Dear Readers,
Well here it is: Summer! Make the most of it while it lasts. The summer solstice has been and gone and the nights are getting darker. It’s a slippery slope towards winter, with fewer than 180 days before Christmas. I can’t work out the number of shopping days – that’s too much for me and, aside from anything else, too depressing! It’s July and most of us are thinking, or should be thinking, about our summer holidays – how to spend our hard earned breaks and to keep our children (and grandchildren for some) entertained for the six week school holidays.
I remember summer holidays when I was small. My parents would pack my horrible* brothers and I into the smallest car imaginable (a Fiat Panda) at ridiculous o’clock in the morning, head to Dover, hop on a ferry and travel through France until we reached whichever gite they had rented. Without fail, these gites were located in the most remote areas possible, requiring very specific map reading and orienteering skills to navigate us there. It didn’t matter though, as long as we were near a boulangerie with an endless supply of butter layered croissants, and Dad had a good supply of vin du patron from the local farmer (complete with dead flies), all was well. We got by on bad French and hand gestures.
In these tough financial times, it’s pretty difficult for any of us to afford a holiday, not to mention a foreign escape. For those who can’t, why not holiday closer to home? Here in Abergavenny and our surrounding area we have so many amazing attractions and fabulous events taking place over the summer months, it’s hard to find a reason not to remain here. The Americans call it a ‘staycation,’ but we prefer ‘Holiday at Home’ and we’ve put together a whole feature section to help you do just that.
Enjoy the summer and let’s pray for sunshine!
Hannah
*Now they’re older, they’re not that horrible anymore
P.S You can read about the Where’s Wally Hunt in celebration of Independent Booksellers Week on page 8. See if you can find a hidden Wally in the pages of this month’s Focus (not including the one on pg 8!) and don’t forget to pick up your entry form from Fable!
In the issue
REGULARS
Editorial
Abergavenny Events Calendar
July’s Weather
Parkers Projects – Gardening & DIY: ‘Fun in the Sun’
Puzzles
COMMUNITY HUB
Abergavenny Community Health Pastors
Clydach Methodist Church Open Weekend
Cylch Meithrin y Fenni Family Fun Day
Focus Afternoon Tea Winner
Scriveners Writers’ Group
Where’s Wally Hunt
Message from the Inspector
Rich man or Poor man?
FOOD
Abergavenny Food Festival: Box Office goes Live
Nana’s Kitchen: Strawberry Shortcake
Chef’s Recipe: Fish Supper in a Bag
LOCAL BUSINESS
Boonta Too: Abergavenny’s Thai Secret
Riverside Riding Centre
FORTY SIX
ARTS
Flash Fiction
Film Review: Man of Steel
Book Review: The Old Ways by Robert McFarlaner
Story: New Beginnings Part 6
HISTORY
History: In the footsteps of our ancestors
LEISURE
Llanthony Valley Walk
FEATURE: HOLIDAY AT HOME
Abergavenny Carnival 2013
Summer fun at Abergavenny Museum and Castle
Abertillery Blues Festival
Abergavenny Festival of Cycling
Summer Playscheme
