The editor would like to thank all those who sent get well cards and/or messages following his recent spell in hospital. I am now on the slow but steady road to recovery. Again thank you to everyone.
Frank Griffiths, editor

Congratulations to Morgan Nicholson of Glyn Ceiriog and her dogs Fly, Taz and Tweed who at the Llanarmon Dog Show on Saturday, 23 August won: one 5th place, three 3rd places, one 2nd and two 1st places. Included in that haul of awards was the Best Local Child Handler Award for which Morgan and Fly won a rosette and a trophy.
All of this came only a week after Morgan and Fly won the Best Child Handler Trophy at Rhydycroesau Show.

Gafyn and Carys and all who work at The Oak would like to say thank you to all the local people who have supported us in our first few months. We've had a busy spring and summer and are now getting ready for the autumn and Christmas season. So, if you're planning a Christmas party or a group booking, please contact us at The Oak for menus and prices. We also can cater for private day functions and funeral teas.
Diolch yn fawr i bawb am eich cefnogaeth.
Gafyn a Carys

Firework fright!
Here are some tips for pets that find the whole experience of fireworks overwhelming:
• Make sure that dogs and cats are indoors and that any pets that live outside (e.g. Rabbits) are covered.
• Give your dog a quiet place to hide at any time when there are fireworks or other loud noises. Keep the windows and curtains in this room closed and provide a comfy bed with lots of blankets to hide under. A DAP diffuser installed in or near this hiding place as a source of additional comfort. DAP (short for dog appeasing pheromone ) decreases stress levels in dogs. It comes as a diffuser that should be plugged in two weeks before the event to take maximum effect.
• Reassuring your pet encourages your pet to continue displaying a behaviour—whether it is sitting nicely or displaying fear. So reward your pet's calm behaviour with cuddles and treats. If your pet is fearful, stay relaxed and act as a good 'role' model and carry on as if nothing is happening.
• Music can be played to mask the sound of fireworks, or leaving the television on can can also help.
If you have concerns that your pet will react badly to the sound of fireworks then contact your vet for further advice.
Autumn alert
Despite the cooling weather, FLEAS unfortunately do not take holidays and are still a major problem at this time of year! So now is definitely NOT the time to lower your guard against these irritating tiny pests!
HARVEST MITES are another cause of irritation in later summer/early autumn. They are active in long grass and will swarm onto passing pets where they tend to congregate on the eyelids, ears, feet and abdomen. They are easily identified as bright orange 'dots' adhering to the skin, and are often the cause of great irritation.
As the weather cools down, BEES and WASPS become dozy and are easily caught by dogs and cats. Unfortunately they can still give nasty stings to your pets.
ANTIFREEZE is also a potential hazard for many pets at this time of year. When getting your car ready for the winter, any spilled antifreeze should be cleared up promptly—it's very tasty but extremely toxic.
RABBITS: Good quality hay and grass should form the basis of your rabbit's diet; this is very high in fibre and promotes optimum dental health.
To supplement the hay, a selection of fresh food and small quantity of commercial rabbit food (preferably pelleted to avoid selective feeding) may be fed.
If you haven't had your rabbit vaccinated against Myxomatosis and VHD yet, act now! These usually fatal illnesses can easily strike in the Autumn.
Planning a trip for 2009!
Did you know many owners are now taking advantage of the Pet Travel Scheme and taking their dogs and cats on holiday with no need for a stay in quarantine on the way back?
Now is the time to start planning as it takes 6–7 months to fulfil the requirements of the scheme. Your pet will need to be micro-chipped, vaccinated against rabies and subsequently blood tested t o prove that sufficient immunity has developed. You additionally need to allow six calendar months to elapse (from the date of the successful blood sample) before your pet can re-enter the UK under the scheme, and then only after certain tick and tapeworm treatments have been carried out and certified before arrival in the UK .
If you have any concerns over your pet then contact your vet for further information or advice.

Once again our trips out have had to be when the day has been decent and we in the end just took the plunge (so to speak) to Barmouth and another trip on the canal, but not deterred by the weather we enjoyed our days out. Oh yes! We did have a day trip on 'Con air' setting off at 10.30 am the in-flight movie being 'Blue Hawaii' of course, and arriving in Hawaii by lunchtime and welcomed by some beautiful maidens who plied us with authentic Hawaiian food surrounded by palm trees and parrots. After lunch we were taken by Christine Brown on a trip by train and cruise ship to Canada and Alaska where we saw the glaciers and stunning views of these countries. After drinks in the afternoon we then Con aired to New York for Burgers or Egg rolls and back home by 6 pm for cocoa.'Phew!' what a day that was.
We, sadly have said goodbye to Mac, who was here from Spain for 5/6 weeks and of course our little Japanese mouse Yukari, who we deported back to Japan as She was eating us out of house and home.
We did have another return visit for a few days from another ex-Volunteer Asami and her cousin. We are now waiting for two more volunteers from Japan for nine months and I am sure they will be keeping fit with the Valley line dancers. I will have the date of the Christmas Market asap.
Our regards to you all Di R & Diane G.

For seven years I lived in Canada , not too far from Niagara Falls . This is one of the most spectacular sights I have ever seen. The roar of 6 million cubic feet of water each minute makes it the most powerful waterfall in North America . Few people, however, know that more than 50% of the river's water is diverted before it reaches those falls by four huge tunnels. this water passes through hydroelectric turbines that supply power to nearby areas in the USA and Canada before returning to the river well past the Falls.
Some would love to have others think of their lives like Niagara Falls , wild, spectacular, and loud. Isaiah 30:15 says, 'In quietness and confidence shall be your strength'. But power without control dissipates into useless energy. Moses thought he could use his royal power to bring about deliverance for God's people in slavery. He misused his power by killing an Egyptian, which only dissipated his power because he lost the respect of his own people (Exodus 2:11 -15). God had to teach him meekness (Numbers 12:3)
The meek prosper because they are the ones who have power under control. Our Lord said, 'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth' (Mathew 5:5). You may be trying to live in this world by your own power. Let God teach you meekness so that you can live in and depend on His strength.
We strive to do the will of God
And struggle to succeed;
But we may fail to recognize
God's strength is what we need. D De Haan
When we look at any waterfall let us remember that nothing is stronger than strength under God's control.
Yours in Christ Glyn

Congratulations to Peter Edwards (Tŷ Draw) on his graduation from Aberystwyth University with a 2.1 in Business Administration. The whole family is very proud of you.

The spot was also known as the Boncyn. There is no longer lovely singing at Wal 'Lias, but it was recently a lovely sight, covered in the pale mauve of Clematis Montana !
The Garth has been blessed with another two shops at different times—both central and catering for all the immediate necessities, saving the journey down to Glyn and the long haul back.
It is reported that the last besom wedding in the Ceiriog Valley took place in Garth, when the bride and groom were (officially' married by jumping over a besom) into their new home, and two to four witnesses were required to the act, with the groom in those days taking the bride's surname.
In the 1920's (c.1926) a family from Cefn Mawr came to live next door to the little chapel at Garth. The father was a John Evans, a fishmonger. It was a large family, and some will recall the tragic circumstances which led to the death of their two youngest sons (twins). A very witty and humorous character, he carried out his business on foot, walking many miles a day with a large basket of fish poised on his head. Before moving to Garth, John Evans used to come from Cefn Mawr over the mountain to Glyn (via the aqueduct and Vron), often in inclement weather, balancing his load on his head, and always so polite to his likely customers—'Good Day, M'am!' His portions of fish ranged in price from 6d to 2/–, and should a housewife be reluctant to buy he would add a kipper, sometimes a pair, in the bargain. What a remarkable feat of endurance for such minimal returns!
In the shade of the large Yews on the west side of St Bride's Church, lies buried the Garth's most eminent and colourful character. He was John Edwards (Sion ap Edward, 1705–1756), better known as Sion Y Potie. He was a clockmaker, poet, musician, wincey weaver (both flannel and wool) and is accredited with translating the second half of The Pilgrim's Progress into Welsh. On his tombstone was inscribed in Latin Cor. 1 cp 15, v.52. Unfortunately the stone had disappeared in recent years (official vandalism!). His wife was an Elizabeth Parry, and they had three children, Cain, Abel and Mary. His son Cain (Sion Cain) also became a weaver and between 1776–1790 he published an almanac which he sold at fairs throughout Wales for 18 pence a copy. His son (Sion Cain) was also a poet and compiled a volume of ballads which he sold at fairs. He was also a noted bass singer; he died at Kidwelly in 1830. Truly a remarkable and talented family in their day.
The Edwards' old home was demolished a little less than a century ago, and in 1888 a small chapel was built on the site. This was a wooden building known as Capel Garth, and was enlarged in 1893. It was a sort of mission connected with Zion Chapel and was intend mainly for Sunday School meetings, a prayer meeting during the week (Fridays), and an annual Harvest Thanksgiving service. There was a flourishing Sunday School at Garth in the early part of the century, between 75 and 100 attending. The dwindling population and the war years 1939–45 forced the chapel to close, and it was demolished in 1947.
Across the road from the chapel was what was known as Wal 'Lias (Elias' Wall), and it was more famous to the people of Garth than the one built by Hadrian. It was the retaining wall behind Bryneglwys, leading down to Old Sun Inn, and was so named after the man who built it, Elias Phillips. He was another colourful character, born at Ty Nant in 1830. Poet, musician, violinist and monumental mason (and apparently a builder), his bardic names was Eos Ffriad, and he also had a small shop near the 'Radwy, specilising in pickled herring and bara brith. His son, Hayden, was the pioneer of motor engineering in the Ceiriog Valley , and was for many years a Sunday School teacher at Capel Garth (adults classes).
To be continued

A worrying occurrence is the reduction in our bee population, in recent years both honey and bumble bees have seen a marked reduction in population. The cause of this is disputed and under investigation, but the potential environmental impact is serious.
Our bees remain the most important pollinating insects, without them the fruit crops and some vegetable crops are going to be severely constrained.
Although we have at least a half dozen different bumble species inhabiting our garden I did not see a single honey bee this year.
In order to assist we have ‘untidy’ spots in the garden where debris and old leaves remain undisturbed, particularly over winter as the queens will find a pile of sticks or a heap of dry leaves to wait in until spring.
When I was a child it didn’t occur to me that bumblebees had stings, I often caught them in my bare hands so that I could look at them! Not one ever stung, it has to be an extreme threat before the amiable bumble uses its’ sting. If you see a nest, sometimes under a hedge, in a stone wall or at the base of a shed, leave it as they will do no harm, indeed, they will do good, rewarding you by pollinating your perennials and fruit trees.
Tom Baker, Hyfrydle, Hen Ffordd, Dolywern. Tel. 712835

Den Davies and family of the late Anne Mann wish to thank everyone who attended the funeral, also for their kind expressions of condolence, sympathy cards and donations which amounted to £2500 to the Sarah Dixon Brain Tumor Appeal.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank family and friends who came to our surprise party to celebrate our Silver Wedding, thanks for the gifts and £150 was donated to the Air Ambulance. A special thanks to those who organised it all.
Doilch yn fawr. Thank you very much, Paul and Linda Wright.

There was a capacity audience at the Côr Meibion Dyffryn Ceiriog Annual Concert held at the Oliver Jones memorial Hall on Sunday, 23 August. The choir was conducted by Mr Gareth Thomas and the accompanists were Brendy Cassidy and Sarah Morris. The soloists were Trebor Evans and Glyn Williams, they were both accompanied by Colin Jones.

Gwestai mis Medi oedd Mrs Joan Salisbury , o Cyfylliog, oniodd am ei phleser o weithio a'i dwylo, a gwelwyd nifer fawr o'r gwahanol bethau a oedd wedi gwneud.
Air Ambulance
The BBQ organised by Ian and Jeff at the Vintage Rally held at Llwynmawr on 21 August raised £50 for the North Wales Air Ambulance.

The Senior Citizens Tuesday Club members meet on a Tuesday at the Canolfan Ceiriog Centre, from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm with transport being arranged if required.
A two course hot meal is supplied by Meryl and Carys at the cost of £3.50, this also includes tea, coffee and biscuits throughout the day. There may also be a charge for the day.
Various activities are organised, during August there was barge painting with Ruth and John; Exercise with local physiotherapist, Gill Brunsden, also games which included bingo, quizzies and beetle drives.
September there was a musical bingo session and art with Ruth and John.
An afternoon outing to Morton Park will take place on 7 October and on 14 October, Peter Clark will be present with his Owls.
New faces are always very welcome.
The club would like to congratulate Hefin and Sheila Williams on their 52 nd Wedding Anniversary which took place in August, Hefin said, 'Never a cross word'