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Cwmbran History and Mystery - Rede Road

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 This story wasn't included in my book Cwmbran History and Mystery as I had only heard one account of it and the activity could have been put down to natural causes.  The story I heard happened in the late 1960's, my parents had moved to a house in Rede Road and my Mam claimed she could hear footsteps in the house when there was no one else there.  I put this down to being alone in a new environment with central heating that may have made the floorboards creak.  Anyway, there was plenty of new housing in Cwmbran at that time so they were able to move. Fast forward fifty plus years and I am told a second story of spooky goings on in a house in that area.  It is a similar story - footsteps and also the sound of ghostly wheels. It is common knowledge these houses were built near the Henllys Incline where until around a hundred years ago the noise of trams carrying coal from the Henllys Colliery would have been an everyday occurrence but on one day in particular a t...
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Crosskeys Inn Pontnewydd

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 Using the census enumerator's route, the original Cross Keys pub was situated between Ty Pwca cottage and the lock-keepers cottage, also known as Canal Cottage, in Five Locks. On the 1861 census it was occupied by John Makeley, 44, who only gave his profession as that of a coal miner, so it may not have been serving drinks at this point.  John lived with his wife, Sarah, 42 and sons William, 18 and George, 15. At the time of the 1871 census it was known as Cross Keys Beer House.  Again its occupier, Robert Hart, 30, only gave one occupation - that of a bolt maker.  He lived there with his wife Emma, 25 and son William, 2. We know that alcohol was being served there in the mid 1870's because of an article in the Monmouthshire Merlin of June 1874 when a man called David Davies was charged with being drunk and refusing to leave the premises.  He was fined ten shillings. The inn made the news in March 1883 when James Thatcher, a brewers haulier from Newport was sum...
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Where Are You?

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 Where are you? That sweet, smiling man in the photograph The man that would never hurt me My hero and my friend Why can't I find you You never said goodbye Just switched off the love inside I've never known why Where did you go? The man I meant everything to And who meant the world to me The funny man who loved to see me smile That made silly videos and kissed me goodnight Where is the man who called me beautiful And the best girlfriend he ever had Why does he look at me now with eyes of stone And leave me to love him all alone copyright 2022 carol ann lewis
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Trip to Llanbedr (Thanks to Trevor Durrell)

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 Went for a road trip to llanbedr to St Peter's Church.  It's a building dating back to medieval times though there was apparently a structure there in the 10th century.  The most interesting thing about this place is it has a yew tree growing in the churchyard that is around three thousand years old.  You might think, well its just a tree but as you get near to it it is a truly impressive specimen.  Its trunk is hollow and so wide that you can fit inside it.  People bring offerings to the the tree and ask for healing.  To put its age into perspective this tree pre-dates the birth of Jesus by a thousand years.  It was probably a place of worship for the druids and has withstood storms, plagues, war and just about everything the world can throw at it and is still standing and growing.
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Dark Night of the Soul

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 Never in a million years did I think I would find myself here mourning the loss of someone  so perfect You've got to trust me he said  I did, though wasn't prepared for the deception and stories he created around him So deep was my soul entrenched in his own  I could barely see where I  began and he ended And then to be torn from the place I called home and replaced as if completely drained of my senses Now my soul is tired done with cheats and liars it wants to leave this world once and for all His presence in this room still haunts in the gloom at the seeping darkness calling me home So let me sleep now and when tomorrow comes round let all memories of him  be discarded Let my soul live again and create a new end to the one he would have seen me die in image by Pixabay free images
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Trip to St Aeddan's Church, Bettws Newydd

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 St Aeddan's Church was founded by an Irish saint, Aedan of Ferns (558-632) first as an oratory.  The first church on the site had 12th century origins but the building that stands there today is 15th century.  It is a grade 1 listed building and has the best example of an oak rood and screen probably anywhere in the UK. If you look at the second photo you will see I have captured an orb on the left-hand side. The churchyard contains an ancient Yew which is about 2000 years old.  A rhyme about the tree stands in the entrance to the church. Some other photos of the area A tiny place with loads of history, well worth a visit :)
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Summer Glow

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  image by pixabay free images It was an August afternoon My Avon rep had called To deliver a parcel My latest cosmetics haul Just in time, I was going out To a club to watch a band And maybe if I was lucky Might find myself a man So I did my hair and dressed up I was almost good to go When I spotted a bronze bottle With the name of Summer Glow I didn't remember ordering it I thought what harm can there be So I poured a dollop in my hand And plastered it over me On my legs and on my face I'd have a lovely tan For when I have a photo of me And the singer of the band All was well for a while Til in the mirror I could see I was turning orange! Like a radioactive baked bean Brighter and brighter it got From my head to my feet My screams of horror could be heard At the other end of the street I cried into my beer that night As I sat home alone Like an angry Oompah Loompah Cursing my summer glow copyright 2022 carol ann lewis
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