Just in Time North to South on Horse Back

Top Talk

I caught up with ‘Belonging’ actor Steffan Rhodri as he came back from horse-riding. I’ll be ‘living’ in the saddle soon,” he explains, “so I’m preparing.” Also known for his role as Dave the bus driver in Gavin and Stacey, Steffan is taking part in the ‘Amswer Justin Time Horse Ride Challenge’ that is raising money and awareness of pancreatic cancer; a disease that claimed the life of talented TV director, editor and performer Justin Smith.

Leaving Tallacre Beach, near Prestatyn in North Wales at 11 o clock on August the 25th Steff, together with Shan Cothi, Brychan Jones, Brychan’s wife Sian, Justin’s sister Branwen and friend Chris Lewis will be riding the (roughly estimated) 287 miles down through Wales arriving in Ogmore on the 14th September. “I’m the least experienced rider,” confesses Steff, “but I have discovered I’m very good at mapping the routes and finding little bridle paths and Rights of Way. And we’ve also organised some amazing events and concerts at various towns along the way.”
The Twin Town actor, continues, “ I think the most magical thing is going to be seeing Wales as a spectacle. I feel I know Wales well as an Actor but really it’s only the towns, and roads between them, that I ever see. I’m looking forward to riding over mountains, through valleys and rivers.”

Does his appreciation of the countryside mean he’s also a keen gardener? “I’m the World’s Worst Gardener”, he claims adamantly. “I had an allotment once and after spending a day trying to clear it I gave up. I hated it. Dad was a good gardener and my sister has followed in his green footsteps but in some weird sort of transaction I am more like my Mum and would rather do the cooking. In fact,” he admits, “in every relationship I have had I’ve made it clear that I will do the cooking to avoid gardening – it’s always been a kind of trade off.”
For more details, the itinerary, event information and to make a donation to the Welsh based Charity, pop into www.amserjustintime.org or call Harlequin Agency 07966704548


Seasonal Spuds

Enjoying the taste of new potatoes straight from the garden at this time of year reminds me to prepare a later harvest for Christmas dinner. There is still just time to plant Carlingford tubers, known as Christmas New Potatoes, in large pots or tubs, so they can be moved into a shed or greenhouse to protect from frost. Available from www.thompson-morgan.com or call 01473 688821. Dearer than other seed potatoes, they are worth every penny.


Back to Our Roots

Alternatively, have the’ new potato taste’ at Christmas by storing August’s potatoes. Lift new potatoes now and place uncooked, unwashed and unblemished potatoes in a biscuit tin. Cover with slightly damp silver sand (not builder’s sand: silver sand is low in iron oxides and salt and is used in children’s sand pits) which can be bought from most garden centres and DIY Stores. Then bury the tin about three feet deep and dig up on Christmas Eve. This old-fashioned method of storing veg is known as the ‘clamp’ method and works well with any root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and beetroot.



Boot-iful

I think there is a niche for a ‘summer wellington boot’. And coming close to that, for kids anyway, is a fantastic range of waterproof footwear from www.garden-gear.co.uk They stock little frog, bumble bee and ladybird shoes and ankle boots that would make Gok Wan weep. Also available are ‘paint your own’ wellies – ironically, a great idea for keeping kids amused on rainy days. Call 077767 497443 for more details.
www.lynneallbutt.co.uk

LYNNE ON CORONATION STREET TOP TALKING

Top Talk
Coronation Street actress Vicky Binns starts the conversation by admitting she often goes back to her Mum and Dad’s to relax, by pottering around their garden. “It’s the nicest place in the World,” she tells me, “I have got a small flat in Manchester and it drives me nuts being without a garden.”
I wonder if Vicky, who plays Molly in the popular soap, gets involved and helps out? “Good grief, no,” she laughs, “I just listen to Dad telling me about all the things he does to keep the garden looking so good.”
“We were in the garden the other day and Dad said, ‘smell those’ pushing a bunch of sweet peas in my face. It was amazing it immediately reminded me of being a kid. Scent is so emotive. I was 10 again. Dad told me that he loves lobelia because it reminds him of his childhood when his Granddad used to grow it. Dad used to call it ‘low- belia’ she shrieks with laughter.
Vicky does however, have aspirations to grow all her own vegetables one day. “My last landlady and I grew some veg and tomatoes in grow bags at my last flat,” she recalls. “It took us about 4 months to grow one pepper which we cut in half and stuffed to share. And our tomatoes were quite good,” she adds. “I really don’t have much time at the moment,” she explains, “ as I have a heavy story line. I love being busy and we’ve got some new actors starting soon which is exciting. I think I’ve been in every episode for the last three weeks.” Vicky is obviously, and deservingly, very proud of ‘Molly’s’ forthcoming marriage to the Street’s loveable mechanic Tyrone.
I ask if Coronation Street is home to any keen gardeners? “I don’t think so,” she considers, “everyone is pretty busy. I don’t hear any one talking about gardening, though some of the cast are in to ‘keeping fit’ and love walking and running outdoors.”
Is it true Vicky has made her own Keep Fit DVD. “I was actually approached by someone to do that. She giggles, “they asked me how did I fancy losing a bit of weight and doing a dance video?
Was she offended? “Not at all,” she giggles even more, “I am very much aware of who I am and how I look and it was a great one-off opportunity to have a proper trainer and to get fit. ‘Dance It Off’ was great fun and hopefully inspired ‘normal’ people like me to get into shape and improve their confidence. I’ve managed to keep the weight off too.” She adds proudly.
It’s hard to imagine the likeable, light-hearted actress having any grievances but she stresses that her natural instinct is to hate waste. “I hate throwing anything away and all the plastic packaging drives me mad. Why put lovely organic fruit in layers and layers of plastic?” She rants. “I would love to boycott the supermarkets but it’s all about convenience.” She explains. “Back to being busy; life is so fast-paced today.”
And almost by way of explanation she makes her apologies as she is called back to complete her scene.

Did You Know?

The Anglo-Saxons called August ‘Weod Monath’ which means ‘weed month’ – referring to the rapid growth of weeds (grass and other plants) at this time of year.
Watch the Weather
I am a self-confessed gadget-girl and my latest temptation is the new weather-forecasting watch from Oregon Scientific. Measuring barometric pressure to bring you a simple-to-read forecast, it is apparently amazingly accurate. It is also waterproof which is quite a selling point for those of us working outdoors this summer! £39.99 from www.orgonscientific.co.uk

Left, Right, Left, Right

Next Monday (11th) is International Left-handers Day. Apparently on average, left handed people have higher IQ’s; famous left-handers include Prince William, Marilyn Monroe and Leonardo da Vinci and 1 in 4 Apollo astronauts were left-handed (250% more the normal level). And now there are tools, including secateurs, edging shears and tape measures, for the ‘lefties’ too. I was told, ‘if you have to ask why left-handers can’t use ordinary tools then you must be right-handed’.
For more information, a range of tools and a chance to join the Left-Handers Club, visit www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk or call 0208 7703722

www.lynneallbutt.co.uk

Top Cooking

Top Talk

Author and broadcaster Gilli Davies admits she was lucky to be ‘in’ at the beginning of TV cookery programmes and was therefore, able to promote the benefits of local food production. “I stumbled into it,” she told me. “I had trained as a secretary and worked in fashion and at the time I was a nanny for a couple who owned a pub. One night they were short staffed so I put the baby to bed and went to the kitchen. It was just wonderful, I immediately knew wanted to cook. I later started writing by taking over a cookery column and that led into broadcasting – none of it was planned but I absolutely loved it. I worked with Nick Bailey from Classic FM and set fire to his studio once or twice,” she laughs.

Does the popular author grow her own veg? “I have grown a lot in the past. We love peas and beans so we just grow those now. And we’ve got raspberry canes and currants in the garden. Herbs have always been very important to me and I’ve got a lovely herb bed just outside the kitchen window full of different sages, bronze fennel, sorrel, rosemary and bay. I love cooking with fresh herbs and using them in salads. I love broad beans with parsley sauce but I’m working on a recipe that keeps the herb but not the white sauce. Maybe a herby vinaigrette?” she says almost to herself. “Rhodri Morgan once challenged me to make a fat free Welsh cake. I managed it and sent him the recipe based on a fat free yoghurt.”
Gilli’s real passion is sourcing her ingredients. “ I love shopping on the wing, foraging for the ingredients and then putting a dish together with what I’ve found. The fun is sourcing the produce.

When I was based in Wales, she is now based in Yorkshire with husband Peter Cliff, I had to travel to London to meet with producers of Welsh produce. The logistics were daft but it inspired me to write about Welsh food and in the series Tastes of Wales we simply celebrated local food. I’m not too precious about organic produce. I think it is more important to be local and at the very best, straight out the garden. Organic beans from Kenya are just not the same.”

Gilli’s latest book Celtic Cuisine can be purchased from all good bookshops or visit www.gillidavies.co.uk for more details of Gilli’s cookery school (‘for men too,’ she adds).

Gilli’s Green Tips

Gilli and Peter have spent the last two years concentrating on ways to change their energy consumption. “We have put in solar panels which heat all our hot water and have cut down our electric bills enormously. She says and adds proudly, “I drive a Skoda 1.8 which does an amazing 55 miles to the gallon. I also play lots of golf which takes ages and keeps me out of the shops, stops me spending money and collecting all that packaging.” She laughs.


Fire Service

Recently voted Best Gardening Product of The Year, the enamelled Fire Bucket barbeque might come in handy now we are actually having a summer. Some bright spark has transformed the traditional fire bucket to provide a funky, portable barbeque for alfresco fun. £24.99 from www.gadgets.co.uk or call 01923750075. The same company also have the great Tennis Fly Swatters. The fabulous electric bug-zapping, tennis racket style swatters are an effective and entertaining way to annihilate flies and mosquitoes for only £9.99.


Did You Know?
Houseflies hum in the middle octave, key of F and take off backwards; mosquitoes have 47 teeth and are twice as attracted to the colour blue than any other.

www.lynneallbut.co.uk

Top Talk with Tanni Grey-Thompson

Top Talk with Tanni

In her usual modest style, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DME asks me to describe her as an ex-athlete, “I seem to spend most of my time in meetings now” she adds a little wistfully. “I love being outdoors and always trained outside in any weather – wearing thermals and a bobble hat in the winter she laughs. The ex paralympian (14 times medal winner- 9 Gold, and holder of over 30 World Records) tells me she is much more into gardening these days. “I used to just hack everything back, she confesses, but we have recently moved house and have got a lovely mature garden so we have decided not to ruin it. If I didn’t like the look of something I just used to pull it up and then find out it was a plant. Ian (Tanni’s husband) won’t let me have a chainsaw so I have to make do with my hedge cutter, which is quite good for hacking actually!”
“I think I get my hacking skills from my Mother, Dad loved ivy and let it grow everywhere and Mum would keep hacking it back. They weren’t great gardeners, I remember Dad climbing up the apple tree to prune it and getting stuck. Mum just said, “I told you so.”

We are planning to grow some veg in the new garden. My first attempt at tomatoes was using grow bags outside the kitchen window. I used to open the window and throw water at them. I fed them too much or at the wrong time and all the flowers fell off. I s’pose I’m a bit of a random gardener really. We recently bought 10 goldfish for our pond and the next day Carys (10 yrs old) came sauntering in and casually said, ‘well, one’s dead already Mum’.”

“But,” she says proudly, “I am compulsive about recycling and get really annoyed about the amount of packaging used. When I buy new shoes I always refuse to take the box. And I love jumble sales and second hand clothes. My family have always been really embarrassed about it but now the clothes are called ‘vintage’ and it’s cool. They got mad with me when I picked up a jumper I liked and they said, ‘you only brought that in last week’! The worst thing is I have to tell everyone about my bargains. I was at a posh do a couple of weeks ago and someone asked where I got my lovely designer dress from – I had to tell them I only paid £2 for it from a Charity Shop. I think it’s a Welsh thing – I just can’t keep it to myself!”

Cool Clothes

One of Tanni’s new ventures has been co-designing a range of clothes for disabled children and adults. The new Tanni&Anni Range at Rackety’s caters for people with special needs, disabilities and wheelchair users, all of whom have busy and exciting lives. “People in wheelchairs used to have to have their coats put on back to front,” explains Tanni, “which is a bit humiliating to be honest.”
Children’s T-shirts have funky messages such as ‘Wicked on Wheels’ and ‘There’s no need to stare, I know I’m cool!’ Check out http://www.tanniandanni.com/ for the full range or call 01538381430


Running for Marie Curie Cancer Care

I first met Tanni at the launch of last year’s BUPA Great Welsh Run. Typically, as she was no longer competing as a professional athlete, she was mischieviously threatening to dress up as a chicken to complete the course. Unfortunately she can’t make this year’s race, tomorrow (27th) but I will be running again, with celebrities from Eastenders, Emmerdale, This Morning and of course, Lynn ‘the Leap’ Davies. We are all proud to be raising money and awareness for Marie Curie Cancer Care and would love to see you there. Join us at Cardiff Bay at 9.30am Sunday 27th to cheer us on our way and pop into http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/ for more information.

Did You Know?

National Parks Week runs from the 28th July until 3rd August, promoting Wales’s Brecon Beacon’s National Park and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, amongst others. You are encouraged to join in the many activities on offer during the week and simply enjoy the beautiful scenery and surroundings.
Children were asked “Who likes shepherd’s pie, Sunday roast and kebabs?”
“We do!” They cried
“Where do they come from?” they were asked
“The shops!” was the reply.
National Parks Week is celebrating the year of Food and Farming and reconnecting people to the landscape that provides their food and local produce. Visit www.nationalparks.gov.uk

www.lynneallbutt.co.uk

Top Talking with Politicans

Top Talk

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Jenny Randerson, describes herself as a ‘self taught gardener’. “My experience has come mainly from taming a wilderness,” she laughs, “it’s a large garden by urban standards, about quarter of an acre, and we’ve had a complete mix, including an orchard, a veg patch, rockery, grass and even a pond. We have recently abandoned the veg to try and reduce the amount of work. Whoever invented elections every May was obviously not a gardener as it’s a crucial time to be sowing seeds in the veg garden. Both my husband and I get totally involved in electioneering so we have no time for the garden then. It’s a wilderness now; it’s heading towards being a wildlife garden but not quite created itself properly yet. We love rare, wild flowers and my husband Peter, who is a Botanist by training, always mows very lovingly around a beautiful little orchid we have growing in the middle of our lawn.”
Jenny is also an avid composter. “None of our household waste goes out in the bin, she says proudly, “it’s all composted and we have a wormery too. In fact when we moved house, the neighbours thought we were mad because we bagged up and moved the compost before moving the furniture!”
How else does she do her bit for the environment? “My weakness is the car,” she admits, “I have recently made a rule that if I have to do a long journey for work then I will use the train when possible. My son refuses to have a car; he lives in London and cycles everywhere, (“I’m no good on a pushbike,” she confides, “my Mum wouldn’t let me have one”). “ He won’t take short haul flights either and when he and his Dad went ski-ing, they went by train. It took longer but they really enjoyed it and saw so much more.”
Jenny returns to talking fondly about her garden. “It’s a tremendous source of peace which is priceless; it’s not immaculate but I love it. We have a summer house, which is called the ‘Summer Palace’ as it took so long to build, and I sit in there with my papers working in the evenings. It’s great thinking space. Gardening is also such good exercise – productive exercise, far more productive than those silly treadmills.” She concludes passionately.

Wonderful Wormeries (and more)

I have sung the praises of Wiggly Wigglers for some time – they are such an amazing company and are also growing at a rate of knots. Suppliers of all things ‘green and beautiful’, their already extensive catalogue now includes delights such as Wildflower Turf, Sprouting Seed Pergolas, unusual veg (including blue potatoes), cement shopping bags (made by a woman’s co-operative in Bangladesh, these cotton lined recycled bags once held 50kgs of cement), and the most beautiful natural flower bouquets. They still supply simple-to-get-going wormeries, insect houses and composters as well as books, DVD’s and expert advice. The catalogue is packed with tips and great ideas and information and is just a fabulous read. Do get a copy http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/ or call 01981500391


From Russia With Love

Having just returned from a whistle-stop tour of Russia and the Eastern bloc, and whilst Hubby was absorbing historical and political facts, I thought I’d share some of the less conventional facts that I remember. In Poland, white asparagus is grown extensively and the crop has to be kept covered with soil (like potatoes) to prevent sunlight turning the spears green. This makes picking the crop quite an art and the last year or two asparagus has been left to rot in the ground due to the skilled harvesters having sought work elsewhere. In Russia, people in the service industry are attending courses to learn how to smile; The Hermitage at St Petersburg has so many exhibits on display that if you wanted to see each one it would take almost 3 years; Helsinki has recently imported foxes to control the rapidly growing rabbit population in the City Centre; Tallinn has only 4 hours of daylight each day during the winter months. Five years ago Moscow was experiencing winter temperatures of around - (minus)28 degrees but last year the lowest temperature recorded in the City was +8 degrees..... and it still didn’t raise a smile!

Cor Slimey!

An entirely new species of slug has been found in Welsh gardens. The white, nocturnal, carnivorous slug has been christened the ‘ghost slug’ or Selenochlamys ysbryda (ysbryd being Welsh for ghost) by scientists at the National Museum of Wales and Cardiff University. Ben Rowson said, “We thumbed through old Russian and German records and found that they’re entirely new. As it is an undescribed species we christened it with a Welsh title which we think is the first time a Welsh word has been used in an animal’s scientific name.”
The ghost slug feeds on earthworms and could, potentially, become a pest though more needs to be discovered about it first.
Did I mention Wiggly Wigglers sell worms?

www.lynneallbutt.co.uk

TOP TALK ON POLICE VICE

Top Talk
Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Barbara Wilding, first got a taste for gardening during maternity leave, 20 years ago. “I thoroughly enjoyed having time to work in the garden even though I couldn’t do too much as I was heavily pregnant but I promised myself that when I retired I would do more.”
“Having just renovated two barns, I’ve started work on the garden a little earlier than anticipated. It’s been terrific having a brand new garden to develop. I’ve planted bulbs, hedges, a camomile lawn and a wildflower meadow. I get stuck in and get dirty, I love it. It’s so therapeutic, though I do have aches and pains every weekend as a result.”
Where does she get the inspiration from? “Dad always said ‘spend your money on the soil rather than plants’ so I had to do a lot of ground preparation and then did lots of research,” she tells me. “ I visited lots of National Trust Gardens, bought some great books, like the Garden of Highgrove (Prince Charles’ garden)and made lots of notes. I’m having to take my garden in pieces and do a bit at a time. I have always wanted an old fashioned greenhouse so maybe that’ll be next year’s project. I also want to keep the garden quite low maintenance as I want to travel more when I retire.”
No qualms about her carbon footprint then? Barbara snorts indignantly. “I think I have already offset my carbon footprint,” she explains, “I planted 400 trees last year and will be planting a lot more before I retire, so I’ll be able take flights with an easy conscience.”
“In fact,” she continues,” the Force had its Carbon Footprint calculated by the Carbon Trust and we have a programme to follow to reduce it. Obviously we have a huge fleet of vehicles and we can’t double up on people using them so we have to look at vehicles with low emissions and fuel consumption. I actually bought one of the first hybrid cars and it’s certainly created conversations. We need to make sure the fleet, and the Force, are environmentally friendly; I am highly committed and believe that any small improvements that can be made in their working environment will be advantageous in their personal lives too. The Organisation consists of nearly 6,000 people who all have families, so we are reaching between 18,000 and 24,000 people in Wales which is not inconsiderable. And I will not have bottled water any more,” she adds adamantly. “At all of our meetings, we have water from the tap like the old days.”
I’m curious to know how that has change has been received? As direct as ever, Barbara replies, “Well, let’s just say if anyone has a problem with it, I haven’t heard about it.”

Gardening Greats

Barbara also told me she knew that a lot of ‘troubled’ young people were ‘finding themselves through gardening. One school in particular had offered an alternative curriculum to kids from dysfunctional backgrounds and who were in danger of dropping out of school. The first new subject to be oversubscribed was horticulture and the school’s team has gone on to win awards and have built several sensory gardens for the disabled. “They realise there are people less well off then themselves,” explained Barbara, “they also feel appreciated and of course they are tired at the end of the day so less inclined to create trouble. Gardening can be fun and hugely rewarding, for anyone.”

Tread Softly

Visit www.carbontrust.co.uk for a fabulous method of calculating your own carbon footprint. Based on your home, appliances and travel information, it is quick and simple to use . The average Welshman contributes around 8.5 tons per year and my own steel toe-capped footprint worked out at 7 tons.
It has been suggested that biggest carbon footprint ever is that of a football boot. David Beckham’s carbon emissions are estimated at a whopping 165 tons per year. That obviously contributes to him and wife Victoria having the unfortunate title of the ‘Worlds Most Eco-Unfriendly Celebrity Couple’.

Did You Know?

It takes three times as much water to make a plastic bottle than to fill it.
It took over 12 million barrels of oil to make the plastic water bottles used in the UK last year.
Over 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water.

UHG!

A friend was horrified to catch her toddler about to put a slug in his mouth. “Don’t do that” she screamed , “it won’t taste nice.” she added by way of explanation. “Tastes just like worms” her toddler replied casually.

www.lynneallbutt.co.uk

Talking about the Weather

Top Talk

It was the heat wave of 1976 that first sparked Derek Brockway’s interest in the weather. The BBC Wales weatherman recalls, “I was only 8 but I was reading all the newspapers and drove my parents bonkers by channel hopping to get all the weather reports and information that I could. I was fascinated and went on to do science as A levels – maths being the most important of course. I joined the Met office when I was 19, starting at the bottom. Then I did all the internal Met office courses to become a forecaster. I’m not just a presenter.” He adds quickly.

Derek admits, “It’s always a challenge forecasting the Welsh weather. Being positioned next to the Atlantic, we get plenty of rain and the close continental landmass supplies the SW winds. Geographically, we can get it all.”

Does he ever get blamed for bad weather? “Sometimes. He shrugs, “people like to shoot the messenger. Unfortunately, they only remember the times I’m wrong not the times I’m right. Computers make forecasting more accurate these days. It’s a mix of art and science - with a lot of experience,” he explains.

How accurate are the Old Wives Tales and Folklore? “There are over 3,000 proverbs used in connection with the weather – some are good. Most methods are reactive rather than predictive. Seaweed and pinecones, for example, react to the atmosphere rather than predict the weather.”

Derek is well known for his love of walking but what about gardening? “I went through a fad as a teenager” he confesses. “I did the borders, planted bulbs and spent all Dads money in the Garden Centre buying trees. I remember buying a beautiful Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ (Japanese Cherry). My own garden now is low maintenance because my job keeps me so busy and the weekends are always full. Perhaps I’ll get stuck in again when I retire.”

Does the ‘walking weatherman’ put changes in weather patterns down to global warming? “We don’t get snow like we used to when I was a boy. The last bad snowfall was 1982. Some changes are natural, some are due to Man’s influence. I try to do my bit for the environment, though there’s always room for improvement. I wash my own car now instead of using the carwash and I’m investigating solar energy. A lot of the new solar products use radiation through clouds, you don’t need direct sunlight.”

I have to ask – how much sunshine can we expect this summer? “The trends are for the summers to get hotter and drier with more extremes, more storms. There will always be natural variations but I don’t think this summer will be as bad as last which was the wettest on record . I think it’ll be pretty mixed, a typical Welsh summer; a bit of sun, a bit of rain. Who needs heat waves anyway? They’re no good for anyone or anything. 25 degrees is great.


Flower Power

Flower colours have more effect on our moods and feelings than we perhaps realise. Yellow blooms are associated with sunshine and happiness, orange flowers will increase feelings of vibrancy and energy and reds evoke passion and sensuality. White flowers are very healing and calming whilst blue and purple are thought to be inspiring. Pinks and lilacs are associated with romance and nostalgia and creams and greens (foliage) with nurturing and compassion. What do your floral displays say about you?


Forecasting Fun

Why not have a go at predicting the weather yourself? There are a wide range of home weather stations, instruments and barometers available for the ‘want-to-be-weatherman’ (or woman). From simple rain gauges to technical data loggers and suitable for the enthusiast or educational purposes find out more at www.ukweathershop.co.uk or call 08456800868

www.lynneallbutt.co.uk