#Cowbridge | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thegrazingblacksheep · 2 years

Text

Forage - Cowbridge, Wales

As the idea of this little blog came after we visited some places, I cannot provide photos. I will take one for the next post, I promise.

First impressions. Spacious, very natural looking, modern but still cosy building with lots and lots of wood, sustainability and from top-top-bottom windows. Lies outside Cowbridge, on a large field which has plenty of recently planted little treelets - if this word exists at all. The car park is enough, it is easy to find a space among the Teslas and Range Rovers. Visited Forage once or twice with bikes for a coffee, but to be honest that was forgettable. Inside, there are two main parts: the restaurant / bar area and the farm shop area.

Hygenie. All the interior has a lovely design, the space in general is sparkling clean and the shop is very tidy and appealing. From the cutleries to the wooden fan on the ceiling via the shelves - everything looks and feels new and taken care of. Felt a bit awkward, because after a walk in the rain in a muddy forest we didn't really have much time to go further than the Forage, and we basically sat down for an easy lunch in this sparkling clean place in muddy wellies and waterproof trousers, wearing hiking clothes. No make up, no hair, no pretty. Sorry about that, dear Forage!

Service. Before we asked for a table, because of experience, we asked for the vegan menu to check first, just in case. The waitress was extremely helpful, answered all of our questions and helped us with a vegan selection; which were mostly items from the main menu, veganised.

We had to wait 20-25 minutes for a table, but we didn't mind, because we wanted to see the farm shop anyway. Just O. M. G. Their selection is what I call Selection with a capital, because they have basically everything a fancy pantry needs. Artisan cheese, craft beers, exciting pickled goodies, handmade soaps and lovely looking desserts and confectionary just to mention some. It is really worth a check, because I have no space to list everything what I have seen; but briefly: if you go there to look for something authentic, or "classy farming" gift, guaranteed you will find one. No problem if you are looking for gluten free, vegan, or ethical either; we really struggled to not to do a big shopping there.

After we got our table, we had to submit our orders at the bar counter. As we didn't have time for a proper lunch, we chose some sandwiches, an oat based flat white and a Diet Coke.

Then we were waiting for 40 minutes to get those sandwiches. I'm not sure if someone had to harvest (?) the beet for other half's sandwich, or had to run and capture a chicken for mine; but we were a bit hangry now. Waiting patiently, finally we got our sandwiches accompanied with a decent amount of rocket salad. The amounts are big, the artisan bread were fresh, tasty and soft.

Quality. My meal was absolutely good. Maybe the salad could have bore with some sauce, but I was impressed the nicely toasted bread with the melted brie inside. Other half was a bit disappointed, because the beets took over the flavour of everything else in his vegan sandwich. Basically it was a layer of spinach, a cold blob of tasteless butternut squash cream and several slices of pickled beetroot - again - with no sauce. He had the same side salad like me. The beverages were fine, you can always trust a good can of Coke - I know, I am trash, but even the Diet one. And his coffee was made from a fancier coffee than we had at our last visit, he said it is much better.

Summary. We know that the prices of this area are not the friendliest, but two sandwiches and two basic drinks for ~20 quid was a bit of "come on...". There are some areas to improve, like for example the vegan sandwich recipe, or the waiting time for these sandwiches; but otherwise we liked this above mentioned classy farming look and feel. Maybe we will check back in summertime if they have any good looking desserts or artisan ice creams even.

#forage #cowbridge #wales #welsh #uk #restaurant #bistro #critique #serving #food #dish #diet

0 notes

shootsandrootswales · 3 months

Text

Garden Design Cardiff

Shootsandrootswales is the best services provider of Landscaping Cardiff. We also offer services such as Landscaping, Paving, patios, fencing repair & maintenance in Cardiff.

#garden design #garden design cardiff #paving cowbridge

0 notes

djhillengineering · 11 months

Text

D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd

D J Hill Engineering Services - Metal Fabricators in Cardiff

Visit Our Website

#CNC Cutting Barry #CNC Cutting Cardiff #CNC Cutting Cowbridge #CNC Cutting Dinas Powys #CNC Cutting Llancarfan #CNC Cutting Llandow #CNC Cutting Llantwit Major #CNC Cutting Ogmore by Sea #CNC Cutting Penarth #CNC Cutting Porthkerry #CNC Cutting Rhoose #CNC Cutting South Glamorgan #CNC Cutting Sully #CNC Cutting Taffs Well

0 notes

queerwelsh · 1 year

Text

Pride in Wales! Balchder yng Nghymru!

Here’s a list of the Pride events happening in Wales this year, in 2023. (click the links for more information)

Dyma rhestr o ddigwyddiadau Balchder yng Nghymru blwyddyn yma, yn 2023.

22 April/Ebrill - Aberystwyth Pride / Balchder yn Aberystwyth

29 April/Ebrill - Swansea Pride / Balchder Abertawe

30 April/Ebrill - Mini Pride and Swansea Anti-Capitalist Pride (1pm Singleton Park) / Balchder Bach a Balchder Gwrthgyfalafol Abertawe (1yp Parc Singleton)

14 May/Mai - Colwyn Bay Pride / Balchder Bae Colwyn

17 June/Mehefin - Hay Pride

17 June/Mehefin - The Big Queer Picnic

17-18 June/Mehefin - Cardiff Pride / Balchder Caerdydd (Pride Cymru)

19 June/Mehefin - Cowbridge Pride / Balchder y Bontfaen

24 June/Mehefin - Caerphilly Pride / Balchder Caerffili

24 June/Mehefin - Abergavenny Pride

24 June/Mefefin - Balchder Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Pride Caernarfon

29 June/Mehefin - 2 July/Gorffennaf - Balchder Neath Port Talbot Pride

8 July/Gorffennaf - Llandeilo Pride / Balchder Llandeilo

15 July/Gorffennaf - Llanelli Pride / Balchder Llaneilli

29 July/Gorffennaf - Llandovery Pride / Balchder Llanymddyfri

12 August/Awst - Barry Pride / Balchder y Barri

12 August/Awst - Balchder Glitter Pride Cardiff

26 August/Awst - Merthyr Tydfil Pride / Balchder Merthyr Tudful

2 September/Medi - Pride in the Port Newport / Balchder Casnewydd

9-10 September/Medi - RCT Pride

15-17 September/Medi - Trans Pride Cardiff

16 September/Medi - Carmarthen Pride/Balchder Caerfyrddin

#pride #wales #cymru #lgbt #lgbt pride #lgbtq #lgbtqia #queer wales #cymraeg #lgbtqia pride #links #resource list #will add more details on some when there are more details on them

1K notes · View notes

becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys · 1 year

Text

Doctor Who, but Chronologically: 42

It's 1967! Doctor Who has started on the telly, look.

But! We are jumping in with our... second? third? episode of the Flux, so Whittaker, Yaz and Dan are trying to deal with a universe that just got munched while dog people save Earth and Division are being shadowy paymasters. Last time we saw this, we saw the Doctor be delivered by weeping angels and then met her breathtakingly well-acted adopted Mam, and it turned out she runs Division and also was the one who actually triggered the Flux ready to move to another universe, while Yaz and Dan ran around in the 1910s with a fabulous professor called Eustacius Jericho.

This episode, we meet Jericho seemingly for the first time with an angel-possessed psychic called Claire, in a 1967 village. What an odd choice. Almost as though we are watching this in a very stupid order.

I FUCKING LOVE THIS EPISODE THOUGH

It's an angel episode!!! And a good one!!! The last one we saw was the Angels Take Manhattan, which is contemptible shite that makes zero sense. But this one! It's fucking fantastic. It's proper creepy horror from start to finish - in spite of being in the middle of a six-part story, there's little arc plot beyond a very small handful of scenes. Otherwise, after an unexplained start where a weeping angel is somehow in the TARDIS and hijacking it, we are treated to the tale of a village called St Hilary in Cowbridge Medderton in Devon the night its inhabitants all mysteriously vanish without trace, leaving it to be taken over by the military as a locked camp in the future. One woman in the village knows it's coming, and is desperately trying to warn people, but no one is listening; but, it emerges that this also happened to the village in 1901.

Why? Because angels send the inhabitants back to 1901.

And then back in 1901, do the same thing there, too; and anyone who is sent back more than once dies.

WHICH IS INTERESTING GIVEN THAT THEY SUPPOSEDLY COULD SET UP A "BATTERY FARM" IN MANHATTAN AND SEND PEOPLE BACK REPEATEDLY NO I WILL NEVER BE OVER THE LORE BREAKING OF THAT EPISODE-

Anyway, this one's great. Tonnes of tense, creepy horror, and trying to run away while yelling "DON'T BLINK", although they could all do with working on their teamwork in this field, to be honest. Like, if there are two of you, maybe one of you do the angel observing and not blinking and the other do the looking where you're both fucking going and guiding? Maybe? Maybe that's a good idea? Maybe trade off who's doing which job? Maybe don't all try staring and walking backwards at the same time, thus stumbling into each other/more angels? Really atmospheric, though, proper tense. Also, new lore introduced! Whatever holds the image of an angel can itself become an angel, with a lot of energy on their part. This makes The Angels Take Manhattan even more deeply stupid, since the Statue of Liberty is possibly the most photographed statue in the world, but okay.

Anyway. Claire the psychic is from the present day, but is possessed by a fugitive angel that's on the run from Division. The others are trying to capture it. She gets sent to 1967 by one, but the one possessing her is hiding inside her. Yaz and Dan get whipped back to 1901 while looking for a lost 10 year old called Peggy, who it emerges has been angelled, and also becomes the old woman who knew this was coming in 1967. The whole village, it seems, has been "quantum extracted" - pulled out of space/time to extract the fugitive. While fleeing, Jericho gets angelled and lands with Yaz and Dan, which explains why he was running around the 1910s with them before.

But, the angels take the Doctor instead of the rogue one. We know that bit! We saw that last time.

Meanwhile, some minor arc - Vinder the beautiful man is still searching for Bel. Bel, though, finds her way to a planet that supposedly offers 'salvation', a woman who arrives to take survivors away to a safe haven from the Flux. Turns out it's the beautiful geode lady though. She takes the survivors into Passenger, which is an endless prison. Bel saves an ungrateful man from this, and then swans off into the universe to stop it, so well done her.

LET'S TALK ABOUT JERICHO THOUGH I love him. I love him very much. Kevin McNally plays a fucking blinder with him. Oddly, watching the show in this order really made us feel the horror and impact of the First World War, but not so much WW2 - I think the forays into it were mostly either played for laughs (punching Hitler) or jingoistic tedium about sucking off Churchill, with no real sense of the impact at all. But Jericho has a great little monologue at one point, after the Doctor admires how his scientist mind wants to understand things, and so doesn't stop to be scared. "I was one of the first British soldiers into Belsen after the War," he says. "If you think a few stone statues will destroy my equilibrium, you are mistaken." He also has a spectacular moment where multiple angels suddenly break into the room, and he squares the fuck up to them with all the gravitas and power and titanium-spined energy of David before Goliath and commands them "You stop right there. You are observed, and that is my power over you."

God fucking damn it. Incredible. What a character, what an actor, what lines. Ugh. Perfect.

Anyway, plot threads! Let's see. I mean we have LOTS of planets that have disappeared. Maybe that's the Flux? That seems logical; when Bel reaches the ungrateful man, he tells her that the planet they're on is the last, most intact one in the sector ("A third of a sun, quarter of a moon, half a planet"). Um, the TARDIS is sort of broken/not working again, but then we start the episode with an angel piloting it somehow, so... is that why? And, why is the beautiful geode woman stealing people into a Passenger form?

Fortunately, we don't need to add any plot threads about Division, because that's already been resolved. This watch order is stupid.

“She” (an unknown person) is returning (perhaps River returned as Missy. Maybe Me? Maybe Clara???!)

There is something on Donna’s back

An entire planet, Pyrovilia, just… disappeared, somehow. (Maybe because the TARDIS is exploding??? Saturnine was also lost, and that WAS because of the TARDIS exploding. The lion man’s planet was also lost but he was a bit of a knob about it if I’m honest. The Thijarian planet was destroyed by some sort of impact). NEW INFO: is this the Flux?

Amy is maybe dead (she’s not)

The Doctor has been cubed (he’s out, but how?)

River is possibly blown up (unless she’s Missy. Nope: she is definitely not blown up)

The TARDIS has blown up (It’s fine now. Except it’s sort of melting now because it’s corrupted, but it’s fine again. NEW INFO: NOPE, back to not working.)

The universe appears to have ended (the universe is back again)

The Doctor has employed(?) Nardole

(And Nardole was “reassembled???” Nardole had glass nipples and invisible hair?? WHAT THE FUCK IS HE)

There’s a vault in the TARDIS and it contains Missy but we don’t know why (sometimes she knocks for the bants)

There’s an immortal Viking girl now. Her name is Me and she’s now looking after the people the Doctor abandons

Why was Rory entirely unconcerned by the entire world suddenly going silent when that is Not Normal and should have been, at the very least, extremely disconcerting?

What did the Doctor do to Queen Lizzie One?

Why is Amy seeing a one-eyed woman in a vanishing window? (She’s with the Silents, but we don’t know why Amy saw her)

Why is Amy’s pregnancy inconclusive? (Maybe because the baby had Time Lord DNA?)

Who is Sarah-Jane Smith?

How is the Doctor Bill’s teacher and why/where does he have an office?

What is going on with the Cyber War and the Cyberium???

What happened with the Other Cyber War?

What happened with the Third War that deleted the void?

Why does Rose seem particularly important?

What order do these Doctors go in? (Eccleston, Tennant, uncertain, Smith, Capaldi, Whittaker)

Which companion just… forgot the Doctor, and how?

Yaz and Vinder are about to die as Mori/Mwri/Muuri (NEW INFO: not anymore, somehow)

There is a Lupari shield around Earth.

What’s a Time War?

What’s the Rift?

What’s Bad Wolf?

In which war did the Doctor become a war criminal, and how?

Who is the Master?

Why has Amy forgotten Rory? How did she forget a Dalek invasion?

Is Rory plastic or not?

Why is the Doctor sulking on a cloud?

How exactly does the Doctor have a cloud?

What exactly happened with Strax to, uh, tame him?

Which friend killed Strax?

Which friend brought Strax back?

Where did this lesbian lizard and human couple come from?

What happened with Clara as Souffle Girl and the Daleks?

How does Clara actually join?

Why so many Claras?

Why is Missy apparently in robo-heaven?

Why is probably!Missy pushing Clara and the Doctor together?

What is Trensilor and what happened there?

Who is Handles?

The Doctor is about to be dissolved by a beautiful geode man

The universe is being crushed by the Flux

Will the Doctor open the fobwatch?

Sontarans are invading Earth again

Who is Kate?

Who is Osgood? Another name of Clara’s again?

The fuck is the deal with the Grand Serpent

Does Martha get to go to an ice cream planet with 12-fingered massage aliens?

How did the Doctor forget Clara?

Who is Bill’s puddle girlfriend Heather?

How did Nardole die?

When does Bill get Cyberman-ed and die?

When does the Doctor shrink and enter a Dalek called Rusty?

Whittaker is falling to her death rn

Was that ring relevant?

Does anyone know the Doctor’s name?

When did Yaz talk to Dan about fancying the Doctor?

When did Dan talk to the Doctor about fancying Yaz?

What’s happening with the bees?

What happened with Donna’s ex and a giant spider?

What war wiped out the Daleks, and is it one of the ones already mentioned?

What did the Doctor mean when he said “The (Daleks) always live, while I lose everything?”

If Dalek Caan is the last Dalek left why are there more now?

How did the rest of the Time Lords die?

How and why did Amy melt?

What’s the question that will make silence fall?

Why do the Silents… want silence to fall?

How and why are Silents at war with the Doctor when he… hasn’t even heard of them?

How does Hitler get out of the cupboard?

What’s the significance of fish fingers and custard?

Why does the Doctor feel guilt about Rose, Martha and Donna?

What happened with the space whale?

When does Rory defend Amy for 2000 years?

How does the Doctor survive River

How does he erase himself from history

Did Captain Jack lose his memories to the same people as the Doctor? What did he lose?

When did the Doctor send the Daleks into a void to save the universe?

What’s with the weird crack in the wall and is it affecting memories?

Why do Amy and Rory think the Doctor is dead?

Is Matt Smith’s Doctor a tree racist?

Why is the beautiful geode woman stealing people into a Passenger form?

#doctor whom #and yet we are continuing

50 notes · View notes

thesilicontribesman · 9 months

Text

Roman Milestone, Swansea Museum, Wales

A rectangular Roman inscribed stone; translated inscription: 'for the Emperor Caeser Marcus Piavonius Victorinus Augustus'. This stone was probably erected by the legion stationed at Bovium Fort on the Roman road. Date 268AD to 270AD. It's location lost for centuries, some scholars now believe that Bovium Fort is the Roman fort at Cowbridge. Found in 1835 in a wall opposite Pyle Cottage, Pyle, near Bridgend.

#roman #romans #roman milestone #milestone #roman army #roman craft #roman empire #roman living #roman soldiers #roman road #roman building #archaeology #stonecarving #relic

29 notes · View notes

lostitinthelights · 1 year

Text

i already loved torchwood the first time but this time it was just so much better, not only did i forget about everything except who dies (and that scene of Rhys and Gwen on the potato truck) so it was almost like watching it for the first time again, i also have been to Cardiff Bay and Swansea now, i know where Cowbridge is, i could appreciate Gwens jokes about Severn bridge because been there done that and even caught the Gavin & Stacey reference

#also “if you're the best England has to offer then God help you” - “i'm welsh” and full on knocks the fbi lady out? iconic #and their accents #i didn't pick up on any accents in english at all for the longest time #but oh boy #now i do and south wales accents are just the hottest #torchwood #gwen cooper

8 notes · View notes

dxolympic · 1 year

Photo

It looks #musical. Banjo and washboard. @ #bedpan #bedwarmer #vintage #vintage_daily #vintagestyle #picoftheday #junk (at Cowbridge with Llanblethian) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIB1q-ImW-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#musical #bedpan #bedwarmer #vintage #vintage_daily #vintagestyle #picoftheday #junk

4 notes · View notes

oldhallgardens · 10 months

Text

Green Flag Award

The Old Hall Gardeners celebrated receiving the Green Flag award for 2023. Cake and Prosecco replaced the usual coffee and biscuits at break time, Thursday 21 July. Biga arriving with Green Flag cake for all.

View On WordPress

#Cowbridge #Gardens #Green Flag #Old Hall Gardens #Vale of Glamorgan

0 notes

mar-sibilina · 2 years

Text

GWEN: And this is all off the A48?

MARY: Two miles outside Cowbridge. It's taking in patients from the whole of South Wales.

GWEN: It looks like old army barracks.

MARY: Closed down in 1996, reopened two days ago. Designated an official Overflow Camp. That's where they've taken your father. And that's where you're going to get him out.

#torchwood #4x05

2 notes · View notes

shootsandrootswales · 3 months

Text

Garden Design Rhiwbina

Shootsandrootswales is the best services provider of Paving Rhiwbina, and with a new and practical construction in your back garden or you like to add some colour with flowers, plants or a new lawn in Rhiwbina.

#garden design #Landscaper Rhiwbina #Landscaping Cowbridge

0 notes

djhillengineering · 11 months

Text

Enhance Precision and Efficiency with CNC Cutting: D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd in Barry

youtube

In today's rapidly advancing technological landscape, precision and efficiency are paramount in the manufacturing and engineering industries. CNC (Computer Numerical Control) cutting has revolutionized the way businesses operate by providing highly accurate and efficient machining solutions. D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd in Barry has established itself as a leading provider of CNC cutting services, delivering exceptional results to businesses in the region. With their state-of-the-art equipment and skilled professionals, they are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of clients across various industries.

Unleashing the Power of CNC Cutting:

Superior Precision: CNC cutting at D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd ensures unparalleled precision in every project. Using computer-aided design (CAD) software, precise specifications are fed into the CNC machines, allowing for meticulous and repeatable cutting processes. This accuracy minimizes errors, reduces waste, and enhances the overall quality of the final products.

Versatility in Material Handling: D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd's CNC cutting services cover an extensive range of materials, including metals, plastics, composites, and wood. Whether you require intricate components for aerospace applications or bespoke designs for architectural purposes, their skilled team can handle the material of your choice with utmost precision, guaranteeing consistent results.

Efficient and Time-Saving: CNC cutting at D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd optimizes productivity by eliminating the need for manual intervention. The automated nature of CNC machines allows for faster production cycles, reducing lead times and enabling businesses to meet demanding deadlines. This increased efficiency translates into cost savings and improved customer satisfaction.

Customization and Complex Designs: One of the key advantages of CNC cutting is its ability to create intricate and complex designs with ease. D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd embraces this capability, enabling customers to bring their unique ideas to life. Whether you require intricate patterns, detailed engravings, or complex geometries, their CNC cutting services can deliver exceptional results that exceed your expectations.

Scalability and Consistency: D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd understands the importance of scalability in today's dynamic business environment. With their CNC cutting services, they can seamlessly accommodate small-scale prototypes, medium-sized production runs, and large-volume manufacturing, ensuring consistent quality throughout. This adaptability empowers businesses to scale their operations without compromising on precision or speed.

Cost-Effective Solutions: CNC cutting offers cost-effective solutions by minimizing material waste, reducing errors, and optimizing production efficiency. D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd strives to deliver value to their clients by streamlining processes and utilizing their expertise to optimize production schedules. Their competitive pricing and commitment to quality make them an ideal partner for businesses seeking cost-effective CNC cutting services in Barry.

Conclusion: When it comes to precision, efficiency, and versatility in CNC cutting, D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd in Barry stands out as a trusted provider. With their state-of-the-art equipment, skilled workforce, and commitment to excellence, they consistently deliver exceptional results to clients across industries. By harnessing the power of CNC cutting, businesses can achieve greater accuracy, streamline their production processes, and gain a competitive edge in the market. Whether you require intricate components, custom designs, or large-scale manufacturing, D J Hill Engineering Services Ltd is the go-to partner for all your CNC cutting needs in Barry and beyond. Contact them today to experience the transformative capabilities of CNC cutting for your business.

1 note · View note

queerwelsh · 26 days

Text

🏳️‍🌈2024 PRIDES 🏳️‍⚧️ BALCHDER 2024 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Again, here's a schedule of the Prides that will be happening in Wales this year! Eto, dyma amserlen o'r digwyddiadau Balchder yng Nghymru blwyddyn 'ma!

April/Ebrill: 20 April/Ebrill - Pride in Aberystwyth/Balchder yn Aberystwyth @prideinaber (Instagram, Facebook + https://www.prideinaber.co.uk/)

May/Mai: 12- Colwyn Bay Pride Bae Colwyn @togetherforcolwynbay 18 - Swansea Pride @swanseapride (Insta, FB + Twitter) +18 -Balchder Machynlleth Pride @balchder_mach_pride (Insta + FB)

June/Mehefin: 1 - NPT Pride, Port Talbot @nptpride (Insta, Twitter + FB) +1 - Torfaen, Pontypool Park https://www.torfaenpride.co.uk/ 10 - Cowbridge Pride @cowbridgepride (Insta + FB) 13-16 - Pontardawe Pride @pontardawepride (Insta + FB) 15 - Barry Pride @barry.pride (Insta, Twitter + FB) +15 Pride Caerffili @pridecaerffili (Insta + FB) +15 Llandeilo Pride @llandeilo_pride (Insta + FB)

+15 Rhyl Pride, The Bodfor (The Bodfor FB) 22 - Big Queer Picnic @bigqueerpicnic (Insta, Twitter + FB) +22 - Pride Cymru, Cardiff @lgbtpridecymru +22 - Flint Pride (Flint Pride FB group) 23 - Ystrad Pride Picnic (Ystrad Pride FB) 29 - Abergavenny Pride @abergavennypride (Insta + FB)

July/Gorffennaf: 6 - Hay Pride @hay.pride https://www.haypride.com/ 13 - Llanelli Pride @llanellipride (Insta + FB) 20 - Monmouth Pride Trefynwy @monmouth.pride.trefynwy (Insta + FB) +20 - North Wales Pride Balchder Gogledd Cymru @northwalespride (Insta + FB) +20 - Pembrokeshire Pride @pembspride (Insta + FB) 27 - Wrexham Pride Wrecsam (FB + Twitter) +27 - Brecon Pride Balchder Aberhonddu @breconpride (Instagram)

August/Awst: 3 - Glitter Pride @glittercymru (Insta, Twitter, Facebook) 10 - Caldicot Pride @caldicotpride (Instagram) 17 - Merthyr Pride @merthyrpride (Insta, Twitter + FB) 23rd-25th - Cardiff Trans Pride @transpridecardiff (Insta, Twitter + FB)

September/Medi 7 September - Pride in the Port Newport @prideintheport.newport (Insta, Twitter, FB) 28 September - Tywyn Pride (Facebook) TBA: Carmarthen Pride @carmarthenpride (FB + Insta)

Let me know if I've missed any! Do click through to the individual Prides' pages for more details - they also may need more support! Gad i fi gwybod os mae unrhyw un ar goll! Ac edrychwch ar dudalennau'r digwyddiadau Balchder am fwy o fanylion - efallai mae angen cefnogaeth arnynt!

#pride #pride 2024 #prides #resource #wales #welsh #cymru #cymraeg #lgbtqia #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqiap #so sorry I haven't posted anything in a while!#long post

24 notes · View notes

sociologyonthemove · 6 years

Text

A walk down the Cowbridge Road East by Linda Boyce

My sociological walk takes me through the district of Canton, down Cowbridge Road East. A down at heel high street (Puwar 2012) in comparison to the bustling consumerism of the city centre of Cardiff less than two miles away. An area I’ve frequented many times on trips to an orthodontist on the outskirts with my teenage daughter, but never venturing a step further. I’ve previously been intrigued by the culture and people observed in this community. The walk contrasts the disparities between green spaces and the din of the urban space. However, the main focus of my walk is on the multiculturalism of the community of Canton and how everyday multiculturism (Wise and Velayutham 2009) is played out in urban areas like shopping centres and high streets (Watson 2016). I feel it is a place that stirs the ‘sociological imagination’ (Wright Mills 1959). A walk that allows me to get a feel for the textures and rhythm of social life in motion (Bates 2014), a place that is telling about society (Becker 2007).

I take the flaneur or rather the flaneuse approach to my sociological walk, as a straddling observer and participator, blending the reportage and poetique (Grantz 2005, p152). My true mission is to tap into urban energies, to stroll, to dawdle, a time of wasteful idling (Ferguson 1994). A floating existence in order to reveal modern urban cultures (Baudelaire 1965, pp 118-119). My walk, although a planned route, comprises of free play across the authoritarian city (Kramer and Short 2011), I find myself curious, and inquisitively heading down side streets to botanise the asphalt (Benjamin 1968) of this little place of Canton.

My walk commences around 11.05 on a Thursday in March at Cardiff University’s Glamorgan Building located near the Welsh Government building. I capture the unfolding portrait of Canton life using audio and video recording, along with taking photographs, to take the reader to where social action is going on (Back 2012). I also wrote scratch, field notes as I continued my ‘walkalong’ (Kusenbach 2003).

I head up King Edward VII Avenue and take a left turn, cutting through College Road to bring me to the crossing on North Road, directly opposite the Royal College of Music and Drama (RCMD) and its prestigious, contemporary building. Here, as I wait at the crossing, I feel myself consciously engaging with my sensual imagination (Vanini et al 2013). The hiss of the hydraulics of passing buses, the screeching brakes, the squawking seagulls circling above, the smell of the exhaust fumes that catch me in the back of the throat and the distant sirens whirring in the distance. I am listening, sensing and feeling (Bates 2014) the multi-sensual world (Lorimer 2005, p83), trying to understand the social and how it is researchable (Lorimer 2005, p84).

I cross the road and wander through Bute Park, immediately feeling the restfulness of this green space. As I enter through the park gates, I meander the path through the park, and drift purposefully in the recommended mode (Sinclair 1997, p4). I take some audio recordings in the park where nature is heard - away from the noisy hub of the city - and bird singing can be prominently heard over the background traffic noise. In contrast, the sound of a saxophonist playing jazz could be heard from the open windows of the RCMD behind me. My pace slows as I want to feel the textures and rhythm of social life in motion (Bates 2014). Cyclist’s dash past me, the sound of the revolving pedals, whirring of the bicycle chain and the rubber tyres on asphalt, is quite an appealing sound. This outdoor green space is a lived space with everyday life with rhythms and patterns (Lefbvre 1991). I also notice the visibly embedded bike trails and walking routes of pedestrians in the path. I come to a little café set alongside the River Taff, a perfect pit stop for dog walkers, joggers and pram pushers. I head up over the suspension bridge that bounces with my every footstep. I head out through a car park for the national express bus station, I can’t help but notice how even though this is in the confines of the park, a place of nature and trees, nature is being tamed, by way of an iron grating that encircles the tree in order to curtail the roots and stop them buckling paving slabs.

As I exit the park which brings me onto the main road that leads to Canton, the place of my sociological enquiry (Beck et al 1994; Lash 1999). I am bombarded once again with exhaust fumes and the cluttering noise of traffic and come across vibrant matter (Bennett 2009) of particular grot spots of litter, (Puwar 2012) - the left-over objects of commercial consumption. I cross at the junction, and with a slight left, I head down to Cowbridge Road, East. Passing the blue plaque outside of a Victorian townhouse signalling the birth place of Ivor Novello, a Welsh 1920s composer, better known these days for the eponymous music awards. Two older, gentlemen are strolling just in front of me as I catch with them as I pass them by. I overhear one gentleman asking the other, “I’m not too old, am I”? Realising that I was passing just as this was being said, there was a distinct silence between the both of them. I turn to smile at the gent who must be at least 80 years of age, but very spritely. Reassuringly I say, “You’re never too old, you’re as young as you feel!” They both chuckle. To the left are some disused offices and the St David’s Hospital. It is at this point, where my sociological walk and the multiculturalism of Canton truly begins.

I continue on my traverse, I pass a myriad of restaurants from global cultures such as Dubai Nights, Vivo Latino, Kimchi Korean and the famous Happy Gathering - a well-loved Cantonese restaurant. There is also cultural merging of cuisines for example with the Indo-Cymru restaurant - possibly in recognition of the proprietors’ cultural origins that they now have come to call Canton their home. There is a fruit-and-veg van perched to the side of the row of restaurants where a queue is forming. The chatty proprietor makes friendly gestures and calls customers by their first names. Talking about a variety of things, from local misdemeanours, to the score of the last city game, “seriously though Giggs - managing Wales mun,” one guy retorted. I motion further down the high street passing, a sex shop marketing their wares as ‘marital aids’. Further along, are a number of hire purchase outlets, casinos and betting shops that give me a sense that this may be a deprived area. These descriptions are the urban banality (Kramer and Short 2011) of the high street but are relevant, as these local territories shape the social interactions (Kusenbach 2003) in this community. These high street outlets give vitality to the ongoing life (Back 2013) of this suburban space. Where the actors engage with the places around them through the course of their everyday lives (Seamon 1979). As I stroll down the high street, I notice that Canton has a number of butchers, bakers and fruit-and-veg shops, along with cobblers and hardware shops that take over the space on the pavement to sell their wares. Reminiscent of the old ways of shopping, it is quite a ‘quaint’ high street with privately owned businesses and very few global retailers - an ‘everything on your doorstep’ type of high street.

I continue my journey down the road, past Shab’s, a Turkish barber’s, numerous tattoo studios and tanning outlets and multiple vaping shops, where the pungent smell of artificial scents spill out into the street through the plumes of smoke. I also pass a number of places of worship, a Baptist church that runs toddler groups, community courses and after school clubs further down and a larger church called the Wesley, that has converted its foyer area into a café, as I pass I notice a number of older residents catching up and chatting over a cup of tea.

I eventually come to a cross roads which is at the centre of Canton. I decide to loiter around a bench that is set directly outside Tesco Express, and as I sit down, two ladies sit down next to me disgusted with the price that they have paid for their sandwiches and they both agree that they, “will never do that again”. To the side of the bench there is a large tower, there as a sort of architecture of advertisement (Hessel 1968) that is pasted from top to bottom with a number of local events at the nearby cultural hub of Chapter and more risqué events such as the Lady Boys of Bangkok. I feel that this is a convenient place to scribble some field notes as I observe the consumerist order (Bauman 1994, p153) of shoppers. People mingle, congregate and socialise around these pigeonpoop-covered benches. As I sit there, the bench users are joined, on the outskirts, by two mobility scooter users wishing to rest at this place to enjoy the pasty and sandwich that they have recently purchased. I can’t help but notice that I am completely surrounded by cooing pigeons and I have to duck as they swoop over my head. I turn around to see an older lady feeding them, a complete frenzy of feathers and panicked pecking at the floor ensues. She notices me looking over and says, “Well I’m giving them their breakfast see, if I don’t do it, nobody will”. I smile back at her. “Bless her,” I think to myself. I pan around to people watch and notice the diverse social architecture (Kusenbach 2003) of the people on the high street. Indian Ladies pass wearing brightly coloured Sarees and Muslim women in Burkas all indicate their cultural background. As they pass one another, there is a friendly recognition between them, a social bond that the people have as a result of sharing this local territory (Kusenbach 2003). Outside the Tesco Express, a young, homeless girl sits with a knitted blanket over her knees reading a book. A number of people stop to give her money and a Muslim lady spends time chatting to her. They laugh together and they say their farewells. Sitting adjacent to her is a Big Issue vendor, dressed in a black head covering, she also gets a warm reception from passers-by. One older lady calls across to her and asks how she is today? “I’ll be back now in a minute to buy one love, I just need to get some change,” and she heads into the shop. I veer left down a side street to stumble across a gym, called ‘Hiya’ fitness - ladies only. Next to it is a shop Munfrid Styles, selling Shalwar Kameez, a traditional Indian outfit, and Sarees. Outside I see a group of Muslim ladies ready to head inside to the gym, but as they do they stop to wait for a local lady and they all walk in together, chatting. I continue my walk further down the road just taking in more social interactions and catching the visible practices as they happen (Laurier 2014). A group of older ladies pass me with each with a front loading shopping trolley, there is a near miss with my feet as they pass but they are more intent on getting the attention of their friend further down the street. “Allo, allo, allo Gal,” as they catch up with her, “Oh, we haven’t seen you for ages, how’s your Gallstones now?” “Ah I had them blasted see” she replies. I continue my walk further and receive many smiles and hellos from all walks of life - me, a stranger, being treated as one of the locals (Kusenbach 2003). Across the road I notice another hair dressing salon/barbers and above the salon, in bold red writing, is ‘Stavros Constantinou, Welsh, British, European and the world hairdressing champion – for ladies and their gentlemen’. The place is heaving, with people in the hairdresser’s chairs and a good crowd waiting and flicking through magazines and swiping phones. It makes me wonder about the numerous narratives and gossip that they exchange whilst sitting in the chairs.

In my reflexive turn (Emerson 2001), my initial impressions of Canton were that it was a socio-economically deprived area. However, the more familiar I became with the area, I found my attitude changed and I became quite fond of the area as I gained a feeling for its space and people (Bates 2014). This area was a closely knitted, multi-cultural space. The butchers, barbers and fruit shops were the hub of the high street where lived experience of knowledge was exchanged, along with snippets of gossip. There were pockets of deprivation, but it was a far cry from the consumerism of the city centre. Nevertheless, there was authentic, real-lived Cowbridge Road East culture - the storytelling and the catching up in the street, over shop counters and outside betting shops whilst having a cigarette - being more than anything that could be projected in the gentrified area of Cardiff’s city centre. The street felt alive and breathing with the same heartbeat and community spirit with feelings of friendly, neighbourly relations - unlike the multiculturalism in the realm of political discourse being portrayed as a divide in communities. This contrast may have been because a majority of the people were ‘in the same boat’, with similar circumstances and the lack of socio-economic status and materialism stunted the individualistic selfishness and greed of the city centre.

References

Back, L., 2013. New Ethnicities and Urban Cult. Routledge. Bates, C. ed., 2014. Video methods: Social science research in motion. Routledge. BAUDELAIRE: ‘Le Peintre de la Vie moderne’, Critique d'Art, II, Paris [1965]. Bauman, Z., 1994. Alone again. Ethics after certainty. Beck, U., Giddens, A. and Lash, S., 1994. Reflexive modernization: Politics, tradition and aesthetics in the modern social order. Stanford University Press. Becker, H., 2007. Telling About Society Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Benjamin, W., 1968. Illuminations (Vol. 241, No. 2). Random House Digital, Inc.. Bennett, S., 2009. Londonland: an ethnography of labour in a world city. Libri Pub Limited. Certeau, M., 1984. ‘Practices of Space’, in M. Blonsky (ed.) On Signs. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. Emerson, R.M., 2001. Contemporary Field Research: Perspectives and Formulations, 2nd edn. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. Goffman, E., 1963. Behavior in Public Places: Notes on the Social Organization of Gatherings. New York: Free Press. Kramer, K. and Short, J.R., 2011. Flânerie and the globalizing city. City, 15(3-4), pp.322-342. Kusenbach, M., 2003. ‘Neighboring: An Ethnographic Study of Community in Urban Hollywood’, dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles. Kusenbach, M., 2003. Street phenomenology: The go-along as ethnographic research tool. Ethnography, 4(3), pp.455-485. Laurier, E., 2014. The graphic transcript: Poaching comic book grammar for inscribing the visual, spatial and temporal aspects of action. Geography Compass, 8(4), pp.235-248. Lash, S., 1999. Another modernity, a different rationality. Lefebvre, H., 1991. Critique of everyday life (Vol. 2). Verso. Lofland, L.H., 1998. The Public Realm. New York: De Gruyter. Lorimer, H., 2005. Cultural geography: the busyness of beingmore-than-representational’. Progress in human geography, 29(1), pp.83-94. Milligan, M.J., 1998. ‘Interactional Past and Interactional Potential: The Social Construction of Place Attachment’, Symbolic Interaction 21: 1–33. Mills, C.W., 2000. The sociological imagination. Oxford University Press. Noble, G., Wise, A. and Velayutham, S., 2009. Everyday Multiculturalism Puwar, N., 2012. Walking through the litter, life writing projects, Sussex University. Seamon, D., 1979. A Geography of the Lifeworld. New York: St Martin’s Press. Vannini, P., 2015. Non-representational ethnography: New ways of animating lifeworlds. cultural geographies, 22(2), pp.317-327. Watson, S., 2017. Making multiculturalism. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 40(15), pp.2635-2652.

0 notes