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Whitchurch &
Llandaff Living
At the heart of the community
Issue 49 Aug/Sept '18
r e m m
u S
Your multi award-winning community magazine
Inside this issue Interview
Broadcaster and former cricketer Alan Wilkins speaks about his childhood in North Cardiff and his career to date
Competitions
Win a two course meal and an overnight stay at the Village Hotel and tickets to see a top show at St David's Hall
Garden Fun
DIY games to create and enjoy in your own garden this summer
History
Local resident Jim Taverner recalls the fun and the dangers of working in the Tongwynlais quarries during the 1950s and 60s
Autumn deadline: 1st October 2018
Published 12th October 2018
a: 222 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920 w: www.livingmags.co.uk e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or danielle@livingmags.co.uk Distribution: 6,000 copies of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living are distributed to retail outlets and public places across Whitchurch, Llandaff and Llandaff North five times a year. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any matter in any way arising from the publication of this material. Every effort has been made to contact any copyright holders. Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an independent, apolitical publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publishers.
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Welcome / Croeso Welcome to the High Summer issue of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living. We have been lucky to enjoy some truly fantastic weather and hot summer days that are perhaps reminiscent of childhood summers. To mark the summer holidays, we spoke to some local children about what they like to do - so if you are stuck for ideas, check out their handy guide. As a kid, we can perhaps all remember the feeling of adventure that came from spending time outdoors on a sunny day. We have put together a collection of creative DIY ideas to transform your garden into an adventure playground that your kids (and their friends) will love. For more ideas on how to spend time over the holidays, we also compiled an itinerary based on spending 12 hours in (mostly) North Cardiff, taking in some of the beauty right here on our doorsteps. It's true that we don't always appreciate the place that we live, so rather than looking further afield, why not spend a day right here enjoying the various locations that we have suggested? We would love to hear what you thought of your day out! Talking of adventure, Kelvin Hayes has recently returned to Cardiff after years travelling the world. He recounts his experience of coming back 'home', the changes he sees and the challenges of readjusting to a different culture. Seeing Cardiff through his eyes is an interesting read and insight into how much our city has changed over recent years. Another global traveller we spoke to came in the form of Alan Wilkins, a former
What’s on Llandaff 50+ Coffee Mornings Every Wednesday throughout August 10.30am Seren Diemwnt, High Street Llandaff Summer Sizzler 5k Run Wednesday 1st August 7.30pm Bute Park, Cardiff Mr P Photography Exhibition Sunday 5th - Friday 31st August
Glamorgan cricketer and international broadcaster. He has also recently moved back to Cardiff after years travelling and working across the globe. He shares his story of how his childhood in North Cardiff shaped his sporting career and what he has learnt from a life of sport. Jim Taverner, a local resident shares his memories of working with his father in the Tongwynlais quarries back in the 50s and 60s. His story is bound to resonate with some locals who also shared similar experiences or who had family members who were also 'quarrymen'. Kevin Revell switches his attention this issue to growing summer fruits and gives us advice on which varieties he advises, along with all the top tips on growing an abundant and delicious harvest to enjoy throughout the summer and beyond. So, make yourself a refreshing summer tonic from our mouthwatering recipes and settle down to enjoy the stories and features this issue has to offer. Have a wonderful summer.
Danielle and Patric
Editors
@Whit_Llandaff www.facebook.com/ whitchurchandllandaffliving
Little Man Coffee Co, Cardiff St Fagans Food Festival Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th September St Fagans National Museum Splash and Dash Regatta Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th September Llandaff Rowing Club
Danescourt residents prepare to fight new development plans
The proposed developments in Danescourt has concerned local residents about its impact
Residents of Danescourt are once again preparing to fight development plans that threaten fields and woodland. London company Nabatean Ltd, is applying for outline planning permission to build at least 40 houses on land referred to as 'land off de Braose Close'. The application failed last time on Appeal, due to highway safety concerns along Radyr Court Road. The new plan requires access via Danescourt streets, primarily Timothy Rees Close and de Braose Close. Locals argue that this route is just as risky in terms of safety and practicality. The land at the centre of the planning permission is greenfield within the Taff River corridor which is protected by the Local Development Plan. It is criss-crossed by several rights of way and connects to Radyr Woods, Taff River footpaths, Hailey Park and the Taff Trail and is a haven for maturing woodland together
with bats, owls, hedgehogs, many species of birds and other indigenous wildlife. Developers visited the area in September and November 2017 and concluded that the site has 'limited ecological value'. They also stated that visual and other characteristics 'have little intrinsic value'. The proposed scheme would comprise the development of 40 residential dwellings together with associated infrastructure, public open space and woodland management. Planning applications for the same plot of land was refused in both 2004 and 2012, with Cardiff Council saying that 'the proposal would result in the loss of an area of open space which has visual amenity value in forming part of a corridor of open space.' Local residents say that the land is currently used by walkers, runners and families and that the land is home to plenty of wildlife.
Cardiff man hailed as hero after Whitchurch hit-and-run incident A man was arrested at Gatwick airport in June in connection with an alleged hit-and-run incident that left a Cardiff man with serious leg injuries. South Wales Police said that a car had been driven deliberately at a group of people outside The Royal Oak Pub on the evening of 30th June. BT engineer Andrew Niinemae managed to smash the window of the car, injuring his legs and arms in the process. He was later hailed as a
hero for stopping the car. Detective Inspector Paul Raikes from Cardiff West CID told the press: "This was a shocking incident that has left one man with a very nasty leg injury and understandably overwhelmed by what has happened. "We would appeal for anyone with information to come forward and would also like to hear from anyone who may have CCTV, dash cam or mobile phone footage of the incident."
news
High-rise blocks to get cladding removed
Cardiff Council has said that it is to begin work to remove cladding on four of the six high-rise blocks in Cardiff which failed fire safety tests, including Lydstep Flats in Llandaff North. The blocks passed initial tests ordered after last June's Grenfell fire in which 71 people died. More recent tests however, had shown that the cladding falls short of current safety standards. The three blocks that make up Lydstep Flats will be the first to have their cladding removed and the Council said that all residents affected would be informed. A spokeswoman for the Council said: "Cladding identified as not meeting current fire safety standards on six high-rise blocks earlier this year will be removed and we are currently agreeing plans with our contractors. "We anticipate work to remove the cladding from the first four blocks will commence in the next few weeks and all affected residents will be informed about the detail of the removal programme for their block." Work to replace fire doors which can hold back fire for 30 minutes to those than can protect for 60 minutes, has also been completed at Sycamore House and Beech House in Whitchurch.
NHS at 70 celebrated at Cathedral The 70th anniversary of the NHS was celebrated at Llandaff Cathedral in July. The Prince of Wales joined people from all over Wales and flowers were laid at the bust of Aneurin Bevan.
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news
Medieval Fayre held in Llandaff
This year saw the first May Fayre in Llandaff since the 1880s when it was stopped due to ‘drunkenness and debauchery’. The event was organised by Llandaff 50+ to raise funds for The Pound project and had a medieval theme. Despite the damp weather, the visitors arrived and were greeted by the Lord and Lady of the Manor (better known as Geoffrey and Jenny Barton-Greenwood). There was the opportunity to ‘Find the Treasure’ on the artistically drawn Castle map, to ‘Splat the Rat’ or even go into the Stocks. The ‘Guess the Weight of the Cannonball’ competition’s prize of Sunday Lunch at Seren Diemwnt was won by Mrs Shepherd. Storyteller Richard Berry, captivated his audience with tales of old Llandaff and there were homemade Welsh cakes and lemonade, prepared by Llandaff 50+ volunteers. The Cathedral School Archaeology Club also exhibited a display of ‘finds’ from the school’s grounds. Tours were given of the Castle and there were boules lessons on the damp grass that proved a very popular activity. A very pleasant afternoon was had by all, and many thanks were given to the Llandaff 50+ volunteers for all their hard work and sponsorship from Age Cymru Gwanwyn Festival. Llandaff 50+ will be meeting for coffee throughout July and August, every Wednesday at 10.30am in Seren Diemwnt, High Street, Llandaff. Everyone is welcome – come and make new friends.
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£17,000 raised by Whitchurch fundraisers Cancer Research Wales has received £17,100 after 19 fundraisers from Whitchurch had their heads shaved for the cancer charity. The team of fundraisers joined forces in April this year to take part in ‘Close Shave II’ at The Malsters Arms, Whitchurch, and raised more than £12,000, while two more fundraisers helped boost the total a further £5,000 after running the London Marathon this year.
Cancer Research Wales was presented with a cheque for £17,100, which will be used to fund research that can result in vital developments into early diagnosis, treatments and cures for cancer right here in Wales. The event followed ‘Close Shave I’ where £11,000 was raised in aid of the charity in 2015, while in 2016, events held at the pub that included an auction, quizzes and a football match, raised £12,700. Katie Killoran, Fundraising manager for Cancer Research Wales, said: “We are so grateful and thankful at Cancer Research Wales to all the participants who took part in this event.
Tuk Tuk tours to Llandaff given green light
Cardiff Council have given the go ahead for tuk tuk tours from the city centre to tourist destinations. The tour company wants to introduce electric versions of the rickshaws that are more commonly seen in Asia. Destinations will include Llandaff Cathedral and Insole Court. Dale Edmonds, owner of Cardiff Tuk-Tuk Tours, said cities such as London, Manchester and Chester are already benefiting from the Tuk Tuk businesses that are operating there. He said: "I think this is an opportunity for Cardiff to get on board with something exciting, something different, something green, something
we can offer the tourists that they are not getting at the moment." He also addressed concerns that the Tuk Tuks might not be safe and that they could cause traffic congestion: "I have travelled the routes on many occasions at various times of the day. I set my vehicle to a maximum of 40mph, and not once have we held the traffic up or been held up by the traffic. We're not intending to use them in peak rush hours in the morning." He added that drivers would be put through an specialist training course and that all the vehicles would come with seatbelts. The traditional tuk-tuk is a widely used form of urban transport in Bangkok and other Thai cities. The name is onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound of a small (often two-cycle) engine. "Cardiff has many interesting and historical attractions which are difficult to visit even by public transport," added Dale.
Your letters
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Open Doors
Victoria Cross
September is approaching and volunteers throughout Llandaff are beginning preparations for Cadw’s Open Doors 2018. Once again, buildings throughout our village city will open their doors, free of charge, to visitors from near and far. The BBC will be offering its popular tours of Broadcasting House in what could be the last year as part of Llandaff Open Doors. And if you haven’t climbed the Bell Tower in the Cathedral, make sure you ‘book early’ or you may miss out. It’s always good to see that Llandaff’s schools join the event with tours of Howell’s School and the Cathedral School, and a lovely morning of entertainment from the children of Llandaff City School. Cardiff Metropolitan University’s students will be exhibiting the work of the School of Art and Design, as well as running a fascinating guided tour of the University buildings. And the older members of our community in Llandaff 50+ will be offering guided tours of the Bishop’s Castle and explaining the plans for The Pound, the Centre for older people and heritage information in the old Cattle Pound. Will it be ready for next year’s Open Doors, we wonder? And once again, Llandaff Society will be providing a guided tour through the Medieval village. Last year we had a crowd of forty, all eager to hear the tales of our lovely city within a city. More events are being added each week, so keep an eye on the Llandaff and Cadw websites – and mark it in your diary: 10th23rd September 2018 Llandaff Open Doors.
Charles B. Ward was born in Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire in 1877, and enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Light Infantry on 29th April 1897. He served for two years before joining the 2nd Battalion whilst in Wynberg, Cape Colony, South Africa, at the beginning of the 2nd Boer War. An extract from the London Gazette in 1900 reads: “On 26th June 1900 at Lindley, a picket of the Yorkshire Light Infantry was surrounded on three sides by about 500 Boers at close quarters. The two Officers were wounded and all but six of their men were killed or wounded. Private Ward volunteered to take a message asking for reinforcements to the signalling station about 500 yards in the rear of the post. His offer was at first refused owing to the practical certainty of his being shot but on his insisting, he was allowed to go. He got across untouched through a storm of shots from each flank and having delivered his message, he voluntarily returned from a place of absolute safety, and recrossed the fire-swept ground to assure his Commanding Officer that the message had been sent. On this occasion, he was severely wounded. But for his gallant action, the post would certainly have been captured.” “Ward’s wounds were so severe that he was invalided back to England, where he was the last man to be invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria on the 15th December 1900 at Windsor Castle. Ward was forced to be discharged from the army as medically unfit and he was presented with a testimonial and £600 by the people of Leeds. He was also presented with a commemorative medal in gold by Mr. William Owen.” The 1901 census sees Charles Ward, listed as an invalided soldier
Linda Quinn, Chair, Llandaff Open Doors
in the Leeds, Yorkshire Hospital. In the 1911 census, Charles, with his wife Emily, five children and his father George are living in Whitchurch, with Charles as a Physical Instructor with the Glamorgan County Education Committee. Sadly, he was deeply troubled by his experiences in South Africa and by the early 1920s, he was admitted to the Glamorgan County Asylum at Bridgend, where he died on 30th December 1921 aged just 44 years. He was buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Whitchurch on 2nd January 1922. His grave was marked with a new headstone in 1986. On the Victoria Cross listings, Charles’s details are as follows: Name: Charles Burley Ward Rank: Company Sergeant Major 2nd Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Born: 10th July 1877, Leeds, Yorkshire Died: 30th December 1921 Bridgend, Glamorgan Grave: St Mary’s Churchyard, Whitchurch, Cardiff Jean Jones Whitchurch
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Constituency News
with Julie Morgan AM
It has been a very busy few months with many schools having their summer fairs and many events in the Assembly. In June, I sponsored an event for Breast Cancer Care to highlight the benefits of its ‘Moving Forward’ course which helps those who’ve come through treatment come to terms with their experience. I was really pleased to meet a constituent, Gwyneth Jennings, (pictured right) who spoke movingly about how the course had helped her. I was very pleased to launch an exhibition of photos at the Senedd featuring people who’ve been helped by Maggie’s cancer support centres around the UK. The second centre for Wales is currently under construction in the grounds of Velindre Hospital in Whitchurch. I’ve campaigned for Cardiff to have a Maggie’s for many years and there has been a massive fundraising effort to create it. It will benefit patients from across the whole of South Wales who access their treatment at Velindre. I also hosted an event in the Assembly to raise awareness of organ donation and to highlight the work of another constituent, Anna-Louise Bates. She set up the ‘Believe’ charity in memory of her husband and son, a Llysfaen Primary School pupil, after they were tragically killed crossing the road on their way to a Christmas party in 2015. Fraser’s organs were donated and went on to save four lives. At the event, we were shown an animated film featuring a teddy bear named Fraser Bear (after Anna-Louise’s son) and organ donor recipients talking about how much their lives have been changed. It’s hoped the film will be shown in schools to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. In July I attended an event at Swansea University’s School of Law and Morgan Academy to meet Hillary Clinton and talk about children’s legal rights. I asked her about raising the legal age of criminal responsibility and she shared her views on the plight of children separated from their parents at the USMexican border. How to get in touch If you have any concerns or issues please contact my office on 029 2061 4577. I can also be contacted via my website at www.juliemorgan.org. uk, by email at julie.morgan@assembly.wales or through Twitter @JulieMorganLAB Sponsored feature
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alan wilkins As a boy, Alan Wilkins dreamed of travelling the world in a life of sport. His dream came true, but not in the way that he expected
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lan Wilkins has 'come home.' For more than three decades, he's commentated on some of the world's most prestigious sporting events. But now he's sat on a park bench in North Cardiff, reflecting on his career to date. "My first memories of playing sport were in Parc-y-Pentre. It was a safe place, the sort of place that your parents would just tell you to go to and have some fun in. We played football here, we played cricket here; we might have even nicked an odd apple off a tree here. My childhood had a huge influence on what I do now because we had friends and we had family; we played all sports and we all had dreams. "There were two things that got me into sport. First, there was my father, Haydn Wilkins, who played a high level of cricket, and if it wasn't for the Second World War, I think he would have been a full County cricketer. He did play for Glamorgan and I still have his equipment up in our loft. When I was little, I'd be sat in front of the cricket on TV wearing his pads and his gloves. You can imagine that they were huge on me. At Rhiwbeina Junior School,
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we had Mr. Ball (how appropriate is that!) who'd take us for cricket and Mr. Walters the headmaster. And they would drive us around in their own private cars which you wouldn't be able to do these days. We'd play against Eglwys Wen and Eglwys Newydd and our mother would make sure that my whites were always clean. In those days, Glamorgan were our heroes and we joined their Junior members and my sporting journey started there. "Throughout my teens, I made the grade as a player, moving up through the ranks. I had pace as a bowler, and as I went over the railway line from Rhiwbina to Whitchurch Grammar School, it was all about cricket, as well as rugby and football. "I rose up through the Wales U13s, U15s and U17s until eventually, I played for Wales Secondary Schools. And that was the pinnacle for any school boy. "Glamorgan of course, get to know who you are and I was invited to try out a few second team games. We had people like Tony Cordle and Kevin Lyons who nurtured us and made sure that we were doing our jobs properly. And the further I went
in the cricket system, the more I wanted to wear that daffodil of Glamorgan on my chest." Alan eventually moved up to the senior team and was a member of the Glamorgan side that played in the 1977 Gillette Cup Final against Middlesex at Lord's. He also played a key role in Glamorgan`s progress to their first final of a one-day competition at Lord's. 1977 proved to be his most productive season in first-class cricket for Glamorgan, taking 47 wickets. "I'm not a physical specimen but I had good rhythm and I relied on this rhythm to give me good pace. This pace carried me for my first few years at Glamorgan and then I went to Gloucestershire. When I felt the first twinges of pain in my left shoulder after several years of playing, I started to seriously worry. I was in South Africa at the time and the weather was glorious. I was swimming every day and the palliative care of the sun really helped my shoulder. "But when I got back to the UK in the April of 1982, it was so cold that my shoulder just stopped working. It was like trying to start a car in the cold without a choke. I realised
people that something was wrong and it was discovered that I had a frozen shoulder. Everything was overworn and overused and it really needed a rest. But I didn't give it rest and the rehabilitation wasn't managed very well so I missed the entire 1982 season, during which time, I really hit a low. Alan's low point was to prove the making of him. "I'd just had two very good years with Gloucestershire and the shoulder injury gave me real pain, not just in my shoulder, but emotionally. Month after month went by and by the September, I decided that I was going to go back to South Africa and get this shoulder right. During those months, I'd severed ties with Gloucestershire and Glamorgan had made me an offer to come back. "When I did come back in that 1983 season, I took a wicket with my first ball. The Western Mail proclaimed me as The Prodigal Son. And I thought that everything was going to be great. But the season was awful, just awful. And during that season, I made a mental note to myself that this wasn't for me. I felt like I was an elastic band that had lost its tautness. I didn't feel the same as I had done 18 months previously. I still had two years of contract with Glamorgan so I wrote to them in the Christmas of 1983 and told them that I wasn't coming back. They told me that I couldn't go as I was still under contract but I told them that I was giving my 3 months notice, which I could do. And I left!
"I didn't want to coach because it was all still so raw. I was 29 at this point and still had years of cricket ahead of me. But I knew that I had to make that decision and I have no regrets about doing that." The sport had given Alan some long-abiding memories. "I remember taking 8 wickets for 57 for Gloucestershire at Old Trafford in September 1981. It was a career best and I wondered if I was going to get into an England team. "Another happy memory was getting into one of those Glamorgan sweaters for the first time. It had a big daffodil on it and I was so excited that I wore it to bed. It had been given to me by Alan Jones. He handed it to me and said: 'Here we are Wilks. You've earned this.' I felt 12ft tall. I felt like the Terminator." But it was the world of broadcasting to which Alan was heading. "Broadcasting was the obvious choice and I wanted to return to South Africa. My early forays into broadcasting started during that last season with Glamorgan – the summer of 1983 – when Ron Jones, who was then with BBC Radio Wales, and the regular cricket reporter – asked if I would like to sit with him in the commentary box and maybe add a few comments on a Saturday afternoon. I loved it!" Broadcasting has taken Alan all over the globe. He has covered the US Tennis Open and the Australian Tennis Open. He's been on Indian Cricket Tours around the world – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, the West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In golf, he's presented The Masters several times and closer to home, he was the lead commentator and presenter for Asian golf in the AsiaPacific region. "Broadcasting has given me some incredible memories. There have been some extraordinary moments. At Wimbledon, I became very good friends with one of the most wonderful human beings you'll find in this world in Vijay Amritraj. I didn't know a lot about tennis when we first met and he told me that as well, but since then, we've become the closest of friends." One memory that sticks with Alan took place 16 years ago. "We were in New York when 9/11 happened and our hotel on 48th Street took in people who slept in the foyer after the attacks. The following year, it was Sampras v Agassi in the final of the US Open. The New York Coastguard and the
Marine Corps, and the Fire Brigade walked in and unfurled a Stars and Stripes that they'd retrieved from the World Trade Center. With Sampras and Agassi watching on courtside, they lifted the flag and released hundreds of white doves as a message for world peace. "I was so choked up that I couldn't speak but my director was in my earpiece telling me to say something. But I couldn't. I turned to Vijay, who was stood next to me and he had tears just streaming down his face. He just waved me away. Nothing I could have said would have done it justice so I turned the microphone off. Those pictures really were more powerful than any words and they spoke for themselves." For Alan, sport has changed his life for the better. He also recognises its power to improve the lives of others. "We live in an angry world. We live in a world full of angst. But sport is a way where the psychological, the physical and the physiological aspects of human nature can create a healthy mind and body. By linking with other people, playing in a team, playing against other teams, making friends all over the globe in all types of sport - this is how sport improves people. And it has given me a Green Card to travel the world. For me, sport made me a competitive animal. I would encourage children to enjoy sport and it doesn't have to be the traditional ones - there are so many sports to try out there. If the kids don't like it, that's fine but give it a go. "I've been broadcasting for 34 years now but I've now come home. I've just published my new book Easier Said Than Done, which charts my life in broadcasting. I wrote this book, not to make money but to document my life. If I'd had the time, I could have written a lot more. "I'm going to keep on broadcasting while I have an eye to see what I'm looking at and a voice to describe it. I'm still loving it and I want to write a second and a third book!" Easier Said Than Done is now available from www.ashleydrake.cymru
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n i s r f u f i o d h r 2 a 1 Hc T R O N By car or bike, if you've only got a short time to spend in North Cardiff, here's how to give yourself a fun-packed day from morning to night Morning at Long Lunch in Tongwynlais Forest Nature Reserve Tongwynlais is a quaint little village
Breakfast at CafĂŠ Castan They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you'll want to fill up on something tasty for your day ahead. CafĂŠ Castan in Llandaff Fields is the perfect setting to enjoy a bacon roll and a piping hot coffee. With seating inside and out, you can plot and plan your day ahead, surrounded by the beautiful scenery. From here, you can make your way up the Taff Trail, heading past Blackwier and up through Llandaff North and onto Forest Farm Country Park.
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It feels a world away from the city but recent improvements along the canal and in the park mean that you can spend a chilled out few hours here. If you are feeling adventurous, you can step down to the river, which is usually running low at this point of the year. There are various craggy or dry outlets of rock where you can sit and chill for an hour or so, just watching the river go by. If it's wildlife you'd like to see, you can also find plenty in and around the canal.
Photo by John Lord
just north of the M4 motorway. The village itself is surrounded by a large forest called Fforest Fawr which you can explore later but for now, head down into the village to stop off for some lunch. The Lewis Arms serves up traditional pub fayre and a nice icecold drink to refresh you after your morning. After lunch, you can either explore the village itself, which is home to a number of shops, or you can head up behind the Lewis Arms to visit Castell Coch. Major renovation work has just recently taken place here. Work was scheduled to end on July 16th but it's worth checking Cadw's website for the latest details on opening times. The road that leads up to Castell Coch will be the road that takes you on to your next destination. Continue for a mile or so and it will lead you up to the entrance to Fforest Fawr, which you will find on the left-hand side.
Late afternoon coffee in Rhiwbina Village
Photo by Jack Davies
Early afternoon in Fforest Fawr Providing the backdrop to Castell Coch is Fforest Fawr, a woodland that's as popular with film-makers as much as it is with walkers. The forest has an industrial history and there are some impressive deep holes left by iron mining here. There are two trails from the castle and part of the Taff Trail also passes through the forest. The beautiful sculpture trail is designed to take children on a magical journey through the forest and there's even a Forest Tea room nestled there with plenty of room for dogs and bikes.
If you now head back down Rhiwbina Hill, (it's a mile or two long) the charming village of Rhiwbina awaits at the bottom. The village centre boasts boutiques and independent shops but it's also worth popping into the famous Garden Village. The houses were built between 1913 and 1923 and they were classed as a Conservation Area in 1976.
There is a local library near to the train station and you can grab a quick coffee in one of the village's coffee shops to refresh you before you head off to your next destination.
Photo by Neil Pesticcio
Early evening stroll around Roath Park Opened in 1894, Roath Park is still Cardiff's most popular park. The 30 acre man-made lake is a popular facility for fishing and boating and the Scott Memorial Lighthouse on the lake is one of Cardiff's most iconic images. The park itself extends down towards Wellfield Road via a series of botanical gardens but the lake is the place to stretch those legs and take in the last of the evening sun. There is a wide range of habitats in the park, which attracts a diverse variety of wildlife. The lake acts as an important habitat for overwintering and breeding birds, including mallard, cormorants and herons. The lake has a population of about 100 swans and a number of geese.
Evening meal on Cathedral Road Mid afternoon climb at Caerphilly Mountain As you reach the top of Heol-yFforest, you will join the top end of Rhiwbina Hill and if you continue to the top, you will arrive at Caerphilly Mountain. The mountain lies between Cardiff and Caerphilly at the southern edge of the South Wales Coalfield. Its summit is 889 feet above sea-level. Since 1957, there has been a small wooden Snack Bar located near to the summit. In 2011, this was replaced by an eco-friendly permanent building with under floor heating, solar panels and rainwaterflushed toilets. The views from the top of the mountain are spectacular. From Somerset and Devon to the south, there is a 360° panorama through Caerphilly and the valleys to the north.
Tea time picnic at Llanishen Reservoir Well known as 'Home of the Tax Offices', Llanishen offers a lot more both in terms of its village amenities and its reservoir. Construction of the Victorian reservoir was started in 1882 and completed in 1886. For many years, it supplied water to the city of Cardiff but became redundant in the mid 1970s. It was then used for leisure activities until recently, it was the subject of planning disputes. In January 2016, Welsh Water acquired the reservoir for recreational use and for providing water.
Heading away from Roath towards Cathedral Road, you'll pass Cathays Cemetery and on through the student digs near the City Centre. You'll need to head around the Cardiff Castle to get yourself onto Cathedral Road and back towards where you started your day. There is a great mixture of places to take in an evening meal on Cathedral Road and off some of the side streets into Pontcanna. You can finish your day with one for the road at The Halfway, which is situated opposite CafĂŠ Castan where the day began.
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Dentistry, Differently Cloves Dental Care opens this October in Rhiwbina. Owners Imran and Emily Kassam tell you a little bit about themselves and their new dental practice with a difference Imran and Emily met while studying at Cardiff University. They married at The Vale Resort in Hensol in September 2017, which you may have seen featured in a documentary on BBC One Wales called The Wedding Guru. The couple are now in the exciting process of setting up their very own dental practice in Rhiwbina. They are both extremely passionate about offering something a bit different to the public. Their vision is to offer not just a dental practice that treats teeth - they will be treating the patient as a whole, providing confidence and long-term peace of mind.
From the moment you step into Cloves Dental Care, you will feel the difference. To relax before your appointment, you will be offered a selection of hot and cold beverages, including freshly brewed tea, coffee or hot chocolate. Read a newspaper and snack on a fresh apple provided for you. You can even relax in the waiting room while your kids are entertaining themselves. The dream is to make the dental visit more like a trip to your favourite restaurant or bar, creating a similar type of environment - an experience you will want to share with people (otherwise known as
Core Values
• Delivering excellence, clinically and nonclinically every time. Consistency is important • Evolving the way dentistry is delivered by creating positive and unforgettable experiences • Build a positive team and family spirit • Pursue growth and learning • Build a stronger community
the patient journey) from start to finish. The couple live in Whitchurch and love getting involved in the community, from buying meat from Martin Player High Class Butcher to holding their business meetings at Bodlon. Their daughter, Mya, even goes to Kumon classes at Whitchurch Methodist Church and Cloves Dental Care will be sponsoring Whitchurch Rugby Club this coming season also. The pair have recently taken part in the Rhiwbina Summer Festival in June and sponsored local charity Rachel’s Day, raising awareness for sepsis.
Services
• General care and family dentistry • Teeth Whitening • Botox, Fillers • Teeth straightening • Veneers, Crowns, Bridges • Dental Implants • Emergency Dental Care • Dentures
“My family of five are seen every six months by Imran. He always carries out a thorough dental examination, any necessary dental work and provides good advice for all the family. Just recently my five year old son needed to have his front baby tooth removed after damage caused by teeth grinding. This procedure was carried out by Imran. He was excellent with my little boy, constantly reassuring him whilst performing the procedure. I was provided with verbal and written aftercare advice and Imran personally telephoned me a week later to check everything was healing well. I am very happy with the treatment provided by Imran Thank you for everything.” Mrs Anna Evans
Mr Imran Kassam BDS Hons (Cardiff) MFDS RCS (Edin) P.G Cert.Rest Dent (BARD) Mrs Emily Kassam DipHE (Cardiff)
165 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 1TZ 07539 159276 Imran.Kassam@clovesdentalcare.co.uk
outdoors
From East to West Kelvin Hayes recently returned from China to Cardiff after an absence of seven years. His capital is one that's changed in a short time
M
arch 12th 1983 is the date I left New Zealand to return to the UK and to Wales. Time and resources dictated swift action so London was lost, exchanged for the M4. Three decades later, ten years after leaving, seven years since my last visit and five years in China, it was time to press reset. Before long the familiar view of the two Severn crossings lay before me. Cardiff is modern but at the same time, it feels a little worn. After the gleaming towers of new town Guangzhou, coming back feels a bit like going to your granny’s house. The changes are most dramatic around Central Station where the new BBC building is taking shape. The Gloworks centre at the Bay and parts of Cathays, including the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the CUBRIC university buildings on Salisbury Road and the Sherman Theatre for starters - are all new to me. With Cardiff there is a personal history. It is my capital. It is a city I’ve lived in and a city I’ve been coming to since 1984. And here I am again in 2018.
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The Virgin Store on Castle Street (where co-incidently I first saw Wang Chung’s Points on the Curve in all its shrink-wrapped vinyl glory, resplendent in graphic grey and jade type – perhaps an inkling of my future Oriental life) which morphed into comic book haven Forbidden Planet has again changed face - this time to become Mountain Warehouse. The old British Gas building near Queen Street Station (itself revamped) is now a Premier Inn. The Primark (the British UNI QLO) has moved from one side of Queen Street to the other. St Mary Street has been transformed into a part pedestrian zone flanked by Welsh flags. The biggest shock of all though is the once thriving Capital Centre that is now more or less deserted! Where the old Virgin Megastore stood (it had moved there from Castle St) is now a Tesco. Cardiff now appears to be little more than a city food court. Greggs, Starbucks and supermarkets make up a big percentage of what is currently on offer. I see how expensive my country is compared to China, the middle
kingdom. When I left Wales, a standard sized Snickers was 45p. It’s now around 80p. Incredibly, the same meal deal I tell my students about still exists at Yates pub on
Greyfriars Road - fish and chips for £3.75? You bet. Better still, not only has the Chinese place Papa Panda on St Mary Street survived - it’s now joined by Wok to Walk and another – Chopstix – on Queen Street. I saw no Chinese staff so not exactly authentic but westernised oriental food never is. The other pleasant surprise about being back in Cardiff is how warm the people are. Returning from many months of international travel, it’s resolutely clear. ‘Alright my lovely’ from complete strangers seems crazy though it's positively and gratefully received. Best of all though is the change in me. I no longer let trivial things get the better of me. Suddenly everything is as I thought it would be. China seems like a strange dream – did it really happen? At the local Chinese takeaway, I attempt a clumsy and slightly embarrassing ‘Ni Hao.’ Although oriental in appearance, the woman stares back at me and utters a definitively Kairdiff ‘alright?’ At Tesco, one of the cashiers asks me if it feels strange to be back. I give an affirmative. Where language had been reduced to a wash of sound, I could once again understand what people were saying. Titbits of urban life, fragments of other people’s worlds and lives. I could order a coffee or go to a movie without using a dictionary or translation app. Now I appreciated English, the language I am fortunate enough to speak more
than ever. Was there a time when reverse culture shock kicks in or did it not apply to me? Or to put it another way, having undertaken so much travel, was I immune? One thing I was keen to avoid was the British winter. I took due diligence returning via surface transport through France, Luxembourg and Belgium but my plan spectacularly backfired when a miniature snow storm sent temperatures plummeting. Not good. I was in for a late spring in more ways than one. Across Blackweir Bridge, Pontcanna Fields are scanned from wincing eyes in the icy chill as I ferry myself across them, surprised that they have not yet become more houses. In the village itself, the coffee shops have diminished. Only Brava is left standing as are the exclusive members' clubs down the end. The Italian consulate is still a house on King's Road. Canton remains as busy as ever and reigns supreme as hub to many of Cardiff’s charity shops. The Ivor Davies pub still stands proud. These days it’s framed by chic eateries like Bangkok Cafe, Dubai Nights and the Eurasian Tandoori. Chapter Arts Centre has also been transformed - there's more space and while it was often a salvation for notices, there are slim pickings. Most are for community events or to give blood. A Chinese woman in thick yellow puff jacket arrives with her offspring and I manage a proper Ni Hao! Aside the incident above, it’s the first time I’ve spoken Chinese in the ‘diff. Perhaps it really did happen. She (a genuine Chinese) responds but is otherwise busy with her purchase while her kids look up silently bemused who this world weary traveller could be. My return coincides with the final Six Nations game (against France), the China Cup and Easter, though it’s so cold you could be forgiven for thinking it was Christmas. Walking back to Rhiwbina on a cold rainy night may not sound like
much to write about but for the air scented by toasted hot cross buns, the wet shiny streets reflecting traffic lights and the stark leafless trees lit by streetlight, this was magic Cardiffian style. Whenever I return to Cardiff, I think about where else I’ve been and weigh up the similarities. Some years ago, I wrote about ‘seeing the city through a new set of eyes’ and that still rings true. Could the Bay be a mini Barcelona? Yes it could. Does the creative quarter rival Helsinki’s design district? Of course. Is Roath or Bute Park as good as any other in Europe? Yep. We have it all, though are still living with the blinkers on, lax in promoting our capital which in some ways is good. Hopefully we will never see the footfall of London, Paris or New York. And in turn, will hopefully never see the tourist fuelled hate scrawled on walls that Barcelona has. While China and the east basked in the 20s, Cardiff was still chilly, struggling to break into double figures. Normally by now, my winter garb would’ve been washed and packed away. This year was different and I had no option to wear the same few tops day in, day out, grateful I’d kept them and my seldom used sleeping bag. Magic or not, Cardiff wasn’t going to come easy. It was the right city but like Paris, like Shenzhen it may never be home. Even in my own country I was forever the outsider; a dreamer, a poet from the past. One thing was for certain - I was a different man and most definitely the eternal nomad. To read more of Kelvin's work, head to www.kelvinhayesofficial. wordpress.com
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DIY Garden Adventures Memories of summer can often be traced back to innocent childhood times spent in the garden. Here are a few ideas to create new memories this year
S
ummers live long in our memory, even as the autumn nights move in. Summer is a time to make the most of the long daylight hours and the clement weather and you don't need to spend a lot of money to do that. Most of us will have childhood memories of makeshift dens and making stuff from things found in the garage or shed. Time spent in the garden is time well spent, and for kids especially, time spent outside means time away from TVs, video games and mobile phones. Playing outdoors encourages imagination and stimulates their curiosity about the world that they live in. Let them play with water until their hair turns to straw, let them search for insects and let them get caught in a rainstorm. It all adds to the memories,
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Home made KerPlunk
Obstacle Course
Kids love a challenge and putting together an obstacle course will not only keep them physically active, but also challenge their problem-solving skills. Depending on how big your garden is, you can add a route full of things to jump over, climb through and over, and if you have any garden slides or swings, try and incorporate them into your route. Balancing beams are also great fun and are always a challenge.
The goal of this game is to get as many sticks out without letting any of the balls fall. The person with the lowest number of balls at the end wins. You'll need some wire netting that can be looped around and secured to make a cylinder. This will then need to be raised up on a platform so that the balls can drop down. Place about 30-40 bamboo sticks in and drop paddling pool balls on top and your game is good to go!
kids Human Bubble
You can have plenty of fun with just a paddling pool, a large hula hoop and some soapy water. Fill the paddling pool with a few inches of soapy water (using regular and not anti-bacterial washing up liquid), making sure that your paddling pool is large enough to fit a hula hoop. The solution tends to work better if you prepare this the night before. Take it in turns to see if you can completely envelop your humans inside a bubble!
Garden Orchestra
Orchestras aren't just for grown ups right? You can make one right here in your garden. You can either head to a store and pick up some cheap bits and bobs or you can root through your cupboards. Look for things that will make groovy sounds like grills and pans. Hang all your objects on a wall or a fence and use a wooden spoon to make some music!
Sponge Bombs
If your kids love the idea of water bombs, but you don't fancy the idea of picking up small bits of rubber afterwards, these reusable sponge bombs are just what you need. Take some coloured rectangle sponges and cut them lengthways into 1 inch strips. Take 9 or 10 strips and tie them in the middle tightly with a piece of string. Once your knot is tight and secure, fluff the strips out to make a semblance of a ball. Finish off by cutting off any loose bits of string and they're good to go. Simply soak them in a bucket of water and you've got unlimited water sponge bombs for the entire afternoon.
Water Blob
This is essentially two plastic sheets taped together and filled with water. You'll need two heavy sheets of plastic, one being transparent if available. Tape up three of the edges with heavy duty duct tape. You can drop glitter and food colouring inside and then simply fill the rest of it with water. Once the blob is full of water, you'll need to tape up the final length to make it watertight. The more time you spend securing the duct tape in preparation, the more sturdy your blob will be when it comes to letting the kids jump on it.
Ice Block Treasure Hunt
Done correctly, this simple block of ice will keep kids entertained for hours! Take a large plastic container, one that will fit into your freezer. Fill it with a few inches of water and drop in a few small toys. Add in food colouring to the water and freeze. Once frozen, add another layer until the container is full. Once full, tip it out and let the kids figure out a way to excavate their toys!
Wooden Spoon Water Bomb Race
A nice and easy activity that's as much fun to prepare as it is use. Take some untreated wooden spoons and paint them a variety of different colours. No need to be too fussy! Make yourself some water bombs - get ready, get set and GO!
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A Summer Bootcamp for Brains! by Rebecca Salter of Kip McGrath Cardiff West
All parents know that the summer break can be a long six weeks when there are cries of ‘I’m bored!’. But did you know that it takes up to six weeks of the new school year to re-learn what has been lost over the summer? This ‘Summer Learning Loss’ can really affect your child’s progress, so here are some ideas on how to stop the boredom and keep their young brains active in fun, flexible and affordable ways: 1. Design and make a beautiful scrapbook based on your summer adventures. 2. Extreme Reading! Join with another family or group of friends and have a competition to see who can take a photo of themselves reading in the most extreme, funny or strange location. Just make sure that you stay safe! 3. Write a fun book of mini-sagas (stories of 50 or 100 words). Easy and quick to produce, each saga can be illustrated and made into a special book at the end of the holiday.
4. Design your own, new superhero comic book. Don’t forget the archenemy, costumes and a sidekick! 5. Choose a period of history as a holiday theme. Research and visit important places, read guide books, write stories set in this time and make special food from the era too! 6. Visit the National Museum or St Fagan’s and let the children become the quiz masters, carrying around a notepad and writing quiz questions for the adults to answer afterwards. 7. Make an anime diary of your holiday with lots of great artwork. 8. Write and put on a play. Be adventurous and think about designing and even painting the set. You could set a small budget and go charity shopping for costumes and props. 9. Make a magazine based on a topic of interest. This could include expert articles, interviews and
adverts. 10. Take an old-fashioned camera (not on a phone) and learn how to take photographs. Use them in a photo diary. If your child really enjoys their summer activities, they can learn so many new skills and keep up to date with literacy, maths and more, without even realising it. And you’ll be surprised how much fun the adults could have too. A: Unit 3, Hollybush Estate, Coryton Cardiff CF14 7DS T: 02920 628568 W: kipmcgrath.co.uk/cardiff-west
kids
What we like to do in the summer Evie aged 7
When it comes to taking the kids out over the summer holidays, sometimes it's hard to think of ideas. So we asked the kids of Rhiwbina where they like to go and why. Here’s what they said Lily aged 7 Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? Penarth beach. What is it about this place that you like? I like going fossil hunting with my dad and my mum. What do you think is the main appeal for children? Throwing stones into the water. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? Look for fossils! I always find one. What age range do you think it would appeal to? Maybe older than 3 because it’s hard to walk on the rocks. Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place? Because I found my first fossil there, I would give it AAAAA
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Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? Cardiff Bay Beach. What is it about this place that you like? I like it because it's got loads of fun stuff like hook-a-duck and there is a beach and a pool there. What do you think is the main appeal for children? The pool and the beach. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? Spend time with my friend Lily; we love the bungee trampolines. What age range do you think it would appeal to? All ages. Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place? AAAAA
Holly aged 10 Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? Go Air. What is it about this place that you like? There are a lot of different things to do. What do you think is the main appeal for children? The foam pits are a big attraction. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? Playing dodgeball with friends. What age range do you think it would appeal to? 6-18. Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place? AAAAA
Lucy aged 13
Ben aged 7
Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? Swimming at Cardiff International Pool. What is it about this place that you like? I enjoy swimming to keep fit and at the same time, socialising with friends. What do you think is the main appeal for children? The slides and the lazy river. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? Meeting up with friends. What age range do you think it would appeal to? All ages. Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place?
Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? Going to the cinema and bowling in Nantgarw. What is it about this place that you like? Lots of different things to try out, which I enjoy. What do you think is the main appeal for children? Lots of things to do and have fun. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? Trying to get a 'strike' in ten pin bowling and watching my favourite movies. What age range do you think it would appeal to? 4-19. Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place?
AAAAA
AAAAA
Rosie aged 7
Elizabeth aged 10
Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? To Mountain View Ranch. What is it about this place that you like? Because it’s outside and there is a unicorn, fairies and baby dragons. What do you think is the main appeal for children? There is loads of exciting stuff to do there. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? To look out for the fairies. What age range do you think it would appeal to? All ages. Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place?
Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? The Pantmawr Inn on a sunny day. What is it about this place that you like? The beer (lol). The beer garden. What do you think is the main appeal for children? The beer (lol again). No, the lovely relaxed atmosphere (because most of the parents are a bit tiddly!) And the food is scrumptious. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? Play bulldogs with my friends. What age range do you think it would appeal to? All ages. I mean, who doesn't like a nice cold pint on a sunny day? (of lemonade)! Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place?
AAAAA
AAAAA
James aged 8
Zara aged 7
Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? Caedelyn Park. What is it about this place that you like? I practice football there with my dad. What do you think is the main appeal for children? There's a kids play area there with a seesaw - most kids like to go on the seesaw. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? My favourite thing is to play football with my dad. What age range do you think it would appeal to? Ages 3-10. Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place?
Where is your favourite place to go to in the summer holidays? Bluestone. What is it about this place that you like? Going on the buggies and swimming. What do you think is the main appeal for children? Lots of activities and shows. What is your favourite thing to do when you are there? Arts and crafts and swimming. What age range do you think it would appeal to? All ages. Out of 5 possible stars how many stars would you give this place? AAAA
AAAAA
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Outstanding School for Girls and Boys ages 3-18
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Saturday 6th October, 10:00-12:30, Nursery to Sixth Form Opportunities for everyone. All warmly welcome.
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Win a two course dinner and an overnight stay at the village hotel cardiff Village Hotel Club Cardiff are delighted to announce that they have now opened their new Village Grill and Pub, offering an all-day dining experience to complement the existing Starbucks coffee shop. The new menu offers a variety of tasty dishes and fine wines including tender meat and vegetable skewers, succulent steaks and healthy dishes. Or why not enjoy everything with an unlimited Sunday Carvery? Help yourself to a selection of unlimited starters, carved meats, vegetables and sides plus all children eat FREE and receive a FREE soft ice cream! The new Business Club will also
Are you addicted to the smash-hit Netflix series Stranger Things? Whether you’ve binge-watched every episode or haven’t got around to seeing the show everyone’s talking about yet, you’ll
open its doors on 20th August 2018. Benefits of the BClub include: commitment free hot-desking (from £10 per day), meeting room pods available from £20 per hour with unlimited refreshments, smart TV with Click Share and tablet food ordering, unlimited hot refreshments, still and sparkling water on tap, free printing, scanning and copying facilities, free car parking, Super-Fast free Wi-Fi and simple membership options. For your chance to win a complimentary Sunday Night stay for two, along with a 2 course dinner, breakfast, leisure club access and a complimentary love One Man Stranger Things at St David’s Hall on Saturday 29th September! Starting at 8pm, charismatic Canadian actor Charles Ross single-handedly recreates Season One including all the characters, dialogue, special effects and music! Expect Eggos and all manner of mysterious goings on! Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s, the first season focuses on the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy amid supernatural events occurring around the town, including the appearance of a girl with psychokinetic abilities who helps the missing boy's friends in their own search. Charles Ross and T.J. Dawe grew up in the 80s obsessed with adventure movies. They went on to co-create several wildly popular parody shows including One Man Lord of the Rings – which received the official seal of approval from Sir Ian McKellen – and One Man Star Wars, which has been performed over 1,200 times in over 180 cities across four continents!
breakfast the following day, please answer the following question: What is the name of the new Business Club at the Village Hotel? a) BBop b) BClub c) BGood Email the correct answer, along with your name, address and telephone number to competitions@livingmags.co.uk or post your entries to our address on the inside front cover of this magazine. Closing date is Friday 21st September.
Win tickets to see ONE MAN STRANGER THINGS AT ST DAVID'S HALL Now you can be in with a chance of winning a pair of seats in this exclusive competition. All you need to do is answer the following simple question: What TV service does Stranger Things appear on? a) Amazon Prime Video b) Netflix c) NOW TV Please email your answer to SDHpress@cardiff.gov.uk by Friday 21st September 2018 along with your full name and address, plus a phone number.
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the
quarrymen The quarries in and around Morganstown are geological marvels that have been quarried since prehistory. Jim Taverner recalls working there with his father during the 1940s and 50s, and remembers some of the colourful characters and dangerous jobs
My father, Chris Taverner and his friend Bill Brown worked for F. Bowles & Sons (later to become British Dredging) as Company Secretary and Accountant respectively, before and during the Second World War. In 1946, they decided to become self-employed and to that end, they formed Abbey Quarries Ltd. and also Abbey Sand & Gravel Ltd. They negotiated the leases of Tynant and Portabello quarries from Mr. Edwards of Taff’s Well. Portabello Quarry, on the eastern side of the valley was unsafe for further quarrying but the machinery at Tynant still had some years work left in them. The deal also included workshops at Moy Road in Taff’s Well. The pair leased two sand dredgers, the Sand Moor (a converted ex-American Army triple screw Tank Landing Craft) and the Sandskipper, to suction dredge for sand in the Bristol Channel. They did this mainly beyond Steep Holm, thereby providing a complete aggregate solution for the post-war
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building boom. They operated the vessels from East Dock, Cardiff. The machinery at Tynant itself included main and secondary stone crushers, grading drums for sizing the crushed stone, a Ruston Bucyrus 10RB excavator and three Bedford Tippers (two brand new and one Army surplus). There was also an office, a weigh bridge and a safety shelter (with a reinforced concrete roof) which also served as a tea room for the quarry men. On the B4262 Tynant Road were several large hoppers containing different sizes of aggregate and the tippers were loaded from these. Also in place, but not used was a gantry across the road for loading aggregate directly into rail trucks during the war years. These hoppers were sited where the present-day reconstructed lime kilns are situated. I can remember two of the quarry men. One was the Licensed Shot Firer, Albert Sullivan who lived at Greenmeadow in Tongwynlais and the other was Ken Mortimer,
lorry driver of Morganstown. As a small boy, I used to marvel at Albert Sullivan scaling the sides of the quarry, loaded down with a compressed air hose and heavy rock drills, and nonchalantly (or so it appeared) drilling the rock face and stuffing sticks of Gelignite down the holes. When it was time for blasting, everyone sheltered in the tea room but I couldn’t resist watching the results of Albert’s labours from the doorway. On several occasions, there were hits on the Tynant pub roof. My father would always take a hand at the hard work when there were staff shortages. On one Sunday, he was manning one of the big stone crushers. This entailed standing over the crusher jaws and using a large crow bar to dislodge blockages. Even at my adventurous young age, I considered this to be a fairly hazardous thing to do. I was manning the On/Off switch and following a cry of alarm from Dad, I threw the switch. Bouncing about among the rocks was a stick
history
Rhiwbina Speleological Society members at Ogof Ffynnon Ddu of Gelignite complete with fuse wire close by but no detonator cap! Phew! On another occasion, Albert the Shot Firer, was going on holiday. Before leaving, he had blasted a large quantity of stone to last until he returned. Much of this material was still in very large boulders, far too large for excavator and crushers. These had to be broken up into smaller pieces and a process known as plastering was used. Some of the more elderly among you may remember the peace and quiet of a Sunday afternoon being disturbed by a series of explosions in fairly close order. This was plastering. It entailed taking a stick of gelignite, inserting a detonator cap and cutting a length of fuse wire to the required length. This was then ‘plastered’ to the boulder with mud to direct the power of the blast into the rock. We had to set about a dozen of these charges all with different lengths of fuse, allowing us to
The old Tynant Quarry rock face, now complete with entrance tunnel into the Steetley Quarry.
light them all and make for cover behind the trusty 10RB excavator. You couldn’t be cavalier about the number of charges - they had to be counted at each detonation and if there was a discrepancy, a search had to be made to recover the missing delinquent. All went well and I had lit my half dozen with the lighting stick and was running for cover but the old man dropped his stick among the boulders and resorted to matches and only just made it! My mother would have killed him if she had found out what we had been up to. If there had been a Health & Safety Executive, they would have had a field day. Those were the days! There was also a character called Paul Tripp who had a blacksmith's shop on the other side of the valley. There didn’t seem to be anything that Paul couldn’t make from a piece of steel, shoeing horses one minute and repairing excavator parts the next. I remember him being a giant but jovial man who seemed to be liked by everyone. Lunches were invariably taken in the Lewis Arms in Ton with Ernie Hall the Butcher, Mr. Bennett the Garage, Maberly Parker (who had a Civil Engineering yard at Ynys Bridge) and many others. After about fifteen years of
operating, the machinery was just about worn out and with a building slump in the offing, it was decided to cease quarrying at Tynant and it closed for good in about 1958. Many years later, my son Shaun introduced me to caving with the 2nd Rhiwbina Scouts. Over a few years, I discovered many of the caves in southern Wales and to my surprise, thoroughly enjoyed it. In order to gain access to various caves, many of them locked, we became affiliated to the area's governing body using the name Rhiwbina Speleology Society - a pretty grand name for a small group of enthusiasts. On one of my last caving trips before old age, infirmity and pressure from my spouse put an end to adventure, I found myself roping down and swinging into the tiny entrance to a fascinating cave, Ogof Pen y Graig (I have since been made aware that the name is probably incorrect and that the Little Garth Cave is now connected to it), the entrance to which was on the vertical face of Tynant quarry. After a long, tight bedding plane crawl, we entered a small but beautiful chamber with great formations. How they had survived the constant blasting operations at Tynant and at the Dolomite next door, I shall never know. Talking of the Dolomite quarry, (later known as Steetley Quarry), for those of you who know the Little Garth, you will be aware that there were many areas of old mine workings and that attendant waste from these workings was put into convenient mounds. My father arranged to remove many hundreds of tons of this waste which was mainly limestone, sent it through the crusher and hey presto, aggregate ready for the market! I always thought that the old workings was a very spooky place. I think someone had fallen to their death in one of shafts in the 60s. I remember most of these shafts as being completely unguarded. I’m pretty sure too that the area was controlled by the War Department during WW2 and used to store important Government documents. Be aware that the old Tynant Quarry and that the entrance to Little Garth Cave (the entrance is gated) is private property.
if there had been a health and safety executive, they would have had a field day
31
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pets
Your pet questions answered
Chris Troughton is clinical director of Heath Vets. He’s here to answer all your pet questions. If you’d like to ask Chris a pet-related question, drop us a line I recently acquired an older dog after her owner passed away. Despite my best efforts, I’ve not been able to find any medical records for the dog and I’m worried that if I bring her in for a check-up, that she’ll be subjected to all kinds of jabs that she’s already had. What do I do? Firstly, thank you for taking on this dog. Many elderly people worry a great deal about what will happen to their pets if they pass on, and it’s good that there are people like you out there who are prepared to help. It’s not uncommon to have no medical records in re-homing cases, and the best plan would be to take the dog for a check-up with your vet. You can rest assured that she will not receive any treatment against your wishes. Your vet will be able to advise you on the risks and benefits of various courses of action, including whether she needs vaccinating, and if so, against which diseases, and what parasite control measures are appropriate for her. It’s quite possible she hasn’t had a check-up for ages, and the vet might find other issues that need addressing. On the other hand, she might get a clean bill of health, which will be very reassuring for you. My dog has started a new habit of finding, and rolling in, some kind of dog muck in the local park. Sometimes, he’ll attempt to eat it. How dangerous is this and can I stop it? I’d imagine that it’s riddled with all sorts of bacteria! Dogs do learn some horrid tricks, don’t they? There are some health risks that come from this behaviour, but they are not too serious. Obviously, eating other dogs’ faeces could cause tummy upsets, but the main infection risk is from roundworms, so it’s important that you give an effective worm
treatment every month. Smearing dog poo all over his coat is very nasty but not really hazardous. However, if it is fox poo (and that has a very characteristic smell which is very difficult to get rid of), there is a chance he could catch mange. Foxes with mange nibble their itchy skin, thereby ingesting the mites and eggs. These pass through the digestive tract and can be infectious through contact with the faeces. Therefore it’s important to clean the faeces off the dog very effectively, and if he becomes itchy, take him to the vet. Some of the routine flea treatments are also effective against mange, so it might be worthwhile making sure that what you routinely give him for fleas will cover mange as well. What’s the most effective anti-flea treatment for cats? And is it true that cat fleas can live for over a year because that freaks me out? I have to be careful here, because it is illegal to advertise (ie. mention by name) prescription-only medicines, so I will use the name of the active ingredients, and you’ll have to Google them! Cats are generally not willing to take tablets, so the best treatments are applied to the back of the neck as a liquid. Some then spread through the coat to cover the whole body, while others are absorbed through the skin and reach the skin of the whole animal through the bloodstream. Other means of applying insecticides, such as collars or powders are very much less effective. There are two main products we use. One contains
imidocloprid (and moxidectin) and has to be applied every month. This product also kills roundworms. The other, more popular, contains fluralaner and this lasts for 3 months at a time – a big benefit for most cat owners. I’m sorry to tell you it’s true that fleas can live a long time. Adult fleas live only on the host animal, and usually last only a matter of weeks, possibly a month or two. The eggs and pupae are found in the bedding and carpets etc. and if there are no suitable hosts in the environment, the pupae will wait to hatch until there are. They can remain in suspended animation for over a year if necessary. So if you move to a new home where there have been pets in the past, look out for signs of flea irritation on your pets, and if it happens, treat the carpets as well as the pet.
A: 123-125 Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6UH T: 029 2062 1511 W: www.heathvets.co.uk
Fruits of r e m m u S the
You can enjoy the fruits of summer from your own garden. Kevin Revell shows you how to make the most of your seasonal harvest
H
ome-grown fruit, bursting with flavour, is a vitamin and mineral-packed addition to the diet. A few berries sprinkled on the morning cereal or mixed in with a smoothie is a healthy option, but they are also invaluable for making traditional pies, crumbles and summer puddings. The fruit can also be frozen or preserved for use later in the year in jams and jellies. Soft fruit can be defined as that which does not grow on trees, but on bushes which are perhaps the easiest and most productive plants we can grow in our gardens. They reward us with huge harvests of fresh fruit for a minimum of effort. They are often seen as
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old fashioned or the preserve of allotment gardeners but most gardens should have room for a few bushes and if not, I would advocate making room by digging up part of the lawn or patio. Modern varieties are often more compact than traditional forms with greater yields of larger, tastier fruit. Seeing the prices of blueberries and raspberries in the shops makes me wonder why more of us aren’t growing them at home. They don’t travel well however and the season is short, so when ripe, the fruit needs to be picked and eaten promptly or preserved to prevent it spoiling. Of course tasty bite-sized berries are going to be attractive to other visitors to the garden, notably birds. It may be that bushes will need to be grown under the protection of netting or cloches but growing soft fruit is relatively trouble free. Good, welldrained, manureenriched soil is ideal at planting time.
A bucket of wood ash around each plant or a dressing of sulphate of potash will ensure a good crop while a mulch of compost will keep the roots moist and weeds suppressed.
Blackcurrants
That so many children are familiar with ‘Ribena’ but so unfamiliar with the fruit from which it comes is one of life’s great mysteries. Blackcurrants are easy to grow, requiring only some of the older shoots to be pruned down to the ground each year in autumn or winter. Remove low branches to prevent them trailing on the ground and to keep the centre of the plant open. Chains of glossy currants are formed on the one year old wood, plants performing best in light sun or part shade. The large bushes can become 1.5m high and wide so need planting this distance apart to allow them to reach maturity. ‘Ben Connan’ is the most popular variety while ‘Ben Sarek’ is more compact. ‘Big Ben’ is a relatively new variety with exceptionally large sweet currants.
gardens
Redcurrants and Whitecurrants
Another easily grown plant although the pruning is a bit trickier - redcurrants fruit on spurs produced from older wood so it is these which require shortening in autumn. Only the occasional branch should be removed to keep the bush open and productive. Harvesting the fruit involves cutting the jewel-like chains and removing the currants with a fork in the comfort of the kitchen where they must be used promptly to avoid spoiling. ‘Jonker Van Tetts’ is the leading traditional variety but the newer ‘Rovada’ and ‘Rosetta’ have sweeter, larger currants. The pectin-rich juice is often added to other fruits such as raspberries and strawberries when making jam to aid setting. It can also be used to make a sharp tasting jelly.
Gooseberries
Gooseberry plants will tolerate a degree of shade but are more resistant to mildew and the destructive gooseberry sawfly if they are in a more open position. The sharp taste and spiteful thorns are not ideal for everyone but ‘Invicta’ and ‘Hinomaki Green’ are good culinary varieties ideal for fools, pies and crumbles while dessert varieties such as ‘Hinomaki Red’ can be eaten raw when ripe. Plants will grow to 1m high and should be pruned to keep them open and accessible with fruiting spurs shortened for larger berries.
Summer Fruiting Raspberries
Traditional raspberry canes fruit in July on last year’s growth. Over the course of the year, new, green canes grow which should be tied-in in autumn or winter and the old fruited canes cut away to make space. They are usually trained on wires supported between stout posts and can grow up to 2m tall. ‘Glen Ample’ is a very productive variety with good flavour. ‘Octavia’ is a new variety fruiting into August with improved flavour.
Autumn Fruiting Raspberries
These plants fruit on this year’s growth and so require less in the way of support and are easily pruned down to the ground in winter. ‘Autumn Bliss’ is commonly grown but has now been superceded by ‘Polka’ which produces full flavoured fruit as long as the weather is good in September and October. Raspberries dislike heavy soil, a light sandy loam is ideal, enriched with garden compost or leaf mould. Look out for the compact ‘Ruby Beauty’ which can be grown in patio pots and containers.
Blackberries and Hybrid Berries
Cultivated blackberries are strong plants which produce larger fruit than their wild cousins but it is debatable whether they taste as good. ‘Bedford Giant’ is a good
traditional variety while ‘Adrienne’ is a thornless variety which makes picking more comfortable. Hybrid berries are crosses between blackberries and raspberries and are a bit tart for raw consumption but make excellent pies and conserves. Most loganberries are extremely prickly but thornless varieties have been bred, the long conical fruit is a dark crimson purple and full of flavour. Tayberries are sweeter and dark red in colour. Like blackberries, they are usually trained on wires or canes and will grow 2-3m in each direction. The year-old canes produce the fruit so these are cut out in the autumn to be replaced with new growth, which will need to be tied-in on the framework.
Blueberries
Blueberries have become increasingly popular in recent years, the mid-season ‘Bluecrop’ and early ‘Patriot’ are among the best while ‘Pink Lemonade’ has a similar taste to regular blueberries but an unusual colour. The large bushes can reach over 1.5m tall but can be grown in pots with newer more compact varieties now available. They prefer moist soil in full sun and dislike lime, so should be planted with ericaceous compost or leaf mould. Kevin Revell is the Plant Area Manager at Caerphilly Garden Centre
37 37
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Chambers Estate Agents is one of North Cardiff’s leading independent estate agents, providing a highly professional, efficient and personal service in residential sales, lettings and property management. Manager Bradley David explains how the family-run business has served Whitchurch and the surrounding area for the last 22 years
What’s the story behind Chambers Estate Agents? Chambers is completely family run and has been since my dad established the business in 1996. He worked for Lucas & Madley and his dad helped buy the offices where we are now. My dad founded Simon David Estate Agents in 1996 and my mum was qualifying as a barrister at the time. It took her four years to qualify and when she did, they decided to change the name of the business to Chambers. I started working here in 2006. We all grew up in the village. By a strange twist of fate, my girlfriend’s mum used to work here for my dad in the building that we are now located in 35 years ago. Who are members of the team? Kathy Challinor heads up our rental team. She has lots of experience in this area, having worked in the sector for many years. Joanne Williams is a recent addition to the team and helps with administration and sales. Simon my dad is still here (just), usually because my mum sends him here! Why did you decide to locate in Whitchurch? The building that we now work from in Whitchurch came up for sale but my dad was familiar with the building as he’d worked in it before. It was an opportunity for us as a Whitchurch family to establish the business in our local area. What makes the homes in Whitchurch special? I really like how different they all are. There are grand houses up towards Heol Don – red brick, baywindowed, absolutely beautiful; and then there are the smaller houses down towards Heol Gabriel which cost less, but are still bayfronted and still come with original features. There’s something here for everyone. Sponsored feature
What are the most memorable houses that you’ve marketed? There are two. Bridge House is the first. I walked past that house every day of the week since the age of 2. Over the years, it started getting a bit run down and the garden was becoming overgrown. I always wondered what had happened. Then I was sat here one Sunday morning going through some paperwork and the owner’s daughter came in and told me that her mum had gone into a home. She told me that she needed to sell the house and she didn’t need to finish her sentence before I told her that I could help. Two chaps have recently bought the property and renovated it. The second most memorable property was on Bishops’ Road. I was called out of the blue by a solicitor to put this one on the market. Nobody had been in the property for 50 years, it had an old ham radio and oil lamps. There was no electric and no gas and it still had all its original features. The chap who bought it must have some imagination and I can't wait to see what he's done to it. What do you think is the appeal of Whitchurch as a place to live? It has something for everyone and I’ve found in the last five years that more and more people are actually moving into Whitchurch. People are moving here from places like Manchester and Guildford. The village is 10 minutes away from city centre, there’s the Taff Trail on our doorstep and it was listed as No.3 in the Top Ten places to live in the UK in The Times not long ago. The local schools have helped too, especially for the Welsh speakers. The success of Gareth Bale and Sam Warburton has made lots of young boys want to go to school here. There are places where you can eat, drink, relax and socialise. Everything has improved beyond recognition and it really is a lovely
place to live. What other areas do you cover? We just sold one property in Roath Park Lake and we also regularly sell in Llandaff North, Rhiwbina and Llanishen. What are Chambers' values? We are very candid here. Sometimes that works against us but we’d rather tell people what we really think than tell someone what they want to hear just to get the instruction. Down the line somewhere, you may have to break some bad news and it's best to start as you mean to go on. We’re totally honest and we pride ourselves on that. Our reputation means everything to us which is why a lot of our work comes by word-ofmouth. That speaks for itself. What do you love about the work you do? There’s nothing better than giving a set of keys to someone and giving them a home that they’ll love. Last week, I handed over the keys to two first time buyers. You could see the sheer delight in their eyes and when we gave them their keys and a bottle of Prosecco, that’s what makes it all worthwhile for me. You forget about all the pressures of chains, people pulling out and dates. Seeing someone delighted makes all the hard work worthwhile. What are your plans for future? We are going to continue doing what we’re doing here and that's delivering great, personal service.
35 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1DB T: 029 20522106 F: 029 20522660 E: info@chambersestateagents. co.uk www.chambersestateagents.co.uk
Summer tonics With summer finally here, now is the time to sit in the garden with an ice cold cocktail. Here are a few ideas that will go down a treat
Sparkler 30ml fresh grapefruit juice 15ml ginger liqueur 120ml Prosecco grapefruit wedge to garnish
Strawberry & Lime Rickey
· Pour the grapefruit juice and the ginger liqueur in a champagne glass. Gently pour the Prosecco on top until the glass is nearly full. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Blue Lagoon 30ml vodka 30ml Curaçao 120ml lemonade 500ml crushed ice · Add 250g crushed ice into a cocktail shaker. · Add all the liquid ingredients and shake well. · Add ice to a tumbler and pour the mixed cocktail over it. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and lemon.
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450g strawberries hulled and cut in half 60ml fresh lime juice 2 tbsp honey or more to taste 6-10 mint leaves 120ml gin dash of sparkling water 500ml ice 3 tbsp sugar lime strawberries and mint for garnish · Blend the strawberries, lime juice and honey in a high-speed blender. · Rub the rims of two glasses with a slice of lime then dip in a shallow bowl of sugar. Add ice to the glasses. · In a cocktail shaker, muddle 6-10 mint leaves with a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon. Then add 375ml ice, the gin and 150ml strawberry puree mixture. Shake well. · Pour the mixture into glasses and top with sparkling water. Garnish with fresh lime, strawberries, and mint.
Summer fruit sangria 50ml of sparkling white wine or Champagne 20ml of gin 20ml of crème de menthe 10ml of triple sec 10ml of lime juice 4 cranberries 4 blackberries 4 raspberries 1 slice of lime · Wash all the fruits, cut the lime in half and squeeze it. Cut a slice for the final decoration. · Put all the fruits, the lime juice and all of the spirits into a large glass or a Cognac glass. · Pour in white wine and stir gently. · Add three ice cubes to cool the cocktail and add the slice of lime to the glass rim.
drink
Seaside Coladas 120ml pineapple juice 120ml white rum 120ml coconut milk 60ml blue Curaçao 250g frozen pineapple chunks ice, for blending (optional) maraschino cherries, for garnish sliced pineapple, for garnish · In a blender, combine pineapple juice, rum, coconut milk, blue Curaçao, and frozen pineapple, until smooth. Garnish with cherries and pineapples.
Pink Vodka Lemonade Slushies
Earl Grey Gin Cocktail
Frozen Sangria Margarita For the sangria swirl 250ml red wine juice of 1 orange juice of 1 lime 500g of ice
5 lemons, halved 80ml vodka 250ml pink lemonade 500g ice 1 bunch mint
For the margarita swirl 1 can frozen limeade concentrate 2 shots tequila 500g ice
· Using a spoon, scoop out the fruit of the lemons, leaving the peel intact. Discard the flesh and the pips of the lemon. · In a blender, combine the vodka, the lemonade and the ice. Blend until smooth. · Use a small ice cream scoop to scoop vodka mixture into the lemons. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve immediately.
45ml simple syrup 45ml lemon juice 235ml Earl Grey infused gin 3 ice cubes sparkling mineral water
· Blend the sangria mixture together. Transfer the mixture to the freezer while you blend the margarita mixture. · Rinse the blender and blend the margarita mixture together. · On a small plate, combine sugar and salt. Run a wedge of lime around the rim of a glass and dip the glass upside down in sugar and salt. Alternate the layers of sangria and margarita in the glass until it's nearly full. · Garnish your drink with lime and serve.
· To make the infused gin, add 2 tablespoons of loose leaf Earl Grey tea to 235ml gin of your choice and let set for 2 hours covered at room temperature. Filter into another container for use later. · In a tall tumbler, combine the simple syrup, the lemon juice and the infused gin. Stir until all the ingredients are well blended. · Add 3 ice cubes and top off the glass with cold sparkling mineral water. Stir again. · Garnish with dried rose tea buds if desired.
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A-ZSummer
An
of
Summer is often a genteel affair - from drinks in the garden to the soothing hiss of a summer barbecue. Here's our A-Z Afternoon Tea Cocktails Festivals A very British affair, afternoon tea is best enjoyed in the garden. If you have friends coming around, remember to make the sandwiches very, very tiny and to charge your friends ÂŁ30 for the privilege.
Barbecues
There are two types of barbecue. The first is when you have one they're the best things ever. Great friends, delicious food and a time to unwind. The second type is when someone else is having one. Then barbecues are smelly, noisy and a disturbance of the peace.
Summer wouldn't be summer without testing out a few cocktails. A splash of vodka here, a glug of gin here, a good lashing of tequila, some rum and oh dear. There doesn't seem to be any room left for mixers or ice.
DIY
When the temperature reaches a certain point during the summer months, DIY-ers emerge from their homes where they have laid dormant and begin their annual ritual. Swarms of workers converge on their houses, stripping out the old and installing the new. This tradition is often accompanied by the sounds of drills, electric saws and Talk Radio.
Elation
The feeling one experiences when the kids finally go back to school after 6 weeks off. Often accompanied by small house parties, genuine tears of joy and mutual pats on the back.
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You know when it's been a good festival when you're sat at home in the evening with a glass of wine, you're rubbing after sun into your sunburn and the kids are asleep with their face paints on.
Grass cutting
If there's ever a sound that captures the essence of summer, it's the lazy fizz of a lawnmower. Sadly, this does not apply at 8am on a Sunday morning when there's some idiot disturbing everyone's lie-in with their Flymo and hedge strimmer.
Hedges
You know how it goes. The man down the road comes out and does his hedge. The next door neighbour takes one look at their own and decides that they need to do theirs. This continues until everyone is well-mastered in the art of topiary.
Invasion
Usually by those little fellas - ants, wasps, fruit flies, bluebottles, earwigs - why can't they just leave us all alone and let us eat our barbecues in peace?
Jacuzzi
If you've got one of these in your garden, you can consider yourself one of North Cardiff's poshest residents. What you need to do now is open it up to the rest of us so that we can come over and try it out. It's only fair.
can also be used to repel members of one's family who insist on coming to stay for a few nights over the summer.
Ketchup
School
Often overlooked when it comes to planning a barbecue. Luckily, the local shops hold extra stock out the back in case of these last-minute emergencies.
Laughter
Wander the streets of North Cardiff on a summer's evening and you'll hear laughter spilling out from people's gardens. That and the sound of lawnmowers and kids on trampolines.
Music
"If music be the food of love, play on," said some writer once. Clearly, he'd never been sat at the traffic lights on Merthyr Road, listening to the car next door thumping out Bump N' Grind on volume 11.
Neighbours
You may not see them for the rest of the year but come summer, you can't really miss them. Yes, summer forces us to interact with them so it's best just to accept that and get on with it whether you want to or not.
Overcoat
You know it's summer in Cardiff when some of our older residents undo the top button of their heavy overcoats.
Pimms
Anyone for Pimm's? Yes, quite a few of us actually. You can spot Pimm drinkers on bin nights - they're the ones gently placing the plastic green bins on the ground very, very carefully. This is to avoid making very loud clinking noises and making the neighbours think that they have a drinking problem.
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No. There's no school. School's out. Forever. Well, until the end of the summer holidays at least. This means that there will be no rush hour at either end of the day in the village but you will have kids bouncing on their trampolines in gardens until 10pm every night instead. Hooray!
out whether the summer gazebo he's put up is weatherproof. Cue 6ft of rain in less than an hour to put that to the test. 'It said that it was showerproof on the label,' he'll say as he picks up the pieces afterwards.
Tomatoes
Xeriscape
In all the greenhouses in all the village, there is one fruit that threatens to take over the world in the late summer harvest - the prolific tomato.
Unmoving
Not in motion. Still or constant. A word to describe the feeling when you've been sat in a sun lounger for too long, you're starting to crisp up in the sun, but you're too lethargic to do anything about it.
A landscaping method that employs drought-resistant plants and special techniques to conserve water. Bet you didn't know that did you? Impress your friends this summer by saying things like 'My garden has been totally xeriscaped this year, darling'.
Yobs
To convert or be converted into vapour. Often occurs when sat on a Cardiff Bus that's stuck in traffic coming down Llantrisant Road on a hot summer's day.
Summer brings with it plenty of less-than-welcome visitors - flying ants, wasps, and of course, the teenage yobs. At home, these are probably well-meaning and polite young people. But once they're in the park with their mates and a slab of Skol, they turn into noisy drunkards who leave behind a trail of litter and destruction.
Weatherproofed
Zillionaires
Vapourisation
The real test for any man is to find
These are the posh people of Cardiff. See Jacuzzis and Pimms.
Quaint
This is what outsiders call our villages as they drive through and see us drinking Pimms in our jacuzzis.
Repellent
A substance that deters insects or other pests from approaching or settling. Industrial strength versions
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