Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 64

News | People | Features | Competitions | Lifestyle 

Whitchurch & 

Llandaff Living 

At the heart of the community 

Issue 64 Autumn '22 

AUTUMN 

Your multi award-winning community magazine

Inside this issue 

Welcome / Croeso 

Interview 

Legendary Welsh 

writer and actor 

Steve Speirs talks 

about his love 

of living in north 

Cardiff 

Yma o Hyd 

David Collins 

takes a look back 

over the 146 year 

history of Welsh 

football 

Quirky pets 

From 'pugtaoes' 

to blue-tongued 

skinks, meet 

some of the 

quirkiest pets 

from north Cardiff 

Haunted 

Cardiff 

Some of the 

spookiest 

tales that have 

emerged from 

our local villages 

a: 222 Pantbach Road, 

Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG 

t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 

w: www.livingmags.co.uk 

e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or 

danielle@livingmags.co.uk 

Distribution: 6,000 copies of Whitchurch and 

Llandaff Living are distributed to retail outlets and 

public places across Whitchurch, Llandaff and 

Llandaff North five times a year. 

2 

King's Visit 

We were there in 

the crowds when 

King Charles III 

made his first 

visit to Wales 

as monarch in 

Llandaff 

While every effort has been made to 

ensure the accuracy of the contents, 

the publisher cannot accept any 

responsibility for errors or omissions, 

or for any matter in any way arising 

from the publication of this material. 

Every effort has been made to 

contact any copyright holders. 

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an 

independent, apolitical publication. 

No part of this publication may be 

reproduced without the express 

written permission of the publishers. 

Welcome to your Autumn issue 

of Whitchurch and Llandaff 

Living. 

As the villages settle down 

for the colder months, it's time 

to light the fires and enjoy the 

warm feeling of hygge that this 

season brings. 

Since we first published our 

first issue of Whitchurch and 

Llandaff Living in 2008, our 

magazines have celebrated the 

seasons. With that in mind, we 

have put together an issue that 

celebrates both the beauty of 

the outdoors and the sanctuary 

of the indoors. 

Autumn provides perhaps the 

most spectacular feast on our 

senses and we've picked out a 

few wonders of nature to look 

out for when you're out and 

about at this time of year. 

The change in the season can 

also bring with it anxieties so 

we've compiled some effective 

ways to look after yourself this 

autumn as the nights draw in. 

We often use our gardens as 

places of refuge. They are also 

windows to the seasons and as 

the summer colours fade, there 

are plenty of tasks to keep our 

hands and minds busy. We've 

organised a list of things to do at 

this time of year. 

With the World Cup in 

everyone's minds, editor of 

Welsh Football magazine David 

Collins has been kind enough 

to put together a fascinating 

history of Welsh football, 

including the contribution that 

the city of Cardiff has given to 

the cause. 

Over a hot cup of coffee, 

we were thrilled to speak to 

esteemed Welsh writer and 

actor Steve Speirs, who recently 

moved to the area. He tells us 

about his love for north Cardiff 

life, and his career to-date. 

It's been a bumpy year for 

many but back in September, 

we were part of the throng that 

welcomed the new King to 

Llandaff Cathedral. We spoke 

to members of the crowds and 

share their views on what's been 

a turbulent year. 

With the darkening nights, we 

bring you some of the creepiest 

tales to come out of north 

Cardiff. From phantom coaches 

to screaming banshees in 

Llandaff North, there are a few 

stories to raise a few hairs on the 

back of your neck. 

We all love our pets - they 

really are part of the family and 

we met some of the quirkiest 

pets that live in north Cardiff 

today - including a three-legged 

cat and a blue-tongued skink. 

We've got some delicious 

recipes that are guaranteed to 

warm your cockles and there's 

also a guide to the part you 

can play in helping slow down 

climate change. 

Finally, we sign off with a short 

story from award-winning author 

(and Whitchurch and Llandaff 

Living co-editor) Patric Morgan. 

Enjoy the Autumn season and 

we'll see you in our next issue. 

Danielle and Patric 

Editors 

@Whit_Llandaff 

www.facebook.com/ 

whitchurchandllandaffliving

King Charles III visits Llandaff as part 

of his first trip to Wales as monarch 

news 

Local hubs 

helping to keep 

people warm this 

coming winter 

King Charles III was greeted by 

cheering crowds in Llandaff in 

September, as part of his first official 

tour of the country as the monarch. 

The King arrived in Cardiff with the 

Queen Consort to attend a service 

of prayer and reflection for the life 

of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II at 

Llandaff Cathedral. 

Arriving by helicopter, the King and 

Queen Consort then travelled by 

state limousine in bright sunshine 

to Llandaff Cathedral. The service 

was also attended by Prime Minister 

Liz Truss and leading figures from 

around Wales. 

Members of the public, including 

local schoolchildren, lined the 

streets to welcome the pair as they 

arrived. 

The service of reflection and prayer 

included performances from the 

Llandaff Cathedral Choir, which was 

accompanied on harps played by 

Royal harpist Alis Huws and Catrin 

Finch, a former Royal harpist. 

The King and Queen Consort then 

signed the visitor book, before 

heading out into the sunshine to 

meet members of the crowds who 

gathered near to the cathedral. 

Chants and musical renditions of 

'God Save the King' were heard as 

the Royal couple met members 

of the public, shaking hands with 

a few of them. The couple then 

moved on to Cardiff Bay for a visit 

to the Senedd, ahead of their final 

engagement at Cardiff Castle. 

In a bilingual speech at the Senedd, 

King Charles gave the Senedd his 

'heartfelt thanks for your kind words.' 

Archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev 

Andrew John, paid tribute to the 

Queen's 'extraordinary legacy of 

service and devotion.' 

Thousands of trees to be planted 

Thousands of trees are set to be 

planted across Cardiff in a bid to 

improve the city's air quality. 

Over the next six months, trees will 

be planted in over 150 locations that 

include schools, parks, residential 

streets and other green spaces. 

It forms part of Cardiff Council's 

Coed Caerdydd project, a 10-year 

programme which aims to increase 

tree canopy cover in the city from 

18.9% to 25%. 

Trees will range in size from small 

saplings through to larger, more 

fully-formed trees. Native species 

such as oak, birch, rowan, and alder 

trees will be some of the varieties 

planted. There will also be a number 

of ornamental trees planted, 

specifically chosen for their ability 

to withstand the impacts of climate 

change. 

Fruit trees, including apple, pear, 

plum and cherry, will also be planted 

at a number of the sites. 

Hubs and libraries across Cardiff, 

including those in Whitchurch 

and Llandaff North, will be 

opening their doors to create 

'warm, welcome spaces' for 

people who are struggling to pay 

their heating costs. 

The initiative is part of Cardiff 

Council's plans to help people 

deal with the cost of living crisis. 

Visitors will be entitled to stay at 

the venues and enjoy a hot drink 

to keep warm, saving them from 

putting their heating on at home. 

Councillor Lynda Thorne, 

cabinet member for housing and 

communities, said: 

"Warm welcome spaces are 

just part of a package of support 

we are working on for residents 

to combat the cost of living 

pressures affecting everyone 

right now. 

"Our hubs and libraries are 

thriving community spaces 

with lots on offer so we want to 

encourage anyone struggling 

to heat their home to pop in 

and enjoy the warm welcome. It 

will be a chance to meet other 

people in the community, read 

the paper or pick up a book 

from the library, or to take part 

in some of the many varied 

activities our hubs and libraries 

regularly host." 

5G mast brings 

complaints 

Residents in Whitchurch 

have complained about the 

installation of a new phone mast 

in the village. 

The 20 metre high structure 

was put in place in September. 

The mast is a replacement for 

a previous mast, and includes 

six antennas, two transmission 

dishes and two equipment 

cabinets. 

3

news 

Bird hide installed 

at Forest Farm 

4 

A new metal bird hide has been 

installed at Forest Farm Nature 

Reserve. 

It’s the second metal hide to 

be installed, completing the 

replacement of the wooden hides 

that were burned down last year. 

The hides have been the target of 

vandalism on multiple occasions in 

recent months. 

Cricket club 

raises money 

More than £4,500 was raised 

by locals to help secure a new 

facility after Llandaff Cricket Club's 

clubhouse was vandalised. 

Graffiti and offensive markings 

were discovered when coaches 

turned up for an afternoon training 

session in late September. 

New Dean 

of Llandaff 

announced 

A senior cleric from Oxford has 

been appointed as the new Dean of 

Llandaff. 

Canon Richard Peers, the Sub 

Dean at Christ Church Oxford, will 

be installed as Dean of Llandaff in 

late November. 

Work starts on 

new school 

Work has commenced on the 

construction of a new primary 

school that will serve north Cardiff's 

new Plasdŵr development. 

The new £9 million primary school 

is being built on land south of 

Llantrisant Road. It is the second 

primary school to be provided as 

part of Cardiff’s Local Development 

Plan (LDP) and will serve areas 

of north-west Cardiff, covering 

parts of Creigiau, St Fagans, Radyr, 

Morganstown and Fairwater. 

Ground for Ysgol Gynradd 

Groeswen Primary School as it will 

be known, was cut by Leader of 

Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, 

Cardiff Cabinet Member for 

Education, Employment and Skills, 

Cllr Sarah Merry, Headteacher 

Designate Richard Carbis and 

Temporary Chair of Governors for 

the school, Daniel Tiplady. 

They were accompanied by 

representatives from Andrew 

Scott Ltd, Redrow and local ward 

members. 

The new school will feature a 

range of amenities that will be 

accessible to the public, providing 

opportunities to bring new residents 

and families together. 

When construction is finished, the 

school will offer 420 places in total. 

It will also be the first of its kind in 

Cardiff to provide a dual language 

education stream, with one-form 

of entry offering Welsh-medium 

education and one-form of entry 

offering English and Welsh duallanguage 

education. There will 

also be 96 places for a part-time 

nursery. 

Cabinet Member for Education, 

Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah 

Merry told the media: 

“I am delighted that construction 

of the new school is well underway, 

which when finished, will provide 

a modern, well-equipped and 

efficient learning environment for 

pupils and staff. 

“Plasdŵr is already very popular, 

generating a significant increase 

in the demand for school places 

in the area. The new school will 

have a community focus providing 

opportunities for local people to 

access facilities as well ensuring 

availability of school places.” 

Cannabis farm found in Whitchurch 

A large cannabis farm in Whitchurch 

was discovered by police in late 

September. 

Officers raided a semi-detached 

property on Manor Way, following 

raised suspicions by the property's 

energy provider. 

More than 300 plants were found at 

the property, as well as professional 

cultivation equipment. The property, 

which is located on a main route in 

and out of Cardiff, was empty at the 

time of the raid. 

A police force spokesperson said: 

"Cannabis remains illegal. Supply 

and/or production carries a prison 

sentence of up to 14 years." 

The police have also launched a 

public appeal about the cannabis 

production at the property. If you 

have any information that could help 

the investigation, you can call police 

on 101 and quote the reference 

number *327705. All calls will be 

dealt with in confidence.

Your letters 

WE 

letters 

WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 

We love to hear what you've been up to 

so send us your letters and photos! 

We'll do our best to print them all. 

editor@livingmags.co.uk 

Wonderful 

memories of 

summers past 

Differing opinions 

Regarding the letter entitled 

‘Author Shock’ in Whitchurch 

& Llandaff Living (Aug/Sep 

2022), I accept Anna Lewis has 

a right to her own opinion of 

Jordan Peterson but I have read 

many articles and heard many 

recordings of him and do not 

agree with her comments. 

I do not want anyone put off 

reading any of Jordan Peterson’s 

articles by Anna’s view and believe 

people should approach them 

with an open mind and draw their 

own conclusions. 

May I also say that we love 

reading your magazine which 

has a fantastic eclectic mix to 

entertain everyone. Thank you! 

Chris Huntley 

Rhiwbina 

The article in Whitchurch & 

Llandaff Living (Aug/Sep 

2022) featuring the history of 

Campbells' steamers brought 

back memories for me. I crossed 

the Bristol Channel between 

Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare 

many times as a passenger in the 

1950s/60s. 

Coming into Cardiff on the 

Bristol Queen one summer's 

evening in about 1960, a tannoy 

announcement told passengers 

that we'd be docking an hour 

late as the tide wasn't yet high 

enough. 

Everyone rushed to the safety 

rail to look down at the water, 

causing the Bristol Queen to list 

badly on that side. 

The tannoy came to life again: 

"Ladies and gentlemen, please 

go to the bar in the middle for an 

hour so the ship can stay upright." 

Nearly everyone followed the 

suggestion and a very jolly time 

was had by all! 

Mike Kellett 

Email 

They don't listen 

I don't understand Cardiff Council. 

They ask for our feedback, we 

tell them that we don't a sewage 

pumping station in Hailey Park 

and then they give it the green 

light. Why bother asking us if they 

don't listen to our answers? 

Megan Yates 

Email 

Still going 

after all 

these 

years 

I was brought up 

in an orphanage 

in Ely so when I 

was four years 

old, I went up to 

the bakery and I 

stayed there until 

I was called up for 

National Service. 

Then demob 

came and I've had 

five jobs since. I'm 

now retired but my 

work for charity 

goes on. Since 

1982, I haven't 

stopped. I sell 

badges and I have 

also been cycling 

for charity, raising a 

lot of money. I was 

awarded an MBE 

a couple of years 

ago. 

I recently caught 

Covid and spent 

two months in 

hospital. I came home to find 

that my flat has been broken into. 

They thought that I wasn't coming 

home. At one point, I was a top 

cyclist. Now I can hardly walk and I 

have arthritis in my hands. It's a sad 

thing but I say to people 'I'm alive!' 

Before I go, I have to tell you this 

- my nickname is El-Sid. I was at 

a club in 1972 when the doorman 

shouted 'Where's the El-Sid?' and 

it stuck. 

I'm 85 years old and am still 

happy living in Whitchurch village. 

Every Saturday, I love to sing and 

sell badges. 

Sid Golding 

Whitchurch 

5

STEVE 

SPEIRS 

Writer and actor Steve Speirs reflects on his 

career to-date and his life in north Cardiff 

Tucked away in the cosy corner 

of a north Cardiff home, is a 

small office. Its wooden shelf is 

wedged with books and the lamps 

dimly light the desk that's peppered 

with post-it notes. Taking centre 

stage is a screen where all the 

magic takes place. 

"I have a strict routine. I start about 

6 

10am and don't emerge until gone 

4pm," says writer and actor Steve 

Speirs, sipping his hot coffee. 

"There's a rhythm to it all. Write. 

Edit. Rewrite. Re-edit. Rewrite the 

edit. Edit the rewrite. It's a craft." 

It's a craft that the Merthyr-born 

actor has honed over the last 

three decades, and a career that's 

brought joy to millions. 

"We'd been living in Llanishen 

up until this year, but we moved 

into Rhiwbina in May. I've brought 

a bit of Merthyr into the village so 

obviously house prices have gone 

up," he chuckles. 

The Welsh actor, known for 

memorable roles in TV and film has 

taken Rhiwbina to heart. 

"I never even knew that the Garden 

Village existed until earlier this 

year. A friend of mine had been 

in Northwood in the village and 

pointed out the house to me as I 

was looking for somewhere to live. 

As soon as I stepped into the house, 

I knew I had to live here. It's great. 

"Within a week, I'd met loads of 

new people, mostly out walking the 

dog. They’d introduce themselves 

and I got to know a lot of people 

within a short space of time." 

Since settling down in the village, 

Steve has made himself at home, 

and has been welcomed as part of 

the community. 

"I quickly became the loudest 

person in the village," he says. "The 

first thing the place reminded me 

of was that place in Midsomer 

Murders. I was half-expecting to 

find a dead postman lying up one of 

the lanes. It's a quirky place - within 

a few days, I'd found out that there 

was an annual Christmas party for 

dogs in one of the parks. The village 

seems to be set in its own space 

and time. 

"Everyone has pride in their 

properties around here too. I’d 

know if I’d been robbed because he 

would have cut my hedges on his 

way out." 

Steve's ended up living only about 

half an hour's drive from where he 

grew up in the south Wales Valleys. 

Brought up in Merthyr, writing and 

acting was something he always 

aspired to do. 

"As a kid, there was nothing else 

I wanted to do for a living when I 

grew up. My dad worked in the big 

Hoover factory up at Merthyr and I 

wasn't fussed on that, even though 

he had a job lined up for me there. 

"As a kid, we used to go on holiday 

to Weymouth every summer. I was 

fascinated by the Punch and Judy 

show and I’d sit there on this beach, 

often on my own, eating ice-creams 

and watching all the performances 

throughout the afternoon. I think it 

was the puppets and the colours 

and the storytelling that kept me 

there. I was hooked. 

"My grandfather made me a Punch 

and Judy box and I’d put shows on 

for my family in the back garden of 

our Merthyr home. It was my way of

storytelling, something that's stuck 

with me ever since. That's probably 

why I followed the career path I 

have." 

After leaving school, Steve 

completed a drama degree at 

Loughborough University. 

"I spent a lot of time at the 

Sherman Theatre as part of the 

National Youth Theatre of Wales. I'm 

happy that I've been able to make a 

long-term career out of it.” 

Steve's career to-date has 

included appearances in many 

well-known TV shows, including 

Stella, Extras, Afterlife, and The 

Tuckers, the show that he has 

written himself. 

"I don’t think anyone could 

describe me artistically as a sleek 

sailing boat, skimming across the 

water with the greatest of ease. 

I’m more like a large, lumbering 

oil tanker - one of those ones that 

takes ages to turn around. I could 

describe my career as an overnight 

success for the last 35 years." 

His first TV credits stretch all the 

way back to 1989. 

"I was in a HTV production called 

When We Were Seven. It was 

written by my friend Robert Pugh, 

who I've since given a part to in The 

Tuckers. He still moans that he gave 

me a good part in his show and that 

I gave him a less-than-glamorous 

part in mine. But I love the cyclical 

nature of it all and we're still best of 

friends!" 

Steve has also graced criticallyacclaimed 

theatre productions; his 

versatility as an actor has seen him 

play a variety of roles. 

"I appeared in a Tommy Cooper 

play once, which was very well 

received. The last bit of theatre I did 

in was in the West End, just before 

Covid hit. The play was Upstart 

Crow, written by Ben Elton but I've 

always suffered a little with stage 

nerves so I'm more inclined to 

work in TV if I can as it's a bit more 

forgiving. 

"It's amusing that different people 

know me from different things, 

depending on their age and 

location. People from across the 

bridge know me as Glyn from The 

Tuckers, whereas closer to home, 

they tend to know me as Big Al from 

Stella." 

But Steve's also featured in some 

of the largest film franchises in 

the world, including Star Wars and 

Pirates of the Caribbean. 

"Film is a rewarding process, 

especially when you get to see the 

result of your hard work up there on 

the big screen." 

As well as appearing on-screen, 

Steve is also renowned for his 

writing off-screen. 

"I love writing but it can be 

challenging. The third series of The 

Tuckers came out recently and I 

was bombarded with people saying 

that they'd binged on it and wanted 

to know when Series 4 was out. And 

I was thinking to myself, this has 

taken me nearly a year to create - 

six months of writing, two months 

of filming and then another two 

months of editing. And people were 

devouring it in one go. Don't get me 

wrong - I'm thrilled with the positive 

response - but it's a lot of work." 

people 

The BBC can be well-pleased with 

the reception that The Tuckers has 

gained since its first showing in 

early 2020. The series focuses on 

a close-knit family of larger-thanlife, 

loveable rogues in the Welsh 

valleys. And it's been lapped up by 

the public. 

"The BBC in Wales has been 

very supportive of the show and 

in return, it's given them a big 

audience. 

"The writing process is the thing 

that takes the time. I often overhear 

things when I’m out and about 

and I’ll note them down to use, 

not necessarily straight away. I’ve 

got post-it notes everywhere. It’s 

strange though - when I’m writing, 

I want to be acting and when I’m 

acting, I’d rather be writing." 

Comedy has always featured 

heavily in Steve's career, and it's 

something he's been keen to 

develop at a grass-roots level. 

"We've started a regular comedy 

night on Friday nights up at the 

Deri in Rhiwbina, which people are 

welcome to come and join. It gives 

people the chance to either give 

comedy a go themselves or to have 

some time to sit back and have a 

laugh." 

Looking ahead, Steve's main 

ambition is to keep on doing the job 

he loves. 

"It is a craft. But I’m blessed that I 

get paid for what I do. Ultimately, it's 

what I’ve always wanted to do since 

I was that lonesome kid sitting there 

on that Weymouth beach with an 

ice-cream, watching a Punch and 

Judy show." 

The Tuckers has been a huge comedy hit 

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DRIVE TOGETHER

Fit For 

A King 

It was a gloriously sunny day in 

September when King Charles made his 

first visit to Wales as monarch. We spoke 

to those who were there to meet him 

Megan, Llandaff 

It’s the first time the King has come to Wales and it's so nice to 

see the community come together. It’s a great atmosphere to be 

part of. 

It was so sad about the Queen. We all knew that it was going 

to happen but when it did happen, it was quite a shock. It’s 

been interesting trying to talk to my little girl about it, and to 

help her navigate through it. What is nice though is seeing 

the United Kingdom joining together as one and all standing 

together in unity. It’s really beautiful to see. It’s also great to see 

the celebrations for the new king, and to see how he’s going to 

impact our world in the years to come. 

It's pretty great that he’s come to Llandaff for his first visit. I 

live here and he’s come to visit my city – because we are a 

city within a city; I was messaging my parents in Swansea and 

Hereford and telling them that he’s coming to us! We were 

watching all the preparations and all the work that’s been done 

during the lead-up to the visit. 

10 

Emma, Radyr 

It’s really special to have the king come to Cardiff. I wanted to come and wish him 

all the best and to wish him luck in his new role and to pay our condolences as well. 

It’s a bit of a mixed emotion. The Queen was such an incredible lady. Out of all the 

royals and their shenanigans, she was pure dignity. She’s always conducted herself 

with grace. I’m never going to have a queen again in my lifetime with all the boys 

coming up in the line-up. 

To have the King come to Llandaff so soon after the Queen’s death is pretty 

special. Looking around here today, he obviously means a lot to everyone else too 

and it's so lovely to see.

Christine 

& Mark, 


Suzanne & Binky, 

Cyncoed 

people 

Christine: 

We walked over from Whitchurch. 

For us, it’s a moment in history, 

following the passing of the Queen; 

now here we are with King Charles. 

The passing of the Queen affected 

me a lot. She’s been in our lives for 

such a long time. My mum was a 

great royalist so I think that this has 

brought back memories of my Mum 

and it’s a case that everything’s 

going to change now. The Queen 

did an amazing job. We are very 

privileged to be here today – the 

sun’s shining and it’s a day to remember. This will never happen again in our lifetime. 

Mark: 

Christine’s aunty was an ex-Lord mayor of Cardiff so we had the privilege of meeting some of the royals during 

her inauguration. We’re here to pay our respects to the Queen. She’s been a constant. It’s fantastic that Charles has 

come to Wales and Cardiff is the capital city. 

It's important for us Welsh people to have this experience. 

Charles deserves everyone to come out and wish him the best. 

It’s been a very emotional week for everyone. I wanted to 

feel the atmosphere and the joy and be part of it. I take Binky 

everywhere with me so she had to come today. 

It’s been lovely here 

in the village. I love the 

cathedral and it’s been 

nice to come and see 

something special. It’s 

emotional. The Queen 

was around for a long 

time. 

Llandaff is definitely on 

the map now that Charles 

is here. The cameras are 

here and the whole world 

will see it. 

Barrie, Blackwood 

When we all grow up, we like memorable things to look back on and for 

me, it’s the first time Charles has come to Wales as king. We’ve got my 

friend’s little one here and when he grows up, he’ll be telling his kids about 

the day and how he was trying to get a photo of the new king. 

As for Charles, he’s a busy man – the Royal Family do so much. We only 

see a little bit. He spent ten minutes walking around and meeting us all 

and our four or five hours queueing was no problem for us. It meant that I 

could get my own personal picture of the new king and the queen consort. 

I lost my mum last year and I know how strong he, and his family and kids 

are, going through this. It’s frightening to lose a parent. 

This cathedral here in Llandaff will be visited by people wanting to see his 

signature. Llandaff has always been on the map but this is even better. 

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well-being 

autumn 

anxieties 

For some, the change in the seasons can bring about seasonal 

anxieties. Here are some ways to look after yourself this autumn 

The transition from summer to 

autumn is perhaps one of the 

most drastic. One week, we're 

sitting in our gardens making 

the most of the summer sun, the 

next we are wrapped up warm 

and buffeted by autumn winds. 

We suddenly feel the cold and 

the visual display of our trees 

being stripped of their leaves is 

a stark reminder that things are 

on the change. 

Whereas spring offers the hope 

of the sunny days of summer, 

the prospect of winter looming 

can have a profound effect on 

our well-being. We know that 

we have a winter to get through 

before we reach those warm 

spring days. And with the costof-living 

crisis also affecting 

so many, the arrival of autumn 

reminds us that we can't stop 

the march of time. 

But there are things we can 

do to help offset the natural 

feelings of despondency. 

Reminding ourselves that 

autumn and winter are 

temporary - just the ongoing 

eternal cycle of season changes 

- is just one way. There are warm 

spring days to look forward to. 

Here are a few more tips. 

14 

Listen to your body 

While looking after yourself should 

be a year-round priority, listening 

to what your body is telling you 

that it needs when you aren't 

feeling right is even more crucial. 

Sometimes a duvet day might be 

needed and we don't need to feel 

guilty about taking comfort from 

the warmth of some extra time in 

bed. Give yourself permission to 

take some time out if you need 

it, whether that's taking some 

quiet time to read, or watching 

something you don't have to think 

too hard about on the television. 

Your body will tell you what it 

needs and giving it the time and 

proper care will help you through 

the winter. After all, your body is 

the most important thing you own. 

Nourish your body 

If the colder weather is taking it 

out of you, it can be tempting to 

reach for comfort foods that aren't 

perhaps the best for us. 

Aim instead to look after your 

body (and your mind) with rich, 

nourishing foods. This is the 

perfect season to be slow-cooking 

healthy soups or stews. These 

would normally contain root 

vegetables that are bursting with 

vitality and comfort. Not only do 

they help with brain and body 

function, they can also warm you 

up when it's cold and miserable 

outside. 

Starting your day with a piping 

hot bowl of porridge is also an 

inexpensive and nourishing start to 

your day.

Get cosy 

It's our natural instinct to feel 

protected against the cold 

weather so why not listen to what 

your body is telling you and get 

cosy? 

That doesn't necessarily mean 

forking out on anything fancy 

either. A heavy blanket, throw 

or fleece is enough to snuggle 

down under. Keeping a handful 

of comfy items around the house 

will help you feel more secure. 

Maintain your vitamin D 

Most of us should be able to create 

vitamin D throughout the sunnier 

months of March and September 

but maintaining the process during 

the colder months can prove 

trickier. 

It's therefore worth introducing 

vitamin D supplements to your 

diet. Vitamin D plays a vital role 

in keeping our bones, teeth and 

muscles healthy; studies have also 

shown that the vitamin also helps 

regulate our moods. 

Don’t suppress the way you feel 

If the autumn climate is making you feel off-colour, accept it for what it is. 

Trying to fight against how you feel is tiring and can make you feel worse. 

Instead, be kind to yourself and remind yourself that it's ok to feel this 

way. These feelings have no less worth 

than those of feeling happier, even if that 

is more uncomfortable. You can turn 

things on their head by asking yourself 

'How can these feelings serve me?' and 

putting them to a productive use. 

Remind yourself that this can be a 

challenging time of year for you, and that 

you can only try your best. Go easy on 

yourself. 

Get outside 

The weather may put you off opening 

the door and getting outside but doing 

just that can be one of the best things 

for you this season. 

Scandinavian countries embrace the 

Nordic concept of ‘friluftsliv’ or open 

air living during the darker months of 

winter. It champions spending time 

outdoors and staying active, whatever 

the weather. And it's been proven to 

help people's well-being. The fresher, 

crisper air is great for clearing the 

cobwebs and getting clean oxygen into 

your lungs and brain. Combine a brisk 

walk in the park with a cheeky stop at a 

coffee shop to warm your cockles. 

See friends 

The recent pandemic has 

shown us how important social 

interaction is to us so make time 

to catch up with friends and 

family, even if it's just for a coffee 

or a walk. 

It has been proven that 

people who are more socially 

connected to family, friends, or 

their community are happier, 

physically healthier, and live 

longer, with fewer mental health 

problems than people who 

are less well connected. This is 

especially important during the 

colder months. 

Plan for the future 

While we roll headlong into the rougher seasons of autumn and 

winter, we can take hope from the fact that spring and summer await 

us on the other side. Accepting that this year's summer has gone 

can affect us emotionally, but we can 

offset that by planning for warmer 

days ahead. 

Whether it's a holiday, time with 

friends, or even redecorating an 

area of your house, putting yourself 

mentally into the future will help you 

remember that the harsher seasons 

of the year don't last forever. Working 

on your plans will also keep your 

mind active and positive. 

15

Yma O Hyd 

David Collins takes us on the 146-year history of Welsh football, 

from its early days in the north east of Wales, through Cardiff, to 

the forthcoming World Cup tournament in Qatar 

The appearance of the Wales 

national football team in this winter’s 

FIFA World Cup finals tournament 

in Qatar is the crowning glory 

in a successful decade that has 

surpassed the hopes of even the 

most ardent fans. 

Although our only previous 

appearance in a World Cup finals, 

64 years ago in Sweden 1958, has 

taken on legendary status in fan 

culture, it went relatively unnoticed 

back home at the time. This time, 

the presence of Wales in the world’s 

biggest sporting event will be seen 

around the globe. 

Football in Wales has a long, 

and mixed, 146 year history. The 

Football Association of Wales (FAW) 

is the third-oldest in the world, 

its foundation in 1876 coming 

soon after the creation of English 

and Scottish versions. The first 

international match was played, 

against Scotland, in Glasgow on 

25th March 1876, the players drawn 

from early pioneering clubs in north 

Wales and England. 

Indeed, as organised association 

football began to grow at the end 

of the nineteenth century, it was 

dominated by the early clubs of the 

north-east, like Druids of Ruabon, 

Wrexham and Chirk. The FAW 

created a Welsh Cup competition 

in 1877, but no south Wales club 

even entered it until 1892. That was 

Cardiff FC – but not the club we 

know today as the Bluebirds, who 

weren’t formed until 1899. 

In fact, football’s origins in Cardiff 

can be traced to the 1880s: early 

reports mention a team formed by 

the clergy of St. Margaret’s Church, 

Roath, based at Roath Court. By 

1890, a St. Margaret’s football team 

accompanied Cardiff rugby club on 

a trip to Gloucester. Later that year 

a number of enthusiasts, including 

leading St. Margaret’s players, 

formed a new club to be called 

‘Cardiff FC’. 

That early Cardiff FC played 

initially at Tyn-y-Coed Farm (off 

Albany Road), changing in the 

Royal George Hotel. In 1892 they 

moved to a more central ground, St. 

Andrew’s Park, North Road (where 

Queen Anne Square is today). They 

enjoyed considerable success in 

local south Wales football, winning 

league and cup honours and by 

1895 were sufficiently emboldened 

to enter an English league, 

moving to another new ground 

in Grangetown (Gripoly Mills). But 

the journeys to fulfil away fixtures 

around Bristol in the Western 

League proved challenging and 

Cardiff were expelled by February 

1896, their star already waning. 

International football finally came 

to Cardiff in 1896 – Wales v England 

on 16th March 1896 at Cardiff Arms 

Park, with Wales’s first football 

superstar Billy Meredith in the 

home side. The same year also saw 

the emergence of another famous 

Cardiff club, Cardiff Corinthians, now 

the city’s oldest surviving club. The 

The earliest known Cardiff football 

honour - a South Wales League 

winner's medal from 1893 awarded 

to a Cardiff FC player 

16 Images: www.welsh-football.net

Corries even became the first Welsh 

side to be invited to play abroad, 

visiting Barcelona in 1910. 

Three years after the Corries 

were formed by local cricketers, 

members of Riverside cricket club 

also decided to form a football 

team to keep their players together 

over the winter months: the result 

was Riverside AFC, which was to 

become Cardiff City in 1908. 

Fifteen years after Cardiff FC’s 

first ignominious sortie into English 

football, Cardiff City followed suit in 

1910, after securing a new ground 

at Ninian Park. After being accepted 

by the Southern League, they led 

the way as south Wales football 

finally caught up with the north in 

the years before the Great War, 

becoming the first to bring the 

prestigious Welsh Cup south, in 

1912. 

At this time, international fixtures 

for Wales were confined to three 

opponents: England, Scotland 

are Ireland in the ‘British Home 

Championship’, which Wales won 

for the first time in 1907, with a 

couple more successes in the years 

following the war. But it was club 

football which really captured the 

imagination of south Wales fans 

in the 1920s, as Cardiff City made 

a huge impact in English football: 

elected to the Football League in 

1920, City were in Division One a 

year later, missed out on the league 

title by a goal average of 0.024 in 

1924, then reached the FA Cup 

final at Wembley in 1924 and 1927, 

winning the cup on their second 

visit. 

The Wales national team’s first 

real spell of success came in the 

1930s: four Home Championships 

were won between 1933 and 1939, 

although many of the players of that 

era are unfamiliar today. One who 

does stand out is Jimmy Murphy, 

although he’s best remembered as 

a Wales manager. 

After World War 2, Wales began 

playing European opposition more 

frequently, undertaking a first 

overseas tour in 1949 and entering 

the FIFA World Cup for the first 

time. They failed to qualify for the 

1950 and 1954 tournaments (the 

Home Championship was used as a 

qualifying group). 

Wales seemed to have missed 

out again on the 1958 World Cup 

tournament, finishing second in 

a qualifying group, but enjoyed 

a stroke of luck when they were 

drawn from all runners-up to 

contest a play-off with Israel to 

fill a late vacancy in the finals in 

Sweden. Now managed by Jimmy 

Murphy, Wales won both games 

2-0 and took their place in Sweden, 

reaching the quarter-finals where 

they were narrowly defeated by 

Brazil, the winning goal coming 

from a then-unknown teenager 

called Pele. 

Although Cardiff City provided 

five of Jimmy Murphy’s 1958 

World Cup squad, there were only 

three locally-born members, and 

the stars of that era were most 

definitely from Swansea: John and 

Mel Charles, Cliff Jones and Ivor 

Allchurch. 

The national team’s fortunes 

declined after that, as the golden 

generation retired, and it was the 

thriving club football scene that 

sustained fans through the sixties, 

seventies and eighties. Cardiff City 

reached the English First Division 

again in 1952, staying there for five 

seasons, and winning promotion 

again in 1960. 

In the early post-war years, 

senior football was being played 

in Rhiwbina, as Cardiff Corries had 

made their home at Corinthian 

Park, Heol Caerhys. But housing 

swallowed up that venue and 

the Corries moved on to Maindy, 

then Llanishen, Canton and finally 

Radyr. 

If Wales weren’t enjoying 

success internationally, there was 

the compensation of frequent 

European action for Cardiff City in 

the European Cup Winners’ Cup, 

for which City regularly qualified by 

winning the Welsh Cup. Between 

1964 and 1994, the Bluebirds 

enjoyed 14 such adventures, the 

highlights being in 1967-68, when 

they reached the semi-finals and 

1970-71, when they only went out 

in the quarter-finals to Real Madrid. 

In more recent times, Inter Cardiff 

and Cardiff Met University have 

represented the city in European 

About The Author 

history 

competitions. 

But after decades of 

disappointment, it’s the national 

team that is now inspiring levels 

of national pride that seemed 

unimaginable a decade ago. Just 

qualifying for a major tournament 

(Euro 2016) seemed like the Holy 

Grail, but that has now been 

repeated with Euro 2020 and 

now the Qatar World Cup. And 

a north Cardiff boy, Gareth Bale 

from Whitchurch, has been at the 

forefront of this golden generation, 

along with Fairwater’s Joe Ledley 

and Aaron Ramsey from Caerphilly, 

while another Cardiff boy, Ben 

Cabango, is now becoming a Wales 

regular. 

Football in Wales has never 

enjoyed such a high profile, after 

years of being eclipsed by rugby 

union, and, unlike 1958, we can be 

sure the appearance of ‘Cymru’ on 

the world stage won’t go under the 

radar. 

Cardiff resident 

David Collins is 

the editor and 

publisher of 

‘Welsh Football’ 

magazine and 

associated titles, 

including an 

annual ‘Guide to 

Welsh Football’, a 

booklet ‘A Capital Season’ that 

celebrated the successes of 

local Cardiff clubs in 2021-22, 

and most recently the ‘Football 

Gazetteer of Wales 2022’. 

Further information on all 

David’s publications can be 

found at 

www.welsh-football.net 

17

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competition 

Win a family ticket for Four 

to see the nutcracker 

What better way is there to get in 

the Christmas spirit than to enjoy a 

world class ballet with your loved 

ones at St David’s Hall? 

We’ve got the festive season 

all wrapped up at the National 

Concert Hall of Wales with THREE 

enchanting productions performed 

for the first time ever in Cardiff 

by the Varna International Ballet 

& Orchestra in partnership with 

Raymond Gubbay Ltd. 

Our captivating series starts in 

style with the exquisite Coppélia 

(Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th 

December), which tells the 

charming story of life in a dollmaker’s 

workshop. This lighthearted 

tale of mistaken identity 

and confused lovers is ideal for 

first-time ballet-goers. 

Then it’s time for the whole family 

to enjoy the festive favourite, 

The Nutcracker (Monday 19th – 

Saturday 24th Dec). Get ready to 

be swept off to a mysterious place 

where nothing is quite as it seems. 

Watch with astonishment as toys 

spring to life, and the treacherous 

Mouse King battles the handsome 

Nutcracker Prince. 

After Christmas it’s the greatest 

romantic ballet of all time, Swan 

Lake (Tuesday 27th – Saturday 

31st December), which features 

Tchaikovsky’s haunting score. From 

the majesty of the palace ballroom 

to moonlit lakes, this compelling 

tale of tragic romance has it all. 

We have the perfect pre-Christmas 

treat for Whitchurch & Llandaff 

Living readers too with a Family 

Ticket for 4 up for grabs to the 

festive favourite, The Nutcracker on 

Friday 23rd December at 2pm! 

To be in with a chance of winning a 

Family Ticket for 4, please answer 

the following question: 

Who does the handsome prince 

battle in The Nutcracker? 

a) The Rat King 

b) The Mouse King 

c) The Ferret King 

Please email your answer to 

SDHpress@cardiff.gov.uk by Friday 

16th December 2022 along with 

your full name and address, plus a 

phone number. Alternatively, please 

post your entry with your contact 

details to: Marketing Team, St 

David’s Hall, The Hayes, CF10 1AH. 

Family Tickets for 4 can be made 

up of any combination of adults and 

children, but must include at least 

one adult. 

19

feature 

Open an 

online shop 

If you're looking to earn a little extra cash this winter, here's how you 

can open an online shop from home without heavy investment 

Why run a shop? 

The cost-of-living crisis has 

certainly made us all sit up and 

take stock of our incomes and 

outgoings. There are plenty of 

stories of people seeking out 

extra employment to bring in 

some extra income but with 

businesses tightening their belts, 

it can be tough securing extra 

work. 

Running an online shop can be 

one way to bring in extra income 

at your own pace and without 

having to invest a huge amount 

of money up front. Given the 

right approach, an online shop 

can be a way of providing you 

with an extra income stream, 

and allow you to work at your 

own pace. 

Following the shift to 

digital retail during the Covid 

pandemic, there are now great 

opportunities to create your own 

brands and connect with new 

audiences. Being smaller means 

that you can be more adaptable 

than larger companies, plus it 

means that you can operate with 

significantly reduced outgoings. 

Here are the basic steps of 

setting up your own online shop 

from home. 

20 

Define your audience 

Before you make any decisions 

on logos, products or even the 

name of your store, the first thing 

you need to do is define who you 

are going to sell to. This helps 

shape everything you do from the 

ground up. 

It's worth taking the time to do a 

bit of market research to find out 

where there is demand but not 

much in the way of supply. This will 

help when it comes to marketing 

your shop and to getting new 

customers. 

Factor in whether your audience 

is local or global as this can make 

a difference when it comes to 

shipping and also how you run 

your business. Understanding 

what your audience needs will be 

crucial to the long-term success of 

your store. 

Choose your stock 

One of the biggest challenges 

will be choosing your stock to 

sell. The reason for this is that 

there are many variables you 

need to take into consideration, 

including shipping costs, 

storage, and production costs. 

You will also need to take 

into account whether you are 

creating the products that you 

sell, and whether you are able to 

keep up with demand as well as 

time resources. 

Dropshipping is an online 

e-commerce model that allows 

you to sell goods as if you 

physically had them in stock but 

are fulfilled via a third party. This 

saves you the hassle of storing 

products but may affect your 

profits since there can be extra 

costs involved.

Business plan and 

legals 

Before you get stuck into the fun 

side of designing your shop and 

making money, you will need to 

address the less glamorous side 

of running a business. 

Creating a business plan is your 

first port of call as this will help 

dictate your progress and help 

keep you track of whether you 

are on the right lines. 

Your business model will 

need to be chosen - will you 

be running as a sole proprietor, 

a partnership, or a limited 

company? All of these have 

different tax implications. You will 

also need to keep records of all 

your business transactions and 

costings for tax purposes. A local 

accountant will be able to advise 

you on best practices. 

Launch your store 

Nothing in life goes smoothly and 

when launching your store, expect 

to come across bugs and problems 

that you perhaps hadn't considered. 

Continuous testing of all aspects of 

your site is key to making sure that 

your shop is working as it should. 

It'll help avoid abandoned carts and 

keep your customers happy. 

Launching your store should be a 

positive experience for both your 

shoppers and for yourself and it's 

often a good idea to offer some 

introductory discount as an incentive 

for people to try out your new store. 

Build an email list so that you can 

offer existing customers special 

offers and details of new ranges that 

you may have in-store. 

Build your website 

If you aren't going to pay for a 

professional to design your site, take 

all the time you need to make sure 

that it looks good (bear in mind your 

target audience), that the images are 

displaying properly, and that you have 

connected payment gateways so that 

people can pay for your products. Your 

site should be simple, secure, and easy 

to navigate. 

Fulfilling orders 

There are several options when it comes to 

deciding on which e-commerce platform to 

run your online shop. 

Most of them are self-contained, and will 

allow you to keep track of all your orders, 

invoices, outgoings, and finances in one place. 

Fulfilling your orders will take time, and 

will include packing and arranging shipping, 

whether that means taking it to the Post 

Office or arranging collection. Dropshipping is 

probably the easiest option as you won't need 

to deal with the logistics of stock. 

Market your store 

Once your store is up and running, 

it's then a case of getting people to 

your site. 

Probably the most effective way 

of marketing your store is to make 

customers happy. They'll then do 

the marketing for you via word-ofmouth 

and recommendations. 

Getting new customers can be 

done via social media. Find out 

where your target audience mostly 

hang out and build up an online 

following on those platforms. Keep 

your offers fresh and interesting. 

Keep customers happy 

Keeping your customers happy is 

critical to the success and good 

planning can help achieve this. 

Launching an online store will 

bring its inevitable teething 

problems but once you're up 

and running, your customers 

should be your main priority, 

especially since they're parting 

with their hard-earned money. 

Happy customers will often turn 

into repeat customers and they 

should be looked after. In turn, 

they'll turn into super-fans who 

will spread the word of your 

online store. 

You can also glean testimonials 

from them that you can add to 

your ongoing marketing. 

21

Autumn Spectacles 

Mushrooms 

September is traditionally the 

time of year when fungi begin 

to appear across forest floors 

and in woodlands, fading away 

by early December. 

In a similar way to flowers on 

a plant, fungi are the 'fruiting 

bodies' of mushrooms and 

toadstools, producing the 

spores (equivalent of seeds) 

from which new fungi grow. 

There are over a hundred 

good, edible species 

growing in the UK but if you are intending to pick any, make sure you 

do your research beforehand. Many species are poisonous - mushroom 

identification takes skill and practice. If in doubt, don't pick them. 

If you're lucky, you may come across the famous Giant Puffball. This 

mushroom grows to around 80cm wide and is often mistaken for a stray 

football. 

Migrating geese 

Often seen cutting their way across crisp 

autumn skies, flocks of geese including 

Canada, Barnacle and Greylag use Britain 

as a stop off on their journey from the 

Arctic Circle. 

Look out for their famous V-formation, 

which is done so to aid their progress 

and save energy; the front bird breaks up 

the wall of air that the flock is flying into, 

leaving a wake of swirling air behind. This 

gives extra lift to the next bird along it. 

Autumn colours 

One of the enduring features 

of autumn is the colours of the 

trees. This is caused by the 

cooling temperatures as summer 

fades. 

As trees become dormant, a 

compound called abscisic acid 

triggers a seal to develop at the 

base of the leaves, reducing 

water reaching the leaves and 

trapping the chemicals contained 

in them. The chemicals gradually 

break down, changing the colour 

of each leaf before it drops to the 

ground. 

Among our native trees, the 

silver birch puts on one of 

the most spectacular autumn 

displays. Golden leaves contrast 

with the tree's pale, peeling bark, 

and all of this is enhanced by the 

dappled effect created by the 

tree’s naturally airy structure. 

Spiders 

You don't have to go too far to see spiders at this time of year, both 

outdoors and indoors. Orb weavers are possibly the most common in 

autumn; they are a group of builders that create the spiral wheel-shaped 

webs often found in gardens, fields, and forests. 

It's indoors where most people won't want to see a spider. Even so, the 

average UK household contains about 30 spiders at any one time. Most 

of these are females that live indoors all year round and it's the amorous 

males from outside who come into the houses, looking for the females. 

This is why you often see more of them at this time of year. 

22

outdoors 

Murmurations 

One of the most hypnotic sights in autumn are 

the starling murmurations that place in our 

skies in late November and early December. 

Thousands of starlings take to the wing all at 

once, creating what look like dark clouds over 

our towns. As the starlings rise, turn, and dip, 

so the shape of the 'cloud' changes, creating a 

stunning spectacle in the evenings skies. Some 

of these murmurations can hold up to 100,000 

birds. 

The best chance of seeing murmurations are 

early evenings as the birds fly to their communal 

roosting sites for the night. 

Hoarders 

Autumn is a busy time for many species 

that are preparing for winter by stocking 

up on food. 

Magpies, jays, and squirrels will be 

particularly busy, stocking up on nuts, 

berries and other food sources. Whereas 

grey squirrels bury their nuts in various 

locations, the rare red squirrels that you 

may spot in mid-Wales, hoard their stash 

in one single place. 

Many nuts and acorns are forgotten 

about and turn into trees years later. 

Red fox 

Throughout autumn, the family 

unit of many fox families begins 

to break down. This is due to the 

cubs being evicted by parents to 

make room for the new breeding 

season during the winter. 

Some young cubs may try and 

stay with their parents, especially 

if the family is pretty well 

resourced. 

The Cold Moon 

In December, winter sets in and the Full 

Moon is called the Cold Moon. It is also 

referred to as Long Nights Moon, the 

Oak Moon and the Moon before Yule. It 

follows the Harvest Moon that took place 

in September, the Blood Moon in October, 

and the Frost Moon (also known as the 

Snow Moon or Beaver Moon), which took 

place in early November. 

The Cold Moon takes place on the night 

7/8th December this year, and it's the 

final full moon of the year. Despite this, it 

doesn't coincide with the longest night of 

the year, which takes place on the Winter 

Solstice on 21st December. 

23

1 

3 

2 

4 

3 

1. Beko Slow Cooker 

You'll be able to feed the 

whole family with this Beko 

six-litre slow cooker and 

it has plenty of features 

to help fit your meals in 

around a busy lifestyle. It 

features a timer that will 

automatically switch over to 

its keep-warm setting when 

the time is up. 

www.robertdyas.co.uk 

24 

2. Flame Effect Heater 

Keep your home cosy and 

warm with this upright 

heater. Its flame effect 

window will provide an 

intimate glow to your room 

while the thermostatic 

temperature control with 

remote control will help 

keep you toasty and warm 

all winter. 

www.wilko.com 

3. Oodies 

An Oodie is like a jumper 

crossed with a blanket , 

crossed with a cloud. Its 

ultra soft flannel fleece 

exterior is matched by its 

warm sherpafleece interior. 

And with giant pockets for 

cold hands and snacks, the 

Oodie will keep you totally 

toasty all winter. 

www.theoodie.co.uk 

autumn warmth 

4. Autumn blanket 

Add colour to an interior 

space with this beautiful 

and cosy throw, handwoven 

by artisans. An autumnal 

sunset orange, the blanket 

features a soft fringing 

and would be perfect for 

cuddling up under on chilly 

evenings. 

www.shop.nationaltrust.org.uk

5 

home 

6 

7 

8 

5. Finley Fox Hot Water 

Bottle 

Say goodbye to the chills 

with this cosy hot water 

bottle. Designed with the 

cosy vibes of the colder 

seasons in mind, this winter 

must-have features a Finley 

Fox design - perfect for 

evening snuggles. 

www.sassandbelle.co.uk 

6. Wine Red Desk Mug 

The mug's double wall 

insulation will keep your 

beverages piping hot for 

hours. It also has a stainless 

steel interior and a smooth 

plastic exterior which makes 

it very easy to clean. Perfect 

for chunky soups on a cold 

winter's day. 

www.thermos.co.uk 

7. Vegan slippers 

Fabulously soft and the 

perfect gift idea, these 

slippers are made in Spain 

with super soft materials 

offering a great on-foot look. 

With a soft textile lining, 

textile sock and a rubber 

outsole, these slippers will 

be your go-to slippers this 

winter. 

www.heavenlyfeet.co.uk 

8. Terracotta heater 

This large terracotta ecoheater 

can warm up small 

spaces for the fraction of the 

cost of electric alternatives. 

Running simply off tea lights, 

the clay dome heats over 

the candles and disperses 

the heat, saving you money 

on your energy bills. 

www.onbuy.com 

25

feature 

Save the 

world 

The effects of climate change are starting to be felt across the globe. 

There's not much we can do about the damage that's already been 

done but we can individually make a difference to halt its progress 

Reduce plastic 

Plastics are a wide range of 

synthetic or semi-synthetic 

materials that use polymers (a 

substance or material consisting 

of very large molecules) as a 

main ingredient. 

The world's first fully synthetic 

plastic was Bakelite, invented 

in New York in 1907. Since 

then, the benefits of being able 

to mould and press plastic 

into various shapes led to its 

widespread use, especially 

since it was lightweight, flexible 

and inexpensive to produce. 

Despite its obvious benefits to 

the industrial world, its effect 

on the natural world has long 

been overlooked. Most modern 

plastics are derived from fossil 

fuel-based chemicals like 

natural gas or petroleum. 

At least 8 million tonnes of 

discarded plastic enters our 

world's oceans each year; plastic 

pollution at sea is on course to 

double by 2030. 

Where possible, use plastic 

alternatives at home 

and in your day-to-day 

routine, such as taking 

cloth bags when you go 

shopping. If you do 

need to use plastic, 

recycle as much as 

you can. 

Cut food waste 

The UK throws away 7 million 

tonnes of food every year, most 

of which could have been eaten. 

As well as costing the country 

over £12bn in waste, it's also 

having an effect on the climate. 

For every piece of food that you 

buy comes the environmental 

cost of producing it. 

We can make a difference at 

home by planning our meals and 

this can be translated into your 

shopping list. This will save you 

buying things you don't need and 

then don't end up using. 

Measuring your portions will 

also help waste, especially when 

it come to foods like pasta and 

rice. Batch-cooking a base sauce 

and freezing it is great way of 

prepping meals ahead and you 

can also make dips and sauces 

out of any leftovers to make your 

food go further. 

Eat less meat 

The effects of deforestation 

and soil degradation, air and 

water pollution, and a myriad 

of other problems caused by 

industrial livestock production 

have contributed greatly to 

our current climate problem. 

About 40 percent of greenhouse 

gases come from agriculture, 

deforestation and other landuse 

changes involved in rearing 

livestock. On a more personal 

level, research also shows that 

people who eat red meat are at 

an increased risk of death from 

heart disease, stroke or diabetes. 

Eating less meat can help both 

you and the planet. Introducing 

a meat-free Monday will reduce 

the need to produce meat. 

These days, there are plenty 

of other sources to acquire your 

protein and that's in addition to 

nature's own larder. Reduced 

demand for meat will eventually 

filter up the production chain, 

reducing its effect on the 

climate. 

26

Replace bulbs 

Switching to energy-efficient 

lighting helps both lower your 

electricity bills and carbon 

dioxide emissions - and all of this 

without reducing the quality of 

light in your home. 

If you were to replace all the 

bulbs in your home with LED 

versions, you could reduce your 

carbon dioxide emissions by up 

to 40kg in one single year. This 

is the same amount of carbon 

dioxide that you would emit by 

driving your car about 145 miles. 

On average, 10% of our energy 

bill is spent on lighting. Switching 

off lights that you aren't using will 

also reduce emissions and save 

on your bill. 

Plant something 

Trees and plants are the ultimate 

capture and storage machines, 

locking up harmful carbon for 

decades and even centuries . 

Physically connecting yourself 

with the earth and caring about 

something that's growing will make 

you feel more involved with the 

cause, as well as helping directly 

with climate change itself. If we 

all took the time to plant just one 

tree, it'd be one of the largest and 

cheapest ways of taking CO2 out of 

the atmosphere as they absorb the 

emissions that we are putting out. 

Planting something that attracts 

pollinators like bees and insects is 

also beneficial as they need all the 

help they can get. 

Turn down heating 

Turning your central heating 

temperature down by just 1°C will 

make a big difference to the amount of 

energy you use. You could cut down 

your heating bills by up to 10%. It can 

also reduce your carbon pollution by up 

to 340kg. 

Most households tend to set their 

thermostat higher than 22°C, which in 

most cases, is more than they need. 

Walk where you can 

Walking or even cycling can help 

tackle the climate crisis, even if it's 

just for one day a week. 

A recent study published in the 

journal Global Environmental 

Change, found that those who 

switch just one trip per day from 

car-driving to cycling reduced 

their carbon footprint by about 0.5 

tonnes over a year. 

Active travel is good for your 

own health but it's also good for 

the Earth's health and considered 

one of the more effective ways of 

making a difference. 

Vote 

If environmental issues are of 

concern to you, speaking to your 

government representatives would 

be a first step in trying to effect 

change. 

If that doesn't work, there is always 

the collective process of voting. It's 

always worth reading prospective 

representatives' manifestos 

before voting to find out what 

you are actually voting for. The 

environmental policies of different parties can vary wildly. 

Use less water 

Getting water to your taps or into 

bottles for consumption takes 

energy. Saving water therefore 

reduces greenhouse gas 

emissions that are created during 

this process. 

If you have any known water 

leaks in your home, aim to have 

these fixed. A leaky toilet for 

instance, can waste up to 200 

gallons of water per day! Use 

your dishwasher only when full 

and think carefully about how 

you use water in the garden. 

Even small things like not letting 

the tap run while you're brushing 

your teeth or shaving can help. 

27

Outstanding School for Girls 

and Boys aged 3-18 

‘Excellent’ in all five inspection areas. Estyn 

Ignite the spark 

Information Afternoon for 

Year 7 Entry 2023 

Friday 18th November 2022, 4.15-5.00pm 

To book a place, visit www.cathedral-school.co.uk/opendays 

029 2083 8504 

registrar@cathedral-school.co.uk 

www.cathedral-school.co.uk 

C 

M 

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Park outside the store in Lon Fach Shopping Mews 

9-11 Lon Fach 

Rhiwbeina 

CF14 6DY 

www.calonrhiwbeina.com 

tel: 07929 239012 

email: info@calonrhiwbeina.com

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Quirkiest Pets 

We all love our pets - they really are part of the family. From 'pugtatoes' to bluetongued 

skinks, here are a few of the quirkiest pets you'll find in North Cardiff 

Donut Sprinkles 

Hermione 

Indonesian blue-tongued skink 

Donut Sprinkles 

Pug/Maltese terrier cross 

Our little dog is a pug cross with a 

Maltese terrier. She has a crazy 

30 

underbite that always gets people 

stopping and talking to us. To top 

it off, my kids named her Donut 

Sprinkles! 

Libby Hobbs 

Ever since I was 11, I had a vast 

interest in reptiles. From the way 

they looked to how they acted; 

something about them intrigued my 

younger self so much. 

I only discovered that people 

owned reptiles when I was 12 and 

a half, which I was amazed by, and 

was desperate to have a go at 

myself. I started researching into 

what reptile I could own as a pet, 

and eventually landed on the idea 

of getting a blue-tongued skink. 

In the coming months, my parents 

and I scoured local pet apps, until 

we found an extremely generous 

offer for the lizard and their vivarium 

setup, only for around £150. 

After a few weeks, my Indonesian 

blue-tongued skink was all set up. 

Three years later, a lot has changed! 

My skink, Hermione, has grown to 

be about twice the size as she was 

when I first got her, and the decor 

of her vivarium had been expanded 

massively. 

The thing that most intrigues me 

about my lizard is her bright blue 

tongue, which stands out a lot when 

compared to her mainly black, 

brown and white scales. She's been 

extremely tame since I first got her, 

and has never tried to bite me (well, 

maybe once or twice when she's 

a bit peckish). Although her legs

Eddie Cochran 

Pugtato 

pets 

Hermione 

look tiny compared to her potato 

shaped body, she's able to scamper 

away into her shelf hide if she sees 

someone she doesn't recognise. 

Hermione also loves to crawl 

between soft blankets and sheets, 

and always ends up falling asleep 

if she finds a comfy spot. Her 

favourite food has to be either eggs 

or snails. 

Whenever she spots me placing 

an egg in her food dish, she 

instantly runs towards it and 

attempts to crack it open against 

her vivarium glass. I think she 

must enjoy breaking it open, and 

sometimes I have to hold it in place 

while she bites into it, which is 

rather bizarre, honestly. 

Overall, I don't think I could 

imagine my life without Hermione, 

and hope to carry on giving her a 

bright future! 

Finn 

The three-legged cat 

Our cat, Finn, has been with us 

since 2015. He is a black cat with 

three legs. 

Prior to us adopting him, Finn 

was hit by a car. The rescue 

centre told us he was dragging 

the leg and it was clear there was 

neurological damage so they had 

to amputate. Despite all this, he's 

still the boss of his big brother, 

Rory. 

We want to show people that 

black cats are gorgeous, even 

though they don't show up well 

in photos, and three legged cats 

are lovely and just as agile as 

their four legged friends. 

Matthew Jones 

Ed is a regular visitor to the 

Wenallt which is his most favourite 

stomping ground. 

He spends much of his time 

climbing trees, posing on logs and 

tree trunks, and generally looking 

for any and every opportunity 

to turn his antics into a photo 

opportunity - for which he gets 

rewarded with his favourite treats. 

Unfortunately, so many treats very 

quickly turned him into something 

resembling a potato (hence the 

Pugtato moniker) but he’s been on 

a weight loss plan in conjunction 

with Burns Pet Nutrition and is now 

thankfully, more of a French Fry 

than a King Edward! 

During the pandemic, Edward 

(with the aid of a ghost writer) 

created his very own blog called 

Eddie Cochran poses on a fallen 

log in the Wenallt 

Finn 

'ThugPug’s #CoronaBlog' which 

culminated in a video of his 100 

Days of Lockdown. 

The feedback he got was that 

he 'kept everyone going', 'gave 

them a reason to smile' and was 

'the highlight of our day' - at a time 

when we all needed something to 

smile about. 

Cath Jones 

31

Haunted 

Cardiff 

Cardiff's dark history stretches back to ancient times. Here are some 

of the ghostly stories that have emerged over the years 

Cardiff Castle 

It is quite fitting perhaps that the 

title of Cardiff's most haunted 

building falls to Cardiff Castle. 

The Second Marquis of Bute's 

family owned the castle for six 

generations and it was here that 

the man himself died. The small 

chapel behind the library is said to 

be haunted by his ghost. A small 

bust in his honour stands in the 

very spot where he died. 

His most notable reappearance 

was in 1976 when a young couple 

32 

told a member of the castle staff 

that 'A tall man in a cloak pushed 

past them in a great hurry.' The 

woman, who had been standing at 

the top of a stairway, witnessed a 

tall figure of a man in a red cloak. 

He appeared to be scowling at 

her and then he vanished. The 

man's appearance matched that 

of a painting of the 2nd Marquess, 

which was hanging on a nearby 

wall. 

He has been spotted most often 

in the library wearing a long coat 

but there is also an unidentified 

ghost wandering the castle 

grounds. 

Back during the 19th and 20th 

centuries, there were reports of a 

phantom coach within the castle 

walls. Witnesses reported seeing 

and hearing the coach, including 

the horses. 

Elsewhere, a ‘faceless vision 

in a flowing grey or white skirt’ 

has been reported in one of 

the castle's stockrooms. The 

apparition appeared as a wispy 

mist. 

Other strange phenomena has 

regularly been reported in and 

around the castle, including 

furniture being moved and heavy 

doors being locked and unlocked. 

Rummer Tavern 

This building is believed to date 

from the early 18th century. Its 

long, narrow shape indicates 

that it was built on a medieval 

burgage plot – a rectangle of 

land at right-angles to the main 

street. 

Both staff and customers have 

reported seeing or experiencing 

ghostly presences in the popular 

pub, usually in the toilets and 

the cellar. Records show that the 

spirit that resides in the pub is 

that of a sailor who died in the 

building soon after finding his 

wife in bed with another man. 

What isn't clear is how the sailor 

died.

Llandaff 

The ancient site of Llandaff, with 

all its history and narratives, 

has seen its fair share of dark 

events over the centuries. Before 

the creation of the cathedral, it 

became established as a Christian 

place of worship in the 6th 

century AD, probably because of 

its location as the first firm ground 

north of the point where the river 

Taff met the Bristol Channel. 

Just behind the cathedral, 

there was once a road, which 

was known as the ‘road of the 

dead’. It is said that dead bodies 

were transported along this road 

from the River Taff to be buried 

in the graveyard, which is now 

abandoned and overgrown. 

Other sightings in the area have 

included the ghosts of soldiers, 

monks and priests. Visitors to the 

graveyard have reported seeing 

ghostly children playing, peeping 

out from behind the trees and 

gravestones while laughing and 

singing. The children may be 

linked to a cholera outbreak in 

the area that occurred during the 

1800s. Many were buried in mass 

graves. 

There is also the story of the 

so-called 'frog woman', who in life, 

was described as having froglike 

qualities. It is reported that 

she was the disfigured daughter 

of a wealthy couple, who were 

embarrassed to show her in 

public. The girl died at a young 

age and is said to haunt the main 

road from Llandaff into Cardiff city 

centre. 

The Cow and Snuffers 

The Welsh equivalent of the 

Banshee - known as the Gwrach y 

Rhibyn - was reported in November 

1877, at the former Llandaff North 

pub, The Cow and Snuffers. 

A man, who was staying in a 

property near the pub, was woken 

by the noise of the banshee, and 

he reported that he watched it from 

his window. 

He described it as 'a horrible old 

woman with long red hair and a 

face like chalk, and great teeth like 

tusks.' The witness said that she 

was wearing a long black gown 

and she moved towards the public 

house, where she let out a 'frightful 

screeching' noise. 

The witness watched as she went 

into the Cow and Snuffers and was 

told the following morning that the 

landlord had passed away during 

the night. 

Cardiff Royal Infirmary 

The city centre hospital has been 

a hotspot of ghostly goings-ons 

over the years. Members of staff, 

patients and even contractors 

working there have reported seeing 

apparitions, including a matron in a 

corridor who simply vanished into 

thin air. 

A woman in grey has also been 

seen and members of staff have 

reported being knocked over by 

an invisible force. There is also the 

story of a woman appearing on 

CCTV who went into the hospital. 

She shouldn't have been there and 

ten minutes later, she reappeared 

on CCTV and walked past the 

security guard. The guard said he 

saw no one walk past him. 

feature 

Castell Coch 

One of the notable stories that has 

come out of Castell Coch relates 

to what has become known as the 

Castell Coch Cavalier. The tale was 

first told by Cardiff chemist Robert 

Drane in 1858, and it reappeared in a 

book a few years later. 

The story goes that a woman of 

good standing took up residence in 

the castle. She moved in with two of 

her servants, a man and his wife, and 

during their stay, they heard many 

noises that they couldn't explain 

away. 

One night, the woman was in her 

bed when she saw 'a venerable 

gentleman, in a full dress suit of the 

time of Charles I, looking fixedly on 

her: his face was deadly pale and 

every feature impressed by sorrow.' 

The woman got up out of bed but 

the man retreated, out of a door 

that was in the shadows. When the 

woman arrived at the door, she found 

that it was locked. 

The male servant, who was feeling 

disturbed by the constant noises, 

expressed his worries and suggested 

that they all moved out. The woman 

laughed off his suggestions, but 

later that night, saw the phantom 

man again in a corridor, where he 

disappeared through the stone wall. 

The woman later found out that 

the former master of the castle left 

jewels and money in an underground 

passage during the time of the Civil 

War. The master was killed and was 

never able to return in life to the 

castle. 

The woman, not wanting to leave 

her two servants, left the castle 

forever, leaving it deserted. 

Stories also abound about the White 

Lady, whose young son was said to 

have fallen into a bottomless pool of 

black water somewhere within the 

castle grounds; he was never seen 

again. His grief stricken mother died 

of sorrow, and is said to wander the 

passages and corridors of the castle. 

Rumour has it that Lady Bute, who 

lived in the castle after her husband's 

death, was driven from the castle 

by the constant appearances of the 

White Lady. 

33

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Did you know that untreated hearing 

loss can bad for your brain? Hearing loss 

happens gradually over many years and 

very often people aren’t aware they have 

a problem. How do you know if you’ve 

missed something if you can’t hear it? 

You may find that people mumble, or that 

diction on the TV is poor and not distinct; 

maybe you keep turning the volume 

up. When you go to social gatherings, 

you come away exhausted from 

concentrating on listening. You may avoid 

social functions altogether. 

Even if you are noticing some of these 

signs, you still might be putting off getting 

a hearing test or a hearing aid due to the 

stigma of hearing aids. This, however 

could be detrimental to your health. How? 

Our ears collect sound, but it’s the brain 

that actually understands it, meaning 

that our hearing is a mental process. 

If deteriorating hearing is not treated, 

this can cause brain shrinkage and 

communication problems known as 

auditory deprivation. 

Auditory deprivation can happen when 

your brain is deprived of sounds that 

you cannot hear. Over time, this causes 

the brain to lose its ability to process 

sound. It can negatively affect memory, 

and bring about an increase social 

isolation, depression, poor balance; it 

can even exacerbate dementia and 

Alzheimer’s. If left untreated, the brain 

has more problems in understanding and 

processing speech. You either use it or 

lose it. So, what can we do? 

We all get our eyes and teeth checked 

every six months, so why not add your 

ears and hearing to that list? This is the 

best and most important way to avoid 

auditory deprivation. Getting regular ear 

health checks and hearing tests should 

be part of your health routine, whether 

you have issues or not. 

Why not ring us now and book your 

FREE ear health check and hearing tests 

with one of our qualified audiologists at 

our Whitchurch clinic. 

We also offer FREE demonstrations and 

FREE trials of the latest hearing aids. 

CALL US NOW ON 02920 250121 or email 

us at vineyhearingcardiff@mail.net 

● Rechargeable 

● Connect to iPhone or Android 

● Wireless accessories available 

● Tinnitus relief option 

www.vineyhearingcare.co.uk

Tunnel 

Vision 

Scattered across south Wales are a number of tunnels that in their 

heyday, would have connected towns and communities. Now 

abandoned, these are some of the dormant relics of our past 

Cardiff Castle 

Sitting within the thick walls of 

Cardiff Castle are a series of 

tunnels that were put to good 

use as air-raid shelters during 

WWII. 

The tunnels could hold up 

to 1,800 people at once and 

provided shelter for those who 

both lived and worked in the 

city. When the air-raid sirens 

sounded, they'd head to the 

shelters for safety. 

Custom-made ramps were 

installed so that people could 

gain access into the walls quickly. 

Bunks, kitchens, toilets, and first 

aid posts were included within 

the castle walls. 

36 

Photo: Ham 

Photo: Ben Salter 

Wenvoe Tunnel 

This disused tunnel on the 

defunct Barry Railway runs under 

Culverhouse Cross. First opened 

in 1889, it was used to carry coal 

to Barry Docks from the south 

Wales valleys. The southern end 

of the tunnel is to the west of The 

Alps Quarry, off Caerau Lane, 

and the northern end is north of 

Culverhouse Cross Retail Park, 

just west of the A4232. 

The line had a limited 

passenger service during its 

lifetime but all traffic through 

the tunnel came to a premature 

end in March 1963 when a fire 

destroyed the nearby Tynycaeau 

North signal box. 

The tunnel now suffers from 

flooding, especially after heavy 

rainfall, when flood levels can 

reach four feet high. 

Greyfriars 

Cardiff city centre is no stranger 

to history. Yet thousands of 

people that pass through one 

underpass at Greyfriars are 

unaware of its former life. 

Tucked away close to the walls 

of Cardiff Castle is one of the 

last remnants of the mighty 

Glamorganshire Canal, which 

snaked its way along the valley of 

the River Taff from Merthyr Tydfil 

to the sea at Cardiff Docks. 

Nearby, there is a secret tunnel 

which runs under the city centre 

to Bute Park, linked to the former 

friary that used to be situated 

there; the friary dates back to 

1280. 

The tunnel had a 2ft access 

entrance that was created by 

friars that used to live there. 

Photo: Keith Edkins 

Main photo: Joe

Barry Island Tunnel 

Barry Docks was at the forefront 

of coal export during the late 

1800s and early 1900s. Its location 

coincided with Whitmore Bay 

nearby, which drew many tourists 

from around the country. 

During that time, pleasure 

steamers were plying the Bristol 

Channel, offering day-trippers the 

chance to head out to sea. Many 

would travel down by train from 

the valleys to these steamers and 

the busy South Wales rail network 

of the time was extended a little 

further in June 1899 when a short 

extension was opened from Barry 

Island Station to Barry Pier Station. 

Most of this extension was in fact, 

through a tunnel, which would 

pop out at Barry Pier station, 

where the pleasure steamers 

would be waiting to take people 

on day excursions. 

When built, the line was doubletracked, 

but this was reduced to 

a single and signalled line in 1952 

as part of a cost-cutting exercise. 

The popularity of the paddle 

steamers faded over the following 

two decades and the last usage 

of the floating pontoon at Barry 

Docks occurred in 1971. Closure of 

the tunnel took place a few years 

later in 1975. 

Both portals to the tunnel were 

built in limestone, which featured 

buttresses either side of the 

entrance. Refuges were included 

in both of the sidewalls but these 

were filled with breezeblocks 

when the tunnel was converted 

into a rifle range. The portals were 

blocked up and entry was via a 

small door. 

In its day, the tunnel was often 

used by locals as a short cut to 

Jackson's Bay. As recently as 2019, 

the tunnel was used for filming 

an episode of Dr Who. Actors 

Bradley Walsh and Mandip Gill 

were present at the filming in 

the tunnel, which had been used 

previously by the popular TV show 

a few years earlier. 

Photo: Ben Salter 

All photographs used in this feature have been found in the public domain 

Photo: Jeremy Segrott 

Torpantau Tunnel 

Torpantau railway station is the 

northern terminus of the narrow 

gauge Brecon Mountain Railway. 

To the north of this station lies 

Torpantau Tunnel, which is also 

known as Beacons Tunnel. At an 

elevation of 1,313 feet, it was the 

highest standard gauge rail tunnel 

above sea level in regular use 

anywhere in Great Britain 

The line through it opened for 

business in 1863 but gained 

the unfortunate nickname of 

'Breakneck and Murder Railway' 

due to the number of accidents 

that occurred on the line. This was 

mostly due to the steep gradients 

on the line, some of which were 

severe. 

Two stations that sat at either end 

of the tunnel were closed in 1930 

but the tunnel was still used until 

the early 1950s for passing traffic. 

The line was eventually closed 

for good in 1964 and has since 

become flooded. 

Ely River Tubular Subway 

Opened in 1899, the Ely Tubular 

Subway was a pedestrian tunnel 

that ran from what is now Plas 

Pamir, beneath the River Ely to 

the area where Cardiff Bay Yacht 

Club now stands. It effectively 

linked Penarth Docks to Ferry 

Road for hundreds of sailors and 

dockworkers. 

In use until 1936, the tunnel was 

reopened for use as an air-raid 

shelter during the Second World 

War. It was also used for dock 

operations when Penarth Docks 

was taken over by the US Navy in 

the run-up to the D Day Landings. 

Both entrances were finally bricked 

up in 1963. 

All traces of the tunnel have now 

since gone. One of the surrounds 

to its entrance was kept near the 

yacht club and a mural has since 

been unveiled to pay homage to 

the thoroughfare. 

history 

Pontypridd Tunnel 

The tunnel mouth is situated in the 

grounds of Dewi Sant Hospital car 

park, just behind the modern day 

Pontypridd railway station. The other 

end of the tunnel is in the grounds of 

the University of South Wales, some 

distance away. The north entrance 

incorporates an inscription stone that 

records the tunnel's 1888 completion 

date, along with the names of its 

engineer and contractor - James W 

Szlumber and John Mackay. 

The tunnel was used for traffic until 

1951 but has since been bricked up at 

either end. 

Photo: Chowells 

Rhondda Tunnel 

The Rhondda Tunnel is an abandoned 

railway tunnel that runs between the 

Rhondda and the Afan Valleys. At 

3,443 yards long, it's the third longest 

railway tunnel in Wales, and the 

seventeenth longest in the UK. 

Completed in 1890, the tunnel soon 

began showing signs of distortion, 

caused by mining activity that was 

taking place in the vicinity. Between 

1938 and 1953, around 500 steel 

ribs were installed to strengthen the 

tunnel but the issue got worse and 

speed limits were eventually imposed 

on passing traffic. 

Photo: Welshman1900 

The tunnel was eventually closed by 

the Ministry of Transport in 1970 due 

to safety concerns. 

In 2014 however, the Rhondda 

Tunnel Group was formed, with a view 

to reopening the tunnel as a cycle 

path. If they are successful, the tunnel 

would become the longest cycle 

tunnel in Europe and the second 

longest in the world. 

37

gardens 

10 garden 

tasks for 

Autumn 

6 1. COLLECT LEAVES 

If left untouched, falling autumn leaves can 

overwhelm a garden. Clear them away from paths 

and patios, where they can get wet and slippery 

but leave small piles here and there for the wildlife 

in the garden. 

8 2. CLEAN BIRD FEEDERS 

Old bird feed can get lodged inside bird feeders 

and this can breed diseases for the wildlife. Take 

the time to clean them out thoroughly as they'll 

be used more extensively by the birds during the 

colder months of winter. 

65 3. MAKE REPAIRS 

Getting any repairs done before it gets too cold will mean 

that you're all set to go once spring comes around. Replace 

any broken panes in the greenhouse if you have one and fix 

damage to sheds, raised beds and equipment. It will also 

be worth securing any fences so that they can withstand 

the winter storms. 

6 4. CLEAN YOUR POND 

Leaves that have fallen from nearby trees will sit on 

the surface of the pond for a while but before long, 

they'll sink to the bottom, where they will begin to 

rot and turn to mulch. If you use any water pumps 

or fountains, it's also worth removing and cleaning 

the parts that you can so that they can be stored 

over the winter months. 

38

5 5. PUT FURNITURE AWAY 

If you have garden furniture, it's worth giving it a 

good clean before packing it away for the winter. 

Products that are made of metal or soft woods 

are in need of particular cleaning attention before 

putting it in storage. If you don't have any storage 

space, take the time to protect it with covers so that 

it's not damaged by the winter frosts. 

8 6. HARVEST FRUIT 

Fruit can be stored from late autumn to late winter, 

and you can use your shed, garage, or other 

storage area, providing that it is dry, cool, and 

well-ventilated. Ideal containers will allow good air 

movement through the sides and over the top. 

65 7. SCARIFY YOUR LAWN 

Over time, your lawn can become congested with organic 

matter, such as thatch or moss, that has a detrimental 

effect on its health. Scarification is the process of removing 

this matter. Autumn is the best time to scarify your lawn as 

the soil is usually warm and moist, making it easier. Rake up 

any dead leaves or grass and go over it with a mixture of 

sharp sand and good soil, being sure to fill any holes. 

8 8. CREATE A WILDLIFE HAVEN 

Winter can be a tough time for our wildlife and giving them 

a helping hand through the colder months could be the 

difference between life and death for them. You can create 

a wildlife hotel by stacking old logs or shrubbery clippings. 

Hedgehogs in particular love a stack of twigs to snuggle 

down under so leave some in the corner of the garden. 

65 9. PREP PERENNIALS 

Clean up perennials like geraniums and astrantias 

once they’ve finished flowering; this will restore 

some order to your garden for the winter. You can 

remove collapsed stems or dead leaves by hand or 

with a pair of pruning clippers. While you are there, 

take the opportunity to remove weeds, digging 

out those with thick or fleshy roots. You can then 

spread some compost over the soil to give your 

plants a boost. Leave the garden worms to do the 

rest of the work over the winter months. 

6 10. PLANT FOR SPRING 

Although winter lies ahead, there's the gorgeous season 

of spring to look ahead to. Now is the best time of year to 

buy bulbs and plant them ready for the new year ahead. 

Daffodils, tulips, crocus, grape hyacinths and fritillarias are 

just some of the plants to pick from, depending on what 

colours you'd like to include in your garden next year. The 

soil will still be warm, allowing the bulbs to develop their 

root systems early, allowing them to flower in spring. 

39

harvest 

supper 

"Put your big coat on. It's cold out 

there." 

"I don't want to go. Knight Rider is 

on telly tonight." 

"There's sausage in batter and 

chips afterwards." 

"Fine." 

Those autumn evenings, those 

smoky, coal fire evenings were 

always full of big coats and mellow 

snuggery. 

Heavy-booted, we plodded along 

the orange mist streets, down 

darkened lanes and past lamp-lit 

windows. 

"Why do we need to go to church 

on a Thursday night?" 

"We need to thank Jesus for all the 

food we eat." 

"But you buy our food down Kwik 

Save." 

The church stood hard against 

the night, its large arched windows 

beaming out into the autumn 

gloom. We clambered the heavy 

steps and Dad clunked the wooden 

door open. 

"Evening," muttered Mr Mayhew's 

moustache as we stepped inside 

and he handed us an Order of 

Service with his salmon crust hands. 

"We're collecting for Christian Aid 

tonight," he announced. 

"Righty ho," said Mum, taking out 

her purse and looking for a pound 

note. Dad mumbled something 

about being a Christian and being in 

need of aid and took us to our seats 

in the pews - Dad, me, Christie, and 

Mam, all in a line, ready to thank 

the Lord. We sat and I looked up at 

Jesus on his cross, way up in the 

criss-cross beams. I thanked Him 

for dying and then coming back to 

save me. And my food. 

Up near the altar, working quietly 

by the light of a single-strand bulb, 

40 

John Evans sat in his wooden swell 

of organ stops and octaves. 

Laid in boxes, in front of the altar, 

were bountiful foiled boxes of God's 

precious gifts to us here on Earth. 

"There's a lot of bananas in that 

one." 

"That'll be Jeff. He works on the 

banana boats." 

"Who's going to eat them all?" 

"They'll probably give them to the 

poor people." 

"Like Mrs Marsh?" 

And before we knew it, Father 

Steele strode shiny-shoed into the 

service and told us all to be thankful 

to the Lord our God for our bananas. 

The service was long and biscuit 

dry. My tummy rumbled and my 

kid sister sniggered. And across the 

road, the soft light and salty smell 

of Tony's chip shop spilt out into the 

night. 

___ 

After an hour of praising God, the 

peace and the blessing of God 

Almighty was bestowed upon us 

so we got to our feet to go get our 

chips. 

"Come on. I'm starving." 

The church door was open, 

blowing crunchy leaves into the 

entrance and scattering them 

across the block wooden flooring. 

Mr Howcroft, duffle coat donned, 

steamed past us and headed out 

into the cold. 

"You not staying Mel?" But Mel was 

already on his way out of the door. 

"My sustenance is across the 

road," he said, tipping his Trilby 

and smiling a bucktooth grin. He 

buttoned up the collar of his coat, 

tinkled down the stone steps and 

scurried across the black tar road 

to the Windsor. His lone stool at the 

bar was waiting. 

"He used to own a sheep ranch in 

New Zealand. 100 acres of fields 

and sheep. But his wife ran off with 

another man and took everything 

he had. He was left with nothing." 

"Poor Mr Howcroft." 

Out into the night we tumbled. 

"We're going next door. Go grab us 

a table." 

Christie and I ran on ahead and 

into the church hall that smelt of 

1951 and Calor Gas heaters. Three 

long lines of trestle tables ran the 

length of the hall, each festooned 

with Norma Hepplewhite's lace 

tablecloths. Mam appeared behind 

us and nudged us in the back. 

"Go and grab a seat. Not there 

though. That's too close to Billy 

Evans. He'll be asking us for a lift 

home." 

We found some seats next to Mr 

and Mrs Wilson and for a while, we 

sat there quietly while the grownups 

discussed what a lovely service 

it had been and how it wasn't going 

to be the same when the new 

curate arrived. 

Eventually, the hall door opened 

and in came Ray, the Christian 

family man with the secret ginger 

girlfriend down the road. In his 

hands, he carried a large, flat box, 

laden with newspaper-wrapped 

parcels. 

"Fish and chips?" he bellowed. And 

everyone raised their hands except 

for Mrs Llewellyn who couldn't 

because she had a frozen shoulder 

that the doctor was going to look at 

next week. 

Ray began feeding the five 

thousand. 

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" shrieked 

Mrs Bussell. "We've not had the 

blessing."

"Where's Father Steele?" 

"Counting the collection." 

"I'll do it." 

So we dipped our heads and I 

wondered whether Ray had my 

sausage and batter in his box while 

Mrs Bussell thanked the Lord for 

what we were about to eat. 

We mumbled an Amen and looked 

to Ray. 

"Finished?" 

"Yes." 

"Large cod?" 

"No. Small." 

"I ordered a large." 

"I've only got small." 

"I need two large." 

"John's coming now with more." 

Dad was one of the first to get his 

food. 

"I'm tucking in. I like mine hot. 

Jesus won't mind. He's all-forgiving." 

And he unfolded his newspaper gift 

and he stuck his face in it. 

"We're waiting on a sausage and 

batter here, John." And John said 

he'd be back now in a minute. 

"I need a wee," said Christie. 

"Take her to the toilet." 

So I grabbed her small hand and 

walked her up the creaky steps to 

the lesser hall. 

"It's down there, back of the stage." 

"It's dark and I'm scared. Can you 

come with me?" 

So we crept our way down the 

dank corridor to the toilet at the 

end. 

"I'd like some private time," she 

said and she closed the door and I 

waited outside. 

"It stinks in here," she echoed. 

"Just be quick." 

And I looked down, and there was 

a perfectly-made bed in a dark 

corner of the stage floor with three 

pink blankets and an empty mug. 

"Don't forget to pull the chain." But 

Christie was too tiny to reach it. 

On the way back, we passed Billy 

Evans. Flat-footed and still sat in his 

raincoat, he chewed on a sausage 

with his one remaining tooth. 

"Your Mam and Dad got the car 

tonight?" he asked. We scuttled 

past. 

And finally, a warm bundle arrived 

over my shoulder. 

"Sausage in batter and chips?" 

"Me please." 

I unwrapped my gift and the 

warmth wafted up and soothed 

my cold face. I picked up my 

wooden fork and plunged it into 

the sausage. And we all tucked in, 

greasy-fingered and slithery-lipped. 

God, our Maker, doth provide. For 

our wants to be supplied. And I bit 

into my supplied sausage and the 

crunch tingled my teeth. 

"Who pays for all the chips?" 

"Jesus." 

"I've never seen him in Tony's." 

The jibber-jabber died as people 

began to eat. Mrs Bussell was 

pushing around a clinking trolley 

that was full of upside-down mugs 

of all shapes and sizes. She stopped 

behind Dad. 

"Do you want a drink?" 

"What are the options?" 

"Yes or no." 

So Mrs Bussell poured Dad a thin 

mug of tea that he used to warm his 

hands. We had weak warm squash 

that came in plastic cups that went 

wibbly when we picked them up. 

Down the table was Fat Ken, who 

hadn't taken his coat off. He jabbed 

his sausage finger at Mrs Marsh's 

food. 

"Have you finished with those 

chips?" 

"I haven't even started. Keep your 

greedy gob off them." 

Ray appeared with another parcel. 

"Sausage and batter, anyone? I've 

got a spare one here," he shouted. 

And Fat Ken put his Richmonds in 

the air. 

I ate my food slowly to make it last 

forever. 

"Eat it up or Fat Ken will be after it." 

But Christie couldn't eat all hers and 

Fat Ken took it before I could ask. 

A little while later, Dad leaned back 

in his chair and stroked his belly. 

"Full as an egg," he said looking 

around the hall. Mrs Bussell busied 

herself with black bags, stuffing 

them with greasy newspaper 

wrappings and cold chips. And 

as supper was ending, Billy Evans 

got to his flat feet and went on the 

prowl. 

"You got your car with you, David?" 

"Not tonight, Bill." 

"You got your car with you, Hilary?" 

"Not tonight, Bill." 

"You got your car with you, Ken?" 

But Ken's mouth was full of sausage 

and chips. He shook his fat face and 

his bloodhound jowls swung like 

pendulums. 

And when the tables were strewn 

with newspaper and cold mugs, it 

was time to go home. 

"Put your big coats on," said Mam 

but they were already on. At the 

door, Jeff was standing with a box. 

"Anyone want a banana? We've got 

loads here." 

"No. We're ok thanks. Ken might 

want one." 

"A nice cup of tea when we get 

home," said Dad as we got outside. 

And we wrapped ourselves up tight 

against the night. 

"Wind's picked up a bit," said Mum. 

Across the road, Tony turned out 

the lamps in his chip shop and 

placed the closed sign in the 

window. 

We wound our way back 

home, through the chill and the 

gathering gloom. And the wind 

came swooping in, rumbling the 

chimneys of the terraced houses 

and stripping the trees of their black 

leaves. 

We crossed the final road to reach 

home. 

"Watch the car!" 

Mrs Bussell, nose to the misted 

windscreen, slowly passed by in her 

Mini Metro. Sitting alongside her, 

Billy Evans, clutching his seatbelt 

and belly. The car spluttered and 

chugged down the road to his 

nursing home where the girls would 

have a mug of cocoa waiting for 

him. 

Dad put his key in the golden lock 

of our front door and the leaves 

swirled and tumbled around our 

feet like fairies. 

"Tea and toast?" he smiled, and 

turned the key. 

"Go and put your slippers on." 

We got into our snugglies while 

Dad drew the heavy velvet curtains 

in our living room and shut the 

world out for the night. 

A short while later, he brought in 

piping hot tea and toast, lumped 

with warm butter and marmalade, 

all on a tray. As we ate, Christie 

coloured in a colouring book and I 

took a lingering look at the Lego in 

the Christmas catalogue. 

After Moira Stewart had told us 

about all the bad and sad people in 

the world, we climbed the stairs to 

bed. 

"I enjoyed my chips." 

"N'night. Sleep tight." 

I lay there and wondered what 

Michael Knight had been up to 

while I'd been eating my hot 

sausage. The wind rattled our house 

windows goodnight and raced off 

into the darkness. 

Ere the winter storms began. 

Back at the hall, the trestle 

tables were stowed and the chairs 

stacked. In the dark corner of the 

stage near the toilet, Mr Howcroft 

snuggled down under his three 

pink blankets on the floor. He pulled 

his Trilby down over his face, and 

hiccuped a toast to the Lord for his 

liquid meal. Then he rolled over on 

his side and began counting New 

Zealand sheep in his head. 

All was safely gathered in. 

By Patric Morgan 

short story 

41

Cosy 

Comforts 

It may be cold outside but these delicious recipes will provide you with 

comfort and warmth - perfect for those stormy autumn evenings 

Fish pie 

40g butter 

2 leeks, washed, trimmed and finely 

sliced 

500g salmon fillet, skinned and boned 

300g haddock or cod fillet, skinned 

and boned 

300g undyed smoked haddock, 

skinned and boned 

100ml dry white vermouth 

2 tbsp anchovy sauce 

1 tbsp finely chopped tarragon 

350ml crème fraîche 

50g fresh breadcrumbs 

50g Gruyère cheese, grated 

Mashed potato and wilted spinach to 

serve 

☐ Melt the butter in a saucepan and 

add the leeks and the vermouth. 

Cook over a low to medium heat for 

10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

☐ Remove from the heat and stir in 

the anchovy sauce, tarragon and 

crème fraîche. Taste and season 

with salt and freshly ground black 

pepper. Leave out to cool. 

☐ Heat the oven to 200°C/fan oven 

180°C/mark 6. Cut the fish into 2cm 

42 

pieces and place them into a wide 

gratin dish. 

☐ Pour over the leek sauce. Mix 

the breadcrumbs with the grated 

cheese and scatter over the dish. 

☐ Cook in the oven for 40 minutes, 

until the centre feels piping hot. 

☐ Serve on heated plates with 

mashed potato, wilted spinach, and 

crusty bread.

Sweet potato soup 

1 tbsp olive oil 

1 onion, chopped 

700g sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 

2 large carrots, peeled and chopped 

4cm/1½ inches fresh root ginger, finely chopped 

1 garlic clove, crushed 

½ tsp dried red chilli flakes 

1.2 litres vegetable stock 

salt and freshly ground black pepper 

pumpkin seeds to serve 

recipes 

☐ ☐Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a mediumhigh 

heat, keeping the lid on. Add the chopped 

onion and carrots and cook until they are softened. 

Stir in the ginger, the garlic and the chilli flakes and 

fry for around 2–3 minutes, or until fragrant. 

☐ Stir in the sweet potatoes and the stock. Turn up 

the heat and bring the pan to the boil. Reduce to a low heat and simmer with the lid on until the sweet potato is 

tender (probably about 15 minutes). 

☐ Remove the pan from the heat and blend the soup, using a stick blender, until smooth. Alternatively, tip it into 

a food processor and blend. Season to taste and serve. 

Toad in the Hole 

Batter mixture 

125g plain flour 

2 eggs 

250ml whole milk 

Toad-in-the-hole 

12 sausages 

6 rashers bacon, halved lengthways 

2 leeks, sliced into thin ribbons 

100ml white wine 

100g frozen peas 

Gravy 

1 leek, sliced into ribbons 

20g butter 

20g plain flour 

250ml red wine 

300ml beef stock 

1 tbsp wholegrain mustard 

2 tsp balsamic vinegar 

☐ Preheat your oven to 200˚C/400˚F/gas mark 6. Wrap 

the bacon around the sausages and bake in a shallow 

dish for 25 minutes, until they are lightly browned. 

While they bake, take a large bowl, and pour in the 

flour. Create a well in the centre of the flour and break 

in the eggs, mixing them together. Add in the milk, 

season, and place the batter mixture to one side. 

☐ Slice and fry the leeks with a small amount of oil until 

they are soft. Pour in the white wine and reduce down 

completely. Remove the leeks from the heat, stir in the 

frozen peas, season well and set to one side. 

☐ Remove the sausages from the oven, turn them 

upside down and place the leek mixture in and around 

them. Leave space between the sausages as the batter 

will expand between them. 

☐ Pour the batter mixture over the sausages and leeks 

and bake for about 30–35 minutes. 

☐ To make the gravy, fry the leeks in butter in a frying 

pan until they are soft. Gradually sprinkle in the red 

wine and flour and then blend in the stock, balsamic 

vinegar, and mustard. Simmer to thicken the gravy up 

and adjust seasoning to taste. 

☐ Your toad-in-the-hole will be ready when the batter 

has risen and is golden on top. Remove from the oven, 

slice, and pour the gravy over the top. 

43

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feature 

Christmas 

Checklist 

With the festive season just around 

the corner, here's our guide to 

planning a stress-free Christmas 

Set a budget 

Christmas is traditionally a time 

of joy and happiness but for 

many, it can be a time of worry 

and stress. 

One of the main reasons for this 

is due to monetary issues and 

in today's cost-of-living climate, 

that has never been so acute. 

Setting a budget early on can 

help offset this worry. Putting a 

financial boundary in place will 

make you feel more in control, 

and stop you spending more 

than you should, which will have 

repercussions later on down the 

line. 

Your Christmas budget will 

need to include everything from 

food, to gifts and decorations. 

You may also need to factor in 

things like travel and things that 

could crop up unexpectedly. 

Once you've set your budget, 

you'll want to keep track of how 

much of it you've used 

so that you know 

how much of it 

is left. Try not to 

be tempted to go 

over the budget, 

as this will only 

bring stress in 

the New Year. 

Create a gift list 

Planning your gifts ahead will 

most likely save you money and a 

headache. 

Taking the time to create a wish 

list means that you can work 

through it at your own pace. Think 

of everyone you need to buy for 

and if you have the budget, add 

in a few small items for those 

unexpected guests. Order your 

online gifts early in case they take 

longer than expected or need to 

be back-ordered. 

Remember that practical gifts 

are as much appreciated as fun 

gifts and they will most likely 

be put to good use more. If you 

are struggling for gift ideas, ask 

people directly what they want. 

It'll save a wasted shopping 

experience plus it'll save them the 

hassle of trying to exchange it for 

something else. 

Christmas shopping 

Over recent years, retailers 

have started bringing their sales 

forward, often before Christmas 

itself. This means that you can 

pick up some great bargains 

that you'd normally have to wait 

until the January sales for. 

Stick to the list that you've 

created and also to the budget. 

It's all too easy to throw in a 

few extras that catch the eye. 

Remember to stock up on 

batteries too. This will save the 

disappointment on Christmas 

morning when presents can't 

be used because you're out 

of batteries and the shops are 

closed.

Finalise plans 

If you haven't already finalised 

your plans for the big day, it's 

best to do it sooner rather than 

later so that everyone can make 

arrangements. 

Travel and accommodation will 

possibly need to be factored 

in, plus any requirements for 

pet-sitting if required. If you are 

hosting this year, make sure 

that there is enough furniture 

and cutlery for dinner. If you are 

having guests stay over, you'll 

need to make sure that there are 

enough places to sleep. 

If you're lucky enough to be a 

guest at someone else's house 

this year, plan out your travel 

arrangements in advance. 

Prep the house 

A clean house makes for a happy 

house so schedule in some time to 

get the house in order for Christmas. 

It'll also mean that you can feel 

more organised when you know 

where everything is. Clearing out 

and cleaning the fridge is also worth 

doing and will make room for your 

Christmas food shopping. 

Once the house is clean, it's the 

exciting time of opening those boxes 

of Christmas decorations. Turning 

your home into a winter wonderland 

is one of the highlights of the 

season, especially when younger 

family members are involved. 

Put everything up methodically so 

that it's easier when you take them 

down after Christmas. 

Send the Christmas cards 

Christmas cards will need to be sent 

early this year as the planned postal 

strikes could be taking place in the runup 

to the festive season. 

International cards and packages 

especially will need to be shipped as 

soon as possible. Last recommended 

posting dates for UK 2nd class post 

is Monday 19th December and 

Wednesday 21st December for 1st class. 

Food shopping 

To take the stress off yourself this 

Christmas, your food shopping can 

be done in stages. You can stock 

up on your frozen, long-life, and 

dry goods well in advance and 

then switch to the fresher produce 

nearer the time. 

Most supermarkets offer an 

ordering service which gives you 

peace of mind that you'll be able to 

cook your Christmas dinner. It's also 

worth supporting local shops as 

much as you can to help with local 

trade. 

Hang your stockings 

Put up a stocking for everyone 

in the home, even the pet if you 

have one. These are traditionally 

left near an open fire, where you'd 

also leave some cookies and milk 

for Santa and some carrots for his 

reindeer. 

When it comes to Christmas 

Eve, a well-planned run-up to 

Christmas means that you'll 

be able to sit down with your 

favourite tipple, safe in the knowledge that everything's organised. 

Get the tree up 

Getting the tree up can be made 

into a memorable festive event, 

especially if you involve loved 

ones. 

You can prepare the space for 

your tree in advance and if you 

are planning on using a real tree, 

it's worth keeping it in a pot of 

water until it's ready to go up. 

When the time comes, be sure 

to remove all the netting and 

knock off any loose branches or 

needles. It's recommended to 

saw 1cm off the bottom of the 

trunk and you can get someone 

at the garden centre to do this. 

The reason for this is to remove 

hardened sap that will have 

accrued on the stump, and allow 

for effective water absorption.

www.cardiffwindows.com

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 64

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