Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 51 by Whitchurch and Llandaff Living

ar ary Ye rs 10 ive ue n ss An I

News | People | Features | Competitions | Lifestyle

Whitchurch &

Llandaff Living

At the heart of the community

Issue 51 Dec '18/Jan '19

Inside this issue Llandaff's Baroness Finlay reflects on how she has helped develop palliative care across the world

Competitions

Win a family ticket to see Cinderella and tickets to Sing-a-Long-a The Greatest Showman at St David's Hall

Christmas Gifts

Discover our hand-picked Christmas gifts from our local shops and beyond

Style your home for Winter 10 ways to make your home the perfect refuge from the winter weather

Spring deadline:

22nd February 2019 Published 6th March 2019

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.

Welcome / Croeso It's that time of year again when the excitement of the festive season builds. The villages are aglow with twinkling lights, the windows of our shops proudly display their finest offerings and the children talk incessantly of the magic number of sleeps left before the big day. We meet some of our youngest local children who share their precious letters to the big man himself and highlight their allimportant wishes for Christmas. Our communities are full of inspirational characters. We spoke to Baroness Finlay of Llandaff about her life work in the field of palliative care and how her early experiences shaped her determination to effect change. Another Llandaff resident, Peter Jones recalls how he pieced together the life of his father Jonah Jones, through discovered letters. Jonah was a famed artist and sculptor whose work can be found across Wales and in our capital city. As the bitter, easterly winds arrive, we tend to hunker down and spend more time indoors. We share some ideas for making our homes extra snuggly to keep warm and cosy. The beauty of the outdoors is also featured with local woods to explore. With gifts aplenty to buy, our villages are the best places to find the perfect gems as gifts. We showcase some of the finest on offer. It's also a fabulous way of supporting our local businesses who are the heart of village life. For those who want to give a gift a little different, we highlight other ways to show your appreciation for loved ones. So,

if you're really stuck for a present for someone who seems to have everything, take a look at our guide to find a present 'outside of the box'. Food is a big part of this season and enjoying home-made goodies is perhaps one of the greatest joys of this time of the year. We share some ideas for delicious treats for the perfect Christmas Eve supper. Someone has to win our fabulous two competitions and St David's Hall have once again shared their generosity with us by offering tickets to both the ballet and to an uplifting and fun Sing-A-Long. There is a heartwarming short story to enjoy and a more lighthearted view of the run up to Christmas. So, as the busy days draw nearer to the crescendo of Christmas, pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple and take some time to fully savour all the treats this issue has to offer. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2019. See you in the Spring!

Danielle and Patric

Editors

@WhitchurchandLlandaffLiving www.facebook.com/ whitchurchandllandaffliving

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Christmas with City Hospice Wednesday 12th December 7pm Ararat Church, Whitchurch Support Cardiff's local hospice while joining in the spirit of Christmas Llandaff Society Christmas Carol Service Wednesday 19th December 7.30pm Parish Hall, Llandaff The annual carol service with ladies choir, Oriana

New Year's Eve Party Monday 31st December City Hall, Cardiff See out 2018 and welcome in 2019 with ice-skating and fireworks Llandaff and Danescourt PACT Meeting Tuesday 8th January 7pm Insole Court, Llandaff Meet with local police and residents to discuss issues and concerns

Rookwood Hospital closing date announced by First Minister

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has confirmed that Rookwood Hospital will shut on a permanent basis in 2020. The hospital recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary. The announcement follows news of a new unit for rehabilitating patients with spinal and neurological conditions at Llandough Hospital. First Minister Carwyn Jones announced £30.8m of funding for the new unit at Llandough Hospital in November. The new unit will feature a 26-bed spinal cord injury rehabilitation ward, a 24-bed specialist neurorehabilitation ward and critical care service providing long-term ventilation support to spinal injury patients. Accommodation will also be improved. Patients currently at Rookwood will

be transferred over to Llandough over the next two years. A spokeswoman said: “The health board has undertaken many hospital and patient moves working together with partner organisations to ensure safe transfer of patients with complex needs with the utmost care, dignity and respect.” The closure of Rookwood has been on the cards for several years. The NHS has voiced concerns over patient and staff safety, saying that the building is deteriorating. Cardiff and Vale University Hospital Board have also proposed transferring day hospital services, including elderly care assessments, out of Rookwood Hospital to Llandough's Day Hospital before the winter. That news was met with mixed reactions from patients.

Campaign launched to save club Residents and tennis fans have formed a campaign to save Whitchurch Tennis Club. The club has come under threat after concerns were raised about its lease, which comes up for renewal next year. More than 150 people attended a meeting in October to discuss the club's future. A spokesman for the club said: "The public meeting was held to inform everyone of the situation we are facing with the expiry of our lease on the 31st of December 2019. The concerned audience was informed how the Club has attempted on multiple occasions to open discussions with our landlords for an extension or renewal of the lease but have received no response from them since December 2017. "The Club has been part of the

fabric of Whitchurch for over 100 years and has provided a valuable recreational resource for local people, schools and the wider community at its current site for over 70 years." An online petition has been launched to allow all those from the local area and the tennis community to voice their concerns. The petition can be found at: www.ipetitions. com/petition/save-WTC

news

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living celebrates 10 year anniversary

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living magazine is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this month. Residents got their first glimpse of the popular community magazine in late November 2008. Editor Danielle Dummett said: "When we first sat down and decided that we were going to create this magazine, we had no idea that we'd still be going strongly 10 years later. "Our aim was to produce a high quality publication that captured all the latest news from the area, and to provide an effective promotional tool for local businesses. In the last 10 years, we've kept residents informed about their local community and we like to think that we've helped bring the community together in some way." Following the success of its sister publication Rhiwbina Living in 2007, Whitchurch and Llandaff Living was launched a year later in 2008. The magazines have won several high profile awards and were Cardiff's official Community Business of the Year in 2017. "Creating and distributing these magazines takes an enormous amount of work but we love it and it makes us happy that people enjoy them. We now back up what we do in print online too - so we reach far and wide. "We are very proud of what we do so we're hoping for another 10 years of Whitchurch and Llandaff Living!" added Danielle.

“

Our aim was to produce an effective promotional tool for local businesses and to help bring the community together

news

Llandaff North schools work Construction of the second phase of Cardiff Council’s £8.2m investment into Gabalfa Primary School and Ysgol Gymraeg Glan Ceubal in Llandaff North has begun. Work is taking place on the land between the two old school sites to create a shared outdoor space. The two primary schools have been built as part of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools investment strategy and the new space will incorporate multi-use games areas, playing fields, forest school and grow zones for both schools when it opens in February 2019.

Cars being targeted Residents in Llandaff North are being urged to report all cases of crime to the police after a spate of smash-and-grab thefts from cars. At a PACT meeting in November, Police Community Support Officers told members of the public that thefts from cars was high on their list of call-outs. Residents shared their stories of vandalism and break-ins, prompting the police to remind residents to not leave anything on show in their vehicles.

Cardiff Met receives Sanctuary Award Cardiff Met has become the first Welsh University to receive a University of Sanctuary Award, reflecting its commitment to welcoming people fleeing violence and persecution. The University's Chair of the Board of Governors, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff attended the award ceremony held at the Llandaff campus on 28th November.

Dog walking ban likely to be scrapped by Council A controversial plan to ban dog walking on marked sports pitches in Cardiff looks set to be dropped after complaints from dog walkers. A petition of more than 16,000 dog owners' signatures was backed up by a protest march that included hundreds of people. Peter Bradbury, Cardiff Council cabinet member for Culture and Leisure, said that a blanket ban was now 'highly unlikely' in view of the opposition shown. Dog owner Michelle Gully told Whitchurch and Llandaff Living:

"I am just one of a number of people who enjoy walking our dogs in a responsible way. We have plenty of wonderful dogs who need a place to run free." Under the plan, walkers faced spot fines of £100 if caught breaking the ban on dog walking. Fines for dog fouling were also considered.

North Cardiff trains affected by cancellations and delays Transport for Wales (TfW) has apologised for the disruption of its services and said it is trying to 'share the pain' by diverting trains from quieter routes to more popular services. A third of its 127 trains were out of action due to damage at the end of November, leading to cancellations and delays across Wales. Commuters in North Cardiff have been feeling the brunt of the affected services. Carl Wilson, who travels from Llandaff to the city centre every day, told Whitchurch and Llandaff Living:

"We thought Arriva Trains Wales were bad but that was nothing compared to what we have now. "I get on the train at Llandaf and I have been late for work so many times thanks to Transport For Wales. If the trains aren't cancelled, myself and my fellow travellers find that the train is actually full before it even gets to us, which means that we can't actually get on. I've seen school children being turned away because there is no room on the train. It's awful." Bad weather and the age of Transport for Wales' fleet have been blamed for causing chaos on the network. Ministers have said a lack of investment under Arriva Trains Wales hasn't helped.

Volunteers restore historic gardens Pensioner volunteers have been working to restore the gardens at the site of the old St Mary's Church in Whitchurch. The site was formerly maintained by a designated park ranger but has fallen into disrepair over the last 30

years. The group meet once a month at the Old Church Road site to work on restoring the gardens to their former glory. The original St Mary's Church dates from the sixteenth century but was demolished in 1904.

Insole Court appoints new director Insole Court Trust, the charity that operates Insole Court mansion and gardens in Llandaff has recently appointed a new permanent Director. Graham Hill has been appointed to the role after the charity Board of Trustees carried out an external recruitment process. Earlier this year, the previous Director resigned to

pursue a new role at the National Trust, and Graham has been the acting Business Manager during the interim period. He first joined Insole Court as the Marketing and Business Development Manager in 2016, bringing with him a wealth of charity communications and marketing experience.

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Constituency News with Julie Morgan AM

In November I attended the moving Armistice Day wreathlaying service at Whitchurch War Memorial which also marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. It was great to see so many members of the local community taking part – it was the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen at the service.

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Take your next step In October I held an event on Loneliness in Llandaff North which was very well attended. Loneliness affects so many different groups of people, from new mums to disabled people, the recently retired to older people. It was great to be able to showcase some of the help on offer and encourage people to make new connections. My next community event, on December 3, is about the environment and will be held in Llanishen Leisure Centre. It will include an update from Welsh Water on progress to restore Llanishen Reservoir. In November I attended a packed meeting in support of the campaign to save Whitchurch Tennis Club, along with local councillors and MP Anna McMorrin. Local people are very concerned about the club’s future as, at the time of writing, the renewal of its lease is in doubt. The club is so well-used by the community and local schools it would be a great shame to see it close. It is a great resource for keeping people fit and active so I will do whatever I can to support the campaign to save it. In October I attended an event about how Cardiff University is working to make our city the first ‘bee-friendly’ city in the UK. Bee hives have been established on buildings around the city including two on the roof of the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay which I climbed up to see. It was encouraging to see how many bees were buzzing around! I will also be encouraging more bee-friendly planting at the Community Garden in Whitchurch. We can all do much more to encourage bees which are under threat – but are also vital for the pollination of so many of our plants and help the ‘cycle of life’ keep turning. Please get in touch with me if you have any issues you’d like to discuss. My contact details are below and I hold regular surgeries on Mondays and Fridays, as well as ‘pop up’ surgeries all over the constituency on Saturdays. 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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Ben

Dear Santa I am looking forward to Christmas because my elf comes and he’s really cheeky. Once he ate some chocolates from my Christmas tree! I’m also looking forward to opening the presents in my stocking! I should be on the Good List because I always help my my little brother with maths and writing, and I help their with gling strug e they’r friends at school when few work. Please can I have roller skates, a Fitbit and a or List hty Naug the on I Am s. figure action and es puzzl the Good List?!

George

Dear Santa

Dear Santa This year, I'm excited to come to the North Pole to meet you and the elves and huskies, as I love huskies. I'm also excited about seeing Chippy my Elf on the Shelf because she always finds a new hiding spot and it's fun to chat to her and have conversations. For Christmas, I'd like LOL Under Wraps, Smooshy Mushies, Poopsies, Squishies, LOL Confetti Pops and Pikmi Pops. I'd also like Twistimals, an LOL game, LOL pets, Lil Sisters and Sylvanian Families because they are nice and soft and beautiful. If I can, I'd also like My Little Pony Underwater Sea Ponies because they have bits of water inside them and they have different colours. Mostly though, I would like to see my big brother Cullen this Christmas as I haven't seen him for about a year. Also, please can you bring happiness into the world so the world can be happier? I'd like to think I'm on your Good List as I've been listening to my teacher at school and concentrating more. I've been good at playing with my little brother Barnaby and looking after him when my parents leave the room and making sure he doesn't get up to mischief or hurt himself. I also wipe his snotty nose! I also make sure that none of my friends are left out when we are playing at school. I can't wait to meet you and your reindeer and elves.

I am really looking forward to Christmas because we decorate the Christmas tree and our house when you visit. I have been good! Sometimes I tidy my room on my own. I would like you to bring an LOL, Hatchimals, Fingerlings and an activity tracker. Thank you! I hope you are going to have a really fun Christmas!

Ariana

Evie

Dear Santa I can’t wait for time off school and to be wi th Mummy and Dadd y. And to open my presen ts! I am hoping I’m on yo because I’m well be ur Good List haved and my Parent’s Evening wa s good. I would LOVE an iP ad, LOL Big Sisters and a new school bag. Also maybe some squishies an d new slime. Thank you Santa!

Lily

Dear Santa I’m looking forw ard to Christmas to be with my family and have presents. I’m hoping to be on your Good Li st because I try my best to be ki nd. Please can I have a Fitbit and a Po lly Pocket. Thank you for al l the presents yo u deliver to everyone! You’re really great!

Poppy

s a m t s Chri at

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competitions

Win tickets to the ballet and To a singa-long Win a Family Ticket to see Cinderella at St. David’s Hall What better way is there to get into the Christmas spirit than to enjoy a world class ballet with your loved ones at St David’s Hall? Their captivating series starts in style with Snow Maiden (Wednesday 19th–Thursday 20th December) before we are swept off to a mysterious place where nothing is really as it seems in The Nutcracker (Friday 21st–Monday 24th December). Then it’s the greatest romantic ballet of all time, Swan Lake (Thursday 27th–Saturday 29th December) and the spectacular season finishes with the wonderful rags to riches fairytale, Cinderella (Sunday 30th–Monday 31st

December). We have the perfect pre-New Year treat for Whitchurch and Llandaff Living readers with a Family Ticket for 4 to Cinderella up for grabs. The performance takes place on Sunday 30th December at 5.30pm. Get ready for a mesmerising mix of Prokofiev’s energetic score, lively choreography and colourful costumes. Will Cinderella’s dreams come true? To be in with a chance of winning this festive prize, please answer the following question: What is the name of the composer who composed the score to the magical ballet Cinderella?

a) Tchaikovsky b) Prokofiev c) Stravinsky Please email your answer to SDHpress@cardiff.gov.uk by Friday 21st December 2018 along with your full name and address, plus a phone number. Alternatively, please post your entry with your contact details to: Marketing Team, St David’s Hall, The Hayes, CF10 1AH. Family Tickets can be made up of any combination of adults and children, but must include at least one adult.

Win a pair of tickets to Sing-a-Long-a The Greatest Showman

The Greatest Showman was the smash hit film of 2018, and now the whole family can sing along to its stunning soundtrack at St David’s Hall! Sing-a-Long-a The Greatest Showman is the perfect present this Christmas for fans of the magnificent movie, and it’s coming to the National Concert Hall of Wales in February. Cheer on Hugh Jackman, lust after

Zach Efron and hiss at Rebecca Ferguson as you experience The Greatest Showman in the greatest way possible – with lyrics on the screen so you can join in as loud and proud as you want. From the makers of Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music and Sing-a-Long-a Grease, this extravaganza features a live host to teach you the unique set of dance moves and how to use your interactive prop bags; plus how to practice your cheers, boos and even a few wolf whistles. Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and full audience participation essential. YOU, the audience will rewrite the stars! To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to Sing-a-Long-a The Greatest Showman at St David’s Hall on Saturday 2nd February at 7pm, please answer the following question:

What is the name of the actor who plays P.T. Barnum in the film, The Greatest Showman? a) Hugh Laurie b) Hugh Grant c) Hugh Jackman Please email your answer to SDHpress@cardiff.gov.uk by Monday 21st January 2019 along with your full name and address, plus a phone number. Alternatively, please post your entry with your contact details to: Marketing Team, St David’s Hall, The Hayes, CF10 1AH.

The Woman Who Changed The World Llandaff's Baroness Finlay reflects on her life's mission and achievements to date

"My father once told me the best bit of advice that I've ever heard," says Ilora Finlay, sipping her cup of tea. It's late on a cold November evening and Ilora is taking time to reflect at her Llandaff home. "My father said to me that if I want to change the world, I must get to the top but not change my principles along the way." It was a piece of advice that Ilora, now a Baroness, has carried with her throughout her career, and in doing so, has changed the world for the better. But her story starts the other side of the world. "My parents were in New Zealand immediately after the war. They’d met, got married and went out there for a year and Mum became pregnant. As the pregnancy was progressing, and the year was coming to the end, Mum wanted to get back to London. Otherwise, I would have been born in New Zealand. My parents got as far as the port in Eden and the ship’s captain said that Mum couldn’t get on because she was too pregnant. She convinced the captain that her husband, my father, would deliver the baby since he was medically qualified. He was a physiologist though, and not practising medicine. My poor father went as white as a sheet but they finally got back to London, where I was born." Ilora was brought up in the suburb of New Malden in London and was partly brought up by her Auntie Jean who hailed from Newbridge. "Jean lived next door and she'd

bang on the wall if there was a problem and one of my parents would go around. Dad cut a hole in the fence to allow me to go and play with Rob next door who was only 18 months older than me." The family was in good company in their New Malden street. "The next house along belonged to David Hughes Parry, who was the Professor of Law behind the Welsh Language Act. We always went around at Christmas to collect our Christmas cards and there was always money in them! He and his wife only ever spoke Welsh to each other." But Ilora's childhood was to have a profound impact on her life and her career. Aged just three, she was hospitalised for three months. Her brother also had to have part of his lung removed aged only six weeks, due to an abnormality. "We never thought he would survive," says Ilora quietly. "Shortly after that, my dad was ill and had to go to a convalescent hospital for a year. There was a lot of illness in and round the family home. I thought it was all normal. When I was in hospital, my parents were only allowed to visit for half an hour each day. Then I got measles in hospital and was put into isolation for a while. It was like being in solitary confinement. "When I look back on it, I think it was really cruel but I knew from then that I wanted to be a doctor. When I was 13, my great friend’s brother suddenly died. We were all completely devastated and I was very angry that he hadn’t been saved. From what we heard, he'd had a terrible death and that made me even more determined to do medicine." When she was old enough, Ilora went to St Mary’s, which was often nicknamed the Welsh Medical

School in London. "I went on to become a junior doctor and I remember very clearly some patients who were dying and no one knew what to do. The patients were in a side room and the ward round wouldn't take time over them, and no-one knew much about managing pain. I thought that I must learn to look after these people." Ilora subsequently went into anaesthetics but didn’t like it, as, of course, the patients spent much of their time asleep. "I liked talking to people too much. I then worked in paediatrics and loved it but I was working on the oncology wards and was looking after children who were dying." Fortunately, Ilora was able to apply what she'd learnt in anaesthetics to provide symptomatic relief to the children. "It was in the early days of leukaemia treatment and although things were starting to improve, a lot of children died. I had lots of open conversations with the children and their parents and I got more and more involved in end of life care. Even then, as a very, very junior doctor, I’d break the rules to do what was right for the child," says Ilora. The untimely death of one young patient remains with Ilora: "There was one child who had died and his mother wanted to lay him out and wash his body - the nurses said that she wasn’t allowed to. I was horrified and told them that I’d stay on and help this mother, even though I was supposed to be going home. I remember the nurses saying ‘Have you ever laid a body out before?’ and I remember replying with the words ‘I know perfectly well what to do.’ I’d never laid a body out before but I thought that I couldn't deny this mother the

interview right to wash her dead child’s body. "There was another boy whose father wanted to take his son to the pub. It was the only thing he could think of doing for his child. After much arguing, I managed to convince the staff to let him go and the boy's father got his wish. It ended up being the boy's last trip out." The children were to provide a lasting legacy, inspiring Ilora to develop end of life care where she could. Ilora and Andrew were students together and the couple married in 1972. They started out on their lives together but fate had a hand in bringing the couple to Wales. "We started looking around for jobs and there was this poster on the Underground which read ‘Get Out Of London. Get More Out Of Life’ and we just thought, yes, let’s do it. There were three jobs available for my husband – one in Sheffield, one in Newcastle and one in Cardiff. We went to Cardiff - I was pregnant with my first child at this point, and the minute we arrived in Cardiff, I felt completely at home," says Ilora warmly. "I became a GP trainee in Cardiff and discovered that I knew more about end of life care than anyone else on the programme. I ended up teaching what I knew and took myself off to learn more. There was a fantastic Professor of General Practice called Nigel Stott, who used to live in Whitchurch. He was incredibly supportive and agreed that we had to do something to improve end of life care where we could." Ilora arranged a meeting in the front room of her then Radyr home. There were four attendees - Prof. Nigel Stott, Peter Beck, who later became the Lord Lieutenant for South Glamorgan, Deirdre Hine, who later became the Chief Medical Officer- and Ilora. "We concluded that we were all committed to improving end of life care. Nigel took this forward and that’s how George Thomas Hospice, now City Hospice, came about with the support of a fellow GP trainee, Dr Mike Bloomfield. When Deirdre became Chief Medical Officer, she was able to bring about policy changes too." Ilora's husband Andrew then got a consulting job in Glasgow, where the pair spent the next five years. Ilora volunteered at a local hospice. "It got to the point that I knew what I wanted to do and that was to leave General Practice behind. Bizarrely,

two jobs came up in Cardiff simultaneously, one in dermatology for my husband and one as Medical Director at Holme Tower, which was just starting as a Marie Curie hospice. "We applied for the jobs and got them. I bought some daffodils and a little curled up dragon and put them on my desk and thought “I’m going home!”. Then I had a phone call from a friend who told me about a house in Llandaff that needed repairs, but I would love. It’s the house we’re still living in now. I drove down from Glasgow on my own, saw it and fell in love with it." For a while, Ilora was the only doctor at Holme Tower and the only consultant in palliative care in Wales. "We set up at the Heath and then Velindre and I was providing advice to people all over Wales. In 1989, with the help of Dr Howard Marsh, I started a distance learning course, writing modules as we went along. We recorded lessons on cassettes that people could listen to in their car. We photocopied chapters of books and gave our students homework. People then came for residential weekends at Holme Tower. People from all over the world came. We had students from every continent - except Antarctica!" The course still runs at Cardiff University as an MSc. Like ripples on a pond, Ilora's vision has helped shape palliative care across the globe. "The reward is seeing someone in despair and sorting that despair out. At Holme Tower, I had one chap who wanted to go back to Africa to die on home soil. People have wanted to get married. I’ve seen family disputes resolved. It’s not my fault that people are ill or that their illness hasn’t responded to treatment but I can make the end less bad. "I always thought that if I could influence in Cardiff, that could influence others in Wales, which would reach the rest of the UK and the world." In 2001, Ilora found another way to help bring about change for the better by applying to become a member of the House of Lords. The then Prime Minister Tony Blair had introduced an appointments commission after restructuring the House. "Andrew came home one day with a copy of The Times. He dropped it on the table and showed me the advert that was in it. He said 'You’ve always said that you wanted to

change the world and here’s your chance." Ilora applied along with thousands of others, eventually being invited up to London to meet the committee. "I had a nice cup of tea and a chat and it was only as I was leaving that I realised it had been the interview! When they announced my name on TV, I couldn't believe it and rang them up to ask if they'd make a mistake!" Although I’m not Welsh-speaking, I took my oath in Welsh because I realised that the opportunities that had been presented to me were only made possible because I lived in Cardiff." As well as fulfilling her role as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, Ilora also chairs the National Mental Capacity Forum for the Ministry of Justice, which helps empower people who have impaired capacity. She also chairs the board of Governors at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She is proud of her Welsh background, and her affinity with Llandaff. "I feel quite proud for speaking up for Wales because we’re not very good at blowing our own trumpet. We are only 3 million people and to others, we can seem a backwater at the end of a railway line where it rains a lot. But I get a real kick out of being able to say what we do well in Wales." In 2003, Ilora proposed a bill to ban smoking in public buildings in Wales, three years before it was eventually implemented and in 2007, she introduced a private members bill seeking to change the current system of organ donation from 'opt in' to 'opt out'- two aspects of her career that she is especially proud. But medically, she is most proud of being an instrumental part of setting up and growing palliative care across the world. "I'm also incredibly proud of my two children," beams Ilora. "They are brighter than me and both are in medicine. And I adore my four grandchildren. I'm so privileged to have them." It's humbling to hear the woman who has achieved so much talk with such humility. Ilora has clearly changed the world and continues to influence attitudes, approaches and policy to improve the lives of others. And whilst she has got to the top sitting on the woolsack in the House of Lords- she is just as principled as ever.

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10 years A lot has happened in the ten years since Whitchurch and Llandaff Living was first published. Here's look back at the last decade

2008

The very first Whitchurch and Llandaff Living magazine was published in November. It's only 28 pages but it becomes an instant hit in the villages. Eight of Llandaff Cathedral's famous statues were unveiled by Michael Clews, the Cathedral's architect, after undergoing major repair and restoration. The ground floor of Insole Court also reopened after campaigning by locals.

2010

The Cathedral School received a multi-million pound facelift while traders in Whitchurch reported an upturn in trade after a three hour limit was introduced to the village's main car park. Living Magazines website was launched while former Whitchurch resident Jeff Day received the remarkable honour of becoming Citizen of the Year in both his home town of Seaton, as well as in the French town of Thury-Harcourt in the same week. NASA astronaut Michael Good also visited Whitchurch High School as part of his World Tour, four weeks after returning from space.

2009

South Wales Fire and Rescue were called to Whitchurch to deal with flooding in June. They received over 450 calls to deal with affected homes and businesses in the village. October saw the Tardis land in Llandaff Green as filming took place for the new Doctor, played by Matt Smith.

campaign against the development of Llanishen Reservoir. In July, the Heathcock pub suddenly closed its doors on a permanent basis, leaving local residents devastated while campaigners rallied to save Hawthorn School from bulldozers after plans were announced to demolish it. 'Welcome to Llandaff' road signs were reinstalled four months after their initial unveiling. Welshspeaking residents had complained that the signs weren't bilingual. The summer also saw the opening of the Water Pump at Melingriffith, which had been restored to its former glory. The 5p plastic bag charge was introduced in October while Llandaff North residents 'objected firmly' to wheelie bins being introduced.

2012 2011

Llandaff North residents were outraged in May after hearing about plans to turn local pub, The Cow and Snuffers, into flats. The pub had closed down permanently the previous year. After losing her seat in Parliament, Julie Morgan took her seat in the National Assembly for Wales as an AM. Her first priority was to

In February, plans are announced to demolish Whitchurch Hospital and to build 150 houses and 180 flats on the site. The planning report suggested that the new housing development would only generate '28 peak time movements', causing residents to ask 'What planet are the Council on?'. In May, Llandaff welcomed the Queen, who was touring the UK as part of her Jubilee celebrations. She and the Duke of Edinburgh were met by hundreds of school children waving flags. The village had recently undergone a regeneration,

which saw new benches and parking bays introduced to the High Street. In the same month, HSBC announced it was closing its Llandaff branch and Llandaff North's Farmers Market also had to close due to high rental costs. Meanwhile, Whitchurch Tennis Club celebrated its centenary and Llandaff train station's former ticket office was put up for sale. August saw the launch of Tongwynlais.com and in September, a Whitchurch man was ordered to pay £270 after a year-long dispute with his neighbours about his noisy ducks.

2013

The year kicked off with Danescourt residents successfully fighting plans to build 48 houses in Radyr Court Road. Increased traffic was cited as a major concern for locals, with the road being deemed 'too narrow and unstable'. Parents at Whitchurch High School were up in arms at new proposals which made it compulsory for students to wear blazers. One parent said that the new uniform was 'like something from the dark ages'. Former Whitchurch High School pupil Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid from Tottenham in September, and in doing so, became the world’s most expensive football player. Real Madrid paid the asking price of £85.3m to land the former Cardiff Civil Service player. Dr Who star Matt Smith signed off from his time-travelling duties by filming his last episode in Gabalfa during the summer. Back in Llandaff, the newly repaired, Grade II Listed ‘Prichard’ footbridge near Llandaff Cathedral was officially opened in September.

2014

The Llandaff Society unveiled a blue plaque at the birthplace of Terry Nation, the creator of Doctor Who’s arch enemy, the Daleks. The unveiling took place during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the first

transmission. Two backpackers from North Cardiff made the headlines in Australia after a giant tree crashed onto their camp - minutes after they’d moved out of their tent. Peter Ashford, originally from Whitchurch and Rob Costley, originally from Llandaff North, survived certain disaster by moving into the shade to escape the searing heat. The Class of ’74 Reunion took place in July, bringing together former Whitchurch High School students - for some, 40 years after they last saw each other. In Llandaff North, a public consultation was held on plans for a Lidl supermarket to be built on the site of the former James and Jenkins garage.

2015

Seven Cardiff libraries that were under threat of closure including Whitchurch, were saved after huge public outcry. Llandaff Fields become part of a ‘pollinator project’, designed to encourage biodiversity and protect important wildlife across the city. It meant that the fields would only be mown once a year to protect wild flower species. Llandaff was named as one of the best urban places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times. Llandaff was picked based on local schools, transport links, local amenities and crime rates. At the same time, the BBC announced plans to pull out of its Llandaff base to move to a Cardiff city centre venue.

2016

A full rebuild of Llandaff's Memorial Hall got underway while Whitchurch Hospital closed its doors for the last time. Meanwhile, Llandaff celebrated its most famous son, Roald Dahl, as part of his centenary celebrations. 'Dahl 100' events took place all over Cardiff throughout the summer, which also saw the inaugural Vintage for Victory festival in Whitchurch. A plaque was unveiled at Pritchard Court in Llandaff to honour a former resident who took part in a daring World War 2 raid. Capt. WH (Bill) Pritchard took part in the famous raid on St. Nazaire in 1942. He was instrumental in the planning and the training for the raid, which helped turn the tide for British forces during the war.

2017

Whitchurch and Llandaff Living was crowned Community Business of the Year at the prestigious Cardiff Business Awards in May. Llandaff North's new Hub opened on the site of the former library and the Bishop of Llandaff Barry Morgan retired, making way for its first female appointee, June Osborne. Cardiff Met FC just missed out on a Europa League place after a defeat at the hands of Bangor City while the Bishop of Llandaff High School caused much debate after unveiling its new unisex toilet facilities. In the summer, the site of Whitchurch Hospital hosted a live drill for emergency services as part of a large-scale training exercise.

2018

Snow brought the villages to a standstill in March while in the summer, a Cardiff man was hailed as a hero after stopping a car that had just ploughed into a group of people in Whitchurch. Llandaff saw its first medieval fayre since the 1880s and Danescourt residents once again prepared to do battle as developers returned to the site of Radyr Court Road. Llandaff's Heathcock pub opens its doors once again and perhaps the highlight of the year was Whitchurch's Geraint Thomas's famous win in the Tour de France. Thousands lined the streets of Cardiff to welcome the former Whitchurch High School pupil home. Thomas told the waiting crowds: "This is bonkers."

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10 ways to style your home this winter 65 1. CREATE A COSY OUTDOOR AREA The first thing visitors to your home will see is the exterior of your house so if you want to make a winter welcome, create a small area where you can sit and enjoy some mulled wine.

6 2. DECK THE HALLWAY The entrance to your home is often overlooked when it comes to Christmas decorating. Creating a welcoming area for your festive guests will really set the Christmas scene for them. Clear your hallway of clutter beforehand and clear your coat rack so that guests can use it.

5 3. LOGS A log fire or log burner is often the epicentre of a Christmas scene. If you're not lucky enough to have one, you can still recreate the essence of a fireside retreat by placing baskets of small logs around the living room and using candles to bring light and warmth. Candles with the scent of a log burner can add a festive feel to the senses.

6 4. OUTDOORS INDOORS Bringing outdoor beauty indoors can help reflect the winter season. Pine cones, rustic garlands and willow ornaments will complement your Christmas tree and serve as a reminder of the beauty in nature. The use of wood in your ornaments will add a homely feel and can also bring a distinct, cosy aroma to your home.

interiors 5 5. BERRY CHRISTMAS The vivid colours of a Christmas berry is one of the traditional ways to brighten up your home. Holly has been the staple of the festive season but many shops now sell berry garlands and wreaths that can be used year after year. Combined with the scent of a Christmas candle, it's a bold way to add warmth and colour to your rooms.

8 6. BLANKET COVER Heavy, knitted blankets and faux fur throws not only look good but also give you and your guests a place to hibernate for a while. They also give your home a Nordic feel, reminiscent of wooden cabins and secret hideaways.

65 7. WINTER SNOW Seasonal colours can dramatically affect the way a home looks. Co-ordinating your palette will need an element of pre-planning but one way to mimic the snowy hills of a winter's scene is to use plenty of white. Whether it's distressed white furniture or simply a blend of white textures and materials that you use, your home is always going to look the part during the icy months.

65 8. THE PRICE OF GOLD The 1970s saw a glut of glittery golden decor, especially around Christmas. In recent years, it was blue that seeped into our festive colouring but gold is starting to make itself known again. Bright, bold and sometimes brash, gold never really left our Christmas thoughts - after all, it was one of the gifts that the Wise Men brought.

5 9. LESS IS MORE Christmas can be a time of excess and sometimes, taking a step back and stripping things right back can be a revelation. Why not just use lights on your Christmas tree this year? You may not even need a tree - a fallen branch from your garden, or an existing plant in your home, decorated with lights can be turned into a festive alternative.

6 10. TIME TO HIBERNATE It's often easy to focus on your reception rooms but if you're having seasonal visitors over to stay, it's also worth remembering that the bedrooms will benefit from a touch of styling. The use of some simple fairy lights will help soften even the squarest of rooms and will add festive sparkle. Don't forget to provide them with adequate bedding during the colder months.

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feature

Christmas advent calendar The build up to Christmas is a wonderful time of year - festive fun, joviality and goodwill to all men. Or it is? Here's our guide Ah. The first day of December. Christmas is finally here. The advent calendars make an appearance, a glut of Christmas trees appear in everyone's windows and the well-prepared take their frozen Bernard Matthews turkey out of the freezer to defrost. You reward yourself by opening your new tub of Quality Street.

Most of the houses in the villages are already dressed for Christmas. You remain defiant but you can’t help feeling that your house now looks a little dour. ‘There’s still a few weeks to go yet, there’s still a few weeks to go yet,’ you repeat to yourself over and over.

You promise yourself that you’re never drinking again. You spend the day moping around the house with a face like a slapped backside. Bah humbug.

Time to deep clean the house, ready for Christmas. You get as far as getting the hoover out but you put it away again and promise yourself to give the house a spring clean in the New Year.

A Christmas card arrives from your great aunt who lives the other side of the world. Panic-stricken, you realise that you’ve missed the international last posting date. Looks like Dolly’s not going to get a card this year. Like last year and the year before that.

You’re back in the game. After a good sleep, the hangover’s gone. A friend invites you for a few Christmas drinks in a few weeks time. With memories of the Christmas party now in the distant past, you enthusiastically agree.

You sit down and write your Christmas card list but you get distracted by Strictly Come Dancing that's just come on the telly. You leave the cards for another night.

The works Christmas party. The night starts with a few quiet Babychams in your kitchen and ends up in Kebab King in Caroline Street at 3am the next morning. Having out-sung your boss at Abba karaoke, you’re now eating your own weight in chips and doner.

Your tub of Quality Street lies empty. The shame of it. You convince yourself that it’s ok because it’s Christmas. A new tub is bought and order is restored to the house. And because it’s Christmas, you even start putting the empty wrappers back in the tub. It’s the kid’s nativity play. You get there early to get front row seats but there's someone there already. You’ve got nothing against the young girl who got the main part of Mary but you do hope she messes up on the big day, especially since your kids never get a look in for the leading roles. Meanwhile, your child plays the part of 6th shepherd with Oscar-winning panache.

You decide to bake a Christmas pudding but quickly realise that you should have started it in February. Maybe something for next year. You pack away the recipe book and take out a bottle of wine. Far more interesting.

You head to the shops to buy a replacement set of 2000 Christmas lights but the shelf is empty. You have to make do by buying four sets of 500 lights and a multi-plug extension. This is going to get messy.

You jump in the car and head into town to do some shopping but parking’s a nightmare. You spot one free space but there’s a sign that reads ‘No Parking’. You park in it anyway – this is an important mission.

Preparations are beginning to get you stressed so you try some meditation for the first time. You light some candles, hush the dog with a chewy bone and take a deep breath. Then your phone rings.

You wake up the next morning splayed out on your dining room table. By the looks of it, you’ve attempted to get undressed for bed but given up halfway through. Someone’s stuck a used chewing gum on your forehead. It takes another day to recover. This time, you’re never drinking again and that’s a definite.

It's Christmas movie time with the kids. While they watch Home Alone for the 50th time, you set about writing the cards that should have been written and sent three weeks ago. Finally, you're getting things done.

Only one more day. Your stocks of Quality Street are running dangerously low. If anyone else asks you if you’re ready for Christmas, you may find yourself on Crimestoppers and on the front page of the Echo.

You finally succumb to putting up the decorations. You spend the next three hours carefully winding your 2000 Christmas lights around the tree, making sure that they're evenly spaced, only to find afterwards that they don't work.

Time to start thinking about getting some Christmas food in. Tesco resembles feeding time at the zoo so you head for the relative calm and solace of the baked bean aisle. You dread to think what Marksies will be like.

Your much-awaited box of fine wine finally arrives but you’re at the sorting office picking up the parcel you missed yesterday. You get home to find, to your horror, that your wine required a signature and that yet another trip to the sorting office is necessary, where you are on first name terms with everyone.

It’s the night out with a friend. You promise yourself that after the work’s Christmas party, you’ll be good. You’re going to have a quiet one. Honest.

School’s out for another year. Hundreds of kids make their way home, heads full of festive excitement at the large and expensive gifts they’ve asked Santa for. Parents brace themselves for two weeks of sugar-fuelled purgatory and wretchedness. It’s Christmas after all.

You’ve learnt from last year not to start wrapping presents at 9pm on Christmas Eve. You lay out all your gifts on the floor and feel smugly organised. But you then realise that you’ve not bought any Sellotape. It’ll have to wait for another day. You open a very important letter to discover that you’ve been fined for parking in a ‘No Parking’ space in town.

Finally. Bedraggled. Exhausted. You drag yourself into Christmas Eve. Door 24 of your advent calendar is opened before you head to the Co-op to buy 56 loaves of bread and 90 pints of milk to see you through until they open again on Boxing Day. With the shops finally closed, you sit down in front of the telly with a glass of sherry. You reach into the tub of Quality Street, only to find empty wrappers. And then you remember that you’ve still got the presents to wrap!

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12 Dental Tips for Christmas Imran Kassam is Clinical Director, Principal Dentist and Aesthetic Practitioner at Cloves Dental Care, a new Dental Practice opening in January in Rhiwbina. He’s here to answer all your dental related questions. Please send us anything that you would like to ask Imran I hope you’ve had a good start to December and enjoyed the recent Whitchurch Reindeer Run and festivities in aid of Cancer Research Wales. The Christmas season is upon us, one to make sure we enjoy, but also still look after our oral health. Did you know that on Christmas Day, we are likely to consume over 200g of sugar, which is four times the recommended daily amount?

1. It is important to know how

much sugar is in our foods. Different supermarkets will have different amounts of sugar in their most popular Christmas products e.g. mince pies and Christmas pudding. Be aware of hidden sugars in foods – use the Change4Life Food Scanner app to check whilst shopping. Why not try festive shortbread instead of chocolate biscuits?

2. Eggnog contains the same

amount of sugar as a can of pop and the thick consistency coats

your teeth after you have finished drinking. Limit your portions and rinse your mouth out after. The recommended serving is ¼ cup.

to staining. Eat cheese with your wine to help stimulate saliva. It is also high in calcium which strengthens your teeth.

3. Champagne and Prosecco contain sugar and the carbonation eats away at your tooth enamel. Do not brush your teeth until 30 minutes after consumption – this goes for all acidic food and drink.

9. Popcorn is responsible for a rise in Dental Emergency visits, ranging from cracked teeth to the shell lodging in the gum and causing infection. Check teeth after enjoying popcorn for any pieces in between or around your teeth.

4. It is not the quantity but the

frequency of intake of sugar that damages your teeth. Avoid constant snacking between meals and stick to four mealtimes a day.

5. Avoid opening bottles and

cracking nuts with your teeth, as this can chip your teeth and cause sensitivity, or large fractures that can lead to severe pain.

6. During this period, try to brush your teeth three times a day, and don’t forget to floss or use interdental brushes, especially after eating your turkey! 7. Chew sugar free gum to stimulate saliva production which neutralises acids and helps wash away sugar and harmful acids. 8. Did you know that both white and red wine can stain your teeth, by both the colour and also by wearing down the enamel, leaving them more exposed and vulnerable

10. Avoid toffees which will stick to the grooves in your teeth and feed the bacteria in your mouth. 11. Drinking through a straw will help keep liquid away from your teeth. 12. Drinking water regularly, especially in between meals instead of squash, fruit juice and pop will help wash away sugar, harmful acids and food. Have yourself a good Christmas and a Happy New Year. Remember to get in touch if you have any dental questions you’d like me to answer.

Imran

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE NOW

www.clovesdentalcare.co.uk info-Rhiwbina@clovesdentalcare.co.uk 165 Pantbach Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 1TZ Mr Imran Kassam BDS Hons (Cardiff) MFDS RCS (Edin) P.G Cert.Rest Dent (BARD) Mrs Emily Kassam DipHE (Cardiff)

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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 My dog is a cross between a spaniel and a poodle. Given this, how do I work out an ideal weight for him and apart from him becoming morbidly obese, how do I work out whether he’s overweight? Look at him! Whether your dog is a pedigree, ‘designer cross’ or just plain mutt, the most accurate way to decide if his weight is right is to look at him and feel his body condition. Weights set down in the breed standard for pedigree dogs might suit an average dog, but every one is an individual, with his own unique shape, and trying to make a non-average dog conform to the breed standard can be problematic. Body condition scoring has been around for many years and there are several systems for doing it. The one we use is advocated by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, and you can find the details by searching online. Essentially, dogs are assessed by feeling the ribs and vertebrae for muscle and fat cover and observing body shape (particularly the waist). A score is allocated between 1 and 9. The ideal score is 4 or 5, and with these dogs, the ribs are felt without much fat covering, and the waist is visible from above and the side. So if you can feel your dog’s ribs without having to press hard, and you can see his waistline, he’s probably about right. If you have any doubts, call in to your vets and ask their opinion. They will also be able to weigh him and record his weight. That number is important, not because it tells you if he’s fat or thin, but because when compared to future measurements, it tells you if he is losing or gaining weight, and helps to guide you with appropriate nutritional advice. A friend of mine in the US owns an old Labrador and the dog Sponsored feature

was recently diagnosed with Lyme Disease. She says that the dog’s illness was contracted by a tick bite and that her dog was very ill for a while. I wanted to know whether Lyme Disease is something that we get here in the UK as Google seems to give conflicting information! Lyme Disease is a very nasty condition which can affect people as well as dogs and other animals. It is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia bugdorferi which is transmitted by tick bites and it is found in many parts of the world including North America, mainland Europe and UK. It can cause severe illness, but more usually the symptoms are of joint and muscle pain, fever, loss of appetite and generally feeling poorly, and these often come and go over a period of time. Diagnosis is by a blood test, and with prolonged treatment most dogs get better. Ticks are common in long grass, woodland etc, so for all dogs that are walked in these sort of areas I recommend treating for ticks regularly from spring through until autumn, and at mild periods in winter too. As long as the tick is killed within a few hours of biting, it will not have the chance to pass on the infection. We recommend a monthly tablet which kills not only ticks, but also fleas, roundworms and lungworms. If you find a tick on your dog (or yourself) it is very important not to just pull it off as you could squeeze it and encourage the transmission of disease, and you could leave the mouthparts embedded in the skin to cause a reaction later. Instead, use special tweezers or a tick hook (available form most vets and a useful addition to your first aid kit). Lyme Disease in people can be very unpleasant and have lifelong consequences. It is contracted from tick bites in the same way, and

an infected dog poses NO risk to people. We bought a few rabbits over the summer and my husband built them a hutch and a run in the garden so that they can live outside. With the winter weather, my natural instinct is to bring them indoors but my husband insists that they are wild animals and can deal with colder temperatures. Who is right? Rabbits are actually quite hardy and will thrive outdoors as long as they have shelter. Their hutch must be waterproof but well ventilated, with plenty of hay or straw for bedding. There should be separate sleeping and living spaces, and areas where the rabbits can go to avoid each other. If the weather is particularly cold, a piece of old carpet over the hutch will add some extra insulation. The run doesn’t need to be entirely covered but if some of it is covered, the rabbits can choose to avoid the rain if they wish. I’m very pleased to hear you have a number of bunnies together, They are a very social species and the idea of rabbits living singly in a hutch is awful. However, more bunnies means more space needed in both hutch and run. The Welsh Government launched a Code of Practice for rabbit welfare several years ago (find it online, or you can get copies from our surgeries) and this sets out recommendations for how much space should be provided. The space issue could well prevent you from housing all your tribe indoors in the winter!

Jonah (Len) Jones with Mona Lovell

Jonah, my father

Llandaff's Peter Jones, was recently given a batch of letters written by his father, the artist and sculptor, Jonah Jones. Peter details what was in them, and how the artist developed over the years Next year will be the centenary of the birth of my father, the artist Jonah Jones, on 17th February 1919. He spent his last 13 years in Llandaff, living in The Crescent on the Western Avenue-Cardiff Road crossroads. Every morning, he would walk his whippet Leah on Llandaff and Pontcanna Fields, long before the breed became popular. During his lifetime, Jonah built

Jonah carving 'Slateworker' for the National Museum of Wales

up quite a reputation in Wales and beyond with his carvings and inscriptions. From the first, he was determined 'to be like the old blacksmith or the carpenter; to be a member of the community and to be accessible' as he put it. So public commissions were a key part of his output and the result can be seen around Wales. Three works in Cardiff are representative of his craft. In the Bay, an inscription done in 1954 outside what is now the Juboraj restaurant commemorates the French chef Abel Magneron, who in the years after 1945, achieved a great reputation for his excellent cooking. Nearby, the bronze Panorama Stone points to landmarks and ports around the globe with which Cardiff docks were connected during their heyday. Most imposing of all, high on the north-west corner of the National Museum of Wales stand two Portland stone figures of a slate worker and St Melangell, each some 11 ft high, representing industry and agriculture.

Fine lettering and public sculpture represents only the best-known part of Jonah’s artistic output. During the 1960s, he carried out commissions for a number of Catholic churches around Wales and England. This includes the Church of St Patrick in Newport, where he made a large window in slab glass, a mosaic of Christ Resurrected and a painted altar canopy. He was also a writer, publishing five books and a prolific watercolour painter in his later years – many homes around Cardiff are graced by his Welsh landscapes and colourful texts. Besides this, he gave sterling (and voluntary) service to public arts bodies such as the Arts Council of Wales, and in his capacity as an examiner at arts colleges all around the British Isles, mentored many emerging artists over the years. I described all this in a biography which was published in 2011 by Seren Books with the title Jonah Jones: An Artist’s Life. As my father had died in 2004 and my mother Top photo courtesy of David Lovell

history 'Slateworker' in position on the NW corner of the National Museum of Wales

knew very little about the period before they met, much of his early life had to be pieced together in a process that involved an amount of detective work. Although Jonah adopted Wales and its culture and considered himself a Welshman, he was actually born on Tyneside into a coal-mining family. From journals written in his later years and a handful of published essays, I knew that the Joneses experienced long periods of poverty. Len, as Jonah was then known, won a scholarship to the local grammar school in Jarrow, where he showed an early interest in art; he even gained a scholarship to study at the King Edward School of Art in Newcastle, but his family needed him to bring in an income, so instead he took up a post as an assistant librarian at a newly opened branch in Felling near his home. His manager was a Quaker lady called Mona Lovell and it was partly under her influence that he decided to register as a conscientious objector (CO) at the outbreak of the Second World War. He worked as a forester in Exmoor, south-west Scotland and Wensleydale in North Yorkshire for over three years, but he eventually changed his stance and decided to enlist, albeit as a non-combatant. He took part in the war in Europe with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance before being posted to Palestine, where he met and married my mother, the writer Judith Maro (Grossman) in 1946. They moved back to Great Britain in 1947 and Jonah found work in North Wales at the Caseg Press with his army colleague, the artist John Petts, the following year. Two years after the publication of the biography of my father, my

mobile phone rang and an unknown voice asked if I was Jonah Jones’ son, and if the name Mona Lovell meant anything to me. The caller explained that he was David, Mona’s nephew, and that he had inherited from his father a box containing almost 500 letters which my father had written to Mona in the 1940s. He asked if I was interested and of course, my answer was affirmative. Transcribing these letters (together with my wife Maggie) and then editing them has taken much of my time since we moved to Llandaff five years ago. They were recently published by Seren Books under the title Dear Mona: Letters from a Conscientious Objector. In the letters, we first meet Len Jones – a working class Geordie – at the age of 20, after Mona Lovell has come into his life. The story told in Dear Mona is a fascinating evolution of character: Mona introduces Len to art, literature and sculpture, facilitating his transformation into the artist known today – Jonah Jones. The letters shed a lot of light on Len’s evolution into an artist. They make it clear that he long expected to pursue a career in librarianship. Only gradually did his aspirations change; finding himself in Wensleydale and with his Tyneside poet friend James Kirkup, he began to explore outlets for his creativity, dabbling in writing. Then he turned to water-colour painting, learning from a group of artists who lived and worked in the area, most notably Fred Lawson, a respected figure in Yorkshire. Mixing with artists in the army, especially John Petts, clinched the transformation. Having left home for the first time in October 1940, Len writes to Mona about the tough process of mastering forestry and other occupations. The letters soon reveal his personal struggle as he and his fellow COs face local hostility. As the Second World War fighting intensifies, Len begins to question his pacifist stance and Dear Mona culminates in his experiences as a non-arms bearing medic – first parachuting into northern Europe, where he took part in the Ardennes and Germany campaigns, and was present at the liberation of Belsen concentration camp. Later we see through his eyes as he is posted to Palestine, when in the closing stages of the British Mandate, he observes the issues surrounding the establishment of Israel. Surprisingly, it is in these times of conflict that Len is able to hone his

artistic talent, to the benefit of his unit. The letters paint a vivid picture of life in wartime Britain and later on in the army and Palestine. We gain an insight into the experience of conscientious objectors during the Second World War (a subject that has not been written about much, compared with the Great War). Len was treated as a pariah on Exmoor, exploited as defenceless by his farmer employer on Tyneside, but treated fairly tolerantly in Wensleydale – although even there he remained aware of being something of an outcast because of his stance. He recorded the stark reality of fighting in Belgium and Germany late in the war, going on to document his reaction as a member of the armed forces in Palestine, where he became bitterly critical of British Government policy. All this makes the letters a substantial historical record. Dear Mona also records a powerful emotional story. Mona, who was 15 years older than Len, was in love with him, as was James Kirkup for a time. Len loved both as dear and highly valued friends, but could not return their love in the way they wanted. This strain runs like a thread throughout the letters, surfacing from time to time and playing a huge part in Len’s life. It is this continuum that knits the letters together as a story, and gives the book the feel of a novel. Mona was a truly remarkable woman, who played a vital role in enabling Len to broaden his horizons and gave him the confidence to follow his own path in the arts. He wrote to her: “You have helped to mould my being these growing years.” In publishing the letters, my aim is not only to shed light on my father’s early years and his emergence as an artist, but also to pay tribute to a brave and generous woman, Mona Lovell. Jonah’s centenary will be marked by a substantial exhibition at Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Llanbedrog, in Gwynedd between 26th January and 17th March 2019. Some 80 works will be on display, showcasing the whole of his artistic career and the diversity of his output. For details see www.oriel.org.uk/en/whats-on

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Are you looking after your hearing? We’re here to give you FREE advice and answer any questions you may have about your hearing health. Viney Hearing Care is holding a week of events to promote hearing awareness in the community. Call today to attend any of our events. Spaces will be limited.

Hearing Awareness Week February 11th-15th 2019

Monday 11th

FREE Microsuction The SAFEST way to clean your ears. If you have problems with dull or itching ears, it could be wax blocking your ear canals. Come and have a FREE hearing health check to see if wax is the problem. If it is, we can remove it with the latest and SAFEST techniques. Places will be limited (Normal cost £45)

Wednesday 13th Latest hearing instrument technology demonstrations

Do you struggle to hear in company, watching the TV or on the phone? We understand that having hearing loss can make these listening situations very difficult. Allow us to demonstrate how the latest connective wireless technology can take away the strain of listening and see how easy it can be to enjoy these simple pleasures again. Book your free appointment to see how the latest wireless technology could improve your quality of hearing.

Thursday 14th

Exhibition of the world’s smallest hearing instruments The new era of ‘invisible hearing’. We work with the world’s leading hearing instrument manufacturers to provide the most discreet instruments with the finest hearing quality. Instruments that you can’t see and can’t feel - just excellent hearing in all walks of life. Book an appointment for your FREE hearing screen and a demonstration of invisible hearing.

Limited spaces

Tuesday 12th

FREE Tinnitus management skills

Tinnitus affects 1 in 10 people in the UK. It’s classed as a noise that comes from your head and not the environment around you. Tinnitus has many causes and can severely disrupt people’s lives and that’s why it’s important to know how to manage it. If you are curious, distressed or concerned, we can help so please call to book your FREE session.

Friday 15th Speech Mapping

Do you wear hearing aids but still feel that you aren’t hearing the full picture? Is speech clarity a problem for you? Speech mapping is the latest revolutionary way to test the performance of your hearing aids and to see how well they help you hear. You will be provided with a print out of your hearing aid results and information on how speech can be improved for you. Call today as places will be limited.

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outside the box

In a time of consumerism and hoarding, giving gifts at Christmas doesn't have to involve buying things. There are other ways

Experiences

Stocking fillers are all well and good but the likelihood is that they'll be forgotten about a few days later. Memories on the other hand - they last a lifetime. Real-life experiences nurture the soul and inspire future exploration. And they needn't be expensive experiences either. Travel these days can be cheap - why not book a coach trip to Cornwall or West Wales? Even a family walk somewhere new needn't cost the earth. If you have the budget, there are plenty of companies offering unforgettable experiences balloon rides, days out driving high-performance cars or even flight lessons.

Gifts that grow

A potted herb garden or a terranium is a gift that will give continuous joy throughout the coming year. A miniature garden in the home can come in various sizes, assortments and styles that will need attending to and looking after. According to research, interacting with plants increases levels of happiness and calmness. What more could anyone ask for?

Time

If there's one thing that most of us don't seem to have - it's time. But we do. It's all about making the time. Putting aside time to spend with friends and family doesn't necessarily cost anything. But to the person receiving your time, it means the earth. Grab yourself a new diary and pencil in some dates with loved ones. Organise yourself so that you can still get all the things you need to get done. You can then enjoy your quality time without worrying about all the chores and work that weighs us all down.

gifts

Made with love If you have the skills to create something yourself,

whether it be baking, sewing or anything creative, a homemade gift is something very special. Even if you're not necessarily talented in that area, a gift that is handmade shows that you've spent time thinking about your recipient, and that's what makes it special. It also gives you the opportunity to personalise your present. Putting love into your gift is worth more than how much cash you spend. There are plenty of ideas online to help create a wonderful and unique gift - ranging from homemade bath bombs, chutneys and bookmarks through to more intricate presents ranging from hand-made earrings and wine racks. The only thing holding you back is your imagination!

Memberships Golf clubs, gyms, museums, historical

homes, season tickets or even Netflix or NOW TV - there are countless ways to give a membership. Setting someone up for the year ahead will give them something to look forward to for months on end. It also goes to show that you've really thought about what to get them for Christmas. Consider also things like breakdown cover for their car - it may not be the most exciting present you've ever given but it could come in very useful later on down the line.

Favours Sometimes, the things that people

really want just can't be wrapped up and popped underneath a Christmas tree. Has a member of your family been waiting years to have their garden cleared? Is there someone who has been wanting to visit a local gardening centre but can't get there themselves? Creating a booklet of favours can put a smile on the face of a loved one - just be aware that knocking a booklet up on Christmas morning as you've not bought anything will not go unnoticed!

Lessons People love to learn, especially a

new skill. Is there someone who's always wanted to pick up a guitar? Is there someone who's always dreamed of speaking Italian? Does someone need cookery skills? Knowledge like this can last a lifetime and by giving them the building blocks to learn, you could be giving them the gift of a whole new hobby or even a new career!

Eco-friendly You can support the world we

live in and give a great present by giving an eco-friendly gift. Buying from organisations that support nature and wildlife provides them with valuable income and your loved ones with a quality present. Reusable coffee mugs are very much the way to go and gifts like bags, scarves and jigsaws are also sold by the Woodland Trust, the National Trust and charities. Look out for gifts that carry the Fair Trade logo too - you can relax knowing that the present you are buying is ethical.

Personalised entertainment

If you've got a talent or skill that you can put to good use, create a personalised gift that will make someone feel very special. If you enjoy poetry, pen a personalised poem; if you are musically gifted, write a song; if you like writing short stories, make one up just for them! These are the kind of gifts that you can't buy anywhere - in fact, you don't need to spend very much at all!

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19/11/2018 12:10

Bringing a smile to Whitchurch

Rhiwbina Dental is celebrating 50 years this year. This is the story behind the much-loved practice

n October this year, Rhiwbina Dental celebrated its 50th anniversary. The milestone recognises a remarkable achievement for the local dental practice that has grown from small beginnings to worldwide influence. The practice was first opened in Rhiwbina in 1968 by Dr John Hawkins and his small team. Under John’s supervision and guidance, Rhiwbina Dental flourished, serving the people of the local community and beyond. John eventually retired at the age of 55, but not before the practice had become an integral part of village life.

The practice was taken over by Dr Nick Claydon in 1997. He went on to establish his state-of-the-art specialist dental practice at The Pines in Whitchurch in 2010. Nick’s innovative approach to dentistry has led to the adoption and implementation of the cutting edge technologies, both at the practice and elsewhere. Nick lectures widely on his research and practice concepts. Today, the practice boasts a team of 57 and is able to offer specialist services, such as Endodontics and Periodontology. “At Rhiwbina Dental, we provide the very best in dental implant treatment - without the fear factor. Implants are an investment in your future dental health, and we know you’ll feel reassured by the fact that Rhiwbina Dental has assembled some of the most qualified implant professionals in the field. Highly experienced, we have collectively placed hundreds of dental implants in the past few years. In addition, we are constantly looking to the future and exploring the latest technologies and innovations to ensure we remain on the cutting edge of implantology. “We have built an international reputation for excellence, based on a willingness to constantly challenge ourselves and the boundaries of technology, achieving, what are often, lifechanging transformations for our

The Rhiwbina Dental team patients.” Rhiwbina Dental now offers a complete range of services, including dental implants and hygiene, cosmetic dentistry, routine dental care, restorative dentistry, facial aesthetics (botox and fillers) and PRGF, which is used for surgical procedures at the surgery. Rhiwbina Dental said: “We are extremely proud of both our practices and the high standards that we set ourselves in all areas of dentistry. We are especially known for dental implants, not only in Cardiff but worldwide. We also know that private patients have a great deal of choice for their dental care and we greatly appreciate the commitment that our patients show to us in allowing us to care for them. “Both our surgeries have disabled access. We have downstairs waiting rooms and surgeries. We also communicate with our patients on a first name basis and have brilliant and loyal relationships with them.”

Rhiwbina Dental Surgery The Pines, Heol-y-Forlan, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1AX 02920 626551 www.rhiwbinadental.com Sponsored feature

24/12/18 20:45 A short Christmas story "The train at Platform 4 is the 20.45 to Cardiff Central," said the station announcer. "This is the final train to Cardiff. Thank you and Merry Christmas." Matt pulled up the sleeve of his heavy coat to look at his watch. 20.42. London Paddington was beginning to close down for Christmas. The shutters of the shops were being lowered down and one by one, the last trains were pulling out into the night. Matt had less than three minutes to board his. But he was waiting. Waiting for a brother he hadn't seen in 8 years. And by the looks of it, his brother was not about to make his promised appearance. Matt looked around one last time. Nothing apart from a woman in a heavy hat and coat who passed by him and stepped on to the train. Reluctantly, Matt climbed aboard and slumped into one of four seats, near the window. He placed his hands onto the empty table in front of him and sighed heavily. He'd failed. Or rather, he had been failed. He took out his phone and laid it on the table in front of him. He scrolled down and picked out a number. Then he dialled it and held it to his ear. "Hi. Mum. No. He didn't show." Matt's voice was quiet and subdued. He listened while his mother said a few words. "Ok. Listen. I don't have much battery left at all so I'm turning my phone off. I'll speak to you when I get back home. I'm expecting to be back about eleven. Ok. Bye. Love you."

Matt squeezed his phone until it buzzed and the screen disappeared. He then put his phone away in his pocket. He had no one he wished to talk to anyway. It had been a long day and he still had a two hour train journey back to Cardiff. He took out a small can of beer from his coat pocket and cracked it open. The train slowly rumbled out of Paddington station, clickety-clacking over the cold steel rails as it set a course for home. A warm aroma of coffee drifted over the head rests. The bright lights of London eventually faded and gave way to Matt's reflection in the train window. He took a sip of his beer. It was warm where it had been in his pocket but at least it still had a bit of fizz to it. Before he knew it, he'd drifted off and was only woken by the sounds of shuffling and murmuring. They'd arrived at the next station. Matt rubbed his eyes as the lights of Reading train station flooded in from outside. The concrete platform looked hard and cold and on the ground, there was a scattering of orange grit. After a few minutes, the train gave a slight shunt and began hauling out of the station. A woman shuffled up the aisle, dragging behind her a small suitcase on wheels. She stopped, pushed down the handle and tried to lift it into the overhead locker. The weight caught her by surprise and she was blocking everyone but she was helped by a tall old man stood who was stood behind her. Matt gazed out of the window,

into the darkness and into the living rooms of the homes that they were slowly passing. He could make out the warm bloom of lights in the houses and in one bedroom, he could see a small boy climbing into bed with his stocking. Matt's mind drifted back to the Christmas Eve nights that he shared with his brother in their childhood bedroom. They'd snuggle up, stay awake and guess what presents Santa would be bringing them that night. Matt's nostalgic thoughts were rudely disturbed by the tall old man who'd been coming down the aisle. "Anyone sitting here?" he asked, pointing to the seat opposite Matt. Matt looked around the almost empty carriage but the old man was already sitting down and unbuttoning his coat. He removed his woolly hat and placed it on his lap. Then he took out a toffee in a wrapper and began unwrapping it. This was the last thing Matt wanted. Some old codger talking. "Reckon you'll be home before the snow comes?" asked the old man. "What snow?" "The snow that's on its way." "Oh. Don't tell me. The perfect stereotypical snow on Christmas Eve scenario," Matt replied. He really wasn't in the mood to talk. "Long day?" asked the old man. "Something like that." The old man sensed Matt's grumpiness. He finally released the toffee from its wrapper and put it in his mouth, placing the wrapper on the table. For a few seconds, he swished the toffee around his mouth, looking Matt up and down. "So why the long face?" asked the Photograph by Matt Buck

short story man. Women trouble?" "No. Nothing like that." "Men trouble?" A laugh popped up from Matt's belly and out of his mouth. It was the first time he'd laughed all day. "Haha. No. Nothing like that either. Well sort of maybe." "It's all the rage these days, I hear." "No. I was supposed to be meeting my brother at Paddington. We were supposed to be coming back home together for Christmas. I haven't seen him in 8 years." "Where is he?" "That's a very good question." "He never showed up?" "No." "Well maybe he's getting a later train home." "No. This IS the last train home. He was getting this train." "How do you know?" "Because he told us. I've travelled all the way up to London to surprise him at Paddington." "And how do you know that he didn't get on this train?" "Because I stood at the end of the platform and watched every single person that got on. He always was a liar." Defeated, the old man finally went quiet. He crunched the small blob of toffee he had in his mouth and then sunk his hand back into his pocket. Matt guessed that the old man was in his mid eighties. His face was gaunt and thin, but his stubble was surprisingly dark for his age. His eyes seemed lost and his teeth seemed to protrude outwards from his jaw. He'd seen better days. The man finally pulled out something small from his pocket and popped it straight into his mouth. Matt didn't know what it was but guessed it was some sort of tablet. It definitely wasn't a toffee. The conversation had dried up. Matt looked out of the window at the passing towns that flashed and disappeared. In the distance of the far off homes, he could make out Christmases unfolding, each one different and each one filled with their own stories of joy and sadness. "How old are you?" asked the man. "23," said Matt. The man looked up to the roof of the train as if to recall something at the back of his mind. "On my 23rd birthday, I was in a POW camp in Germany." Matt rolled his eyes. 'Cue the old war hero act,' he thought. "God I missed my family. It would be another year before I spent Christmas at home again." Matt

braced himself for the old man's life story. "We were living in Liverpool at the time. We had a German POW with us for that particular Christmas as the Army staff needed some time off. It would have been easy to berate our guest but as I'd been in the same position the year before, I could tell he was nervous. I felt sorry for him because he tried his best to look presentable but only had a few belongings. My dad gave him a tie to wear. "Although there were rations on at the time, I could tell that my parents had tried their best. As our German friend was the Christmas guest, we gave him the largest portion of turkey. After Christmas night, I never saw him again and I'll always regret not asking him about himself. I regret not keeping in touch with him and I always wonder what kind of life he led after he left. He did say that his family back home were living in poverty thanks to the war but at least we had a roof over our head and food on the table. He had tears in his eyes when he first started eating." Matt managed a limp smile. It was a sweet story but Matt wondered if the man was trying to patronise him. "It's easy to judge people but you don't know what's going on in people's heads. You don't know what kind of lives they're leading and you don't know how close they are to giving up." Matt went quiet. He took out the second can of beer that he had hidden in his coat pocket and placed it on the table. "Do you want this?" he asked. "I'd brought it for him." "No. Thank you. I don't drink beer," said the man. He then reached deep into his coat pocket again and pulled out a hip flask. "I do drink whisky though." He unscrewed the lid and took a few long glugs. For the next hour and a quarter, the pair spoke at length. Matt's anger melted away and he was surprised to find that the man was both interesting and witty. He was slightly surprised then when the old man stood as the train rolled into Newport. "This is me," he said, buttoning up his coat. "You got anything nice planned for Christmas?" asked Matt. The man smiled. "No," he replied. "I'm seeing this one out on my own." Matt felt a little sad. "Well I hope it's a nice one anyway," he said. "Me too," said the man, pulling on

his woolly hat. "It'll be my last one." With that, he smiled at Matt, turned and headed down the aisle of the train. Matt's eyes lingered at the back of the old man's woolly hat as the train came to a stop. There was a slight chill as the doors opened and the passengers alighted. A flurry of movement caught Matt's eye and he looked up to the overhead lights at the station. He could faintly see the first flakes of snow falling. The old man was right. Maybe it would be a White Christmas after all. The train slowly began to pull out of the station, and as it did, Matt saw the man stood on the platform. He stood directly looking at the train, looking out for Matt. As he slowly passed, he gave Matt a small wave and then disappeared into the cold night. The train suddenly felt very empty. Matt looked at the empty toffee wrapper that the man had left. He hadn't expected it but he'd enjoyed his time with the man. But then he realised that he would never see him again. Maybe he should have given the man a hug. He should have at least shook his hand and wished him a proper Christmas. He didn't know what was in the old man's head. He didn't know how close he was to giving up, whatever he was trying to hold on to. Matt lifted the near-empty can of beer, raised it to the window and wished the old man a Happy Christmas. The drive home from town was quiet. As he left the bustle of the city centre and headed out to the suburbs, Matt began to forgive his brother. Snow fell silently on the Llandaff streets as Matt weaved his way to his mother's house. As he parked up, he saw in the window the large star light that had been part of the family Christmases for years. Home. Matt put his key in the door and turned it. The door swung open and there before him was his brother, complete with woollen Christmas sweater and a Santa hat. "Ah," said his brother. "Where have you been? I tried calling to let you know I'd got an earlier train but your phone was off. Merry Christmas," he said, raising a glass of sherry. Matt stepped forward and squeezed his brother tight. "Merry Christmas, brother," he whooped. "Yes," replied Ben. "Merry Christmas, brother."

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WORKSHOPS AND AFTERSALES CARE • 40 years of great service • New & Used vehicles for sale • Air Conditioning Re-Gas and repairs • Four wheel alignment • MOTs and servicing for ALL makes and models • The best Aftersales care for our customers • Located across the road from the new LIDL store • Your one stop shop garage and car dealer

Station Road, Llandaff North, Cardiff CF14 2FF

OUR NEW CHRISTMAS MENU HAS ARRIVED

029 2030 4020 7 main meals: Honey Roast Turkey Breast • Chicken in Creamy Mushroom Sauce • Roast Pork with Cranberry Stuffing • Gammon in Cranberry & Orange Sauce • Pork & Leek Sausages in Rich Onion Gravy • Braised Beef in Rich Sauce • Lamb with Redcurrant & Red Wine Sauce 4 desserts: Luxury Christmas Pudding • Christmas Trifle • Mincemeat & Apple Crumble • Brandy in Clotted Cream Ice Cream • FREE* Box of 6 mince pies

At Wiltshire Farm Foods we love helping you make Christmas extra special. Call your local team today or go online to order your Christmas Selection Pack and have Christmas delivered to your door. Place your order today, and we’ll do the rest.

wiltshirefarmfoods.com Why not try our

Christmas Selection Pack? 7 meals & 4 desserts and 6 FREE* mince pies for £38.99

*With every Selection Pack order while stocks last. Christmas Selection Pack available to order from October 15th 2018 up to and including 2nd January 2019, or while stocks last.

CHRISTMAS EVE SUPPER The shopping's done. The gifts are wrapped. All you need to do now is relax. Here are some delicious recipes to help you unwind on Christmas Eve

Bacon and cheese mushrooms 3 slices streaky bacon 8 cremini mushrooms 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon chopped onion 90g (3 oz) grated Cheddar cheese chives to garnish

☐ Grill or place the bacon in a large, deep frying pan. Cook over a medium high heat until evenly brown. Remove, dice and set aside. ☐ Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas mark 6. ☐ Remove the mushroom stems. Set aside the caps. Chop the stems. ☐ In a saucepan over a medium heat, melt the butter. Slowly cook and stir the chopped stems and the onion until soft. Remove from heat. ☐ In a medium bowl, stir together the mushroom stem mixture, the bacon and two thirds of the Cheddar. Mix well and scoop the mixture into the mushroom caps. ☐ Bake in the preheated oven 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. ☐ Remove the mushrooms from the oven, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and chopped chives.

Mini toad in the holes 110g plain flour pinch of salt 2 whole eggs 300ml milk 10g melted butter oil for greasing tins 6 pork sausages ☐ Sieve the flour and the salt into a bowl, and make a little pit to drop

the eggs into. Using a whisk, stir in the mixture, drawing the flour to the centre. Add the milk and keep whisking, then add the butter. Put aside for 1 hour. ☐ Lightly fry the sausages to brown them. They don't need to be fully cooked as they will be cooked later in the oven. ☐ Generously grease a deep 12 hole muffin tin and put half a sausage in each hole and then place the tray in preheated to 200°C (Gas mark 6) oven. Bake for about 3 minutes until the grease is hot. ☐ Take the tray out of the oven and fill each hole to two-thirds full with the batter. Put the tray back in the oven straight away and bake for a further 20 minutes, or until everything is well risen and golden brown. Serve warm.

food

Devils on horseback 30 pitted prunes 240ml tawny port 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 10 thin slices smoky bacon, cut crosswise into thirds 30 toothpicks, soaked in water for at least 15 minutes ☐ Heat the oven to 250°C and arrange a rack in the middle. ☐ Combine the prunes, port and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil over a high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the port thickens into a loose syrup - about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly, for about 10 minutes, then drain the prunes of excess syrup. ☐ Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminium foil, then set a cooling rack over the foil. ☐ Wrap a piece of bacon around each prune and secure with a toothpick. Place the prunes at least 1 inch apart on the cooling rack. Bake for 7 minutes, then flip the prunes with tongs and continue to bake until crispy - about 7 to 9 minutes more. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Cool slightly before serving.

Smoked salmon and cream cheese cucumber bites 2 cucumbers, peeled and cut into 1" circles 450g smoked salmon, cut into bite sized pieces 200g cream cheese 3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped 1 tablespoon horseradish (more or less to taste) toothpicks or tiny party forks ☐ Peel the cucumbers and slice them into 1" circles. Arrange on a platter as desired. Place in the refrigerator while preparing the cream cheese. ☐ Place the cream cheese, dill, horseradish, and cream in a large bowl. Beat or mix until well combined. ☐ Spread 1 teaspoon of cream cheese on top of each cucumber slice (more or less to taste), then top each slice with a bite sized piece of smoked salmon. Insert a toothpick down the centre to keep in place. ☐ Serve at once, or keep in the refrigerator until needed.

Home-baked cheese and onion bites 400g Jus Roll puff pastry sheet 2 medium potatoes 30g butter 2 large onions, sliced a few thyme sprigs, leaves picked ½ teaspoon English mustard 200g vegetarian extra mature cheddar, grated handful gherkins or pickled onions (or a mixture), roughly chopped ☐ Preheat the oven to 200°C degrees (Gas mark 6). ☐ Boil the potatoes in a pan of salted water until they are tender. Remove them from the pan, drain them and let them dry for a few minutes before mashing them. Place the potato in a large bowl. ☐ Melt the butter in a hot frying pan until it's foaming and then add the onions and a pinch of salt. Stir occasionally over a medium heat until they are completely soft and start to caramelise. Place them in the bowl with the mashed potato. ☐ Once everything in the bowl has cooled, add the cheese, the mustard, the thyme leaves, the gherkins or pickled onions and season to taste. Put to one side while you work on the pastry. ☐ Line a baking tray with some parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry out

into a large rectangle around 3mm thick. Cut the pastry into eight rectangles, then divide the filling equally between them, squashing it into a sausage shape down the long length of one side of each rectangle, leaving a 5cm gap at each end. Brush the exposed pastry with a little egg, then fold in the short sides of the rectangle and roll the empty half of pastry over the filling so that it is completely encased. ☐ Repeat this with each roll. To seal the edges, crimp down the ends with a fork and repeat for each roll. Transfer each roll to the lined baking tray and pop them in the fridge for 20 minutes. ☐ Take the rolls out of the fridge and brush them with a beaten egg. You can sprinkle nigella seeds on top if you wish. ☐ Bake on the top shelf of the oven for 40 minutes, or until your bites are golden and crispy. ☐ Serve in a bowl or a basket with red or brown sauce.

Jane Clarke Hypnotherapy

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Help with weight loss, body confidence, self-confidence, relationship issues, smoking, addictions, fears, phobias & anxiety Appointments in Rhiwbina or online via Skype

janeclarkehypnotherapy.com jane@janeclarkehypnotherapy.com

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Holistic Therapist Bring calm and balance into your life Improving your mind, body and emotions for optimal health, wellness and positivity Reiki • Indian Head Massage • Chakra Balancing Life Coaching • Baby Massage Technique • Guided Visual Imagery

07906 15116

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Calling all Over 60s Keep Fit and Flexible with Rubicon Dance

Photograph taken by Sian Trenberth

After a recent successful taster session initiated by Julie Morgan, Rubicon will be running weekly dance sessions for over 60s. Where? Whitchurch Community Centre (Old Church Road) When? Every Monday from 1.30-2.30pm (term time) Gentle exercise to music for £3.50 per session.

The Whitchurch Clinic, 2 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1DG 02920 617700 / 07811 985988 www.karenparkertherapy.co.uk

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Painting & Decorating Specialists City & Guilds Qualified

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Varnishing Small Building Work Tiling UPVC Gutters & Downpipes cleared (of all rubbish, debris, moss etc) Public Liability

Call Gary on

02922 472160 or 07717 154011 garywoldfield@hotmail.co.uk

All over 60s Welcome! Contact Sharon Teear:

Tel: 07868 258605 / 02920 491477

info@rubicondance.co.uk / www.rubiconcdance.co.uk

Providing full tree, grounds and estate maintenance and landscaping services. We’re very proud of what we do for our clients and like most people who work in nature we spend a lot of time on our knees in one way or another. This is always humbling. Now, whether you call it humility or respect or admiration for nature, if you’re looking to work with a company that cares about these things TR33 could be what you’re after.

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0800 298 3686 I info@tr33.co.uk www.tr33.co.uk

New Year New You January is a time for resolutions and fresh beginnings. Here are a few ways you can really change your life for the better

Finances Underpinning most things in life,

your financial situation can unlock happiness and a great sense of control. Having more money doesn't necessarily mean you'll be happier - being in control of what you have is the key. Set aside a few hours to sit down with all your figures, making sure that you include everything. Figure out where you are spending your money and allocate monthly budgets based on your income. Pocketsmith is a great online platform that monitors your income and spending, and can also flag up spending habits that are getting you into trouble. Once your budgets are set, try and stick to them as best as you can. Even knowing what your budgets are will help you feel in control.

Diet We literally are what we eat and

a surprising percentage of the population don't eat the right foods to nourish their bodies. Planning your meals in advance can help you save money but more importantly, it can help you get the right balance of nutrition that your body needs to function at its best.

Think of everything as a choice It's very easy to dismiss doing things without actually trying them. Saying that you can't do something is sometimes a cover story for the fact that you're not willing to make the effort or that you have other priorities. If there are things that you'd like to do, or that will benefit your life, don't immediately dismiss them as impossible. Train your brain to question whether it actually can be done instead.

Exercise Regular exercise has huge

benefits, both physically and psychologically. It has been shown to improve your mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and stress by changing parts of the brain that regulate stress and anxiety. There are the added benefits of weight loss and health benefits, which will give you a more positive view of yourself. Exercise will also help you sleep better.

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Meditate More and more people are discovering the benefits

of meditation, which has been scientifically proven to reduce stress. The habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirecting your thoughts reduces the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Meditation isn't about clearing your mind of everything, since this is virtually impossible. Instead, it's about being mindful of the present moment and learning to accept things for what they are. Yoga is a great way to combine both physical exercise and emotional well-being and has consistently proven to reduce stress and anxiety. It has also promotes a more positive outlook of both self and life in general, and may even help reduce agerelated memory loss.

Sleep A good night's sleep is so important to your health and well-being. On

the whole, the world's population is sleeping less and less, usually due to modern lifestyles. Lack of sleep is one contributor to obesity. This is down to hormones and reduced motivation to exercise. Good sleepers also tend to eat less too. Sleep also provides the brain with time to repair and replenish, which helps with day-to-day cognition, concentration, productivity and performance. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can have the same impact on brain function as alcohol. Not getting enough sleep can also lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease and stroke. Your immune system can also become compromised and it can affect your social skills. Along with nutrition and exercise, getting good quality sleep is vital to your health.

Start saying no

Social media diet Social media has its place but

people often get drawn into comparing themselves to everyone else's 'showreels'. Getting caught up can also misalign one's priorities. Instead, try devoting quality time to the important people in your life and engage with them in a more meaningful way than by giving them a 'like'.

Saying 'yes' to everyone's demands upon you is only going to lead to less productivity. Saying 'no' can be hard because you don't want to let anyone down or hurt them. Value your time - it is limited after all. If someone requests your time, gently tell them that you're up to your limits with commitments already. Practice saying the word 'no' so that you become comfortable with it and remember that being nice to everyone is going to benefit everyone but you. Guard your time and don't feel that you have to apologise for it.

Plan, plan, plan Creating plans, even if it's down to a daily to-do list will help restore order to your life. If you are living as part of a family, a calendar is always a great hub to centralise everyone's plans. Your brain can only remember so much, so get things written down and communicate your plans with others so that they are aware too. It's also worth sitting down with your calendar for 5 minutes on a Sunday night to see what the week ahead holds in store.

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