Cold Nose Alert in Aberdare

It’s a definite COLD NOSE ALERT in Aberdare… and cold paws too.

Snow showers ‘whitening up’ Aberdare this afternoon.

Photo by Kyle Kesselring. Photo Licensed Under a Creative Commons License. See copy here.

Caerphilly Medieval Market Day

Enjoy the full set of photos here.

50 Years for Aberdare Cancer Research Committee

Fifty years ago to the day (25th November, 1959) the Aberdare Cancer Research Committee had their first meeting.

To celebrate the ‘golden’ occasion the members attended a presentation and buffet evening at the Gloucester Arms in Aberdare.

An evening of reminiscing on the fun and the work of the committee over the years, and a reunion of members who had not met for some time.

In recognition of their commitment members were presented with brooches appropriate to their length of service.

Enjoy the exclusive photos from the event here.

Rhondda Cynon Taff Library Luvvies

Shhhh please… for the Library Luvvies!

Staff from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Library service – aka ‘the Library Luvvies’ – perform the radio play The Minor Mysteries by Marie Arnold at Ton Pentre Library on November 11th 2009.

It was a fantastic night!

See the Full Set of Photos on Flickr here …

Walking Proud in Rhondda

Congratulations to the 84 pioneers who took part in Rhondda’s first Macmillan Walk today raising vital money for this cancer charity.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Mayor Robert Smith cut the starting line ribbon at 9.10 am at Tonypandy where charity walkers began the 11 mile trek to the finishing point at Rhondda Heritage Park.

Enjoy exclusive photos from the day here.

Imitations of Spencer Tunick

There is something very Spencer Tunick about many of the displays at Rheola Market.

Tunick is the American photographer known for his photographs of large numbers of nude people placed closely together. Market stall-holders arrive around four o’clock in the morning and work like fury to present their stalls ready for the public for each Saturday’s weekly show. Whether it is creating an ‘installation’ out of fruit or veg, or arranging secondhand toy figures (as below) it’s a joy to see. And it’s art.

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Lle Sbwci yw Aberystwyth

Fwy o luniau o gerfluniau a chymeriadau Aberystwyth yn y fan yma …

Please Adopt Me Eyes at Rheola Market

It’s hard to ignore the needy eyes staring at you in Rheola Market.

On walkabout today, these big brown eyes said “please adopt me”.

Click on the photograph to see a Larger Version

Make a Friend of the Snow

Make a Friend of the Snowy weather in Aberdare this week.

Free the Artist trapped within yourself and sculpt something wonderful today.

Most of Aberdare’s schools are shut because of the severe weather.

Some of the younger Aberdare generation are enjoying making friends in the snow.

New Transport for Penywaun

You can’t change the weather but you can adapt and change your form of transport…

In the village of Penywaun, a few miles north of Aberdare, most of the village lanes and side-streets are snowed under making driving conditions very difficult.

That’s where four legs come in much handier than two legs or even four tyres.

Enjoy more Photos and News Stories on Penywaun Online

Wales’ Heaviest Easter Egg

Parc Penallta near Caerphilly is the site for Wales’ heavist Easter Egg type installation…

“Breaking the Mould” by Andrew McKeown was installed in approximately 2000 as part of the Groundwork Organisation’s “Changing Places” programme whereby 21 projects on former industrial sites through out England and Wales were developed for the community for the 21st Century. Each one of these projects having their own sculpture.

The sculpture is set in the splendid Parc Penallta, formerly a mining tip linked to the nearby Penallta Colliery. There are other sculptures nearby including an entrance feature by Andrew Rowe. More on these later.

Enjoy the Easter Egg sculpture in the Gallery here.

Aberdare Weather Warning

Forget it, Mister.

They ain’t going to be no bikinis in Aberdare for months.

Dress warmly. Put the swimsuit and suntan lotion away.

It’ll be colder than a penguin’s chuff in Aberdare for the next few days.

Photo by Diana Schnuth. Photo Licensed Under a Creative Commons License. See copy here.

Bring on the Sunday Beef

Talk about shock and jaw on John Clinch’s Beefcake Miner in Cardiff Bay…

This is a fantastic seven feet tall bronze situated in Cardiff Bay near the Norwegian church arts centre and not far from the Senedd building.

Entitled ‘From Pit to Port’ the sculpture celebrates the industrial heritage of the South Wales coalfields community and the close links with the Cardiff port which exported the black gold across the world.

It was unveiled in July 2005 and sculpted by the late John Clinch of Tregaron and completed by Jon Buck of Bath.

Despite the size and beefy musculature of this figure, there is an almost cartoon-like softness and exaggeration.

Enjoy the Full Set of Photos of this Sculpture on Flickr here.

Park and Stare in Wonderland

The truth stares at the end of the photographer’s cold nose… and teases out good photos.

Autumn Park and Stare photos have hitherto been our staple fare.

Today we post some beautiful Winter Wonderland photos taken near Storey Arms, on the outskirts of Brecon town.

View the Winter Wonderland photos in the Gallery here

Mr Flower Power in Aberdare

This man bears a heavy responsibilty on his shoulders…

Hard at work in October 2008, we photographed him at work carefully planting flower bulbs in the large raised flower ‘bowl’ outside Aberdare Library.

In late Februrary to March of this year – green fingers crossed – the flowers should come into bloom and brighten up a spring time Aberdare town.