Rhiwbina Living

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Rhiwbina Living
At the heart of the community
Issue 59
CRAFTED IN
RHIWBINA
CRAFTED IN
Your multi award-winning magazine for Rhiwbina

Inside this issue
Welcome / Croeso
Llanishen Fach
Primary School
The latest news
from the school,
and how they
make the most
of the summer
months
Robin Horsfall
From boy soldier to
SAS veteran - the
former paratrooper
tells how he
has overcome
adversity
2
History
Nigel Lewis goes
back 200 years
to peek at how
Rhiwbina might
have looked back
then
Poems
Words to
celebrate the
season of
Summer - as
penned by local
poets
Summer deadline:
25th September 2023
Published October 2023
a: 222 Pantbach Road,
Rhiwbina, Cardiff CF14 6AG
t: 07772 081775 / 07974 022920
w: www.livingmags.co.uk
e: editor@livingmags.co.uk or
danielle@livingmags.co.uk
Distribution: 6,000 copies of Rhiwbina Living are
personally delivered by us to every house in the
Rhiwbina ward four times a year in line with the
seasons. We also distribute to local shops
While every effort has been made to
ensure the accuracy of the contents,
the publisher cannot accept any
responsibility for errors or omissions,
or for any matter in any way arising
from the publication of this material.
Every effort has been made to
contact any copyright holders.
Whitchurch and Llandaff Living is an
independent, apolitical publication.
No part of this publication may be
reproduced without the express
written permission of the publishers.
Welcome to your latest issue of
Rhiwbina Living.
The summer months are all
about being free and easy and
feeling good. The days and
nights are longer, and the warm
weather allows us to go out and
explore the world around us.
But sometimes, it's not that
straightforward. In a world where
we can often feel alone and
detached from others, despite
the cheery weather, Tim Riley
outlines the benefits of signing
with others.
We've also got a great feature
about stoicism. This philosophy
is designed to help you live
your best possible life by
maximising positive emotions,
reducing negative emotions, and
helping you hone your virtues of
character.
If retail therapy is more your
thing, we've handpicked
essential travel items to pack for
your holidays this year and we've
also singled out some books to
take with you.
The seaside is one place we
love to spend our time during
the warmer months and we've
shortlisted some wonderful
coastal walks to enjoy.
If you're of a certain age, you
may remember the SAS raid
on the Iranian Embassy in 1980.
Watched by millions on TV,
the army's elite were sent in to
rescue hostages that were being
held at gunpoint. It was a defining
moment in British history. Robin
Horsfall was one of the troops
that stormed the building that
Bank Holiday Monday evening.
The SAS veteran now lives just
outside north Cardiff. His life story
so far is like something out of a
novel. We spoke to him about his
extraordinary experiences.
Nigel Lewis returns with more
wonderfully detailed history of
our local area. Rhiwbina would
have looked very different
200 years ago and through
meticulous research, Nigel paints
a very rural and agricultural
version of our village in times
gone by.
There's more history to discover
throughout our local area as we
take a look at Roman Wales.
The area was a great source of
mineral wealth when the Romans
landed here in 48AD and they
made themselves very much
at home. Evidence of their time
spent here can still be explored
today; we show you where.
The children (and adults!) of
Llanishen Fach Primary will
no doubt be making the most
of their summer break but
we've heard about what they
got up to during the warmer
school months at the end of the
academic year.
We've also got plenty of other
features to whet your appetite for
a great summer, including poetry
from local residents and even a
short story. So make the most of
the longer days, enjoy the lovely
weather (if we get any) and we'll
see you in our next issue in the
autumn!
Danielle and Patric
Editors
@RhiwbinaLiving
www.facebook.com/rhiwbinaliving
@livingmagazinescardiff

Local green spaces recognised by
Keep Wales Tidy campaign
news
Recycling trials
could extend to
other areas
Canolfan Beulah Garden and
Thornhill Cemetery are among
several local green spaces to have
been recognised in the Keep Wales
Tidy ‘Green Flag’ Awards.
Canolfan Beulah picked up a
community award while Thornhill
Cemetery was one of the winners that
picked up a full Green Flag Award.
Canoflan Beulah Garden provides
a haven of green space just a
few yards from the busy Beulah
crossroads in the village. The
garden is enjoyed by both the
general public as well as members
of the church.
Other local winners of the full Green
Flag include Parc Cefn Onn, Heath
Greenhill School
could expand
under new
proposals
Greenhill Special School in Rhiwbina
could expand its intake under new
proposals put forward by Cardiff
Council.
Under the proposals, Greenhill
would operate as a single school for
learners aged 11-18 across two sites
including the current site in Rhiwbina,
and a new site at Ty Glas Avenue,
Llanishen from September 2026
onwards.
A recent Council report that
outlined plans for primary,
secondary and special schools in
Cardiff, acknowledged the growing
population of learners with complex
Photo: Keep Wales Tidy
Park, Hailey Park, and Forest Farm.
Whitchurch Community Garden
on Erw Las was also among the
community award winners. The
awards are judged independently
against a range of strict criteria,
including biodiversity, community
involvement, cleanliness and
environmental management.
The Green Flag Award is all about
connecting people with the very
best parks and green spaces. It’s
the benchmark for parks and green
spaces in the UK and beyond.
Wherever you see a Green Flag, you
know you’re visiting an exceptional
place with the highest standards.
learning needs, autism spectrum
conditions, and emotional health and
wellbeing needs in the city.
Greenhill School would increase its
places from 64 to 96 places under
the proposals. It would form part of a
city-wide expansion to provide 200
new places.
The school was recently praised in
an Estyn report. Inspectors found that
the school took great pride in offering
a diverse array of learning activities,
with a strong focus on outdoor
education.
A recycling trial - which has seen
10,000 homes across Cardiff
separate their recyclable waste
at the kerbside - has proven so
effective that the Council is looking
to buy 9 additional specially
designed trucks to collect glass
separately so the scheme can be
rolled out across the city.
Residents, including those in
Rhiwbina, who took part in the
recycling pilot, were given reusable
red and blue sacks to separate
their recycling into, with paper and
cardboard going into red sacks,
and plastic, tin and metals into blue
sacks. Residents in the trial areas
were already using a separate
container for glass jars and bottles.
The results, when compared with
the rest of the city where residents
put all recyclables into green
plastic bags, were startling. The
contamination rate - items that are
put out for recycling but cannot be
recycled - reduced from 30% to
approximately 6%.
Over a 3-year period, the new
three-bag recycling collection
system could be rolled out to other
residents across the city.
Street lighting
updates
Residents who have downloaded
the Cardiff Council's Gov app on
their mobile devices can now
report issues with street lighting.
The latest release of the app,
available to download on the
Google Play Store or Apple's App
store, allows residents to quickly
and conveniently tell the Council
about a street lighting fault.
3

news
Calls for more
'Tree Guardian's
to help Cardiff's
trees
Heol Llanishen Fach Park reopens
following major refurbishment
An army of willing volunteers
has planted more than 50,000
new trees in Cardiff in the past
two years as part of the ‘Coed
Caerdydd' mass tree-planting
programme in the city.
The council-led project,
which aims to support
biodiversity and increase
tree canopy coverage in the
city from 18.9% to 25%, was
launched in 2021.
But pushing on from this
success, Cardiff Council are
asking more residents to join
their team of existing ‘Tree
Guardians'. The aim is to help
provide water for the new
trees, and also look after the
thousands that line the city's
streets.
Coed Caerdydd Project
Manager Chris Engel said:
"You can generally spot
when a tree is dehydrated by
looking at its leaves - if they're
starting to wilt, their leaves are
yellowing, or they're losing
leaves, then that's a sure sign
they need some water.
"Trees will always benefit
from a drop of water every
day - the larger ones we've
planted need more - but really
anything will help, especially
early in the morning or in the
evening once the temperature
has dropped."
4
The play area at Heol Llanishen Fach
officially re-opened to the public
in June, following an extensive
refurbishment.
Designed around an oak theme,
the play area now includes a toddler
and a junior play area, all aimed
at encouraging imaginative play,
climbing, education, and physical
activity.
Reservoirs reopen
Llanishen and Lisvane Reservoirs
have reopened following seven
years of work to bring them back into
operational use.
The new venues boasts a visitors'
hub, watersport activities, footpaths
and bird hides.
The site first came under threat in
the early 2000s when Western Power
Distribution tried to drain the water
from the reservoir to build houses.
Since 2016, Welsh Water has
worked with Reservoir Action Group,
Cardiff Council & Cardiff & Vale
University Health Board and a range
of organisations to offer activities to
benefit people’s own health, while
also helping enhance the site’s
environment and biodiversity.
Bridge lessons
Rhiwbina Bridge Club is planning to
give lessons to complete beginners.
The classic card game is played in
the village by club members, offering
players friendship and the chance to
keep their minds active.
If you'd like more information, please
contact Roger on 07811 509490 or
e-mail: roger.wright100@talk21.com.
Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks
and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, told
the press:
“The play area at Heol Llanishen
Fach is the latest facility to benefit
from our ongoing programme of
investment in parks and play areas
across Cardiff and will be another
fantastic facility for local families to
enjoy.”
Rhiwbina Society
programme
Following a recent run of interesting
talks, the Rhiwbina Society has
announced its programme of
meetings for the rest of the year. It
runs as follows:
19 September: Iron and Steel in South
Wales – Bob Jones
17 October: Newport Wetlands: A
Hidden Gem - Daniel Suge of the
Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds (RSPB)
21 November: An introduction to
the South Wales Metro programme:
updates for Rhiwbina, the Coryton
and Rhymney line. Jessica Clement
12 December: Christmas quiz with
nibbles and drinks.
Meetings are held in the Canolfan
Beulah starting at 7.30 pm. For
further information, please visit
therhiwbinasociety.org, or find them
on Twitter at @Rhiwbina_Soc or their
Facebook page. You can also phone
07811 509490.
The Society works to preserve
the village atmosphere for which
Rhiwbina is famed, and to foster a
sense of community and civic pride.

letters
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editor@livingmags.co.uk
The Boss
My name is Atticus, I’m a Goldfinch
and this is my story.
I’ve lived all my life in the old
oak tree on the Rhiwbina line. To
humans, he was just another oak
tree but to us birds, and the bats
who lived there, he was ‘The Boss’.
He was a pedunculate, a common
oak, which ‘takes 300 years to grow,
300 years to live and 300 years
to die’. The Boss was about 100
years old, in the prime of his youth
and truly magnificent. Even before
global warming, nobody in their
right mind would bring any harm
to such a fine living specimen and
example of everything that’s good
about God’s world.
The Boss provided safety and
shelter for a murder of Crows, an
unkindness of Ravens, a parliament
of Rooks and a conventicle of
Magpies. The clattering of Jackdaws
spent their days down in the village
but returned home every night to
roost.
Throughout the summer, the
cauldron of bats that lived with us
could be seen flying together from
dusk onwards as they set out to
catch their suppers.
The Boss knew all of us since we
were eggs, and all our families for
generations and, night after night,
he regaled us with stories of how
life had been ‘back in the good old
days’.
We felt safe in his boughs.
There were other trees, Ash and
Sycamore, but none felt like our
mighty Oak.
The Boss was everything to us
and he had time for us all. We built
our nests in The Boss, raised our
chicks, sheltered from the worst of
storms and he provided the bugs
we needed to feed our young, all
hidden in the ivy he allowed to grow
around his magnificent form.
The Boss stood overlooking our
village for almost 100 years. He
was older than most of the human
inhabitants, and he felt he knew all
of them as for so long he’d watched
them going about their daily lives.
He’d seen the worst of winters and
the best of summers. Most years he
saw snow settling on the mountain,
the twinkle of the pretty Christmas
lights from the village and the first
Swallows arriving for summer. He’d
seen the Prairie tank steam engine,
the old late night railway specials
from Ninian Park, today’s diesel
trains and he couldn’t wait for the
new electric powered trains.
Life went on day after day, as it
always had until, one incredible
night in mid-June.
Everyone spent that evening just
like any other. The sun had set and
the chicks were tucked up in their
nests. Tod the Fox wandered past
on his way to search for food for his
cubs.
Roland the Rat made his way over
the weeds that engulf the railway
track and under the ancient Hedera
helix covered bridge, neglected
for years, but somehow made
charming by the hanging ivy fronds
which hit the trains as they passed
under.
Then, it happened. A gang of
humans arrived, loud and brightly
coloured, hauling their machines.
The still of the urban country night
was shattered by the sound and
feel of death and destruction.
Sub-contractors were carrying
out orders to raze to the ground
anything and everything ‘within
8–10 metres of the track’.
The thunderous noise of the
murderous chainsaws terrified us
all. Those who could fly, us birds
and the bats, took to the wing and
flew for our lives, no option but to
leave behind us our families and
loved ones.
Humans on the bridge pleaded
for the Boss’s life. The evidence of
bats living in his mighty boughs was
briefly discussed, and dismissed, by
his assailants.
The Boss would not have wanted
us to try to describe his pain and
suffering as humans ripped him
apart, but he would have wanted us
to pose questions.
He stood for 100 years, regal and
serene, and reasonably expected
to do so for the next 800 years.
Humans decided to upgrade
the track for electric trains, and
The Boss became a ‘fire hazard’,
because cost-saving dictated an
unsightly overhead cable system
rather than a single track-level live
rail. ‘Health and safety’ masks costsaving
as the real issue.
Trees are the largest plants on
earth and they provide more than
just oxygen to humans. They
ensure the stability of the soil that
other plants grow in, and provide
shelter and food for animals and
us birds, and help control weather
patterns through natural aspiration.
Therefore, trees mean life, literally,
for all of us, not just humans.
Human research shows that
old oaks will increase their C02
absorption by up to a third to meet
the increasing C02 levels.
The Boss can’t because he’s dead;
humans killed him and that’s just
not right.
To quote the other Atticus Finch, in
To Kill a Mockingbird, ‘the one thing
that doesn’t abide by majority rule is
a person’s conscience’.
Albert Ross, Cardiff
5

Llanishen Fach has developed -
and delivers - an innovative and
engaging curriculum all year round
This year we were fortunate to be
supported by ‘Jim Bob’s Buses’, who
kindly provided a camper van to
ensure at least one of us got a good
night’s sleep and was fresh and ready
for the early morning shift.
Campouts are led by our outdoor
learning team, Mrs Carter, Miss
Davies and Mr Barrett, assisted and
supported by a further 30+ staff
who help with everything from food
shopping to running evening activities
and organising portable loos.
For many years Mr Gunning, a
community legend, was a stalwart of
our campouts with his hugely popular
campfire songs; since his retirement
we have managed to persuade Mr
Gunning to return each year to keep
alive the tradition of comic songs
before bed, and this year was no
exception.
During their overnight adventure
with us, the pupils get to experience a
number of activities. With the summer
holidays now here, you might like to
try some of them with your family:
Wild garlic pizza
Simply make a basic bread dough
Summer has arrived
at Llanishen Fach
Primary School.
Here's how they
make the most of it
We are very lucky in having extensive
grounds, and even more fortunate in
having heroic staff who look for ways
to utilise this good fortune to the
benefit of the school community.
For many years now, we have held
a regular annual ‘campout’ for our
Year 4 pupils, only being suspended
during the Covid restrictions. And it is
6
because of Covid that last year, and
again this year, we are playing catchup,
giving additional opportunities
for pupils from other year groups to
participate.
If you have ever organised a family
camping trip, you will well know just
how much organisation and effort
goes into the simplest of overnight
stays, not to mention the resulting
bleary-eyed mornings after! So,
imagine such a trip but multiplied by
30 children and repeated over four
nights with consecutive classes. Now
you can see the use of ‘heroic’, to
describe our intrepid campout team,
is far from hyperbole, a team who
sees it simply as being ‘all in a day’s
work’ here at Llanishen Fach.

schools
and top before cooking with a butter
and garlic spread.
Pop bottle rockets
Using a bike pump and a cork,
continue to pressurise a pop bottle
quarter filled with water and wait for
blast off.
Den building
Fallen branches found scattered
through the woods on the Wenallt
make den building an addictive
pursuit; there is always more you can
add.
Sandwich making
Life skills need to be learnt, and there
is no better way to learn than having a
go yourself.
Marshmallow s’mores
Heat the marshmallow over a camp
fire and then simply sandwich
between biscuits of choice (we like
chocolate digestives).
Bat watching
Develop an interest in our British bats,
take a walk at twilight on a warm
summer's evening and see how many
you can see swooping and diving for
insects.
children were surprised by the arrival
of The Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir
who performed for them around
the campfire and were in return
persuaded to join in with one of our
many raucous action songs. A very
happy end to yet another magical
campout. Next year we expect to
be back to just two nights under
canvas, which will come as a bit of
a relief after this year’s four nights
adventure. But be assured, we are
already looking forward to it, as are
our current Year 3 pupils.
As with everything we do, no two
days are ever the same, and campout
was no exception. One evening, the
7

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La traviata Verdi
Medi 9 – 30 September
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tel: 07929 239012
email: info@calonrhiwbeina.com

The
Art
Workshop
Known for its vibrant sense
of community, Rhiwbina is
home to many wonderful
independent businesses. One of
these success stories is The Art
Workshop, which is celebrating ten
years in the community this year.
Over that decade, the Art School
on Lôn Fach has become a
much-loved and integral part of
Rhiwbina life. Headed up by owner
Genevieve Loxton, the story of how
the business came into being is
perhaps less well-known.
“I had always practised and
studied Art but started out with a
career in journalism and worked as
a Radio Producer,” says Genevieve.
“I’d done well there, but always
wanted to create a business of my
own working in Fine Art, where my
heart really lay.”
Genevieve took the leap to switch
careers, went back to studying and
graduated from Cardiff School of
Art and Design with a first-class
honours degree in Fine Art Painting.
“I went back into higher education
at that point really because my
father passed away. It was a catalyst
for me – it made me realise that
time is too short not to go for what
you want.”
Not long after Genevieve had
graduated, the current studio in the
village became available to rent.
“My kids were going to Rhiwbeina
Primary School and Whitchurch
High at the time and I remember
cutting through Lôn Fach and
Photo: Sarah Barnes Photography
Gen and Martha opened
The Art Workshop in 2013
seeing an advert in the window
saying ‘Premises To Rent’.
“I went home and asked the family
what they thought about the idea
of setting up my own art teaching
business and they were all for it. I
set the Workshop up with an artist
friend and fellow graduate Martha
and we did it all on shoestring.
“Our first classes only had a few
people in them but we played to
our strengths, leading with what
we had studied. We put everything
into creating the kind of courses
that we would have wanted to
attend. I taught oil painting and
drawing while Martha ran sculpture
workshops and started up the
Junior Academy,” says Gen.
The workshop soon became a
firm favourite with the locals who
wanted to explore a world of art
that possibly seemed out of reach.
“Everyone in life has something to
say and art is one way of expressing
what people feel and think. Other
people like to write, or maybe
enjoy music. Art shouldn’t be elitist,
it’s another way of getting your
viewpoint out into the world and
what’s surprising is that it might be
more accessible than you think.
“People often think that they’d
be no good at art but that’s why
we are here. We provide you with
the skills and the confidence
to express yourself in ways you
may not have ever imagined - all
within a supportive and nurturing
environment here at the studio.”
The workshop has overcome many
challenges during its ten years.
“The pandemic was a real test for
us. We had to adapt - and quickly -
so we moved many of our classes
online. We learnt very quickly that
we could still teach, and that our
students could still learn effectively,
even from home.”
The workshop now has around 150
students of all ages coming through
their doors every week.
“People have that itch to create
something. When you come to
study here, you’ll find it stimulating,
comforting, and it’ll give you a great
sense of achievement.
“We now have six terms a year
and nine members of the teaching
team. Our courses are created from
scratch each term. A lot of research
goes into them and this allows our
content to stay fresh all year round.”
Martha has moved now to live in
West Wales, but her Mum, artist and
well-known painting conservator
Kate Lowry, is a key part of the
team, teaching Watercolours.
“Our tutors are wonderful; there
are lots of great artists out there,
but not everyone can teach. We
have Petra Couper, Imogen Lee,
Bill Chambers, Nicole Smith,
Janine Cooper-Plant, Karen O’Shea,
Hollie Roberts, and Kate, and we
are all dedicated and focused on
delivering well-planned, engaging
art teaching, whatever your abilities.
“We offer decades of experience
and knowledge to help people
to discover something new, and
we are regularly told we’ve given
people a whole new perspective on
life though the classes.
“We also give opportunities to
selected Art students to gain
relevant paid work experience as
studio assistants, which is so difficult
to find. That’s helped many get into
top Art Colleges.”
The Art Workshop continues
to play an important role in
the community. They provide
everything from drawing,
acrylics, watercolours, textile art,
printmaking, photography and oil
painting for adult learners, as well
as the Junior Art Academy and
Teens Art Group.
“We love being part of the
community” says Gen, “whether
that’s giving people a way of
expressing themselves through our
classes, the friendly, social aspect
of being part of our groups, or by
creating annual murals for the
Rhiwbina Festivals and inviting the
public to our student exhibitions.”
A: Lôn Fach, Rhiwbina
T: 07947 003111
W: theartworkshop.co.uk
This is a sponsored feature

SING
In a world where we can often feel alone, isolated, and detached from
society, Tim Riley outlines the benefits of singing with others
Do you like to sing a bit of opera in
the bath? Are you the sort of person
who turns up the radio in the car
and sings along at the top of your
voice? Or perhaps you love the idea
of singing, but are simply too afraid
to open your mouth and have a go?
One thing is for sure - you don’t
need to sing like the late, great Tina
Turner to enjoy the sense of fun,
camaraderie and well-being that
comes from singing in a choir.
Singing Is Good For Us
I think most of us already
instinctively know that music
making and singing is good for us
- after all, people have been doing
it for thousands of years. However,
in recent years, there has been a lot
of scientific research that has been
quantifying the benefits of music
making and more specifically, the
benefits of singing in choirs.
Jacques Launay, a Postdoctoral
Researcher in Experimental
Psychology at the University of
10
Oxford has this to say:
“Music has been used in different
cultures throughout history in many
healing rituals, and is already used
as a therapy in our own culture.
Song is a powerful therapy indeed.”
He then went on to sum up some
of the broader findings of research
conducted with choirs:
“Regular choir members reported
that learning new songs is
cognitively stimulating and helps
their memory, and it has been
shown that singing can help those
suffering from dementia, too. The
satisfaction of performing together,
even without an audience, is likely
to be associated with activation of
the brain’s reward system, including
the dopamine pathway, which
keeps people coming back for
more.”
Singing Helps Our Brains
Jacques Launay isn’t alone in these
findings. Sarah Wilson, a clinical
neuropsychologist at the University
of Melbourne, conducted MRI
scans on people as they sang and
reached the following conclusions:
“When we sing, large parts of our
brain ‘light up’ with activity. There is
a singing network in the brain which
is quite broadly distributed. When
we speak, the hemisphere of the
brain dealing with language lights
up, as we might expect.
"When we sing, however, both
sides of the brain spark into
life. We also see involvement
of the emotion networks of the
brain. Regions that control the
movements we need to produce
sounds and articulation also light
up.”
Singing Releases Feel Good
Hormones
Baishali Mukherjee, an officer for the
World Federation of Music Therapy
is able to sum up quite nicely what
the likely benefits of singing are
going to be:
“Endorphins are related to an

overall lifted feeling of happiness;
it gives a feeling of euphoria so it’s
all associated with a reduction in
stress. In any situation whether it is
under stress or with any physical
ailments, illness, psychological
deprivation, music has the potential
to affect our body and mind.”
Singing Releases Stress
A study in 2017 showed that singing
can help reduce stress levels. The
study took samples of saliva before
and after the participants sang. It
showed that levels of cortisol, the
hormone that is produced as part
of the body's stress response, were
lower after they had belted out a
great tune. This was found to be
true whether the participant was
singing alone or as part of a larger
group.
The only time cortisol levels went
up was when the participants were
performing to a large crowd.
Another direct benefit was
improved lung function. Because of
the improved supply of oxygen via
the lungs, singers often experience
improved moods and greater social
connection with their peers.
A Personal View
Speaking personally and as a
musician who has been singing and
conducting choirs for more than
thirty years, I know that running a
choir is one of the most joyful and
least stressful parts of my work.
The coming together of people.
The control of breathing, the
emotional uplift of the music and
the camaraderie of being with
others with a common purpose -
Stephen Moore, Head of Music,
Llandaff Cathedral leads a
masterclass with Insole Court
you don't have to be a scientist to
know that’s going to be good for
you on every level!
Every rehearsal leaves me feeling
elated and I know that my choristers
feel the same way. And the good
news is that you don’t even need
to be a strong singer to get all the
benefits. Indeed, I suspect that
people that make music for fun
(and not a living) have the most
joyful and carefree experience.
How To Get Involved
If you’re interested in joining a choir,
here are a few questions to ask
yourself:
● What sort of music would you like
to sing? Pop or Classical?
● Can you read music or are you
starting from scratch?
● Would you enjoy singing in other
languages (not just Welsh, many
Singing improves our moods
choirs embrace a lot of different
languages and cultures)?
● How do you feel about
movement - do you fancy a bit of
choreography?
● Would you prefer to go with a
friend?
Local Choirs
wellbeing
Wales has a rich tradition of choral
singing. More specifically, if you
live in the West and North of
Cardiff, there are many excellent
opportunities to sing with
community groups.
For instance, if you enjoy church
music, Llandaff Cathedral has a
community chorus (as well as their
main choir) aimed at the wider
community and not just singing
experts.
Then there’s Gabalfa Community
Chorus, Roath Community Chorus,
The Ardwyn Singers, Rock Choir,
and the charity Tenovus runs Sing
With Us.
The Insole Court Children's
Choir will also be relaunching in
September, aimed at primary school
children aged six and upwards.
The choir is led by Anna Williams, a
hugely experienced music teacher.
For the adults, the Insole Court
Community Choir has been singing
since the house reopened six year
ago. With over 50 members, this
prize-winning choir welcomes
people of all musical abilities. You
don't need to be able to read music
to take part (although they do
provide music and assistance in the
form of backing tracks) and there's
also no audition.
Do your research and find out what
suits you best. Before you know
it, you won't just be singing in the
shower!
11

Rockpooling
Rockpools can last only a few hours but within each one, you can find
a multitude of interesting creatures, all waiting for the tide to return
Beadlet anemone
A common sea anemone found
on rocky shores around all
coasts of the British Isles, the
beadlet anemone displays up to
192 tentacles, all arranged in six
circles. They use these tentacles
to sting and catch passing prey
like crabs, shrimp and small fish.
When the water recedes,
the anemone retracts these
tentacles and the anemone
ends up looking like a red or
orange blob, around two inches
wide.
They can be spotted all year
round in rockpools and along
the rocky shore.
Green shore crab
Commonly found around the
UK, the green shore crab is
usually green in colour but can
sometimes be orange or red-ish
in colour. If you spot one with an
orange blob on its stomach, it'll
be a female carrying its fertilised
eggs for safekeeping.
You can also recognise the
green shore crab by the fact that
it has five upturned spikes on
each side of its upper shell and
three rounded lobes between its
eyes.
Bladderwrack
This type of seaweed is found on the
coasts of the North Sea, the western Baltic
Sea and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
It was the original source of iodine,
discovered in 1811, and was used
extensively to treat swelling of the thyroid
glands related to iodine deficiency. It is
especially common on sheltered shores.
Dog whelk
They may look pretty but dog whelks are
predatory sea snails. Wave action tends to
confine this carnivorous marine gastropod
to more sheltered shores.
To feed, it uses a modified tooth to bore
holes in the shells of prey. An organ on its
foot secretes a shell-softening chemical,
which it releases into the hole, paralysing
the shell's contents, which it then sucks
out.
Common periwinkle
This small, edible sea snail looks
similar to its land-based cousin
but primarily feeds on algae on
rocky ledges.
Also known as winkles, they
have been an important food
source for humans with evidence
of this happening in Scotland
dating back to 7,500 BC.
They are commonly harvested
in baskets at low tide, and its
meat is high in protein, omega-3
fatty acids and low in fat. They
are considered a delicacy in
African and Asian cuisines.
12

outdoors
Common goby
The common goby can be found along most of the UK's
coastline; in fact, it can be found anywhere from the Baltic
Sea to the western Mediterranean.
You'll find these little fish in estuaries, saltmarshes, along
the coastline and in intertidal pools. They do prefer open
water areas that are muddy or sandy, but can often be
found in dense vegetation. Because of their colour, they
can often blend in with the mud or sand beneath them.
They grow to about 6cm long and you can distinguish
them from other species by the fact that its nape and
throat are completely scaleless. They have large eyes that
are positioned on the sides of their heads.
Common starfish
The common starfish has five arms
and usually grows to between 10–
30cm across.
It is dioecious, meaning that each
individual is either male or female. In
the spring, the females release their
eggs into the sea. A moderate sized
starfish is estimated to be able to
produce 2.5 million eggs.
They eat by opening up shellfish,
inserting a part of their stomach into
the shellfish, digesting its contents,
and then returning its stomach back to
its body. They can live for up to seven
or eight years.
Common limpet
These small cone-like structures
clamp onto the rocks and wait for
the tide to return.
When it does, they release
themselves and get on the move,
eating algae with their tongue - the
world’s strongest known biological
structure - as it needs to constantly
scrape algae from the tough rocks.
Its tongue contains hundred of rows
of sharp teeth that are known to be
stronger than steel.
Brown shrimp
Also known as the common
shrimp, this crustacean can be
found on all coastlines in the UK.
often lurking in estuaries and
shallow waters.
Adults typically measure 1-2
inches long, with large antennae
They can also change colour to
better match their surroundings
using special cells called
chromatophores. Usually brown
to blend in with the sand, if they
are threatened by predators,
they bury themselves in the
sand. During the day, they remain
buried in the sand to escape
predatory birds and fish, with only
their antennae protruding.
13

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D R I V E T O G E T H E R

Para.
mercenary.
sas.
sniper.
bodyguard.
SAS veteran Robin Horsfall has overcome adversity time and time
again. His life story so far is like something out of a novel.
"I'll have a bowl of porridge please."
It's early summer. In a small cafe,
just outside of north Cardiff, Robin
Horsfall is ordering breakfast.
Among the chatter of the
cafe, most are unaware of the
extraordinary life of the man with
the moustache sat quietly in the
corner.
"Until the age of seven, I had
no father figure in my life," says
Robin. "There was a gap in my
development because there was
no one there to put me straight or
tell me how to behave. As a result,
I grew up lacking confidence and
became vulnerable to bullies."
Robin was born in Surrey and
following a divorce from his birth
father, Robin's mother Hazel
married what was to become
Robin's step-dad.
"He adopted me and gave me
his name Horsfall. He had no
experience of bringing up children
and could get violent with the
frustration of my behaviour."
Robin's broken family life
impacted heavily on his education,
and as a result, he developed a
resentment to authority.
"Nobody asked me if I wanted
to go to school. I tried hard there
but I was always put down by the
teachers. My voice was silenced."
With his home life falling apart at
the age of 15, Robin decided to join
the Army as a boy soldier.
"I'll always remember having to
walk across a trainasium as part of
our Para training in 1973. I was 16
years old. A trainasium is essentially
two steel poles arranged almost
symmetrically 60ft up in the air.
My job was to walk across them
but the thing is, there's a six inch
high scaffold clamp on each bar
in the middle so you can't just run
across and get it over with quickly.
You have to stay in control, adjust
midway, and continue over.
"I got halfway and froze with fear.
My trainer, a man by the name of
Mick Lee, came up the other side
and walked out to meet me. He
actually held my hands and walked
backwards across the bars until we
got to the other side. Then he told
me to do it again alone. Which I did.
It was the first time someone had
shown me what true leadership
was.
"Joining the Army was my decision
to let them have authority over
me. I quickly became unhappy
with failure. The only way for me to
hold my head up was to excel - to
be faster, fitter, and quicker than
anyone else. I learned to stand up
for myself."
Despite bullying by his peers and
colleagues in the forces, Robin
became a full member of the
Parachute Regiment in 1974 and
served three tours of Northern
Ireland as part of Operation Banner.
In January 1979, Robin passed
selection for the SAS at his second
attempt.
"SAS selection is nothing like it's
depicted on TV. There's none of
this shouting or criticism. Parts of
the training took place here in the
mountains of South Wales."
On 30th April 1980, a group of six
armed men stormed the Iranian
embassy on Prince's Gate in South
Kensington, London. The gunmen
took 26 people hostage, including
embassy staff, several visitors,
and a police officer who had been
guarding the embassy.
Within 48 hours, the SAS had been
dispatched and had set up camp in
the adjacent building.
"We were there next door for
16 Images: ©Crown & Robin Horsfall

most of the siege. No one knew we
were there. We camped down in
a surgeon's office and I remember
lying on the floor, fully kitted up,
looking at the primitive-looking
tools hanging up."
By the sixth day, the terrorists'
patience had worn thin. They
executed one of their hostages and
dumped his dead body on the steps
of the embassy. They told police
negotiators that they were going to
kill the rest of the hostages, one at a
time, over the next few hours.
"The police finally handed over
control to our guys and we all got
into our assault positions," says
Robin.
To distract the gunmen, the SAS
detonated a huge explosion to blow
out the skylight on the embassy
roof. As the world's media watched,
SAS troops then blew out one of the
windows at the front of the building.
"I entered on the ground floor at
the rear of the building. We could
hear the commotion going on when
the first blasts went off."
The deadly raid lasted just 17
minutes. Five terrorists were killed
and one was captured.
"We'd formed a human chain down
the staircase to get the hostages
out. We wanted to get them out
as quickly as we could and we
also wanted to get out of there
ourselves.
"Then suddenly, someone
shouted 'He's a terrorist!' and when
we looked, there was this guy
stumbling down the stairs with a
grenade in his hand.
"It was only as he came clear at the
bottom of the stairs that myself and
two other guys opened fire. There
was no warning shouted. He had a
grenade. We shot him."
The raid had brought the SAS into
the public domain for the first time.
"At that point, we were
the world's most famous
anonymous people."
The following year, Robin
married Heather and in
1982, during Operation
Sandy Wanderer, Robin
discovered a measles
epidemic in the Bedouin
population of Oman.
"We got some vaccines
to them and saved a lot of
lives, especially children."
Later that year, Robin was
heading to the Falkland
Islands for what seemed like a
suicide mission to destroy assets
of the Argentinian Air Force. It was
the first time since WW2 that the
SAS were involved in large-scale
conflict.
"I remember having to leave my
pregnant wife and not knowing if I
was coming back. That was hard."
By 1984, and with a growing family,
Robin decided to leave the Army.
"I bought myself out. I'd had
enough. By 1986, I was bodyguard
to Dodi Al-Fayed in London. I also
qualified Black Belt in Karate.
"I then moved on to become a
'contract soldier' in Sri Lanka. I was
only there a few months but I soon
realised I'd made a mistake. There
was a lot of genocide, torture and
media control going on, so I left."
In 1991, as the medical officer for
a gold mine in Guyana, Robin built
a medical facility from leftover
materials and as a Registered
Emergency Medical Technician, he
trained the staff there. In only four
months, he'd completed his task,
saving several lives along the way.
"Throughout the late 80s, I
was bodyguard to leaders and
politicians and by the early 1990s, I
was teaching karate professionally
in London. I set up my own karate
school there before retiring in 2012.
"I broke my neck so that wasn't
good. My son now runs the school
so we've kept it in the family."
Yearning to assuage his creative
streak, Robin completed an English
Literature with Creative Writing
degree at Surrey University in 2013.
"I was the only older man there so
it took the students a long time to
accept me."
Robin has since written a number
of books, and continues to write.
"It helped me through when I was
diagnosed with bladder cancer
in 2018. The treatment was grim
and although I never tried suicide,
I did consider it an option - that's
how low I felt." Robin now gives
inspirational talks about his life, and
recently raised £1,200 for charity at
a talk held at Abercwmboi RFC.
These days, he resides in the
South Wales mountains near where
he started his SAS training in the
late 1970s.
"It's so quiet where we live. I've
got time to reflect, to think, and
to write. You're never alone either
- the community is so helpful.
The mountains have been my
playground so I feel at home here."
www.robinhorsfall.co.uk
people
Jungle warfare training is designed
to push recruits' mental and physical
fortitude to the absolute limit
Watched by the world's media, the SAS storm the Iranian Embassy in May 1980
17

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the tithe
Is the Rhiwbina we know now very different to the one that existed
200 years ago? Nigel Lewis goes back in time to find out
By Nigel Lewis
Midsummer Day was on the 24th
June this year, and it started me
thinking about midsummers in
Rhiwbina in earlier times.
In 1801, the population of the
whole parish was less than 700
and the population of Rhiwbina (or
Rhyd-y-Walla as it was called then)
would have been no more than
70-100 folk. They would have been
living in one of the five or six local
farms or the scattered cottages
nearby; hardly big enough to call
itself a hamlet!
There was a mill, probably a forge,
and perhaps a beerhouse. No
churches or chapels back then.
So, what would Rhiwbina have
looked like? There would have been
footpaths, rough stone tracks for
farm wagons and lots of open fields
with hedgerows. There would have
been many trees too, with areas of
ancient woodland, and of course
20
the stream Nant-Waedlyd running
through.
There was a road (of sorts) further
east running up to Thornhill, and
linking with Cardiff to the south.
Then there was the ancient route
through Whitchurch to Llandaff
via a ford across the River Taff. The
whole of the area was self-sufficient
and there was hardly any reason
to travel. Rhiwbina back then had
hardly changed since medieval
times.
Midsummer in such a rural area
was as close to a hive of activity
as could be imagined. Dawn, well
before 6 o’clock, and not getting
dark until 10, this was a busy time
for the whole hamlet. Everyone
turned out, from the youngest
to the eldest. Everyone had their
particular role.
Nowadays, if we have time and
a garden, we might grow some
flowers and a few tomatoes. Two
hundred years ago, every cottage
would have to grow sufficient
vegetables to sustain the family
for the whole year. Back then, not
only was everyone incredibly busy
in the fields, but there was also the
cottage garden to tend to.
The local farms varied in size from
just a few fields to twelve or more
for the larger ones. All the work
was labour-intensive and even the
smallest farm could probably share
plough horses and have at least
one cow for milking. The larger
farms might stretch to a few horses.
Even in the cottages, there would
be ducks, and hens for eggs, bees
for honey, and pigs! The parish was
famous for its pigs. There would be
lots of farm dogs and cats (the cats
for mousing and ratting!).
In midsummer, the hedgerows
would be full of wildflowers, but
the ‘countryside smells’ would have
been pungent!
So, who were the farmers, their
wives and farm workers? There
were no proper records before the
middle of the century (apart from
Sketch: Nigel Lewis

Church records for births, weddings
and deaths). Who were their
children? Perhaps we’ll never know.
The Census returns begin to help.
Who was Rachel Lewis of the Mill
and Tir Pudur Farm? What’s her
story? And what about George
Lewis who owned the narrow strip
of land which later became The
Butchers Arms; does anybody
know?
During the summer months, the
fields would be heavy with crops,
and by harvest time, the labourers
would be hard at work in the fields.
Corn stooks scythed by hand and
then gathered into haystacks,
and then the haywains and heavy
horses.
Meals were probably shared in the
fields, with much singing, dancing
and games. I wonder what the
songs and poems were? This must
have been a fantastic time, but all
lost now!
Within the Tithe Map of 1841, the
landowners and tenants were all
listed; even the names of farm fields
were noted, giving clues as to how
they were used. As Rhiwbina was
predominantly Welsh-speaking
back then, many of the farms and
fields had Welsh names. These
include Deri (known then as Tir
Pudur), Pentwyn (now Whitchurch
Golf Club House), Ty’n-y Cae, Ty’ny-Parc,
Glannant (now a Toby Inn),
Greenhill, Graig, and a tiny farm
alongside the old woollen mills
named Cwmgwynlas. There were
probably more; Rhiwbina Farm was
probably the oldest, dating from
before the conquest!
Eventually, roads were constructed, as seen here on Manor Way
One tenth of the harvest was
gathered into the parish tithe barn in
part payment of rent. Our tithe barn
was located on the Merthyr Road
just south of the Hollybush pub;
the biggest building in the parish.
It must have been really ancient,
with stone walls and a thatched
roof. The sketch gives a flavour of
how it might have looked at harvest
time. It’s not there anymore as the
thatch caught fire in February 1900,
and the whole thing was destroyed.
Another of our lost buildings!
It wasn’t long after this idyllic
pastoral scene that everything
seemed to change. The roads
improved, the railway arrived,
and the Victorian era stamped its
presence.
history
Farm practices changed with
mechanisation; fewer farm
labourers were needed. But over
the following decades, Rhiwbina
expanded, with houses and schools
built. Buses, cars, and bicycles
became common and shops and
chapels popped up. There are
hardly any fields left now.
What a change in just 200 years.
The population of Rhiwbina now
exceeds 11,000, with 28% listed
as ‘professional’. And how many
agricultural? Precisely 0%.
Yes, what a change! But we still
have our midsummers.
Nigel Lewis is a member of AWEN@
thelibrary (awen.cymru@gmail.com)
Rhiwbina was very much a rural place for a long time
21

The Art of Stoicism
Stoicism is a philosophy that maximises positive emotions, reduces
negative emotions, and helps individuals to hone their characters
Control the controlables
As we travel through our daily lives,
there are things that will happen that
will be out of our control.
No matter how much we moan
about them and expend energy
cursing them, these things will never
change because they are beyond
the realms of our control. We cannot
control the weather, other people,
and world events, for example.
When we are able to accept that
fact, and instead turn our energies
and focus onto the things that we are
able to control - that's when you can
become happier. You'll also be able
to claw back the time and energy
that you spent cursing the things that
you couldn't change, and put them
to better use.
22
Journal
Reflecting on the day that has
passed and learning from it is
one aspect of journalling that
provides us with wisdom and
introspection.
Its power lies in the repeated
diligence and concentration
required to complete a daily
journal. It builds routine into
your life, which makes you feel
secure, but it also helps build
self-discipline.
Repeating this long-term
will also allow you to reflect
on patterns of mistakes and
bad influences that you make
throughout life, and to adjust
your ways accordingly. Learning
lessons is part of your selfdevelopment
and these are
best learnt by going through
them yourself.
Practise adversity
Being comfortable in your life
can often lead to a feeling of
entrapment in that you worry
about if and when it's going to
be taken away from you.
Fear and worry often lie in the
unknown - and the uncertainty
that life brings.
This brings us then to the
notion of practising adversity.
Take time once a month to
live without the luxuries and
trappings that we have in life
and then ask ourselves if this is
really what we are afraid of.
This removes the fear and
anxiety that comes from the
uncertainties of life.

Change perceptions
When problems in life arise,
as they invariably do, we often
catastrophise and think the
worst.
What we often miss is the
opportunities to benefit from
these problems. These can
come in the form of learning,
so for example, we have the
opportunity to learn patience and
understanding if we are dealing
with an unruly child.
Turn obstacles into opportunity
and it's down to you to change
your perception of the 'problem'
into one of opportunity.
wellbeing
Be humble
There are many in the world who
overestimate their importance in other
people's existence.
Of course, we retain our importance
in other people's lives - family, friends
and so forth. But by retaining a humble
quality, you will never have to fear
falling from a great height. Being a good
person and doing the right thing in
every moment will ease your mind and
make life better for everyone.
Take a bird's eye view
Stepping away from ourselves and
looking at things 'from above' can
help us realise how much time
we worry about things that are
probably out of our control.
When man first started exploring
space, one of their overriding
comments was how small and
insignificant Earth looked from
space. The astronomer Carl Sagan
famously pointed out that 'To my
mind, there is perhaps no better
demonstration of the folly of
human conceits than this distant
image of our tiny world.'
When we look up at the stars, we
realise that our worries can often
carry us away to dark places. Don't let your imagination become your
information. Try and gain a higher perspective.
Making the most of the moment
Treating everything that happens to us in
life with equality means that we learn to
embrace the opportunities presented to us
in challenges in the same way that we can
enjoy the happier moments in life.
Making the most of what we do have
instead of wasting time and energy moaning
about the things we don't have frees you up
to enjoy your life. There is a famous quote
that says that if a man is not happy for the
cup of coffee he has in the morning, he
won't be happy for the luxury yacht that he
treats himself to.
How will you be
remembered?
Ask yourself this - if you were to leave
this life right now, is this how people
will remember you for the rest of their
lives?
Asking yourself this question alerts
you to the fact that you have to live
in the moment, and to be the best
version of yourself in every moment.
Mortality will come to us all and none
of us know when. Remembering this
morbid fact serves to remind us to
make the most of each moment and
each day.
Prepare for adversity
One stark fact of life is that it's
never fair. Setbacks, large and
small, are part and parcel of our
existence.
Planning for things that can
go wrong works on both an
emotional and practical level. It
prepares our minds so that when
things do invariably go wrong,
we've anticipated it and can
swing into action.
On a practical level, it also gives
us a chance to have a backup
plan that we can implement
immediately, leaving us feeling
calmer and more in control.
23

1
2
3
4
from plane to pool
1. Face mist
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24

5
6
summer
7
5. Wireless charger
This power bank features a
built-in magnetic back that
allows it to securely attach
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for your pocket or your bag,
wherever you go.
6. Pool float
If there's ever anything
you needed in life, it's an
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Whether you're taking it to
the beach or to the pool,
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Feed your little ones'
imaginations with this
pink Kindle Kids Edition
e-reader. With 8GB of
storage space, you can
store up to 6000 books,
giving you the room you
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8. Women's hat
Whether you’re sunbathing
on the beach or strolling
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Woven from beige raffia, it
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25

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Scan to find out more about
Llys Herbert

MICHELLE MARSHALL SALON
HAIR - BEAUTY - WELLNESS
Summer’s arrived and it goes
without saying that you’ll want
to be out enjoying the warm
weather and not worrying about
your hair at this time of year.
Well, you’re in luck because
Michelle Marshall Salon in Rhiwbina
has everything covered - from
hair to lashes to body treatments.
Famed for their award-winning hair
services, the much-loved specialist
team on Beulah Road can make you
look and feel like sunshine from top
to toe this summer.
Head Beauty Therapist Sian told
Rhiwbina Living:
“Summer is a wonderful time of
year to make the most of your hair.
We specialise in balayage, a subtle
freehand colouring technique that’ll
provide you with a natural hue to
your hair.
“Balayage can be done in any
colour but if you’re looking for that
sun-kissed look this year, we can
bring summer vibes and beachy
waves to your appearance.
“The best thing about balayage
is that compared to traditional
highlights, your hair appears more
natural with fewer visible lines of
separation. As a result, it produces
softer hair that’s low maintenance
and more versatile. It means
that you can go longer between
hair appointments. So whether
you’re going on holiday or not this
summer, you can still have that justbeen-abroad
look for longer.”
As well as colour, the salon has
also adopted a new approach to
hair texture.
“We’re now offering keratin
treatment, which smooths and
de-bulks frizzy hair. The treatment
usually takes about 1-3 hours, and
it’s usually another 4 months before
you need another treatment. We
also provide you with treatment that
you can take home, allowing you to
maintain healthy, strong and easy
to mange hair, whatever your hair
type,” says Sian.
And it’s not just hair that the team
at Michelle Marshall Salon can wow
you with.
“This summer, we’ve introduced
a new premium Lash Lifting
and Lamination product to our
range. We’ve always offered lash
treatments in our salon but we can
now confidently say that we offer
the best that’s out there. It lifts the
hairs and can be moulded into
shape. This gives the illusion of
lash length and also gives you that
wide-eyed, fluttery lash look,” says
Sian.
You can top off your summer look
with their range of popular insalon
beauty treatments including
massage, facials, LED light therapy,
nails, manicure, pedicure, brows
and lashes, spray tanning, and
waxing.
“With the summer sun here, we
can provide you with intimate
waxing to give you more confidence
in your holiday outfits.”
And as if to demonstrate that the
good times are here to stay, the
salon recently celebrated its first
birthday at Wyndham Arcade in
Cardiff’s city centre.
“Our customers always come
first. We always put your needs
first, delivering a service which
is relaxed, friendly, responsible,
professional, and personal, both in
our city centre venue plus here in
the heart of Rhiwbina,” says Sian.
A: Beulah Road, Rhiwbina
T: 029 2061 1566
W: michellemarshallsalon.co.uk
This is a sponsored feature

Down the canal
If you're needing a calming, relaxing break without the
hassle of international flights and long queues, a barging
holiday could be just the thing you need this summer
Canal barging
The waterways that criss-cross
the UK reflect a time when the
country relied on canals rather
than the road for transportation.
The Industrial Revolution
shaped most of the waterways
that we can now discover for
our own enjoyment. Gone are
the working barges, laden with
coal and timber. These days, it's
pleasure boats that quietly ply
the miles of water.
The beauty of a boating holiday
lies in the fact that there is so
much to explore at your own
pace. No queuing at airports, no
long transfers and definitely no
jetlag!
But there are also other
benefits that are not perhaps
so visible on the surface.
Connecting with nature in such
an intimate way can leave a
positive and lasting legacy on
our well-being. Boating can help
you collect new moments that
you can cherish forever.
28
It slows your world down
In a world of 'everything now', we
crave and devour so much that is
instantaneous and disposable.
This is especially true when it
comes to our daily lives and it's only
when we take breaks from all hustle
and bustle that we realise how fastpaced
our world has become.
Taking a break on a canal boat
physically forces us to slow things
down. With a top speed of 4 or 5
miles an hour, you're not going to
get anywhere fast. Nor are you tied
to schedules that dictate your day.
And because of the slow nature
of boating, we are more inclined
to appreciate both the time and
space that we have around us as we
meander through miles of endless
countryside.
On many of the waterways, you'll
often have the river or canal to
yourself. Now and then, you'll
come across another boat but
because the waterway world is a
lot slower, you'll have plenty of time
to navigate your way past them.
Everything gives you time to think,
reflect, and to consider each action
you take.

The views
Gorgeous valleys, endless
meadows, and slow-rolling
countryside. These are the
sort of views you're likely to
experience when you're out on
a canal.
Waking up in a different place
every day means that no two
days are the same. And it's not
only the views from the river
that you can savour. The best
part about boating is that you
can park up and go for a good ol'
explore.
And if your idea of a great view
is an ice cold beer or a glass of
white, you can also stop off at
many of the riverside pubs that
dot the banks of the waterways.
holidays
Visit new places
With hundreds of miles of the UK's rivers
to explore, the possibilities of new places
to discover are almost endless.
The best part about it is that you
can literally create your own holiday
adventure. You have the freedom to
choose which location you want to stop
at and discover. You create your own
itinerary, you create your own schedule,
and you create new memories that can
last a lifetime.
Historical landmarks
Many of the UK's canals were built during the country's great Industrial
Revolution. Many of the waterways included revolutionary feats of
engineering and world-firsts. Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on
the Llangollen Canal, now a world heritage site, has been described as ‘a
masterpiece of creative genius’.
The 18-arched stone and cast iron structure was completed in 1805,
having taken ten years to design and build. It stands at 12 feet (3.7
metres) wide and is the longest
aqueduct in Great Britain
as well as the highest canal
aqueduct in the world.
Not too far away, the Chirk
Aqueduct, also designed by
Telford a few years prior, was
briefly the tallest navigable one
ever built, and it now is Grade
II listed in both England and
Wales as it spans the border of
the two countries.
Holidays for all
There are over 100 hire firms
operating on UK's waterway
systems, giving you a vast choice of
both locations and boats for hire.
Whether it's a romantic boat for
two on the Monmouthshire and
Brecon Canal or a larger cruiser for
you and your friends on the Norfolk
Broads, the sheer variety of boating
holidays is as wide as the Thames.
From busy city waterways to rural
bliss, there's simply a holiday for
everyone on a canal.
The boats that are available to
hire these days are a real home-from-home too. Many feature showers,
flushing toilets, central heating, full-sized cookers and fridges, microwaves,
TVs, DVD and CD players.
Ditch the car
Our over-reliance on our cars
means we often never take in
the scenery that we are passing
through.
Exploring the country via the
waterways provides you with a
chance to fully appreciate our
surroundings while on the move.
Meet the wildlife
The varied habitats that you'll come across
will gift you sightings of creatures both
above the river, on the riverbanks and in the
water.
Expect bird sightings along the riverbanks,
ranging from ducks and kingfishers to
larger species such as swans and herons. If
you're lucky, you may even spot otters and
water voles. Butterflies and dragonflies are
also common during the summer months.
29

nature
As Cardiff's Coed Caerdydd project takes root in the city, here are
some of the amazing things you probably didn't know about trees
Carbon dioxide removal
Trees are often referred to as 'the lungs of
the planet' and for very good reason - they
absorb and store huge amounts of carbon
dioxide - almost one-third of the carbon
dioxide released from burning fossil fuels
every year. That's around 2.6 billion tonnes!
The entire woodland ecosystem plays an
important role in locking up this carbon
for centuries. They are the ultimate carbon
capture and storage machines.
Wildlife
In the UK alone, oak trees support over
30 different types of mammals, while the
common hawthorn can support up to 300
different types of insects. The RSPB also
say that more than 500 invertebrates feed
on birch trees. And that's even before
you begin to count the huge number of
birds that use the trees for their homes
and food sources. The UK has lost 13% of
its native species abundance since 1970,
leading to a loss of wildlife.
The underground
'internet'
Sometimes referred to as the
wood wide web, trees are able
to communicate with each other
using a huge underground
network of fungi.
Technically known as the
‘mycorrhizal’ network, the trees
and the fungi work with each
other to share nutrients and even
messages with each other via the
network.
If one tree is under attack from
insects, it can warn other trees
in the network about the attack,
and they can then adjust their
defences accordingly.
Mycorrhizal plants are often
more resistant to diseases since
the shared information via the
network allows trees to trigger
their immunity defence.
Trees speak to each other
Trees may seem like inanimate objects but they do in fact communicate
with each other. Scientists have proven that some trees send airborne
chemical signals to each other to warn them of a possible insect attack.
These airborne signals can even convey information outside the plant
kingdom. Some have been shown to attract predators and parasites that
kill the insects that are attacking the tree. A 2013 study found that apple
trees that were under attack by caterpillars released chemicals that
attracted caterpillar-eating birds.
30

They help our mental
health
It's likely that a walk through a forest
of trees will make you feel better - and
there's a scientific reason for that.
Trees emit phytoncides to ward off
potential threats. When we inhale these,
it reduces our cortisol levels (the stress
hormone) and boosts our immune
system. This helps us deal with stress in
calmer and more productive ways.
They help stop
flooding
Many of our mature trees consume
vast quantities of water, which
comes in handy for low-lying areas
that are prone to heavy downpours
or persistent rain.
A single mature oak is able to
transpire more than 40,000 gallons
of water in a year—meaning, that's
how much flows from its roots to
its leaves, which release water as
vapour back into the air.
Trees can grow very old
The oldest individual tree in the world is thought to be in the United States,
where a Great Basin bristlecone pine in California's White Mountains has
been aged at more than 5,000 years old.
Trees can live anywhere from less than 100 years to more than a few
thousand years depending on the species. Ancient trees, meaning that
they have passed maturity and entered the third and final stage of their
lifespan, are a vital part of the UK environment.
Trees are good for
the soil
Soil is essential to life on earth.
Some species of trees provide
habitat for bacteria and fungi
in their root structure. These
organisms perform nitrogen
fixation, which is a significant
factor in soil fertility.
Trees also recycle important
nutrients by drawing them up
from the deeper layers of the
ground and bringing them up to
the surface. The decomposition
of leaf and plant litter also form
soil organic matter.
Tree canopies can also trap
varying amounts of nutrients
from the atmosphere, a source
of free fertilizer which is washed
from the leaves to the soil by the
rain.
31

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outdoors
PENARTH CLIFFTOP
Considered an easy
route, you can start at
Penarth Pier, along the
promenade and head up
the hill westwards. This
will take you up onto
the cliffs that overlook
Penarth beach and on
towards Lavernock and
The Bendricks.
There are also some
quiet meadows behind
- perfect for summer
evening strolls.
COASTALwalks
After the scorch and burn of a hot summer's
day, head to the coast to cool off and chill
out. Here are our hand-picked favourites.
NASH POINT
You can park your car at the small
car park (pay and display) before
heading off down the path that
leads to the lighthouse.
On summer evenings, you'll be
rewarded with gorgeous views
across the Bristol Channel - all
the way to Somerset and down to
Devon.
If you want to venture further
on, there is a cliff top walk that
includes a few steep steps.
There is also a small cafe at the
lighthouse, which is open during
the daytime.
LLANTWIT MAJOR
You'll follow the Col-huw River on
the way down to the coastal path.
The beach has some patches of
sand but mostly pebble, and is
backed by ancient cliffs, where you
may find a fossil or two. Views from
the beach extend to Minehead and
Exmoor and there is also a small car
park available.
SKER BEACH
Sker Beach is the most
westerly of Porthcawl's
beaches and can only be
reached by walking from
Rest Bay or the Kenfig
National Nature Reserve.
It is a mostly flat and
sandy beach, one that's
used mostly by the locals,
meaning that it is one of
the quieter beaches in the
area. As such, there are
no amenities there.
GOWER
Further afield, the coastal path at the Gower takes in the
whole range of our fabulous coastline, from wide golden
beaches and dramatic cliffs to saltmarsh and sand dunes.
The path itself acts as a section of the 870-mile Welsh
Coast Path but even small sections are perfect for an
evening walk. The beach at Rhossili is three miles long
and Cefn Bryn
and Rhossili
Down rise above
the inland hills
to soar over
the coastline,
affording
you fantastic
views towards
Pembrokeshire
and Devon.
35

Roman
Wales
South Wales was a great source of mineral wealth and when the
Romans landed here in 48AD, they made themselves at home
Cardiff
Cardiff Roman Fort was a significant
military installation established by
the Romans in the 1st century AD.
Located in present-day Cardiff, it
played a crucial role in protecting the
Roman frontier and controlling the
local tribes.
The fort covered an expansive
area and housed soldiers and
their families. Excavations have
revealed impressive structures
such as barracks, granaries, and
a commanding officer's house.
The fort's strategic position along
the River Taff and its proximity to
important trade routes made it an
essential hub for Roman influence.
Cardiff Castle today stands on this
Roman fort that was begun in AD55.
36
Caerleon
Established in the 1st century
AD, Isca Augusta served
as a major Roman fortress
and regional administrative
hub. It was one of only three
permanent fortresses in Roman
Britain, the others being in York
and Chester.
The remains on view at
Caerleon provide visitors with a
vivid picture of life in secondcentury
Roman Britain. The site
includes the most complete
amphitheatre in Britain, fortress
baths, and the only remains of
a Roman Legionary Barracks on
view anywhere in Europe.
The remains of a Roman
harbour were also uncovered in
Caerleon in August 2011.
Neath
The remains of a 1st century
Roman auxiliary fort known as
Nidum stands on the west bank
of the River Neath. The remains
of two gateways can also be
seen, as well as the line of a
rampart wall.
It is estimated that the fort
could hold up to 1,000 men
and horses and was likely built
during the first phase of Roman
advance into Wales. The fort
was most likely abandoned not
long after it had been built and
a large number of artefacts have
been found over recent years.
The remains of the southwestern
gateway is preserved
behind railings beside the Neath
Abbey Road, and the southeastern
gateway is situated
at the corner of Roman Way
beside the railway embankment.
Image: Cedwyn Davies

outdoors
Penydarren
Built in the late 1st century
AD, Penydarren Roman Fort
served as a crucial defensive
outpost along the Roman road
connecting Cardiff to Brecon.
The fort protected the nearby
ironworks, which played a
vital role in the production of
iron for the Roman Empire.
Excavations at Penydarren have
revealed the remains of stone
buildings, granaries, and a
commanding officer's house. The
fort's strategic location and its
association with the iron industry
highlight its economic and
military importance.
Image: Jaggery
Barry
Situated at the Knap, overlooking the
Bristol Channel, the monument consists
of the remains of a Roman rectangular
courtyard building dating to the 2nd or
3rd centuries AD.
Excavated in 1980-81 by the
Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological
Trust, the interior was found to have
a cobbled floor, on which was a thick
layer of debris containing building
stones and Roman tiles.
Caerwent
Established in about 75–80
AD, Caerwent served as a
settlement of the Silures,
a native tribe who became
Romanised following the
conquest of Britain. The site
was a busy one, complete
with public baths, all
spread out in a typically
well-ordered Roman grid.
Known as Venta Silurium,
this Roman town that was
created for the Silures by the Romans, stretches to 44 acres, much
of it enclosed within 2nd century walls.
Large sections of the Roman town walls are still in place, rising up to
16ft high in places. Excavated houses, forum-basilica and a Romano-
British temple also remain.
At its height, the town would have been home to 3,000 inhabitants and
there is no evidence that there was any military present on the site.
Image: Chris Andrews
Loughor
The Roman Auxiliary Fort was built
around 75 AD to guard the lowest
crossing of the River Loughor.
Its location provided good visibility
across the region and enabled it to
support the Roman naval units that
were operating in the Bristol Channel.
The site wasn't fully recognised as a
Roman garrison fort until as late as
1969.
Its Roman name was Letocetum,
taken from the Celtic name for the
River Loughor. In translation, it read as
'shining water'.
Gelligaer
The fort at Gelligaer occupies a
position on a long broad ridge
between the Taff and Rhymney
valleys. At the time, it would have
commanded an extensive view
of the woodlands that existed
then. It was one of a line of forts
that existed between Brecon and
Cardiff and although no masonry
is visible today, the defences can
still be seen as a broad bank.
The site is listed as a scheduled
ancient monument and was first
excavated in 1894.
Llanwern
Recent excavations at a site in Llanwern
uncovered a Roman complex that
included several stone-founded Roman
buildings, terraced into the hillside.
Many finds were recovered during the
excavation, including Roman pottery,
animal bone, ceramic building material,
tiles, brooches, and coins. A large number
of spring heads were discovered and
a well-made Roman road leads up the
slope from the valley floor to the site.
The buildings appears to date from the
2nd to the 4th centuries AD.
Image: Philip Halling
Image: Jeremy Bolwell
37

THE PICNIC
A basket of joy.
An afternoon of dreams.
A rolled up blanket opened
And spread like warm butter
On the parched earth.
Thin sarnies
And melted Penguins
Soft berries
And bashed up scotch eggs
Wrapped in foil
And love.
Warmed water
A platoon of ants
And buzzy things
And mozzies
And crawly things.
Sandwich crusts
And Penguin wrappers
Mushed up berries
And half-eaten eggs
Still wrapped in foil
And love.
We return home
Through whispering meadows
And wandering lanes
Sleepy and happy
To our bedtime rest.
David James
Whitchurch
Seasonal
Poems
NOW DOES SUMMER
Now does summer in all its glory reign
The season brought more fine by the herald that is spring
Its cloak of green that to winter did so restrain
And its warming breezes that of coming joys did sing,
In a field of so new a life to stand there proud
With golden rays its glory path to light
And creatures all their voices to trumpet and to sound out loud
That it may make their echoes wide and bright,
So then do blooms and blossoms on countless boughs to swathe
Their fragrance to float wherever air may flow
To meadows, hedgerows and many a garden to bathe
And further life to touch and there to onward grow;
The summer is of greatness in many forms to take
That nature in its span of time is ever more to make.
David Morris
Llandaff North
NEXT LIFE, YEAH?
We dreamed together, apart
Of a summer's day at the beach.
Just us. Doing normal things.
Watching the slow dance of the colours.
The creams, the blues, the pinks.
But we never existed.
And our outcrop stays empty.
Alec Harvey
Cardiff
38

poetry
Poems penned by the local community
NO-MOW SUMMER
A polite suburban no-no.
Old mowers on go-slow.
Pianissimo.
The bowling green no longer
"Comme il faut,"
For longer is the educated,
Rated, stated - the hype of stripes old hat -
"Status Quo."
Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow.
Be a bumble bee impresario
Apropos
An insect's mojo
Apropos
The sward's proposal for
A norm of swarms,
And wingey thing that
Sting,
Unsung -
And throng.
Let the shearers reappear.
Let the meadow overthrow
Slick Sunday - bracered blades.
Let the scythe arrive.
Let the buttercups and yellow vetches
Thrive. Accolades!
Let the trove of nature's giving
Salve and save forlorn lawns shorn.
And so, "Bravissimo,"
Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow.
Nigel Phillips
Whitchurch
BARRY HARBOUR
IN JULY
I saunter past the Ship Inn
And the boat which is now a
flowerbed
Sporting a magical kaleidoscope
of colour.
The wrecked boats in the harbour
Have yet to be removed yet I
sense their ghosts
As people try to restrain excited
dogs
On this warm summer's day by
the seaside
As I watch a tanker and seagulls
glide.
It is low tide on Barry Harbour;
The sun paints the placid estuary
silver
And the Quantock Hills are
perfectly clear
As my shadow lingers at my side.
I travel to the water's edge
Where half-hearted waves sizzle
on the shore
Then I wander past the grey
harbour wall
Which unlike myself, has not
aged at all.
Guy Fletcher
Pantmawr
Rhiwbina
39

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How do you clean your ears?
In my years of being a Hearing
Audiologist, I have been told many
stories about what people clean
their ears with - from the everyday
cotton swabs to pens, paperclips,
hair grips, glasses arms, and car
keys. I’m sure nearly everyone is
guilty of sticking something in their
ears they are not supposed to so I’m
going to explain why the old wives
tale ‘nothing smaller than your
elbow’ is so true.
Our ears are designed by nature
to be both self-cleaning and selfprotecting
and that’s why by using
the wrong cleaning methods, you
risk causing injury to the ears,
damaging your hearing, or even
cause infections.
Earwax (also called cerumen) is
necessary for the ear’s self-cleaning
mechanism to work properly.
Earwax is manufactured by glands
in the skin of the outer ear canal, the
hole through which sound travels to
the eardrum. Earwax serves several
important functions. It coats the skin
of the ear canal, repelling water and
helping to protect it against injury
and infection. It also helps to keep
the skin inside the ears from getting
dry and itchy.
In addition, earwax traps dust and
germs, keeping them from reaching
the eardrum. Usually, you don’t
need to do anything to help this
natural cleaning process unless you
suffer from an impaction that may
have to be removed.
Trying to forcibly remove the ear’s
protective wax layer or stop an itch
can damage the delicate skin of the
ear canal or puncture (put a hole
in) the eardrum. This can increase
your risk of infection and lead to a
permanent hearing loss needing
either surgery or a hearing aid to
correct the impairment. So it is
best to leave the inside of your ear
alone and not disturb its natural
environment. This means no cotton
swabs, no fingers and certainly no
sharp objects!
The ear canal is narrow and
curved, consequently some
people are susceptible to getting
blockages of wax, skin, foreign
objects, debris from infection. If a
blockage is present, you may notice
your hearing seems, dull, there may
be a ringing sound in your ears,
your ears may feel full become
itchy or ache. If this is the case, you
will need to have it professionally
removed. Microsuction is renowned
as the most efficient and the safest
way to remove blockages.
It is highly recommended by GPs,
audiologists and ENT consultants.
Microsuction of an ear canal is
performed under direct vision
using a microscope. The ear canal
is cleared using gentle suction,
proving to be the most effective
way to clean the ears reducing all
risks of infection.
Micro-Suction and
Ear Health Check Day
Thursday 7th Sept
Normal cost £55
Call today as there are
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... introducing Micro-Suction
The safest way to clean your ears
Viney Hearing Care hearing centre in
Whitchurch, Cardiff offers Micro­
Suction, the SAFEST way to remove
wax. No more ear syringing
necessary, as there is no
longer any need to pump water into
the ear to remove wax. It is performed
under direct vision using a microscope
using gentle suction and instruments to clean the ears. The ear
canal is narrow and curved and can become blocked with: wax, skin, debris from
infection and foreign objects. This can cause your hearing to become dull and the
quickest relief is microsuction. If you are having problems and dull hearing, itchy
ears, blocked feeling, it could be wax blocking your ear canals.
Come and have a FREE ear health check to determine if wax is the problem.
We will use a fibre optic camera to view and assess the condition of the
ear canal and ear drum. If we find that the ears are blocked
with wax, microsuction is the safest way to remove it.
iney Hearing Care 02920 250121
66 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 6DJ
www.vineyhearingcare.co.uk
This is a sponsored feature

Magpie
Over a cup of tea in his garden, Thomas Llewellyn rues a life full of mistakes as he
faces his own mortality. Is he too late to put things right?
How can you make up for a lifetime
of wrongs when you've got so little
time left to put things right?
Tom Llewellyn pondered this
problem as he sat in the small
garden at the back of his house.
Summer had arrived early this year.
It was just as well as it would be his
last and he knew it.
He reached for the cup of tea
that his daughter Louise had put
next to him five minutes previously.
The sun was strong but the
parasol protected Tom from its
overbearing heat. Tom liked the
shade, especially when there was a
cooling breeze. It reminded him of
the holidays he took to Spain with
the family in the mid-80s. When life
was good.
Tom sipped his tea. And thought
some more.
His life, up until this point, and on
the surface of things, had been
pretty routine. He'd left school
back in the late 70s and started a
mechanic apprenticeship at the
local bus station at the age of 14.
By the age of 21, he was driving
the buses on the local route. And
it was there, driving the 63, that he
first met his wife Kath, who boarded
his bus at the Monico cinema one
Wednesday night; she was all jet
black hair and white dress.
Tom and Kath spent the early
part of their lives doing what
was expected of them. They got
married at St Mary's Church on a
sunny Saturday in May 1981. It was
a modest affair. Thomas borrowed
his Dad's suit as his wages didn't
stretch far enough for one of his
own. The reception included jam
sandwiches and cakes baked by
Kath's mum. The guests spoke
42
about the cakes for weeks after.
The newly-wed couple bought
their first house, a bungalow, which
they named The Nest, with money
given to them by Kath's parents.
Tom often felt indebted to them for
giving them the money. He had no
choice but to take it. He had none of
his own.
The bungalow had three
bedrooms and a modern kitchen.
Kath was sold on the idea that she
could do the washing in the new
washing machine in the kitchen.
Tom was proud of his new shed,
where he started collecting garden
tools.
Their first child came along in 1983.
Another followed two years later. It
wasn't long after that that Thomas
started putting a few bob on the
gee-gees.
At first, it was a small flutter on the
horses down at the local bookies.
His friend Jim worked there and on
one sunny June afternoon, Tom won
£100 on a horse called Pica Pica.
Feeling flush, he bought his wife
some new Tupperware. She was
thrilled. He'd finally come good.
"They gave us a pay rise in work,"
he'd said. It was the first lie of many.
Still on the high from his win, Tom
took the remainder of his money
and went back to see Jim.
"Any tips?" he'd asked Jim at the
desk.
Jim wrote a name on a small piece
of paper, turned it around, and slid it
to Thomas.
With a stubby pencil, he'd written
down the word 'Magpie'; an outside
shot on the 3.40 at Doncaster.
Thomas walked out of the betting
shop half an hour later with £300 in
cash. He treated himself to a few
pints in the Three Bells on the way
home. Kath had his tea ready but
all Thomas could do when he got
home was slump drunkenly into his
favourite armchair.
Kath brought his food in on a
tray. But Tom was already asleep.
Without hesitation, Kath tipped the
cooked dinner all over his head.
He jolted upright as he was rudely
woken.
"How do you like that?" Kath had
snapped. Tom curled his tongue
around the side of his mouth to
lick off some of the gravy that was
slowly sliding down his cheek. He
smacked his lips together to get a
good taste of it and looked up at
her.
"Thank you, petal. Could do with a
bit more salt and pepper though,"
he replied.
It was in that moment that Kath
realised that Thomas William
Llewellyn wasn't the caring, doting
man she'd exchanged rings with on
a sunny Saturday afternoon in May
1981. She retired to the kitchen, lit a
cigarette and sat at the table.
Over the next half hour, she
wondered what had become of
him. The new Tupperware pots that
sat on the table were just a token
gesture. A pathetic attempt to make
it look like he cared.
Kath chewed her thumbnail. She
couldn't go on living like this. Things
were getting worse. Within a few
years, the kids would have fledged
and everything would be stripped
bare, she thought. It would just be
the two of them again, without the
distraction of bringing up children
to cover over the cracks.
Six long empty years later, a month
after their second child left home,

Kath packed a suitcase and walked
out on him forever.
High in a tree, the rustle of a bird
at the end of the garden brought
Tom back to his cup of tea in the
sunshine. A flash of black and white
told him it was the magpie that had
seemed to have made its home
there for the last 20 years.
Tom looked down at his hands. He
studied them closely. Now mottled
with age spots and wrinkles, they'd
got him through a lot. Then he
studied his wedding ring. The one
that had bonded him to Kath all
those years ago. Its lustre may had
faded but his love for her had never
dimmed, despite her leaving. When
she passed, he only found out from
the man on the bus stop.
"I never deserved her," Tom
muttered. With his right hand, he
wrenched the ring off his finger and
threw it down the full length of the
garden, where is disappeared into
the uncut grass.
Louise appeared at the back door.
"You ok Dad?"
"Yes. I'm fine," he replied as his
daughter took a seat next to him.
Tom took another sip of his tea,
hoping she hadn't seen what he
had done.
"I let you down. I wasn't there for
you," he said.
Louise looked at him, confused.
"What? When?"
"In life."
"Course you were there for us! You
worked all the hours God sent you
to keep a roof over our heads. Of
course you were there for us."
Tom stared ahead. He knew in his
heart this was true, but there was
more to being a father than just
working and getting the money in.
"I wasn't there for you when you
were getting bullied in school. I let
your mother deal with it."
"She was the feisty one though. It
was probably best left to her."
"That's no excuse. I should have
spoken up too. I was scared
myself. I should have put my fear
to one side and been there for
you. To make you feel that at least
someone was fighting your corner.
That at least someone was there to
protect you. That's what fathers are
supposed to do, right?"
Louise looked out into the garden.
He had a point. He would often say
that he'd be there for her but when
it came to the test, he was found
wanting.
"I was never brave enough. Not like
your mother."
"She was fearless," replied Louise.
Tom looked at his daughter.
"No. Not fearless. That suggests
she had no fear to begin with. She
was just as scared as I was. She just
put that to one side and stuck up
for you. She did it frightened."
"Hey Dad. What is all this about?
Stop beating yourself up. It's all in
the past now."
"I know. But I was never there. I was
always wondering where the next
win would come from. The next
lucky horse."
Louise took the cup of tea from
her father's hand and placed it on
the garden table. Then she faced
him and took his hands in hers.
She smiled.
"Dad. Do you remember when I
was 12 and I went on a school trip to
Paris?"
"Yes. You brought me back a
French beret," said Dad, chuckling.
Then his face dropped. "But I wasn't
there to pick you up when the
coach got back late at night. See? I
wasn't there for you."
"No. You weren't there. You weren't
there because you were working in
that pub."
"Oh, God yes. I wasn't there long
mind. I got caught throwing back a
few shorts to keep me going on the
late shifts. Sticky fingers."
"The reason you were working in
the pub was because you weren't
earning enough on the buses to
keep us all going."
"True," Tom nodded. "They were
long nights up that pub, I tell you. I'd
finish at midnight and be up again
at 5am to head to the bus yard,"
pondered Tom.
"Yes. That's right. I remember
seeing you come home one night,
drop your wage packet into the
ceramic chicken that we used to
have on the dining room table, and
then disappear straight back out
to start your pub shift. You worked
hard, Dad."
Tom nodded, the memories
coming back to him in dribs and
drabs.
"If it wasn't for you Dad," continued
Louise, "I wouldn't have afforded my
school trip. And if I hadn't gone to
Paris, I wouldn't have fallen in love
with the language and I wouldn't be
loving my translator job right now."
Tom smiled. This was true. He
looked at Louise proudly.
"So I did have a few good points?"
he asked. "One at least?"
"You gave me life, Dad. A chance
to experience this world. That was
your gift. That's all you needed to
do. I figured out the rest. No one is
perfect. And you didn't need to be."
Louise placed her father's hands
short story
back into his lap. He was smiling an
awkward smile.
"As I was getting older," said Tom, "I
realised that I was fast running out
of time to fix all the wrongs I'd done
in life. And then, when I got this
diagnosis last month, I realised my
life had been one long failure."
"Failure is part of life. Failure is
part of learning. Failure is part of
success. You had to fail to win."
A loud chattering from the magpie
in the tree disrupted their moment
together. The magpie fluttered
down onto the lawn at the far end
of the garden. They both looked at
it.
"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" said Louise.
"Yes. They mate for life apparently,"
said Tom.
The magpie pecked at the ground
where Tom's wedding ring had
landed.
"Erm! Can you fetch me a biscuit
to finish off my cuppa?" asked Tom
abruptly.
"What would you like?"
"Just get me whatever's there." Tom
cast an eye to see what the magpie
was doing.
Thankfully, Louise stood and
stepped into the house just as the
magpie lifted its head. There, in
its beak was Tom's wedding ring,
gleaming in the summer sunshine.
"Shoo! Shoo!" Tom tried to usher
the bird away but the magpie stood
there defiantly, looking directly at
him. And then, without warning, it
hopped across the lawn straight to
Tom.
"I can't find the Hob Nobs Dad.
Do you want me to open the
digestives?" called Louise from the
kitchen.
"Keep looking for the Hob Nobs,
love. They're in there somewhere,"
replied Tom, tracking the magpie all
the way to his feet.
The magpie stopped and cocked
its head to the side, looking at Tom.
His wedding ring was still in her
beak and for a moment, Tom was
captivated.
He cast his eyes over this beautiful
creature. Up close, its black
plumage had taken on an more
colourful hue; there was a purplishblue
iridescent sheen to her wing
feathers and behind, there was
even a green gloss to her tail.
"You?" said Tom quietly.
The bird lowered its head and
dropped Tom's ring at his feet. Tom
leaned forward and picked it up.
"Thank you, petal," said Tom.
"Thank you."
By Patric Morgan
43

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summer
soups
Soups aren't just for the colder months. Here are some refreshing and
delicious soups that are perfect for the summer season
Pea and mint
soup
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil,
6 spring onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, 1 sliced and 1 halved
750ml vegetable stock
700g frozen peas
a small bunch of mint, leaves picked
and shredded
100ml single cream, plus a drizzle
4-8 slices ciabatta
150g ricotta
1 lemon, skin removed and juiced
handful pea shoots
☐ Heat the oil in a stock pot over a
medium-high heat and fry the spring
onions and sliced garlic for a few
minutes until they are soft. Add in
the stock and peas, and bring the
mixture to a simmer. Cook for 6-8
minutes or until the peas are tender.
☐ Add the majority of the mint, and
blend with a stick blender until it's
smooth. Add in the cream and blend
again until the mixture is creamy. You
can run the mixture through a sieve
at this point if you'd like a smoother
texture. Warm the mixture through
on the hob.
☐ Toast the ciabatta, then rub both
sides with the halved garlic clove.
Whip the ricotta in a bowl with the
lemon zest, a squeeze of juice and
some seasoning. Spoon over the
ciabatta.
☐ Divide the soup between the
bowls, drizzle with a little more
cream and olive oil, and scatter with
pea shoots. Serve with the ciabatta.
46

Watermelon
gazpacho
500g watermelon flesh, roughly
chopped, plus a little extra finely
chopped to garnish
2 vine tomatoes, roughly chopped
¼ small red onion, roughly chopped
¼ cucumber, roughly chopped, plus
a little extra finely chopped to garnish
½ red pepper, roughly chopped
1 garlic clove
¼ red chilli, deseeded
40g stale white bread
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1½ tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus
extra to drizzle
☐ Put all the ingredients into a
blender and blend until it's smooth.
Thin the mixture out by adding an
ice cube and blending again if this is
required.
☐ Season the mixture with salt,
cover, then put it in the fridge to chill
overnight.
Celery soup
2 tbsp olive oil
300g celery, sliced, with strings
removed
1 garlic clove, peeled
200g potatoes, peeled and cut into
chunks
500ml vegetable stock
100ml milk
crusty bread, to serve
spring onions, chopped
☐ Heat the oil in a large saucepan
over a medium heat.
☐ Add the celery, garlic and potatoes
and coat them all in the oil. Add a
food
☐ Divide the mixture among bowls
or glasses and garnish with extra
watermelon and cucumber.
☐ Finish with a grind of black pepper
and a drizzle of oil.
splash of water and a pinch of salt and
cook, stirring regularly for 15 minutes.
Add more water if the vegetables
begin to stick to the base of the
saucepan.
☐ Pour in the vegetable stock and
bring the mixture to the boil. Then
turn the heat down and simmer for 20
minutes further, or until the potatoes
are falling apart and the celery is soft.
☐ Blend the entire mixture in a
blender, then add in the milk and
blend again. Adjust the seasoning to
taste and sprinkle the chopped spring
onions on top.
☐ Serve the soup with warm crusty
bread.
Cucumber & mint
gazpacho
1 cucumber, halved lengthways and roughly chopped
1 yellow pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped
150ml pot fat-free natural yogurt
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 small avocado, chopped
2 crushed garlic cloves
small bunch of chopped spring onions
small bunch of chopped mint
snipped chives
☐ Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender
(reserving half the yogurt and mint) and blitz until the
mixture is smooth. Add a drop of vinegar and season to
taste. If you require the consistency to be thinner, add a
splash of water.
☐ Chill the mixture for a few hours and then serve with
the remaining yogurt and mint, adding a few snipped
chives.
47
47

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