20 minute read
In The Words Of
… and just like that, Christmas is here! I am not going to jinx anything by saying, “Let’s hope we can celebrate it as normal”, or should I say: “Let’s have a party like Mark Drakeford did the other week celebrating Diwali with no mask in sight or fear of catching the ‘you-know-what’!”
This year, I hope you all get to have a pleasant and relaxing time, whatever that may ensue from whatever you happen to do. Remember that life is best handled with a positive outlook rather than waiting for some doom and gloom merchant ruining the day - usually a politician!
CHRISTMAS IDEAS / SUGGESTIONS
Horrible Histories - Cardiff Airport - 22/23 December.
It’s only a month until Christmas Eve, but before then, Horrible Histories are finally coming to Cardiff Airport with Car Park Panto’s Horrible Christmas show, having been cancelled last year due to lockdown, (us) locals will finally get the chance to see the newest addition to the festive family treat! You can bring babies, grandparents and even the dog! If they fit in the car (legally!), you can bring them along to join in the Horrible fun—one price per car. Everyone is welcome. They don’t mind if you’re wearing PJs, fancy dress, or your best Christmas jumper. Bring blankets, sleeping bags, or your favourite festive hat and get comfy in your car. in the car, you really can bring them with you to enjoy the show! They can’t guarantee they won’t sleep through it, but that’s probably no bad thing! Car park panto is priced ‘per car’, so your passengers are up to you. And if that’s your dog, then that’s fine with the organisers! You can control your environment in your car to suit your family. If you need calm and comfort, you can create that. I’m told that if you want to bring your own treats and snacks, that’s no problem (do bring a whole picnic if you want to!). As you will be in your own car, you can sit back, relax and safely enjoy the Horrible fun.
by Carl Marsh
INTERVIEWS
As it’s Christmas, I deemed it rather fitting that I interviewed two acts that always go down a treat at this time of year. So my first chat is with Dave Hill from the band Slade who created maybe one of the most recognisable Christmas songs of all time [Merry Xmas Everybody]; they will be playing at the Tramshed on Friday 3rd December - so get your tickets ASAP!
My next chat is with Cardiff’s very own Lucie Jones, who first rose to fame as a finalist on ITV’s The X Factor in 2009. Since then, she has starred in roles such as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Maureen in RENT and Molly in Ghost, and represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017. She is currently playing the role of Jenna Hunterson in Waitress for the show’s first UK tour, having first played the role at London’s Adelphi Theatre, after spending the summer playing Fantine in Les Misérables: The Staged Concert. Lucie Jones at Christmas will feature songs that she has sung either on the stage or from one of her albums. She will be performing at St David’s Hall on Monday 13th December.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas,
see you all next year,
Carl Marsh
Twitter - @InTheWordsOf_CM Facebook - @InTheWordsOf YouTube - InTheWordsOf
It wouldn’t be Christmas without hearing Slade’s ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’, and this year you can go one better by seeing them perform it live at Tramshed in Cardiff on Friday 3rd December. Being in the band since its formation in the 1960s, Dave Hill was always my favourite when growing up in the 70s as his dress style and haircuts were cool and crazy, even for that era! So it was a childhood dream to speak to Dave one day about his style from back then, and that I did - so please enjoy!
Carl Marsh
You were always my favourite in the band because you always stood out with your persona, and your hairstyles were incredible, and you know, your dress sense was unique.
Dave Hill - Slade
Yeah, well, I enjoyed it, I can assure you [laughs].
Carl Marsh
Was it always down to you to decide on your style, or did you have people behind the scenes guiding you to dress and look a certain way?
Dave Hill - Slade
No, no, no, it’s totally me. Oh no. Everything I did was down to me. I did have two designers working for me on the clothes that came from Birmingham. So I’d have the ideas, and then I took them to them; then they developed the costumes according to what I was doing. Sometimes I might be going to Japan, so I’d be looking for a kimono, which looked a little bit glam rock. The costumes you saw me wearing on Top of the Pops were all done by those two people apart from an outfit called the ‘Metal Nun’, which was all down to me. That was a bit of a creative moment down on my dad’s house [Laughter]. They didn’t do that one, and it’s the most talked-about costume. You may remember me wearing it (on Top of the Pops) when ‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ was number one? But it made quite an impact that costume did.
The boots were purely my idea to have the raised platforms and to have them coloured. There was a guy in London making boots in Kensington, and he used to make whatever you wanted whenever you said, “Can you do this?” So most of the things you saw were a creation of my own imagination. So, therefore, what you saw - nobody was ever telling me - I was always doing it myself. My manager Chas Chandler loved it. We were very conscious in the band of what we wore, and I became such a strong image, which I loved and enjoyed. And I developed that image as each time we went on Top of the Pops, I’d wear something different - that was important to me. So you get another impact, and you remember that, don’t you?
Carl Marsh
Oh yes! Every time I was like, “What’s he gonna wear now?”
Dave Hill - Slade
I’ve heard that comment many times. [Laughter], but it worked. It worked. And it was much liked by many different people. It worked worldwide, and it was me, by the way, that’s genuine. It was exactly how I was; there was nothing false about it. It was always my own personal development - with two people working for me - who really came up with these great ideas.
Born and bred just north of Cardiff in Pentyrch, Lucie Jones first appeared on our screens in The X Factor in 2009. Since The X Factor - besides representing the UK in 2017’s Eurovision Song Contest - and to this day, she has made a career for herself in musicals in the West End and on tours around the world. This Christmas, she is coming home to Cardiff and performing her Lucie Jones at Christmas at St David’s Hall on Monday 13th December. I grabbed a quick chat with her in-between her touring role of Jenna Hunterson in the Waitress UK tour.
Carl Marsh
I can’t believe it’s been 12 years since you were on The X Factor because I used to live in Miskin and I’d drive along to the Vale Hotel, and there would be a great big sign saying ‘Vote for Lucie on The X Factor’ or words like that!
Lucie Jones
I know, it’s flown by, hasn’t it? My godparents did that as they have a friend who does all the things you buy at the rugby like daffodil hats and stuff like that. And he had huge banners made, and every time any of my friends drove anywhere, they’d say to me, “I’ve just seen another banner for you!” [Laughs]
Carl Marsh
Do you still pinch yourself knowing that show gave you this incredible career that you now have, as it seems like it’s been non-stop for you?
Lucie Jones
Yeah, I have been very lucky. It was an incredible opportunity to get into the industry that I always wanted to be in. I had a great time. Not everybody has a great time on that show [The X Factor]. Don’t get me wrong, I have worked extremely hard, but I have also been extremely lucky. It’s been a fun time so far!
Carl Marsh
For your night in Cardiff, and having been in so many stage shows, it must have been a nightmare for you to choose the songs you want to sing?
Lucie Jones
Do you know what, can I tell you a small secret? I haven’t finalised my setlist because it’s impossible! It’s impossible. But, you’re absolutely right as I’m lucky that I’ve got a whole catalogue of things to pick from, and I’ve got Christmas this year as well. So, I’ve got a very realistic long list. Sorry, I should say, shortlist as I won’t get to do them all. There’s just a little bit of shaving off that I need to do, but yeah, you’re right. It’s a difficult thing to do picking my favourites. It’s like picking your favourite child.
Carl Marsh
You must be so excited that your family and friends can come and see you perform locally rather than having to go all the way to London?
Lucie Jones
Absolutely, and my friends from school and my childhood growing up, and all those kinds of people, so it’s great to be home and have them all come. So I’m very excited to have an audience of homely people.
The last 12 months has really flagged up the importance of communication with family and friends when we have been forced to be apart. For those suffering with hearing loss, this has been a very lonely and isolatingtime. With thisin mind, I wanted to put a little piece together to explain about how ourhearing works, and why we should be looking after it. YOUR HEARING ISVERY IMPORTANT It allows you to communicate with loved ones, appreciate your favourite sounds and process the world around you. Your ears and your brain work together to provide a soundscape ofeveryenvironment you're in, even when you're asleep. Your ears collect the sound but it' s your brains job to interpret it. If our hearing changes then our ears aren'tcollecting all the sound that our brain needstowork properly. Family communication is vital, whether hearing loss affects the family or not. Hearing loss notonly changes our relationships to the world but also how we relate toour families and how they respond to us. COMMUNICATION IS KEY We find that because of familiarities within the familydynamics, we get complacent with each other and we tend toget lazy with our communication. We sometimes speak when facing away from the person we are talking to, or shout from another room expectingto be heard around walls and corners. We don't do this on purpose but failure to communicate properly within the family can create relationship stress and anxieties we do notneed. TREAT IT EARLY If hearing loss iscaught early on there is a lot we can do toeradicate these problems, the longer its ignored the more difficult this becomes. Treating a hearing loss will not only help us to hearbetter but italso helps with our balance, our ability to tell which direction sounds are coming from, our shortterm memory processing and the icing on the cake: it helps to slow the hearing deterioration preventing cognitive changes. We get our eyes and 1 IN 6 ADULTS HAVE HEARING LOSS This month we have turned our health page over to Viney Hearing Care to find out how important healthy hearing is to our quality of life. "Your ears and your bmin wor/; together lo provide a sou ndsca pe of every environment you're in, even when you're asleep. Your ears col/eel the sound but it's your bminsjob lo interpret it."
teeth checked on a regular basis to flag T he last 12 months has really flagged up the importance of communication with family and friends when we have been forced up any underlying issues, we need to add hearing to that maintenance list. Good communication is vital for our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. By neglecting our hearing, we create barriers to better health and to be apart. For those suffering with communication to those who matter to hearing loss, this has been a very lonely us most. and isolatingtime. With thisin mind, I Regardless of our age hearing aids can wanted to put a little piece together to improve not only our hearing but also explain about how ourhearing works, our family relationships and quality and why we should be looking after it. of life. The whole family benefit when hearing loss is treated properly and YOUR HEARING ISVERY effectively. IMPORTANT It allows you to communicate with SOUND ADVICE loved ones, appreciate your favourite It's important to get your hearing sounds and process the world around checked and here at Viney Hearing you. Your ears and your brain work we have over 35 years experience together to provide a soundscape with outlets in Sketty, Swansea and ofeveryenvironment you're in, even Whitchurch, Cardiff, so it couldn't be when you're asleep. Your ears collect easier to visit us and we offer free ear the sound but it' s your brains job to health checks and free hearing aid interpret it. If our hearing changes then clean and checks. our ears aren'tcollecting all the sound You are guaranteed impartial and that our brain needstowork properly. professional advice using the latest in Family communication is vital, whether hearing technology. We look forward to hearing loss affects the family or not. helping you hear better. Hearing loss notonly changes our relationships to the world but also how we relate toour families and how they respond to us. COMMUNICATION IS KEY We find that because of familiarities Get Your Free Ear Health Check within the familydynamics, we get complacent with each other We need to do a better job and we tend toget lazy with our of looking after our hearing, communication. We sometimes speak and in turn keep our brains when facing away from the person we are talking to, or shout from another room expectingto be heard around and balance healthy. It takes less than an hour to assess walls and corners. your hearing health, and We don't do this on purpose but failure the sooner a hearing loss is to communicate properly within the detected the better. family can create relationship stress and anxieties we do notneed. If you would like to arrange a free hearing assessment, TREAT IT EARLY please call Viney Hearing If hearing loss iscaught early on there is a lot we can do toeradicate these today, Swansea 01792 204886 or Cardiff 02920 250121. problems, the longer its ignored the more difficult this becomes. Treating
a hearing loss will not only help us to hearbetter but italso helps with our balance, our ability to tell which �ney Hearing Care direction sounds are coming from, our shortterm memory processing and the icing on the cake: it helps to slow the hearing deterioration preventing cognitive changes. We get our eyes and The South Wales Magazine 53
1 IN 6 ADULTS HAVE HEARING LOSS This month we have turned our health page over to Viney Hearing Care to find out how important healthy hearing is to our quality of life. "Your ears and your bmin wor/; together lo provide a sou ndsca pe of every environment you're in, even when you're asleep. Your ears col/eel the sound but it's your bminsjob lo interpret it."
teeth checked on a regular basis to flag up any underlying issues, we need to add hearing to that maintenance list. Good communication is vital for our T to be apart. he last 12 months has really flagged up the importance of communication with family and friends when we have been forced For those suffering with mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. By neglecting our hearing, we create barriers to better health and communication to those who matter to us most. Regardless of our age hearing aids can improve not only our hearing but also our family relationships and quality hearing loss, this has been a very lonely of life. The whole family benefit when and isolatingtime. With thisin mind, I hearing loss is treated properly and wanted to put a little piece together to effectively. explain about how ourhearing works, and why we should be looking after it. SOUND ADVICE It's important to get your hearing YOUR HEARING ISVERY checked and here at Viney Hearing IMPORTANT we have over 35 years experience with outlets in Sketty, Swansea and It allows you to communicate with Whitchurch, Cardiff, so it couldn't be loved ones, appreciate your favourite easier to visit us and we offer free ear sounds and process the world around you. Your ears and your brain work together to provide a soundscape ofeveryenvironment you're in, even when you're asleep. Your ears collect the sound but it' s your brains job to health checks and free hearing aid clean and checks. You are guaranteed impartial and professional advice using the latest in hearing technology. We look forward to helping you hear better. interpret it. If our hearing changes then our ears aren'tcollecting all the sound that our brain needstowork properly. Family communication is vital, whether Get Your Free Ear hearing loss affects the family or no Hearing loss notonly changes our t. Health Check relationships to the world but also how we relate toour families and how they We need to do a better job respond to us. of looking after our hearing, and in turn keep our brains COMMUNICATION IS KEY and balance healthy. It takes We find that because of familiarities less than an hour to assess within the familydynamics, we your hearing health, and get complacent with each other the sooner a hearing loss is and we tend toget lazy with our detected the better. communication. We sometimes speak If you would like to arrange when facing away from the person we a free hearing assessment, are talking to, or shout from another please call Viney Hearing room expectingto be heard around walls and corners. We don't do this on purpose but failure today, Swansea 01792 204886 or Cardiff 02920 250121. to communicate properly within the
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teeth checked on a regular basis to flag up any underlying issues, we need to add hearing to that maintenance list. Good communication is vital for our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. By neglecting our hearing, we create barriers to better health and communication to those who matter us most. Regardless of our age hearing aids can improve not only our hearing but also our family relationships and quality of life. The whole family benefit when hearing loss is treated properly and effectively. SOUND ADVICE It's important to get your hearing checked and here at Viney Hearing we have over 35 years experience with outlets in Sketty, Swansea and Whitchurch, Cardiff, so it couldn't be easier to visit us and we offer free ear health checks and free hearing aid clean and checks. You are guaranteed impartial and professional advice using the latest in hearing technology. We look forward helping you hear better. Get Your Free Ear Health Check
We need to do a better job of looking after our hearing, and in turn keep our brains and balance healthy. It takes less than an hour to assess your hearing health, and the sooner a hearing loss is detected the better. If you would like to arrange a free hearing assessment, please call Viney Hearing today, Swansea 01792 204886 CARDIFF TIMES 19 or Cardiff 02920 250121.
