Capital Man Issue 2

CAPITAL MAN STYLISH | AMBITIOUS | INFORMED

EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW WITH SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONS

WARBURTON & NORTH NEW

CHALLENGE

WILD

SWIMMING

TIME SAVING GADGETS YOU NEED

100

YEARS OF

STYLE PULLOUT

+ HE’S BACK!

CHRISTIAN MALCOLM

WILLY MASON RETURNS

OLYMPIC ATHLETE & CARDIFF GENTLEMAN

STATESIDE SINGER

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contents

Christian

malcolm capital man of the month

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SAM WARBURTON AND GEORGE NORTH

@CapitalManMag Capital-Man CapitalManMagazine

/CapitalManMag Capitalmanmag @gmail.com

4

on the cover

EDITOR Lucinda Reid CREATIVE DIRECTOR Angela Hui DEPUTY EDITOR Lucy Trevallion PRODUCTION EDITOR Margaux Smale FEATURES EDITOR Katie Harris SPORT EDITOR Jack Palfrey HEALTH EDITOR Nathan Velayudhan FILM EDITOR Jonny Wilkes MUSIC EDITOR Kurren Tatla STYLE EDITOR Ross Clarke TRAVEL EDITOR Charlotte Dallin DIGITAL EDITOR Ashley Quinlan

100 years

17

7 29

save time with these gadgets

of style

26

Willy Mason talks about his new album

/Capital-Man

carry on

sport

music

health

style

09 Becky James interview

10 Free swim 11 Jogging route 12 Psychology

film

12 Reviews 14 Tried and tested cinemas

23 Polly James Capital FM’s new breakfast host

16 Quirky details to update your look Hairfree and carefree?

Street style 20 How to wear the printed shirt 22 Styling the stars

travel

32 5 places that pass you by 33 Sister cities

+

How to survive a zombie apocalypse

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CAPITAL MAN of the month

CHRISTIAN MALCOLM

We caught up with Welsh Olympic runner, Christian Malcolm, while he was attending an event at the Cardiff BMW showroom...

a welsh flag wrapped around him.

He saw me and shouted, “Christian Malcolm” and opened up his flag and all he had on was a pair of shorts!

How he celebrates after a race...

I don’t do the Bolt or Mo thing, but if I win, when I cross the line I’ll have a big smile on my face. If it’s the end of season I’ll have a night out and when I go out, I go big!

How he started running...

I was 11 when I first started. My schoolteacher took me down to a competition in Cwmbran Stadium where I did the 80m hurdles, 80m sprint and the long jump. I won all three.

What he’s up to now...

At the moment I’m still training for the Commonwealth Games, which will be in Glasgow next year, but also for the World Championships in Moscow this year. After the Commonwealth’s next year, that’ll be it and I’ll retire. I’ll knock it on the head.

Why he chose athletics over football or any other sport...

I think for me, I could have the best game of my life in football but still lose 2-nil. Whereas with athletics if I run the best time, I come away with a personal best, a win, make a final or win a medal.

How he progressed to become a professional...

I had a very good coach in Jock Anderson and was fortunate enough to train with a really good group including some established internationals. It made it exciting and really pulled me through.

Which athlete he looks up to...

Kevin, my cousin. He was an international representative of Great Britain. He’s more like my older brother than a cousin. He’s mentored me along the way and is someone I have always looked up to.

The highlight of his career...

London 2012… my first race in the 200m heat. I was in lane three and as they called my name out there was an almighty roar; it was so loud I didn’t actually hear them announce my name! It was deafening and felt like it lasted for five minutes but it must have only been about 20 seconds. Another was at my first ever Majors. I was the first Brit to win the World Junior’s 100m and 200m races and my mum came out for five days to watch me compete. Doing a lap of honour and seeing my mum in the crowd was definitely a special moment for me.

The best Olympic Games he’s been to...

London was of course the home Olympics and we had the support and the crowd, which was amazing.

But Sydney was very close. We went out into Sydney’s city centre and saw a guy who, from head to toe, had

“He saw me and shouted, ‘Christian Malcolm’ and opened up his Welsh flag and all he had on was a pair of shorts!”

What he hopes to do when he retires...

I’d like to do coaching but at the same time coaching’s not easy and it’s not that well-paid a job. I’d like to do something for youngsters who have talent and encourage them to give their talent a go. If they reach for the stars and only get half way up then it’s better than where they started.

I basically just want to try and help others.

What he’s learnt during his career as an athlete...

Work hard, enjoy what you do and keep at it. Even when you think something’s not going to happen for you, it can turn around. So you have to persevere.

The last film he saw in the cinema...

Wreck-It Ralph with my little girl, but before that I saw Django Unchained, which was a great film.

His favourite bar in Cardiff...

I recently went to Lab 22 and Cuckoo Club and had a really good time there.

If he was in Cardiff during a zombie apocalypse where he would escape to...

I think I would go to UWIC. It’s where I train, so I know that place inside out!

The world is ending. How he would spend his last day in Cardiff...

Wow, what would I do on my last day on earth in Cardiff? I think I’d go to the Millennium Stadium and play football with a couple of my boys on the pitch - that would be good. I’d also have to have one big, massive party in the city centre. I’d invite my family, friends, all of my sports associates and a few famous faces.

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exclusive

INTERVIEW WITH YOUR SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONS

sport

Days before an incredible victory over England to become RBS Six Nations’ champions, CAPITAL MAN caught up with Welsh stars George North and Sam Warburton to talk about their rugby careers in Wales - past and future.

Q: What age were you when you first started playing rugby and why did you choose this sport over others?

George North: I started when I was 11, purely because I’m a jealous brother.

My brother went down to the local club ranting and raving. Naturally as the younger brother I was like, “Mum I want to go down, because he’s enjoying it, why am I not enjoying it?”

So I went down and loved it since the first minute.

Sam Warburton: I was the same, I was about nine or ten but I quit then for a while because I didn’t like it, too much pressure, (laughs) but my PE teacher was adamant he wanted me to play, so from 15 I took it seriously.

Q: Who were your rugby idols as young players?

SW: Martin Williams for me was an obvious one, as a very successful open side flanker and was player of the tournament in 2005 when they [Wales] won the tournament.

GN: Shane Williams. He was a big part of watching Wales as a young boy with my face glued to the TV, the

way he played with enthusiasm, pace and excitement all the time, that got me into the sport.

SW: If I was to say the best player I’ve played with, I’d probably say Shane Williams; he can do things that I don’t think any other player can do.

“I can’t blame players for going over [to France], wanting to experience something different, all the same usual rubbish really” - Sam Warburton

Q: Focusing quickly on the Cardiff Blues, do you think the return of Gethin Jenkins will add some experience to a predominantly young side that have sometimes struggled to find their feet this season?

SW: Definitely, I think Gethin will be a great addition, as loose-heads go I think he is one of the best in the world and his experience will be

invaluable when you think he is on 90 odd caps now for Wales. We’ve got a pretty young front five and that’s probably an area that the Blues have got to strengthen for next season and he is definitely a very good start with that.

Q: There’s been a lot of coverage around a number of Welsh players being tempted by a change in lifestyle and better wages in places like France recently. Could you see yourselves playing across the channel?

(Long pause) SW: Oui… (laughs) It’s weird, I don’t know about George but I’ve still got 18 months left so I guess I’ll cross that bridge in about six months time. But I haven’t really given it a whole lot of thought. I’ve just bought a new house in Cardiff recently, and moved in with my fiancée – GN: Mansion.

SW: It’s not a mansion! (laughs) So I’m enjoying life in Cardiff at the moment. >

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Q: Is it something you’d potentially be open to in the future?

SW: I can’t blame players for going over; people wanting to experience something different, different challenges, you know all the same usual rubbish really – GN: Spiel.

SW: (Laughs) Again I haven’t given it a whole lot of thought really, but when we train at one or two degrees here and you’re suddenly training in 20 degree heat over there it’s quite appealing.

GN: I’m slightly different, obviously Sam’s an old man compared to me (laughs). I’m just enjoying playing in Wales, enjoying being part of the set-up we’ve got here. Obviously the rugby’s not as competitive but we’re getting good games and we’re performing this year as a region so I don’t want to leave at the moment. I can’t speak French – SW: Yeah, the language barrier would be tough.

GN: It’s a whole new language, whole new country and obviously your family support is so far away as well, for me that’s a big part. So at the moment I wouldn’t really look at it, I’m still a spring chicken.

Q: You’ve both suffered from injuries recently. With the game becoming increasingly physical, does the threat of injury play on your mind at all?

SW: Yeah, I injured myself when I was about 20 years old in rugby and I had three operations by the time I was 21. So luckily, touch wood, I haven’t had any in the last few years. A few players we’ve played with have retired at 26 or 27. So if that was me it means I’ve got two more years left – GN: How old are you now?!

SW: 24 now butt. I don’t look it though do I? I look 28.

GN: I guess the game’s adapting, isn’t it? Everyone’s bigger, faster, stronger than a year ago - that’s the way the game’s going and injury’s inevitable.

You’ve just got to make sure you’ve got the right insurance. We’re lucky here in Wales, we’ve got great support from the physiotherapists and doctors.

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Q: With the British Lions Tour coming up this summer, the thought of being included in the squad must be at the back of every players’ mind?

SW: Honestly during the course of the Six Nations, I haven’t heard one person talking about the Lions. > GN: No?!

Watch the full exclusive interview on jomec.co.uk/capitalman

“We went through the bad times together, stayed strong and it has come good in the end” - George North A tale of two halves: Wales’ statistics from the first and last 40 minutes of their glorious Six Nations 2013 campaign.

THE OPENING 40 MINS vs

Opening day defeat

IRELAND

3 23 0 1/1 45% 44%

THE CLOSING 40 MINS vs

ENGLAND

Points Scored Points Conceded Tries Scored Penalities Kicked Possession Time In Opponent’s Half

21 0 2 2/2 69% 72%

RBS 6 Nations 2013 Champions

SW: I don’t know about you (laughs) but I haven’t spoken about it to anybody. Obviously it is something that every player wants to achieve, there’s no getting around that, and it would be brilliant to go on a Lions Tour. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I started playing rugby seriously at 15. But yeah, it isn’t really spoken about here because people don’t want to jinx themselves.

GN: Yeah, I guess you can’t have one without the other. I mean, obviously you have to perform well for your club to play for your country and you have to perform well for your country to be in with a shout. But what will be will be and fingers crossed it’s good.

CAPITAL MAN Stat: Wales conceded 30 points in 80 minutes against Ireland, in the following four games, totalling 320 minutes, they only conceded 36 points

Facetime with...

Becky James

CAPITAL MAN caught up with the 21-year-old two-time British cycling world champion in an exclusive poolside interview in Argentina

Golden girl Becky James is more relaxed than she’s been for a very long time. Pushing her tousled blonde hair off her face and squinting in the Argentinian sun, she gestures towards the aquamarine pool behind her.

“Finally, I can just switch off and feel like a normal person!”

Two weeks in Argentina seems to be just what the doctor ordered for the hardworking cycling double world champion. She is currently staying at her uncle’s holiday home in Mendoza before heading to Buenos Aires to do some sightseeing.

Unsurprisingly, James doesn’t get to go on many holidays. As a professional cyclist, she has to be super-disciplined with her health, fitness and diet. And although she travels all over the world for cycling competitions, she rarely gets to be a tourist. “Most of the time we just see a velodrome, a bus and a hotel,” she says.

James stormed into the record books at the track cycling world championships in Belarus in February.

She came away with two gold medals in the individual sprint and the keirin and two bronze medals in the team sprint and the time trial. She also became the first Briton to win four medals at one world championship.

“It was a complete and utter shock,” says James. “I went in aiming to get in the top eight in the races. It still hasn’t

sunk in. I even watched the races back, which is the first time I’ve ever done that, but I still can’t believe it happened to me!”

Rio 2016 may be firmly on the radar for some, but James is determined to take things a step at a time. “No-one expected me to perform the way I did this time. I can enjoy the moment and keep progressing,” she says.

She’s also looking forward to spending some more time with her Welsh rugby star boyfriend, George North, when she comes back home.

But for now, enjoying the moment includes lying back to soak up the sun (it’s a pleasant 25 degrees today). The pool shimmers in the background and a light breeze rustles the bushes. This, surely, is the life.

|9

Where the wild swimmers are A popular sport in the early nineteenth century, swimming in rivers and deep lakes has recently regained its former popularity in the UK. And with the Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS) witnessing a huge spike in membership from 300 to 13,000 between 2009-2012, it’s clear this is something worth trying out. So inspired by the founder of OSS, Kate Rew’s bestselling book Wild Swim, which is full of exhilerating tales of wild swimming adventures around Britain, CAPITAL MAN sent two of the team to the small Welsh village of Pontneddfechan to take the plunge.

Ash says...

Jack says...

As an experienced swimmer my first impression was what a sense of adventure I felt!

But I must admit getting changed is certainly a novel experience in the great outdoors. The summer months would provide a much more comfortable experience for those without the winter weather kit.

Otherwise make sure you have a thick wetsuit and a neoprene swimming hat to protect your head from the cold.

The key, even for experienced swimmers, is not to underestimate the unique challenges of open water swimming. The harshness in temperature (in winter) is one, as this can cause hypothermia and lead to confusion, disorientation and loss of judgement - all very dangerous things

I don’t go swimming much, but wild swimming pleasantly surprised me. One of the best things was the fantastic scenery.

Pontneddfechan and the surrounding woodland are picturesque and make a welcome change from the capital’s busy streets. With regards to the actual activity I admit I was sceptical; there are lots of well-equipped leisure centres in and around Cardiff, why come all this way?

But there is a fantastic sense of freedom that comes from swimming somewhere without marked lanes. The swim was incredibly invigorating, so it’s easy to see why so many people enjoy it. And if you’re somewhat of an outdoorsman it could definitely be for you. But will it beat the back nine at Celtic Manor? Probably not.

10 |

“After a minute or so the freezing sting of pain was replaced with a fantastic sense of freedom...”

- Jack to happen when in unfamiliar territory.

The possibility of invisible currents are another real safety risk, so it’s important to make sure you aren’t alone if you decide to brave the outdoors.

But if all precautions are taken, wild swimming is incredibly exhilerating and gives you that great opportunity to reconnect with nature.

The beginner’s guide

How not to run

New column by Nathan Velayudhan

The Psychologist Column The scientific reason to...

I don’t think I could’ve chosen a worse pathetic I was; running sideways (so my fringe wasn’t dishevelled), time to start running. It was Monday 11 March and the news had just come struggling to breathe, and battling a in that Cardiff would be subject to a stitch two minutes into the run (note to self: monstrous jacket potato before week of Siberian weather. Now, let me tell you: with winds sweeping in at run - not advised). The run I did was seven miles long, which is 17mph, making it feel like Oh how gloriously probably a warm-up for -10ºC, I certainly felt like an iceberg. Nevertheless, I pathetic I was, the likes of Mo Farah, but as a beginner… well, I found was spurred on by a notion running sideways myself thinking of Frodo that kept echoing around my brain; if I can do this run as a bit of a wuss. But like (so my fringe now, in these conditions, I I say, I did it, and now as can motivate myself to run wasn’t dishevelled) the Siberian weather is at any time in the future. So soon to pass, the prospect I donned some running shoes that my of going for another run doesn’t seem father had so kindly lent me, slipped half as daunting. That, combined with into my base layer (I wasn’t going to the triumphant feeling that surges forget that), stumbled around the room through your body as you reach home on one leg attempting to squeeze - akin only to a king’s success on the into my running trousers, and finally battlefield, followed by the devouring put on the world’s most excessively of far too many chicken legs - made it fluorescent jacket. Then I headed out to unequivocally, one hundred per cent, battle the elements. Oh how gloriously worth it.

The route: 7 miles off-road around Roath Park. There are a few hills but the paths surrounding Roath Lake are smooth and easy to run. Beside the odd dog walker it’s fairly quiet mid-week, so if you feel a little self-conscious about your first run there really is no need to worry.

Socialise in your workplace It’s really easy to be so focused on your day-to-day life that being sociable and generous in the workplace takes a back seat. However, studies at Harvard University show that you might benefit from showing your nicer side.

Postdoctoral fellow David Rand has authored a paper demonstrating that complex and dynamic social networks improve your productivity.

“People are more likely to form connections with people who are cooperative, and much more likely to break those links with people who are not” “We do an amazing job of having thousands or even millions of people living in very close quarters in cities all over the world. Society requires high levels of cooperation, and when everyone does it, you get good collective outcomes,” says Rand.

CAPITAL MAN’s top tips: 1. Common courtesy is key; hold the door open for your colleagues 2. Start a Facebook page; no-one reads noticeboards anymore 3. Go to lunch; socialising over good food might spark the next great idea

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Film

Jonny Wilkes scours the silver screen, new DVD and Blu-Ray releases so you don’t have to hunt for the best flicks this month.

Cinema TRANCE

Stars: James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel Plot: McAvoy plays Simon, an art auctioneer who gets caught up in a dangerous gang’s heist. In a desperate attempt to recover a lost painting he has to join forces with hypnotherapist Elizabeth (Dawson) and stay ahead of Franck (Cassel).

WINNING WATCH

Why: Danny Boyle is in fine form: Slumdog Millionaire won 8 Oscars including Best Film, 127 Hours was a tense, tough watch which amazed and horrified audiences, and his ambitious direction of the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony cemented his position as one of today’s best directors. Why wouldn’t you want to see what he does next?

Released on 27 March in Vue and Cineworld, Cardiff

WELCOME TO THE PUNCH

OBLIVION Stars: Tom Cruise,Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman, Andrea Riseborough Plot: The year is 2073. The Earth has been almost deserted after an alien invasion 60 years ago. Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last drone repairmen left but when a spacecraft crashes, he reveals a truth that will see him fight not only for his future but for the future of mankind.

Stars: James McAvoy, Mark Strong, David Morrissey Plot: London policeman Max Lewinsky (McAvoy) has been chasing a master criminal for years. When Jacob Sternwood (Strong) comes back to London, Max has a chance to finally put him behind bars, but bringing him in won’t be that easy.

Why: It’s an all-Brit action thriller which packs the punch promised in the title. It doesn’t draw breath until the final credits and London has never looked better with sharp, slick photography from director Eran Creevy. Mark Strong, always comfortable playing the criminal, gives Welcome to the Punch a charge of electricity with a disconcertingly calm and charismatic turn.

Released on 15 March in Vue, Cineworld and Odeon, Cardiff

12 |

Why: Oblivion is a cerebral callback to the best sci-fi films of the 1960s and 70s. If you want more from your cinema trip than explosions and oneliners then Joseph Kosinski’s complex story is an enthralling prospect. It is a film about ideas, the performances are quietly brilliant and it looks gorgeous with staggering effects. It’s a feast for the eyes and the mind.

Released on 10 April in IMAX. So head to Odeon, Cardiff for the best viewing experience

DVD

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY 2013 marks the tenth anniversary of the release of the final chapter of Peter Jackson’s epic fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. For a decade the Tolkien follow up, The Hobbit, has been a troubled production but in 2012 it was finally released. That it was made at all is impressive; that it is a romping epic adventure is miraculous. This is thanks to both Martin Freeman, who was born to play Bilbo Baggins and Jackson, who does fantasy better than anyone. He and Weta have worked their magic on this endearing first chapter.

Released on DVD and Blu-Ray on 8 April

ARGO Ben Affleck’s thriller set in the aftermath of the Iran Revolution has been wowing crowds and critics alike. Its awards cupboard is overflowing following success at the Golden Globes and Oscars. It is a tense, exhilarating and comic drama following the storming of the US Embassy in Tehran, and the bizarre rescue mission that ensued. This is a must for anyone’s DVD collection as it merits multiple viewings. And if anyone gets you down just remember, “Argo fuck yourself!”

Released on DVD and Blu-Ray on 19 February

LINCOLN Lincoln, or “Django Unchained with A-Levels”, is a powerful and revealing drama on one of the most influential figures in American history. The 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, has just been re-elected but faces challenges threatening to destroy the young United States: North fights South as civil war rages and slavery is still in place. Daniel Day-Lewis encapsulates Lincoln utterly in a staggering and mesmerising performance as Lincoln seeks to abolish slavery with fierce determination. Tommy Lee Jones also shines as a passionate advocate for abolition in the thrilling scenes in Congress.

Released on DVD and Blu-Ray on 8 April

QUESTION TIME James McAvoy, star of both Welcome to the Punch and Trance, met his wife while filming Shameless back in 2004. Their screen romance grew into a real one and they were married in 2006. They now have a child together called Brendan. His wife has recently been in the news as she is set to return to her role as Fiona Gallagher for the final series of Shameless. But can you name McAvoy’s spouse?

EVEN DEAD EYES CAN SEE We have a bad rep, us zombies.

I don’t think we’re that bad. Ok, we eat people, I accept that.

We chase down terrified survivors, corner them in buildings and feast on their frontal cortexes. Cortexes?

Is that the plural? Frontal cortex?

That’s not good, I should know what I’m eating. If we set up abattoirs and packaged people as snack foods, would we be less evil? I blame movies. After decades of negative portrayal of zombies in cinema – all of which amounts to nothing more than human propaganda – and suddenly we’re the bad guys. Bloody George Romero.

Would attitudes change if poultry made films about the heart-beaters who descend on a chicken coop, kill them all violently and turn them into something else? Is being a zombie that different from a chicken becoming a McNugget? I would love to see “Dawn of the Breaded Chicken” or “28 Hens Later”.

I’m not saying I don’t get it.

Zombies, as a species, tend to be unwelcoming and quite off-putting.

We look gross: torn clothes caked with dried blood and those stringy innards that are too chewy to eat covering rotting (and increasingly smelly) skin and creepy eyes.

But we can’t help that. We were scared heart-beaters once. We’re not here by choice but we’re just trying to un-rest in peace. Attitudes need to change. So let us start in the movies: instead of zombies, I ask that from now on we be called the “death-deprived”. Are you listening, Hollywood?

Check out our master plan for surviving the zombie apocalypse in Cardiff (see page 34.)

A: Anne-Marie Duff

| 13

where would you go?

Cinemas: Tried & Tested

Cardiff’s cinemas explored and graded so you get the best possible experience Chapter, Market Road

Facilities:

Seats:

With not many childfriendly screens, dirty floors are rarely a problem. 7/10

Screen 1 is comfy but lacks head rests Screen 2 is where you really want to go. 7/10

Cineworld, Mary Ann Street

A lot of effort is put into making it a clean, shinylooking place. There is always an usher with a broom lurking around.

8/10 If it’s busy, you are forced to the far edges where the screen becomes badly distorted. 6/10

Variety of films:

Cardiff’s only art house cinema. This is the place to see the films you cannot find anywhere else.

9/10

They screen live events like standup comedy and opera. Foreign language films are also available.

8/10

Trailer length:

Not many trailers and the ones they do have usually tell you about a film you have not heard about.

9/10

Soul crushingly long trailers (often the same ones) sometimes pushing 30 minutes.

Insanity. 4/10

Snacks:

There is only a bar and you can’t take drinks in with you. 6/10

It has a great Ben & Jerry’s counter as well as the standard food and drinks.

Nothing overly special. 7/10

Price:

Really cheap.

Crazy cheap. Just ridiculously cheap.

9/10

Gets expensive at weekends; one of the pricier options generally. 6/10

Location:

Its Canton location means it’s a bit of a trek from town but it has its own café and bar. 6/10

Total Rating:

14 |

53/70

Right in the city centre.

Near restaurants and plenty of bars. 9/10

48/70

Vue, Stadium Plaza

The toilets sparkle.

You can hear someone spraying the surfaces every time you are in there. 9/10 The source of the most fidgeting. But that is relatively speaking. It still offers more than the average multiplex.

6/10 It tends only to be mainstream fare. Longer films seem to be passed over as it clogs up their schedules. 5/10 The best of the multiplexes in Cardiff.

They are drawn out but never frustratingly so.

8/10 What you would expect: popcorn, slushies, nachos and ice cream.

None of it is good for you. 7/10 Reasonable. They hand out vouchers to save money off your next trip.

8/10

Over the road from Central Station and a few minutes from the city centre. 7/10

50/ 70

100

years 8

p a g e p u l l ou t

f

style

Style

Ross Clarke

1

what’s new?

Handkerchiefs

DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL

Add a touch of class to any jacket with a smart handkerchief.

Try a pocket square, a flute or a triangle fold.

Hair free and carefree?

Surely all modern men are not averse to a spot of manscaping with a shaver or a pair of nail scissors but what about getting rid of the hair down there? A few weeks ago I headed to Groom for Men a salon on Crwys Road to give the hair the heave-ho.

It’s Thursday morning, ten o’clock and as I’m sitting on a well-worn Chesterfield, Jason, the salon’s owner, strolls in manhandling a bag of clean towels. He greets me with friendly enthusiasm and asks if I want a coffee.

I’m then led to the waxing room, where we chat about what I want to achieve from today’s treatment, the potential options ranging from a ‘Speedo Line’ to a ‘Manzillion’.

“Arrows are popular if a guy’s going to Ibiza, from their belly button to the top of their cock,” Jason says, but we agree that as this is my first time, I’ll go with the Speedo Line. “You get to keep your pants on then,” he says as he leaves the room, while I drop trou’ and lie back on the bed.

“Ready?” he asks. “Only, you look a little panicked...” Hardly surprising I think to myself, as I’m about to let someone smother my nether regions in hot wax. “Some clients like to chat and others prefer silence,” Jason tells me. I’m glad of the distraction as the hair and skin is cleansed before a light oil is applied. “Tell me if the wax is too hot?” says Jason, as he applies the first strip. I say it’s fine, and he makes a note on my treatment card so if I return he knows the tempreature without having to ask. One...two... clench! It takes my breath away as the first strip comes off. Although, in truth, it’s a lot less painful than I had expected and slowly my buttocks and jaw relax.

I am left to take a gander in the mirror to see if I’m happy. I must say I am. Too bad I’m never going to wear Speedos. Jason gives me some aftercare advice - no hot showers for two days - and sends me on my way with a spring in my step.

16 |

quirky extras to update your look

Buttons

Socks

3

2

Think buttons are bland and generic?

Think again. They come in all shapes and sizes and can transform an old coat or a tired blazer.

An easy and fun way to put a personal stamp on your outfit.

Try bright block colours or spots and stripes.

Street Style: Moda fashion trade show Here are the insiders of the fashion industry, illustrating how to wear this season’s trends in their own original way

Sandy Swain, shop manager from Nottinghamshire

Michael Ashison, director of Bullfrog Clothing from London

Andy Phillips, fashion agent from Bournemouth

100 years of 100 style

intro to years of style

| 17

CA P I T A L M through the Get the Look

Top hat, bow tie, tweed, military, teddy boy blazer, po 1910 18 |

1920 1930

1940

1950

M A N decades

CAPITAL MAN explores how men’s style has evolved over the years with a little help from Cardiff’s best costume warehouse: Script to Screen.

olo neck, flares, jumpsuit, black tie, shiny suit.

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000 | 19

HOW TO

WEAR PRINTED

SHIRTS CAPITAL MAN bids a sad farewell to Cardiff’s menswear store Barkers with this final fashion shoot. Using a range of their shirts our stylist, Ross Clarke, illustrates how to wear print, this spring’s biggest trend.

Shirt: now £10 Gilet: now £10 Jeans: model’s own All clothes now £10

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Ross says: “Every man should have at least one printed shirt in their wardrobe this season.

It’s easy to wear and can really update your look. We kept the style pretty simple, accesorising with a printed tie or bow tie.

Note how the prints clash but the colours co-ordinate.”

Shirt: now £10 Bow Tie: now £10 Jeans: model’s own

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what is your style?

sara darling: stylist

7 questions

CAPITAL MAN catches up with a Cardiff-born stylist who has made the move to London to pursue her career in fashion.

Q: Have you done any styling in Cardiff? What do you think of the style here?

Unfortunately I have not yet been asked to style anyone in my homeland.

I left a while ago and I seem to have been snaffled by the Big Smoke.

However I would love to. There are many hot and cool talents emerging from Wales, and you have a lot of great shops. i really think I would be a good fit with the Stereophonics. We also have some amazing Welsh designers including Elliot J. Frieze and Jayne Pierso.

Q: What are your top tips for menswear this season?

I saw a nod to comfort from the menswear collections in January 2013 for A/W 13. I predict a lot of leisure wear and dare I say it, hoodies and tracksuits, which I will be pairing with smart shoes and suit jackets. It’s good to shake things up.

Q: What is your favourite menswear brand to style?

I love working with a variety of menswear brands, especially Original Penguin, Farah, Agi and Sam, Ben Sherman, Scotch and Soda and Farrell.

Menswear is a very diverse beast these days and I love it all.

Q: How did you get started in styling?

I have a degree in journalism and got my first job on the reception at The Face magazine (RIP). However, instead of following my career as a writer I fell in love with the fashion cupboard and decided that styling is what I wanted to do.

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Q: What has been the best shoot/ person you have styled?

Wow, so many shoots! I love working with my posse of creatives, saying that, sometimes when you are thrown in the deep end and working with new people you really make bonds too. my favourite celebs have been Ana Matronic, Alexandra Burke and Will Poulter, who was a total sweetheart.

Q: You have styled the Arctic Monkeys, what was it like to work with them?

I worked on a video for them so it was very much costume styling led by the director.

Q: As fashion editor of International Life and fashion director of 55 Pages, how do you manage to juggle these roles with styling?

Luckily I thrive under pressure, and don’t need much sleep. I enjoy juggling things and I love the challenges that my career brings. I have a fabulous social life revolving around friends who mostly work in fashion, so it means I live, work and breathe fashion.

“I predict a lot of leisurewear and dare I say it, hoodies and tracksuits, which I will be pairing with smart shoes and suit jackets. It is good to shake things up”

Music

Along Came Polly Capital FM’s new breakfast DJ explains how she landed her dream job in her hometown Polly James is in the middle of moving house; her morning consisted of a trip to Ikea before she got a phone call from CAPITAL MAN. Don’t worry; she didn’t eat any meatballs though.

We can literally feel James’ excitement as we ask her about her career, and we do not blame her. In January she landed her dream job at Capital FM as she currently co-hosts the weekend breakfast show.

“It was just a little too good to turn down, as the Capital breakfast show was what I had always wanted to do. I love it as it is everything I expected and so much more,” explains James.

The DJ began her career at the community station Afan FM in Port Talbot after sending a demo to hundreds of radio stations across the country. James admits that she almost fell into the career by accident as she had been training to be a professional athlete until the age of 18. Even though she left her athletics behind to pursue a career in radio, she still uses the sport to achieve success. James explains how the competitive nature of sport enabled her to adapt well to the world, it gave her the ability to ignore the critics that tried to persuade her that this was an industry that would be too hard to crack.

“I was fiercely ambitious to get my foot in the door and because I had the self-belief I had when I did the athletics

it really pushed me forward. For me it was quite a smooth ride but I think it was because I had the right attitude and mentality. I listened and learnt a lot,” says James.

The ride was one that led her to Absolute Radio, a time that she still remembers fondly. Her show was the polar opposite to her current radio show as she was given the night shift, working weeknights 12am-6am. She describes her callers as ones who were either drunk or insomniac but always

“When I reached that age the real world hit and I realised I had to decide what I wanted to do”

Polly’s Cardiff Picks

Hilton Pancake House Costa Coffee Fabulous Welsh Cakes Viva Brazil

willing to grab a MacDonald’s if she hinted about being hungry on air.

Although she expressed that the decision to leave Absolute and London was incredibly difficult, the Cardiff born and bred DJ seems finally settled.

“It is so refreshing for me to talk about things that mean I don’t have to Google it to check I am saying it right.

On Capital FM it is like being in the pub with your mates and chatting

to them! I feel so honoured to be back in Cardiff and doing a job I absolutely love.”

The breakfast show airs 8am-12pm, weekends on Capital FM

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After a five year hiatus, the New York singer-songwriter is back with his third album and a sell-out tour. Since his breakthrough in 2005 he’s toured with Mumford and Sons, Radiohead and Damien Rice. CAPITAL MAN caught up with Mason before playing at Cardiff’s Glee Club.

Willy Mason is intense. He spends the interview leaning against a garish pink and orange wall, a stark contrast to the personality he reveals and casual attire he wears. He speaks softly in an east coast drawl, every word carefully thought of and never out of place.

“I like Cardiff. The music store has an incredible guitar collection, you have fewer subways and the people seem very happy for a sunny day.” He definitely has a feel for Cardiff.

New York is a very different place.

We ask what it’s like to live in such a thriving metropolis. He pauses and then explains that singing in the city is great as there are a lot of other singers around to learn from.

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The return of Willy Mason Mason has developed as a musician and his career is on the rise. His third album, Carry On, was praised by the BBC for maintaining ‘a raft of rousing fresh dimensions’.

For the first time Mason worked with Dan Carey, a London producer who has worked on Hot Chip and Kylie’s albums, and together they have created a more experimental sound.

“When I wrote the songs they were more open-ended than previous songs I had written,” he explains. “So I thought I would bring in someone else and get a new perspective. Dan brought a whole new lot of toys and techniques that I had never used before.”

These toys included second-hand drum boxes from past decades, keyboards and guitar pedals, electric guitars and lots of pieces of technical equipment.

“The song I am most proud of is Carry On, it’s the best lyrically. I like it when songs paint a picture and are not just about feelings,” Mason explains.

“There is a short story in the last verse of Carry On. There is an old guy sitting down at the bar thinking about moths and angels...”

Later when we watched the gig, the audience would stand still, mesmerized by his skills as a musical raconteur.

Carry On is out now

Q & A Q: What music are you listening to at the moment?

A: I’m listening to a lot of Moondog who was a blind composer in the 50s in New York.

Q: Is Willy Mason your stage name?

A: I was born William Mason and then my parents gave me the nickname Willy so it is real. I am all real, well most of the time...

Q: What are your plans for summer this year?

A: This summer there are lots of festivals but I am also taking some time off so I need to think of something cool to do.

Q: Tell us something surprising about yourself.

A: I can yodel, which I learnt from my dad.

Q: Where will you be in five years time?

A: I hope to be living somewhere warm and cheap, maybe running a record label or on a boat.

Q: If it was your last day on earth and you were in Cardiff, how would you spend it?

A: I would want to have a big dance party with all my friends, somewhere outside with really good soul music and rock ’n roll, anything funky.

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Tech

I took this photo with my SAMSUNG 28 |

Garlands Eatery, Duke Street Arcade. Shot with a Samsung Galaxy Ace using the Awesome Miniature tilt-shift app

techno delights

Top 5

Remote Control Cushion £19.99

photo apps

Using infrared LED technology, this 6-in-1 universal remote control cushion is the perfect solution to helping you find your favourite TV programme faster. With codes for over 500 remote control devices, the cushion contains a smart auto shutdown feature. Batteries required. Menkind.co.uk

Capital Man recommends these photography apps for capturing those amazing shots you always wanted.

1 Sketch Guru (free) Transform your images into sketches this app allows you to seamlessly import images from Facebook and Flickr to Sketch Guru. Choose from 13 different effects including comic black and white, blackboard and pencil sketch.

2 Awesome minature (Basic version: free or Upgrade: £2.55) A fantastic tilt-shift app to create the illusion of everything being minature.

The free verison gives you a linear blur and allows you to save in two different formats, while the upgrade gives you two additional blurs including radial and oval.

It also lets you save in a resolution of up to 2048px. The app sports a range of powerful editing tools too.

3 Cartoon Camera (free) See the world through a different lens.

A brilliant app allowing you to create cartoon and sketch images with your camera in real time. There are 12 effects including cartoon, colour drawing, sepia and coloured edges. The only way we could think to improve this would be the ability to film through the lens.

4 Pudding Camera (free) A great app that combines nine quality cameras including fish-eye, panorama and fantasy and eight beautiful films allowing you to create unique images in real-time. Functions include exposure controls, face recognition and size adjustments. We love this app for experimenting with different effects.

5 Pro HDR Camera (£1.25) A really cool tool for giving your images an HDR (high dynamic range) treatment by merging the highlights and lowlights of highly contrasted photos to create balanced images.

Bond Blazer at Luke, St David’s 2. Shot with a Samsung Galaxy Ace using the Awesome Miniature tilt-shift app

time saving

gadgets

The must have buys for any man wanting to make his life a bit easier iRobot Roomba 660 £355.39

Hoovering, mopping and cleaning your floors could be a thing of the past with this nifty little robot.

The Roomba 660 is the latest addition to the iRobot family and can be preset to clean for you, removing dirt, debris and hair from carpets, hardwood, tile and laminate floors. It even skirts under and around furniture. ysto.co.uk

Self-stirring Mug £9.99

The name speaks for itself.

This mug not only saves you having to stir your hot beverage but means there is one less spoon to wash up. Unfortunately, you have to provide the batteries Husqvarna Automower yourself, but it does come 220 AC £1,429.99 with a lid, which avoids Keep your lawn in tip spillages and keeps your top shape all year round drink warm for longer. without so much as menkind.co.uk stepping outside. This fancy gadget will mow Livescribe Wifi Smartpen the lawn for you and £114.06 find its own way back to This smartpen digitizes the charging station for everything you say and write recharging. It is suitable and automatically sends it for areas up to 1800 m² to your personal Evernote and can even be set to account. Audio can be replayed cut complicated garden from the Livescribe dot shapes. paper, a computer, tablet or lawnmowersdirect.co.uk smartphone. This 2GB gadget allows you to write on paper or tablet and can hold about 200 hours of audio. compare.ebay.co.uk

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Do you ever have five minutes to spare on the way back from the office? If so, take a moment to discover the more unique sights of the Capital. Although Cardiff has its popular attractions, there are still some secret gems to admire.

Next time you’re strolling down The Hayes, pay attention to the pillars.

These sleeping policemen hide secrets. Peer in the “Look in here” eye to discover what’s lurking within.

Whilst strolling through Bute park on a clear day, there is a particular spot that represents 2,000 years of Cardiff’s history, capturing the castle, church and stadium all in one perfect shot.

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Cardiff sights you’ve walked right by

Wander around the Bay and you may stumble upon this intricate white sculpture. It commemorates Antarctic adventurer, Captain Scott and peers out over the water where he set sail in 1910. Why not pop into the Terra Nova and raise a glass to his famous ship while you’re there?

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5hidden

Discover the city’s past at The Cardiff Story. Find out about the people that have lived and loved in the Capital.

Make time to walk down the magnificent tiled corridor, fully restored to its original glory.

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Travel

Hidden away in the Royal Arcade, this doorway acts like a gateway to times past. David Morgan department store traded in The Hayes for 125 years before finally closing its famous doors in 2005. This sign is a pleasant reminder of Cardiff’s retail history.

Places we love... ...to relax

...for a pint

...for lunch

BUTE PARK

ZERO DEGREES

NEW YORK DELI

There is no better place to unwind from a long week than in the picturesque Bute Park.

CM loves: The park’s Secret Garden Cafe

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27 Westgate Street This microbrewery promises beer “without the nasties”.

CM loves: The pale ale and picante pizza

19 High Street Arcade Grab yourself a taste of the Big Apple at this city centre deli.

CM loves: The New York Hoagie

CARDIFF’S

Sister Cities STUTTGART

NANTES

Ever wondered why two of Cardiff’s main streets are called Boulevard De Nantes and Stuttgarter Strasse?

Stuttgart and Nantes are two of the five cities twinned with the Welsh capital. Next time you decide to take a break from Cardiff, why not keep it in the family? Visit a sister city following CAPITAL MAN’s top tips.

Left: La Maison bar, Nante.

Right: König Wilhelm Jubilee Column, Stuttgart

Why go now?

What should you do?

What to eat?

Stuttgart: The capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany was originally called Stuttengarten, meaning ‘mare’s garden’. Stuttgart is the sixth largest city in the country, situated in the south of Germany.

Just like Cardiff, Stuttgart is quite a large city with a small-town vibe. There is lots of culture to soak up and it holds food, drink, film and music festivals throughout the year. The perfect break for any Capital Man.

Stuttgart: Porsche Museum: Audio guides will take you through the history of the luxury sports car from 1948 to the present day. Make sure you take a minute to see the 911 GT1 that won Le Mans in 1998.

If you’re visiting during September, definitely get down to Volksfest on the Cannstater Wasen. Without doubt, this is more friendly and more ‘German’ (i.e. not so many, if any, Australian tourists) than Oktoberfest in Munich and far less crowded. All the fun of beertents and rollercoasters combined.

The König Wilhelm Jubilee Column stands in the city centre, lined by fountains which represent the eight rivers of Baden-Württemberg.

Stuttgart: When visiting Stuttgart, make sure you try Spätzle, a type of egg noodle of soft texture - delicious with chicken paprikash.

Noodles not for you? Grab a bowl of Gaisburger Marsch, a traditional Swabian beef stew - far more tasty than it sounds!

Nantes: Situated in Western France is another exciting city. With its picturesque cathedrals, museums, monuments and landmarks, you can find inspiration around every corner.

There are also many unique bars including La Maison, a bar that has been set up in the style of a 1970s French house. Whether you’re drinking at a bathtub or leaning against a cooker enjoying a cocktail, you will feel right at home here.

Nantes: Musée des Beaux-Arts: The perfect way for any art lover to spend an afternoon. This museum hosts some of the best paintings outside Paris including works by Monet, Picasso and Kandinsky.

Nantes: Le Sélect: The best place for a sandwich. The huge menu board is always chalked full with amazing daily specials.

Next month:

Hordaland and Luhansk. | 33

How to...

survive a zombie apocalypse scenario

places

You are on Working Street, strolling past St. David’s Hall and the sounds of the large television screen catch your attention. One word stands out: zombie. An anxious, dishevelled newsreader is frantically trying to relay the horrible news.

A highly infectious virus, ZV, has been released into the air causing multiple deaths. It gets worse: the dead decompose at an accelerated rate and return to some form of life. They feed on flesh, attack indiscriminately and a bite will turn a person into a zombie.

They may be slow and unintelligent but as a collective lumbering unit, they have terrifying power.

Several cities have fallen victim to ZV but now the first zombie attacks are in Cardiff. The roads are jammed, phone lines will go down soon and help will take a while to arrive.

So, you have limited time to get yourself ready. What do you do first?

Where do you go? What will you need?

You’ll need to bear in mind the three universally accepted zombie laws.

1 The way to kill a zombie is to remove the head or destroy the brain.

2 Zombies do not run but are extremely aggressive and will attack any living person.

3 If bitten, a ZV-infected person will turn into a zombie within 30 minutes.

There is no cure.

There may be no fortresses or underground high security bunkers, but there are plenty of places in Cardiff to stay safe.

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Top 3 safe places in Cardiff:

Cardiff Castle

Of course. A stronghold that has stood for 1000 years: it has high, stone walls, a motte and bailey keep and large grass areas to spot the undead from a distance. And as a last resort, air raid shelters with a capacity of 1800 people were built during the Second World War. Get in there, set up some barbed wire and make your last stand.

Topman, Queen Street This may be an odd choice but here’s the evidence. The shop is on multiple floors allowing for several defensive strongpoints. In case of a last stand, you can retreat to the upper level and destroy the only staircase and you get to fight off zoms while keeping your style.

Cardiff Bay

One of the things zombies are no good at, including breakdancing, art theory and moisturising – although perversely they are skilled at brain surgery – is swimming. So head to the Bay, hijack a boat and sail into the sunset. Just make sure you’re a capable fisherman.

checklist Stay in town: the roads will already be grid locked with fleeing mobs.

Team up: working in a small group raises chances of survival considerably, 4 to 6 people is the ideal group size.

Food: head to St. Mary Street for supermarkets but expect looting.

Only get canned goods and nonperishables.

Water: a person needs 1 gallon of water a day so stock up, if desperate remember the water in a house boiler will keep you alive for a month.

Arm yourself: a baseball bat, or blunt object are effective weaponry. If you’re lucky, Arthur Bale & Sons on Richmond Road may still have guns.

Tools: a knife, duct tape, torches, a battery powered radio and a backpack, all available at Costwold Outdoor, Wharton Street. Go to Boots for First Aid kits.

Making Camp:. rope and gas bottles will make any space safer.

Pots and pans on a wire will serve as a rudimentary alarm system.

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