Rhiwbina Living Issue 56 (Autumn 2022)

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Rhiwbina Living 

At the heart of the community 

Issue 56 Autumn ‘22 

CRAFTED IN 

RHIWBINA 

CRAFTED IN 

Your multi award-winning magazine for Rhiwbina

Inside this issue 

Welcome / Croeso 

Interview 

Legendary Welsh 

writer and actor 

Steve Speirs talks 

about his love of 

living in Rhiwbina 

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 Rhiwbina 

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 Rhiwbina Living are 

personally delivered by us to every house in the 

Rhiwbina ward four times a year in line with the 

seasons. We also distribute to local shops 

2 

Save the world 

How you can play 

your part at home 

in helping save 

the planet from 

climate change 

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. 

Rhiwbina 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 Rhiwbina Living. 

As our village settles 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 launch issue of Rhiwbina 

Living in 2007, 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. 

With the World Cup in 

everyone's minds, editor of 

Welsh Football magazine (and 

Rhiwbina resident!) 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 Rhiwbina life, 

and his career to-date. 

Despite the challenges of 

the last few years, Llanishen 

Fach Primary School has been 

delivering on its educational 

aims day in, day out. We hear 

how the school and its pupils are 

working out answers to reallife 

problems in their quest for 

educational excellence. 

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 Rhiwbina 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 Rhiwbina Living co-editor) 

Patric Morgan. 

Please support our local 

advertisers who are keeping 

communities alive during these 

challenging times. Enjoy the 

Autumn season and we'll see 

you in our next issue. 

Danielle and Patric 

Editors 

www.facebook.com/ 

rhiwbinaliving 

@RhiwbinaLiving

news 

Local hubs 

helping to keep 

people warm this 

coming winter 

New benches 

unveiled in 

Parc-y-Pentre 

One of Rhiwbina's most popular 

parks has received a new set of 

benches. 

Parc-y-Pentre in the Garden Village 

has been in need of replacement 

benches for several years. The 

new installations include plaques 

dedicated to individuals and groups 

linked to the village. 

One of the benches has been 

dedicated to Mary Clarke for her 

tireless work that has helped the 

village over the years, including the 

Flood Defence System. Mary has 

also been instrumental in many of 

A four-wheel drive mobility service 

will be launched at Parc Cefn Onn in 

2023 as work on a £660,000 project 

to conserve the park's heritage and 

improve access and facilities for 

visitors nears completion. 

The new ‘Tramper’ service, is the final 

part of the project, part funded by 

a £454,000 grant from The National 

Lottery Heritage Fund. The fund 

has already delivered a range of 

improvements to the Grade 2 listed 

park in Lisvane. 

Originally purchased by the council in 

1944, the park was formerly a private 

garden, belonging to Ernest Prosser, 

Director of the Rhymney Valley 

The new benches celebrate 

individuals and groups from Rhiwbina 

the local events. 

The park has also benefitted from 

the planting of new trees, including 

an apple tree planted by Rhiwbina 

Ecoteam. 

The park was officially opened in 

1960 and continues to provide locals 

with a place to spend time with 

loved ones. 

Cefn Onn scheme to be launched 

Railway. 

Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks 

and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke-Davies 

said: 

“Parc Cefn Onn is a real gem and has 

long been one of our 16 Green Flag 

standard parks but as a country park, 

part of its appeal is its more rugged 

feel, something that coupled with 

its steep paths and steps has, until 

the improvement works, made large 

sections of the park fairly inaccessible 

to families with pushchairs and 

buggies, as well as people with 

mobility issues.” 

The park is also a rich haven for 

wildlife. 

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." 

Rhiwbina Library is set to open 

as a hub before the end of the 

year. While the refurbishment is 

being carried out, the service’s 

mobile library will be available 

three times a week on Pantbach 

Road, a short distance from the 

library on Mondays (1-4pm), 

Tuesdays (10am–1pm), and 

Fridays (1–4pm). 

Customers with mobility issues 

or who are unable to attend 

these alternative locations will 

be able to access the home 

delivery and click and collect 

delivery service. 

3

news 

Rhiwbina 

Civic Society 

programme 

The Rhiwbina Civic Society has 

announced its programme until 

the middle of next year. Their 

forthcoming schedule is as follows: 

13th December: Christmas quiz 

plus drinks and nibbles 

2023 

17th January: Edging the City – A 

Journey round the Border of Cardiff 

- Peter Finch 

21st February: The Story of Wales 

in a Hundred Objects – Andrew 

Green 

21st March: Getting Cardiff Cycling: 

Pedal Power and Cardiff Cycle City 

- Paul Streets and Sian Donovan 

18th April: Royal Society for the 

Protection of Birds (RSPB) Newport 

Wetlands Reserve - Daniel Suge 

16th May: Tales from Wales – 

Storytelling including Welsh myths 

and legends – Debra John 

18th June: Coed Caerdydd 

– expanding our tree canopy – 

Christopher Engel 

Meetings are held in the Canolfan 

Beulah starting at 7.30 pm. For 

further information, please see 

their website or Facebook page – 

or phone Roger Wright on 07811 

509490. 

Crime awareness 

South Wales Police have recently 

taken part in a knife crime 

awareness campaign in the 

Rhiwbina area. 

Officers from Llanishen conducted 

a 'Knife Sweep' in Thornhill, Heath, 

Rhiwbina, and Cyncoed, engaging 

with the local communities to raise 

awareness of their Not The One 

knife crime campaign. 

The campaign aims to educate 

11-16 year old males on the 

dangers and consequences of 

carrying a knife, targeting teachers, 

parents, friends, and family with an 

educational pack of information. 

4 

Cardiff to receive new electric buses 

The streets of Cardiff will soon be 

bustling with even more electric 

buses thanks to an £8m grant 

designed to increase the number of 

cleaner vehicles using our roads. 

Cardiff Council recently approved 

a scheme which will allow 

bus operators to bid for Welsh 

Government funds to help increase 

the number of electric buses 

operating in Cardiff. All bus companies 

that operate in Cardiff could be given 

the opportunity to bid for the funding. 

Both Cardiff Council and the Welsh 

Government are aiming to have all 

buses operating in Cardiff producing 

zero emissions by 2035. 

Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for 

Strategic Planning and Transport, said: 

“The Council set out its Bus Strategy 

in November last year. We want 

to increase the number of people 

travelling by bus in Cardiff. 

"The Council has engaged with all 

of Cardiff’s bus operators to let them 

know about this exciting funding 

opportunity. Now that the cabinet 

has agreed, we will use this feedback 

from the bus operators to set the 

criteria for the application process and 

A number of homes in Rhiwbina have 

been chosen to take part in Cardiff 

Council's new kerbside-sort recycling 

scheme. Nearly 5,000 homes across 

Cardiff are taking part in the scheme 

which is aimed at improving the 

recycling efforts in Cardiff. 

Those chosen will be expected 

to separate out their recycling into 

reusable containers. The containers 

include a red sack for plastic and 

cans, a blue sack for paper and 

get these new electric vehicles onto 

the network as quickly as possible.” 

He added: 

“We all now know how important it 

is for our health to improve air quality. 

We also know that we need to reduce 

the use of private cars if we want 

to ease congestion. Making public 

transport a more attractive and viable 

option is key to helping us do that. We 

want to make travel by bus quicker, 

cheaper and easier for the public to 

use in and around the city." 

Bus operators will now be set a time 

frame for the application process, 

with a deadline set for final costs to 

be submitted to Cardiff Council by 

October 2023. 

Cardiff Bus currently has a fleet of 36 

electric buses. 

Rhiwbina homes to take part in recycling 

cardboard, and a blue caddy for glass 

bottles and jars. 

The new recycling method has 

already been trialled in four wards 

and the Council's aim is to roll it 

out city-wide over the next two 

years. Critics of the scheme have 

complained that after taking the time 

to separate out all the recyclables, 

all the containers are all put into the 

back of the same refuse truck at the 

same time. 

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.

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 

The article in Rhiwbina Living 

(Summer 2022) featuring the 

history of Campbells' steamers 

brought back memories for me. 

I crossed the Bristol Channel 

between Cardiff and Westonsuper-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 

Fix your exhausts 

Somewhere in Rhiwbina, there is 

a motorist in desperate need of 

getting their car exhaust fixed. 

I often hear this poor motorist, 

driving around late at night, 

possibly looking for a Kwik-Fit. 

Can we all have a whip-round to 

help this poor whippersnapper? 

JE Young 

Email 

Hall centenary 

This year 2022, the Rhiwbina 

Recreation Club celebrated the 

centenary of its hall. The original 

plans drawn up in 1913 for the 

Rhiwbina Garden Village included 

a recreation club with a bowling 

green and eight tennis courts, 

along with a recreation hall in the 

centre. 

The plan shows the club 

surrounded to the north, east, and 

south by housing. The centenary 

booklet (a copy of which resides 

in Rhiwbina Library) shows the 

plans and the architect Alwyn 

Lloyd’s drawing of the proposed 

recreation hall. 

Early in 1914, the Recreation 

Club was formed and leased 7.6 

acres of land from the Welsh 

Housing and Town Planning Trust, 

the forerunner of the Rhiwbina 

Garden Village, and by May, had 

built a pavilion. In its first season, 

it formed bowls, croquet, football, 

hockey, tennis, and table tennis 

sections, along with a strong social 

membership. 

The YMCA was closely involved 

in the club from its outset 

and acquired shares. Besides 

organising sports matches, it also 

arranged Sunday evening lectures 

and concerts. 

The club, in its first fifty years, was 

much more than a sports club and 

became the centre of social life 

in Rhiwbina. Organisations renting 

the hall included Rhiwbina Men’s 

and Ladies Fellowship, Rhiwbina 

Differing opinions 

Regarding the letter entitled 

‘Author Shock’ in Rhiwbina Living 

(Summer 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 

Choral Society, Rhiwbina Players, a 

nursery, children’s dancing classes, 

Town’s Women’s Guild, Infant 

Welfare Clinics, along with several 

others, including instrumentalists 

playing in concerts. Whist and 

bridge became extremely popular. 

The war put an end to most of the 

activities as in 1940, the War Office 

requisitioned the hall. 

The hall is no longer 

recognisable, being encompassed 

by indoor bowls, table tennis, and 

a lounge bar. Rhiwbina Rugby 

Club, since it became a section 

of the club in 1971, entertain 

visiting clubs in the hall. The club 

introduced a fiesta and carnival in 

1921 and this proved so successful 

that it became an annual event. 

Brian Rowlands 


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 


5

The Art Workshop Art School 

Courses and workshops in Drawing, Oils, Acrylics, Watercolours, Printmaking, Textile 

Art and more. Suitable for adult beginners and improvers. Teens Art Group, Junior Art 

Academy for age 7-12. Learn in our bespoke studios with qualified artist tutors. 

Find our studios in Lon Fach in the heart of Rhiwbina village. 

3 Lon Fach, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6DY 

For timetable and online booking see 

w: www.theartworkshop.co.uk 

e: theartworkshop@live.co.uk 

t: 07947 003111 

10% OFF 

of Autumn 

and Winter 

‘22 collection 

with this advert 

Autumn has arrived 

Independent Boutique in Rhiwbina 

Find us in Rhiwbina village 

Park outside the store in Lon Fach Shopping Mews 

9-11 Lon Fach 

Rhiwbeina 

CF14 6DY 

www.calonrhiwbeina.com 

tel: 07929 239012 

email: info@calonrhiwbeina.com

MICHELLE MARSHALL SALON 

HAIR - BEAUTY - WELLNESS 

Our village is blessed with 

some wonderful small 

businesses, many of which 

have become firm favourites of 

the community for many years. 

The best part about this for us 

Rhiwbinians of course, is that we 

don’t have to travel very far to 

receive their 5 star service. 

And if it’s 5 star hair, beauty, and 

wellness that you need this winter, 

you may have noticed that a new 

Michelle Marshall Beauty Salon is 

now open for business on Beulah 

Road. 

“We opened our doors this year 

and it was just in time for many new 

guests and existing hair guests to 

visit us and 

get sunshine 

and holiday 

ready by taking 

advantage of 

our beauty 

treatments,” 

says Head 

Beauty 

Therapist Sian. 

“As an 

Head Beauty 

Therapist Sian 

extension of 

the existing 

Michelle 

Marshall 

Salon in the village, we have now 

extended outwards and are offering 

great products and services in a 

friendly and welcoming village 

atmosphere. 

“We are so excited to have the 

opportunity to grow the business 

to be able to provide a wide range 

of beauty treatments such as CND 

Shellac and Vinylux manicures 

and pedicures, facials, massages, 

ear piercings, waxings, tintings, 

brow shapings, lash lift and brow 

laminations and spray tans,” she 

adds. 

Since opening their first salon, the 

original Michelle Marshall brand has 

become a much-loved favourite in 

Rhiwbina, not only with locals but 

with industry professionals too. 

“We were so proud to be one of 

the finalists at the Welsh Beauty 

Awards this year. We actually picked 

up the Best 5 Star Salon in Wales 

Award at the same awards back in 

2019.” 

The team’s continued success 

is just one of several accolades 

that they’ve picked up in recent 

years. This summer, they won the 

Welsh Women’s Award for Best 

Independent Retail Business. And 

that’s great news for Rhiwbina. 

“It goes without saying that our 

award-winning team of Cardiff 

hair stylists offer the best haircuts, 

hair colours, balayage, keratin 

smoothing treatments, hair 

extensions and men’s hair cuts. And 

at our new Rhiwbina beauty salon, 

our experienced beauty therapists 

are ready to help you look and 

feel your very best with our range 

of popular beauty treatments. 

Michelle Marshall Salon really is 

your one stop shop in Cardiff when 

it comes to all your hair and beauty 

needs!” 

The team’s beauty therapists 

are Sian, Megan, and Tia. They 

bring with them over 20 years of 

experience in the beauty therapy 

industry. Sian worked for ten years 

in a spa environment, and her 

teaching knowledge in the industry 

offers a senior level of experience 

to the team. Megan and Tia are 

also well educated in the beauty 

world and have a passion for up and 

coming treatments and techniques 

for up to date beauty trends. 

“We are delighted to have recently 

added a range of Dermalogica 

facial products, as well as 

incorporating the healing powers 

of LED light therapy and different 

coloured lights to treat different skin 

concerns. 

“We are a friendly, welcoming 

team, who like to do our best 

to make you feel comfortable 

and relaxed. You are more than 

welcome to pop into our new 

salon for a look around, and to 

have a chat about what potential 

treatments would benefit you. 

“We have a wonderful receptionist 

who can book you in at your 

convenience and you can also 

have the leisure of booking your 

own treatments to suit you on our 

online booking system found on our 

website.” 

And if you want to share the love, 

now is also the perfect time to treat 

others to the Michelle Marshall 

experience: 

“Our beauty treatments are 

available to buy in salon, and they 

make great gift ideas for loved 

ones or someone special,” says 

Sian. “We’ve got superb products 

available in-store, including ranges 

from UK Lash, Dermalogica, CND 

nail varnishes and nail treatments 

and Redken haircare. And if you 

can’t decide, we also have gift 

vouchers available too, allowing 

your loved ones to make their own 

choice.” 

A: Beulah Road, Rhiwbina 

T: 029 2061 1566 

W: www.michellemarshallsalon. 

co.uk

STEVE 

SPEIRS 

Writer and actor Steve Speirs reflects on his 

career to-date and his life in Rhiwbina 

Tucked away in the cosy corner 

of a Rhiwbina 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 

8 

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 

9

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around and spot an old set of balance 

scales but no weights. Also, there 

are odds and ends left over from the 

previous craft market. 

With what’s available to you, devise a 

way to accurately weigh your apples. 

To prove consistency, state the weight 

of four individual apples of varying 

size. Failure to do so accurately may 

result in you not making any sales or 

even worse, being prosecuted under 

the weights and measures act 1985. 

Wow, no pressure then! 

This is an example of a recent 

problem we set our Year 5 pupils 

in our ‘maths garden’ at Llanishen 

Fach Primary School. And I’m sure it 

won’t surprise anyone that our pupils 

were more than equal to the task, 

devising methods and solutions 

that left school staff in awe at their 

problem solving, resourcefulness and 

determination. 

How would you solve this problem? 

Spoiler Alert! If you wish to try this at 

home, read no further until you have 

had a go yourself. 

Many of the pupil groups realised 

that the first step was to find 

examples of known given weights. 

This they did by rifling through the 

shopping bags from the ‘supermarket’. 

Quickly spotting 25g bags of crisps, a 

2kg bag of potatoes along with pasta, 

flour, 250g of coco and individually 

wrapped 18g wafer biscuits. 

It wasn’t long before the crisp 

packets and wafer biscuits were being 

used to make up useful combinations 

of weights with which to weigh 

individual apples on the balance 

scales. For many of the groups this 

was the extent of their investigation, 

with some very satisfactory results. 

Some of our pupils went further 

though, spotting the limitations of 

STEAMing Ahead 

at Llanishen Fach 

Primary School 

Imagine that you are a farmer with a 

magnificent crop of apples, ready to 

sell at the local farmers’ market. 

On your way there, you stop off at 

the supermarket and buy a bag of 

groceries. When you eventually arrive 

at the market, you notice you are not 

the only farmer with apples to sell. 

There’s no time to spare, you need to 

set up and start selling. 

Disaster! 

You have left your power cable for 

your scales back at the farm! You look 

12

having to use multiple lighter items 

to weigh a single apple and devised 

their own weights. 

To do this, they investigated the 

heavier shopping, comparing it with 

repeatable items ‘left’ from the craft 

market, in effect creating their own 

standardised weights, albeit with 

some peculiar values. 

Tape measures were found to weigh 

96g and lollipop sticks 1.1g. Armed 

with this knowledge and equipped 

with a wider ‘set’ of weights, these 

pupils were able to not only weigh 

each of their four apples but also a 

bag of six with a level of accuracy 

which would save them from a 

prosecution. 

One group took their investigation 

yet further, independently identifying 

the established link between metric 

units of volume and weight. They 

did this by comparing the volume of 

water needed to balance a 650g box 

of cereal and thus devising their own 

infinitely variable system of measuring 

weight. 

Pretty impressive, don’t you think? 

How did you do? Did you spot these 

solutions or devise some other ways 

of doing it? 

This ‘challenge’ approach to 

learning that we’ve developed here 

at Llanishen Fach Primary School is 

well established, despite having been 

disrupted by the COVID epidemic, 

and is an integral part of our teaching 

and learning strategy. 

We have taken our lead from an 

approach to learning termed STEAM 

(previously STEM) that uses science, 

technology, engineering, the arts 

and mathematics as a focus for 

developing our pupils’ critical thinking 

and resilience. 

By working in this way, making 

discoveries, learning from success 

and failure and applying knowledge 

in real world situations ensures that all 

our pupils meet our shared vision and 

aspirations for every child and young 

person as described in the Welsh 

Government’s Four Purposes. 

schools 

13

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18.02.23 

SUZANNE VEGA 

An Intimate Evening of Songs & Stories 

26.02.23 

BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA 

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15.12.22 

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NUT 

06.03.23 

JOHN BARROWMAN 

I Am What I Am 

19.02.23 

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17.02.23

competition 

Win a family Ticket of Four 

to see swan lake 

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 December). 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 post- 

Christmas treat for Rhiwbina Living 

readers too with a Family Ticket 

for Four up for grabs to the festive 

favourite, Swan Lake on Tuesday 

27th December at 2pm! 

To be in with a chance of winning 

a Family Ticket for Four, please 

answer the following question: 

Which iconic composer composed 

Swan Lake?? 

a) Tchaikovsky 

b) Beethoven 

c) Mozart 

Please email your answer to 

SDHpress@cardiff.gov.uk by Monday 

19th 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 Four can be 

made up of any combination of 

adults and children, but must 

include at least one adult. 

15

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 alongside 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. 

16

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. 

17

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Rhiwbina landlords: 

Will buy-to-let continue to be 

profitable in the next few years? 

Northwood Cardiff's Ben Gwinnutt evaluates the 

current state of play in the UK's buy-to-let market 

Being a landlord can be a 

challenge. The glory years 

of making money from ‘any 

old property’ are certainly in the 

past. With increased legislation 

and taxation from Government 

and the cost-of-living crisis (which 

will result in some CF14 tenants 

struggling to pay their rent), times 

are challenging for many landlords. 

Newspaper stories abound of 

landlords being pushed into the red 

as mortgage rates continue to rise. 

A landlord last summer could have 

fixed their 5-year buy-to-let (BTL) 

rate with a 25% deposit at 1.86%, 

whilst today the best 5-year deal is 

with Barclays at 4.36%. This increase 

will add more than £246 per month 

to the landlord's mortgage bill for 

the average UK buy-to-let property. 

" Landlords’ mortgages stand at 

£237.81bn, meaning collectively, 

landlords could have to pay an 

additional £7.11 billion per year in 

mortgage interest payments 

The press is also reporting in 

Q2 2022 (compared to Q2 2021), 

landlord possession claims for 

arrears increased from 6,997 to 

18,201 properties (a rise of 160%), 

property orders from 5,431 to 14,319 

(an increase of 164%), warrants from 

3,786 to 7,728 (a rise of 104%) and 

landlord repossessions from 1,582 

to 4,900 (a rise of 210%). This is on 

the back of recent Section 24 tax 

changes and ahead of expensive 

energy efficiency upgrades that the 

Government is expected to legislate 

for in the coming 12 months. 

This doesn’t sound good for 

landlords. But that's until you look 

past the headlines and look at the 

actual detail. 

79.93% of UK BTL mortgages are 

interest-only mortgages (compared 

to 12.29% of homebuyers), meaning 

the repayments are considerably 

lower than typical homebuyer 

mortgages. Therefore, the rise in 

interest rates won’t hit landlords’ 

profitability as much as many 

thought initially. 

93.21% of all new BTL mortgages 

agreed in the last two years have 

This is a sponsored post 

been on a fixed rate mortgage, and 

73.27% of all existing BTL mortgages 

are on a fixed rate. So, the increase 

in mortgage payments will only 

affect one in four landlords on 

variable-rate mortgages. 

Let us not forget that less than 

one in three landlords have a BTL 

mortgage, meaning two out of three 

landlords aren’t affected by these 

interest rate rises. 

"The average rent of a property 

in CF14 is now £1,346 per month, an 

impressive rise of 8.2% compared to 

a year ago 

Possession orders look high until 

you realise that there are 4.4 million 

properties in the private rented 

sector. That means only 2.04% of UK 

rental properties had arrears bad 

enough for landlords (or agents) to 

start possession proceedings. Only 

0.045% of tenants were evicted via 

the courts in a calendar year. 

Statistics from Government and 

other letting industry sources 

show that landlords who didn't use 

a letting agent to manage their 

property were 272.5% more likely 

to be two months or more in rent 

arrears in 2021. It pays to use a 

letting agent! 

The potential cost of upgrading 

rental properties' energy efficiency 

is also having an effect. The 

proposed changes in the MEES 

regulations require a minimum 

energy efficiency (measured by its 

Energy Performance Certificate 

(EPC)) to a ‘C’ rating on new 

tenancies from 2025 and existing 

tenancies by 2028. That will cost, on 

average, £10,000+ per property. 

Yet it cannot be forgotten 

when the rules changed in 2018, 

properties had to have a minimum 

EPC rating of 'E' in England and 

Wales to be legally compliant. 

If a landlord of an 'F' or 'G' rated 

rental property could prove that 

it would cost more than £3,500 to 

make those improvements to their 

EPC rating, then that was the most 

the landlord had to pay. No doubt 

something similar will take place in 

the future proposed legislation. 

Looking at the profitability of 

renting, we can see that rental 

yields are the primary guide to 

profitability in buy-to-let. Yields are 

starting to rise as rental growth is 

beginning to outstrip house price 

growth. The average yields being 

achieved in CF14 today are: 

• 1 bed – 5.6% yield 

• 2 bed – 4.7% yield 

• 3 bed – 4.1% yield 

• 4 bed – 3.9% yield 

Yet investing in buy-to-let isn't just 

about the yield. 

Demand from tenants plays a 

massive part in the success or 

failure of your BTL investment, 

so other yardsticks, such as void 

periods, should be considered. 

There is no point in securing a 

higher-yielding rental property if 

that BTL investment remains empty. 

In North Cardiff, the overall void 

period average so far is 41.4% lower 

than 18 months ago, reducing from 

29 days in April 2021 to 17 days in 

September 2022 (the void period 

being the time it takes from the 

date of an old tenant moving out 

until the new tenant moves in). 

Finally, BTL investment is also an 

excellent hedge against inflation 

compared to other investments. 

The next few years will be 

challenging for everyone but with 

advice and opinions of a decent 

letting agent to guide and support 

you, BTL will continue to be a 

profitable investment. 

If you would like a no-obligation 

chat with me to discuss your 

options as a new potential landlord 

or an existing landlord with a rental 

portfolio, then let's talk. 

Let us see whether your 

expectations from BTL match 

your potential investment in local 

property. I look forward to you 

picking up the phone or sending me 

a message for a no-obligation chat. 

Ben 

1A & 1B Heol Y Deri, Rhiwbina, 

Cardiff, CF14 6HA 

02920 521400 

www.northwooduk.com

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. 

20 

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. 

21

Guiding 

you home 

Our Specialist Property Solicitors will 

lead you through any complications 

during your property transaction giving 

you valuable advice and ensuring there 

is always light at the end of the tunnel. 

Relax and let us do the hard work. 

Navigating your way through the 

complexities of a property transaction can 

be stressful but our experienced, accessible 

and caring team of lawyers take the time to 

successfully guide you every step of the way. 

Our services include: 

• Residential Property 

• Commercial Property 

• Landlord + Tenant 

• Wills and Estate Planning 

• Estate Administration + Probate 

• Lasting Powers of Attorney 

1 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, 

Cardiff, CF14 6HA 

Monday - Friday 

9.00am - 5.30pm 

And on Saturdays 

10.00am - 4.00pm 

emyrpierce.co.uk 

Call us today for a detailed Quote; 

02920 616 002

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 

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24 

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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 Rhiwbina 

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 

26 

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 

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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 

30 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, 

and 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. 

Rhiwbina 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 

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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Save the 

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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 

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Reduce plastic 

Plastics are a wide range of 

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The UK throws away 7 million 

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For every piece of food that you 

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We can make a difference at 

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and freezing it is great way of 

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out of any leftovers to make your 

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Eat less meat 

The effects of deforestation 

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water pollution, and a myriad 

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industrial livestock production 

have contributed greatly to 

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About 40 percent of greenhouse 

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people who eat red meat are at 

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Eating less meat can help both 

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a meat-free Monday will reduce 

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These days, there are plenty 

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protein and that's in addition to 

nature's own larder. Reduced 

demand for meat will eventually 

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Replace bulbs 

Switching to energy-efficient 

lighting helps both lower your 

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dioxide emissions - and all of this 

without reducing the quality of 

light in your home. 

If you were to replace all the 

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carbon dioxide emissions by up 

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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. 

37

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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/gas mark 6. Cut the fish into 

42 

2cm 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 staying 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

Rhiwbina Living Issue 56 (Autumn 2022)

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