Pudsey was there to show his support for the special Children in Need Happy Hour which took place at bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland.

Over £300 was raised during the hour with all money from the 11am till noon skating session being donated. The John Lewis Wheel operated by Sayers Amusements also gave their hour’s takings to Children in Need.

Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in the special Children in Need hour and helped to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.”

The wheel celebrates the opening of the new John Lewis store in Cardiff and marks a new era for shopping in Cardiff. The Welsh branch is the biggest John Lewis opened outside of London and is the anchor of the new St David’s development.

Standing as tall as three double decker buses, the wheel boasts 24 heated, waterproof, enclosed gondolas that can accommodate up to 6 passengers on a 10 minute flight.

From the top of the wheel passengers will be able to spot the city’s best known sites, including Cardiff Castle and the Millennium Stadium.

Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “The John Lewis Wheel is a great Christmas attraction and this year the wheel will be fully waterproof so can be enjoyed whatever the weather.

“The wheel offers the best seat in the house with spectacular views of bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland and across the capital city.”

Liz Mihell, managing director of John Lewis Cardiff said: “We wanted to make a big impact for the people of Cardiff during our first Christmas and it seemed fitting to link up with the big Wheel and Winter Wonderland. I can’t wait to jump aboard.”

For more information on bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland, including tickets news, session details and entertainment listings visit www.bmibabycardiffwinterwonderland.com

Tenovus Cancer Charity are holding a Christmas Concert at Llandaff Catherdral.

December 7th

Tickets are £12 each and you can buy them by contacting Kate Monaghan on 02920 768865

Email: kate.monaghan@tenovus.com

Web: www.tenovus.org.uk for more details

Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens

Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens is set to announce the winner of the Soundtrack For Cardiff competition this Saturday 24 October at a special awards ceremony in the Wales Millennium Centre. The Soundtrack Award is part of the Swn 09 Festival which hits town on Thursday and parties through to the early hours of Sunday morning. John Rostron, the co-founder and energy behind Swn says:

“We all know that Cardiff has historically been a hotbed of musical talent and the OPENCities Soundtrack For Cardiff competition has provided a good platform for local talent to get their names in the frame. Hopefully we will be featuring Saturday’s winner in Swn festivals of the future”.

The OPENCities Soundtrack For Cardiff Awards ceremony kicks off at 11:00 a.m., and special guests are OPENCities photographer Gareth Phillips and some of his photographic subjects, children from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School. The OPENCities photo exhibition, which visted the Old Library in September and early October, provided inspiration for the city’s musicians, and the Awards ceremony will provide a final opportunity to see Gareth’s stunning portraits before the exhibition moves to Belfast.

Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “I was lucky enough to have been chosen as one of the competition judges and was fortunate to see first hand all the entries. The standard of entry was very high and it’s fantastic to see such creativity in the city.

The OPENCities exhibition and Soundtrack For Cardiff competition has provided a platform for us to showcase both the diversity and creative talents we have in Cardiff and has helped reinforce the message that it is important that cities should be open and welcoming.”

The British Council aims to strengthen the international profile of UK music and creativity, to communicate the diversity of UK society, and to establish long-term partnerships overseas. From electronica to jazz, traditional to folk, and classical to indie, we work across all genres of music.

Working with Swn the British Council has helped to develop opportunities for international cultural exchange. Showcasing the diversity of new and up-coming bands from Wales on Selector the British Council radio station and supporting the development of new international links.

OPENCities Soundtrack For Cardiff Awards Ceremony
Saturday 24 October, 11:00 am to 12.00 midday
Wales Millennium Centre

Cardiff Winter Wonderland

The countdown to Christmas started this week when the build of bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland began on Monday 19 October.

Now in its ninth year it takes a team of 31 people, 25 days to put together Cardiff’s top Christmas attraction and with nearly half a million skaters having taken to the ice to date and the cast of Merlin ready to switch on the Christmas Lights on November 12 it is important that the team do everything on time and the man to oversee that job is Production Manager Matthew Faulkner.

Matthew says “This is my fifth year of overseeing the build of the open air ice skating rink and each year I enjoy watching the transformation take place from building site to Winter Wonderland.”

Turning the site into a winter wonderland is no easy task and it involves 5,000m of pipework to create the 40m by 22m wide rink, which holds the equivalent of 7 million ice cubes!

And if you thought putting your Christmas decorations up was difficult, spare a thought for the bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland team who have to install 250 sets of Christmas lights , 100 Christmas trees, 200 meters of Christmas garland and 2,000 baubles!

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas in Cardiff without bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland. This seasonal delight offers everyone a great festive fun day out and I would like to thank Matthew and his team for all their hard work.”

bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland is open from 12 November until 3 January offering 400 hours of skating over 52 days. For more information on bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland including tickets, news, session details and entertainment listings visit www.bmibabycardiffwinterwonderland.com

Tickets for Cardiff’s must see Christmas attraction costs £8.50 per adult and £5.50 for children (aged 12 and under). Plus, those wanting to skate in the day can take advantage of the special off-peak rate of £5.50 (sessions from 11am to 4pm Monday to Friday, up to and including December 18).

There are also special rate for school groups, who can skate for £2.50 per pupil (teachers free) between November 16 and December 18 (11am to 2.40pm) and groups of over 20 can take advantage of discounted rates of £7.50 per adult and £4.50 for children at the 9.40-10.40am session from December 19 to January 3 (except Christmas Day, December 26 and January 1)

bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland is one of many ways to celebrate Christmas in the capital. Other events include the Christmas Lights Switch On on November 12th, Cardiff Bay’s ‘On the Road to Christmas’ festivities on November 14th and Cardiff’s Calennig New Year’s Eve celebrations supported by Queens Arcade, with free live music stage, Admiral Family Fire Show; and Admiral Free New Year’s Eve Bus Service. Plus Christmas shopping in the city is more exciting and easier than ever with a complete Christmas Shoppers Park & Ride service supported by Admiral and much, much more.

The free event is being held in Novotel in Cardiff Bay on Saturday 21 November from 10am until 3pm and is aimed at parents of children with diabetes in South Wales.

The day, which also includes a free lunch, will feature talks from diabetes experts about research into the condition.

It will include talks from Prof Jeremy Tavare about JDRF research, Prof Andrew Sewell about the autoimmune reaction in Type 1 diabetes, Francesca Annan about sport and diabetes, and Davida Hawkes about the transition of care.

After the talks, the speakers will answer questions from parents.

Dai Williams, National Director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: “Diabetes UK Cymru is delighted to be working with the JDRF to host the parent network event.

“The day is a fantastic opportunity for parents of children with diabetes in South Wales to learn more about diabetes and the vital research that is being done into the condition.”

Enjoy a spooky time on Flat Hom

Enjoy a Halloween outing with a difference this year at Flat Holm Island! Be a little more adventurous and experience the haunted island situated in the middle of the Bristol Channel.

Enjoy the wildlife and experience all the spooky high jinks including an island ghost hunt, pumpkin carving competition and an array of Halloween crafts!

The day trips are over half term on 27th, 28th and 29th October, however, you can spend a chilling night on the Island and book an overnight stay to have a truly spooky experience….also included in this would be an evening ghost walk, stories and games!

Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture said, “It’s great to see an event with such a difference! People don’t realise how much there is to see at the Island until they arrive and discover the wonderful history and wildlife the Island has to offer. Now they can not only discover these things but can also experience it simultaneously with this exciting event!”

Day trip

• 27th October – 0845-1415
• 28th October – 1015 – 1545
• 29th October – 1115 – 1645

Adult £15.25, £7.50 child, Family of Four £39.25

(there may be a small charge for some activities)

For over night stay

£30 adult, £20 child

You must provide and cook your own food. Some activities may incur a small charge to cover the cost of materials

• 28th – Pumpkin carving, costume competition, evening ghost walk and stories
• 29th – Halloween crafts, haunted tunnel mapping, Halloween games

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, with the First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan, at the National Assembly

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has  praised individuals in Wales for their “exceptional” contribution to helping people through difficult situations at the first Recognising Achievements Reception for people in Mid and North Wales.

The Recognising Achievement Receptions were born out of an increased sense of pride in Wales and the call for our achievements to be recognised. The first reception of its kind was held in Caerphilly Castle in June to celebrate the achievements of people in West and South Wales, while today’s event will acknowledge the achievements of people in Mid and North Wales.

The First Minister said:

“In the 10 years since devolution there has been an increased sense of pride in Wales and an appetite for recognising our achievements. The Recognising Achievements Reception gives us a chance to do just that.

“I am delighted to be a part of these awards and celebrate the work that the ordinary people of Wales do for others. These awards are not about day to day responsibilities, but are about the exceptional contribution people have made for others. It is very humbling to hear some of the stories connected to these awards and I am pleased that the recipients are getting the recognition they deserve.

“These awards are a really important development for Wales, as well as being long overdue. Now at last we have a chance to properly thank the people in our very own communities for their hard work and dedication.”

Each year the Recognising Achievement Receptions will be themed. This year’s theme is Helping People in Difficult Situations. The people being recognised range from those who have raised money for a worthwhile cause, including Elin Haf Davies who raised money for Breast Cancer Care when her and three other female rowers completed a rowing race across the Indian Ocean, to those who have cared for and rescued others, such as Phil Benbow who has been involved in Mountain Rescue for over 30 years and with the help of his dog Jet saved two children from Snowdonia and who was also involved in advanced rescue techniques during the Lockerbie disaster.

Another person receiving recognition at the event is Robert Jones, who in July this year saved two children who got into trouble while swimming in the sea in Jersey. Robert was on his holiday at the time and was on the beach when a riptide swept out three adults and two children. Robert, who has served with the Welsh Guards in Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, managed to save 12-year-old Abi Chapman and bring her to safety, before strapping a surf board to his ankle and returning to the sea to save 10-year-old Tyler Ryan who was hundreds of metres from the shore. Both children were later released from hospital after being treated for hypothermia and exhaustion.

The reception will also recognise a couple who have provided invaluable help to their community, particularly through their commitment to the well being and care of the elderly despite their own advancing years. Both Edward Howes and his wife Winifred Howes have been the driving force behind a Thursday Luncheon Club at the Calvary Baptist Church in Rhyl. The club provides a three course meal for up to 60 people between the ages of 50-95. The club also provides a free minibus service to people who are unable to access public transport, which they both help to raise funds for. Although they have both now stepped down from the more physically demanding aspects of the club, they continue to provide advise and are still involved in the support of the housebound through visits and telephone calls.

Aroma Health & Beauty offering free haircuts

Have your hair cut and highlights alongside celebrities for FREE!!!!!

Aroma Health & Beauty Salon will also be offering complimentary Beauty Treatments to include Massage, Reflexology, Pedicure, Manicure, Facials and much much more.

Monday 19th October 2009 from 10am to 6pm at GUY CHRISTIAN SALON 111-113 City Road, Cardiff.

Donations please to George Thomas Hospice Care.