Read Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Winter issue online

It’s that time of year again when the excitement of the festive season builds. The villages are aglow with twinkling lights, the windows of our shops proudly display their finest offerings and the children talk incessantly of the magic number of sleeps left before the big day.

We meet some of our youngest local children who share their precious letters to the big man himself and highlight their all-important wishes for Christmas.

Our communities are full of inspirational characters. We spoke to Baroness Finlay of Llandaff about her life work in the field of palliative care and how her early experiences shaped her determination to effect change.

Another Llandaff resident, Peter Jones recalls how he pieced together the life of his father Jonah Jones, through discovered letters. Jonah was a famed artist and sculptor whose work can be found across Wales and in our capital city.

As the bitter, easterly winds arrive, we tend to hunker down and spend more time indoors. We share some ideas for making our homes extra snuggly to keep warm and cosy. The beauty of the outdoors is also featured with local woods to explore.

With gifts aplenty to buy, our villages are the best places to find the perfect gems as gifts. We showcase some of the finest on offer. It’s also a fabulous way of supporting our local businesses who are the heart of village life.

For those who want to give a gift a little different, we highlight other ways to show your appreciation for loved ones. So, if you’re really stuck for a present for someone who seems to have everything, take a look at our guide to find a present ‘outside of the box’.

Food is a big part of this season and enjoying home-made goodies is perhaps one of the greatest joys of this time of the year. We share some ideas for delicious treats for the perfect Christmas Eve supper.

Someone has to win our fabulous two competitions and St David’s Hall have once again shared their generosity with us by offering tickets to both the ballet and to an uplifting and fun Sing-A-Long.

There is a heartwarming short story to enjoy and a more light-hearted view of the run up to Christmas. So, as the busy days draw nearer to the crescendo of Christmas, pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple and take some time to fully savour all the treats this issue has to offer.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2019.

See you in the Spring!