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Lynsey Richards muses on how to escape properly …
No matter how far we travel, or how many holidays we take…can we ever really escape our problems, stresses or worries?
This year has been a very stressful time. Nothing negative, just trying to get my columns as well as other pieces of writing done, moving home and fitting in my job.
Hard work to say the least. In 2009, I’ve had more holidays, weekends away and days out than I can remember! I noticed this whilst looking through my calendar (trying to find a free weekend to go away) we’ve just moved and it took its toll on me, so a weekend away was just what I need.
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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.
Christine Black Jones blogs about the loss of a great Maerdy institution …. the Maerdy Workingmens Hall and Institute.
Today I stopped to watch, as I was driving down the hill, As workmen chipped and hammered, then removed its pointed sill..
I swear I heard it cry with pain, as it was ripped away, Heard it beg them, to be left alone, to stand another day.
I wondered, did they realise, a 100 years and more, That builders gave their hearts and souls, for us to have somewhere to go?
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Menter Merthyr have received a grant of £2100 towards developing traditional Welsh music in Merthyr.
The money has come following a number of successful pipe workshops funded by Communities First Town and Parc.
The workshops will run over a 1 year period with arch-piper Geraint ‘Jacob’ Roberts giving people the chance to play the pibgorn, tin whistle, bohdran and Welsh pipes.
If you are interested in learning to play traditional Welsh music, complete beginers or experienced musicians, contact the Menter now on 01685 722176
Photo Credit : Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
Macmillan Cancer Support are thrilled to announce the new Rhondda Walk 2009!
This brand new 11 mile walk, co-organised by Macmillan and Jeff Cowland, who originally thought of the walk and is a Rhondda Cynon Taf Council employee, will take place on Saturday 5 September 2009 starting by Treherbert Rugby Club at 9am, and finishing at the Rhondda Heritage Park, travelling through Treorchy, Tonypandy and Porth on the way.
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Event : Welsh Cheese and BBQ night
WHERE : ‘Bunch of Grapes’ – Ynysangharad Road – Pontypridd
Date / Time : Wednesday 24th June @ 18:30hrs
What’s On : Welsh Cheeses – BBQ – Beers on stillage, Homemade Sausages – Small tutored Wine Tasting – a GuitarIst will be playing throughout the evening.
Guest Appearance : from Dave ‘Seidr Dai’ Matthews with some of his greatest Ciders, plus various bottled Ciders from across Wales.
Real Ales : Those outside on the night – wrapped in cooler jackets & on Gravity Dispense : Batemans – ‘GHA’ … Thornbridge – ‘Jaipur’ … Dark Star – ‘HopHead’
More choices of course on Handpull at the Bar.
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.
Ann Clwyd – Aberdare’s MP – has drawn attention to the plight of a local business suffering in the present economic downturn. In a Parliamentary debate she calls for support from Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and recounts the example of one of her constituents who runs the last medium heavy engineering firm in the Valleys …
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It’s only a matter of time before the police swoop on the publishers and confiscate all copies of Tracy’s Tits by Ponty author Amanda Weeks … so I thought I’d better blog a review here pretty sharp.
Tracy’s Tits is a collection of short stories by Amanda Weeks, a fresh and exciting new voice writing from Pontypridd, the second-most important South Wales Valleys town after Aberdare.
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Several thousand people braved freezing temperatures on New Year’s Eve for the Nos Galan Races in Mountain Ash – and they were delighted to discover Olympic legend Linford Christie was special guest at the event’s 50th anniversary.
Christie – Europe’s greatest ever 100m sprinter – was the mystery runner at the 2008 Nos Galan in Mountain Ash. He lay a wreath at legendary runner Guto Nyth Bran’s grave in Llanwonno graveyard before running the route from Llanwonno to Mountain Ash town centre.
Crowds who lined the street to welcome him were given 50th Nos Galan flags to wave when he reached Oxford Street. After lighting the Nos Galan beacon, Christie said how much he had enjoyed the event: “Enjoyment is an understatement – it’s been brilliant!” he said.
On the night, he also presented a special Outstanding Contribution award to Richie Gardiner of Aberdare, who has been involved with Nos Galan as a runner and, more recently, as an organiser, since he was a child.
The famous Nos Galan Races commemorate the Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran and his legendary athletic prowess. Held annually on New Year’s Eve in Mountain Ash, in the Cynon Valley, South Wales, the Races follow a 5km route around the town.
In the photograph : Guto Nyth Bran sculpture which is situated in Mountain Ash Town Centre. See photos of his grave at Llanwonno Church here.
Louise Rees blogs here looking for people to help her research project :
Hi, I am looking for people who are in receipt of Income Support/ Job Seekers Allowance or Incapacity benefit who live in the Merthyr area to discuss barriers that they are finding to getting work or training or support. This is anonymised and confidential and part of a University of Glamorgan research project. Thanks
To contact Louise use the email address louise.rees@wanadoo.fr
Pontypridd could be the first plastic bag free town in Wales this week!
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is supporting Pontypridd Women’s Institute and Friends of the Earth in their campaign to make Pontypridd plastic-bag free with a special awareness day taking place this Friday.
Shopkeepers and market traders throughout the town are being encouraged to stop giving out plastic bags to shoppers in an effort to reduce the quantity sent to landfill. Pontypridd is the first town in Wales to date to launch such an exciting scheme.
Plastic Bag Free Pontypridd will take place in the town centre on Friday December 12th.
When will it be Aberdare’s turn to ban throwaway plastic shopping bags ?
Around 3,000 people enjoyed the winter parade in Mountain Ash on Tuesday (December 2, 2008).
People of all ages flocked to the town centre on a bitterly cold night to see the town’s Christmas lights switched on, after Santa arrived on a sleigh pulled by six reindeer.
Children enjoyed visiting Santa’s grotto and funfair rides, and festive character Jack Frost entertained the crowds.
The event was organised by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and assisted by Darran Las Communities First. Local ward member and Chairman of the Communities First Partnership, Cllr Andrew Morgan, said: “This annual event in Mountain Ash continues to draw thousands of spectators to see Santa with his reindeer.
Free Patrick Jones poetry event tonight in Cwmaman…
When ? Thursday evening November 13th 2008 at 7pm.
Where ? At The Cwmaman Institute Lounge
What ? Poetry and verse
Who ? with Patrick Jones Mark Williams Emma Williams & Cosmo
Why ? Because YOU are worth it.
Photo : Miner by Robert Thomas, Queen Street, Cardiff.
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