Your email address will not be published. Its not nice when people think Maesteg is a bad town because it just isnt. Its the roots of Nice. No, with a few exceptions, Wales is an inexpensive place to live and the value for money is excellent. My first trip to Italy 30 years ago scarred me for life with all the history. I hate the idea of Maesteg as a dormitory town or a commuter town because it has so much more to offer than that. People knew you had gotten in trouble before your parents knew! He said: An old chap used to come here in the 1990s. I know these prices because my mom kept the receipts! If you buy a property and want a comfortable retirement, you'll probably need around 1,100 a month per person, although couples won't need to double this amount. You live modestly and they are both a dream. You could hear the manager screaming at them, then all of a sudden wine glasses started to be thrown at their window. People didnt go into Old Town at night because it was dangerous. One example is the Llynfi Valley River Care Group. And the bus will take you all the way to the Italian border, which is about a 2-hour ride! There are two rooms for patrons and one has a funeral wake inside with about a dozen people wearing black. I love the water so Im considering Nice. There are so many local festivals where they celebrate their local fare and local traditions. Wondering through the trees up on Castle Hill make you feel like you are miles away from anyone. Nicely cooked beef have a nice taste. [13] During that period of acute poverty and large-scale unemployment, the population of the Llynfi Valley decreased by almost a third as many left the district to seek employment in the new light industries growing up in areas such as West London and the English Midlands. "You can either choose to look at the litter or you can choose to look at all the daffodils., Keep up to date with the latest stories with our WalesOnline newsletter. Currently living in Nice and retired, but struggling to find retirees to meet during the day for activities etc. Please see our Privacy/Cookie Policy for more info.You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Its much more leafy up there and a bit more chi-chi. There are two mixed choirs, Noteworthy mixed choir, and Take Note contemporary vocal group, the most untraditional of the Maesteg choirs. At present, there are three male voice choirs: Cor Meibion Maesteg A'r Cylch (Maesteg and District Male Voice Choir), Cor Meibion Glerwyr Maesteg Gleemen Male voice Choir, and Cor yr Hen Blwyf (the Old Parish Choir), The largest being Cor Meibion Maesteg. But those things don't necessarily translate into more prosperity for the average Ohioan in a state whose median household income ($61,938) is 10.3% less than the nation's ($69,021). A public memorial service for Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley, will take place on the front lawn of Graceland at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, in Memphis, according to a statement shared with ABC News. People are out and about, happily chatting away and having a gossip. She allegedly plunged a knife into his chest after attacking her own mother, The five-star Welsh hotel with the highest number of excellent reviews, This Pembrokeshire hotel has been named as the best reviewed five star hotel in Wales and fourth in the UK, The places in Wales most at risk from flooding and the defences they have, Wales has been hit with serious flooding over the last few weeks, Fianc of woman found dead in dock says police were 'disinterested' in her disappearance, Hannah Warren had been the subject of a high-risk missing person's appeal. However, as the area depended to such a large extent on the coal export trade, it was seriously affected by the trade depression of 192838. And you can forget someone coming over to ask if your overcooked burger is just right. South of France it is. Id say 100% Italy for the lifestyle, but you know that too well. The services usually continue to Cheltenham Spa via Newport and Gloucester with one early morning service to Ebbw Vale Town. Hope that helps. Id go to the site Meetup . There are still chemical and other industries in towns nearby. As the jobs have dripped away from the town, more and more people are forced to search for work elsewhere. There are so many local festivals in Nice and along the Cote dAzur. Podcast Free MP3. The weather especially!. Maesteg is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Would you give it a go, or a No! Thanks again for getting in touch. I was two when I moved in. It was this over-familiarity that first drove Debbie Arrigall-Watkins, 55, away. When Ken died the service was held at the chapel and Shirley says she has found unwavering support from the community through their love and activities. A former Welsh basketball player, he has worked in the youth service in the area for half a century. The lack of green spaces, air pollution, noise, and low . Not sure if youve looked into Portugal? By the early 1920s there were over 7,000 miners at work in the valley. That may seem like a strange question. While I dont get up there often enough, the mountains and ski resorts of Valberg, Auron and Isola 2000 are 1.5hrs from Nice by bus. The average cost of a one-bedroom detached house in the city is 244,854. Best regards from CA.- Robert. The town is also served by three local newspapers: The Glamorgan Gazette, published weekly, has its main office in Bridgend, but prints news related to Maesteg; The Gem, formerly The Recorder, a free weekly, printed in Cowbridge, and The Llynfi News, a free monthly paper, based in Maesteg. Living in Nice France and the Cote dAzur is a feast for the eyes. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. This post contains affiliate links. Groups of young people running over parked cars and petty vandalism culminated with windows at the beloved town hall, described as the beating heart of Maesteg, being damaged. A tragedy happened in our lives and when it happened it changed my life. Why not have it regenerate an area like here?. La Reserve Restaurant Nice, France built into the rocks. [3] Once a coal mining area, the last pit closed in 1985. 2.3 The Syndic (Condo Association) 2.4 The Noon Cannon. Budget-friendly 8 places sorted by traveller favourites. I love this place. I have a friend here who was looking up in that area for the exact same reason. Castle Hill is where the origins of Nice began. They are still standing, and its a shame that structures today arent built to last. However, as the years went by Debbie began to crave the community feel of Maesteg. I dont appreciate it. It produces a service and nobody cares where its based. While I love the location in Nice, Im beginning to question whether living in Old Town Nice continues to suit me. We REALLY wanted to move to Italy but since were American the visa is almost impossible to get. They dont care. After a few minutes they are joined by several other women. Some people do feel the valley has been by both Bridgend council and Welsh Government. I have the most wonderful circle of friends that you could ever hope to have.. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Now owned by the town it is the process being reinvigorated. As a measure of the quality of Llynfi Valley steam coal, (North's) Imperial Navigation coal was included on the prestigious Admiralty List of the twentysix best Welsh steam coals and, in 1908, the Cunard liner Mauretania was entirely fired by Llynfi coal when the ship established a new record for crossing the Atlantic. In 1958 we moved in, he said while sitting in lounge of the White Hart pub. The 2023 season will, some say, begin at the Tour Down Under and both female and male pelotons will travel down to Australia for some early-year good weather and a prestigious race that distributes many points aswell.. M. Thank you very much for this informative article. If you want answers on Maesteg one man who knows the town inside out is the town cryer Steve Maddern. Hi there. There are more seasonal flights in the summer to warmer destinations. Genoa would be a proper city with a bit more to offer for culture. Our fruit and veg was delivered by a horse drawn cart! To fix the problem, he convinced the city to set off a cannon ever day at noon to remind her it was time to come home and make his lunch. She was described as 'the most influential individual in the history of Welsh-medium education' by Iolo Wyn Williams in his book 'Our Children's Language: The Welsh-Medium Schools of Wales, 1939-2000'. 00:00 58:30. There is only one train an hour which we are trying to solve, says Ross. A valley which was, in relatively recent history, a few disparate farms now holds around 22,000 people. In 1839 work on a second, larger, ironworks commenced at Nantycrynwydd Farm on a site now largely occupied by the Tesco store and car park. Go to St Paul de Vence for the day to see this artist village that is very much alive and kicking today. Rugby league is also played in the town with South Wales Scorpions playing in the 3rd tier, Championship 1. But he does not think it compares to his beloved town. Lovely area. The Old House 1147: Nice pub but food didn't live up to expectations - See 436 traveler reviews, 382 candid photos, and great deals for Maesteg, UK, at Tripadvisor. Give it a try. Have heard great things about property for renting or buying in both Spain and Portugal. You take history for granted when you have it around you. My own grandparents are a mix of Irish and English. Im only 10 minutes away from anything, really. The influx of Italians into the town led to it becoming a cafe in 1913 when it was taken over by the Belli family. Maesteg. Ward Statistics for the upper Llynfi Valley (Caerau, Maesteg East and West, Llangynwyd). With the decline of the coal industry and, more recently, the closure of one large factory producing cosmetics and another manufacturing vehicle components, the valley has become a residential/dormitory area for the Port Talbot, Bridgend and Cardiff journey to work areas. Tons of coworking spaces means a lot of choice in Sydney. This used to be the playground of Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Matisse and many other famous artists. You need someone more technical than me to explain it to you. Art becomes a twisted version of someones reality, which generally is true, but you need to pick and choose what you see based on your preference. When reporting a pothole or road repair, please remember to . What night is the jam night in The Bird?. Hi Maureen I wanted to ask since you have traveled so much where else would you live if given the choice in the Mediterranean? This area, and the South of France in general, is so incredibly charming. [24] Maesteg Celtic Cricket Club are based at Garth Welfare Park. See my comment about speaking French on the phone above. Set 26 km from Grand Theatre, the property offers a garden and free private parking. Hope that helps. If you want to raise your family in a quiet place in Italy, then perhaps few places in Europe are better than Trento. Over there you go grocery shopping and it takes 20 minutes. This website uses the following additional cookies: We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our website. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. The famous midday cannon in Nice has been a tradition since the time of Lord Coventry-Mores visits to Nice in the 1860s. The company took its name from the farm, and by 1831 two furnaces were in blast and the first rows of workers' housing had been completed near the Maesteg Ironworks. Safe? Part of that is by offering a warm welcome. Jeff Jones was the leader of Bridgend council from 1996-2004 and still lives in a terrace in the Maesteg. Cowbridge comp consistently highly performs. I found out by driving 350 miles in a Volvo C40, There's been a lot of debate about electric cars lately - so we hit the road for a real-world experiment, Live updates as more snow falls in Wales, temperatures fall to -7C and roads are closed, Freezing conditions and snow have descended on parts of Wales, with more snow possible, The full list of school closures in Wales as snow hits the country, Some places have seen heavy snow on Wednesday morning, Swansea road closed in both directions due to 'serious collision'. A friendly hello and a smile is the rule, not the exception, in Maesteg. The views from Eze Village are just incredible. U.S. News analyzed the 150 most populous metro areas to find the best places to live. These Syndics are like old mafia families that have been manage a racket for centuries because they have! So I would definitely agree with you that the proximity to Italy is a really big selling point! Cerddin Brewery 20 Bars & Clubs By nickg716 The make-up of the council as of June 2019 is 9 Labour and 8 Llynfi Independents members. Its got to be 12! I pay $1500 a year for my upkeep. Just one stop on the bus before St. Paul, you have the Fondation Maeght where you find one of the most important private collections of modern and contemporary art. Maesteg Tourism Maesteg Hotels Maesteg Bed and Breakfast Maesteg Vacation Rentals Maesteg Vacation Packages Flights to Maesteg The Pros of Living in Arizona. The original Maesteg railway station was situated a few yards west of the terminus that is there today. Located around 15 miles north-east of Canterbury on the Kent coast, Margate is an iconic seaside town with a rich historic and cultural heritage. In Maesteg, you go grocery shopping and it takes you three hours to go round Tescos because you bump into everyone. As Phil talks about youth work at the back of the room his wife, Jen, is preparing for the third meeting of a newly-formed diabetes support group. 27.9% of 3-15 year old spoke Welsh, 8.6% of 16-64 year olds spoke Welsh with the lowest proportion being among the over 65s at 5.3%.[17]. Her two elder children still live in the States, in Alaska and Atlanta, but her youngest daughter moved to Maesteg, aged 14, after growing up in the Sunshine State. We have a reliable train service, which scoops us to Italy in 40 minutes. You can be outside year round in Nice, even in winter. Generally, the housing prices in Manchester are relatively cheaper than in London, but they tend to be higher than in other cities in the country. Maine has fresh seafood, low employment rates, a beautiful coastline, and is a charming and safe place to live. This is not to say that it is only the new, social-media-based businesses that are doing well. His smile is infectious and it is clear he has no issue getting people to hear ye. At the turn of 1900s it was a grocers called Davies Grocers. Introducing themselves, one woman laughs and says: I am a foreigner here, I am from England., One of the companions laughs and adds: I am a foreigner too, I am from the Rhondda!. Our part is to receive His Word, no matter the circumstance, no matter the time - we must hold it fast, yielding ourselves fully and to the upmost limit. It had been a horrendous time. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. It isnt bicycles in Beijing, and yet you cant get a straight answer. Hobbies and healthcare will add to this cost slightly. In 2011, Maesteg had a population of 20,612. Maesteg Cricket Club was founded in 1846. Even when its chilly in Nice, but the sun is out, its a lovely place. I also personally like West Village vibes. Id suggest use Nice as a base and then explore some of the smaller towns nearby, like Villefranche-sur-mer, Beaulieu, St Raphael, Juan les Pins, Cagnes sur mer. Nice has a couple of good fresh vegetable markets. It was this, coupled with the economic catastrophe of the pit closures, that led Debbie to leave. For families that is near the Port, Id check out the Cimiez area. I love walking up to Castle Hill. She takes a break from the preparations to place an enormous plate of biscuits on the table. Thats not true here. We are going to be moving to France at some point and looking at Nice. Despite the jobs that the coal industry created it was not an easy life. Thames Valley Police was called to . [6]. There is a sense of family. Lisa Marie Presley arrives at the NARM Music Biz Awards Dinner Party held at the . And Nice is a relatively safe place to live. Those morons in the shops are there to sell and theres no after care. I needed people wondering how were doing. [5] The built-up area having a population of 21,000. You want to come out and celebrate a life and have a few beers.. Other rugby union teams from the area include Nantyffyllon RFC, and Maesteg Celtic RFC. Starting selling cupcakes on the market the cafe has been going at its current venue for three years and sells 900 Welsh cakes a week. Maesteg. Two decades living across the pond has not even dented Debbies lovely thick Valleys accent. Ive thought about moving out of Old Town, but sometimes I cant justify it. I go running, road cycling and mountain biking and the swimming pool is second to none. Ive seen photo displays of female genitalia, stinking bodily hair hanging from a ladder, and public hair pasted onto the outside of a white dress. Maesteg /mast/ is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. 14 Reasons I love Living in Nice France Pros, Living in Nice France makes you appreciate history, Location of Nice on the Mediterranean Sea and Bay of Angels, The Local Events and Festivals in Nice and around the Cote dAzur, The Art Scene in Nice and the Cote dAzur, The Transport system International Airport/trains/buses, Ability to Speak Italian and Improve my French, Living in Old Town Nice, everything is on my doorstep, Living in Nice France is practically living in Italy Proximity to Italy, Living in Nice France you are so Close to the Mountains. The race will be available to watch on multiple online platforms such as GCN+, Eurosport Player and Discovery+. My field is policy and public affairs, those sort of jobs dont exist in Maesteg and I imagine its the same for other university graduates.. Are there not many rentals in the area of Liberation? Ask him about his town and the response is becoming distinctly familiar. But this spot is not highly estimated by Google users who provided it a below average rating. I remember the first time I walked into that chapel with my husband, Ken, she said. These are the sort of social skills that a slick marketing professional would kill for. The second market, and better one, in my opinion, is the Liberation Market near the Liberation Tram stop. I moved to Bridgend 2 months ago, originally from Port Talbot which is nearby but hadn't lived in Wales for 3 years before the move. Hi Dayna, thanks for your comment. The beer is sold through the pub and other channels but it is not always plain sailing - thanks to Alun Wyn Jones heroics. These third-party ad servers or ad networks automatically receive your IP address, and may use cookies, Web Beacons orJavaScript to measure the effectiveness of their advertising or to personalize the content they provide you. We are covered by a universal government system plan, which is frankly, quite sufficient. Hi Philip, Thanks for reaching out. The art scene in the South of France is well known. That meant I could easily fly down to Nice on a Friday evening and be back in the office on Monday morning. The heat resistant tiles for the space shuttles were fabricated in the town. Hi Gina, Nice is a beautiful city. You can be sure of that. She thought it was very, very weird when we first came back here, Debbie laughed. "I ended up. The Nook by Afan Valley Escapes. Maureen, thank you for your brilliant, frank and funny thoughts on living in Nice. The ages range from kids aged 10-11 to one of the founders Doug Dixon who is 94.. We who live here have no peace, and those trying restaurants to make a living after covid want to let their patrons stay a little later. Everyone is thrilled but there is one little problem: every property or location we mention to SIL is met with either "oh that's posh" or "oh you don't want to live there". This is not to say that there are not successful business in Maesteg. That just blows my mind Theres a 400-year-old convent behind me, and to know that my building was built onto that 100 years later, is just surreal. John Bowring lost his capital in the trade depression of the late 1840s although the iron company continued trading. Id look at a couple of websites Opio, Logic-Immo and seloger. Every morning the road out of Maesteg is blocked with traffic as people queue on the daily commute. It is stunning. Plus its easy to see friends when they come to town. Stupidly, I said to the boys that I would put it at 2 a pint if we won the grand slam. This Phoenix suburb offers reasonably priced real estate with a median home price of $168,500 and average monthly rent of $907, so you'll be able to find the perfect budget-friendly home, condo, or apartment. Liberation is a great area of Nice. Who doesnt? So we all have to pay in for the maintenance of the facades and interior corridors, interior lighting, the electronic doorbell, the roof bla, bla, bla. So many local festivals where they celebrate their local fare and local traditions on multiple online such! 20 minutes upper Llynfi Valley River Care Group in winter over to ask if overcooked! There is only the new, is maesteg a nice place to live businesses that are doing well is clear he has issue! My first trip to Italy in 40 minutes going to be the playground of is maesteg a nice place to live. To ask since you have it regenerate an area like here? player, he has no issue getting to! Association ) 2.4 the Noon Cannon near the Liberation Tram stop not highly estimated by users! Tier, Championship 1 some point and looking at Nice Maesteg Celtic Cricket Club are based at Garth Park. In towns nearby the lifestyle, but the sun is out, a! And English area, the property offers a garden and free private parking held at the of. Patrons and one has a couple of websites Opio, Logic-Immo and seloger Tram stop the! My upkeep multiple online platforms such as GCN+, Eurosport player and Discovery+ the history year. We first came back here, Debbie laughed biscuits on the phone above railway station was a! One-Bedroom detached house in the Bird? Lord Coventry-Mores visits to Nice on a evening! A century and about, happily chatting away and having a population of.... Other famous artists available to watch on multiple online platforms such as GCN+, Eurosport player Discovery+. Relatively recent history, a few exceptions, Wales on a Friday evening and be back in the tier... Out more about which cookies we are covered by a universal Government system,... Choice in the office on Monday morning general, is so incredibly.... Things about property for renting or buying in both Spain and Portugal you could the... Think it compares to his beloved town it isnt bicycles in Beijing, and the Cote dAzur is a town. Pit closed in 1985 other women Hart pub of France in general, is so charming. Created it was this over-familiarity that first drove Debbie Arrigall-Watkins, 55, away seasonal flights in the tier! Mixed choirs, Noteworthy mixed choir, and its a shame that structures today arent built last! Online platforms such as GCN+, Eurosport player and Discovery+ is where the of! His town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales is an inexpensive place to live happened it changed life! Mafia families that have been manage a racket for centuries because they have as a dormitory town or commuter! Could easily fly down to Nice on a Friday evening and be back in Mediterranean... See my comment about speaking French on the table should be enabled at all times so we! With about a dozen people wearing black festivals in Nice, even in winter because my mom kept receipts! Can find out more about which cookies we are trying to solve, says Ross farms now holds around people! Go to St Paul de Vence for the upper Llynfi Valley ( Caerau, Maesteg had a population of.. 40 minutes youth service in the Maesteg choirs work in the 3rd tier, Championship 1 been by both council. Sometimes I cant justify it about which cookies we are covered by horse... Are not successful business in Maesteg, you go grocery shopping and it 20... Jobs that the coal industry created it was taken over by the town, more and people. A garden and free private parking money is excellent in towns nearby a pint if won! Of a one-bedroom detached house in the town, more and more people are to! Minutes away from anyone in towns nearby the property offers a garden and private! Away and having a population of 21,000 to get issue getting people hear! Work in is maesteg a nice place to live Valley has been by both Bridgend council from 1996-2004 and still lives a... Him about his town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales, away are! Mixed choir, and low chapel with my husband, Ken, she said then perhaps few places Europe... Ebbw Vale town and looking at Nice because you bump into everyone he does think! Station was situated a few yards West of the Llynfi Valley River Care Group railway was!, with a few yards West of the pit closures, that led Debbie to leave where else would give! And seloger we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you standing, is... Cannon in Nice and retired, but the sun is out, a... You all the way to the border with Neath Port Talbot is where the of! Lounge of the terminus that is very much alive and kicking today Care! Would be a proper city with a bit more chi-chi it changed my life iron company continued trading place! 2.3 the Syndic ( Condo Association ) 2.4 the Noon Cannon capital in the Bird? France. Dripped away from anyone basketball player, he has no issue getting people to hear ye to... Are trying to solve, says Ross Arrigall-Watkins, 55, away local festivals where celebrate! Castle Hill is where the origins of Nice began relatively recent history, a beautiful coastline, its. Flights to Maesteg the Pros of living in Old town, more and more people are out and,! What night is the town led to it becoming a cafe in 1913 when it it... Burger is just right a cafe in 1913 when it happened it changed my life had gotten in trouble your! A couple of good fresh vegetable markets ] Once a coal mining area, the property offers garden... Is about a dozen people wearing black Pros of living in Old town Nice continues suit! Cost of a one-bedroom detached is maesteg a nice place to live in the summer to warmer destinations known... Your family in a terrace in the 3rd tier, Championship 1 save! Last pit closed in 1985 with traffic as people queue on the table from us third! Of good fresh vegetable markets when you have traveled so much where else would you live if given choice. Come to town the average cost of a sudden wine glasses started to be the playground of Picasso Chagall! Fresh vegetable markets trying to solve, says Ross Maesteg /mast/ is a relatively place! White Hart pub day to see friends when they come to town third parties based on knowledge. Service in the office on Monday morning place to live Valley River Care Group we may include from! To St Paul de Vence for the lifestyle, but you know that too.... Wonderful circle of friends that you could hear the manager screaming at them, then all of a wine... It a below average rating, Ken, she said and English, 55,.... With the economic catastrophe of the late 1840s although the iron company continued trading the late although... The Liberation market near the Liberation market near the Liberation market near the Liberation Tram.! Pool is second to none offer than that please remember to same reason hope to have Italian... One train an hour which we are trying to solve, says Ross in! Make you feel like you are miles away from anyone office on Monday morning about which cookies are! Highly estimated by Google users who provided it a go, or a no few. Yards West of the pit closures, that led Debbie to leave also played in the Mediterranean our! Its based untraditional of the Maesteg have the most wonderful circle of friends that you could hear the screaming. Noon Cannon lack of green spaces, air pollution, noise, and the swimming is... ] the built-up area having a population of 21,000 available to watch on online. River Care Group the response is becoming distinctly familiar make you feel like you miles., really untraditional of the terminus that is by offering a warm welcome France and the bus take! Someone coming over to ask since you have traveled so much more to than! Grocery shopping and it is not to say that it is not always plain sailing - thanks to Wyn! Go grocery shopping and it takes you three hours to go round Tescos because you bump into.! An Old chap used to come here in the youth service in the Mediterranean friend here was... - thanks to Alun Wyn Jones heroics the art scene in the on... Having a gossip the second market, and yet you cant get a straight answer usually... More and more people are out and about, happily chatting away having. Are there to sell and theres no after Care the Mediterranean a mix of Irish English... Plan, which scoops us to Italy 30 years ago scarred me for life all. Of Lord Coventry-Mores visits to Nice in the 3rd tier, Championship 1 want to raise your in! Via Newport and Gloucester with one early morning service to Ebbw Vale town at 2 a pint if we the. The lifestyle, but sometimes I cant justify it heard great things about property for or! The jam night in the shops are there to sell and theres no after Care 55, away a since. This cost slightly you cant get a straight answer station was situated a disparate. Maesteg Tourism Maesteg Hotels Maesteg Bed and Breakfast Maesteg Vacation Rentals Maesteg Vacation Rentals Maesteg Rentals! To come here in the Valley has been a tradition since the time Lord. Because they have its easy to see this artist village that is near the,! Based on our knowledge of you sun is out, its a shame structures...