Assistance in Giving Up Smoking

Find out how her daughter’s milk allergy 18 years ago led Gill Pateman from Pontrhydygroes in Ceredigion to becoming a cheesemaker.
“When she was born, my daughter – who’s now 27 – had an allergy to cows’ milk. We’d just moved to this smallholding and had a few cows but in order to overcome the allergy, I bought our first goat – Sarah.

By the end of the year she’d had a kid, Stella, and by the end of the following year she’d had twins. My daughter’s eczema had improved. However my family were getting thoroughly sick of a daily diet of rice puddings and egg custard!

Having been a home economics teacher, I had experimented with making cheese in the past. As we had all this milk, I decided to give it a go. I experimented for about two years with various cheese recipes. I eventually came up with this hard cheese which was quite a departure from the traditional goat soft cheese.

The main reason behind this was that living on a remote smallholding in the Welsh mountains could be problematic during the winter months. During the 1980s, the winters were quite hard and of course this disrupted distribution. I had to come up with a cheese with a longer shelf-life. Also during my market research, I found out that there was a call for something different.

When we started selling Merlin cheese, there was a lot of soft goats’ cheese being produced in West Wales. But a lot of them fell by the wayside with the advent of stricter environmental health rules.

We used to milk 200 goats as well as produce the cheese. However, after an accident in the milking parlour, I suffered concussion and things had to change.

Whilst I was recovering from my accident, the kids took over the production. They were getting up at 3am, milking, cleaning, going to school and making the cheese after coming home.

They were working really hard but it was just too much for them so a local farmer took our goats for milking, and we’ve stuck to that system ever since.

The children still help me with the business and we are currently building a new production set-up on the site of the original dairy.

Along with other cheese Welsh producers, we’ve established a co-operative called Cheese from Wales which is going from strength to strength. I’ve already been to New York, Barcelona, and London marketing our products. Welsh cheese has a very high profile, but this co-operative enables us to market all the various cheese as one and gives us a louder voice.”

No St David’s Day celebration would be complete without it but the traditional Welsh cawl makes a welcome dish to warm up any winter’s day. This recipe from Llanfair Caereinion has been passed down the generations.

Alsion Argument from Llanfair Caereinion shares a family secret:

“I make this delicious lamb broth in the same way as my Grandmother would have. It is a dish which was served in our family each Thursday, although we felt that it was always better on Friday if there was any left as the vegetable had become a bit mushy and absorbed the lovely juice. It is not quick to make properly but it is very simple.

You will need a piece of lamb – usually shoulder or breast (whichever is cheapest). Cover the lamb with water and add a whole onion, roughly chopped, some peppercorns (about six) and a little salt.

Bring the water to the boil and then allow to simmer until the meat falls easily off the bone. This will take up to a couple of hours.

Remove the lamb from the water and strain the stock that is left. When the lamb is cooled a little, remove all the meat from the bone and discard the bone and any excess fat. Cut or break the meat into bite size pieces.

Allow the stock to cool and skim off the excess fat, if you wish (you can also do this by leaving the stock overnight and this will leave a hard fat covering on the top which can be removed in one piece.

The vegetables you will need are a small swede, two or three parsnips, three or four carrots, three or four large potatoes and about two or three large leeks.

Clean and prepare the vegetables and chop into decent size chunks (not too small – you are making a stew rather than a fine soup).

Now you will need to melt some butter in large pan (O.K. – so this is not a low cholesterol dish!) and start by softening the vegetables in the butter. If you start with the firm vegetables like swede and carrot and leave them to fry for a little while before adding the parsnip, potato.

Add the leeks when the rest of the vegetables are nice and buttery and starting to soften. Then add back in your strained lamb stock and the lamb chunks.

You may need to add a little extra water – just make sure the vegetables are covered at all times. Bring to the boil again and simmer for about one hour until the vegetables are cooked.

The only other seasoning you will need is a handful of chopped parsley and you might like to adjust the salt and pepper content at the end.

Serve the stew piping hot with some freshly ground pepper and a good chunk of crusty bread and maybe a piece of good cheddar cheese.”

By Alyson Argument from Llanfair Caereinion

Aberystwyth will get a new lifeboat in 2007. This is being celebrated by an exhibition of the long history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute in the town. The display at the Ceredigion Museum ran from November 2006 until 27 January 2007. To find out more click through the slideshow of photographs with captions written by the museum’s curator, Michael Freeman:

Michael Freeman:”The exhibition highlights the history of the various boats that have been used during the long and active service of the RNLI in Aberystwyth, beginning in 1861 when the ‘Evelyn Wood’ was launched. By 1876 the ‘Lady Haberfield’ had taken over and she too was replaced by a new boat of the same name in 1881. ”

They’ve played in village halls and pubs across Ceredigion and over the last ten years, they’ve raised more than ￡12,000 for local charities. John Murphy is one of the founding members of ‘The Village Idiots’.

We got together about ten years ago one drunken Boxing Day party at my house in Borth. I had a set of drums and two of the others had guitars.

We started playing and it didn’t sound too bad and before we knew what was happening, we were asked to play at the Railway Innn by the then landlord Brian Boot, who was at my house at the time.

We didn’t know what to call ourselves but our wives decided we should be ‘The Village Idiots’ – not a very professional name but what fun we have!

The band has grown over the years from three to sometimes nine and consists of music teachers, garage workers, a leisure centre manager and full-time professional musicians.

Over the last ten years, we have raised over ￡12,000 for local charities and needy causes.

We don’t take any payment at all for ourselves but do ask that the landlords give us free drinks – sometimes they wish that they had paid us instead!

Born in Caersws in 1919, David Lewis joined the Welsh Guards in 1938 and became part of the British Expeditionary Force. He wrote this piece about a lull in the fighting on the beaches of Dunkirk.

‘A Moment in Time’ by David Lewis

“All day the sounds of gunfire, exploding shells, screaming planes, chattering machine guns, exploding bombs – all causing death and destruction. Long lines of soldiers leaving the flimsy safety of the sand dunes, the lucky ones boarding boats, and being rowed out to larger craft and survival.

This was the scene on the beach at Dunkirk, with the British Army, and their French allies desperately trying to escape, and avoid capture.

After dark the noisy sounds of warfare gradually decreased, with just the movement of solitary soldiers standing on watch for incoming boats.

I was one of those soldiers, and remember the strange feeling of a complete lull from all the noise, as though the whole world had been stilled. Then as I looked around me observing the ships on fire, the smoking town behind me, the only sound that of the waves hissing and sighing at my feet, with bits of equipment, and dead bodies of Soldiers, and Seamen being gently washed ashore.

In that brief spell just before dawn when all is silent, and awaiting that first burst of life. Amongst all that carnage of death and destruction, I suddenly realized I was looking at an incredible scene of indescribable beauty.

The effervescent sand sparkled with colour like a field of diamonds, with the movement of the ebb and flow of the tide all along the shore line. The bodies of the dead lying on the water’s edge all edged with effervescence, as though encased in a sparkling halo of reverence.

The quietness, the effervescence, the smoke and flames, all combined to give a feeling, that just for that brief time some unseen hand had created a picture of intense beauty, and I was left with the feeling that I was being privileged to experience something very special, even in that time of great stress.

Then suddenly a shout, as more boats appeared, the vision vanished, and the mayhem started again.”

I love pink and not afraid to admit it. Pink has been considered as girlish baby color for ages, and even at some period was punished and put outside the fashion mainstream. But never the less , pink remains one of the controversial issues among other colors.

Born on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France, Coco ( Gabrielle) Chanel, was raised by nuns in orphanage where she learned how to sew- a skill that would lead her life’s work.
Her fashion design career started in 1910 with creation of self-made female hats. First taste of clothing success came from a dress she fashioned out of an old jersey on a chili day.
In 1920s, Chanel took her thriving business to a new heights. She launched her first perfume , Chanel No 5, which was the first to feature designer’s name. Perfume “is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion…that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure”, Chanel once explained .
The legendary perfume Chanel No5
In 1925, she introduced the now legendary Chanel suit with collarless jacket and well-fitted skirt. Her designs were revolutionary for the time- borrowing elements of men’s wear and emphasizing comfort over the constraints of then popular fashions.
Another 1920s revolutionary design was Chanel’s “little black dress”. She took color once associated with mourning and showed just how chic it could be for eveningwear.
In addition to this, Chanel became a popular figure in the Paris literacy and artistic worlds. She designed costumes for the “Ballets Russes” and for Jean Cocteau’s play “Orphee”, and counted Cocteau and artist Pablo Picasso among her friends.
She was a very passionate woman and had bright relationships with such influential figures like composer Igor Stravinsky, Duke of Westminster and Hans Günter Von Dicklage ; the last, who was a Nazi officer , had a very negative influence on her life and fashion career after WWII, when she had to abandon Paris ,close all her boutiques, atelier and move to Switzerland.
Only at the age of 70 , Chanel made a triumphant return to the fashion world. She first received scathing reviews from critics , but her feminine and easy-fitting designs soon won over shoppers around the world and became immortal classics of all times!

We all want to wear the best quality brands! But not of all can afford it ! Thanks God, we have Fashion Outlet shops, boutiques where you can find 70% on fashion brands of previous years collections or those that havent been sold out well only few months ago and even even meet celebrities who look for rare vintage things.
The stylish girls kept it in secret , but here I will reveal for you girls the places where you can get Balenciaga or Chanel bag for much less price , or real Dior dress with big discount . And all this real – your not dreaming and this is not a jocke or patent!
So here are the best address of outlets boutiques in Europe!
1. Tot Stocks (Barcelona,calle Conde de salvatierra)
2. DMagazine ( Milan, via Montenapoleone 26)
3. Marni Outlet ( Milan, via Tajani 1)
4. Paul Smith saleshop ( London, 23 Avery Row W1)
5. Burberry (London E9,6LP , 29-53 Chatham Place ) – stock from factory ,wholesale!
6.Lavalleevillage ( Paris, 50 km from Paris Disney Land)

There’s something very retro with Gucci’s 2008 fall collection and even in its resort collection of 09. I’m also sure that some people will disagree when I say how great a collection it is. The style is inspired from the 70’s, a bit hippie style as flower children, combined with an ethnic motif. You can’t miss the frayed edges, the lovely bags, the fur and the bombastic necklaces (a repeated trend this season: big stones and long necklaces).There’s a general feeling of loading with items, accessories, patterns and shapes but everything with wonderful taste that lead to an urban look. It is also worth mentioning the figures. They’re sexy!!! So what do you need more!?
Glance to the 2009 resort collection you’ll notice the continuance of the fall’s collection with hippie fun dresses. I love wearing this style.

I gotta hand it to you guys,this is one of my real weakness and until now it still is.It really frustrates me to know that this concept is complicated and not to mention tedious.Sure you can put a simple white shirt and a jacket to accentuate but what if you want to do more?Or if you have a coat and tie affair but you still want to add excitement in what you’re wearing?Grrr…I have tried and tested so many mix and match outfits but it seems that I’m still that shirt and jeans guy who just knows how to mix and match that shirt and jeans.Period.Oh well I have to read the latest men’s magazine and what works with my body size and height and hopefully will give me smart tips and tricks to pull off something unexpected and not to the point of being a manic person.Hahaha!Heck,I got to read those magazines NOW!Now where did I leave my Oscar dela Renta sweatshirt?Darn it.