Things got a bit ‘daffy’ in Pontypridd, when two giant stilt-walking daffodils visited Taff Street.
The delightful daffs were planted in town to entertain shoppers during the Six Nations weekend. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Town Centre Team arranged the unusual entertainment to encourage everyone to celebrate all things Welsh during the rugby championships.
Menter Caerffili is a charity whose main objective is to promote the Welsh Language in the Communitites of Caerphilly County Borough. Our Christmas Fair at Llancaiach Fawr Manor is an excellent day out for the whole family and entry is free! There’ll be free arts and crafts activities for children, performances by local schools, a chance by buy unique gifts and foods from over 30 local businesses, and a visit from Father Christmas in his sleigh!
Here are the details:
30th November 11am – 4pm
Llancaiach Fawr Manor
Parking at Llancaiach Fawr is limited, but we will run a free shuttle bus from Somerfield, Nelson.
Please observe a minute’s silence this week as a mark of respect for Aberdare’s Pound Shop which passed away recently.
Trading in garish blue in Canon Street Aberdare, the Pound Shop was always ready to offer shoppers comfort in the monotony of its pricing structure.
The Pound Shop passed away peacefully after a long illness brought on by recession in the retail sector.
Each of us hold special Pound Shop memories close to our heart, like the Christmas time a Half Price Sale was held, and thus for a fleeting few days it was the Half a Pound or Fifty Pence Shop.
Staff members brought a touch of colour to Aberdare town and were particularly fond of dressing up at Christmas Time.
It is difficult to estimate how many Aberdare shoppers walked through the doors – passing that huge sign saying “Pound Shop” – only to question the price of an item on display. We can only assume the question was asked many thousands, if not millions, of times.
We call upon Aberdare citizens and shoppers to erect a memorial stone for Aberdare’s Pound Shop etching those oft-used words which echoed around the lower reaches of Canon Street : “How much is that, love?”
Our condolences go out to former Staff at the Pound Shop who will miss a dear old friend and employer.
You have spent weeks biting your nails wondering when it will be delivered… and then suddenly it arrives.
It is important that upon delivery you take hold of your book, gently flick the pages, weigh it in your hand, and perhaps let your gaze focus on a few sentences.
Show the book you love it.
Close your eyes and breathe in deeply.
Imagine your first few pages and a long journey ahead that could last days, weeks, months, or years.
Run your fingers slowly down the spine.
And then slowly mouth the name of your book…
Photos of a striking-looking mannequin were posted on Aberdare Blog last year after being spotted outside a Brecon tattoo parlour. Michelle Campbell of Miss T Meanours blogs the story of Bob the Mannequin from Brecon …He was originally wearing a pin striped suit when he was pulled out of the water.
Unfortunately Bob is no longer allowed to reside outside of the shop as the local council have deemed him offensive.
So, in order to view Bob now you have to come into the tattoo studio.
And here are the Photographs of Bob in his previous outdoor setting in Brecon town …
[ad#sidebar120600]
There’s no business like retail business… full marks to Mair dressed as Santa at the WHAT SHOP Penywaun this week.
A smartly-dressed member of staff at the new Get Connected mobile phone shop is amused by the sight of a man looking like Dick Turpin the Highwayman, outside his shop in Canon Street, Aberdare. The man in a big red coat with a large horn and bells ‘parping’ his horn in public is a Town Cryer heralding the start of the annual Aberdare Town Christmas Santa Parade.
The Get Connected shop opened only a few weeks ago in Aberdare. It took the place of a former card shop of which, some claim, there are far too many in Aberdare town. Get Connected claim to be the largest independent mobile phone retailer in Wales. The business began life over fifteen years ago, incorporated as a limited company ten years ago, and in 2001 re-branded itself as ‘Get Connected’.
Retailing is never a static business and Aberdare town’s retail landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years. Today there is plenty of choice if you would like to have your hair, nails or toes pampered, or if you would like to buy a new mobile phone contract (at a shop such as Get Connected). On the other hand, if you want a tin of baked beans, a pint of milk or a loaf of bread, the choices are slim.
Today’s consumers demand sophisticated services. And the choices they make each time they shop in Aberdare affects and shapes Aberdare as a retailing destination. As shoppers demand more services – as opposed to tangible products like the foodstuffs one would find in the weekly shopping basket – these services are being catered for in Aberdare Town. Witness the amount of estate agents, travel agents, hairdressers and salons now trading in Aberdare.
What does the future hold ? Perhaps we could do with a few more street entertainers in Aberdare… service with a smile
The Neath Bookshop in Neath town centre is currently holding a closing down sale.
50% off everything.
Amongst all the usual suspects, there were a couple of Rachel Tresize’s books for sale.
We opted for Cyril Treharne’s ‘Around God’s Acre (in South Western Wales)’ (Llanrwst, Gwasg Carreg Gwalch 2006 – ISBN 1-84527-087-8) : “This book takes us on a journey around some of the most interesting churches and churchyards in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Gower.”
Priceless.
Well worth three pounds fifty.
Nowadays the small independent bookseller faces being crushed between the mighty monopolistic supermarkets and their heavy discounting and fending off global giants like Amazon who announced earlier this year that they were investing in large distribution centre near Neath. It’s no surprise to see so many bookshops closing.
We noticed a striking use of a mannequin in Brecon town by the Miss T Meanours Ltd tattoo parlour.
What a lure for passing trade. Almost as good as the soldier guarding the Cardigan shop.
The sign above this shop reads “Let us equip your fantasies”.
Photos of this artistic splash of Brecon retail theatre in the Gallery.
‘Outside the Pinc’ – a typical scene in Market Street Aberdare outside the Pinc Clothing shop.
This ’soldier’ was spotted guarding a shop in Cardigan (Aberteifi) in West Wales. What an unusual and attractive piece of street theatre… certain to capture the attention of passing trade.
Why can’t we see something similar in Aberdare ?
One bale of hay in Focus DIY store Aberdare… twelve pounds and seventy five pence. Pure retail comedy.
A chance encounter in Weatheral Street, Aberdare today : whilst taking a photograph the gentleman with white hair walks into view and smiles for the camera.
Russell Bowen is Aberdare’s Surgeon to Old Shoes. Perhaps we should call him the Surgeon General as he is the most senior cobbler in Aberdare and has been in the business of mending shoes for decades.
In times past, local craftspeople made and mended shoes, and therefore there were cobblers in every town and village.
Nowadays the majority of our shoes are made thousands of miles away, mostly in Chinese factories. Few of these shoes are built to last or be repaired.
Local traffic warden Raymond ensures Aberdare keeps moving.
It’s five weeks until Christmas and Aberdare Town is getting busier by the day…
The ‘retail theatre’ of Aberdare Town is staged by a large cast of dedicated people.
Aberdare traders, local police and others make it all move smoothly.
