{"id":1079,"date":"2023-04-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=1079"},"modified":"2023-05-11T18:36:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T17:36:43","slug":"aber-is-not-boring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/blog\/aber-is-not-boring\/","title":{"rendered":"Aber is Not Boring"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Written by Ella Gibbs, Translated by Iwan Thomas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

If I had a pound for every time I heard a student utter \u2018Aber is so boring\u2019 or \u2018There\u2019s nothing to do here,\u2019 I would\u2019ve been able to swap out my packet pasta dinners for a Michelin star meal every night.<\/span>
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I have decided to take it upon myself to find the best things to do in and around Aberystwyth and release my experience in an article once a month, in a series I call \u2018Aber is Not Boring.\u2019<\/span>
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Accessibility and money will be the biggest factors I consider, as well as the experience itself, as I know a lot of students don\u2019t have a car and don\u2019t have a lot of money. This list will be perfect for solo days, days with friends or if you\u2019re like me, forcing your boyfriend to spend time with you. The aim, ultimately, is to prove that Aberystwyth has more than meets the eye, specifically in day-time activities.<\/span>
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Parc Fferm Ffantasi\/Fantasy Farm Park, Llanrhystud, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 5DA<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Farmer Lloyd and his Donkey Dougal. Photo by Ella Gibbs.<\/span>
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The first place in my series, and quite frankly my favourite place I\u2019ve found on the outskirts of Aber, is Fantasy Farm Park.<\/span>
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It is a family run farm owned in partnership by Farmer Lloyd and his wife. The farm used to be a dairy farm before it opened to the public in 1998, and has been in the family for a hundred years plus.<\/span>
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My first visit to the Farm<\/strong><\/span>
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Upon my first venture to this wonderful hidden gem, I was greeted from my car by a stick enthusiast, with four legs and a very waggy tail named Maggie, who left me at the entrance to reception. Inside there is a lovely caf\u00e9, shop and bags of animal feed you can buy for the animals. I was then privately escorted to the animal barn by another fluffy companion, Golden retriever Timba, along with the very welcoming farmer, Lloyd.<\/span>
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The barn is vast, and I was beaming to see the eclectic range of animals the farm offers, from lambs, goats and horses, to pigs, donkeys and alpacas. All who are plenty docile enough to be pet, including the 26-year-old Dougal the donkey.<\/span>
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The farmer, Lloyd, joined my boyfriend and I in the barn and answered our many questions about all of the animals, from \u2018how long do donkeys live for?\u2019 to \u2018is a bull a male cow?\u2019 Turns out that Donkeys can live for 40 years.<\/span>
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All of the farm\u2019s staff are friendly and welcoming which made the experience all the more enjoyable, even bringing out a rabbit for us to be acquainted with.<\/span>
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We finished our first visit at the caf\u00e9 with a hot chocolate and a coffee before making the short car journey of twenty minutes back to Aberystwyth.<\/span>
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It was at the end of this experience that I thought the farm was a brilliant place to feature as my first article within this series. After a short email exchange with the farm, they agreed to let me return and Lloyd volunteered to be interviewed.<\/span>
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The animal Barn – Photo by Ella Gibbs<\/span>
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Interview with Lloyd<\/strong><\/span>
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Ella: Do you produce anything on the farm?<\/span>
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\nLloyd: It is a working farm; we breed sheep, and we rear cows and sell them on. We don\u2019t sell any farm produce in the shop, it\u2019s more of a gift shop. Although we do sell Welsh cheeses and wines.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

E: Can you feed the animals?<\/span>
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L: We do lamb feeding in the summer and cattle handling. All year round you can buy feed from reception for the animals.<\/span>
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E: Why the decision to open the farm up to the public?<\/span>
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L: Plain and simple, extra income.<\/span>
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E: I was wondering if there were any stories or inspirations behind any of the farm animals\u2019 names?<\/span>
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L: They have all mainly been named by visitors, there is no story to any particular name, it\u2019s just visitors have thought of a name, and I\u2019ve thought oh I quite like that.<\/span>
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E: Do you have a favourite animal?<\/span>
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L: Yeah, I think because he\u2019s getting on, he\u2019s an old boy, Dougal the donkey probably, although I do like calves as well.<\/span>
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E: Do you have a wishlist of animals, is there any other animals you\u2019d like to have, realistic or not?<\/span>
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L: I\u2019d like to have some more alpacas, possibly some miniature donkeys. Definitely stick with the farm animals, I\u2019ve no interest in zoo\u2019s or zoo animals at all. Possibly more pets for pet handling. Different breeds of chicks, rare cows, rare breeds of sheep.<\/span>
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E: Do you train any of the animals to be friendly or is it a case of conditioning?<\/span>
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L: It\u2019s because most of them are born on the farm and this is what they know, it\u2019s not conditioning, it\u2019s how you are with them. If you\u2019re wild they\u2019re wild. If you\u2019re calm, they\u2019re calm.<\/span>
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E: What is the easiest way to get here without a car?<\/span>
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L: There isn\u2019t a simple route. There is a bus route from Aberystwyth to Aberaeron. You get to Llanrhystud, you\u2019re two miles away and it\u2019s not advisable to walk that road, although some people have done it. There is a local taxi in the village [of Llanrhystud] if you went to the post office they\u2019d probably give you the number.<\/span>
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E: What do you think are the highest and lowest maintenance animals to look after?<\/span>
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L: There isn\u2019t really, they\u2019re all quite easy, plenty of water is as important as food and dry bedding. Goats sometimes If you open the gate, before you know it they\u2019ve escaped, but other than that there\u2019s nothing really difficult.<\/span>
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Animals in the barn – Photo by Ella Gibbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The farm may centre towards families but there is still plenty for students to enjoy, from animal petting, to the caf\u00e9 and gift shop. The farm is free in the winter months up until April even for adults, but there is a fee from April to October of \u00a310.50. This includes the outdoor activities as well as animal handling and feeding sessions, the price also includes the feed.<\/span>
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This farm really is at Aber\u2019s fingertips at only a twenty-minute scenic drive away. They also have popular Sunday roasts at a five-star hygiene rating, if your ideal weekend includes petting animals and eating good food.<\/span>
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For me, this is a top experience to fill a day with, great value for money with the most friendly and informative staff, who really give you the sense they enjoy and care about what they do.<\/span>
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Nid yw Aber yn Ddiflas<\/strong><\/span>
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gan Ella Gibbs, <\/strong><\/strong>Cyfieithiad gan Iwan Thomas<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Pe bai gen i bunt am bob tro rydw i wedi clywed myfyriwr yn dweud ‘Mae Aber yn ddiflas iawn’ neu ‘Does dim byd i’w wneud yma,’ byddwn i’n gallu cyfnewid fy nghinio pasta pecyn am bryd o fwyd seren Michelin bob nos.<\/span>
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Rwyf wedi penderfynu cymryd arnaf fy hun i ddod o hyd i’r pethau gorau i’w gwneud yn ac o gwmpas Aberystwyth a rhyddhau fy mhrofiad mewn erthygl unwaith y mis, mewn cyfres dwi’n galw ‘Nid yw Aber yn Ddiflas.’<\/span>
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Hygyrchedd ac arian fydd y ffactorau mwyaf yr wyf yn eu hystyried, yn ogystal \u00e2\u2019r profiad ei hun, gan fy mod yn gwybod nad oes gan lawer o fyfyrwyr gar ac nad oes ganddynt lawer o arian. Bydd y rhestr hon yn berffaith ar gyfer diwrnodau sengl, dyddiau gyda ffrindiau neu os ydych chi fel fi, yn gorfodi eich cariad i dreulio amser gyda chi. Y nod, yn y pen draw, yw profi bod gan Aberystwyth fwy nag sy\u2019n cwrdd \u00e2\u2019r llygad, yn benodol mewn gweithgareddau yn ystod y dydd.<\/span>
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Parc Fferm Ffantasi\/Fantasy Farm Park, Llanrhystud, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 5DA<\/span>
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Ffermwr Lloyd a’i Asyn Dougal. Llun gan Ella Gibbs.<\/span>
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Y lle cyntaf yn fy nghyfres, ac a dweud y gwir, fy hoff le dwi wedi ffeindio ar gyrion Aber, ydi Parc Fferm Ffantasi.<\/span>
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Mae’n fferm deuluol sy’n eiddo mewn partneriaeth gan y Ffermwr Lloyd a’i wraig. Roedd y fferm yn arfer bod yn fferm laeth cyn iddi agor i\u2019r cyhoedd yn 1998, ac mae wedi bod yn y teulu ers dros gan mlynedd.<\/span>
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Fy ymweliad cyntaf \u00e2’r Fferm<\/strong><\/span>
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Wedi i mi fentro am y tro cyntaf i’r berl gudd ryfeddol hon, cefais fy nghyfarch o’m car gan seliwr ffon, gyda phedair coes a chynffon waggy iawn o’r enw Maggie, a adawodd fi wrth y fynedfa i’r dderbynfa. Y tu mewn mae caffi hyfryd, siop a bagiau o fwyd anifeiliaid y gallwch eu prynu ar gyfer yr anifeiliaid. Yna cefais fy hebrwng yn breifat i\u2019r ysgubor anifeiliaid gan gydymaith blewog arall, Golden retriever Timba, ynghyd \u00e2\u2019r ffermwr croesawgar iawn, Lloyd.<\/span>
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Mae\u2019r ysgubor yn helaeth, ac roeddwn yn betio i weld yr amrywiaeth eclectig o anifeiliaid y mae\u2019r fferm yn eu cynnig, o \u0175yn, geifr a cheffylau, i foch, asynnod ac alpacas. Roeddent i gyd yn ddigon dof i fod yn agos atynt, gan gynnwys Dougal yr asyn, 26 oed.<\/span>
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Ymunodd y ffermwr Lloyd \u00e2 fy nghariad a minnau yn yr ysgubor ac atebodd ein cwestiynau niferus am yr holl anifeiliaid o ‘pa mor hir mae mulod yn byw?’ i ‘Ai buwch wrywaidd yw tarw?’. Gall asynnod fyw am 40 mlynedd.<\/span>
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Mae holl staff y fferm yn gyfeillgar a chroesawgar a wnaeth y profiad hyd yn oed yn fwy pleserus, hyd yn oed dod \u00e2 chwningen allan i ni ddod i’w hadnabod.<\/span>
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Gorffennom ein hymweliad cyntaf yn y caffi gyda siocled poeth a choffi cyn gwneud y daith fer ugain munud yn \u00f4l i Aberystwyth.<\/span>
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Ar ddiwedd y profiad hwn roeddwn i’n meddwl bod y fferm yn lle gwych i ymddangos fel fy erthygl gyntaf yn y gyfres hon.<\/span>
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Ar \u00f4l cyfnewid e-bost byr gyda’r fferm, fe gytunon nhw i adael i mi ddychwelyd a gwirfoddolodd Lloyd i gael ei gyfweld.<\/span>
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Ysgubor yr anifeiliaid – Llun gan Ella Gibbs<\/span>
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Ella: Ydych chi’n cynhyrchu unrhyw beth ar y fferm?<\/span>
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Lloyd: Fferm weithiol yw hi; codwn ddefaid, a chodwn wartheg a gwerthwn hwynt ymlaen. Nid ydym yn gwerthu unrhyw gynnyrch fferm yn y siop, mae’n fwy o siop anrhegion. Er ein bod yn gwerthu cawsiau a gwinoedd Cymreig.<\/span>
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E: Allwch chi fwydo’r anifeiliaid?<\/span>
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L: Rydyn ni’n bwydo \u0175yn yn yr haf ac yn gofalu am y gwartheg. Trwy gydol y flwyddyn gallwch brynu porthiant o’r dderbynfa ar gyfer yr anifeiliaid.<\/span>
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E: Pam y penderfyniad i agor y fferm i’r cyhoedd?<\/span>
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L: Incwm syml, ychwanegol.<\/span>
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E: Roeddwn i’n meddwl tybed a oedd unrhyw straeon neu ysbrydoliaeth ar gyfer unrhyw un o enwau anifeiliaid y fferm?<\/span>
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L: Maen nhw wedi cael eu henwi gan ymwelwyr yn bennaf, does dim stori i unrhyw enw penodol, dim ond ymwelwyr sydd wedi meddwl am enw, a dwi wedi meddwl fy mod yn hoffi hynny.<\/span>
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E: Oes gennych chi hoff anifail?<\/span>
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L: Ydw, dwi’n meddwl achos mae o’n mynd yn hen, fo ydi’n hen fachgen ni, Dougal yr asyn dwi’n meddwl, er mod i’n hoffi lloi hefyd.<\/span>
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E: A oes gennych restr dymuniadau anifeiliaid, a oes unrhyw anifeiliaid eraill yr hoffech eu cael, yn realistig neu ddim?<\/span>
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L: Hoffwn i gael mwy o alpacas, efallai rhai asynnod bach. Cadw at anifeiliaid y fferm yn bendant, does gen i ddim diddordeb mewn s\u0175au nac anifeiliaid sw o gwbl. Mwy o anifeiliaid anwes o bosibl ar gyfer trin anifeiliaid anwes. Bridiau gwahanol o gywion, buchod prin, bridiau prin o ddefaid.<\/span>
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E: Ydych chi’n hyfforddi unrhyw un o’r anifeiliaid i fod yn gyfeillgar neu a yw’n gyflyru?<\/span>
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L: Mae’n oherwydd bod y rhan fwyaf ohonyn nhw’n cael eu geni ar y fferm a dyma beth maen nhw’n ei wybod, nid cyflyru yw hyn, dyna sut rydych chi gyda nhw. Os ydych chi’n wyllt maen nhw’n wyllt. Os ydych chi’n dawel, maen nhw’n dawel.<\/span>
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E: Beth yw’r ffordd hawsaf i gyrraedd yma heb gar?<\/span>
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L: Nid oes llwybr syml yma. Mae llwybr bws o Aberystwyth i Aberaeron. Rydych chi’n cyrraedd Llanrhystud, dwy filltir i ffwrdd ac nid yw’n ddoeth cerdded y ffordd honno, er bod rhai pobl wedi gwneud hynny. Mae tacsi lleol yn y pentref [o Llanrhystud] pe baech chi’n mynd i’r swyddfa bost mae’n debyg y bydden nhw’n rhoi’r rhif i chi.<\/span>
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E: Yn eich barn chi, beth yw’r anifeiliaid cynnal a chadw uchaf ac isaf i ofalu amdanynt?<\/span>
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L: Ddim mewn gwirionedd, maen nhw i gyd yn eithaf hawdd, mae digon o dd\u0175r yr un mor bwysig \u00e2 bwyd a dillad gwely sych. Weithiau geifr. Os byddwch chi’n agor y gi\u00e2t, maen nhw wedi mynd cyn i chi ei wybod, ond heblaw am hynny does dim byd anodd iawn.<\/span>
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Anifeiliaid yn yr ysgubor – Lluniau gan Ella Gibbs<\/span>
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Efallai bod y fferm yn canolbwyntio ar y teulu ond mae digon o hyd i fyfyrwyr ei fwynhau, o anwesu anifeiliaid, i’r caffi a’r siop anrhegion. Mae\u2019r fferm am ddim yn ystod misoedd y gaeaf hyd at fis Ebrill hyd yn oed i oedolion, ond mae ffi o fis Ebrill i fis Hydref o \u00a310.50. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y gweithgareddau awyr agored yn ogystal \u00e2 sesiynau trin anifeiliaid a bwydo, mae’r pris hefyd yn cynnwys y porthiant.<\/span>
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Mae\u2019r fferm hon ar garreg drws Aberystwyth, dim ond ugain munud i ffwrdd ar hyd ffordd hardd. Mae ganddyn nhw hefyd rhostiau dydd Sul poblogaidd gyda sg\u00f4r hylendid pum seren, os yw eich penwythnos delfrydol yn cynnwys anwesu anifeiliaid a bwyta bwyd da.<\/span>
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I mi, mae hwn yn brofiad gwych i lenwi diwrnod ag ef, gwerth gwych am arian gyda’r staff mwyaf cyfeillgar a mwyaf addysgiadol, sydd wir yn rhoi’r ymdeimlad eu bod yn mwynhau ac yn poeni am yr hyn y maent yn ei wneud.<\/span>
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Join Ella for the first article in her new series \u2018Aber is Not Boring,\u2019 as she finds things to do in and around Aberystwyth and releases her experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1079"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1134,"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079\/revisions\/1134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}