North Wales Fire and Rescue service is working very hard to protect the people who live, travel through and visit through our area through prevention measures. Most people are aware of the service to provide free smoke alarms to households and perhaps that we also offer advice on many causes of fire within the home through a Home Safety Check (HFSC).
One of the difficulties for us is visiting homes to offer our advice when people are at home, and getting them to respond to the myriad of leaflets placed around. The community fire safety work carried out by personnel based at Chirk fire station is reliant on the residents asking for the visit.
In many properties we visit by knocking doors, where residents would think of contacting us we end up giving advice and fitting or replacing smoke alarms. This is due to smoke alarms being faulty or aged and our protocol of fitting long life units to improve reliability of operation if they are ever required.
We also find many properties have too few alarms for safe evacuation to take place in times of smoke logging, and poor sighting of units, that make some next to useless. The smoke alarms sole purpose is to notify residents that a fire situation is occurring and the smoke is now going to be affecting safe escape from your home.
If you imagine having this information whilst you can still see your way out of the building and take all the family with you then lives are saved. If you have a poorly sited alarm which allows smoke build up and fire proliferation for an extra two minutes it is straightforward to believe your access route for you or your family could be severely hampered. We would prefer to visit households a day early for prevention than a day late in a fire engine, please arrange a HFSC today. Freephone 08081 002 863.
The local retained crew from Chirk will then arrange to visit you and carry out the HFSC with you/

86 mile run, 28 June 2008
I made it, albeit in 23h 50m longer than I had hoped. I cannot believe the sponsorship that I have received from the Ceiriog Valley and their friends, which to date, has contributed hugely to a total of over £16,500 and still rising. This fantastic amount is going to fund vaulting at the Clwyd Special Riding Centre and a contribution is also going to my local RDA group.
I was brought up in the Valley, briefly went to school in Pontfadog and all my early riding was in this beautiful place. My first pony, Dusty, went to the Clwyd Special Riding Centre, when it started 26 years ago and finished her days there. In fact, there is a bedroom in Ty Gwyliau, with her photograph in and an adult rider riding her with her feet. A cause for much comment by the children with special needs who sleep in that bedroom on their holiday!
It remains to say a huge thank you to you all for your support and for your continued support of a wonderful project that mum and dad started all those years ago.
Catherine Duff

Why do birds sing? Birds sing, 'because they can and because they must,' says David Rothenberg, a professor. 'Songs are used to attract mates and defend territories, but the form is much more than function. Nature is full of beauty, and of music.'
Birds sing because they have a syrinx instead of a larynx. The syrinx is the bird's voice box, an organ that lies deep in a bird's chest and is uniquely fashioned for song. That, at least, is the natural explanation for their gift.
But I ask again, why do birds sing? Because their Creator put a song in their hearts. Each bird is heaven's high and holy muse, created to draw our hearts up to our Creator. They are reminders that He has given us a song that we may sing His praise.
So when you hear God's little hymn birds singing their hearts out, remember to sing your own song of salvation. Lift up your voice, harmonious, hoarse or harsh and join with them in praise to our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord.
Psalm 98:4 states 'Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.'
'The birds of the air 'sing among the branches,' Israel 's poet observes. 'Therefore I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being' (Psalm 104:12,33)
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee. Van Dyke
Let us be encouraged that all creation sings God's praise.
Yours in Christ Glyn
Rev R Glyn Jones, Bryn Glas, Glyn Ceiriog, Llangollen, Ll20 7EU. Tel 01691718086, m: 07760328752

The Ceiriog Valley was host to many visitors during Eisteddfod week. In particular I would like to thank 18 families who hosted the Palmdale Choir/Sunday Singers from California. They came second, third and fourth in their competitions and were delighted as the standard was so high. The conductor was extremely enthusiastic about the world class standard. They had a wonderful time staying with people throughout the valley and had nothing but praise for their hosts. On Saturday evening Huseyin Cicek the leader of the Kurdistan Folk Dance Group who were staying in the Oliver Jones Memorial Hall invited us all to an impromptu evening of song and dance. The Encorah choir from Brisbane, Australia who were staying at the Plas Ceiriog also sang which made the evening a most memorable international event. The collection raised £180 for the Cheshire Home and the Eisteddfod which was most generous.
We had an excellent week despite the weather (the Americans and Australians had never seen rain like it) I should like to thank everyone involved.
Jackie Finn from Pontfadog has this to say:
One week in the year that is different from the other 51
A week in which the world comes into your home
Be warned these visitors take a little piece of your heart with them but they leave you with a huge chunk of theirs
Cathy McNeill had visitors for the first time and said, 'she enjoyed the experience very much; it was hard work but worth it.'
If you would like to have people to stay with you as part of a group or possibly a soloist next year please contact:
Anjie 718 459;
Lyn 718 948;
Merle 718 259

Guinea Pigs: They make great pets that are fun to look after and form a close bond with their owners, especially if they are handled regularly. They can be kept as outdoor or indoor pets, but if they are kept outside they need their hutch to be well protected from rain or direct sun.
They enjoy plenty of exercise and do well if given time out of the hutch in the house or in a run each day. Coming from the South America grasslands, they are best fed on a diet of grass, hay, fruit and vegetables together with some high quality commercially prepared food.
Throughout the year, guinea pigs should be checked every day: problems to watch out for include chest infections (that can follow bad weather or stress); diarrhoea (which can relate to infections or change in diet); skin disease due to manage mites and dental problems(usually associated with overgrown teeth). Prompt treatment always gives the best chance of recovery, so any problems should be dealt with quickly. If uncertain then call your vet for advice.
Dental problems: A common problem for pets and humans is gum disease. Plaque is the name given to a film of bacteria which is constantly forming on the surface of all teeth. If allowed to accumulate, it will inflame the gums—a condition called gingivitis.
If left untreated, gingivitis frequently develops into periodontitis, a painful condition involving destruction of bone and tooth supporting structures and eventual tooth loss.
Cats may also suffer from one or more tooth resorptive lesions usually found at or below gum level. Here the tooth is progressively destroyed, leading to exposure of the nerve running down the centre of the tooth. These are generally extremely painful lesions, although cats will frequently show no obvious outward signs of tooth ache.
If in any doubt about your pet 's health then contact your vet

The children from Ysgol Pontfadog Afterschool Club recently held a Leaver's and End-of-Term Disco and would like to thank all the children and parents who came along to support us. There was a dance competition and lucky dip, the winners of the competition were Polly and Millie Harrison, Alys Clarke and Tamzin Jones. Gayle and the children would also like to thank Ian Wright for doing the disco and Morag, Sally and Davina for supervising, feeding and watering our budding disco dudes and divas! We raised over £30 which will go towards new equipment in the Autumn.
The gang had a great time and hopefully we'll be able to do it again. Thanks Gayle Watkin

Thank you all once again for your support, your generous donations, raffle prizes and bric-a-brac for the stalls.
Also thanks to everyone who helped on the night, and Gareth for use of tables and chairs plus the 'firewood'.
This year we reached the grand total of £501, the money will be donated to the 'Intensive Care Unit' at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
Once again thank you all very much.
Win and Ron

Olwen Jones, wishes to thank family, friends and neighbours for the cards and gifts received on her special birthday.
Diolch yn fawr Iawn.

Very many thanks to everyone who sponsored us for the white water rafting race in June.
The team of six managed to raise over £1,160 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
It costs about £339,000 every day to run the RNLI, so all contributions are gratefully received.
Joan Blakeman

Mrs Barbara Francis wishes to thank everyone who sent their prayers, flowers and get well messages during her recent two stays in hospital.
Best Regards,
Mike Francis

A tragedy at the end of July, I had netted our pond as a heron had found it, this was successful but unfortunately a young polecat caught up in the net and drowned! Since this incident I have raised the net on forked sticks to allow access to anything at ground level, it will still keep herons away.
Statistics for anyone interested, the polecat was a well fleshed young male, 405mm long and about 800gms weight, scabrous around the head and neck and heavily tick infested.
Hasn’t it been a poor year for swallows! We seem to have been all right for swifts but swallow numbers seem well down on other years. Even at one of their favourite sites at Chirk viaduct there were only a handful. On this dismal note butterfly numbers also seem very low. Why did the name change from flutterbye to butterfly? The former is surely far more descriptive and apt!
It now approaches that time of year when the culinary adventurous search for edible fungi. I’m sure that many others had a grandmother such as mine, and every thing that wasn’t a mushroom was ‘poison, deadly poison’. Very few fungi are actually toxic, and many, such as puffballs, inkcaps and beefsteak are excellent eating. However, two favours please, don’t strip every last specimen if you collect as some are needed to spore the next generation. Secondly if you are not absolutely certain of the identification of a specimen, please, please, do not eat! Most are harmless but a few are wickedly toxic!
Tom Baker, Hyfrydle, Hen Ffordd, Dolywern Tel. 712835

We meet from 10 am to 12 noon on the first Wednesday of every month, in the Centre behind the Catholic Church in Chirk. Our next meeting will be on 3 rd September, and invite budding poets and authors to join us. Further details from Mel on 777390 or Anne on 718672

Congratulations to Mrs Edith Jones, Hendre, Berwynfa on the birth of her twentieth great grandchild, congratulations also to the proud parents Steffan and Sarah, of Gresford on the birth of their third daughter.

I would like to thank relatives, neighbours and friends for their concern and good wishes during my recent two spells in hospital, also many thanks to Mike and his staff for looking after Stan, and to Emrys for bringing him to visit me as often as he did.
Kate Levin

We apologise for the wrong spelling in Mrs Glenys Jones' thanks in the August edition. Thanks should have been expressed to her neighbour, Mrs Nicholson

A 'Welsh Tea' held at 3 Cam o'r Afon, home of Mr and Mrs Oldaker, Glyn Ceiriog on August 4. The highlight of the afternoon was a presentation of a certificate by Becky Grundy, NSPCC North Wales co-ordinator, to Mrs Bess Hughes. This was in recognition for all her work for the NSPCC in the Ceiriog Valley over many years. The afternoon was well attended and the tea and raffle raised £319 for the NSPCC. Members of the local committee wish to thank all who supported this event and invite anyone who is interested in their work to contact the secretary on 01691 718796.

I would like to thank all the kind people who sponsored my 40 mile cycle ride and generously donated £365 for Cytun Funds. Cytun is the local 'Churches Together Committee' supported by all the denominations in the Valley. Having sufficient funds makes it easier to bring us closer for special events and services, thus spreading the Lords Word, thank you, Ramona Penfold.

To Mr and Mrs Llew Jones, who recently celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations also to the following who have, or are about to celebrate Golden Wedding Anniversaries, Mr and Mrs Frank Jones, Mr and Mrs Theo Davies and Mr and Mrs Idris Davies