Newsletter No.50

September 28th 2005

by Mike Caluan

Welcome to the September edition of the Expats newsletter ...

Well so far our prayers for an Indian summer have been answered...September has turned out to be a fabulous month! Powder blue skies and a golden orb making regular appearances above the big smoke. In fact it's only been the impending dawn of October that we have seen the heavens open and temperatures return to a seasonal norm.

On my normal route into work this morning I was greeted by a sad, and at the same time, surprising sight. The Havana Bakery - a stone's throw away from the River Taff - has gone! I have grown so used to seeing that gigantic cake conveyer belt cutting across the city skyline, to see it gone, levelled forever...it was as if an old friend had died. It would seem that in this year of Cardiff celebrating it's centenary we seem to be forgetting our heritage. A shame, but as they say, you can't stop progress.

So without further ado here's the latest news from in and around your old backyard.

This month: A few new books have hit the shelves that may be of interest to all you homesick Expats... The subject of the first book is an old favourite of Welsh historians and school children alike - Glyndwr's Way. Written by one of Wales' best-known historians, the late Sir Glanmor Williams, it promises to be a great read. And the second, Food Wales is a new food guide, which aims to help tourists discover the gastronomic delights of Wales.

In a climate where property is becoming as hard to find as a Bluebirds' supporter with a match ticket...Ferndale has been named the most desirable investment spot in Wales!

Also, Boxing hero Howard Winstone has been voted greatest citizen of Merthyr Tydfil, a Cardiffian has decided to celebrate his half-century in style - with Clark's pie cakes, while Howell's girls' school caused a stir with the induction, for the first time in it's history, of male students.

And finally: A man is selling Welsh air to expatriates who miss the valleys. The Bluebirds Downunder have a new-look website and The Chicago Tafia Welsh Society get down at the Chicago Celtic Festival.

So until next month take care and enjoy the Expats newsletter.

Don't forget to check out the Expats Changing Wales and Expats Nostalgia sections for regular updates on what's going on.

Keep those articles and stories coming in, let me know what you've been getting up to. You can send them to me at mike.caluan@wme.co.uk

Pob lwc

Mike

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Glyndwr's Way
Gastronomic delights of Wales.
Ferndale named the most desirable spot
Boxing hero Howard Winstone
Clark's pie cakes
Howell's girls' school