JULY COVER WITH SPINE
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ISSUE 50
LivingWales JULY 2010
ISSUE 50
Made in Wales!
LIVING WALES MAGAZINE
FILMS FASHION MUSIC & THEATRE BARBECUE ACCESSORIES WHAT’S ON BUSINESS NEWPORT IN BLOOM GWENT ADVENTURES WIN TICKETS TO THE WELSH PROMS & MUCH MORE...
INTERVIEW We speak to Only Men Aloud Director Tim Rhys-Evans
PLUS
Festival of flavour
Help for your business worth
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JULY 2010
Recipes, reviews and details of this years Abergavenny Food Festival INSIDE
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JULY welcome & contents
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welcome Publishing Editor Nick Clarke nick@livingwalesmag.co.uk Assistant Editor Emma Assender emma@livingwalesmag.co.uk Production Glyn Harding glyn@livingwalesmag.co.uk Website Manager Phil Page webmaster@livingwalesmag.co.uk Advertising 01495 750600 Production production@livingwalesmag.co.uk Accounts accounts@livingwalesmag.co.uk Contributers Jason Roberts, Michael Took, Patricia Clarke, Nick Jones, Gavin Watkins, Anne-Marie Smith Office telephone 01495 750600 Website www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
Living Wales magazine is part of the Out & Out Publishing Group Ltd, 2 Town Bridge Buildings, Park Road, Pontypool, Gwent. NP4 6JE Out & Out Publishing Ltd Managing Director Nick Clarke
O we’ve passed the mid-point of the year already and looking forward to what the rest of the summer brings - hopefully lots more of that glorious sunshine! This month the team here at Living Wales have been slogging through the heat to bring you the best of the great Welsh outdoors: from sailing on Llandegveth reservoir to restaurant reviews at the Three Horseshoes in Pentwynmawr and fine dining on the TwentyTen Golf Course at the Celtic Manor Resort. We look at the numerous festivals happening, from the pageantry of the Eisteddfod, to the deeply soulful Blues Festival in Abertillery to name but a few. Also featured are the gastronomical delights that are the Great British Cheese Festival in Cardiff and the Abergavenny Food Festival to give you some ideas to digest (literally!). But it’s not just about feeding the stomach, we’re about feeding the mind, too - so how about taking the family off to the Storytelling Festival at St Donat’s Castle? If you’re in the mood for some more history there’s no better time to explore the wealth of castles here in Wales; discover their secrets in our castles guide on pages 10 & 11. Now, there’s no better way to eat dinner at this time of year like outside: somehow food just tastes better, doesn’t it? On this premise we’ve put together a few ideas for cooking al-fresco including barbeques and fun ideas for everyone to have a great time. And while you’re feeling inspired to try your culinary skills, try the Pollock with Spanish Butter Beans Recipe on page 28 from star Chef, Stephen Terry - perfect for adding a continental flavour to the balmy evenings. Our fashion pages didn’t escape the al-fresco appeal either, and we feature some effortlessly chic festival outfits to see you through the blazing sunshine and hot tunes on pages 39-40. For the evening we’ve picked out some hot designs guaranteed to ensure that you keep your cool in flowing florals for that summer soiree. We’ve also featured some handy tips for keeping the hassle of Hayfever at bay this summer and we have our regular finance piece, this month giving us the low down on the inauguaral Tory budget. Finally local enterprise 4ward Development have an exciting new offer for businesses. They are offering FREE help towards a ‘people MOT’ worth £500 - see pages 46-47 for this fantastic offer. Have a great July and we’ll see you for next month’s sizzling August issue! Enjoy!
S
Emma
Please note that all views of advertisers or individuals within the magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher. No image, editorial or advert contained within this magazine can be reproduced without permission from the publisher.
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Living Wales JULY 2010
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
JULY welcome & contents
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contents
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16 6 What’s On Your guide to what’s on this July.
The second remake stars Jaden Smith (Will Smith Jr) in Martial Arts movie remake The Karate Kid. We also take a look at the latest Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
8-9 Interview We speak to Only Men Aloud Musical Director Tim Rhys-Evans.
10-11 Castles of Wales We visit some of the most beautiful historic castles of the Principality.
14-15 Sailing Sailing at Llandegvedd Reservoir with Gwent Adventures.
16-17 Eisteddfod
32 Music & Theatre Celebrating 25 Year’s of the Welsh Proms PLUS your chance to win two tickets to this years event.
34 Health Hayfever help with allergy therapist Emma Assender.
36-38 Fashion Maxi dresses and fashion from Republic.
39-43 Interiors
Ebbw Vale welcomes this year’s National Eisteddfod.
We step outside the home and into the garden with some fantastic accessories for a Summer of Barbecues.
18-29 Eating Out
44 Business
In our extended food special this month, we take a look at this years Abergavenny Food Festival. We go from pub grub to A La Carte with our restaurant reviews, visiting the warm and friendly Three Horseshoes in Blackwood and the fabulous Rafters Restaurant at The Celtic Manor Resort. Finally top Chef and BBC’s Great British Menu regular Stephen Terry supplies this month’s recipe.
30-31 At The Movies This July we see an influx of 80’s remakes which include the new A Team movie starring Liam Neeson and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
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The latest news from HOVIP, Heads of the Valley Innovation Programme.
45 Finance Advice from Gavin Watkins of Medina Lynch Chartered Accountants.
46-47 Business Feature 4WARD Development.
50 Places to Stay Fantastic places to stay in the Principality.
36 JULY 2010 Living Wales
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JULY 2010 what's on
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WHAT’S ON
JULY 2nd-4th
JULY 2nd-4th
BEYOND THE BORDER STORYTELLING FESTIVAL ST DONATS CASTLE
WAKESTOCK ABERSOCH, NORTH WALES
THE world will come to South Wales this Summer with the Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival at St Donats Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan. From Georgia to Gambia and England to Egypt, storytellers, singers and musicians will descend on the idyllic setting of St Donats Castle for the UK’s leading festival on storytelling in a weekend of inspirational tale telling with great food and drink aplenty. Highlights this year include In The Footsteps of Marco Polo, stories from Arabia in Nights in Baghdad and Celtic stories, including two from the Mabinogion which will be retold in words, music and song in a series of stories entitled Out of the Twilight. Nearly 20 storytellers will feature including Sergio Diotti from Italy, Melanie Ray from Canada and Wales’s own Sioned Davies. Sioned is Head of Welsh Studies at the University of Wales, Cardiff and author of the recent critically-acclaimed Welsh translation of The Mabinogion.
WAKESTOCK is Europe’s biggest Wakeboarding festival. The fusion between extreme sport of live music attracts up to 15,000 people during the first weekend of July. Take in the fierce boarding competitions during the day and let the likes of N-Dubz, Maximo Park, Feeder and The Ting Tings entertain you by night. This year's bash has a distinct RnB and Hip-Hop feel to it with support from Mr Hudson, Plan B, Wiley, Tinie Tempah.
JULY 21st CATRIN FINCH GLANDWR UNIVERSITY
JULY 16th ELIS JAMES THE WELFARE HALL, YSTRADGYNLAIS
JULY 6th-10th ROMEO & JULIET WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE IT’S love at first dance when young Romeo Montague tricks his way into the lavish masked ball of the Capulet family. The Capulets and Montagues are sworn enemies, the passion between Romeo and the beautiful Juliet Capulet is quickly forbidden. Boldly forgoing the approval of their families, the young lovers play by their own rules and soon their dangerous seduction is filled with secrets, as the star-crossed pair hatch a perilous plot. With a sweeping score by Sergei Prokofiev and soaring choreography from master of modern ballet, Kenneth MacMillan, Romeo and Juliet continues to be the all-time classic love story.
selection of thirty live events taking place in a packed two weeks. There will also be a collection of daytime Proms to enjoy free of charge. One of the main highlights at this year's event will be Welsh choir Only Men Aloud.
WALES’S hottest young comedian from BBC Radio Wales’s Rhod Gilbert Show, Elis James, took the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe by storm with his debut show. He comes to The Welfare as part of a limited run of strictly Wales-only dates. In the words of fellow Welsh stand-up Rhod Gilbert, "Watching Elis James do stand-up is like watching a man with no arms or legs riding a mechanical bull – interesting and funny.”
JULY 11th-25th WELSH PROMS ST DAVID’S HALL, CARDIFF SINCE its inception in 1986 the Welsh Proms Cardiff has become one of the city’s greatest success stories, known for its lively mix of performances to engage audiences of every age. Join St David’s Hall to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Welsh Proms with a sizzling
WELSH Harpist Catrin Finch performs a concert in the intimate setting of the Catrin Finch Centre at Glyndwr (www.glyndwr.ac.uk) University to mark the 1st anniversary of its opening. The concert will be preceded by a special summer BBQ in the University Quadrangle.
JULY 31st-AUGUST 7th EISTEDDFOD, EBBW VALE THE annual festival attracts around 160,000 visitors every year and alternates between North and South Wales. Stars like Rhydian Roberts, Aled Jones, Only Men Aloud (again!) and Jason Howard will be appearing on the Pavilion stage this year, with a packed programme of Wales’ top entertainers, and those who are from Wales working in other parts of the world.
JULY 9th-11th SMALL NATIONS FESTIVAL GLANGWENLAIS THE Small Nations festival returns to Glangwenlais, Cilycwm with a celebration of the music of Wales and other small nations. Here you will find the best of Welsh and International music in all its wonderful variety. Small Nations Festival is, and will remain, a small festival with a total capacity of 1500.
To find out about the latest arts events in Wales, visit
www.whatsonwales.co.uk 6
Living Wales JULY 2010
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JULY 2010 INTERVIEW
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interview
high
hitting the
note
It’s set to be a busy time in the lives of Welsh Choir sensations Only Men Aloud. This month Emma Assender talks to Musical Director Tim Rhys-Evans. At the time of speaking, Tim Rhys-Evans is travelling on the tour bus to Aberglasney - at least that’s what it sounds like before the telephone network loses connection. But such is the way of Tim’s life since he and is 20 strong choir beat 60 shortlisted hopefuls to the title of winners of the BBC’s Last Choir Standing competition in 2008; travelling is now a major part of all the ensembles’ lives, the logistics of which were the first topic for discussion. I asked Tim if he prefers to conduct smaller groups? “Having been described as a ‘Large Man Band’ (he chuckles wryly) it’s more practical to travel with a smaller ensemble, it works better - we have the tour bus which is far more practical from a transportation point of view.” Of course there are other considerations and the group would not have achieved the success they have without Tim’s commitment to the craft of musical arrangement and showmanship. “There’s a great deal of choreography to our shows which wouldn’t work so well with a larger group.” Certainly watching Only Men Aloud! Is more than just a choral concert, not only does Tim’s tenacious devotion to quality shine through but all the members are trained performers in their own right, some having worked in West End musicals and singing professions - perhaps most notably Noel Sullivan Of Hearsay. Few of the group are strangers to putting on a show. No matter what their background though, they have all come together to raise the profile of singing in Britain. “As a young boy, growing up in New Tredegar, the main access points for music revolved around the mines and chapels. The first time I heard live communal singing was when the male voice choirs toured around. It was an important part of my musical development,” he added. Tim’s career has taken a few turns; initially trained as an opera singer, he discovered a talent for musical arrangement when he picked up the conductor’s baton and directed for himself.
only m
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Living Wales JULY 2010
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JULY 2010 INTERVIEW
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Tim Rhys-Evans
He quickly developed a talent for musical direction and in 2000 set up Only Men Aloud! He’s worked on other projects not only as a free-lance singer but also as a consultant, again extolling the virtues of singing as a means of enhancing confidence, building relationships and boosting morale. This may well go some way to explain Tim’s passion for reintroducing the tradition of singing to the people of Wales. Tim believes that there is so much more to singing than just singing; “It’s life enhancing,” he enthuses. “There’s a strong social side to being part of a choir, it combats isolation and brings people together in a way that we’ve started to lose with the advent of things like Facebook.” Although admitting that he is fan of the internet he affirms that choral singing allows people to connect with and bounce off each other. “Singing’s a good endorphine releaser and encourages a positive mental attitude.” The biggest change was the decision to enter the BBC’s Last Choir Standing competition two years ago. I asked Tim what swung the decision - the answer is modest. “The Choir Administrator saw the advert for the show and we decided to send off a DVD. While we did dare to dream we really only gave it the thought that we’d see how it went. For me it’s about the quality of our music, as long as the arrangements are the very best they can be I’m happy.” Of course, it went all the way for the choir who put in polished and breathtaking performances of traditional arrangements of Cwm Rhondda, alongside re-workings of modern pieces such as Robbie Williams’ Angels and Don’t Rain On My Parade. Having described the experience as ‘one of the most insane in my life’. I asked Tim which aspect of the competition had the biggest impact? “It was the intensity of the process: we were being watched by 7 million people every Saturday night, suddenly everyone knew our name - not just in Wales but nationally as well.”
So, does he think that singing is unique to Wales? “Not uniquely, but the Welsh are naturally gregarious people and are always eager to sing; when we go to the pub, we sing, at a rugby match, we sing and given the history of Wales with political oppression it’s become part of who we are. The Welsh accent is very musical too; it lends itself to song.” Again Tim’s passion for singing comes through and he has a strong vision of where he would like to take the choral tradition starting with attracting more younger people to choirs. In little more than a couple of months Tim has put together a new project, Only Boys Aloud! This one differs from OMA! In that he wants to ‘throw the net as wide as possible’ in order to gather as many boys as possible to sing at the Eisteddfod in July. He’s thrilled to have received over 200 applications for the project of lads between 14 -19 years old who he hopes will feed back into the local choirs and reignite the traditions of the male voice choir in Wales. Tim’s not just involved in performance at the Eisteddfod though, he is ‘honoured’ to be admitted to the Gorsedd this year. “I will be donning my white robes,” he confirms. “White is the highest accolade so it’s very special to me.” But it doesn’t stop there; the group will be touring the USA and the Southern Hemisphere before returning to the UK to tour on home ground. In the meantime though, they haven’t abandoned us ad will be filming a variety show series for TV, featuring special guests to sing with them. So who would Tim most like to sing with? “Bryn Terfel, definitely. Personally, I’d love to duet with Shirley Bassey or Tom Jones, I think a set in Vegas with him would be incredible.” But not Nessa Jenkins? Tim laughs, “No, perhaps not Nessa!!” Only Men Aloud will be at this year’s Welsh Proms at the St David’s Hall this month. For tickets visit www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk. For details of upcoming concerts visit www.onlymenaloud.com
men aloud www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
JULY 2010 Living Wales
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JULY VISIT
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castles
castle beyond the
walls
castles of Wales
WORDS Patricia Clarke
Wales has been referred to as the Land of Castles, and Abbeys, and there are certainly many of them, surrounded by spectacular scenery the castles formed a ring of defence against attacks by the Welsh. Living Wales visits some of these fascinating structures and learn of their history. SCATTERED throughout our Welsh landscape is evidence of how we lived our lives across two thousand years, and even further back in time. The first people to really change our culture to any great extent were the Romans, who were then followed by the Normans in the Eleventh century. Although the Romans built fortresses, often on the sites of existing Iron age fortresses, the Normans went one better using what they found and rebuilt many castles on the sites of the structures the Romans had left behind, establishing market towns and laws. However these laws were not always accepted by the indigenous population of Wales, many of whom returned from England, and fought tooth and nail for their country's freedom alongside our own Prince of Wales, Owain Glyndwr. The churches and castles built by the Normans are Raglan Castle
distinctive in appearance, and have stood the test of time despite attacks on the castles by Welshmen such as the aforementioned Welsh hero, Glyndwr. Welsh history is fascinating, and the easiest way to teach children about their heritage, whilst keeping their attention and interest, is to visit the site of the lesson. Many of our Welsh Mediaeval castles have been taken under the wing of CADW who arrange events throughout each summer; they include re-enactments, long bow archery, Welsh crafts and so much more. HARLECH CASTLE Edward I arrived in Harlech in 1283, and ordered the building of what has been described as an 'iron ring of castles', intended to keep Welsh insurgents at bay. Master architect, Master James of St. George, and his team built this splendid castle situated in the south of the town with amazing views across the surrounding landscape and sea. Even today the castle is imposing, majestic and, standing on solid rock, exudes the usual strength of a typical Norman fortress, its condition even after seven hundred years is testament to the skill of its creators. However, in 1404 the castle was taken by the forces of Owain Glyndwr, and became his home and parliament until, after a long battle in 1408, it was retaken by Henry V, (aka Harry of Monmouth). The War of the Roses saw the castle taken from the Lancastrians by Yorkist Lord Herbert of Raglan after a long siege at the end of the fifteenth century, which inspired the song, Men of Harlech.
KIDWELLY CASTLE Situated on the banks of the Gwendraeth river Kidwelly Castle forms a central position in the town, and was largely a wooden structure falling to the Welsh on several occasions during the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1159 the castle was taken and burnt by Lord Rhys, who rebuilt it in 1190. During the middle of the13th century the building of the strong stone defences, and living quarters was carried out by the owners, the de Chaworth family. The castle was too far away from the fighting to be involved in the Wars of the Roses.
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RHUDDLAN CASTLE This was master architect and castle builder Master James's first build Living Wales JULY 2010
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castles of Wales
JULY VISIT
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castles
Harlech Castle
Conwy Castle
Kidwelly Castle
Chepstow Castle
for Edward I, and stands on the bank of the river Clwyd. There have been several fortresses on the site, one of which was the palace of Gruffydd ap Llewelyn, King of Wales who was ousted by Earl Harold (Godwinson) in 1063; he also burned down the palace; a motte and bailey construction built by Robert of Rhuddlan in 1073 for William The Conqueror. During the 12th and thirteenth centuries the castle's mainly wooden structure was replaced with stone, and it changed hands many times until 1277, when Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, who had assumed the title ‘Prince of Wales’, incurred the wrath of Henry III, who took arms against Llewelyn who submitted to the King at Rhuddlan. 12th and 13th century silver pennies minted at Rhuddlan are on display in the museum. CONWY CASTLE Towering over Conwy town this hugely imposing castle is another triumph of master architect Master James, and building began in 1283 as part of King Edward's iron ring of defence, which included a town wall which still surrounds Conwy: Again, built to protect the English from the Welsh. A suite of apartments was built for King Edward I and Queen Eleanor in 1283, and as the castle is extremely well preserved, visitors are able to walk to the top of its eight impressively solid towers, offering amazing views across the surrounding countryside; visitors can also walk on the top of parts of the town wall. CHEPSTOW CASTLE Probably the first stone-built castle in the country, this was the work of www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
Rhuddlan Castle
Tretower Court
Norman, William FitzOsbern, genius castle builder extraordinaire of the 11th century. Chepstow castle is uniquely built apon the cliff overlooking and guarding the River Wye, and was added to in three stages, the first of which began in 1067. The Great Hall is the oldest surviving stone fortification in Britain, the doorway arch of which was built with bricks from a nearby Roman fort, most probably from Caerwent. During the 13th century the castle was owned by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, and he along with his sons improved the defences and modernised the building. Regicide Henry Martens was imprisoned, for twenty years, in the tower named after him. RAGLAN CASTLE Mainly constructed with sandstone, this 15th century Raglan castle is a sight to behold, as the sandstone is of two colours, red and yellow. This majestic Tudor castle was initially inhabited by William ap Thomas, ‘The Blue Knight of Gwent’, who fought at Agincourt with King Henry V in 1415, and he was succeeded by Sir William Herbert of Pembroke, who continued the castle's construction. Henry Tudor, who became King Henry VII, spent much of his childhood at Raglan castle. There are six corner turrets, and the Great Tower or Yellow Tower was badly damaged during the Civil War. Information about any of these castles, and many others can be found on the CADW website, the word Cadw means 'to keep'. For further information on opening times and exhibits Tel: 01443 33 6000 or Fax: 01443 33 6001 and Email Cadw@Wales.gsi.gov.uk. JULY 2010 Living Wales
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Wales In Bloom
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Nurturing young writers with Newport In Bloom THE aim of the Young People’s Writing Squads is to locate gifted young writers - in both English and Welsh - in each authority region and introduce them to some of Wales’ leading writers, and teachers of writing. Known as the Key Stage 2 Writing Squad, Fourteen Locks welcome 21 pupils once a term, to the canal, to allow the natural beauty and surroundings influence their creative writing skills. With walks and wildlife to inspire the young writer’s it’s all about letting the canal create pictures in their minds so that ideas flow easily - and there’s plenty of natural beauty at Fourteen Locks. With the changing seasons there is always something new to see and something new to imagine. The link with ‘Newport In Bloom’ is clear to see - it’s a stunningly beautiful environment, with its deep, atmospheric locks surrounded by trees, plants and flowers that almost seem to hold secrets! In a recent writing workshop, Duffryn Junior School pupil, Rory Thomas wrote; ‘As the golden sun rose, a gleaming light was sent through the locks, awakening everything in its majestic path.’ Kate Virgo of Eveswell Primary School wrote; ‘In the dark, black, eerie night the moon creates illusive patterns of shadows
as creatures creep around the dew kissed grass and colossal, brown, grasping trees.’ The writing reflects ‘Newport In Bloom’, but in a different way. The flowers and hanging baskets are a joy to see and certainly make people smile, but equally important is the landscape of the city, the parks, the trees and the canal. The picturesque landscape of Fourteen Locks has nurtured the imaginations of these young writers, and their creativity is a celebration of Newport’s heritage and of ‘Newport In Bloom’. Tom Maloney, the education consultant based at Fourteen Locks has been very impressed with the pupils, he comments; “It’s been amazing to see how well the pupils have been motivated to write. Writing can be a very difficult process, but the canal environment has given them so many different opportunities to develop their creative ideas and to have fun while they learn!” “The importance of sustaining a green environment is clearly demonstrated by their writing.” The link with Newport In Bloom ensures the natural talents of young writers in the city, match the natural environment of the city and long may it continue to inspire and grow.
For more information on how the squads operate and what they do, please contact Elena Schmitz (Project Manager) elena@academi.org or Branwen Williams (Project Support Officer) branwen@academi.org
Campaign 2010
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JULY gwent adventures
27/6/10
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sailing
we are
sailing So far this Summer we have been blessed with good weather.What better way to spend the day than sailing on Llandegvedd Reservoir. Nick Clarke discovers.
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Living Wales JULY 2010
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
JULY gwent adventures
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sailing PICTURES Emma Assender
JUST simply messing around in boats, that is a famous line from ‘Wind In The Willows’. However, my day sailing at Llangdegvedd Reservoir was more than just simply messing about! Tutored for the afternoon by the delightful Amelia Ballisat, I was shown how tough sailing can be, but also how much fun! I have now visited Gwent Adventures on a number of occasion, in particular, to spend a couple of hours Paddleboarding. When directors Mike Walkin and Terry Sculley suggested I tried sailing I jumped at the chance, although a touch apprehensive. The staff at Gwent Adventures Water Sports and Activity Centre couldn't have been nicer and quickly put my mind and nerves at rest. The centre offers an array of water sport activities including, dinghy sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking as well as organising parties, corporate and teambuilding events, and is a fully recognised Royal Yachting Association Teaching Establishment licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service. So, off sailing we go. First, Amelia showed me how to rig the boat, preparing it for the 2 hour session ahead. After attaching the boom, raising the sail and putting the rudder into place we were ready for launch. We lowered the boat into the water and manoeuvered it off the trolley. Amelia affectionately referring to the boat as ‘she’ and ‘her’, we climbed aboard and positioned ourselves comfortably in the boat. The young sailing tutor took us into the centre of the reservoir, and just as I began to chill and enjoy the stunning surroundings on such a beautiful day, she told me that it was my turn to sail the boat. I nervously shuffled to the steering position and began to set a course down the centre of the vast expanse of water. I was shown how to sail up-wind, down-wind, and how to ‘tac’. Basically this is a manoeuver which uses the wind to turn the boat around to enable us
to catch the wind in our sails and zigzag our way across the water. I must say, I was a little apprehensive in controlling this manoeuvre myself but such is the calming and confidence-filling nature of my fantastic tutor, I gave it a go. To do this, you have to push the oar away from you so the boat spins around, then you have to duck under the boom each time and shift to the other side of the boat. Each ‘tac’ was exhilarating, and much to my amazement, I didn’t fall in once! There is a definite adrenaline rush sailing the small vessel and you have to be on your mettle at all times. Concentration and observation of your surroundings and the power of nature is paramount and you cannot take your mind off the job for one second. After nearly two hours we set course for the shore, again zigzagging our way up wind. The two hours went in a flash and I didn’t really want to stop, but all good things often come to an end. However, this is definitely an activity I will be trying again. My tutor Amelia was fantastic and instilled a belief that ‘I could do it’ from the start. For anyone who is interested in taking up a hobby, a trial session with Gwent Adventures is a must. With a sport to suit all levels of fitness and with age not being an issue, there is bound to be something that would ‘float your boat.’ And for the young 8-15 year olds there is the opportunity to join the T15 club. This is a club designed for young windsurfers who meet on a Sunday morning and get involved with events such as Slaloms, and open events throughout the year. From sailing to paddleboarding and windsurfing, Gwent Adventures at Llangdegfedd Reservoir, is the ideal location to start a hobby. You will leave there feeling invigorated and wanting more. If you haven’t tried a water sport before, now is the time.
Activities at Gwent Adventures SAILING WINDSURFING PADDLEBOARDING CANOEING KAYAKING RAFT BUILDING
ROPE ACTIVITIES JUNIOR MULI-ACTIVITY DAYS HEN & STAG EVENTS BIRTHDAY & FAMILY PARTIES CORPORATE EVENTS TEAMBUILDING
Gwent Adventures Water Sports and Activity Centre Llandegfedd Reservoir, Coed-Y-Paen Nr. Pontypool, Gwent
Tel: 01291 673002 www.gwent-adventures.co.uk www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
JULY 2010 Living Wales
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JULY eisteddfod
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eisteddfod
eisteddfod
steeped in
tradition
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is one of the great festivals of the world, attracting over 160,000 visitors every year. As Ebbw Vale prepares to welcome this year’s event, Living Wales takes a look at what it’s all about.
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DATING back to 1176, the National Eisteddfod of Wales has been the cornerstone of Welsh tradition. An eclectic mixture of culture, music, visual arts and all kinds of activities for people of all ages, there’s something for everyone on the Maes during the first week of August every year. The Eisteddfod is a travelling festival which belongs to the people of Wales – wherever they live, and this is an integral part of its appeal. The festival visits areas in north and south Wales alternately, and hosting the National Eisteddfod is a great boost for any area. It’s an ideal opportunity to promote and encourage people to use and learn Welsh locally, to take part in cultural activities in their area, and it’s also a great opportunity to promote the region as a tourist destination. The economic effect on the area is huge, with the Eisteddfod contributing between £6-8 million to the local economy during the week. The Eisteddfod is the home of literature, music, dance, recitation, theatre, visual arts, science and technology, and all types of culture in Wales, and although the festival only lasts for a week, the preparatory work, and the buzz surrounding the event and all its activities lasts for more than two years before the Eisteddfod. Many areas choose to continue organising events promoting the Welsh language and culture Living Wales JULY 2010
once the festival is over. It is said that the first Eisteddfod was held, under the auspices of Lord Rhys, at his castle in Cardigan in 1176. There he held a grand gathering to which were invited poets and musicians from all over the country. A chair at the Lord's table was awarded to the best poet and musician, a tradition that prevails in the modern-day National Eisteddfod. Following 1176, many eisteddfodau were held throughout Wales, under the patronage of Welsh gentry and noblemen. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, an Eisteddfod of historical significance was held at the Ivy Bush Inn in Carmarthen, when the Gorsedd of Bards first became officially associated with this national event. By this time, the Eisteddfod had developed into a fully-fledged folk festival on a large scale. In 1880, the National Eisteddfod association was formed and charged with the responsibility of staging an annual festival to be held in North and South Wales alternately, and with the exception of 1914 and 1940, this target has been successfully achieved. This year’s event will be home to over 300 trade stands and stalls – and to a totally new and amazing shopping experience. Wales’ foremost festival is a shopper’s Mecca – you’ll find whatever you want, whatever you need – and a few treats you never realised you www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
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eisteddfod
should have – by wandering through the colourful stalls dotted around the Eisteddfod Maes. It’s a veritable cultural emporium - and it’s all at The Works, Ebbw Vale this summer. You’ll find all kinds of jewellery – most inspired by and made in Wales, paintings by up and coming artists, as well as some well known names, clothing – there’s a huge T-shirt culture at the Eisteddfod with many conmpanies developing and creating new designs just to sell during the week, books – with all the best new Welsh books, and books about Wales, released in time for the stands at the Eisteddfod, and much much more. And with the Eisteddfod held from 31 July – 7 August, you’ll have plenty of time to visit the stalls before deciding on your must have purchase. But there’s so much more on the Maes than the hundreds of trade stands. Use the Eisteddfod to find out more about Wales and what’s going on across the country. Wales’ largest and most important organisations will all have stands at the Eisteddfod, with plenty of information about what they do – and how they do it. So if you’ve wanted to know more about music, art, culture, tourism, business, politics – you name it – come down to the Eisteddfod Maes and have a look round. The Pink Pavilion is the focal point for all the competing during the week, so whether you’re into singing, brass bands, presentations or the www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
splendour of the Gorsedd ceremonies, come to the Pavilion to watch some of Wales’ brightest talents competing for the accolade of winning at the National Eisteddfod. This year’s Eisteddfod will be very different in a number of ways, none more so than the venue for Y Lle Celf. Utilising the remains of the old steelworks, Wales’ annual national art gallery will be housed underground in the stack annealer basement – or one of the underground buildings which used to hold the heavy steel rolling machines, with plenty of space for us to exhibit art, with additional space for larger pieces if required. For those of us who’ve always believed that the county of Blaenau Gwent is land-locked, you’re in for a surprise as we welcome you to Ebbw Vale beach – at least for the week! Come and join in some beach fun on the Maes and enjoy beach games and activities every day, thanks to Blaenau Gwent Council, who’ve also been putting together a programme of extreme sports in another of the underground basements. Coupled with this, more relaxing activities such as face painting, storytelling, painting, quizzes, live music and much more in stands and stalls across the Maes, you’ll just have to come back to see everything you missed on your first visit! JULY 2010 Living Wales
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food festival of
food festival
Abergvenny Food Festival
Fine food, top chefs and wonderful food producers return for the 12th Abergavenny Food Festival this September. Living Wales looks at this year’s line-up.
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THE twelfth Abergavenny Food Festival takes place over the weekend of 18th and 19th September. This year it will have an Italian flavour thanks to a partnership with “Divin Gusto” Puglia Food & Wine Festival which takes place in Ceglie Messapica (in the province of Brindisi) in July. The very best wine, salami, cheese, pasta and olive oil will be on offer, alongside other attractions of the region. As well as the extensive markets, Abergavenny also hosts a programme of individually ticketed masterclasses, tutored tastings and talks featuring the brightest stars of the culinary scene. This year’s guests include: Jose Pizarro, the Spanish chef from rural Extramadura, and culinary wizard behind Borough Market legend www.tapasbrindisa.com Brindisa’s highly successful foray into a trio of London eateries; TV chef Val Warner (What to Eat Now, BBC 2), and Richard Bertinet of the Bertinet Kitchen and Cookery School in Bath. The return of Chef Bruno Loubet to the Zetter Hotel in London’s Clerkenwell has been the most eagerly-anticipated opening of the year. Loubet’s stellar career took him from Head Chef at the Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons and Le Petit Blanc, to winning Times ‘Restaurant of the Year’ with both Bistrot Bruno and L’Odeon. Then he left for Australia. Now he is back! And here in Abergavenny he’ll be giving a masterclass on French Bistro cooking. Top Welsh talents James Sommerin and Richard Davies (former opponents on BBC 2’s Great British Menu) will join forces to present a great Welsh menu. James Sommerin has held a Michelin star at The Crown at Whitebrook since 2007, while Bridgend-born Richard Davies won his first star last year at the Bybrook Restaurant at the Manor House Hotel near Bath. Cyrus Todiwala OBE, the legendary chef patron of Café Spice Namaste and Anand George, rising star of Cardiff’s Mint and Mustard, will combine forces to demonstrate the cuisines of two of India’s ancient communities: the Parsis of Mumbai, and the Syrian Christian’s of Kerala. The line-up also includes Jekka McVicar, the Queen of Herbs and ‘guru’ to many top chefs, including Jamie Oliver. There will also be an opportunity to take tea and sandwiches with food writers Helen Saberi and Bee Wilson while they discuss Tea and Sandwich – their new additions to the delightful ‘Edible’ series of food memoirs published by Reaktion Books. Food writers Tim Hayward, Christopher Hirst and Charles Campion will also be in the mix as part of a lively programme of talks and debates. Living Wales JULY 2010
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
food festival
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Abergvenny Food Festival
ABOVE Charles Campion MIDDLE TOP Richard Davies MIDDLE BOTTOM Gerard Baker RIGHT Silvena Row BELOW James Sommerin OPPOSITE PAGE Valentine Warner
The full Festival programme, and a comprehensive Fringe programme can be viewed at www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com from mid-July when box office goes live. Sign up for news updates and be in with a chance of winning a meal for two at the renowned Walnut Tree Inn near Abergavenny. Book your six-venue stroller ticket online before 1 September and pay last year’s prices. Free entry to all children under 16 if accompanied by an adult. Tickets for all events can be bought online at or through the Borough Theatre box office on 01873 850805. www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
JULY 2010 Living Wales
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Welsh cheese WORDS Anne-Marie Smith MAIN PICTURE Nick Clarke
Wonderful
Cheese
Welsh cheese
Wales - famous for its singing, rugby, castles, myths and legends is now going to be home to the Great British Cheese Festival this September. This prestigious event is held every year in the UK and has been wowing cheese lovers for the past nine years. THE beautiful and atmospheric Cardiff Castle is to play host to this event (September 27th-28th), which attracts exhibitors and visitors across the length and breadth of the UK, and marks the start of British Cheese Week (September 27th – October 5th). With a wealth of cheese producers and manufacturers in Wales, our Capital will be used as the event’s location for the foreseeable future, adding its own charm and unique character to an event that is the focal point of the calendar for cheese makers, buyers and foodies from around the world. The annual Festival brings together the UK’s 100 best cheese makers and offers visitors the chance to taste over 500 British cheeses, many of them produced in Wales, and among them True Taste Wales Food & Drink Award winners.
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Living Wales JULY 2010
The True Taste Brand was created to promote the very best food and drink that Wales has to offer, a standard against which produce could be judged and evaluated. The ethos of the True Taste Brand is Good Food, True Taste, Real Pleasure. It conveys the idea that Wales is home to a thriving and modern food culture. Each year, True Taste Wales gives awards to winners, runners up and those who are highly commended in a variety of categories, many of whom will exhibit at the forthcoming Cheese Festival. For example, The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2007/08 went to Thelma Adams of Caws Cenarth Cheese. Located in the heart of West Wales, Caws Cenarth cheesemaking business was established in 1987 as a response to the E.C milk quotas which had threatened the viability of the family farm. Thelma and Gwynfor's initiative is acknowledged to have instigated and led the revival of Welsh Farmhouse Caerffili and Caws Cenarth is now the oldest established producer of Welsh Farmhouse Caerffili. Drawing on skills derived from a long family tradition of cheesemaking. Caws Mynydd Du (Black Mountain Cheese) won the Dairy Product (Small Producer) Award. Andrew and Helen Meredith have developed a traditional, welsh, farmhouse cheese made from sheeps milk produced solely from their own flock. The sheep are mainly Poll Dorset and Poll Dorset X and are fed purely on grass and crops grown and harvested on the farm. Their cheese is pasteurised and safe for all to eat. The reserve winner in the Dairy Product (Large Producer) was the DeriMon Oak Smoked Mature Welsh Cheddar. Derimon (translated from Welsh means ‘The Oaks of Anglesey’). This family business is based on several years of smoking for family and friends, using their own 400 year old oak shavings and sawdust derived from natural gale damage!! This has now developed into a state of the art smokery, still retaining the traditional recipes, some unique to DeriMon Smokery Ltd for maximum flavour, but complying with all EU food safety legislation. This is the the only remaining smokery on the island of Anglesey. At the forthcoming event in Cardiff, not only will you get the opportunity to see some of the afore-mentioned cheese producers in Britain’s biggest Cheese Market, you will also be able to sample and buy. In addition visitors can enjoy an extraordinary diversity of food and drink in the other markets on site. True Taste of Wales market will feature a wide range of food and drink companies from across Wales giving visitors a taste of the high quality produce available in the Principality.
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
Cheese
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Welsh cheese
Of course, if you are not able to visit the Festival, you can always visit some of the many dairies, farms and suppliers of Welsh cheeses. Abergavenny Fine Foods produce Pant ys Gawn Farm Welsh Goat Cheese, Tintern, Y Fenni, and St Illtyd, whilst further afield in Carmarthenshire, Llanboidy Cheesemakers have been making exciting award-winning traditional farmhouse cheeses with rich and subtle flavours for the past 25 years. This cheese is handmade in the traditional way to a unique recipe and is then matured in its own natural rind and turned by hand on wooden shelving. After 12 /16 weeks each batch is tasted to ensure the unique flavour has developed which has been called “the natural taste of Wales� In Ceredigion, on the Gorwydd Farm, Caerphilly cheese is made. Gorwydd Caerphilly is matured on the farm for two months and exhibits a fresh lemony taste with a creamy texture to the outer (know as "breakdown") and a firmer but moist inner. Caerphilly is a traditional Welsh cheese named after the town and county in South Wales, where it was first produced by local farmers for domestic use in order to use up surplus milk. In the 1830s it began to be sold as a source of additional income. After 1830, demand grew and is even reported that the cheese was a favourite with Welsh miners as it is shallow in height and with a rind to protect it meant that it was easy to eat in the pits with dirty hands. www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
However, by 1910 little Caerphilly cheese was being made, for export, because the farmers could no longer compete against cheaper cheeses of England and abroad. During World War II the making of any cheese but Cheddar was restricted to personal consumption. After the war so little Caerphilly was being made in Wales that it took them several decades to recover. Thankfully, this has now been rectified, and Caerphilly cheese and many other welsh favourites can now be enjoyed by all and are easily accessible. Three other Welsh cheeses which need a mention (and are amongst my favourites) are the Perl Las - Welsh Organic Blue, Perl Wen - Organic Soft White Cheese (both from Caws Cenarth) and the Caws Teifi Cheese made in Swansea. This is an artisan cheese made from raw milk, and the farm owners have won numerous national and international awards for their cheese. Their most renowned cheese, Celtic Promise, is a raw milk washed-rind cheese which is only one of two cheeses to have (so far) clinched the most prestigious prize in British cheese-making twice - Supreme Champion at the British Cheese Awards in 1998 and in 2005. Teifi has also won, on four occasions, the prestigious 'Dougal Campbell Memorial trophy for the best Welsh Cheese. In Wales, we have some of the best cheeses in the UK essentially eaten with a refreshing glass of wine, or a delicious port. Enjoy! JULY 2010 Living Wales
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JUNE 10 ADVERTS
28/6/10
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Anniversary with us! Open 7 days a week Lunchtime: Noon to 2:30pm Evening: 5:30 to 11:30pm
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JULY 2010 FOOD
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quintessential cuisine WORDS & PICTURES Emma Assender EXTRA PICTURES Nick Clarke
happily taking the
bait
Living Wales discovers a warm welcome and a fine gourmet burger at the Three Horseshoes, Pentwynmawr, near Blackwood. NESTLED in the green Sirhowy valley heading towards Newbridge, the Three Horseshoes is a treasure of a local hostelry hosted by Marc and Claire Price. Marc gave us a warm welcome, introducing himself as Master of the House - a nickname that the gregarious gent earned from his rendition of his favourite song featured in the musical Les Miserables. A feature of former karaoke nights now replaced by a different range of entertainment nights, Marc’s operatic leanings are now consigned to legend. Of course, like any good publican he still has plenty of stories to tell and a generous welcome to extend. Having spent years in the hospitality business Marc and Claire found the opportunity to forge a drinking and dining experience of their own last December when they took over the Three Horseshoes. What was it about the Three Horseshoes that stood out to Claire and Marc? “We loved the building, and were drawn to the traditional feel of the pub, ” said Marc. With its thick stone walls, open fire places and beer garden, this certainly is a place for all seasons and the Prices have played to its strengths in enhancing the original architecture and creating a homely feel in the main bar. Astutely, they have made improvements to another main feature of the pub; the recently refurbished conservatory which has a light airy feel and opens onto the stunning gardens. Tastefully decorated the space easily accommodates 40 - 60 and is used as a function room for parties and is also used by local businesses as a conference/meeting room facility. “It’s become a really useful, practical space and we want people to see it as a space where they can return time and again for family events. We love being part of the community here and want to extend our welcome to everyone - there’s always room for new people to come and explore the local area and sample our growing selection of real ales,” Marc remarked.
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www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
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quintessential cuisine
The community feel doesn’t stop here; the Prices are keen to offer their patrons - both regular and new with the warmest welcome possible. It’s not hard to see why they’ve built up a dedicated following. The couple are true to their ethos and genuinely love spending time with their clientele, making people as welcome as if they were sharing their home, as Marc says, ‘Me casa es su casa!’ (My house is your house). The menu at the Three Horseshoes was packed full of hearty meals, hand cooked using locally supplied goods. Again evidence of the community feel comes through as Claire thinks it important to use locally sourced produce wherever possible. Offerings such as Steak and Ale Pie and Hunters Chicken abound here alongside favourites such as steak, done however you like it. The Starters We started with Duck and Orange Pate and Whitebait. The Paté served in generous wedges alongside wholemeal bread, while the Whitebait piled into a bowl served with a simple squeeze of lemon. The fish were crisped beautifully to give that satisfying crunch followed by the glorious salty flavour of the flesh. I felt like a cartoon cat tucking in and polishing each one off before licking my lips and diving in for the next one. Meanwhile, Nick, my dining companion, got stuck into his pate; a robust combination of the rich duck meat, balanced out by the sweet citrus flavours of the orange perfectly complemented by the bread, the start to the meal didn’t touch the sides. The Mains Next came my Oven Baked Salmon Fillet and Nick’s 8oz Prime Beef Burger, the latter was so big, once the thick chunky burger had been topped off with bacon and a luscious coating of grilled cheese, that it couldn’t be contained between two halves of bun. It came presented open on the plate with salad on one half of the bun and accompanied by Claire’s home-cooked chips. Nick did the tasty burger justice though and valiantly made up the burger in the usual stacked fashion, not quite dislocating his jaw in the process. The meat was well seasoned, bringing out the flavour of the beef while the bacon and cheese added punch. The salad balanced out with a subtle crispness and the chips were cooked www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
perfectly with that crisp exterior giving way to a delicious, fluffy potato inside. Meanwhile I got to work on my salmon lavishly served in a delicate buttery hollandaise sauce and presented with new potatoes, carrots and peas. The salmon was delicious with the sauce complementing the fish beautifully while not detracting from the flavour of the fillet. The vegetables were cooked well, but retaining the bite to the carrot and the sweetness of the peas: A pleasing dish all round. The Desserts Marc tempted us with the dessert menu, again showcasing the traditional feel, we chose from a range of delicious steamed puddings or lighter cheesecakes. Nick couldn’t resist the lure of the Steamed Apple Sponge Pudding with Custard, while I opted for the fruity appeal of the Raspberry Ripple Cheesecake. The Sponge Pudding arrived in a generous portion of custard while my cheesecake was presented with a selection of soft fruits and an individual jug of cream. We happily set to, Nick making his way through the light sponge to find small, gently cooked pieces of apple and I enjoying the light, creamy cheesecake complementing the velvety sweetness of the raspberry topping. Conclusion All in all we experienced a satisfying, well balanced meal that reflects the heart of the genuinely hospitable atmosphere fostered at the Three Horseshoes. There’s more to it than just food, though. A programme of entertainment events are also on offer which include; a guest artiste the first Sunday of the month; Curry Night each Wednesday; Quiz night every Thursday and outings to Chepstow Race Course. During our visit Marc told us some history about ground adjacent to the pub; In the days of the mines the car park was a field that was used to house the Pit Ponies during the pit two-week shut down. Contact Marc on 01495 01495 237426 or pop in for a pint of real ale and a chat! The Three Horseshoes is open 7 days a week, with food served from Tuesday - Saturday lunch served from 12 til 2pm, dinner from 6 - 9pm, Sunday lunch served from 12 til 2pm. JULY 2010 Living Wales
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quintessential cuisine WORDS Emma Assender PICTURES Nick Clarke
halibut
just for the
With under 100 days to go before the Ryder Cup and the eyes of the world gaze upon the Celtic Manor Resort, Living Wales visited the Rafters Restaurant to see if the food was up to scratch.
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Living Wales JULY 2010
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
JULY 2010 FOOD
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quintessential cuisine
ON a balmy June evening Living Wales headed through the hills of southern Gwent to uncover another fine dining experience. And what better place to enjoy the evening sunshine than overlooking the extensive grounds of the Twenty Ten golf course at the Celtic Manor Resort? The Twenty-Ten Clubhouse, incorporating Rafters restaurant nestles on the hills overlooking the Usk River and enjoys a stunning view of the valley, the rolling hills providing a blissful backdrop against which to enjoy dinner. Rafters restaurant itself is well named; the structure of the building having exposed wooden roof beams and making the most of the natural stone fireplaces to give a natural and luxurious feel. The decor is simple, relying upon the character of the exposed stone finishes so that nothing detracts from the beauty of the view outside, or indeed doesn’t hamper the view of the fairway for those following the game! Of course, the design here reminds you, as if it was required, as to the paramount reason for the venue: ardent golfers can delight in, or envy, the condition of the fairways as they dine. Lighting here is minimal during daylight hours, the floor to ceiling windows to the west make the most of the gentle ambient light to bring a relaxing end to the day. The service too, enhances a sense of casual fine dining - we were welcomed by the team and were immediately offered drinks while we took in the menu. Rafters - being one of 6 restaurants at the Resort - has a select and well balanced a la carte menu, with something for the avid meat-eater, light fish dishes and a vegetarian option, all with a heavy emphasis on local Welsh ingredients with a sophisticated twist. Take for example, entrees, we were offered 3 types of bread; ciabatta, wholemeal and sundried tomato, baked fresh in the kitchens each day served with an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip and a basil butter to provoke a refreshing zing. The Starters The starters were brought to the table just as competition for the last scraping of basil butter was hotting up and thus we diverted our attention to the start of the meal: I opted for Seared Scallops, Squid Ink Risotto and Calamari to open while dining companion, Nick deliberated between the Pork and Pistachio Terrine and Warm Salad of Cockles, Bacon and Laverbread. The seafood won over, particularly for its distinctly Welsh indigenous feel. My scallops were cooked to a turn, retaining that firm meaty texture against the velvety, salty tang of the squid ink risotto. Nick’s Warm Salad had immediate punch, with the lively vinegar seasoning of the cockles awakening the tastebuds ahead of the smoke flavours of the bacon. The laverbread, balanced with the crunchy texture of oatmeal traditionally used with seaweed finished the dish. The Mains Next came our main courses selected from the Usk Valley Sirloin Steak and Braised Lamb Shoulder that were on offer. Breast of Maggett Chicken was also a temptation but in the end I couldn’t resist the siren call of the Baked www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
Pant-Ys-Gawn Goats Cheese with roast celeriac, tarragon and orange dressing. I am by no means a vegetarian but having a soft spot for Goats’ cheese and Welsh Goats’ cheese at that - I felt fully justified in my choice. My stomach concurred and after devouring the warm, soft cheese with the fried bread base to give a real crispy crunch I felt fully satisfied. The tarragon added an aromatic twist, alongside the citrus lift of the orange that truly brought out the rich flavour of the cheese. Nick, a faithful steak fan, decided on something a little different this time and continued the seafood theme by choosing Halibut Wrapped in Crispy Potatoes served with Ruby Chard, with a Mushroom and Red Wine Jus. He was treated to an unusual but delicious alternative: the halibut was firm and succulent while, though described as ‘wrapped’ it was more like ‘slightly hidden by’ the 3 slices of crispy potato which were positioned on top. However, their crispness did not disappoint and supported the characteristically subtle flavour of the fish. The dish was finished off with a thick, creamy red wine jus containing mushrooms for an added touch of decadence to a beautifully cooked and light dish. Additionally, we ordered chunky chips and a Roquette & Parmesan Salad to enjoy with our meal, the chips cut into perfect edges and fried until golden brown and fluffy on the inside. The salad was fresh, delightfully peppery as Roquette should be with the tang of the Parmesan to complement. The Desserts To finish we could choose from the extensive selection of Welsh Cheeses for a cheeseboard, Treacle Tart, Creme Caramel or a range of ice creams and sorbets. I ordered the Chocolate Marquise with butterscotch sauce, a decadent terrine of unadulterated cocoa flaked with white chocolate curls and finished with a sweet touch from the butterscotch. A chocoholics dream this certainly hit all the right notes! Nick tucked into the Welsh Sherry Trifle while I marvelled in chocolate luxury, and was immediately taken with the light cream topping that yielded to a layer of sweet, gooey fruit underneath. The sherry was evident but without taking him over the legal driving limit! The dish had a final surprise languishing in the layers; just as Nick reached the bottom, he discovered the ideal finish to the dish, a crisp finish of poached pear to cleanse the palate. Bliss! The Conclusion We finished the evening taking in the last rays of the sun with coffee in the lounge area. Again, the seating was positioned against the windows to give clientele the most of the view, offering a comfortable and salubrious end to a refined dining experience. Rafters dinner menu is available from 6pm - 10pm daily, lunch is served 12pm -2.30pm with Sunday lunch served from 12pm -3pm. To book your table call the Reservations Team at the Celtic Manor Resort on 01633 410262. JULY 2010 Living Wales
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JULY RECIPE
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recipe
Pollock with Spanish Butter Beans INGREDIENTS 5oz Pollock Fillet Butter Beans (soaked for 2 days) Chicken Stock 5 Asparagus Spears 20g Spinach 40g Chorizo Sausage 20g Samphire
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Stephen Terry, Chef & Owner of the Hardwick restaurant in abergavenny provides this month’s recipe Living Wales JULY 2009
METHOD 1. Soak the Butter Beans 2 days in advance, then place into a saucepan and cook in water on a low heat for 2-3 hours. If you can’t find Butter Beans then substitute with boiled baby
potatoes. 2. Steam the Asparagus for 2-3 minutes. 3. Roast the Chorizo in its natural juices then cut into 5 slices to garnish the final dish. 4. Steam the Samphire for 2-3 minutes but don’t season as the natural salts in the vegetable are sufficient. 6. Season the Pollock, then pan-fry for 2 minutes each side on a moderate heat to ensure the skin is crispy. 7. Start dressing the plate with Butter Beans around the outside and the Samphire and wilted spinach in the centre. 8. Place the Chorizo around the dish then place the Pollock in the centre (see above). 9. Finally ad a little Chicken Stock and enjoy! www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
JUNE 10 ADVERTS
28/6/10
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For all your fresh produce and more visit
Pontypool Markets Delicious food & great value family feasts! DAILY CARVERY 12-3pm Support your local trader
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The Mountain Air, Llwyn Helog, Nr Trefil, Nantybwch, Tredegar. NP22 3SD
01495 723116 HOW TO FIND US FROM MERTHYR: Head towards Abergavenny and take the first exit off the Tredegar roundabout signposted Trefil. Continue approx 300 yards and we are on the right. FROM ABERGAVENNY:Take the Heads of The Valley road signposted Merthyr. Continue past Brynmawr and Ebbw Vale until you reach the Tredegar Roundabout.Take your third exit signposted Trefil. Continue approx 300 yards and we are on the right.
JULY 2010 FILMS
28/6/10
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at the movies
Also released this July 2010
THE A TEAM (12A, 117MINS) WEDNESDAY 28TH MAY
RATING ***
Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel
AT long last, fans of the original 80’s action classic, are gifted with an updated version starring some of Hollywood’s big boys as well as a cage fighter from the UFC. The frantic action scenes disguise a slightly clumsy story driven by corruption and betrayal. The original A-Team consisted of four Vietnam vets, this new version the A-Team guys are covert operators in present-day Iraq. As the withdrawal of American forces looms, the team learns of a plot by former Saddam Hussein loyalists. If the bad guys succeed in shipping U.S. Mint plates that happen to be in Baghdad out of Iraq, the U.S. monetary system is at risk. True to the original series, Col. John “Hannibal” Smith and his daring A-Team boys are convicted by a military court for crimes they didn’t commit. Smith and company were set up, from the inside, arrested, sentenced and dispatched to separate federal prisons. Liam Neeson, returning to the action genre he tackled in 2008’s Taken, stars as A-Team leader Smith,
TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE (12A, 124MINS) FRIDAY 9TH JULY
though his undoubted acting talents are not used to the fore here. The A-Team movie is more about smirking and hanging on for the ride. Bradley Cooper co-stars as Templeton “Face” Peck, the playboy of the group; Sharlto Copley (District 9) is H.M. “Howlin’ Mad” Murdock, the team’s expert pilot and master of accents; and martial arts fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson steps into Mr. T’s boots as the suddenly, inconveniently peace-loving B.A. Baracus. Neeson, Cooper, Copley and Jackson at least share a breezy camaraderie, but the overkill action they engage in falls lacks a little fun. The A Team are pursued by a sleazy CIA agent (Patrick Wilson) and earnest Army officer (Jessica Biel) who is holding up the female influence in what really is a male over-dominated film. All of which means The A-Team is fine entertainment for the original fans and for pre-teen boys who prefer meaningless action in their entertainment though will unlikely attract a new audience.
RATING ****
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke
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IN THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between Edward and Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life. Living Wales JULY 2010
Friday 2 July 2010 The Ballroom (15) Lymelife (15) Shrek Forever After (U) (3D) Thursday 8 July 2010 Predators (18) Friday 9 July 2010 Jerusalem (15) Leaving (15) London River (12A) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (12A) Friday 16 July 2010 Bluebeard The Concert (15) Inception (12A) Mega Piranha (15) Monday 19 July 2010 Toy Story 3 (also in 3D) Friday 23 July 2010 City Island (12A) Ivul (15) The Rebound (15) Splice (15) Wednesday 28 July 2010 The A Team (12A) Karate Kid (PG) Friday 30 July 2010 Beautiful Kate (15) Down Terrace (12A) Frontier Blues (12A) Gainsbourg (15) Separado (12A) South Of The Border (15)
THE KARATE KID (PG, 126MINS)
RATING ***
WEDNESDAY 28TH JULY JACKIE CHAN, JADEN SMITH
THE Karate Kid, 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could've been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's (Taraji P. Henson) latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying - and the feeling is mutual but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng who puts "the karate kid" on the floor with ease. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who is secretly a master of kung fu. www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
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JULY MUSIC&THEATRE
28/6/10
00:38
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music feature
proms be part of the
The Welsh Proms celebrates it 25th Year at the St David’s Hall Cardiff this month. Living Wales looks at this year’s event. THE Welsh Proms Cardiff celebrates its 25th Anniversary with eight orchestral concerts, free daytime concerts, a series of late afternoon concerts plus Carnival, Gamelan, Folk, String Quartet, Saxophone, Organ & Venezuelan Proms, not to forget the Tiddly Prom and The Family Prom for children and adults of all ages. The Festival’s Artistic Director Owain Arwel Hughes CBE will be joined by five of the finest orchestras; BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra. This year the Welsh Proms Cardiff brings some of the world’s finest young soloists to the National Concert Hall of Wales. Ray Chen will perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in the Romantic Prom (Thursday 22 July, 7.30pm) and Alison Balsom will play Hummel’s Concerto Utgorn in front of a packed St David’s Hall at the Last Night of the Welsh Proms which will be conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes CBE. To open the 2010 Welsh Proms season will be The Carnival Prom. This concert is a collaboration between Arts Active, the education, community & audience engagement team for St David’s Hall & the New Theatre and South Wales Intercultural Community Arts (SWICA). “Dragon” is a spectacular mix of worldwide carnival influences with samba percussionists, drumming, chanting and carnival song. Under the ever-knowing and tranquil eye of Merlin the Magician, two and four-legged stilt dragon monsters will do battle in flamboyant costumes. The Welsh Proms include the ever popular Choral Prom with Yvonne Howard, Brindley Sherrat, Ceri Williams and Gwyn Hughes Jones on Sunday 18 July at 7pm. Only Men Aloud will perform in the glitzy Stage & Screen Prom (Wednesday 21 July, 7.30pm) Ray Chen and The Family Prom (Saturday 17 July, 11am) with Kirsten O’Brien as the Narrator will thrill children of all ages. The Epic Prom under the baton of Thierry Fischer will feature on Monday 19 July at 7.30pm and Friday Night is Music Night Prom on 23 July at 8pm, with opera sensations Alfie Boe and Rebecca Evans, promises to be a very special concert. Councillor Nigel Howells Executive Member for Sport Leisure and Culture, Cardiff Council said: “The main theme for this year’s festival is celebration and St David’s Hall has gone all out to offer a truly exciting programme for this year’s Welsh Proms Cardiff. I hope that everyone will join us to celebrate this wonderful milestone in the Welsh cultural calendar. Be a part of it!” There will be world music from Java to Venezuela, Klezmer to Balkan and
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WIN TICKETS! Living Wales JULY 2010
from Bert’s Magical Musical Farmyard to Jurassic Park & The flight of the Bumblebee rubbing shoulders with some of the finest classical composers including Elgar, Bach Mozart, Verdi, Wagner and Mendelssohn. There is definitely something for all musical tastes at the Welsh Proms Cardiff! As part of this year’s celebrations St David’s Hall are offering a number of FREE daytime concerts. Wonderbrass are favourites on the Welsh jazz scene, performing an eclectic repertoire that encompasses jazz and pop, with influences from juggernaut funk, filthy blues, spicy Latin, ska and uplifting African township melodies. Catherine Wright a classically trained pianist and Clegg Power Duo will present a repertoire largely based around the 'Great American Songbook' along with alternative melodies by the greats of the bebop era. To add to this diverse programme of concerts we have further Daytime Prom events, with the String Quartet Prom on Thursday 22 July at 5pm. The Mavron String Quartet, Wales' leading quartet and St David's Hall Ensemble in Residence, provide a wideranging repertoire from the classics to light and popular favourites through to new and adventurous music. The Organ Prom features with Huw Williams on Saturday 24 July at 1pm. The Afternoon Prom with Ginge & CelloBoi offer two of the newest talents on the Cardiff scene with a blend of bluegrass, country, gospel and jazz on Monday 19 July at 5pm. Lunar Saxophone Quartet return following a sell-out concert at last year's Welsh Proms Cardiff in the Saxophone Prom on Friday 23 July at 5pm. Classic Rhythm Prom on Wednesday 21 July at 5pm offers sparkling performances of Classic Rhythm with flute, keyboards, marimba, tam-tam, piccolo and cabasa to name but a few of their instruments. Gamelan Prom (Sunday 18 July, 7.30pm) with Cardiff Gamelan and special guests will take you on a musical and visual journey, performing on St David's Hall's beautiful bronze Javanese Gamelan. Following on from the success of last year’s Folk Prom the Hall is delighted to welcome folk dynasty, the Waterson Family back to the Welsh Proms on Tuesday 20 July at 7.30pm. This is a rare opportunity to see this extended folk family perform live together on one stage, one not too be missed! The Welsh Proms Cardiff is certainly one of the great success stories and one of the highlights of the Cardiff Festival bringing 20,000 people annually into the capital for a superb celebration of music. For tickets visit www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or call 02920 87 8444.
We have 2 tickets for the Welsh Proms thanks to our friends at The St David’s Hall. To win answer the following question. Who will be narrating the Family Prom this year? Send your answer to Welsh Proms Competition, Living Wales magazine, 2 Town Bridge Buildings, Park Road, Pontypool, Torfaen. NP4 6JE. Closing date Friday 16th July 2010. Good luck!
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
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JUNE2010 HEALTH
28/6/10
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health
Hayfever help Looking at the causes and remedies of Hayfever with Allergy Therapist, Emma Assender. IT’S that time of year again - how many of us dread those warm, dry days of Summer, knowing that the cold season has ended only to give way to the relentless release of pollen? One of the most common allergies in the UK, alongside asthma and eczema, around 12 million people in Britain suffer with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis or Hayfever - and it’s an endless challenge for the pharmaceutical companies to come up with the most effective remedy. But, what causes this? The good news is Hayfever manifests itself differently in different people as some can develop an allergy to certain types of pollen, but not others. Hayfever isn’t restricted to those living in the countryside or even to times when the lawnmowers come out: There are a number of different allergies from Tree Pollen to Grass Pollen to Flower Pollen, all of which are released at different times of the year. What happens in the body? The immune system responds to Hayfever in the same way as any other allergic reaction: An allergen comes into contact with the body - in this case, a pollen grain is inhaled through the nose or mouth. The immune system registers this foreign body, and according to its sensitivity will begin a response to fight the foreign body. The body releases cells called Mast Cells that work to release a hormone - histamine to protect the body by promoting the body’s cells to inflame and create mucus to coat the cells and the offending allergen: In the case of allergy this defence mechanism is overdone, producing too much histamine and causing the symptoms of Hayfever. As an allergy therapist I can help identify the particular allergy and work with you to control it. The best time to identify and tackle the allergy is January / February time, when plants and trees are producing very little - as the body is able to repair and rest during this time. The homeopathic treatment process normally takes two
years, since in most cases my client and I need to repeat the homeopathic treatment for two consecutive January/February seasons. The first phase of treatment will reduce the symptoms and by the second summer after the second phase of treatment most Hayfever sufferers are symptom- free. Pollen allergies can be tackled at other times of the year, however if the immune system is tackling an allergy it’s less receptive to the healing remedies. For those wishing to wait until the pollen season is over there are some other practical tips to make your Summer more comfortable: - Take your annual holiday at the height of the hay fever season - most beneficial locations tend to be on the coast where the air is clearer. - Avoid direct contact with any pollens: Close windows and doors. When driving use air conditioning rather than opening windows. Do not pick flowers or have flowers indoors. - Avoid going out in the early evening and mid-morning when the pollen count is highest. - Air bed linen in the early mornings to prevent the wind blowing the pollen in. - Avoid drying clothes and linen outside during high pollen count so that pollen grains are not trapped in the fabric and introduced inside. - Stay indoors with doors and windows closed when the pollen count is high. This can reduce exposure to pollen by a factor of 10,000. - Smear Vaseline inside the nostrils to provide an extra barrier to trap pollen grains. - Take at least 2 grams of Vitamin C daily to boost the immune system. - Use an ioniser in the bedroom. - Wear wraparound sunglasses when outside during a high pollen count.
More than just a park!
Fantastic fun for all the family awaits you at Parc Bryn Bach! For further information call 01495 711816 or email parcbrynbach@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk 34
Living Wales JULY 2010
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JUNE2010 HEALTH
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JULY 2010 FASHION
27/6/10
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fashion
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JULY 2010 FASHION
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fashion
The Summertime Festival season is upon us and even if you didn't manage to get tickets to Glastonbury, our style pages should still leave you in that chilled out party mode. Check out our casual selection guaranteed to get heads turning, especially if topped off with a trilby: what better way to keep the sun off while retaining that air of mystery and understated shabby-chic! For those of you yearning for that touch of magic in the balmy evenings, pour over our collection of gorgeous summer frocks, with a wisp of floral print and a sweep of fabric you're sure to create a mirage of hot glamour - at very cool prices! Miso Tropical Maxi Dress £26.99 www.republic.co.uk
Soul Cal Floral Trim Maxi Dress £29.99 www.republic.co.uk
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
Crafted Smoke Maxi Dress £29.99 www.republic.co.uk
JULY 2010 Living Wales
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JULY 2010 FASHION
27/6/10
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fashion
Crafted Studded Heart Breaker T-shirt £22.99 www.republic.co.uk
Miso Rose Belt Dress £24.99 www.republic.co.uk
Miso Ditsy Sparkle Dress £26.99 www.republic.co.uk
Soul Cal Linen Mix Shorts £19.99 www.republic.co.uk
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Living Wales JULY 2010
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in the home
Summer sizzles in the garden “Make hay while the sun shines” is the addage, so we're all about taking the inside out this month - How about grabbing a barbeque and heading to the great outdoors? We've got something for every type of alfresco get together from the simple grab and go bucket style to a more permanent outdoor cooking feature for those gents who love to show off their culinary skills. And for those of you who care about the environment we've
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Living Wales JULY 2010
sourced some biomass briquettes for a guiltfree cook-out. The kids are sure to love the jolly colours and polka dots of our range from Strawberry Fool. But picnics aren’t just for little ones; we have some stylish, yet durable items for the big kids for a touch of kitsch courtesy of Berry Red this summer - With a range of brightly coloured goblets and jugs it’s sure to be Pimms o’clock in style, wherever you are!
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JULY 2010 INTERIORS
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in the home WEBER ONE TOUCH BARBEQUE £199 www.leekes.co.uk
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JULY 2010 INTERIORS
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in the home LARGE TURQUOISE CARVED ACRYLIC JUG £19.75 www.berryred.co.uk
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JULY HOVIP
28/6/10
01:09
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business
In association with
INNOVATION drives success A unique opportunity to become more profitable
Partnership :1 + 1 = 2+++ Working in partnership and collaborating with others is acknowledged across the business world as a driver of success. Here HOVIP demonstrates that working together can produce great results for everyone involved. THE Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP) is all about helping businesses survive, develop and grow. HOVIP Manager, Phil Burkhard, explains, “Innovation often stems from sharing ideas and we encourage businesses to think collaboratively and to work together, especially through our successful business clusters.” He continues, “But partnership is not just for the businesses we support. Within HOVIP we have actively sought links with other organisations so that we can open up opportunities for the businesses we serve. Team HOVIP includes a range of different partners – from the members of our Steering Group (the Welsh Assembly Government, five Heads of the Valleys local authorities and South Wales Chamber of Commerce) to the sponsors of the Innovation Awards, and delivery partners and support organisations, from both public and private sector – all proving that 1 + 1 can equal many times more than 2.” The Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards and Marketplace event – held this year on 24 June at Bryn Meadows Golf, Hotel & Spa – is one example of public and private sector organisations working together. The event sponsors – University of Wales Global Academy, BT, HSBC, Capital Law, South Wales Chamber of Commerce, FS4B and Equinox PR – have linked with HOVIP’s Partners and suppliers to celebrate and promote innovation across the region. HOVIP has also recently supported three local authority partners. HOVIP sponsored the Innovation Award at the 2010 Merthyr Tydfil Business Awards for the second year. The winner was Rollspack UK, a family owned and run business with the only Class 10,000 Pharmaceutical Grade clean room facility in Western Europe manufacturing wet and dry wipes for a wide range of industries. This business has also earned a Swan Label – the highest eco-standard in the world. HOVIP sponsored the Innovation Award at the 2010 Rhondda Cynon Taff Business Awards, a category introduced for the first time this year. The winner DecTek Ltd and sister company, DecTag Ltd, caught the eye of the judges for their cutting edge product development, as a result of extensive partnership working, for their ruggedized intelligent tags which can tag anything from luggage to livestock. Innovation was high on the agenda at the June Torfaen County Borough Council business event, when guest speaker Dr Paul Thomas, The Business Doctor, urged businesses to manage people more creatively. HOVIP’s sponsorship of the event was aimed at encouraging newcomers to join this business forum. “Involvement with these Business Awards dovetails well with our own Innovation Awards,” explains Phil Burkhard. “We are creating an ‘innovation ladder’ with winners of the Innovation categories in the local
Proud winners of the Merthyr Tydfil 2010 Innovation Award authority awards gaining automatic entry to the HoV Innovation Awards. In turn, the winners of the HoV Innovation Awards are entered into the Wales Innovation Awards - a great encouragement and additional benefit for all entrants as well as another way to embed a culture of innovation in the region.” As well as awards and events, HOVIP is partnering with further and higher education institutions in unique ways. In response to a research exercise with HOVIP businesses, Cardiff University, in partnership with HOVIP, has developed and run a series of marketing workshops for local businesses in the area. The success of this pilot programme is driving future collaborative projects. HOVIP is in the early stages of a joint initiative with Coleg Morgannwg and other partners, such as the Taste of Enterprise, to develop an International Trade Fair – ‘China comes to Merthyr’ - at Easter 2012. “We are keen to develop relationships with other third parties,” says Phil Burkhard. “John Lewis Partnership is sponsoring an event for our Turning Heads Club members in September and BT is hosting us in December. These are excellent examples of how working together produces results for everyone.”
If you would like to find out how you can benefit from HOVIP, contact Phil Burkhard 44
on 01685 725469 or Email phil.burkhard@merthyr.gov.uk or visit www.hovip.org.uk Living Wales JULY 2010
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
MAY FINANCE
28/6/10
01:21
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In association with Medina Lynch Chartered Certified Accountants
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finance
New government, new budget, new rules! Chancellor George Osbourne delivered his emergency budget on 22 June.We were all warned that it was going to hurt when the Tories came into power. Gavin Watkins looks at the areas that will affect you? Income tax Personal income tax allowance to be increased by £1,000 in April to £7,475. Some 23 million basic rate taxpayers will gain up to £170 a year. The higher rate income tax threshold will remain frozen to 2013/14, with a long-term objective to increase the personal allowance to £10,000. VAT On January 4 2011 Value added tax (VAT) will rise from 17.5% to 20%. The rise will generate more than £13 billion a year by the end of this Parliament and zero-rated items will remain exempt from VAT over the course of this Parliament. Capital Gains Tax (CGT) CGT remains at 18% for low and middle-income savers but from 23rd June taxpayers on higher rates will pay 28%. The 10% CGT rate for entrepreneurs which currently applies to the first £2m qualifying gains will be extended to the first £5m. The CGT changes should bring in almost £1bn extra, the great majority from additional income tax. Pensions State pension will be linked once more to earnings from April next year, with the pension guaranteed to rise in line with earnings, prices or 2.5%, whichever is the greater. The Government will accelerate the increase in state pension age to 66. The public sector The Government is asking public sector workers to accept a two-year pay freeze, with protection for the 1.7 million public servants earning less than £21,000. Those low-paid workers will receive a flat pay-rise worth £250 in both years. Public service pensions will rise in line with consumer prices rather than retail prices, saving over £6 billion a year by the end of the Parliament. Benefits From next year - with the exception of the state pension and pension credit - benefits and tax credits will rise in line with consumer prices rather than www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
retail prices, saving over £6 billion a year by the end of the Parliament. Child benefit will be frozen for the next three years. The Government will introduce a medical assessment for Disability Living Allowance from 2013 for new and existing claimants. Housing Benefit will be reformed with a maximum limit of £400 a week, in a package saving £1.8 billion a year by the end of the Parliament. The total welfare shake-up will save the country £11 billion by 2014/15. The Government will abolish the health in pregnancy grant from April 2011, restrict the Sure Start maternity grant to the first child only and expect lone parents to look for work when their youngest child goes to school. Tax credits will be reduced to families earning over £40,000 next year, the taper rate at which awards are reduced will be increased, the baby element will be removed for new children from April 2011 as will the oneoff payment to new workers over 50 from April 2012. The child element of the child tax credit will rise by £150 above indexation next year in a £2 billion-a-year commitment to low-income families. Business and bank taxes From January 2011, the Government will introduce a bank levy, which will apply to the balance sheets of UK banks and building societies and the UK operations of foreign banks. Smaller banks will not be liable for the levy, which when fully in place is expected to raise over £2 billion per year. From April 2011, the threshold at which employers start to pay National Insurance will rise by £21 per week above indexation. However, the self-employed and those in partnerships missed out. While small companies were promised a cut in corporation tax from next April to 20pc, the 3.5 million self employed and in partnerships saw Labour's higher rate of income tax maintained and saw their capital allowances reduced from 2012. Any expense on machinery and equipment over £25,000 will now take 12 years to reclaim against tax. Three years ago it took only eight years – but under Labour and now the new Government these incentives for businesses to invest have been eroded. The Chancellor said that businesses would still be better off because of lower corporation tax rates but, as with Labour, he conveniently forgot that most businesses are not companies. JULY 2010 Living Wales
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JULY 4WARD DEVELOPMENT
28/6/10
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advertising feature
Want to drive your business ‘4ward’ to success? Read on... Janet Hay (seated right) and Denise Morris (Seated left), head a strong team to help your business 4ward.
WITH budgets restricted in the current economic climate, and time at a premium, many businesses are concentrating much of their time and resources on day to day survival. However, quality leadership and management are crucial to the success and longevity of businesses, and to the Welsh economy as a whole. Strong leadership, effective managers and enhanced operational effectiveness is what is required to help pull Welsh businesses through these tough times and into prosperity again. However, many businesses do not have the internal resources to handle the complex people management issues that arise from the increasing burden of employment legislation and the everchanging training landscape. Outsourcing these functions is becoming an increasingly popular option, and one south Wales company offering this service is helping make a real difference to businesses
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Living Wales JULY 2010
across the UK. Friends Denise Morris and Janet Hay established 4ward Development, a learning and development and outsourced HR consultancy, in 2009 after spotting a gap in the market for a company that could take the headache out of HR and training for companies of all sizes. Over 50 years of collective experience in HR and training taught the pair that the key to business success is people, and they recognised that many firms don’t have the expertise to manage and develop their staff to their full potential. Deciding to combine their decades of experience working for large public sector organisations and international private sector companies, the pair set up 4Ward Development in March 2009, opening an office in Llantarnam. Janet explains that setting up in business with a close personal friend – something convention dictates should be avoided - was an easy decision to make: “Denise and I have the same passion for people, for getting the best out of them, and we share the same values and work ethic. Denise spent years in the public sector and my experience was with international businesses, so we had complementary skills and experiences to offer. “After years of talking about the same issues over the dinner table, it made perfect sense for us to combine what we had to offer and set up on our own!” Within months of establishing the business, www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
JULY 4WARD DEVELOPMENT
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4ward Development
the pair had, achieved Investors in People status and became an approved centre for the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). Denise and Janet’s hard work has grown turnover to £1.8m and they have built an impressive client base including medical laser manufacturer Magstim, the Port Talbot Corus steel plant and the Claire Price Beauty chain. Denise puts the young company’s success down to the wealth of experience on which it is founded: “Over our many years in the HR and training sectors, we have learnt just how important a personal touch is, and having regular face-to-face contact with someone you can trust and build a lasting relationship with. We work closely with our clients, giving practical hands-on guidance while minimising disruption to their daily operations. Basically, we become a seamless part of their teams, working behind the scenes to help make sure any problems are dealt with quickly and that employees reach their full potential. We get a real buzz from seeing our clients’ www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
bottom line benefit as a result of robust people management and development, and of course the appreciation we get for saving them time, money and headaches!” So how do Denise and Janet successfully manage the demands of a flourishing startup business with their busy home lives? Janet explains: “We are passionate believers in being able to achieve your potential while maintaining a rewarding family life, and we take our responsibility to our families as seriously as our commitment to making the business a success. Being our own bosses means we have the flexibility to juggle, and can choose our own hours – they may be long hours but it’s worth it! The great thing is we can help each other out when we need to and above everything we are close friends striving for the same goals, which is a great feeling. I wouldn’t want to be doing this with anybody else!” For further information log onto www.4warddevelopment.co.uk.
EXCLUSIVE READER OFFER! 4ward Development is offering Wales Living readers with their own businesses the opportunity to receive a complete ‘People MOT’ free of charge. The 4ward team will conduct a full analysis of your training and HR procedures and needs, a consultancy service worth £500. The service can be delivered through an initial telephone consultancy and/or a meeting at the company’s Llantarnam headquarters, complete with good coffee and biscuits. To take advantage of this offer call 01633 867911 and quote ‘Living Wales’. JULY 2010 Living Wales
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COVER REDESIGN
15/10/07
00:42
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Newport, Littlewoods
DAILY DELIVERY SLOTS Abergavenny : 12-2, 2-4, 4-7 Aberdare: 12-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8 Mon-Fri, 12-2, 2-4, 4-6 Sat Blackwood: 10-12, 12-2, 2-4, 4-6 Cwmbran: 12-8 Mon-Fri, 10-6 Sat Ebbw Vale: 12-6 Mon-Thurs, 10-8 Fri, 10-6 Sat Merthyr Tydfil: 12-2, 2-4, 4-7 Newport, Clarence: 2-4, 4-7 Newport, Littlewoods: 11-1, 1-3, 3-5, 5-7 Newport, Dock Street : 11-7 Mon-Fri, 9-6 Sat SEE INSTORE FOR DETAILS
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Newport, Dockstreet 1 Upper Dock Street, Newport. Tel: 01633 267744
Merthyr Tydfil
15, Graham Way, Merthyr Tydfil Tel:01685 379800
Aberdare
9-10 Commercial Street, Aberdare Tel: 01685 884330 Direct Booking Line 01685 884465
12, The Market Place, Blackwood Tel: 01495 224479
Cwmbran
18 Monmouth Walk, Cwmbran. Tel: 01633 863951
Ebbw Vale
Unit 1, The Walk, Ebbw Vale. Tel:01495 350844
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Portugal A PlACE INTHE SUN Beautiful Family apartment in
South Wales’ leading Citroen, Peugeot & Renault Specialist offering you the highest standard of car care.
Here are a few things we offer The most advanced electronic diagnostics Servicing under manufacturers warranty Genuine or high quality replacement parts Full Air Con Services available Friendly, helpful staff Conveniently located in Pontypool away from the heavy traffic of Newport & Cardiff We offer the same high quality of service to all makes & models
To Book an Appointment call
01495 750030
or visit www.frenchautosolutions.com Crumlin Road, Old Furnace, Pontypool,Torfaen. NP4 6UR
Nr Albufeira, Central Algarve Beautiful First Floor Apartment in quiet Complex with Communal Pool. Beautiful Setting only 5 Minutes Walk to Beach. Sleeps 4/5 (2 Bedrooms). Also includes comfortable lounge, 2 bedrooms, kitchen, dining area.
Visit www.saorafael.co.uk PERFECT FAMILY
HOLIDAY AWAITS!!! prices call Barbara on For further information and
029 20254855
or 0780 9270407
DATES AVAILABLE TO RENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
PERFECT FAMILY HOLIDAY AWAITS!!!
JUNE 10 ADVERTS
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PLACES TO STAY HOME & AWAY Aberdare
Hotel/Camping/Cafe
Dare Valley Country Park
Three occupants (Bunks) £66 Four occupants (Bunks) £83
Llangybi nr Usk
Family Room (Double Bed, Bunk & Cot) £72
Bed & Breakfast
The White Hart Village Inn
Standard Room Rate: Single £65 Double £85 Twin £85 Family £105
Open: All year Rooms: 28 Ensuite: 28 The Ty Newydd Country Hotel is set at the end of a lengthy drive off the A4059 on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park and has everything you have been looking for - tranquillity, comfort, excellent food and some of the most beautiful scenery in Wales right on its doorstep. The 28 en suite bedrooms are complemented by the elegant Foxhunter Suite with its adjoining Olympic Bar; a particularly popular choice for weddings and banquets, the George Restaurant, serving freshly prepared locally sourced food, the residents bar with three quarter height oak panelling and residents lounge with an open fireplace and adjoining gallery. All our standard rates include full Welsh breakfast.
Crickhowell
Deluxe Room Rate: Single £80 Double £80 Twin £80 Family £120 Superior Room Rate: Single £95 Double £115 Twin N/A Family N/A Special Corporate Rate Dinner Bed & Breakfast £70
Hotel/Restaurant
The Dragon Hotel
Llangybi T. 01633 450 258 www.whitehartvillageinn.com Email: info@whitehartvillageinn.com
Crickhowell T. 01873 810 362 www.dragoncrickhowell.co.uk Open: All year Rooms: 15 Ensuite: 15
Our 4 star graded accommodation is comprised of two characterful rooms, located on the first floor of The White Hart Village Inn, within the Victorian extension originally built as Stables. The Main Bedroom has a Double-Bed and en-suite with new bathroom suite comprising shower, sink and WC. If required the adjoining Second Single Bedroom can also be made available to provide a family suite to accommodate two adults and a child (we accept children aged 12 or over) or third adult.
bathroom with shower - Complimentary tea/coffee tray
Hotel/Restaurant
CF44 9SX, Hirwaun T. 01685 813433 E. relax@tynewyddcountryhotel.co.uk www.tynewyddcountryhotel.co.uk
Here at Dare Valley Country Park we can offer you and your family a choice of quality hotel rooms or top class camping and caravanning pitches. With easy access to a facilities block on the caravan site, a refurbished café offering a variety of local produce, loads of walks and things to see and do, Dare Valley Country Park has room to accommodate everyone! Hotel Accommodation Refurbished rooms, en-suite facilities and peace and quiet, great ingredients for a relaxing stay at Dare Valley Country Park.
Facilities include - Freeview TV - Hairdryer - En suite
Hirwaun
The Ty-Newydd Country Hotel
Aberdare T. 01685 874672 www.darevalleycountrypark.co.uk
Standard Room Rate: Single £39 Double/Twin £50
TO BOOK YOUR SPACE CALL 01495 750600
and Continental Breakfast - Alarm clock
The Dragon is a very old hostelry located on the High Street. The town is regarded as a jewel of the Brecon Beacons /Black Mountains National Park. Nestling in the gorgeous Usk valley, Crickhowell is surrounded by mountains and comprises a Norman castle and a collection of early Georgian houses and cottages. It's a beautiful spot and a perfect base for adventures in the National Park.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access
Standard Room Rate: Single £45 Double/Twin £65
Torfaen
Family Room e.g. 2 Adults + 2 Children (16 and under) - En-Suite £105
Superior Room Rate: Double £78 Twin N/A Family N/A
Pub/Restaurant/Accomodation
The Rifleman’s Arms
50
NP4 9QS, Blaenavon T. 01495 792297 Open: All year Rooms: 5 Ensuite: 5 Plus sauna room Welcoming, quality accommodation in comfortable, well equipped guestrooms. Fully Licensed, large family dinning room. Room rate: Single £30 Double £60 Family £80. Living Wales JULY 2010
www.livingwalesmag.co.uk
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Visit Dare Valley Country Park and enjoy 500 acres of countryside, walks, trails and family fun all within a mile of Aberdare.
Enjoy an activity break with an overnight stay at Dare Valley Country Park in the South Wales Valleys. Activities include: Coracle Making Join our Coracle making expert and create your own mode of water transport. You will be able to try it out too on the lake once your creation is complete!
Archery Try your hand at archery and let our trained staff point your arrow in the right direction. Archery lessons available for
adults and children. Cycling Take in the sights and sounds of the Valley on one of our cycle tours. You will be kitted out with your own personally adjusted bike and safety gear and led by an experienced cyclist through some of the areas most fascinating countryside. Please ring for more details and prices.
Family Discovery Days
Join our Environmental Education team and discover all about Nature and Dare Valley Country Park 10.30am – 12.30pm - Free events, advance booking is essential. Children must be accompanied. Sunday 22nd August Sunday 26th September Butterflies and Moths Trees Help us learn more about Join the team for a morning butterflies and moths and see of outdoor fun activities; what varieties we can find in learn all about trees and their the park. uses.
V Visit our new interactive visitor centre V Walk our network of countryside walks and trails V Experience our birds, countryside and spectacular views V Stay on our new camping and caravan site V Spend a relaxed night after a long walk in our refurbished hotel V Relax in the Country Park Café, 'y Cwtch', selling top quality local produce V Or why not base yourself at the country park to visit the South Wales Valleys and the Brecon Beacons? Or even to visit Cardiff, the capital of Wales V Events throughout the year
Events
1st – 3rd July Shakespeare in the Courtyard Showcase Sioe Gerdd Performing Arts (in association with E3+) perform their production of Romeo and Juliet. For tickets call Peter on 07904430840 7pm – 10pm. Tickets £6, School Parties £4
Sunday 11th July Global Day Join us in the global village and discover dance, food, music and children's activities from around the world. 10am – 4pm Free event
Saturday 31st July Gary the Clown Science based workshops based on ‘Natural things’, bringing fun for all the family. 11am – 3pm
Evening Courtyard Concerts 8pm Friday 23rd July, High Voltage! For those about to Rock to one of the best AC/DC cover bands around – we salute you! Saturday 24th July, The Warthogs Formed in 2007 featuring ex members of various Cynon Valley bands from the last ten years, Playing classic Rock, Punk, Folk and acoustic.
Dare Valley Country Park, Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF44 7RG
01685 874672 For further information just call or visit www.darevalleycountrypark.co.uk (Use CF44 7PT or CF44 7PS for SAT NAV's)
Art Exhibitions Alwyn Isaac 17th July – 8th August
Ceri Isaac (pen/ink & mixed media) 14th Aug – 5th Sept 2010 Cerys Morgan Gumm 11th Sept – 3rd Oct 2010
Fresh food served daily Monday to Friday. Come and try our stunning Carvery Every Sunday for only £5.95
Dare Valley Country Park near Aberdare offers a full list of family events, guided walks, talks and fun days all through the year. Just bring suitable outdoor and walking gear with you and enjoy your visit!
Big Issue Full Page Ad - Proms 2010:Layout 1 24/05/2010 10:02 Page 1
Only Men Aloud Stage & Screen Prom
Ray Chen Romantic Prom
Alison Balsom Last Night of the Proms
Wednesday 21 July, 7.30pm
Thursday 22 July, 7.30pm
Saturday 24 July, 7.00pm
11-24 July / Gorffennaf