Winter 2010/11 Issue 36

News and views for residents of

Bro Myrddin Housing Association

sgwrsLooking after

your pets in the coldPage 4

Recipes to warmyou and your family

Page 5

Competitions to win you money

Page 8

Be preparedfor winter

Page 3

Welcometo your warm and

cosy winter Sgwrs!

Hello andWelcome to your winter issue ofSgwrs.

In this edition we have

a variety of information and news for

you, ranging from general housing

issues and advice to quick and easy

recipies to keep you warm during the

cold winter nights.

You will also find enclosed two

copies of Quids In! magazine, which

is full of tips on spending, saving,

borrowing and earning.

We suggest you have a good read

of the magazine, as it has been

designed to provide you with top tips

and advice to help you make your

money go further.

If you have any money saving ideas

you would like to share with other

You can contact the Maintenance team any time during working hours –

8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 4:00pm on Friday – by

calling 01267 232714, then selecting option 2, or Freephone 0800 316 9602.

How to contact the Maintenance team

How to get in touch

IT’SALL FOR

YOU!In thisissue

Sgwrs is published by:

Bro Myrddin Housing Association Ltd

Designed and produced by:

Andrew Buchanan Communications

www.buchanan-communications.co.uk

Phone: 01267 232714

Text: 07797 801628

Email: sgwrs@bromyrddin.co.uk

Write to: Bro Myrddin

Housing Association,

Cillefwr Industrial Estate,

Johnstown, Carmarthen

SA31 3RB

If you have an emergency in your home

when we are closed, there are two

numbers to ring:

n For GAS emergencies, call Transco on

0800 111999.

n For all other out-of-hoursemergencies (including gas and oil

fired heating system emergencies) call

Carmarthenshire County Council’s

Careline 01558 824283. Careline is a

24-hour emergency call centre.

Please note that the

office will be closed on

the following dates:

Friday, 17 December

(afternoon only);

Friday, 24 December

(afternoon only);

Monday, 27 December;

Tuesday, 28 December;

Friday, 31 December

(afternoon only);

Monday, 3 January

Thursday, 31 March

Emergency numbers Closures

2 Sgwrs Winter 2010/11

l Looking afteryour pets thiswinter

l Fabulous,quick, easyand warmingrecipes

l Support that’savailable

l Forum latest

l Homeimprovements

l Developmentupdate

l What’s onl Book review

and photocompetitions

4

8

5

6

7

readers, you can send them to us or

directly to Quids In!

We are constantly trying to improve

Sgwrs so that you can get the most

out of your newsletter. In this issue

we have enclosed a card for you to

complete and return to us free of

charge if you are interested in

becoming more involved in Sgwrs.

By completing the card you will be

letting us know that you have an

interest in Sgwrs, and would like to

know more about getting involved.

If you would like more informationabout getting involved in Sgwrs,then please email me atsgwrs@bromyrddin.co.uk or simplygive me a call on 01267 239418.

Aled ReesEditor

Sgwrs can be provided in

Large print, Braille, audio or

your preferred language on

request. Please call us on

01267 232714.

Bro Myrddin Housing Association Ltd is a charitable association registered under the

Industrial & Provident Societies Act 1965 (23055R) and with Housing for Wales (L069).

Competitions: Prize draws and competitions are only open to Bro Myrddin residents. Board

members and staff may not enter competitions, unless otherwise stated. Accuracy:We try to

make sure that information in Sgwrs is correct, but readers should seek independent advice

before relying on any content. We cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles. We reserve

the right to edit material sent in. Sgwrs may not be reproduced without prior permission.

d

Cover image: © Leon Rafael | Dreamstime.com

Sgwrs Winter 2010/11 3

get readyfor

winter! ...in the homed Is your heating working properly? Forgas and oil heating contact Westward on0845 7023820. For electric and Economy7 heating contact us on 01267 232714.d To save energy and money, switch offthe lights when you leave a room.d If you are thinking of changing energysupplier, do it before the winter starts.

...in the card Check your tyre pressures are correctand replace tyres if they are worn out.d Replace worn or split windscreen wipersand check and top up your screen wash.d Check all your lights work correctly.d If you have not had your engine coolantchecked, or you have topped the radiatorup with tap water, get the strengthchecked.

...in the snowd Listen to the weather reports and followthe advice in bad weather.d Try to sweep the snow from your pathsregularly to stop it turning into ice.d If you can’t get out to sweep the snowaway, don’t worry. The lying snow warnsothers to be careful.

Reducing

condensationWith the colder weather approaching, condensation in the home couldbecome a problem.Condensation happens with any activity that adds moisture to the air,

such as having a bath or shower, or cooking food. The reason we do notsee it in the warmer months is because we usually ventilate our homesmore at this time of year – opening windows to let the heat out and freshair in.In the winter, we tend to keep our windows closed to keep the heat in,

but this also keeps in the moist air. When this moist air meets a coolersurface, it creates condensation and can lead to mould appearing.To reduce condensation, let moist air out by opening the bathroom

window for a short while after a bath or shower and opening a kitchenwindow when cooking to let the steam escape. You should also make surethe vents in your walls and windows are not blocked or covered.

l Before the winter sets in, it’s timeto think about being prepared for thecolder weather...

Got a

maintenance

problem? Call

us FREE on

0800 316

9602

d

dd

© Robert Nystrom | Dreamstime.com

keep your

cats & dogssafe this

winter

4 Sgwrs Winter 2010/11

As any pet owner knows,with winter come mud,mess and mayhem...

Dogs should be bathed

regularly and brushing

beforehand is recommended.

Don’t wash dogs outside

as water from a garden

hose is extremely uncomfortable

and can make them sick.

Cats should have their paws

inspected regularly. Ice that

has gathered can cause cuts.

Inspect every inch of your

pet’s skin and coat with

your eyes and fingers. Look for

abnormalities, such as bites,

parasites, injuries, lumps or

changes in colour or texture.

Dogs that get cold easily

should wear coats or

sweaters on a walk. You could

also cover their feet with booties

to protect their pads from salt or

chemical de-icers. Wipe off any

salt to keep them from licking it

off.

Keep your petswarm andcosy!

Skin and coatpetcare checklist

But aside from mucky paws andslippy walks, winter also bringssome genuine dangers that couldresult in a painful time for youranimal, not to mention an unwantedclaim on your pet insurance.The biggest and most obvious

danger to dogs and cats in winter iscold weather. Pets, especially short-haired cats and dogs, should be givenaccess to indoor sleeping areas duringthe coldest months.Many popular dog and cat breeds

are not equipped to handle extremecold weather and can quickly feel theeffects of plummeting temperatures ifleft outside. Cats should be kept insideat night to avoid them encounteringany weather-related problems. A catwill survive a night outside in thesummer quite easily, but winter is adifferent story.

Be careful...Materials we use to cope with the coldand ice can also pose a danger to ourpets. Antifreeze has a very appealing smell

to dogs and there are frequent reportsof dogs licking the substance fromthe floor or from their paws andingesting it. Antifreeze isextremely poisonous andresponsible dog ownersshould make sure that their

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pets do not come into contact with thesubstance. Grit and sand used on the ground to

reduce slipping can get lodgedbetween paw pads – both cats anddogs suffer from this problem. Alwaysperform a paw health check when yourpets have been outside in the winter.Grit can become compoundedbetween the toes and will causeextreme discomfort if left. When the seasons change, your

routine will change, too. But dogs andcats don't understand daylight savings,so make sure you adjust their routinegradually. A disrupted routine is one of the most

common causes of canine and felineanxiety, so make sure there are noabrupt changes to what your pet isused to. Gradually adjust their feedingtime in the week before the clocks goback so that they aren't left feelinghungry for an hour.

© Michael Pettigrew | Dreamstime.com

Sgwrs Winter 2010/11 5

What you need2 x 400g tins of tomatoes4 carrots2 x 420g mixed beans175g spinach1tbsp roast pepper pesto2 litters of vegetable stock

How to make itTip the canned tomatoes into a saucepanalong with the stock, bring to the boil,then turn down the heat and throw in thecarrots. Gently simmer the soup until thecarrots are cooked, about 15 minutes. Stir in the beans and spinach and heat until

the spinach has wilted. Spoon in the pesto andgently mix into the soup. Serve with some crusty bread.

quick and easy

winter

recipesChunky winter broth

What you need100g light mascavado sugar, 1 staranise, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, 1lemon, 2 clementines, 150mlCointreau, 750ml light red wine

How to make itPut the muscovado sugar in a panwith the star anise, cinnamon stick,cloves and 150ml water. Bringslowly to the boil, stirring to dissolvethe sugar, and simmer for 2 mins,then pour into a large jug and leaveto cool. Add the lemon and clementines,

both thinly sliced, to the jug alongwith the Cointreau and the red wine.Stir well, then cover and chill for atleast 2 hrs, or overnight if you can.Serve chilled or over ice, with a twistof orange zest and a star anise.

Mulledwinecocktail

Just the

thing to

keep you

warm!

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Sausages and winter mashWhat you need4 sausages, 2 parsnips, 3 medium potatoes, 175g brussels sprouts, 4 tbsp milk, 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

How to make itGrill the sausages for 10-12 mins, turningfrequently. Meanwhile, peel and roughlychop the parsnips and potatoes, then cookin boiling salted water for about 10 mins.Shred sprouts, add to the pan for the last2-3 mins and cook until all the vegetablesare tender. Drain and mash the vegetables, thenbeat in the milk and mustard with salt andpepper. Serve with the sausages.

© Robert Kneschke | Dreamstime.com

6 Sgwrs Winter 2010/11

a little helpcan go a

long way

Bro Myrddin’s Residents’ Forum has been successful in theirapplication to the Welsh Assembly Government for a TenantEmpowerment Grant to develop their skills to play an active part in thedelivery of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. Their focus will be onthe following issues:n Developing a best practice model for engaging with residentsthroughout the WHQS works.

n Jointly developing a specification that will set out tenant choicein the works to be undertaken.

n Looking at how residents can become more involvedin the selection of contractors.

n Developing a role for residents inmonitoring the quality of the workcompleted.The Residents’ Forum has agreed thatfour of their members will form aworking group to progress this workwith Bro Myrddin representatives.

Floating support services will generally be short term (less than two years)and will have the flexibility to support a person wherever they live – asdistinct from accommodation-based services, where support is tied toparticular accommodation.This kind of support service helps the individual to become more

independent, and may mean that they can continue to live independentlyat home when without support it would be difficult to do so.Housing related support might include: Setting up and maintaining a

home or tenancy; managing finances and benefit claims; developingindependent living skills; gaining access to other services; help tomake sure that accommodation is safe and secure.Floating Support services are available from:

Floating Support is a service that provideshousing related support to vulnerable adults(over 16) to enable them to maintain theirindependence in their own home.

n Hafan Cymrun The Wallich n Gwalia Care & Supportn Royal National Institute for theDeaf

n Mind Befriending

n Llanelli Women’s Aidn Family Housingn Carmarthen Womens Aidn British Red Crossn Aids Trust Cymrun Cartrefi Cymru

If you are interested, or would like further information and advice on

this matter, then please contact your housing officer.

dd

Forum secures grant

As from January 2011 ascheme will be availableproviding loans, savingsaccounts, basic bank accountsand advice for local people. Offering affordable loans which

are a cost effective alternativewhere a Bank or Building Societywill not help.

Is it for you?Moneyline Cymru is a not forprofit organisation, where allincome is reinvested in thecompany to help more people.Loan repayments are collected

directly from your bank accountand, as there are no collectors topay, costs are kept down. Aslong as you can provide twoforms of identification you willusually have help to open a bankaccount too if you do not alreadyhave one.Further information will be

available when the scheme startsearly next year and we will makesure this is passed on to you assoon as we can.

© Ji�í Kábele | Dreamstime.com

l As part of Bro Myrddin’s programme ofimprovements to its homes and itscommitment to deliver the Welsh HousingQuality Standard, the next three yearsinvestment has been agreed.

Sgwrs Winter 2010/11 7

What we’re spending on home improvements

In conjunction with the Residents’Forum working party, which islooking at resident consultation,detailed programmes of workdelivered to a high standard can nowbe established to meet residents’needs.The overall budget for ‘planned

maintenance’ is likely to be around£300,000 per year. This is the moneythe Association has to spend onimprovement work. Any balance is

used to cover unknown items oremergency planned works

which may arise duringthe year.

Kitchens: Themoney allows for thefull replacement of akitchen or thereplacement ofkitchen doors anddrawers where theunit frames are ingood condition.

Bathrooms: Thiswork will involve the

replacement of bathrooms or theinstallation of a shower and tiling.

Heating: This covers either thereplacement of a boiler or the fullinstallation of a new system in aproperty that previously did not havegas.

Windows and doors: Moneyhere is used to replace any timber,metal or single glazed windows anddoors.The work that needs to be carried

out first is to be established over thenext four months for year one andbased on the results of our stockcondition survey which takes accountof all Bro Myrddin’s properties.For each and every contract,

residents will be consulted and keptinformed of the works to be undertakenand, where possible, given a choice offinishes.Once the work programmes are

finalised – which we hope will be byFebruary 2011 – officers will begincontacting residents to start theconsultation process.

Year Kitchens Bathrooms Heating Windows Totaland doors

2011-2012 £24,350 £17,100 £199,500 £18,900 £259,850

2012-2013 £153,800 £32,400 £77,000 £5,000 £268,200

2013-2014 £49,600 £8,450 £203,000 £6,000 £267,050

continuing to invest in

your homes

We’rekeepingup the

quality!

Two four bedroom familyhouses being built in Pontyateswith funding from the WelshAssembly Government areprogressing well and will beready for occupation in earlyFebruary 2011.In conjunction with the

developer, Sauro Homes, wehave been discussing with theprospective residents theirchoice of finishes for thekitchens and bathrooms.

Asbestos survey: Following our re-surveyto identify asbestos in communal areas, we have nowbegun to survey homes for asbestos. The first phase will be between December and

March and includes around 120 homes. The focus willinitially be on homes built before 2000, after which itwas illegal to use asbestos in a domestic building. Don’t forget that there could be asbestos in

materials such as vinyl floor tiles and artex, so if youare planning work which might disturb these, pleasecontact us beforehand.The company carrying out the work is Life

Environmental and they will be contacting residentsto arrange a convenient date and time to visit. Pleasemake every effort to arrange access as these surveysare very important.

Progress at

Heol Llanelli

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8 Sgwrs Winter 2010/11

Congratulations!Congratulations to Mrs Susan

Davidson of Whitland who won the

Summer Anagram Competition and the

cash prize of £25.

l Three great books to read this winter, curled up with a nice hot drink! Readone of them – or choose your own – then write and tell us about it. The bestreview received by 1st February will win a £10 Waterstone’s gift voucher.

15 December: Lessons and Carols,St Mary’s Church, Kidwelly.

A traditional Carol Service with

contributions from local children.

www.kidwelly.gov.uk

01554 890203

16 December:Carols at the Garden, National

Botanic Garden of Wales. With

musical accompaniment.

www.gardenofwales.org.uk

01558 668768

17 December:Taste St. Clears, Food & Craft

Market. St Clears Town Centre.

01994 232726

18 December: Cor Meibion’s ChristmasConcert, Theatr Elli, Llanelli.

www.carmarthenshiretheatres.co.uk

0845 22635 10

18-19 December:Santa in his Grotto,National Botanic Garden of

Wales.

www.gardenofwales.org.uk

01558 668768

28 December: Winter Wonderland,Ffos Las Racecourse &

Conference Centre

First Race: 12:55pm.

Last Race: 3:50pm.

www.ffoslasracecourse.com

01554 811092

For more information, please visit

www.visit.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

ideas for a

winterday out...

WIN

£10

The Distant Hours – a bewitchingtale of family secrets and betrayal.

Edie Burchill and her mother have

never been close but, when a long lost

letter arrives with the return address of

Millderhurst Castle, Kent, Edie begins

to suspect that her mother's emotional

distance masks an old secret.

Evacuated from London as a 13 year

old girl, Edie's mother is chosen by the

mysterious Juniper Blythe, and taken to

live at Millderhurst Castle with the

Blythe family.

Fifty years later, Edie too is drawn to

Millderhurst and the eccentric Sisters

Blythe. Old ladies now, the three still

live together, the twins nursing Juniper,

whose abandonment by her fiancé in

1941 plunged her into madness. Edie

begins to unravel her mother's past.

The FamilybyMartina ColeAmazon: £9.49

The DistantHoursbyKate MortonAmazon: £8.49

Devastatingly powerful and utterlyunforgettable, The Family will hookyou in from the very first page.

To Phillip Murphy, family is everything.

Christine has always understood this

about her husband. But there is

another side to Phillip, and it's a side

he never wanted his wife to see.

Though even if she did, could she do

anything but stand by him? Because

Phillip has rules, and he expects loyalty

from his nearest and dearest.

share your pleasure by writing a book

reviewTo Alex, the only good angel is a dead

one, until that is, he meets Willow, an

angel whom he finds irresistible and

he’s falling in love with…

This is the first in a compelling and

utterly mesmerising paranormal

romance trilogy from a writer to watch.

AngelbyL A WeatherlyAmazon: £4.26

L A Weatherly has reinvented theangel in this powerful, dark andhugely suspenseful novel.

It’s the story of Alex, an angel assassin

and it’s his job to rid the world of these

despicable creatures.

We invite you to get snapping and to send

us up to three pictures with a winter theme.

The best will win £25 and feature in the

next Sgwrs.

Email your entries – each with a brief

description – to sgwrs@bromyrddin.co.uk by 1st February. Rules: Entries

must be high resolution, no less than 1mb; pictures may be colour or black

and white; any person in the picture must give permission for the photo to be

published; original prints cannot be accepted.

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£25 photo competition