Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 71

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Whitchurch & 

Llandaff Living 

At the heart of the community 

Issue 71 

Your multi award-winning community magazine

Inside this issue 

Anyone for 

boules? 

Residents come 

together to 

create their 

own sports 

ground 

Welcome / Croeso 

Gabalva Lodge 

Nigel Lewis 

retells the curious 

tale of Gabalva 

Lodge - and the 

drunken man who 

got into a pickle 

History 

The epic story of 

Brian Rowlands, 

who in 1952, 

travelled across 

the US with no 

money and no 

plan 

Poetry 

Seasonal poems 

that capture the 

time of year - 

from local poets 

and writers 

a: 3 Y Groes, Rhiwbina, 

Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6DX 

t: 07772 081775 

w: www.livingmags.co.uk 

e: editor@livingmags.co.uk 

Distribution: Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is 

distributed to retail outlets and public places 

across Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff North 

four times a year. 

2 

Spring deadline: 

22nd February 2025 

Published early March 2025 

Book adverts online at 

www.livingmags.co.uk/advertising-2025 

While every effort has been made to 

ensure the accuracy of the contents, 

the publisher cannot accept any 

responsibility for errors or omissions, 

or for any matter in any way arising 

from the publication of this material. 

Every effort has been made to 

contact any copyright holders. 

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an 

independent, apolitical publication. 

No part of this publication may be 

reproduced without the express 

written permission of the publishers. 

Welcome to your latest issue of 

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living. 

What a year it's been. While our 

villages hunker down for another 

long winter, we've got just the 

thing to keep you company. So 

pop the kettle on, settle down, 

and indulge yourself for a few 

moments of calm. 

As ever, we've looked to bring 

you the best stories from the 

area for you to enjoy. Perhaps 

the most striking feature in this 

issue is the epic trans-American 

adventure of Brian Rowlands. 

His story was so captivating that 

we had to double up our usual 

allocation to four pages, in order 

to do his story justice. 

Another great community story 

is that of Harlequins Pétanque 

Club in Whitchurch, who were 

faced with a large problem 

when they set up their club 

in 2023. Enter left a band of 

determined players who dug, 

shifted, and laid down a new 

piste themselves. 

Winter wouldn't be winter 

without a panto and we heard 

from two of the stars of this 

year's New Theatre Cardiff 

production, Cinderella. Gethin 

Jones and Owain Wyn Evans 

are well-known names in 

the entertainment business 

and they'll be treading the 

boardwalks this December and 

January. 

Keeping warm is always on 

our minds at this time of year so 

we've picked out some winter 

warmers to keep you nice and 

toasty. 

If outdoors is still your thing, 

even in the colder months, 

we've hand-picked some of the 

best dog walks in south Wales. 

Local resident David Jones has 

also penned us a gorgeous 

pastiche about nature at this 

time of year. He's even spoiled 

us with photos of his travels 

around north Cardiff. 

Embracing nature can even 

be sought by growing your own 

fruit. If you've ever wanted to 

grow your own orchard, we've 

created a simple how-to guide 

to get you started. 

Our local poets have been 

busy putting together seasonal 

poems that capture the magic 

and serenity of winter. If you'd 

like us to publish yours, feel free 

to submit yours, either through 

our website or in the post. We 

aim to include as many as we 

can. 

Crowd favourite Nigel Lewis 

has a wonderful tale about one 

drunken man who found himself 

stuck in a chimney. There's also 

a touching short story from 

reader Lesley Abbass. 

Finally, as we publish this issue 

in the run-up to the festive 

season, there's a Christmas 

Countdown that will help you 

prepare and plan. 

We'll see you again in the 

spring! 

Danielle and Patric 

Editors 

@Whit_Llandaff 

www.facebook.com/ 

whitchurchandllandaffliving

Cardiff parks and green spaces 

could get permanent protection 

news 

Cardiff Crossrail 

project gets 

moving 

Eleven parks in Cardiff, including 

Llandaff North's Hailey Park, 

could be permanently protected 

after a public consultation found 

overwhelming public support for the 

plans put forward by Cardiff Council. 

The eight-week consultation found 

that 95% of respondents were in 

favour of plans to enter into a legal 

agreement known as a ‘deed of 

dedication' with Fields in Trust, 

an independent UK-wide charity 

dedicated to the protection of parks 

and green spaces. Ownership, 

management and maintenance of 

the sites would remain with Cardiff 

Council. 

A council spokesperson said: 

"If approved by Cabinet, entering 

into these agreements with Fields 

in Trust will more than double the 

number of Cardiff parks which are 

protected from development and 

mean that 254,000 residents - 69% 

of the population - live within a 

10-minute walk of protected green 

space." 

Cardiff’s first wellbeing village, a 27- 

acre development bringing together 

health and housing to provide new 

facilities and homes for local people, 

is on its way to the west of the city. 

The proposed development, 

that will be delivered through a 

collaboration between Cardiff 

Council and national developer 

Wates Residential as part of the 

Cardiff Living programme, and 

create around 235 homes on the 

site of the former Michaelston 

Community College in Ely, has been 

approved by Planning Committee. 

The new development seeks to 

promote independent living with a 

focus on health and wellbeing and 

to enable better delivery of services 

in the area. 

Llandaff North school drops X 

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf has 

said it is closing its account on X 

- formerly known as Twitter - over 

concerns about racism on the social 

media platform. 

The head teacher Matthew HT 

Evans said a decision was made by 

governors to 'move away from the 

platform.' He also called for other 

organisations such as the Welsh 

government and school inspectors 

Estyn to consider if they should 

remain on it. 

Go ahead given 

for city's first 

wellbeing village 

He added that since the school 

returned in September, concerns 

had been reflected in conversations 

with staff and with parents who felt 

uncomfortable. 

The school has decided that it will 

now start using the social platform 

Instagram instead, although that will 

remain under scrutiny. 

X was bought for $44bn (£38.1bn) in 

2022 by the billionaire Elon Musk. 

Following a tender process, 

Graham Group has been 

awarded the contract for the 

Detail Design and Build for the 

first phase of the Cardiff Crossrail. 

This follows the news that both 

Welsh Government and the UK 

Government have confirmed 

their financial contributions for 

the project - £50m from the 

UK Government, with Welsh 

Government match funding a 

further £50m for the scheme. 

Graham Group has been 

appointed under an Early 

Contractor Involvement (ECI) 

Contract, which will allow the 

Council and TfW to work with 

them during the early stages 

of the contract to manage the 

cost of the design and how the 

project will be built. 

The Cardiff Crossrail is an 

ambitious plan to deliver Cardiff’s 

new tram transport system 

which will eventually run from 

the northwest of the city, all 

the way to the east of the city 

connecting with the proposed 

Parkway Station. 

Fairwater school 

project receives 

lifeline 

Cardiff Council is making £7m of 

payments to subcontractors and 

suppliers for completed work on 

the £108m Fairwater Community 

Campus job which came to a 

halt when main contractor ISG 

collapsed. 

The project is Cardiff’s largest 

education development and 

includes the construction 

of three new build schools 

for Cantonian High School, 

Riverbank School and 

Woodlands High School, all 

situated on the single site in 

Fairwater. 

3

news 

4 

Gabalfa underpass 

receives vibrant 

new look 

A collaborative project, involving 

Cardiff Council teams, schools 

and external partners, to 

create colourful new murals 

had transformed the Gabalfa 

underpass at Western Avenue 

before the walls were daubed 

with yellow paint by vandals. 

However, the community were 

quick to act and came together to 

wash off the graffiti before it had a 

chance to dry. 

The mural took weeks of work 

with various local groups and 

schools involved and gave the 

underpass a vibrant new look, 

which the local community 

were proud of. They have now 

restored the artwork in an act 

that celebrates the power of 

community engagement and a 

sense of pride in their area. 

The Unify Gabalfa Interchange 

Project involving the Cardiff 

Curriculum Team, Cardiff Youth 

Service, Cardiff Council's Housing 

caretaking team, and Unify 

Creative was funded by the 

Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF). 

Led creatively by Unify Creative, 

it brought together local schools, 

city partners, and community 

members to reimagine and 

redesign the underpass, turning it 

into a safe and vibrant space that 

fosters community pride. 

Students from local schools, 

alongside young people from 

Gabalfa Youth Club worked 

closely with Unify Creative to 

explore themes of identity and 

community, creating artwork that 

reflects their unique perspectives 

on Gabalfa and its place in their 

lives. 

Warm spaces for 

older people 

Warm Welcome spaces are back 

in Cardiff hubs and libraries again 

this year to support customers 

worried about the costs of 

heating their own homes. 

Hubs and libraries are once 

again a warm welcome to 

customers, providing a safe and 

warm environment where they 

can meet others to chat, read a 

book, access services, and find 

out about available support. 

Pugh's Garden 

Centre help 

tackle loneliness 

this winter 

Pugh’s Garden Villages have 

partnered with Age Cymru this 

year to help combat loneliness and 

social isolation for older people. 

The Radyr-based garden village 

has launched its Pugh Bear teddy 

bear and have also written an 

accompanying heart-warming 

storybook titled ‘The Bear in the 

Window’. They will be donating 

all profits from both to Age 

Cymru’s Friend in Need Telephone 

Befriending Service. 

Friend-in-Need is a telephone 

friendship service designed 

specifically by Age Cymru to 

support older people who feel 

alone, lonely and are isolated. Each 

week one of their trained volunteers 

calls an older person who is feeling 

lonely. The older person is called 

at the same time each week, and is 

engaged in conversation, providing 

company and a friendly voice. 

This service has been a lifeline for 

many local, lonely older people but 

the service currently receives no 

funding. 

To help provide friendship and 

support for lonely older people 

in our local communities this 

Christmas and raise vital funds for 

the Friend In Need Service, simply 

purchase a Pugh Bear and ‘The 

Bear in the Window’ Story Book 

from your local Pugh’s Garden 

Centre in either Radyr or Wenvoe 

OR order online via the Pugh’s 

website: www.pughsgardencentre. 

co.uk/pugh-bear-book 

Welsh medium Whitchurch primary 

school commended in Estyn report 

Estyn, the Education Inspectorate 

for Wales has released its latest 

inspection report on Ysgol 

Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, a Welshmedium 

primary school located in 

Whitchurch. 

The report highlights the pride 

that pupils, staff, and parents 

take in the school's friendly and 

inclusive atmosphere and notes the 

successful respectful and wellorganised 

learning environment 

created, where pupils' attitudes 

towards learning and their behaviour 

are exemplary. 

Key strengths include pupils' happy 

and friendly nature, their thoughtful 

interactions, and their natural use of 

the Welsh language. Pupils show a 

keen interest in their local heritage 

and take pride in the school's 

achievements, particularly in music 

competitions at both local and 

national levels. 

The report commends the school's 

creative, broad, and balanced 

curriculum, which offers stimulating 

learning experiences tailored to 

the local context and Estyn praised 

the leadership of the headteacher, 

appointed in January 2023, for 

fostering a caring and supportive 

environment that promotes a strong 

sense of teamwork. 

Headteacher Gwyndaf Jones said: 

"The ESTYN report is testament 

to the continuous commitment 

and hard work of our whole school 

community. We are extremely proud 

of our excellent pupil behaviour, 

inclusive nature, and strong Welsh 

Ethos."

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 

Interesting read 

I would like to express my thanks 

to your historical contributor, 

Nigel Lewis, who provides the 

most wonderful stories to us, 

your readers. 

I'm amazed that there are so 

many stories to come out of 

such one small geographical 

area. Nigel is a master storyteller 

and what makes it all the more 

interesting is that these stories 

took place where we live and 

work. 

Anna Daniel 

Whitchurch 

Roger, Roger 

I read with interest your interview 

with Roger Stennett in your last 

issue of Whitchurch and Llandaff 

Living. 

I met his famous father, Stan 

Stennett a few times, mostly 

while I was out shopping in 

Whitchurch. He was a wonderful, 

friendly man who always had 

time to stop and chat. 

What I wasn't aware of was 

that his two sons went on to 

achieve great things too. Since 

reading your interview, I have 

since looked up Roger online and 

discovered that he too has led an 

interesting life. I also have a book 

that was written by Stan's other 

son, Ceri. The book is a wonderful 

tribute to the men whose names 

appear on the war memorial 

outside Whitchurch Library. 

Thank you for giving us an 

insight into Roger's world. 

Daniel Merton 

Email 

Subscriptions 

I wanted to enquire whether you 

provide a subscription service for 

your magazines please? 

I live in Caerphilly and regularly 

come into Whitchurch to shop. I 

pick up your magazines where and 

when I can but it'd be so much 

easier if I had it posted out to me. 

Sophie Stevenson 

Caerphilly 

Bicycles are 

the route to a 

healthier Cardiff 

I am writing to advocate for 

the expansion of bicycle paths 

throughout Cardiff. 

As our city continues to grow and 

evolve, I feel it is essential that we 

prioritise sustainable and efficient 

modes of transportation. While the 

tram project seems to be offering 

some benefits to our environment, 

it shies away from the fact that as 

individuals, we can collectively 

make a difference - if only we were 

given the means to do so. 

Expanding our bicycle 

infrastructure presents a 

compelling opportunity to 

enhance not only the economic 

vitality of Cardiff but also the 

health and well-being of our 

residents. 

The economic benefits of 

investing in cycling infrastructure 

are significant. Research indicates 

that for every £1 spent on cycling 

facilities, there is an estimated 

return of approximately £5.50 in 

benefits. This includes reduced 

healthcare costs associated with 

active transportation, decreased 

traffic congestion, and increased 

local business patronage from 

cyclists. Currently, Cardiff has 

made promising strides with 37 

miles of traffic-free cycle routes 

and 3 miles of physically protected 

cycle tracks. However, only 13% of 

households are within 125 meters 

of these routes, highlighting a 

Editor's response: Hi Sophie. We'll 

be looking into a subscription 

service in 2025. We understand 

that most people like to have the 

physical copies of the magazines in 

their hands. 

We do currently provide the 

latest news and features through 

our website and on our digital 

newsletter, which you can sign up to 

at www.livingmags.co.uk. 

critical gap in accessibility. 

The community impact of 

expanding bicycle paths also 

cannot be overstated. I propose 

the development of two primary 

route corridors—one running 

north-south and another 

east-west—to facilitate better 

connectivity across the city. 

These routes should feature 

continuous pathways that link 

key destinations, with segregated 

cycle tracks that have a minimum 

width of three meters to ensure 

safety. Additionally, prioritising 

crossing treatments for cyclists 

would further enhance safety and 

encourage more people to choose 

cycling as their preferred mode of 

transport. 

Other European cities have 

embraced this strategy so 

effectively. 

Luke Bentley 


5

You shall go to the ball! 

Take your seat and get ready to laugh, boo, and sing. 

Cinderalla comes to New Theatre Cardiff this winter 

Gethin Jones is pulling on his 

fancy boots. 

"Ooh la la!" he shouts "My 

boots are really high! They're over 

the knee - just like Puss in Boots." 

Owan Wyn Evans is watching on. 

"Nice! I've never seen you in a 

knee-high boot before," he replies. 

"Just you wait, my friend!" smiles 

Gethin. "Just you wait!" 

It's a quick tea break for Gethin 

Jones and Owain Wyn Evans, two 

well-known faces who will be 

bringing happiness and laughter to 

thousands this winter. 

Both are starring in this year's 

production of Cinderella at New 

Theatre, joining crowd favourites 

Mike Doyle and Stephanie Webber. 

As excited as they are, it's the first 

time that the pair have performed 

panto together. 

"Geth, what is your advice as a 

seasoned panto performer?" asks 

6 

Owain. 

Ever the professional, Gethin is 

quick to reassure his colleague. 

"I've got extensive panto 

experience," says Gethin. "Erm. 

Actually, I've done one. And that 

was 15 years ago! Take my advice 

though when I say you can't be 

too over the top with panto. You're 

going to be fine." 

Gethin is no stranger to the bright 

lights of showbusiness. From Blue 

Peter to This Morning, the former 

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf pupil 

has worked on some of the UK's 

most popular flagship TV shows. 

Even so, this is the first time in a 

long time that he'll be performing 

panto. Packed with all of the 

traditional pantomime ingredients 

New Theatre Cardiff audiences 

expect, Cinderella features laughout-loud 

comedy, stunning scenery, 

beautiful costumes, and plenty of 

boos and hisses. 

"We're very lucky to have a great 

cast," says Gethin. "I'll be playing 

Prince Charming, Owain is Dandini, 

much-loved Cardiff regular Mike 

Doyle plays the Baroness, and 

we've got returning favourites 

Denquar Chupak as Cinderella and 

Stephanie Webber as the Fairy 

Godmother." 

For Gethin, the real magic of panto 

is the laughter. 

"It's all about the dynamics of the 

cast. It's about the fun that we all 

have onstage that spreads out to 

the audience." 

"I love panto humour," adds Owain. 

"There's plenty of slapstick humour 

and double entendres." 

Gethin turns to Owain: 

"And then I've got to set you up 

to be funny! Do you want to hear 

my favourite Dandini and Prince 

Charming joke? And I really hope it's

in this year." 

"Oh yes we do!" 

"Ok. Cinderella runs up the stairs, 

she's lost her slipper. I pick it up and 

say 'A Shoe!' and you say....'bless you 

sir!'" 

"Haha! Right, we've got that one! If 

it's not happening, we have to put it 

in! It writes itself!" laughs Owain. 

"I know it's coming, but it's still 

funny!" 

Owain himself is an established 

broadcaster. He hosts BBC Radio 2's 

early breakfast show and previously 

presented weather bulletins across 

the UK. He is also an accomplished 

drummer, a talent borne from his 

childhood anxieties. 

"I suffered a lot with social 

anxiety when I was growing up 

and drumming provided me with 

both physical protection and was 

something to deflect the bullying 

that came my way." 

Owain began his broadcasting 

career at the age of 18 when 

he became the presenter of a 

Welsh language children's news 

programme. He then worked as 

a reporter, presenter, and video 

journalist for BBC Wales and in 

2012, began presenting the weather 

on BBC Wales Today. He went on to 

deliver the weather across other UK 

regions. 

In 2020, he made his debut as 

a reporter for The One Show. But 

It's kind of weird 

seeing our 

faces on 

posters 

and knowing 

that we're 

performing in 

that theatre 

it's now back in Wales that he'll be 

spending the winter. 

"It's so amazing to be doing a 

panto at New Theatre. This is my 

first panto and for me, panto is the 

pure joy of theatre. We had the 

usual school pantos when I was a 

kid in west Wales so whenever I 

think of the 'big' pantos, it'd always 

be Cardiff." 

Gethin is quick to agree: 

"Yeah, it's a landmark. When I was 

growing up in Cardiff, you'd say 

to your mates, let's meet by New 

Theatre and head over to wherever 

we were going. It's kind of weird 

now seeing our faces on posters 

and knowing we're performing 

at that theatre. I've seen loads of 

interview 

shows there and what's special, 

and what everyone tells me about 

this place is although it's big, 

when you're up on stage, it's really 

intimate. It's so special." 

Gethin and Owain will be joined by 

crowd favourite Mike Doyle, who 

has been in show business for 47 

years. 

"Mike's great," says Gethin. 

"He's performed for 33 years in 

pantomime so we're in good hands. 

We've also got the wonderful 

Denquar Chupak returning to 

New Theatre as well as the everpopular 

Stephanie Webber, who 

has appeared on television and in 

numerous stage productions on 

land and sea across the globe." 

"Have you seen your outfit?" asks 

Gethin. 

"Oh, I've seen it!" replies Owain. 

"I've got a tunic, and I've got tights! 

Who knew I’d grow so fond of a pair 

of crushed velvet tights, dahlings?" 

Join Cinders this Winter as she goes 

from rags to riches, outwits her very 

wicked sisters and meets her Prince 

Charming. Cinderella is playing 

at New Theatre Cardiff from 7th 

December 2024 - 5th January 2025 

The principal cast of this year's production of Cinderella 

7

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2 

Welcome to the second Acorn/Sacyr UK new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) project news update. Every 

quarter we will tell you about project progress, what is going on within the community around the build, as 

well as initiatives that are taking place around the community connected with the project. 

Culture 

Acorn, the consortium behind the 

new Velindre Cancer Centre, has 

formed a Community Benefits 

Governance Board that will lead 

discussions and make decisions 

on the wide-ranging community 

benefits associated with the new 

Velindre Cancer Centre project. 

The Board will meet on a quarterly 

basis and will consider everything 

from small grant applications to 

community volunteering schemes. 

As part of the new Velindre Cancer 

Centre build, Acorn, the consortium 

that has financially backed the 

project, is required to fulfil a certain 

number of Community Benefit 

Initiatives to benefit the local area, 

including 100 volunteering days 

from project staff by the end of the 

build in 2027. 

A collaborative workshop was 

held in August to generate and 

shape the community initiatives that 

will come out of the new Velindre 

Cancer Centre (nVCC) development. 

Nearly 50 stakeholders, people 

either involved in the build from 

the Acorn Consortium, Sacyr UK, 

a partner from an organisation 

connected with the new facility, or 

local community leaders, gathered 

at Cardiff and Vale College to come 

up with a strategy on how the 

cancer centre could benefit the 

local community. 

Ideas included potential initiatives 

such as a Velindre Walking Trail 

to connect local charities and 

voluntary organisations in joint 

community engagement, to a 

Community Enterprise Hub, which 

would create a co-operative to look 

at local procurement opportunities 

for local businesses. 

This is a sponsored feature 

Nature 

Sacyr UK partnered with the Cardiff 

Rugby Community Foundation on 

its free Fit, Fed and Fun Camps to 

allow children to attend a summer 

camp at Coryton Primary School to 

become more active and healthier 

over the summer. 

The aim of the initiative was to 

support young children, many of 

whom come from deprived areas 

of the city, to stay fit, eat a healthier 

diet, and have a fun day out. 

Children who attended the camps 

also enjoyed a free, well-balanced, 

and nutritious breakfast and lunch 

throughout the six-week break, 

helping to alleviate financial stress 

on families during the summer 

holidays. 

Anna Davies, Sacyr UK’s 

Community Benefits Coordinator 

at the new Velindre Cancer Centre 

site, said of the initiative: 

“It was a pleasure to spend a few 

hours coaching alongside the team 

and seeing the children enjoying an 

outstanding sport in a fully inclusive 

environment followed by a tasty 

meal.” 

The Fit, Fed and Fun Camps 

are run in association with the 

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and 

are delivered by the Community 

Foundations of Wales’ four 

professional regional rugby clubs. 

Nadine Griffiths of Cardiff Rugby 

Community Foundation said of the 

initiative: 

“Many of these children are having 

free school meals and so it’s great 

to make sure they are getting that 

meal, and this is one day in the 

six-week holiday period that we are 

able to get them out and give them 

some fun.” 

Members of the new Velindre 

Cancer Centre project team, 

along with members of its supply 

chain, also visited Whitchurch 

High School to take part in its ‘Dirt 

is good’ event on 11th July. The 

event was organised as part of the 

project’s partnership with Cardiff 

Commitment. 

Year 6 pupils from Whitchurch 

High School’s cluster primary 

schools attended as part of their 

transition to high school and took 

part in an activity called the Dirt 

is Good - which enables young 

people to take action on the 

environmental and social causes 

they care about. Pupils worked in 

groups to plan, develop, and deliver 

a Dirt is Good Project supported by 

new Velindre Cancer Centre team 

members. 

Future 

The past few months have been 

a busy time for the project, in that 

time Acorn, the consortium behind 

the new Velindre Cancer Centre, 

has: 

• Delivered team building and 

science, technology, engineering, 

and mathematics (STEM) 

workshops to 240 pupils at Risca 

Comprehensive Schools. 

• Put around 60 local people 

through a Carbon Literacy 

programme. 

• Partnered with Living Magazines 

and Front Door Communications to 

provide communications support 

throughout the three years of the 

project. 

• Held another Meet the Buyer 

event to engage with local 

contractors to demonstrate the 

opportunities available for them 

on the new Velindre Cancer Centre 

project site. 

Resident drop-ins take place every 

last Wednesday of the month for 

the duration of the construction 

programme. For more information 

about the project, visit the website 

at: newvelindre.info

nature notes: 

Winter 

The world is hushed. Our once vibrant environment lies still and 

dormant. David Jones walks us through nature in winter 

10 

Great Spotted 

Woodpeckers are often 

seen looking for grubs 

in tree trunks 

With the glories of autumn 

having faded, warm reds 

and browns are now 

replaced by cooler colours as the 

landscape becomes tinged with 

silvery blues and greys. 

Chill breezes strip the last leaves 

from boughs of trees whilst the 

black silhouettes of rooks, which 

delight in the high winter winds, 

perform sombre aerial acrobatics. 

‘Parliaments’ of the raucous black 

bird continue to congregate in their 

treetop sites and before the year is 

out, will start to restore nests in time 

for spring. 

Crisp winter mornings are more 

often than not illuminated by a 

reluctant pale sun over dew or 

sometimes frost-carpeted fields 

and hedges. Yet all is not of neutral 

tones, for in sheltered hedge banks 

the solitary, candy-striped blooms 

of Herb Robert defy the inclemency 

of winter and give a brief 

recollection of the past summer 

abundance. 

Here and there too, scentless 

mayweed displays its daisy-like 

flowers despite the chill weather. 

And a splash of colour too can 

be found in the woodlands and 

grasslands where springing up 

amidst the decaying leaf litter until 

the hard winter frosts hit, fungi 

proliferate and leafy ferns and 

velvety cushions of mosses provide 

a welcome splash of green in a 

generally barren landscape. 

Skeletal Oak, Poplar, and Apple 

etched against the bleak winter 

horizon, occasionally play host to 

the leathery, pale-green foliage 

and white berries of the parasitic 

Mistletoe. The mystical plant, 

sometimes used as a Christmas 

decoration, does not grow out of 

the ground but magically appears 

on host trees and remains green 

throughout the winter. 

A familiar sight in winter is the 

brown, skeletal form of the Teasel, 

complete with seed heads which 

are valuable food sources for flocks 

of finches and other birds. During 

the summer, the plant is a bright 

green with flower heads like green 

pincushions that can grow up to 

two metres high. It can be quite a 

striking plant with its tall upright 

ridged stems and long, toothed 

rigid spear-like leaves and pinkish

flowers. However, the Teasel is 

one of the few wild plants that are 

actually more familiar in their winter 

state. 

The shorter daylight hours and 

long cold nights of mid-winter 

make for difficult times for birds and 

mammals alike to eke out a living 

and human help via bird tables 

can mean the difference between 

life and death. Resident birds in 

particular, have to tough it out in 

a relentless search for food with 

many helped through the bitterly 

cold season by garden feeder 

offerings. 

skeletal 

oak, poplar, 

and apple 

etched against 

the bleak 

winter horizon 

Redwings and Fieldfares continue 

to arrive from Northern Europe and 

alongside resident blackbirds and 

Mistle and Song Thrushes, strip 

hawthorn and rowan bushes of their 

scarlet berries and roam Cardiff 

gardens and orchards in search of 

windfall apples. 

Small flocks of blue tits, whose 

luminous cobalt-blue and 

primrose-yellow plumage flit from 

treetop to treetop and provide a 

fleeting colourful shadow to lighten 

the winter gloom. 

With the trees stripped bare, 

normally seldom-seen birds such 

as the Tree Creeper, Nuthatch, 

and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 

become more visible as they 

scamper about the trunks and 

branches searching for grubs. In 

the cold winter evening air, flocks 

of starlings continue to provide a 

swirling aerial acrobatic show and 

owls are seen more often because 

they are forced to spend more 

time hunting the ever-decreasing 

seasonal fall in numbers of mice 

and voles. Even during the coldest 

of winter months, robins continue 

to sing and early into the New Year, 

they start their search for a mate. 

Mid-winter sees foxes become 

very vocal. During their mating 

season, vixens wail and scream, 

nature 

Windfall apples provide sustenance 

for many birds during winter 

and dog foxes bark in an attempt 

to track down a suitable mate. Fox 

cubs will be born in late January or 

early February. 

Of resident mammals, only 

dormice, bats, and hedgehogs 

hibernate but increasingly with 

our warming winters, the latter in 

particular are seen out and about 

and are helped through the winter 

by kind humans who put out cat 

food for them. 

In sheds and outhouses, Red 

Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, and 

Brimstone butterflies too are in 

hibernation, the latter, thought to 

be the original ‘butterfly’ because of 

its yellow colour, will usually be the 

first to emerge to show that winter 

is on the way out and the infant 

spring is just around the corner. 

Butterflies hide away from the world 

Words and photos by David Jones 

11

NEW TO 

Open Monday - Saturday, 9am - 5:30pm and Sundays, 10:30am - 4:30pm 

Pugh's Garden Village, Tynant Road, Morganstown, Cardiff CF15 8LB 

Pugh’s Garden Village Radyr is home to a range of additional concession stores! 

Here’s what you can enjoy all in one convenient location

PEACE 

OF MIND 

WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST 

In life’s hardest moments, nothing matters more than peace of 

mind. At Coles, we provide the care and support you need. 

Rumney 

Birchgrove 

Llandaff 


Pop into your nearest funeral home, 

or scan this QR code to find our 

more or speak with our team. 

colesfuneraldirectors.co.uk

nature 

Dog walks 

around 

South Wales 

The perfect local places to blow away the 

cobwebs with your best friend 

6 1. FOUR FALLS TRAIL 

With miles of footpaths and open spaces, both 

you and your furry friend can explore uneven 

terrain, hilly sections, and slippery steps, along 

with bridges to navigate. Discovering the waterfalls 

along the way will be your reward. 

8 2. MARGAM PARK 

With over 1,000 acres to explore, Margam Park 

offers you and your pooch plenty to do and see. 

Dogs must be kept on a lead to protect the local 

wildlife but there are off-lead areas, which include 

the main lawns and areas behind the castle. 

65 3. TINTERN ABBEY 

An area of incredible beauty, the area around Tintern is 

packed full of places to discover with your furry fellow. The 

abbey is a gothic masterpiece and you can walk around 

and admire the historic ruins. The shop is also dog-friendly, 

but dogs need to be on a lead. Entry and parking are both 

payable but it's well worth it. 

6 4. GARTH MOUNTAIN 

This mountain walk, just outside Taffs Well, has 

an abundance of scenery and wildlife. If you do 

get to the top, it affords you views across the 

Bristol Channel. There is also plenty for your dog 

to investigate and even some streams for them to 

splash in too. 

Photo: Alan Hughes 

14

5 5. OGMORE BEACH 

Your dog will love the rugged terrain and the 

variety of places to explore. The beach itself is a 

mixture of sand and pebble but the grassy banks 

provide ample room to stretch your legs. There are 

also small cuttings in the estuary banks where you 

can take shelter from the winter winds and warm 

your fingers. 

8 6. WYE VALLEY 

Photo: Alan Hughes 

The Wye Valley boasts some of the most wonderful 

scenery in the UK. And when you're not exploring 

the vast views across the valleys, there are plenty 

of walking paths where you and your dog can find 

solace from the world. 

65 7. PEN-PYCH MOUNTAIN 

This circular walk takes you on an adventure that is 

steeped in history. There are two large waterfalls to 

discover, along with deep forests, Iron Age settlements 

and even a decommissioned colliery. Pen-Pych sits at the 

head of the Rhondda Fawr valley and is often referred to as 

Wales's own Table Mountain, due to its flat top. 

8 8. 1807 WALK 

If you're looking for a full day out and a bit of a challenge 

for you and your dog, the 1807 Walk in Caerphilly is 

crammed full of mountainous scenery and reminders of 

the area's historic past. Traverse bridges, steep hills, and 

rugged paths, all up to an outstanding view over Caerphilly, 

nearby woodland, and even the Bristol Channel. 

65 9. YSTRADFELTE 

A hidden gem in the Brecon Beacon's waterfall 

country, Ystradfelte Waterfalls is just over a four 

mile walk. The path leads you and your dog past a 

few smaller waterfalls before arriving at Ystradfelte 

itself. 

The trek takes you behind the waterfall, which 

makes for an exhilarating experience although 

you may get a soggy mutt for your troubles so 

remember to take a towel with you for the journey 

home. 

6 10. BROAD HAVEN 

If the sea is calling you, Broad Haven in Pembrokeshire 

offers you and your dog the perfect place to take in the sea 

air. As well as the sandy beach, there are dunes to explore 

nearby. The village is often used as a base to discover the 

local coastal paths that wrap around Pembrokeshire, giving 

you an opportunity to see some wonderful sights. 

Photo: Robin Drayton 

15

Have you been let down in your treatment? 

If you or a loved one have received substandard treatment from your GP, hospital, dentist, 

chiropractor, care home , or any other medical professional and it has happened within the 

last three years, you may be entitled to make a claim. 

By speaking to our friendly and supportive clinical negligence team, you will have the 

opportunity to discuss your individual circumstances, and we will be able to advise you on 

where you stand and what your options are. To request a call back, scan the QR code , or 

contact us via the details below. 

hello@hevans.com 

029 2267 6818 

hardingevans.com 

13 Merthyr Road 


CF14 1DA 

Your lawyers, for life.

The Whitchurch 

Clinic - maintaining 

back health in the 

community 

Why Should We Look After 

Our Spines? 

Most of us attempt to look after 

our overall health but there’s one 

part of our bodies that we often 

overlook - the spine. 

In fact, back pain is now the world’s 

leading cause of human disability, 

affecting more than half of the 

population in any given month, and 

nearly 80% of everyone at some 

point in their lives. 

Your spine is the foundation of your 

body; it supports your entire frame 

and protects your body’s nervous 

system. It serves as a scaffold, from 

which hangs your entire skeleton. A 

healthy spine therefore, is essential 

for maintaining mobility, preventing 

pain, and ensuring proper function 

of your body’s vital organs and 

systems. Given the important nature 

of our spines, they deserve to be 

looked after better. 

For many, we only pay attention 

to our bodies when we are 

experiencing pain or discomfort, 

rather than thinking about 

prevention. 

Neglecting your muscles and 

joints can lead to various problems, 

including chronic pain, reduced 

mobility, and decreased quality 

The Whitchurch Clinic can provide you with 

the hands-on expertise and experience to 

take care of your spinal health 

of life as you age. By 

adopting a proactive 

approach to your physical 

health, you can reduce 

the risk of injury, maintain 

flexibility, and support 

your body’s overall 

function. 

How To Care For Your 

Spine 

Key aspects of maintaining 

a healthy back include 

regular exercise, 

particularly core- strengthening 

activities, maintaining good posture, 

and ensuring proper ergonomics in 

your daily activities. 

Additionally, getting adequate rest, 

managing stress, and maintaining a 

healthy weight all contribute to the 

well-being of your spine. 

By prioritising the health of your 

Musculoskeletal system, you’re 

investing in your long-term wellbeing 

and ability to enjoy an active, 

pain-free lifestyle. Remember, 

small, consistent efforts in caring 

for your body can lead to significant 

benefits in the future. 

The Whitchurch Clinic, located 

in the heart of Whitchurch village, 

has dedicated more than ten years 

to caring for the spines of the 

community. The award-winning 

clinic first opened its doors in 2013 

and has gone on to become a firm 

favourite in Cardiff. 

Clinic Director Andrea Howell told 

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living: 

“October was a busy month for us 

because there were several events 

designed to raise awareness of 

spinal health. 

“World Spine Day took place on 

October 16th, an annual event 

recognised as the largest public 

health initiative dedicated to raising 

awareness about the global burden 

of spinal pain and disability. 

The clinic’s mission is to help 

patients get well, regain their 

strength and mobility, and stay 

well through a combination of 

chiropractic treatment, sports 

massage, bespoke rehabilitation 

exercise programmes, and Clinical 

Pilates. 

“As well as being able to help with 

your recovery, we can provide you 

with ongoing support and guidance 

when it comes to managing your 

external factors - anything from 

lifestyle choices to ergonomics. We 

are here to help protect your back 

health to help you live the life you 

want,” adds Andrea. 

“We’re still offering free 

consultations and reassessments 

so if you’ve got a problem that you’d 

like us to take a look at, please get 

in touch and we’ll get you on the 

road to recovery.” 

A: First Floor, 57 Merthyr Road, 

Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1DD 

T: 02920 617700 

W: www.thewhitchurchclinic.co.uk 

Sponsored feature

Road Trip 

In 1952, Brian Rowlands and a friend spent two weeks travelling 

across the USA. They had no transport, no funds, and no plan 

Brian Rowlands sits at his 

kitchen table and dusts down 

an old photo album. 

"This is the one," he says, smiling. 

He opens the hardback cover and 

a smile slowly spreads across his 

face. 

"Ah, yes," he grins. "It's all coming 

back now." 

Back in the early 1950s, Brian set 

out for a few years at college. What 

he wasn't expecting was to find 

himself on an epic trans-American 

journey that could potentially cost 

him his life. 

"When I was at college, Australia 

and New Zealand were regularly 

tempting students to emigrate 

from the UK," says Brian. "Exservicemen 

were relating stories of 

their experiences abroad and this 

encouraged me to apply to both 

embassies for application forms. I 

duly completed them but never had 

the courage to submit them." 

At this time, Brian became aware 

of Student Exchange schemes, for 

which he also applied. And he was 

accepted for a trip to America and 

Purdoe University. 

"With five or six weeks to plan the 

trip, travel arrangements became 

The SS Maasdam 

a matter of urgency so I quickly 

arranged a passage on the Holland 

America Line SS Maasdam, from 

Southampton to New York. It 

included a short stopover at Halifax, 

Nova Scotia, as my uncle was 

stationed there during the war." 

Good fortune was on Brian's side 

as when two of his neighbours 

learnt of his proposed trip, he 

received two invites - first, a twonight 

stay in New York and second, 

a two-night stay in Buffalo near 

Niagara Falls. 

"I also received an invitation from 

an uncle of a close friend who 

was the manager of the Bank Of 

Montreal to stay for 12 days in 

Canada. Consequently, I arranged 

my trip home from Montreal to 

Southampton via the St Lawrence 

River. How lucky you can get!" 

The SS Maasdam set sail. 

Destination: the United States 

of America. While Brian looked 

forward to spending time at Purdoe 

University in Indiana, he wasn't quite 

prepared for the trip that lay ahead. 

"My journey to New York on the SS 

Maasdam, after initial queasiness, 

was most enjoyable and I made 

many friends. In the two days that I 

was in New York, I was made most 

18

Norton and Brian alongside the Packard 

welcome, visiting the Empire State 

Building, Central Park, the United 

Nations Building, plus various 

museums and the Cathedral - all so 

memorable." 

From there, Brian's trip continued 

with a 21-hour, 700 mile Greyhound 

Bus journey to West Lafayette, 

Indiana, which involved crossing the 

Appalachian Mountain Range. 

"I was duly warmly received by 

staff at Purdoe University and was 

installed in a small flat that I could 

just about afford. It did, however, 

have air conditioning - absolutely 

essential! My exchange at the 

University involved various projects, 

in particular, projects in the soil 

mechanics laboratories." 

Brian soon met up with David, a 

Cambridge University student, and 

they teamed up on many visits, 

mainly with the Baptist Foundation. 

They worked in local stores, earning 

those all-important dollars. 

"We visited the Indiana State Fair 

in Indianapolis together and took a 

free flight over West Lafayette and 

the university complex. 

"It was soon after our flight that 

David and I hatched a plan to take a 

trip west - a trip that would push us 

to the limit!" 

Together, Brian and David went to 

the Union Building to investigate 

any opportunities to travel. Fortune 

was shining on the pair that day - 

there was a notice from a student 

called Norton who was seeking a 

co-driver on his trip home to Seattle 

in his 1949 Packard. 

"Within hours, we had made 

contact and were signed up to 

a trip to Seattle and a three-day 

stay," smiles Brian. "The main 

problem of the trip was no pay, 

but the 14-day limit imposed on 

us by the University was more 

than reasonable. Fortunately, I had 

passed my driving test earlier that 

year and was days away from my 

22nd birthday. 

"Neither of us had any fears - 

difficult to believe. Norton was 

familiar with the route to Seattle 

and we soon became used to 

driving on American roads." 

Beyond the Mississippi Basin, the 

trio crossed the Great Plains and 

Badlands of Nebraska and on to the 

Rocky Mountains. 

"In Wyoming, we visited 'Hell's 

Half Acre', thought to be the result 

of a meteor strike. We were also 

amazed by the Crowheart Butte. We 

followed the Wind River and passed 

the three snow-covered peaks of 

the Grand Tetons Mountain Range." 

Brian and David were racking up 

the miles but things were already 

beginning to take their toll. 

"Before long, we were in need of 

a break so I left the comfort of the 

car's bench seats while I took to a 

sleeping bag next to the car. I slept 

well but the next morning, there 

was a clear smell of skunks. 

"We set off at sunrise and within 

a few miles, encountered signs 

advising motorists not to befriend 

the bears. There was no more 

bravery (or was it just foolishness?) 

after that and we did encounter 

several bears too." 

Yellowstone National Park, some 

1,500 miles from Purdue, was their 

next target. 

"It was quite spectacular and 

we were mesmerised by the Hot 

Springs and geysers. Seattle was 

still more than 500 miles away and 

we still had the Columbia Plateau 

and the Billow Foot Range of the 

Rockies to navigate. We kidded 

ourselves that it was now downhill, 

all the way to Seattle; Norton 

assured us that we had a welcome 

in store when we got there. He was 

good company and a good host, 

and was clearly excited to be going 

home." 

people 

Brian and David received the 

welcome that Norton had promised 

them. 

"We spent a few days sightseeing 

and sailing on the lakes. We were 

sad to leave but at the same time, 

we were excited to see what our asyet 

unplanned journey home would 

have in store for us. We knew we 

would miss Norton, who had been 

our leader for our 2,350-mile and 

three and half day journey." 

But now they were on their own. 

"Our long journey back began with 

a lift to Tacoma, famous for the 

suspension bridge that collapsed in 

a great storm. Before long, a black 

American pulled up in his car and 

on learning that we were headed 

to San Francisco, welcomed us and 

told us to get into his car. 

"After a few hours, our new driver 

had downed a few cans of beer. 

We eventually pulled into a service 

station. David and I looked at our 

driver, then at each other and got 

out of the car. 

Cont... 

Taking samples from the US highway in Indianapolis 

19

The pair explained to their drunken 

driver that they were concerned 

about his ability to drive safely. 

“'You can’t leave me, boys!' he 

cried. He seemed pretty desperate 

and didn’t want to be abandoned 

but had clearly drunk too much 

beer. We eventually came to a 

compromise. I told him to go to 

sleep on the back seat of the car 

and told him that we’d drive him to 

San Francisco. He didn’t really have 

much choice and soon, we were 

heading south with a passenger of 

our own on the rear seat." 

The route took them through 

Oregon, some 600 or 700 miles. 

"And when the Golden Gate 

Suspension Bridge ultimately came 

20 

Brian at the Wyoming border 

into sight, our driver took over at the 

wheel, allowing us to take it all in as 

we crossed it, including Alcatraz. 

"Our driver was so grateful – we 

learned that his son and his cousin 

had been involved in a crash and he 

was going to visit them in hospital. 

We spent two nights at a YMCA 

and celebrated our crossing of the 

states with a quick dip in the mighty 

cold Pacific Ocean." 

Brian and David limited their time 

there to squeeze Los Angeles in, 

hitching a lift with two American 

football players. 

"This was the first time we’d 

experienced heavy traffic, which 

the boys ignored, driving on the 

hard shoulder and later swapping 

the role of driver at 60 mph. With 

time running short, we switched 

our destination to Las Vegas. After 

a short stop at a gas station, we 

were soon picked up by a couple 

who were heading our way, some 

300 miles away. The wife went to 

sleep on the back seat and I settled 

myself next to the driver. 

"We had been going for quite a 

while when I sensed his driving had 

become erratic and the next thing 

I knew, we had left the road and 

were on the desert. I assure you that 

my reaction was like lightning and 

we were soon back on the highway. 

The driver, more than a little shaken, 

insisted I complete the drive to Las 

Vegas." 

Money was becoming a problem 

and their first night in Las Vegas was 

spent on a bench in the bus station. 

"I spent my 22nd birthday with no 

money and as such, avoided the 

casinos. The next day, we were keen 

to visit Boulder (Hoover) Dam and 

managed to persuade two ladies 

to drive us there. It was when we 

arrived that we found out that hitchhiking 

was forbidden in that state. 

Our best bet to get home was to 

head north to Salt Lake City, some 

500 miles away." 

Ahead of them lay mountains, 

deserts, and a few cactus trees. 

"After the lift from the girls, we 

waited for what seemed ages 

before a lady in a battered old Buick 

came our way and offered us a lift – 

it was so welcomed! 

"We chuntered along in 

temperatures of over 40 degrees 

and eventually pulled up at an old 

wooden shack of a gas station. 

An old man filled up the tank but 

before we could leave, the lady 

indicated that she had no money 

and suggested that we pay for the 

gas. We had no choice. We had to 

pay and off we went. 

"After an hour, steam started to 

escape from the bonnet and we 

came to a halt in the heart of the 

desert. There was no sign of life 

and temperatures were in the 40s. 

We were facing a life-threatening 

situation." 

Things had become deadly 

serious in a short space of time. 

They had no supplies and no way of 

contacting anyone for help. 

"Existence could not have been 

more life-threatening. We were 

very fortunate though. After half 

an hour, we saw a Highway Patrol 

vehicle in the distance – the only 

other vehicle we had seen. Had 

they been warned by the old man 

that the woman’s battered old car 

was on its last legs? The officers 

quickly assessed our plight, hitched 

us up to their patrol car, and towed 

us some 60 miles to the next 

junction, which was on an east-west 

interstate highway. At this point, 

we exchanged good wishes as she 

was headed off northwards over the 

Great Salt Lake." 

Much relieved, the pair sought 

THEre was no 

sign of life 

and temperatures 

were in the 40s 

We were facing a 

life-threatening 

situation

some refreshments and were once 

again in luck. 

"A Mormon minister approached 

us and, learning of our plight, was 

pleased to enrol us as co-drivers for 

his trip over the Rocky Mountains 

to Denver, and then onto Kansas 

City, a journey of around 700-800 

miles. The minister thanked us for 

sharing the driving and invited us 

to contribute towards copies of 

a Mormon booklet, which I recall 

supporting for many years." 

Mile by gruelling mile, the two 

young men were closing in on their 

destination. 

"By this time, David and I had one 

thought on our minds – Purdue 

University. However, we had two big 

challenges ahead of us: the biggest 

and longest rivers in the world – the 

Missouri and the Mississippi, which 

merge at St Louis. 

"We had seen paddle steamers on 

both rivers but a short trip on one 

on the Missouri was all we could 

afford. It was still quite exciting. We 

scrambled our way home across 

the state of Illinois via a series of 

research projects in the following 

six weeks, before they had to say 

their goodbyes. 

"After finishing at Purdue 

University, I made my way to 

Canada, travelling by coach from 

Toronto to Montreal. I made my final 

homeward journey from Montreal 

to Southampton aboard the Cunard 

liner, RMS Ascania. 

"I will forever be grateful to David, 

after our chance meeting, for 

making our trip such a pleasure, 

and for giving me so many vivid and 

happy memories of that time." 

Brian closes his photo album, the 

smile still lingering on his face. 

"I kept only minimal contact with 

David but quite by chance, when 

I was doing National Service, I 

met David briefly at Winchester 

where he was in the Highways 

people 

Boulder Dam, later renamed Hoover Dam 

Department, a career that I too 

pursued. I also met him some 20 

years later at a transport conference 

in Oxford. 

"At the age of 90, it has been 

quite a challenge and a pleasure 

recalling the memories of nearly 

70 years ago. One memory that 

does remain with me is how kind 

and friendly strangers can be. It 

was their welcoming nature that 

overwhelmed David and me. It's 

what made the trip so outstanding. 

Looking back, I wonder how 

important it was to the success of 

our hitch-hiking trip to have a Union 

Jack on the back of my rucksack. It 

must have been an unusual sight in 

those days. 

"My journey is indicative of what is 

possible if you are prepared to seek 

adventure." 

short lifts to Indianapolis and finally 

arrived back at Purdue University." 

After their 5.5k mile trek, the two 

young men were finally back on 

familiar ground, all within 15 days. 

"We were overwhelmed by the 

hero’s welcome we were given. 

Nobody could quite believe what 

we had achieved and thinking back, 

neither can I. 

"It is difficult to believe but at no 

point, to my recollection, were 

David and I at odds with one 

another. In total, we had hitch-hiked 

3,000 miles back to West Lafayette 

after leaving Norton in Seattle. Our 

two-week round trip was a total of 

5,500 miles." 

Brian and David completed their 

Heading home - 

complete with beard 

21

Seasonal 

Poems 

WINTER'S HUSH 

THERE LAYS 

In winter's hush, where whispers play, 

We wander through the frosted grey, 

Your laughter dances on the breeze, 

As snowflakes twirl from trembling trees. 

The world adorned in crystal white, 

Each step we take, a pure delight, 

Together we walk, our path in sight, 

With every glance, we spark the light. 

The chilly air, a tender kiss, 

In every breath, a moment's bliss, 

We share our dreams beneath the sky, 

While winter stars begin to sigh. 

Your eyes, two lanterns in the night, 

Guide me through this soft twilight, 

With every heartbeat, love ignites, 

In winter's glow, our spirits rise. 

So let the cold winds howl and moan, 

For in this world, we’re not alone; 

Together wrapped in love's embrace, 

We find our home in winter’s grace. 

And when our lips touch, the world fades away, 

In that sweet moment, forever we stay. 

Alec Harvey 

Rhiwbina 

22 

There lays the last leaf of autumn 

Curled and brown upon dark the earth 

Where in its last will of change to point 

The coming chill of the greying air 

As does the day to grow less long. 

So to will the earth its way to change 

From bed of warming soil of life to bring 

Of shoot and bud both in haste to rise 

And take of the finer air, of sun to see, 

To share and of its beauty then to show. 

But now the buds and shoots have gone 

The warming soil is cold and still 

Its life becomes that of one so white 

To widely bring upon its season's end, 

Of winter to enter and of a new year to begin. 

David Morris 

Llandaff North 

WINTER REFUGE 

Wrapped in blankets, snug and warm, 

We huddle close against the storm. 

While snowflakes dance on winter's breath, 

In this sweet refuge, we find our rest. 

Lisa Stoddart 

Whitchurch

poetry 

Poems penned by the local community 

UNDER THE WINTER SNOW 

In burrows deep and nests so snug, 

The creatures curl, a winter hug. 

Beneath the snow, the hedgehogs sleep, 

While rabbits dream in warmth so deep. 

CHRISTMAS AT THE JONESES 

Aunt Mildred’s sweater flashes bright, 

With reindeer prancing, a comical sight. 

Uncle Joe snores through the silent night, 

While Grandma’s cookies vanish in delight. 

Mice in holes, with breaths so slow, 

Wrapped in dreams where soft winds blow. 

Squirrels tucked in leafy beds, 

Rest their weary, little heads. 

Foxes curl in dens of moss, 

While owls watch over with quiet gloss. 

Nature whispers, soft and low, 

As winter blankets all below. 

In cosy nooks, the wild finds peace, 

A time of rest, where worries cease. 

Tom Gallagher 

Tongwynlais 

THE WINTER GARDEN 

In winter's garden, still and bare, 

The frost-kissed petals linger there. 

Boughs draped low with glistening white, 

A quiet beauty, pure and bright. 

The evergreens stand tall and proud, 

Their emerald hues break through the shroud. 

Berries bright on branches cling, 

Whispers of warmth the cold winds bring. 

Amidst the hush, a promise waits, 

For spring's embrace to open gates. 

B Leonard 

Rhiwbina 

Grandpa’s jokes, a groan-worthy feat, 

And cousins battle for the last sweet treat. 

Mum’s burnt turkey, a yearly tradition, 

Dad’s carving skills spark a comical mission. 

Sister’s new boyfriend, awkwardly shy, 

Brother’s glued to his phone, ignoring the pie. 

The kids’ table bursts with laughter and noise, 

As we trade silly stories and play with our toys. 

Tangled lights on a lopsided tree, 

Carols sung in our own off-key spree. 

Mismatched socks and reindeer snooze, 

Each moment a memory we’ll never lose. 

Presents wrapped in yesterday’s news, 

With ribbons that tangle and bows that confuse. 

In this joyful chaos, love shines through, 

Our wonky Christmas—a family brew. 

The fireplace crackles, casting a glow, 

As we gather ‘round, faces all aglow. 

Aunt Mildred’s tales of Christmas past, 

Make us laugh until we’re breathless, aghast. 

With mugs of cocoa, marshmallows that float, 

We toast to the memories that keep us afloat. 

Outside, the snowflakes swirl and twirl, 

Inside, our hearts dance in a joyful whirl. 

Elena Henry 


23

1 

2 

3 

4 

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24

5 

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25

DIGGERS AND BOULES 

How a group of residents came 

together for the love of their sport 

When a group of north 

Cardiff boules fans 

needed somewhere to 

play, they got together 

and built their own 

playing venue 

There's a popular quote that says 

'If you can't get a job done, do it 

yourself'. 

For a group of residents in north 

Cardiff, that's exactly what they 

did when they were faced with 

the prospect of living without a 

pétanque piste. 

The Harlequins Pétanque Club 

was formed in December 2023 by a 

group of friends who shared a love 

of the well-known French game. 

Their aim was to play in a friendly 

and welcoming environment. But 

they had a problem - they had 

nowhere to play. 

Phil Freegard, Chairperson of the 

Harlequins Pétanque Club told 

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living: 

"Pétanque, or boules as it's more 

commonly known, is one of the 

fastest-growing sports in the UK. 

Members of the club all played their part in restoring the piste 

It's always been a hugely popular 

game in France but it's gaining a 

very large following here too. 

"It's a simple game that brings 

communities together and our aim 

was to introduce the sport to the 

north Cardiff area. But we were 

faced with having a club that had 

nowhere to play. 

"The pistes (as the playing surfaces 

are known) that were located at 

the Harlequins Rugby Club had 

fallen into disrepair and had lay 

dormant since COVID. They were 

in an unplayable state so before 

we could even play a ball, they 

needed to be cleared, repaired, 

and resurfaced. This would be a 

big task. With no funds to pay for 

anyone outside to do the job, we 

had to look to ourselves." 

The first season was approaching 

so the club took the bold decision 

to renovate the pistes themselves. 

"We knew it was going to be a big 

ask of our members but we also 

knew that we had no choice. If we 

wanted to play in our first season, 

we had to do the work ourselves. 

"Having such a large job ahead 

of us, we got ourselves organised. 

Our members came to us and 

offered their services and their free 

time to get the piste into shape. 

On selected days, members of 

the club would ‘don’ their work 

clothes and assemble at the piste, 

26

The project brought the community together 

bringing with them their rakes, 

spades, wheelbarrows, and other 

equipment." 

Work began on 12th December 

2023. 

"Everyone ‘mucked in’ doing what 

they could, using whatever skills 

they possessed in this common 

endeavour - digging, weeding, 

stone removal, driving a hired 

excavator, painting the wooden 

surrounds, putting down a concrete 

base and even building the Shed. 

All of this was fuelled by copious 

amounts of tea, coffee, cakes, and 

biscuits." 

Under Phil's guidance, the ground 

was prepared for the delivery of 28 

tons of gravel. This would be the 

new playing surface but the project 

was not without its challenges: 

"There were curses and moans, 

and plenty of aching muscles," says 

the club's secretary, John Tyrrell, 

"but the task was completed in a 

remarkably short period of time. 

From commencement of work, the 

initial ‘chuck in’ (the first game) took 

place within a week!" 

And the players weren't finished 

there: 

"Additional works in setting up 

the facilities to begin playing were 

also rapidly completed. A new 

club shed was built to store our 

playing equipment and provide 

refreshment facilities for players," 

says John. 

All of this hard work meant that 

members of the club were able to 

spend the summer months of 2024 

playing their beloved game. 

"The appeal of boules itself is that 

it is a very straightforward game. 

Opposing players seek to have 

as many of their own boules, as 

opposed to their opponents, closest 

to the ‘jack’ at the end of each 

play. But there is also a social and 

community element to the game. 

It's why the game is becoming so 

popular both here in north Cardiff 

and across the country." 

Since the founding of the 

Harlequins Pétanque Club, it has 

continued to make rapid progress. 

Membership to the Welsh Pétanque 

Association (WPA) was made and 

accepted at the beginning of 2024. 

This enabled those members who 

wished to develop their playing 

skills and pit themselves against 

other local pétanque clubs, the 

opportunity to do so. In the spring, 

the club entered three teams into 

the WPA National League on a 

competitive basis, playing against 

some of the best players in the 

country. 

"We have certainly put the 

Harlequins on the map with some 

fine results achieved, with some of 

our players qualifying to represent 

Wales against the Home nations," 

says John. "Of course, competitive 

play is not for everyone; many of our 

club members simply like to play 

boules with their new friends in a 

comfortable, relaxed environment. 

"During the summer of 2024, the 

club was also delighted to be 

selected to host both the WPA 

National Mixed Singles and Mixed 

Doubles Competitions; plans to 

work closely with the WPA that 

would enable the club to stage 

further competitions and establish it 

in the wider world of pétanque are 

also progressing. 

"Any club is only as strong as 

its membership," says John. "The 

Harlequins are very keen to recruit 

new players to its club. Previous 

experience of playing is not 

required; it’s a very easy game to 

pick up and the playing rules are 

relatively straightforward. Age is 

not a restriction either. We have 

players of all ages including some 

in their eighties. An additional bonus 

is that little is required in the way 

of equipment - you just need a 

set of boules. We are able to help 

newcomers with the opportunity 

to play with different sets before 

making a decision about buying. 

Compared to other sports such 

as golf and bowling, this is a very 

affordable pastime!" 

The club is still open to new 

members. 

"Come along and have a go," says 

John. "There are no obligations and 

we look forward to meeting you." 

John Tyrrell - Secretary 

harlequinspc@welshpetanque.org.uk 

Tel: 07950 020463 (Phil Freegard - 

Chair) 

Facebook - Cardiff Harlequins 

Pétanque Club - Cwins Caerdydd 

harlequinspetanque.com 

The club continues to grow in north Cardiff 

Gardening has been proven to help improve mental health 

people 

27

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the best medicine 

A Rhiwbina man is on a mission to bring happiness and laughter to 

the village. Please be upstanding for Mr Carl Morgan 

Charlie Chaplin once said that 

a day without laughter is a day 

wasted. 

That’s certainly the case for Carl 

Morgan, who for the last few years, 

has been not-so-quietly building a 

flourishing comedy movement in 

Rhiwbina. 

“I moved to Rhiwbina from 

Llanishen about six years ago, 

mainly because we thought the 

village feel here would suit our kids 

better,” says Carl, sipping on his 

coffee. The coffee foam sticks to 

his grizzly beard as he looks to the 

ceiling and recalls happy days of 

comedy in his childhood. A smile 

spreads across his face. 

“I’d sit and watch sitcoms with 

my parents as a kid. Those days 

really were the golden age of 

sitcoms – Only Fools and Horses, 

Porridge – those kind of reruns 

were on the telly all the time. But 

the 1990s were also the days when 

30 

alternative comedy came along. 

Shows like Shooting Stars and The 

Mary Whitehouse Experience were 

making waves and I was obsessed 

with the evolving styles that were 

coming out. Even 'traditional' 

comedians like Dave Allen were 

hitting the headlines. 

“Vic and Bob were always the 

talking points in school the next day. 

I used humour to get me through 

those days. As a kid growing up, 

you’d always need something in 

your toolbox to get you out of tricky 

situations, and my go-to coping 

strategy was humour. If I got picked 

on, I’d often come back with a retort 

of my own, which would often shut 

people up.” 

Carl left school, got a job, and 

settled down. But comedy was 

always on his mind. It was only a 

few years ago that Carl decided to 

do something he’d always wanted 

to have a go at. 

“I remember seeing an advert on 

Facebook that said ‘Learn to be a 

standup comic’ and without thinking 

about it too much, I applied. I had a 

response straight away and before I 

knew it, I was sitting in a lesson with 

a group of other people. 

“There was a great bunch there 

and at the end of the course, we 

had a gala performance for all of 

the cohorts to present their material 

in an incubated environment. It was 

all for Cancer Research so we felt 

that it was a safe environment to be 

let loose in. 

“A few months later, I did my first 

real gig. We all had 5-minute spots 

and I died on my backside. I didn't 

get one laugh. My throat dried up 

and I couldn’t get off the stage 

quick enough. I decided there and 

then that I was never going to do 

standup again. 

“That was until a friend of mine 

asked me if I wanted one final

people 

hurrah before I packed it all in. The 

strange thing was that I used the 

exact same material as I did for the 

disastrous gig a few months earlier 

– but it went down a storm!” 

Carl’s newfound confidence 

helped inspire him to create his own 

comedy club. 

“I decided to keep going but I 

wasn’t getting that many gigs. 

Myself and some comedy friends of 

mine were hiring out a back room 

of the Wolfscastle pub in Llanishen 

– with mixed results. Our first gig 

started with about 30 people in the 

audience and we ended up with 

about six members of my family,” 

laughs Carl. 

Despite the lack of big crowds, 

Carl used the shows to develop his 

craft. 

“I worked on my compering. I 

realised the project wasn’t going 

anywhere and then Covid came and 

finished it all off. Like everyone else, 

the pandemic hit us hard but I still 

had comedy in my heart. I thought 

I’d set up a few online gigs to keep 

people’s spirits up and they went 

down well. I called it Beefy’s after 

my dad.” 

The online shows only fuelled 

Carl’s desire to develop comedy 

more widely in the community. 

“When Covid moved on, I thought 

about reestablishing a comedy club 

but this time with tickets and more 

of a professional setup. I looked 

around South Wales to find local 

comedians and tried out some 

venues, including Llanishen Rugby 

Club and even the Deri, where we 

could seat over 100 people. As the 

crowds grew, I realised I needed 

to look further afield for talent. We 

also found the perfect spot at the 

Butchers Arms and that’s where 

we’ve been ever since." 

Beefy’s Comedy Club now run 

regular shows, which include some 

of the more well-known names on 

the comedy circuit. 

“The bigger names, who often play 

to large arenas, love the intimacy 

of our gigs. Whereas they’d usually 

not be able to see any of the crowd 

because they are so far away, at the 

Butcher’s, the front row is usually 

about a foot away. They can use it 

to test out new material a lot more 

effectively. I guess the intimate 

nature of the venue is our USP. 

“I’ve always wanted to use comedy 

to bring people and business 

to Rhiwbina. We plough all the 

proceeds from the shows into 

booking the next acts. Some are 

obviously more expensive than 

others. We have people coming 

from all over into the village to 

watch the shows – we’ve had 

people from as far afield as Devon 

and Ireland. 

“It works. It’s fun. It’s different and 

people love it." 

As for Carl, comedy is something 

that will never leave him. 

“It’s a bug you catch. Having 

an audience in your hands is 

something that makes you feel 

awesome. You’re constantly chasing 

that feeling. If I have a bad gig, the 

first thing I want to do is have a 

good gig so that I feel that I’m back 

on top. 

“All of this isn’t to prove anything 

to anyone or even to myself. I think 

the fact that I’ve created something 

special for the village is something I 

set out to do and if it makes people 

happy, so much the better. I don’t 

need to build it into a large business 

or anything like that. It’s always 

been about bringing the community 

together and to make life a little bit 

more bearable.” 

Carl hopes to keep the laughs 

coming for the foreseeable future: 

“We’ll keep on getting the big 

names and the not-so-big names 

in. Maybe one day, I’ll pass the 

operation on to my son, who seems 

to be following in my footsteps.” 

If you're out and about in Rhiwbina 

over the next few months and you 

hear laughter spilling out into the 

winter night, it's most likely that 

there's a Beefy show going on. 

"If everyone's laughing, I've done 

my job," says Carl. 

You can find Beefy's Comedy Club 

on Facebook or at Jokepit.com 

Carl brings the big names to Rhiwbina 

31

Grow your 

own orchard 

If you have the space 

and the time, planting 

an orchard can bring 

you a lifetime of 

mellow fruitfulness 

Why grow an 

orchard? 

If you've got the room to do it, 

growing your own orchard offers 

numerous benefits that extend 

beyond simply enjoying fresh 

fruit. 

It promotes sustainability by 

reducing reliance on storebought 

produce, reducing 

transportation emissions. Homegrown 

fruits are also fresher and 

more flavourful, bringing vitality 

to your home cooking. 

Tending to an orchard can 

also be a therapeutic activity; 

it encourages biodiversity, 

attracting beneficial wildlife and 

pollinators to your garden. 

As a long-term project, growing 

an orchard has an abundance of 

benefits. 

32 

Prepare a scaled 

plan 

Planning is a crucial aspect of 

creating your orchard. A solid plan 

will bring you years, if not decades 

of pleasure. 

The configuration of trees in an 

orchard is largely influenced by 

the site's unique characteristics 

and topography. When planting 

near established trees, factor in 

their potential mature size. A young 

oak may require significantly 

more space than its current size 

suggests. 

Decide what to 

grow 

It's important to choose varieties 

that are well-suited to your local 

climate and growing conditions. 

Popular orchard fruits include 

apples, pears, peaches, plums, 

cherries, and citrus. 

Careful consideration of chill 

hours, frost tolerance, and soil 

preferences will help ensure a 

bountiful and diverse orchard 

harvest.

Consider the hours of sunlight 

gardens 

Sunlight is crucial for the success of an orchard, as it directly 

influences tree growth and fruit production. Most fruit trees need 6 

to 8 hours of sunlight daily to thrive, promoting photosynthesis and 

energy production essential for healthy development. Adequate 

sunlight enhances fruit quality, size, and yield by ensuring that leaves 

can effectively capture light. Careful planning of tree placement 

to avoid shading from taller structures or trees maximises sunlight 

exposure, contributing to a productive orchard environment 

Plan water access 

Fruit trees have high water 

demands, especially during 

the hot, dry summer months 

when they are actively growing 

and producing fruit. Ensuring a 

consistent water supply is essential 

for tree health, fruit quality, and 

overall orchard productivity. 

This may involve installing an 

irrigation system, such as a drip or 

sprinkler, and securing a reliable 

water source, whether from a 

well, municipal supply, or nearby 

surface water. 

Get advice from 

experts 

Planning, planting, and maintaining 

an orchard is no easy task so 

don't be afraid to ask for help. If 

you know of anyone local who 

is familiar with the soil types, 

they may be able to provide you 

with invaluable advice or even 

equipment to help you. 

If you aren't able to find any local 

experts, you can always look online 

to contact established farmers. 

Use tech to 

manage your 

project 

Modern technology offers a 

wealth of tools to help orchardists 

efficiently manage their crops. 

Sensors can monitor soil moisture, 

nutrient levels, and environmental 

conditions, allowing growers 

to precisely time irrigation, 

fertilisation, and pest control. 

Drones equipped with highresolution 

cameras can survey 

orchards, identifying problem 

areas before they become severe. 

Of course, you may not have 

the budget or facilities for all the 

fancy tools. A simple spreadsheet 

can help you keep track of most 

aspects of your orchard and if 

that's even too much, there's still a 

pen and paper. 

Prepare the soil 

The ideal soil for an orchard is a welldrained, 

nutrient-rich, and slightly acidic 

loamy soil. It should have a pH between 

6.0 and 6.5 to allow for optimal nutrient 

availability. Soils that are too alkaline or 

too acidic can hinder the trees' ability 

to absorb essential nutrients, leading to 

nutrient deficiencies and stunted growth. 

The soil depth should be at least 3 

feet (1 meter) to support the trees' root 

systems, with deeper soils up to 5 feet 

(1.5 meters) being even better. 

Avoiding waterlogged or poorly draining 

conditions is crucial, as fruit trees cannot 

tolerate excess moisture and too much 

water can lead to root rot. 

Get planting 

The planting season for bare 

rooted trees is November to March 

but the best planting is before 

Christmas - before the ground 

gets really cold. The trees should 

then be well watered and left to 

become established before spring 

arrives. 

An orchard is a long-term 

project, so you have time to plant 

everything you can in your area. It's 

often best to begin small though, 

and to add a few new trees or 

bushes each year. This will give you 

the opportunity to see what works 

and what doesn't and not be too 

overwhelmed before you even 

begin. Within a few years, you will 

have a full-blooming orchard that 

you can call your own. 

33

The curious tale of 

GABALVA LODGE 

On a dark winter's night in 1865, a Llandaff North man found 

himself in a tight situation. Historian Nigel Lewis explains. 

By Nigel Lewis 

The fourteenth of April 1865 is 

burned into the psyche of most 

Americans. It is the date of the 

assassination of Abraham Lincoln, 

president of the USA. 

Just six weeks before, in February 

1865, the Cardiff Times newspaper 

reported on a (not so quite 

momentous) event in Llandaff 

North. Back then it would have 

been called Llandaff Yard. 

160 years ago, a Friday night, payday 

for most folk, a ‘young man’ as 

the newspaper reported him, had 

been drinking in some of the local 

pubs. 

He’d obviously had a great time 

as (in his drunken state), he got lost 

walking home to his lodgings from 

the last pub, and he had become 

disorientated. 

Llandaff Yard was still very rural, 

and there weren’t many cottages 

of any sort in the area at the time. 

He must have been very much the 

34 

worse-for-wear. It was lucky he 

hadn’t fallen into the canal, and was 

stumbling along, in the pitch black, 

in completely the wrong direction. 

In the distance, he saw the vacant 

cottage, Gabalva Lodge, which was 

miles from anywhere. 

The ancient cottage was single 

storey, with a thatched roof. 

The stone walls were probably 

whitewashed so would have had 

an eerie glow in the darkness. Then 

there were the tiny windows and a 

thick boarded door. Nothing like any 

of the more recently-constructed 

houses in the area. 

He convinced himself, in his 

drunken state that this must be his 

lodgings, so he tried to get in. There 

was no answer to his knocking 

(we’re told that the cottage was 

vacant), the front door was securely 

locked, and the windows fastened 

tight. 

There was only one way to get in 

– to climb up onto the roof and to 

lower himself down the chimney. 

It’s amazing how you can convince 

yourself when you’re in such a state. 

Somehow, he climbed up onto the 

thatched roof and struggled up to 

the ridge. The stone chimney must 

have been of generous size, as he 

thought it large enough to lower 

himself down. 

Feet first, and getting a purchase 

on the sooty stone interior, he 

began to lower himself into the 

chimney, only to find himself stuck 

part way down. I’m sure he tried to 

free himself, and when that didn’t 

work, he tried to climb back out. 

It must have been a sight. Coat 

tangled, arms high, and everything 

covered with soot. The more he 

tried to free himself, the worse it 

got. 

He couldn’t move, and there was 

no one to hear his drunken shouts 

for help. 

It wasn’t until lunchtime the 

next day, that a man and his wife 

arrived at the vacant cottage to see 

whether it was suitable for them to 

Sketch: Nigel Lewis

ent. 

As soon as they got in, they heard 

the moans and groans coming from 

the fireplace. 

‘O Jesu Mawr’, groaned the 

quickly-sobering trapped youth. 

This frightened the life out of the 

couple, and they ran off. 

The husband, being a little braver 

than his wife, ventured back a 

little later to discover that it wasn’t 

a ghost, but a man stuck up the 

chimney. He clearly tried to get him 

free by pulling on his dangling legs, 

but to no avail. 

The sketch shows what they were 

up against, even with ladders and 

crowbars. The young man was so 

stuck that there was no option but 

to begin demolishing the chimney. 

It was only then that the rescuers 

realised that the stuck man, 

covered with soot was one of their 

workmates. They could hardly 

contain themselves, and laughed 

so much that they almost fell off the 

roof. 

He had the sense to run across to 

the College Ironworks on the other 

side of the canal to find some men 

who could help to pull him out. 

What a nightmare for the trapped 

man. How would he ever live it 

down? 

The Cardiff Times never revealed 

the young man’s name (probably 

just as well), but you can only 

begin to conjure up some of the 

nicknames he would have had to 

endure after that. 

I wonder what would have 

happened to him if the would-be 

cottage renters hadn’t turned up 

when they did? 

I hope the lad paid for the chimney 

to be repaired after. 

And would he have had to find a 

new drinking place after all that? 

Over the river in Llandaff. 

Or perhaps in Whitchurch? 

The story of the Elizabethan 

history 

mansion Gabalva and Gabalva 

Lodge, and what happened to 

them, must wait for another time. 

Thanks to Terry Chard for recently 

discovering this incredible story 

from Cardiff Times of February 1865. 

Nigel Lewis is a member of AWEN@ 

thelibrary (awen.cymru@gmail.com) 

35

The hard winter 

Winter can be harsh and cruel, not just on our bodies, but also on 

our emotional wellbeing. Here's how to keep it in check 

The winter months can take a 

significant toll on our mental wellbeing. 

As the days grow shorter 

and the temperatures drop, many 

people experience a shift in their 

mood and energy levels. This 

phenomenon, often referred to as 

seasonal affective disorder (SAD), 

is a type of depression that is 

closely linked to the changing of 

the seasons. 

One of the primary reasons why 

winter can be so challenging 

for mental health is the reduced 

exposure to sunlight. Sunlight 

plays a crucial role in regulating 

our circadian rhythms and 

the production of serotonin, a 

neurotransmitter that influences 

our mood. When sunlight 

exposure is limited, the body's 

natural balance can become 

disrupted, leading to feelings 

of sadness, lethargy, and even 

depression. 

Added to that, the colder 

temperatures and increased time 

spent indoors can contribute to a 

sense of isolation and loneliness. 

The lack of social interaction 

and physical activity can further 

exacerbate the symptoms of SAD, 

as exercise and social connections 

are known to have a positive 

impact on mental well-being. 

To combat all of this, there are 

ways that we can help ourselves 

through the colder months. 

Recognise the signs 

As the winter months approach, 

it's important to be aware of 

the potential signs of seasonal 

affective disorder (SAD) or winter 

depression. 

One of the primary symptoms is 

a persistent low mood or feelings 

of sadness that last for most of 

the day, nearly every day. 

Many people with winter 

depression also experience a 

significant drop in energy levels 

and motivation, making it difficult 

to complete everyday tasks. 

Changes in sleep patterns, 

such as oversleeping or difficulty 

falling asleep, can also be a sign. 

Increased appetite, particularly 

for carbohydrate-rich foods, is 

another common symptom. 

Feelings of hopelessness, 

irritability, and a loss of interest 

in activities that were once 

enjoyable are also potential 

indicators of winter depression. 

If these symptoms persist for 

more than a couple of weeks, it's 

important to seek professional 

help from a mental health 

provider. 

36

Schedule as much as 

possible 

Scheduling regular activities, such 

as exercise, social engagements, 

and work or hobbies, can help 

combat the tendency to withdraw 

and isolate oneself. Even simple 

tasks like getting up and going 

to bed at the same time each 

day can contribute to a sense of 

normalcy and control. 

A structured day can also 

ensure you allocate time for 

outdoor activities, even if brief. 

This exposure to natural light is 

essential for vitamin D production. 

Vitamin D is crucial for bone 

health, calcium absorption, and 

immune function. It supports 

muscle strength, regulates mood, 

and may reduce the risk of various 

diseases. Adequate levels are 

essential for our overall health. 

Be proactive 

When you're experiencing the 

winter blues, it's easy to not give 

hygiene the priority it should. 

Making time for small things 

like taking a shower or getting 

dressed properly can help lift your 

mood. 

Arts and craft therapies can also 

help. You can do this at home 

to keep your brain active or if 

you'd prefer to be more sociable, 

theatre or sports clubs can also 

make you feel less isolated. Join 

local groups that teach anything 

from sewing to playing a musical 

instrument can be great for lifting 

your moods and making you feel 

better. 

Make the most of the 

daylight 

With shorter days and reduced 

sunlight, it’s important to maximise 

exposure to natural light. 

Consider opening curtains to let in 

natural light indoors and rearranging 

your workspace to face windows. 

Alternatively, hang large mirrors 

opposite windows to reflect the 

sunlight and brighten dark rooms, 

enhancing the overall light in your 

home. 

Use light therapy 

Light therapy works by 

compensating for the lack of 

natural sunlight exposure during 

autumn and winter months. 

Incorporating light therapy, where 

individuals expose themselves 

to bright, artificial light for a set 

amount of time each day, can also 

help regulate the body's circadian 

rhythms and boost mood. 

It also stimulates the 

hypothalamus, which is crucial for 

regulating mood, appetite, and 

energy levels. 

By creating a predictable 

and intentional daily schedule, 

individuals with SAD can better 

manage their symptoms and 

maintain a sense of well-being 

throughout the winter season. 

wellbeing 

Be kind to yourself 

Make self-care a priority by engaging 

in activities that nourish your body 

and mind. This could include warm 

baths, catching up on box sets, or 

enjoying cosy evenings with a cup of 

tea. Allow yourself time to relax and 

recharge. 

Winter can sometimes bring a sense 

of pressure to achieve certain goals. 

Be gentle with yourself by setting 

realistic expectations and celebrating 

small accomplishments. Recognise 

too that it’s okay to slow down during 

this season. 

Embrace indoor activities 

Engage in the kitchen by trying out 

new recipes or baking treats, as 

the process of creating something 

delicious can be incredibly satisfying 

and comforting. 

Afterwards, practise restorative yoga 

at home with blankets and candles, 

which not only promotes relaxation 

but also helps you connect with your 

inner self. 

Spend time browsing through local 

bookstores; the cosy atmosphere of 

reading can be particularly uplifting 

during winter. 

For a touch of luxury, create a 

relaxing spa experience at home by 

using your favourite products, lighting 

candles, and dedicating time to selfcare. 

Additionally, consider taking up 

creative mind-based activities 

like knitting or journaling, as these 

mindful activities allow you to focus 

on the present moment and can 

significantly improve your mental 

well-being. 

37

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 

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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

LUCY AND TOM AT CHRISTMAS 

Bringing festive cheer for over 40 

years, Lucy and Tom at Christmas 

by the late Shirley Hughes captures 

the joyful anticipation of the holiday 

season through the eyes of two 

young siblings. 

As Christmas approaches, Lucy and 

Tom engage in festive activities like 

stirring the pudding, writing letters 

to Father Christmas, and choosing a 

Christmas tree. 

The book beautifully illustrates their 

excitement and the warmth of family 

gatherings, complete with games 

and gift-giving. 

Hughes' evocative illustrations 

complement her charming narrative, 

making it a delightful read that 

resonates with both children 

and adults, evoking nostalgia for 

childhood Christmases filled with 

simple joys and cherished traditions. 

WINTERbooks 

Winter's here and so is the chance to cwtch 

up and read a good book. Here are our 

hand-picked choices for this season 

books 

WINTER GARDEN 

From the author of the smash-hit 

bestseller Firefly Lane and True 

Colors comes Kristin Hannah's 

powerful, heartbreaking novel that 

illuminates the intricate motherdaughter 

bond and explores 

the enduring links between the 

present and the past. 

WINTER SLEEP 

In this cosy bedtime story, follow a child and 

his grandma through a winter landscape 

to explore how the Earth goes to sleep for 

winter. 

Spot the sleeping animals as the seasonal 

tale unfolds, and then learn all about their 

hibernation habits from the information 

pages at the end. 

SELF-CARE FOR 

WINTER 

Self-care expert 

Suzy Reading 

has devised 7 

steps to not only 

survive the winter 

months but to 

thrive in them. 

By embracing 

the lessons from 

the natural world, 

you will learn how 

to alter your daily 

rhythms so that 

you can embrace 

the cold season. 

LIFE: A STORY OF BELIEVING 

Penned by Llanishen's Anna- 

Louise Bates, this remarkable 

memoir became an instant 

best-seller when it was first 

published in September. 

Described as 'raw and 

heart-touching reading', the 

book was featured in the 

national press and follows 

the real-life story of how 

Anna-Louise endured 

unimaginable tragedy. In 

the process, she went on 

to set up a charity that has 

saved lives and touched 

many others for the better. 

39

home 

Al woke in a fug after a dreadful 

night’s sleep, or lack of more 

pertinently. 

‘Can’t go on like this,’ he thought. 

He picked up the soft pink blanket 

across the bottom of the bed and 

inhaled her lingering perfume. 

Memories flooded back and then 

he looked into the mirror and 

was appalled. Rheumy blue eyes 

greeted him. Eyes that peered 

suspiciously through folds of 

drooping flesh beneath wildly 

overgrown eyebrows. It was a 

wonder he could see. Would be 

best if he couldn’t. 

He tried a smile. The women had 

always liked that. He’d flashed it at 

the dance halls, and they’d been 

putty in his hands. ‘Ooh, you are 

handsome. Like a Hollywood star,’ 

they used to giggle. He’d tried to be 

bashful but was secretly delighted. 

Now he was faced with brown, 

snaggly teeth in a poor excuse for a 

smile. 

A beam of early morning sunlight 

lit up the framed photograph on the 

dressing table. It was faded now but 

his memory wasn’t. He’d go and see 

her today and take the photo. 

He climbed the back stairs of the 

home and pressed the bell at the 

locked door. Through the glass, he 

could see Doris tightly clutching 

her Italian leather portmanteau. The 

door was opened. 

‘I’m going home today!’ beamed 

Doris as he walked through. 

He followed the carer into the 

lounge. ‘This Morning’ boomed 

out from an enormous television 

on the wall. The audience was 

unresponsive. A woman stroked 

an electronic cat that purred and 

moved its head. Another stared into 

a cradle with a baby doll. The only 

man was nodding off in his highbacked 

chair, mouth open, his top 

set dangling precariously. 

Joan was done up like a Christmas 

tree with dangly earrings, bright 

40 

pink lipstick, and her best floral 

dress. 

Her dull eyes glanced up at him 

and then closed. ‘They said Sylvia 

was coming.’ 

‘No, it’s Al.’ 

‘Who?’ 

‘Al, your brother-in-law.’ 

‘Oh yes, the one that did the dirty 

on me.’ He grinned to himself. Not 

that much wrong with her memory. 

‘What you doing here? Where’s 

Sylvia?’ 

‘She’s gone, I’m afraid.’ 

‘Gone? Gone where? Back to Italy 

after all those handsome young 

waiters I bet.’ 

‘She’s passed.’ 

‘Passed where?’ 

‘I told you a few months ago. I’m 

sorry, but she’s died.’ 

He pulled the photograph from his 

Sainsbury’s bag and thrust it in front 

of her face. ‘Look, there we all are. 

Do you remember? You, me, Sylvia, 

and John.’ 

She reached out and touched 

each of the people. The corners of 

her mouth twitched upwards and 

then, ever so slowly, she began 

a smile which lit up her eyes as it 

spread across her face. ‘Yes, yes, of 

course,’ she murmured. 

Al smiled as he too remembered 

past days. 

He and John had arrived early at the 

Registry Office, excited and nervous 

in equal part. 

‘You’re sure now, mate, are 

you? You can still back out!’ John 

chuckled. 

‘Shut up and don’t be ridiculous. 

Make sure you’ve got the rings 

handy and none of your nonsense 

about leaving them at home, 

please.’ They grinned at each other. 

‘Well, this is it. Married life; tea 

on the table; slippers by the fire; 

pyjamas ironed with a perfect 

crease; bins out on Fridays, and the 

odd weekend away, if you’re lucky.’ 

‘We won’t be like that and, anyway, 

what have you got? What have you 

got to look forward to?’ 

John’s reply was lost as the bridal 

party arrived. He and Al looked at 

each other with wide eyes, their 

mouths gaping. One of them said, 

‘Wow!’ but they both thought it. 

‘You’ve done alright there, mate,’ 

John whispered. 

Sylvia looked as if she’d stepped 

out of a fashion magazine in a white 

trouser suit with flared trousers and 

a jacket cinched in at her tiny waist. 

Topping it off was a floppy widebrimmed 

hat above her beaming 

smile and a posy of white flowers. 

She was breathtaking. 

Then he spotted Joan, the 

bridesmaid, in a crocheted, white 

mini dress, her blonde hair piled up 

with a few perfect ringlets dangling 

down. For one brief moment, he 

wondered… 

He’d met them both at the Northern 

Soul Night. Memories flooded back. 

The euphoria had bubbled up 

within him as he listened to the 

music and slid seamlessly onto 

the dance floor, his baggy flares 

wrapping around his legs. Sweat 

glistened on his chest and arms, his 

vest sticking to him, as he joined all 

the others slipping, sliding, shuffling 

and spinning to Frank Wilson. The 

floor was abuzz with movement, 

legs moving effortlessly like flowing 

water. The weekend underway. All 

else was forgotten. 

He’d closed his eyes, raised 

his head to the ceiling and lost 

himself in the next track without a 

second’s break in his movement. 

He wondered momentarily where 

Joan had got to, opened his eyes 

and saw her check flares kicking 

ahead of him. He grinned and she 

must have sensed it because she 

returned his cheeky smile before 

she did a back flip. Show off. 

Joan prodded him and indicated 

the chairs around the edge. They 

plonked themselves down, their

odies still moving to the music. 

‘This is my sister.’ He saw her lips 

move but couldn’t hear. He cupped 

his hand to his ear. She pointed and 

mouthed, ‘This is my sister, Sylvia.’ 

He nodded and glanced over. She 

took his breath away. She was as 

near perfect as he’d ever seen. Joan 

was soon off in a flurry, a whirl of 

arms and legs. 

Sylvia spoke. ‘You not dancing? 

You’re good. I enjoyed watching 

you.’ 

‘I’ll dance if you will!’ 

She smiled and shook her head. 

‘No, I don’t dance. I just love 

watching.’ 

‘Then I’ll watch, with you.’ 

Joan stayed dancing. He walked 

Sylvia home. 

It was only when he got home that 

it hit him. He was going to be in big, 

big trouble, trouble as he’d never 

encountered before. He’d been out 

with many girls before until one or 

the other of them had ended things 

amicably. They remained friends 

afterwards. 

It was going to be very different 

with Joan. He’d left her on the dance 

floor and taken someone else 

home; not just any someone but her 

sister. 

Had he been hypnotised, 

mesmerised, or was he just stupid? 

He asked his best friend at the pub 

on Sunday. 

John laughed uproariously for 

five minutes, slapped him on the 

back and said, ‘You’re on your own 

here, mate. What a bloody idiot. 

You might as well forget both. 

Joan won’t want you. Sylvia daren’t 

want you and the family won’t want 

you near their door. Think you’ll 

be going round for your Sunday 

tea of ham, salad, trifle, and polite 

conversation? No chance!’ He 

doubled over laughing again. ‘Good 

luck!’ 

He stammered a reply. ‘But Sylvia 

knew who I was. Joan introduced 

us.’ 

‘Doesn’t matter mate. You’ve 

crossed a line.’ 

He spent the week in a quandary 

of misery. ‘Girl trouble!’ his 

workmates mocked. 

‘Do one and leave me alone.’ 

Friday was not spent in the usual 

excited anticipation of a good night 

out. He dressed in his baggies 

half-heartedly and set off for the 

dance hall. A few people greeted 

him as he entered but, unusually, 

he needed a drink to get on the 

dance floor. Then he heard the 

opening bars to ‘Do I Love You’ 

and he couldn’t resist. He mouthed 

the words as he span and shuffled 

around, straight into Joan. 

She pushed him forcefully. ‘How 

dare you! How bloody dare you! 

I thought you were different. I 

thought we had something special. 

Keep away from me and my sister. 

You’re a complete idiot.’ 

He tried to respond but realised it 

was futile and spent the rest of the 

evening drowning his sorrows, while 

keeping an eye out for Sylvia. 

He gave the dancing a miss for 

a couple of weeks after that, just 

slumped about in abject misery. 

Then he heard on the grapevine 

that Joan was seeing someone else, 

a handsome bugger by all accounts. 

‘She didn’t waste any time,’ he 

thought sourly until he realised that 

it left the door open for him. 

On Friday, he ran home from work 

feeling the excitement of old. 

‘Is the immersion on, Mum?’ He 

laid out his new dancing clothes on 

the bed, baggies, braces and vest, 

and jumped in the bath. He left the 

house in a cloud of Brut and hurried 

to the hall. Joan and Sylvia were 

in the queue. Feeling reckless, he 

went to speak to them. He hadn’t 

spotted Joan’s new bloke who 

turned to face him, grabbing Joan’s 

hand. 

‘It’s ok, Mike. He wants Sylvia.’ 

Al looked at Sylvia and gave her 

his most disarming smile. ‘Ok?’ 

She turned a very attractive shade 

of pink. ‘Yes, ok.’ 

He was startled out of his reverie 

as the woman next to Joan pushed 

out of her chair shouting, ‘I need a 

wee!’ A stream of steaming urine 

splashed on the floor. ‘Too late!’ She 

was quickly removed whilst a carer 

cleared up with disinfectant. 

Al looked about him in 

embarrassment, at a loss as to what 

to say. ‘You like the photo, Joan?’ 

She shrugged. He tried again. ‘They 

looking after you alright, Joan?’ 

She snorted. ‘You joking? Be glad 

when it’s over.’ 

‘Well, as long as you’re okay. 

Anything you need?’ 

Her eyes had closed and very 

quickly a soft snoring could be 

heard. 

He stood and made his way out. 

‘You taking me home?’ 

‘Not this week, Doris.’ 

Later, he sat in his car, thumping 

the steering wheel. ‘Not good 

enough,’ he thought. ‘It can’t end 

like this.’ He rushed back to the door 

and rang the bell persistently. 

A carer appeared. ‘Did you forget 

something?’ 

‘Yes, I forgot my humanity.’ 

‘I’ll get the manager.’ She flushed 

and hurried away. 

The manager appeared in her 

pencil skirt and stilettos, her face 

as tight and sharp as both. ‘I’m just 

telling you that I’m coming back 

tomorrow to take Joan out.’ She was 

about to object, but he persisted. 

‘Can you please have her ready at 

9? With a wheelchair.’ He turned 

away before she could respond. 

The next morning, she was still 

blathering about health and safety 

as he whisked Joan away. He paid 

her no attention. 

‘Where we going?’ 

‘You’ll see.’ 

She gave a slight gasp as the 

lake came into view, the water 

calm, barely a ripple on its surface. 

‘Remember this now?’ he asked. 

She nodded. 

The sun was peering above the 

tallest trees as he lifted her into the 

wheelchair and wrapped a soft pink 

blanket around her legs. 

He stopped at a picnic table near 

a weeping willow whose slender 

branches dangled and drooped in 

the water. Joan smiled and pointed 

at the swans effortlessly gliding 

by and the upended ducks, their 

bottoms waggling in the air. Geese 

honked loudly and waddled close 

in the hope of titbits. A soft, warm 

wind blew across the lake, and 

he took such pleasure in seeing 

Joan lift her face and take in deep 

breaths of the fresh air. 

‘You used to love coming here, 

didn’t you? Sylvia did too and no 

trip out would be the same without 

this…’ With a flourish, he pulled out 

his old wicker picnic basket and 

proceeded to display the contents. 

Joan laughed aloud. ‘I do 

remember that!’ She ate a selection 

of everything he’d bought: tiny 

sandwiches, mini sausages and 

quiches, little assorted cream cakes. 

‘Delicious,’ she sighed contentedly. 

‘I haven’t finished yet. Hold that 

carefully.’ He placed a plastic glass 

in her hand and proceeded to pour 

them both some bubbly white wine. 

‘You’re just the same,’ she laughed. 

‘Trying to get me drunk again.’ 

‘No, just living, Joan, just living.’ 

They sat in companionable silence. 

As he moved to leave, she reached 

for his hand. ‘Thank you. It was the 

best day of my life.’ 

The home phoned late that night. 

‘We’re really sorry but…’ 

By Lesley Abbass 

short story 

41

Winter 

wonders 

It may be cold outside but these warming dishes will provide you with 

comfort and succour - perfect for those cold, stormy evenings 

Goulash 

700g stewing steak, cut into 1cm 

cubes 

50g flour, plus 45g 

2 medium onions, skinned and sliced 

1 green pepper, seeded and chopped 

30ml oil 

10ml paprika 

45ml tomato purée 

pinch of grated nutmeg 

300ml beef stock 

2 large tomatoes, skinned and 

quartered 

bouquet garni 

150ml beer 

142ml soured cream 

salt and pepper 

☐ ☐ Add the stock, tomatoes and 

bouquet garni, cover and cook in 

the oven at 170 °C (gas mark 3) for 2 

hours, until the meat is tender. Add 

the beer, cook for a few minutes 

longer and remove the bouquet 

garni. 

☐ Stir in the soured cream and 

serve with warm crusty bread and 

butter. 

☐ ☐ Coat the meat with 50g 

seasoned flour. In a flameproof 

casserole dish, fry the onions and 

pepper lightly in the oil for 3-4 

minutes. 

☐ ☐ Add the meat and fry gently 

for about 5 minutes, until golden 

brown, then add the paprika and fry 

for one minute. Stir in the tomato 

purée, nutmeg, seasoning and 

remaining flour. 

42

Creamy chicken 

casserole 

4 chicken breasts 

30g plain flour 

125g sundried tomatoes in oil, drained and roughly 

chopped, 3 tbsp oil reserved 

1 red onion, finely chopped 

3 garlic cloves, finely grated 

½ - 1 tsp chilli flakes 

2-3 thyme or oregano sprigs or 1 tsp mixed dried herbs 

150ml double cream 

250ml chicken stock 

35g parmesan, grated 

8-10 basil leaves, torn, to serve 

☐ ☐Spread the flour out on a plate and season it with a 

pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. 

Dredge the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour, 

making sure to coat them evenly on all sides. 

☐ Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil from the sun-dried 

tomatoes in a large, lidded skillet over medium heat. 

Fry the chicken for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, 

until golden brown all over but not fully cooked 

through. Transfer the partially cooked chicken to a 

plate and set aside. 

☐ Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of sun-dried 

tomato oil into the skillet and reduce the heat to 

medium-low. Sauté the onion for 8-10 minutes, 

stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned. 

Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring 

Blackberry pie 

200g plain flour 

280g icing sugar 

pinch of salt 

115g chilled butter cut into cubes 

4 tbsp egg (1 egg and 1 egg yolk beaten together) 

400g fresh blackberries 

2 tbsp semolina 

20g grated white chocolate 

1 tsp sugar 

Left over egg white and 1-2 tsp granulated or demerara 

sugar 

☐ ☐Put the flour, salt, sugar, and chilled butter into a 

food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles 

bread crumbs. Add the egg as the mixture is blending 

to allow the dough to form a ball. Wrap the ball in cling 

film and chill for 30 minutes. 

☐ Lay out one sheet of cling film on your worktop and 

recipes 

constantly. Then stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, chilli 

flakes, and thyme or oregano. Cook for another 

minute, stirring everything together well. 

☐ Return the partially cooked chicken to the skillet. 

Pour in the cream and chicken stock, then season 

the mixture generously with salt and pepper. Cover 

the pan and cook on medium-low heat for about 20 

minutes, turning the chicken halfway through, until it 

is fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened 

slightly. 

☐ Remove the lid, stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, 

and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Finally, garnish the 

dish with a scattering of fresh basil leaves before 

serving. 

put half of your pastry in the centre. Lay another sheet 

of cling film over the top and roll out the pastry with 

a rolling pin. When the pastry is large enough to fit 

into a pastry tin, chill the pastry for a few minutes and 

then remove the top layer of cling film. Turn the pastry 

over and shape into the pastry tin. Chill for a few more 

minutes before removing what is now the top layer 

of cling film. Trim off the edges then repeat with the 

second piece of pastry – keep it in the plastic and pop 

it into the fridge. 

☐ Take the pastry lined tin then sprinkle the semolina 

over the base then add the blackberries followed by 

the grated white chocolate and sugar. 

☐ Heat the oven to 200 degrees fan with a baking 

sheet on the middle shelf. When the oven is at 

temperature, take your pie from the fridge and brush 

with the left over egg white then sprinkle with the 

sugar. Slide the pie onto the hot baking sheet. 

☐ Bake for 25 minutes until the pie is golden brown. 

Take from the oven and allow to cool down for at least 

20 minutes before cutting. A slice of this pie is perfect 

with vanilla ice-cream, fresh cream or custard. 

43

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feature 

Christmas 

Countdown 

With the festive season just around 

the corner, here's our guide to 

planning a stress-free Christmas 

Set a budget 

Start by assessing your current 

financial situation; determine 

how much disposable income 

you have after covering essential 

expenses. This will give you a 

clear picture of what you can 

afford to spend. 

Next, break down your 

budget into categories such 

as gifts, decorations, food, and 

entertainment. Allocate specific 

amounts to each category 

based on your priorities and past 

spending habits. As you shop, 

keep track of your expenditures 

to avoid going over budget. 

Using budgeting apps or simple 

spreadsheets can help you 

monitor your spending in realtime. 

Finally, be flexible. If you find 

that you’re exceeding your 

budget in one area, consider 

adjusting another category. 

Flexibility allows you to enjoy 

the season while staying 

financially responsible. 

By planning ahead and 

sticking to your 

budget, you can 

celebrate 

Christmas without 

the worry of financial 

strain or worry. 

46 

Create a gift list 

Creating a gift list for Christmas 

can transform your holiday 

shopping into a joyful and 

organised experience. Start by 

brainstorming recipients: family, 

friends, co-workers, and anyone 

else you want to include. Consider 

their interests and needs to make 

your gifts more personal and 

meaningful. 

Next, set a budget for each 

person to keep your spending 

in check. Use a digital tool or a 

simple notebook to jot down 

ideas as they come to you. 

This can include specific items, 

experiences, or homemade gifts. 

Don’t forget to add a few backup 

options in case your first choices 

are unavailable. Finally, review 

your list periodically to ensure 

you’re on track and adjust as 

necessary. Happy gifting! 

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 travel plans 

Finalising travel plans for 

Christmas can be both 

exciting and stressful. Start by 

determining your destination 

and budget. Consider booking 

flights and accommodations 

early to secure the best rates, 

as prices often rise closer to 

the holiday. Create a detailed 

itinerary, including travel dates, 

activities, and any special events 

you want to attend. Don’t forget 

to check the weather and 

pack accordingly! Additionally, 

ensure you have all necessary 

documents, like passports or 

visas, if travelling internationally. 

Finally, keep communication 

open with family or friends 

joining you to coordinate plans 

and make the most of your 

festive getaway. 

Get the house ready 

Start by decluttering your home 

space to create a clean canvas. Pack 

away things you won't be needing 

over the Christmas period. 

Next, hang twinkling lights both 

inside and out to add a warm 

glow. Choose a beautiful tree 

and decorate it with ornaments 

that reflect your family’s style. 

Incorporate seasonal scents by 

using candles or simmering spices 

on the stove. Don’t forget to set up 

a cosy seating area for gatherings, 

complete with festive cushions and 

throws. Adding personal touches 

like handmade decorations or family 

photos will also create a welcoming 

atmosphere that captures the spirit 

of the season. 

Send the Christmas cards 

Being organised with your Christmas 

cards means you can relax a little 

bit more as the season gets close. 

Get started by creating a mailing list, 

addressing envelopes, and writing your 

personalised messages. Then set a 

deadline for sending them out to ensure 

they arrive on time. Consider using a 

calendar to track your progress to make 

this cherished tradition stress-free. 

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 that gives you the 

peace of mind that you'll be able to 

cook your Christmas dinner. It's also 

worth supporting local shops as 

much as you can to help with local 

trade. 

Hang your stockings 

Put up a stocking for everyone 

in the home, even the pet if you 

have one. These are traditionally 

left near an open fire, where you'd 

also leave some cookies and milk 

for Santa and some carrots for his 

reindeer. 

When it comes to Christmas 

Eve, a well-planned run-up to 

Christmas means that you'll 

be able to sit down with your 

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

Get the tree up 

Getting the tree up can be made 

into a memorable festive event, 

especially if you involve loved 

ones. 

You can prepare the space for 

your tree in advance and if you 

are planning on using a real tree, 

it's worth keeping it in a pot of 

water until it's ready to go up. 

When the time comes, be sure 

to remove all the netting and 

knock off any loose branches or 

needles. It's recommended to 

saw 1cm off the bottom of the 

trunk and you can get someone 

at the garden centre to do this. 

The reason for this is to remove 

hardened sap that will have 

accrued on the stump and allow 

for effective water absorption.

www.cardiffwindows.com

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 71

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