />
a big lump in the middle, stuck<br />
down with twisted bits of Sellotape.<br />
Paul carefully opened it <strong>and</strong><br />
peered inside.<br />
He took out the first item - an<br />
acorn. It was the big shiny one that<br />
Eve had found in the forest.<br />
Then he reached in <strong>and</strong> carefully<br />
pulled out the other item - a small<br />
scrap of paper. It had been carefully<br />
folded over so Paul unfolded it.<br />
In Eve's own h<strong>and</strong>writing, it read:<br />
“Her name is Mary <strong>and</strong> this is her<br />
number.” Underneath was a mobile<br />
telephone number.<br />
“She says she’s free tomorrow<br />
night <strong>and</strong> she'll leave her doggie<br />
at home with his ball if you fancy a<br />
drink together.”<br />
Paul smiled for a moment. He read<br />
it a second time.<br />
"Thank you Eve," he said.<br />
“Thank you.”<br />
Then he started his car<br />
<strong>and</strong> drove off into the<br />
night.<br />
43
House Clearances<br />
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clearance, attics to cellars.<br />
We also offer the following services:<br />
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• Small removals & deliveries, nationwide<br />
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When? Every Monday from 1.30-2.30pm (term time)<br />
Gentle exercise to music for £3.50 per session.<br />
All over 60s Welcome! Contact Sharon Teear:<br />
Photograph taken by Sian Trenberth<br />
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House Clearance Specialists<br />
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<strong>Whitchurch</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
Ll<strong>and</strong>aff <strong>Living</strong><br />
<strong>Issue</strong> 56 (Winter)<br />
Booking deadline<br />
4th November<br />
Published<br />
20th November<br />
Rhiwbina <strong>Living</strong><br />
<strong>Issue</strong> 49 (Winter)<br />
Booking deadline<br />
8th November<br />
Published<br />
27th November
A Great Place To Call Home<br />
At Sunrise of Cardiff it’s our mission to provide the highest<br />
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SunriseCardiff.co.uk<br />
CARDIFF<br />
ADV_CAR_0919_<strong>Whitchurch</strong>Ll<strong>and</strong>aff_01.indd 1 09/09/2019 11:47
One Pot<br />
Wonders<br />
The simplicity <strong>and</strong> delight of a slow-cooker is best savoured shut away<br />
from the world on a cold autumn night. Here are our favourites<br />
Skirlie Stuffed Mushrooms<br />
4 large flat mushrooms<br />
4 spring onions<br />
1 leek<br />
25g butter/vegan alternative<br />
4 leaves of fresh sage<br />
2 sprigs of fresh thyme<br />
1 sprig of fresh rosemary<br />
400ml water<br />
200g oats<br />
salt <strong>and</strong> pepper to season<br />
mushroom. Add 100ml of water to your slow cooker<br />
<strong>and</strong> put the lid on. Don't worry too much if all of the<br />
mushrooms don't fit on the floor of the cooker. They<br />
can be slightly stacked up.<br />
☐ Cook the mushrooms on a high setting for 2-3 hours,<br />
or on a low setting for 4 hours.<br />
☐ Serve with kale or cabbage on the side.<br />
☐ Clean <strong>and</strong> scrub the mushrooms but do not peel<br />
them. Remove the stalks <strong>and</strong> chop finely. Put the<br />
chopped stalks to one side.<br />
☐ Line your slow cooker with baking liner <strong>and</strong> place<br />
your mushrooms onto it.<br />
☐ Finely slice the spring onions <strong>and</strong> leek. Over a<br />
medium heat, melt the butter in a frying pan until it<br />
is soft. Add the chopped mushroom stalks <strong>and</strong> the<br />
herbs, mixing them well so that the chopped stalks are<br />
covered. Add in the porridge oats, allowing them to<br />
toast for about 3-4 minutes when they will start to smell<br />
nutty.<br />
☐ Stir in the water, 50mls at a time. Your mixture should<br />
absorb the water <strong>and</strong> swell up. If it starts looking too<br />
much like porridge, stop adding the water. Remove<br />
from the heat <strong>and</strong> season well with salt <strong>and</strong> pepper.<br />
☐ Spoon your mixture into the mushrooms, packing<br />
it in tightly to the edges to maintain the shape of the<br />
46
Beef bourguignon<br />
3 tbsp vegetable oil<br />
1½ kg stewing or braising steak, cut into small chunks<br />
2 large onions, chopped<br />
2 carrots, chopped<br />
2 celery stalks, chopped<br />
2 bay leaves<br />
2 thyme sprigs or rosemary sprigs<br />
3 tbsp plain flour<br />
750ml bottle red wine<br />
1 beef stock cube<br />
1 tsp caster sugar<br />
2 tbsp tomato purée<br />
100g unsmoked bacon lardons<br />
6 small shallots or baby onions, halved or quartered<br />
300g closed cup mushrooms, halved or quartered<br />
mashed potatoes or crusty bread, to serve<br />
recipes<br />
☐ Turn the slow cooker to low <strong>and</strong> heat the oil in a large frying pan. Season the meat <strong>and</strong> fry for 3-4 minutes in<br />
batches until browned all over. Transfer to a plate.<br />
☐ Add the onion, carrot <strong>and</strong> celery to the pan <strong>and</strong> fry for 5-10 minutes until soft. Add the herbs <strong>and</strong> flour <strong>and</strong><br />
cook for another 2 minutes. Pour a splash of the wine into a bowl, then add the stock cube, sugar <strong>and</strong> tomato<br />
purée <strong>and</strong> mix to form a paste. Scrape the paste into the onion mix <strong>and</strong> pour in the remaining wine. Bring the<br />
mixture to a bubble, then transfer to the slow cooker. Stir in the browned beef <strong>and</strong> simmer on low for 6-8 hrs.<br />
About 35 minutes before serving, fry the bacon, shallots <strong>and</strong> mushrooms for 5-8 minutes until caramelised <strong>and</strong><br />
the veg is starting to soften, then tip into the slow cooker. Simmer the stew gently on high for 30 minutes.<br />
Slow cooker<br />
ultimate curry<br />
1 tbsp vegetable oil<br />
1 large onion peeled <strong>and</strong> chopped<br />
3 chicken breasts boneless <strong>and</strong><br />
skinless, diced<br />
3 cloves garlic, peeled <strong>and</strong> minced<br />
1 large piece of ginger about the size<br />
of your thumb, peeled <strong>and</strong> finely<br />
chopped<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
½ tsp ground black pepper<br />
3 tsp hot chilli powder<br />
1 tbsp ground cori<strong>and</strong>er<br />
½ tbsp cumin<br />
1 tbsp curry powder<br />
1 tsp paprika<br />
1 tsp cinnamon<br />
240ml chicken stock<br />
400g tinned chopped tomatoes<br />
2 tbsp tomato purée/paste<br />
2 tsp sugar<br />
400ml can full-fat coconut milk<br />
To Serve:<br />
Rice, chopped cori<strong>and</strong>er <strong>and</strong> finely<br />
chopped chillies<br />
pepper, chilli powder, ground<br />
cori<strong>and</strong>er, cumin, curry powder,<br />
paprika <strong>and</strong> cinnamon.<br />
☐ Stir to coat the chicken <strong>and</strong> cook<br />
for 1-2 minutes.<br />
☐ Add in the stock, tinned<br />
tomatoes, tomato purée, sugar <strong>and</strong><br />
coconut milk.<br />
☐ Stir, bring to a gentle bubble<br />
then pour into your slow cooker <strong>and</strong><br />
cook for 3-4 hours on high or 5-6<br />
hours on low.<br />
☐ Take the lid off <strong>and</strong> give<br />
everything a stir (the oils will have<br />
risen to the top, so you can spoon<br />
most of it out, or just stir it back in).<br />
Sprinkle with cori<strong>and</strong>er <strong>and</strong> serve<br />
with rice.<br />
Cucumber raita<br />
½ cucumber<br />
a pinch of sea salt flakes<br />
1 x 150g pot natural yogurt<br />
1 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves<br />
☐ Peel the cucumber <strong>and</strong> coarsely<br />
grate it onto a board. Take a h<strong>and</strong>ful<br />
<strong>and</strong> squeeze out the excess juice<br />
over a sink; transfer to a bowl.<br />
Repeat the squeezing process with<br />
the rest.<br />
☐ Season the cucumber with the salt,<br />
<strong>and</strong> stir in the yogurt <strong>and</strong> mint. Cover<br />
<strong>and</strong> keep in the fridge until serving.<br />
☐ Preheat your slow cooker to high.<br />
Heat the oil in a large pan (or the<br />
slow cooker if it has a sear function),<br />
add in the onion <strong>and</strong> cook on a<br />
medium heat for 5-6 minutes until<br />
softened.<br />
☐ Add the chicken <strong>and</strong> cook for 3-4<br />
minutes until just sealed.<br />
☐ Add in the garlic, ginger, salt,<br />
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