Quench Issue 55 - 19 Sept 2007

Voyeur

Young, dumb and full of cum. With pass rates still rising, has there been a better time for Freshers to just embrace a mantra the Daily Mail wishes it could print? Of course, it’s not necessarily that easy to embrace two weeks of enforced introductions, alcohol poisoning and F-U-N.

Freshers’ week is a strange experience; a bizarre carnival of tacky club nights, costumes and alcohol. If you happen to live in Talybont or one of the larger halls, it can feel a bit like that homoerotic school trip where you stayed in a dorm on the fringes of the Lake District, participated in some desperate but ill-judged fumbles at the climax of a game of murder in the dark (now forbidden conversational territory) and spent the rest of the trip pondering your sexuality amid the bleak splendour of Crinkle Crags. It’s a heady, insecurity-baiting mixture, like that triple sambuca you dropped in your snakebite to kill the awkward silence creeping up on you and your New Best Friends.

Talking of whom, it’s a good idea to keep them in perspective. Sure, you don’t want to get too self-conscious and spend two weeks at your desk reading Sartre, harrumphing at the clichés and false intimacy. But go too far the other way and you’ll spend your honeymoon period with your housemates in the first flushes of an affair that can easily turn ugly. Yes, you WILL regret sleeping with the engineer next door; he might seem like fun now, but later you’ll realise you were just desperate and deluded. Besides, he eats your Marmite when you’re not there.

NU-RAVE

Coming in a variety of garish colours and frequented by hyperactive just-teens, nu-rave deserves to be left behind right now. New students are way better.

Ninjah,

Spotlight on Cardiff

age unknown, MC and dreadlocked street performer

“Shakespeare said, ʻTo be or not to beʼ. So, sometimes I am, sometimes Iʼm not” True.

Normally, you donʼt expect the climax of an Iggy and the Stooges set to be defined by chocolate nostalgia. But when the crowd invaded Iggyʼs Other stage performance at Glastonbury this year, they promptly unfurled a monster ʻBring back the Wispaʼ banner. That was the best advert, like, ever.

FEATURES

Fresh out of college

Chris Rogers jumps into the mind of a fresher to recount the first few days of life at

University

Today was my first day at Cardiff University. My parents dropped me off, but decided it was necessary to out stay their welcome by approximately 3 hours.

somehow got hold of the practice essay questions, and wants me to read her first drafts – I don’t think I’ll be seeing a great deal of her. My two other flatmates haven’t arrived yet, I guess they will be here tomorrow. Anyway, right now I’m shattered, so I’m going to make this an early night.

Day

2

My dad had insisted on checking the cracks on my new ceiling with his magnifying glass, whilst my mum panicked about the state of affairs in the kitchen, namely the fact that no one had bought a toaster. How would we survive? God how I wanted them to leave, I thought to myself: ‘you’ve driven me all the way here, you’ve bought me loads of supplies, you’ve been such a great help, now please, piss off!’ Well, they eventually did, giving me a chance to properly acquaint myself with my new flatmates.

First off there’s Todd, he seems pretty cool, he’s got tanned skin, huge dreadlocks and smells of joss sticks – yes, he’s been on a gap year. He seems like a pretty worldly guy, I mean he’s smoked weed on more beaches than I could point a stick at. Then there’s Sarah, she’s doing the same course as me, however, she’s read all the books and has

Today was enrollment day; we had to get all the boring admin stuff out the way before the partying started. This involved endless queuing and much confusion as thousands of hung over students were herded around the various sites of the university in order to sign up for their subjects, and sort out their paperwork. This was an incredibly tedious procedure, but it did give me a chance to get to know my final two flatmates, who arrived this morning and decided to attend enrolment with me. Their names are Jack and Samantha.

metal than the Tin Man. She strongly believes that the university should supply us with L.S.D in order to suppress the anxiety and stress we have to go through on enrollment day. ‘Fair point’, I said.

In the evening we all went out to Solus in the Students Union. Well, actually, Sarah stayed in – she hasn’t even finished the conclusion of her final practice essay yet! I’d be lying if I said the evening went swimmingly. Todd and Sarah spent the evening debating… Todd took the line that true experience is seeing the world, where as Samantha argued that ‘true experience’ can only be gained by exploring the mind. The rest was a blur.

Jack sports a Dungeons and Dragons T–shirt and spends most of our time together talking about this card game called ‘Magic the Gathering’. Samantha on the other hand, has pink hair and a face which bears more

Day 3

Samantha Sarah

Today I woke up with the most incredible hang over and absolutely no memory whatsoever. I felt terrible, there was no one here I felt a connection with; I wished everyone here were like my friends from home, but they weren’t.

Jack

We

back

These thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at my door, it was Jack. He came in and said, ‘come on, get out of bed - we’re going to be late’. Late for what? I thought, but just obeyed his orders passively. Well, it turns out that I spent the whole night discussing how much we both loved mountain biking, and had agreed to join the mountain biking society today, god I don’t remember this! Without sounding harsh, he didn’t look like he was cut out to even lift his leg over the bar to get on a bike, let alone hurtle down some muddy track in the Welsh valleys, but sure enough, he seemed to know everything there is to know about it.

Day 4

On my way back I received a text

We joined the society, invited a few of the other new students who were there out with us and headed on back to Talybont. On my way back I received a text from Samantha, I must have drunkenly exchanged numbers with her last night. The text read: ‘u up for sum more of that crazy ass dancing you were doing last night? x’. Fucking hell, I don’t remember dancing, I never dance! Anyway, I thought, if it means breaking the ice, I’d be prepared to do some more ‘crazy ass dancing’. Well, time to get ready to go out, will write about how it goes in the morning.

Todd

Well it’s 7am, and I’ve just entered my room to go to sleep, last night was quite something. Spent much of the night partaking in ‘some crazy ass dancing’ with Samantha, I think I showed the MCs who was boss! I remember us all leaving the club early

as we couldn’t really talk. We headed back to Talybont to drink the remains of our wine. We then climbed up on top of the roof to watch the sunrise, it was the most blissfully cringe worthystereotypical student night I could’ve imagined and I loved it! You know, I think I’m going to enjoy these next three years.

All characters in this diary are entirely fictional. Do not attempt anything that is mentioned in this diary at home or at Talybont.

SEPTEMBER IN THE CITY

Gillian Couch takes you on a whistlestop tour of the sights and sounds Cardiff has to offer

So… you’ve spent hours pondering over what uni will provide you with the right course, vibrant nightlife and satisfactory ratio of guys to girls; you’ve memorised every possible date, fact or quote and sat the nauseating exams; and you’ve discovered your fate, which is determined through a few very important letters. In other words, you’ve made it to Cardiff. Get in.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have got annoyed with waiting for accommodation info to arrive, have set up a brand-spanking-new bank account with (what seems like) a massive overdraft and spent most of it on a nice shiny laptop. You’ve sorted the essential pre-uni arrangements and you’ve towed EVERYTHING north/ south/east/west to Cardiff. Nervous? Don’t be. Things are just about to get interesting.

I could go into lots of detail about Freshers’ week (or fortnight as it’s unofficially known), and give you a precise schedule of exactly which social events you should attend. However,

your initial few weeks as a fresher are going to be bloody good whatever you decide to do. You will make friends with everyone and remember very little of what actually goes on. So I’m going to give a little bit of an insight into the sort of stuff that carries on after the frenzy of Freshers’ week.

First things first: the nightlife. It carries on far and beyond Freshers’ week and, actually, it gets better. Just to give you a quick idea: there’s Solus in the Union, which hosts a variety of different club nights throughout the week- you’ll soon discover which ones are for you. The clubs are plentiful: Walkabout, Liquid, Reflex, Jongleurs, Jumping Jaks. Just to name a few of the big players. Barfly and Metros offer something a little more intimate, dark and well, small. And then there are the pubs and bars… The George, The Woody, The Taf, Blackweir, Gassy Jaks, The Social and Buffalo Bar, amongst many, many more.

If you get your kicks from live music, you’ve come to the right place. The Great Hall, Barfly, Clwb Ifor Bach, The Point and CIA always have excit-

ing listings. Plus, there’s so much variety that you’re never going to need to venture too far a field. Cardiff is definitely not a shy and retiring city, as you will soon discover. Probably with as much elation as when I discovered Tony’s did chips and gravy. (That’ll make sense soon, I promise.)

Venturing away from nightlife I’ll tell you a wee bit about some things that are probably quite important… Once you’ve sobered up and realised you have lectures to go to and probably even some work to do, new and bizarre thoughts may begin to cross your mind. Thoughts like: “where are the libraries?” and “what time do they open?” (The sorts of things usually caused by ‘forgetting’ to buy the books on the reading lists.) All questions linked to libraries and the like can usually be answered by looking on the Cardiff home page, which has all sorts of useful things lurking on it. You’ll be introduced to Voyager where you can search for books and if you’re really lucky you might even get the librarian’s class on Internet searching… eek.

Cardiff Uni is pretty good with helping its students out, if you’ve already broken your laptop you can whisk it down to the IT shop in the Students’ Union and they’ll sort you out very reasonably. There are a bevy of places to go to satisfy a variety of religious beliefs, and a security office (if you manage to lose your student card after all the hours you spent queuing up for it,) and many more rather helpful offices along Park Place. Not to mention the fitness centre. For those of you who believe in exercise, Park Place also offers a fully equipped gym and a huge range of different classes for a very small fee. The sports hall at Talybont is another location for classes and team sports. This seems like a good time to mention the Stretch leisure card. If you fancy a swim, the Maindy Pool is really close

to Talybont and by investing in one of these cards for a mere £15 a year, a swim will cost you less than £1.50.

Another huge plus for Cardiff Uni is the Students’ Union. Rumoured to be the biggest union in the UK it has; its own nightclub, bar, sports hall, Great Hall, bookshop, job shop, estate agent, convenience store, music shop, graduate centre, student support unit and an entire floor dedicated to student media. Now that’s not bad.

The Great Hall hosts the societies fayre each year, which is worth heading down to. Not only do you get looooads of free stuff (not just pens either, I got a Bench scarf last year,) you get to see the huge variety of societies that exist in Cardiff. All the people on the stalls will tell you about their societies and get you to join up. Quite a few ask for a membership

fee, so joining them all is probably not a good idea! If you’re interested in the student media, it’s a great idea to get yourself to the media recruitment party where the magazine (Quench), newspaper (Gair rhydd) and radio station (Xpress), and TV station CUTV all big themselves up, tell you what they’re all about and motivate you to join them. But, whatever societies you find yourself in to; they’re definitely a good way of meeting more new people.

So yeah, I’m sure there are loads more questions you’re thinking… unless you’re drunk. In which case, you’re probably feeling warm and fuzzy. Either way, make the most of being a Fresher – it’s the beginning of a terrific experience. Oh, and take loads of photos if you want to remember it!!

Clockwise from top: Clwb Ifor Bach; Jumpin Jaks; The Point; drunken student

Cathays and Roath The Hidden Splendour of

Jim Whiteley discusses the smorgasbord of bars, eateries and gentlemen’s entertainment venues lurking in the

labyrinthine recesses of Cardiff’s most glorious purveyor of student lifestyle essentials: Cathays and Roath

So, you’ve just moved into halls, and the joys of a bubblelike existence. But for those of you interested in exploring a little further afield than North Road, Colum Road and Park Place, then welcom to the delights of Cathays and Roath. Here’s a quick guide to the essentials.

Pretty essential to most students is the location of various watering holes – and this area is designed not to disappoint. It’s very difficult to get further than a 3 minute stumble of anywhere that will sell your poison. The Woodville, or The Woody as it is affectionately known guards the gates to ‘Studentville’ (i.e. the bridge that crosses the railway track at the

Barclays Bank crossroads). Nestled in the crook of two important student boulevards, Woodville Road and Cathays Terrace, the Woodville is sure to be lunch-break favourite for many. Roughly the same distance on the other side of the Union, towards the city centre, is another little gem, the Pen and Wig. Their wide selection of beers and good food makes it great for anytime of day.

Aside from these two favourites (these being the closest to the Union, and therefore often the first stop of your daily pub crawl home), there are many others dotted around the area – The Flora, a real local located on Flora Street off Cathays Terrace, The Mackintosh, a cheap pub on

Richards Street opposite Keylet, The George, another Woodville-esque pub (same company) located on the Crwys Road/Albany Road/City Road intersection. There is also the ménage à trois that is Gassy Jacks, The End and The Social, all on Salisbury Road, and all within less than 30 seconds of each other.

Salisbury Road also becomes an important area for eating, especially after a night out at The Union. With Mama’s Kebab House (buy one get one free pizza on Sundays) and alltime greats Chicago Bulls (a great selection of vegetarian food) along with a varied selection of Indian and Chinese Takeaways, you cannot easily go hungry here. Ramon’s and Café

will give you that greasy morning-after fry-up that you think is a great idea (if you want size, go to Ramon’s; if you want less grease, Café 37 is for you!).

Woodville, Crwys, Albany and City Roads all have their offerings of the usual takeaways. The all you can eat buffet at Phi-B’s on Crwys Road is worth checking out, as is the buffet at Cassia Oriental (best for large parties), and if you feel like flashing your cash, there are restaurants for every tastes. One favourite is The Funky Buddha Lounge on Woodville Road (a great place to take the parents when they visit and pick up the bill). Embassy Café on Cathays Terrace will fill you up for lunch in an ethical

You’re bound to find much better bits, such as the brothel on Woodville Road

and moral kind of way.

If you prefer to cook at home, you’ll find the necessary Tesco on Salisbury Road and Albany Road. However, if you want to fight the good fight and stick up for the local team, check out The Veg Rack on Crwys road, near the Co-Op, and also Pring’s butcher a little further up. To quote my friend Simon “they sell chicken breasts the size of your face, steaks the size of Texas, and sausages you could land a stealth bomber on.”

Everything mentioned here is just a tiny of part what you can find around Cathays and Roath – you’re bound to find much better bits, such as the brothel on Woodville Road. If you’re a fresher, come check it out, there really is more to life than big Tesco, so relax and feel safe in the knowledge that you live in one of the best parts of the best city in the world. Fact.

A Grand Day (and night) Out In Cathays

Today, student life begins at Cafe 37. A greasy breakfast is ordered and skulls are nursed over coffee.

As last orders comes to a close, Cardiff’s jovial student community tumbles onto the streets of Cathays. Hunger pangs are suppressed with old-fashioned Turkish ethnic delicacies in Chicago Bulls. We eat. We sleep. We repeat.

Come 12 o’clock, a lazy stroll over to The Woodville is rewarded with a welcome pint of Stella. Nestled between Hawaiian shirts and togas (it is Wednesday, you know), much merry-making ensues

Step away from the takeaway. Daniel Smith is about to guide you through how to prepare real food, real cheaply

Soyou’re hungry. You’ve been here a few days, the stuff your Mum bought you has been eaten in your last bout of the munchies and you need something to eat. You could try this:

1. Go to your new flat mates cupboard (any will do because they don’t know you yet!).

2. Put some of their bread in the toaster

3. Heat another flat mates baked beans

4. Use another’s margarine

5. Always spread the wealth so no one person notices too much

6. Wash it down with another’s nice beer that their Mum bought them!

Alternatively, if you like your new flat mates - or at least don’t want them to hate you just yet - you could try some of this. I don’t want to waffle on with recipes, but you really should try some of these things, if only once. You’ve got total freedom now and if you only learn one thing

this year, learn to love good, simple food. It’s not that hard, it’s not expensive and it makes you feel much better!

Supplies:

tening compared to lager.

Techniques:

Buy some good olive oil for dressing with and some cheap vegetable oil for cooking

Use salt, it makes things taste nice.

Spices are cheap and add a variety of flavours. Cook them with onion before adding other things. The corner shops in Cathays sell loads of them for next to nothing.

Good vinegar (white wine, balsamic or red wine) may be expensive but it goes a long way and makes a lovely salad.

Lemons: cheap and awesome with any fish.

Garlic and onions: the basis of any good dish – except porridge. Use real butter – it’s not that fat-

Eat fish! It’s so simple, tasty and amazingly good for you. There’s a good market in town and it’s cheap as chips. Get a fresh fillet of fish (have the fish monger prep it), season both sides, make sure the skin is dry. Spread some olive oil on a piece of tinfoil and on the fish using your fingers and pop it, skin side up, under a hot grill.

Or heat a pan then add some oil. Heat until it shimmers. Slide the fish in skin side down and cook 75% through on that side - you can tell which bit is cooked because it will go opaque. If the fish curls up slightly push it down with a spatula. Flip it over to cook the last 25%. Eat with a bit of fresh salad, some crusty bread and real butter.

STRANGE VEGETABLES*

*suitable for vegetarians

COURGETTE

If you’re feeling really posh, why not have a glass of white wine? If you haven’t tried a certain type of fish and it’s not too expensive, try it! If you don’t like it you’ve always got your flatmates’ baked beans. When cooking meat, bring it from the fridge a little before you want to cook it. This will allow it to warm slightly so the heat can penetrate better. Season it well with salt. Make sure it’s dry, as this will help give you a nice brown colour. Heat the pan, then add some oil and heat that until it shimmers slightly.

and garlic, drain your beans and add them to the soft onion. Sprinkle in a little of a stock cube (which one depends on what you’re serving with it, but veggie or chicken never fail) and a couple of table spoons of water. Simmer gently until the beans are warm (a few minutes) and the liquid is thickened slightly then stir in a knob of butter and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Chuck in some herbs like parsley or basil say and whatever else you feel like – e.g

cloves, olive oil and salt. Any vegetable will roast. Soft ones (courgettes, aubergines, etc) want to be roasted at a hot temperature (180ishC) otherwise they will weep moisture which will mean they boil rather than roast. Harder ones (pumpkin, swede, turnip, etc) roast slower (140ishC), otherwise they burn before they are cooked – unless you’ve pre-boiled them. Drizzle over some balsamic vinegar just before they’re cooked for an extra depth of flavour.

Any vegetables will roast. Harder ones roast slower, otherwise they burn before they are cooked.

When you put the meat in the pan it should sizzle but not hiss and spit at you. When one side is brown, turn it over. If it’s a big piece of meat colour it on the hob and roast it in the oven at about 180C – check it every 5 to 10 minutes if it’s steak size or every half hour if a Sunday roast.

To check how done any meat is press it. Roughly it should feel like this: your finger against your chin is rare, your nose is medium and your forehead is well done.

Veggies – sort of.

Beans, no not baked. You can buy a tin of cooked beans in water for around 27p. Gently cook some onion

lemon juice if serving with fish or chicken; soy or Worcester sauce with red meat; mint with lamb.

Couscous. It’s a Moroccan staple food. For the basic result simply follow the directions on the back of the packet. But if you gently cook some onion and garlic till soft. Take it off the heat, stir in your couscous and add water, as directed on the packet, it tastes awesome. Or simply add some lemon juice and olive oil. If it’s hot outside make it with cold water, a little lemon juice and stir some olive oil to separate. Or stir in raisins and sultanas with the hot water; that’s lovely with lamb.

Try roasting vegetables in a hot oven. Tossed with a couple of garlic

Potatoes need to be pre-boiled (till they slip off the end of a small knife), drained and shaken lightly in the pan so they’re fluffy. Then cooked in hot oil in a hot roasting tray in an oven at about 180C. Should take about 45mins. Maybe all this hasn’t been much help to you. But if you start simple and buy fresh local produce, try things you’ve not tried before. Chuck in some herbs if you can afford them, incorporate garlic and cooked onion as much as possible you’ll find meals to be cheap and, more importantly, tasty. Just go crazy, if you think it might work or you’ve seen it somewhere before, chances are it will work. Just take the first step. Or you could heat up last night’s kebab.

As you embark on your university career in Cardiff you have a whole brand new city to explore. Freshers week is renowned for heterosexual slaggery but you too can get a bit filthy with some same-sex singletons and meet lots of wicked-cool people in the process.

being scene

Quench brings you a beginner’s guide to getting gay in Cardiff

Kings Cross

Caroline Street, City Centre

Another student favourite and it’s easy to see why! Brilliant drinks deals and a good time in general.

Scene staple Miss Kitty is regularly on hand to provide first class entertainment be it cabaret or karaoke along with any of the multitude of guests on show throughout the year. Cabaret on Wednesdays is a definite must and is always a great laugh. If Cabaret’s not your thing, Kings Cross tries to deliver to everyone and generally succeeds.

On Mondays it’s Kitty’s very own

spin on ‘Deal Or No Deal’ with cash prizes up for grabs.

Thursdays see the cheapest bar prices Kings has to offer bringing party tunes and ridiculously reasonably priced drinks together.

Finally, Sunday sees the ever popular Kitty’s Karaoke taking place with more cheap drinks and an open mike proving particularly entertaining!

//battle of the clubs//battle of the clubs//battle of the clubs //

vs //

Rocking up as a fresher in Cardiff, striding blindly onto the spanking new territory, little do you know of the apocalyptic clash that brews beneath the surface of our little metropolis.

Since the dawn of time (or last year, anyway) X has been the club du jour for every gay worth their salt. Located on the grand Cardiff Mecca of Charles Street, X has been the epicentre of a successful Wednesday night seemingly forever. Always a safe bet, always busy and absolutely always the chance of a cheeky snog. Good atmosphere, a bit of a dance and seven drinks in exchange for the eight quid student entry fee – we were all happily strutting our way across the dance floor oblivious of what was about to hit us.

It was only when new ultra-spangly

joint Pulse opened for business a couple of months ago that it slowly dawned upon everyone that, actually, X was a bit rank. Boasting chandeliers and wallpaper and even toilets with locks, Pulse crept up like X’s younger more spunky brother, guns

Lush

Caroline Street, City Centre

Situated on Caroline Street and opposite to Kings Cross, Lush is a much needed touch of class to Cardiff’s gay scene.

The cocktails are a bit sketchy and you might feel a bit like you’re in Ikea but the pricelist is pretty decent and you can spy on slags making their way down Chippy Alley from the balconies.

Adorned with exposed brickwork and mirrors galore, Lush is very decadent. Not officially a gay place, more gay-friendly, go visit for a quick drink before hitting Charles Street or maybe for a laid-back date with a potential

blazing, ready for a challenge. In a heftily mischievous bid to out-do X, Pulse also launched a student night on Wednesday. It’s free to get in, drinks are cheap and a variety is offered to rival the limiting ‘pints and bottles only’ rule that X employs. The war is well and truly on. X is a classic and has a certain elusive charm, but an endearing nature does not a hawesome nightclub make. Pulse is fresh and new and exciting and offers a totally diverse clubbing experience with three floors to choose from and generally more space but how much do we all really like cabaret? Deciding where your loyalties lie this autumn will result in a Montague-Capulet mêlée of epic proportions. Pick a side, and let battle commence.

Caroline Street, City Centre

ivalling Lush for a nice pre-club drink, Icon can get very busy on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

A great place to spot who’s out, Icon has two decadent floors in which to sup at a Cosmo or three.

Playfully dubbed ‘Dyke-on’, this is a hotbed for those of the lesbian persua-

Icon is open from midday everyday and is ideal for lunch or a drink after a hectic H&M session. Serene and comfy in the day yet buzzing and vibrant in the evenings, it’s the perfect place to wind down or get wound up.

Bar Icon

Travellers’ Tales

Cocooned in your new room, I’m sure many of you are busy covering every inch of wall space with travel pictures in an attempt to make your living quarters look less like an empty cell and more fit for human habitation.

As the shelves fill up with memorabilia and the tan begins the fade, it’s nice to find someone with whom you can share your travelling tales. A useful conversation starter, countless stories will be swapped with housemates until you realise you and your roomies were on the same island, in the same backpackers just a week apart – it’s a small world. That, or you went somewhere no one’s heard of or worst-case scenario, you didn’t

Making the move from a gap year to University can be an unsettling experience. Kirsty Page is here to set you at ease

go anywhere and are silently wishing your ‘worldly’ new friends would shut up and talk about something else. That’s unfortunate. And very irritating for you.

Travel experiences range from the weird and wonderful to the civilised and chic but whatever was done on a gap year or summer holiday was, I’m sure, something you will never forget.

And if you’re seriously suffering from post travel blues, never fear, there’ll always be someone with feet just as itchy as yours.

Volunteering: A Waste of time?

Telling people I did voluntary work, I always worry that I come across as thinking I’m the next Gandhi

Whether you trekked in the Amazon, bungeed in New Zealand or inter-railed round Europe, there will be people with an eager ear ready to listen and share their own unique tales. While Cardiff may seem a far cry from these exotic adventures, don’t be fooled; Wales has some great places to explore.

Telling people I did voluntary work, I always worry that I come across as thinking I’m the next Gandhi. Wearing glasses is about the only thing him and I have in common. Voluntary work has become enormously popular for those taking gap years and has come under much scrutiny, rendered by The Times this week as pointless and spurious. One of the examples given in the paper showed local people deprived of a job to make way for an 18-year-old gappie to take their place.

That, clearly, is unacceptable. As a spokeswoman for VSO pointed out in the article, many organisations are jumping on the bandwagon and charging thousands for fresh-faced school leavers to go and participate in community work. I have to admit, this trap caught me out during my gap year. Whilst the organisation offered excellent communication and support and a sensational safari that independently would have burned a serious hole in my wallet, there was still a thousand or so pounds floating around that I couldn’t account for.

This summer I embarked on a similar project that was a quarter of the price and the donation was spent directly on a worthwhile cause whilst you were there. It does make you wonder whose pockets your fees are lining. There will always be sceptics who scoff at such work and who question the value of these projects but people know they are not there to revolutionise the world, and as long

it can be a hugely exciting experi-

as you are not expecting your presence to restore the global imbalance it can be a hugely exciting experience.

So if you have just returned from your gap year or a jam packed summer, don’t let the Welsh winter get you down; Travel is on hand to keep the wanderlust burning and the feet itching.

Photo of the summer...

ORAGUTAN IN BORNEO: now there’s a handsome chap

QUENCH Music’s guide to

GIG VENUES

CIA THE UNION

The most corporate and evil venue of them all, Cardiff's International Arena is where you're most likely to see the bands too big to compete with the smaller scale venues Cardiff has to offer. On a stage where Muse and Duran Duran have performed, this year sees The White Stripes, Arcade Fire, The Police and Incubus fall prey to sheer size and succumb to arena gigs. Not a particularly bad venue, just shit for annoyingly expensive gig tickets.

BARFLY

It's a little bit grimy, a little bit gross, and with its 200-person capacity,Cardiff's Barfly is a small gem of the alternative music scene. Tucked away in a small corner of town, this basement venue has held host to a variety of acts, both big and small. Patrick Wolf has sold it out, Calvin Harris has got down, dirty and downright dancey, and We Are Scientists have played a bizarre DJ set in it's tiny interior. Great for intimacy, pretty good for prices, Barfly is one of Cardiff's smallest and most satisfying gig venues.

Cardiff's Student Union boasts not one, but three separate gig venues in one humongous building. The biggest is the Great Hall, which although resembles more of a school disco hall rather than a gig venue, but the extra space may not be such a bad thing, allowing for bigger props and light shows. Solus, better known for it's student club nights, but also is a less high-profile gig hotspot. CF10 is a teensy venue, but has seen lots of musical action in a similar vein to "I saw

THE POINT

The Point sits down a nice little street right next to Cardiff Bay, and as it was formerly a church, it's probably the prettiest of our featured venues. The atmosphere here is usually absolutely electric, the surroundings are nicer to look at than your average and the high ceilings make for great acoustics. Another venue great for diversity, The Point puts on a fair amount of under the radar gigs; 65daysofstatic, Battles and Broken Social Scene have been guests here, and chances are, not many people will know about it

CLWB IFOR BACH

Yet another venue hidden away down another back alley, Clwb Ifor Bach, otherwise known as Welsh Club to us poorly spoken English folk, is one of the best venues Cardiff has to offer. Best known for its dedication to local artists, Clwb is three floors of pure musical bliss. With a completely magical array of artists gracing the stages here, from Foals to Gallows, the Super Furries to Future of the Left, every alternative genre is covered. Look out for some brilliant listings in the next

guide to

RECORD SHOPPING QUENCH Music’s

D’Vinyl Records

is a gem of a record shop tucked away by the bargain capital of Cardiff; Albany Road. It might appear small from the outside, but you would be surprised by the masses of classic vinyl, as well as books, films and CD’s to be found inside. You could spend hours here looking for something without any luck, but you’ll probably come out with handful of other stuff regardless. A Vinyl collectors paradise, just avoid temptation and don’t take money you can’t afford to spend.

D’VINYL SPILLERS

If Cardiff had a musical heartbeat it’d be Spillers; the model indie record store. Not just a mere record shop, though, but a promoter of local music, occasional gig venue, fashion accessory and an iconic future for the city’s music loving population. You’ll hear people calling it “the oldest record shop in the world”, but the fact of the matter it’s just a brilliant place to buy music, with helpful staff and great taste.

THE

RECORDS

Okay, so they may be awful baby eating capitalist monsters, but HMV and Virgin Megastores (located on Queens Street) are dying representatives of a once thriving CD industry. Support the independents if you can, but inevitably they lack the sheer variety of these corporate beasts.

Future Of The Left

(below)

Future of the left were formed from the ashes of two other highly acclaimed, yet unfortunately now defunked names of the South Wales music seen, namely Mclusky and Jarcrew. Known for their earth shattering basslines, disjointed guitars and lyrical attacks at right wing British politics Future Of The Left are shaping up to be one of the best Alternative bands the UK has to offer right now.

Essential Track: Fingers Become Thumbs

Spencer McGarry Season

Spencer McGarry Season take the form of a three peice band who are one of the keystones of a whole web of local music worth checking out (also try Sweet Baboo, Half Light, Little My.) Peddling a host of catchy, three minute, guitar pop tunes makes them one of the most likeable bands of local scene.

Essential Track: To The Liars Take Me

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN...

Ways to fill you ears until Quench returns.

Twisted By Design upstairs at Dempseys. A school disco for indie kids. Lovely stuff.

Los Campesinos (above) Gindrinker

If you go to enough smaller sized gigs around Cardiff sooner or later you are bound to stumble upon the phonomenom that is Gindrinker. Comprised of two men, a guitar and a drum machine, you are likely to hear Gindrinker described as either brilliant or unbearable depending on who you talk to.

Essential Track: God of Darts

MEET THE LOCALS

They may be ex-Cardiff students and ex-Quench writers but that’s not the reason we go on about Los Campesinos so much. This Cardiff seven piece are on the verge of starting a pop revolution with their infectious melodies Pavement inspired wonky guitar riffs and loveable stage antics. Make sure you’re in on the ground floor. Essential Track: You! Me! Dancing!

WEDNESDAY 19TH THURSDAY 20TH FRIDAY 21ST

Popscene at Clwb Ifor Bach. It’s time to either discover or reintroduce yourself to everyones favourite midweek indie night.

RX Bandits in Solus. Punky, ska flavoured fun from these underground favourite right here in our very own union.

Dudes Abide at Clwb Ifor Bach. For those of you who ignored my advice about going out on Wednesday, a second chance.

SATURDAY 22ND SUNDAY 23RD MONDAY 24TH TUESDAY 25TH

Open Mic at Buffalo. Go on, prove you can do it better.

Fun Factory in Solus. Fifty Quids says they play that fucking Pendulum song.

Blood Red Shoes at Clwb Ifor Bach. Rather good live music in an awesome venue.

WEDNESDAY 26TH THURSDAY 27TH FRIDAY 28TH SATURDAY 29TH

Gwen Stefani + CSS at CIA. A veritable smorgasboard of brightly coloured lady-pop.

Dans Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip at Clwb Ifor Bach. Electro meets hip-hop fun.

Alabama 3 at the Coal Exchange. They did the theme tune to the Sopranos you know.

One Night of Queen With Gary Mullen at St Davids. Former Stars in Their Eyes winner. Don’t go to this.

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Dir: David Yates

Cast:

Daniel Radcliffe

Rupert Grint.

Emma Watson

Ralph Fiennes

After spending the summer isolated in the Muggle world Harry returns to Hogwarts and the wizarding community to discover that much has changed. With little support for his belief that Lord Voldermort has returned, and a school year dominated by a cruel addition to the Hogwarts staff, Harry’s adolescent anxieties are given full breathing room as he faces his toughest year at Hogwarts yet. With Rowling’s seventh and final book complete, rumour has it that Potter’s fifth trip to the box office was purposely timed to coincide with the final book’s release to reduce cases of depression and what experts have called “wizarding –withdrawal”.

Truthfully, I made that up, but for most Potter fans, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix certainly marks the turning point where attentions shift from the page to the screen. It also sees a new director, David Yates, take charge of the films, and begin to steer them in a darker direction. However this darkness can’t disguise his struggle to reduce Rowling’s bloated 776 pages into two hours and eighteen minutes of film (Quidditch is not the only thing missing from this film!).

This struggle is highlighted by the various nods at plotlines that are left unexplored, such as Harry’s embattled relationships with Ron and Hermione, and the appearance of “blink

and you’ll miss’um” characters, such as Bellatrix Lestrange, played by Helena Bonham Carter, who is literally on the screen for about sixty seconds.

Despite a storyline that feels choppy at times, I have to admit, I did still enjoy this film. The final battle scene was a highlight, with more special effects and scar grabbing than you can shake a wand at. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix certainly benefits from leaving some of the innocence of the previous Potter films behind, and provides a promising platform for the next installments in the series.

Mike Roff

Dir: Tom Shadyac

Cast:

Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham

EvanAlmighty, the sequel to BruceAlmighty, pits Steve Carrel in full ark building mode after a few not so gentle nudges from God. Admittedly, saving the world from a giant flood doesn’t seem completely out of character for Carell who seems to be able to do no wrong since his role in the U.S Office.

mainly generated by another of Carrell’s consistently good film performances, there are very few genuine laugh out loud moments. Freeman essentially plays exactly the same role as he did in Bruce Almighty as God, and in all honesty it will not go down as one of his classic acting performances.

Unsurprisingly, Evan Baxter’s family and colleagues find his flood claims and change in lifestyle rather dubious, and we soon see Baxter, played by Steve Carell, lose both his personal and professional reputation. God however, played by Morgan Freeman, reassures our ‘hero’, our very own modern-day Noah, to continue to build the Ark and prepare for a great flood. In true Hollywood style Baxter is eventually proved right and a standard, unoriginal film ending ensues. This film fails on almost all levels. Firstly, it simply isn’t funny. Although there are a few humorous moments,

This film seems to typify so much of the current crop of comedies that Hollywood has produced this summer- a lazy script, drab plot and generally disappointing overall result. Without Carell and Freeman, Evan Almighty, the most expensive comedy in history, would have completely floundered. Fortunately for the film, it does contain two good actors, and also boasts Wanda Sykes, of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame and the everconsistent John Goodman in its cast. Although the supporting cast save this film from being truly awful, Evan Almighty is still very poor.

Rich Brown

EVAN ALMIGHTY

Giant robots able to disguise themselves as anything at all land on earth looking for the mythical Allspark to bring life back to their world. With two warring robot factions after it, only the intervention of man kind can keep it from falling into the wrong robot hands.

There’s been a palpable sense of hysteria building for the last year amongst those guys old enough to think that the squeaky voiced, vertically challenged Michael J. Fox was super cool because of Back to the Future and who know every word to the Fresh Prince of Bell Air theme tune. Finally, after endless screen shots, leaked footage and trailers had been poured over by fans of the cartoon, Transformers have landed.

It’s important to establish two key factors to bear in mind when watching this film. Firstly, that this is a film based on a cartoon series that was made as a marketing tool for a transforming toy aimed at six to ten year olds. Secondly, that this movie has been made by Michael Bay, a man who persists in thinking that a slow motion shot of a guy (or robot) silhouetted against a sunset is a tasteful and subtle shot to include in a film (a phenomenon known as a ‘Bay Sunset’). In other words, Transformers was always going to be about as deep as Keanu Reeves.

Despite its inevitable flaws however, the 10 year old boy in me can safely say that this film is fantastic. The film’s unofficial but quite obviously superior tagline, ‘GIANT FUCKIING ROBOTS!’ pretty much sums up Transformers’s strengths; namely, big robots that fight with each other.

Yes, the non-robot bits are pretty dull in places and yes, John Voigt does make a depressingly bad turn as the Defence Secretary, but the chemistry between Sam (Shia LaBeof) and the obnoxious Agent Simmons (John Turturro of O Brother Where Art Thou fame) is entertaining throughout, and the CGI is faultless. The film is at its best during its slightly camper moments, but in the end its was enough for me just to

see Optimus Prime digitally rendered to perfection smashing his way through on coming traffic. The only improvement? A role for Michael J. Fox.

Sim Eckstein

Dir. Michael Bay Cast:

Shia LaBeouf

Megan Fox

Josh Duhamel

Jon Voight

Arts in the c

Situated in Park Place, the New Theatre features opera, drama, musicals and dance. It’s the perfect place for those that like the traditional theatre décor of red velvet curtains, side balconies and a large stage.

There is always a wide choice of performances on offer. Past productions include A Christmas Carol and Chicago. At the very end of the September, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most romantic musical, Aspects of Love, is coming to Cardiff, as is Joseph in November.

Alternatively, for fans of humour, don’t miss Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, also coming in November.

Chapter is a dynamic venue for the contemporary arts. It houses three cinemas and two theatres, as well as an art gallery and a great restaurant.

While the theatre regularly showcases performances from amateur and established acts, the cinemas offer a range of alternative films and documentaries. Chapter has a progressive attitude to the arts, often hosting some of the most provocative exhibitions, dance and drama in Cardiff.

Unfortunately, Chapter is relatively unknown amongst the student population. So, to experience the cutting- edge of the contemporary arts, or for an interesting and lively place to go and have a beer, Chapter is the place to be.

One of the most diverse and innovative arts venues in Cardiff, The Gate is situated in a converted church and comprises of a theatre, an art gallery and a dance studio.

It also has a café bar which hosts an open mic night every week, and is a regular forum for live music. The theatre is housed in what was formerly the upper section of the church, and is an intimate and atmospheric space.

It also runs a number of classes, ranging from creative writing to salsa. The Gate offers a great all round arts experience and is definitely worth a visit.

gets.Our very own Students’ Union has a comedy night every Tuesday at CF10, with tickets at only £4 (available from the box office) it is a right bargain and a great night out.

discount is available, book online to avoid queuing.

ardiff

For the hardened comedy fans, the Glee Club at Cardiff Bay has performances on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and regularly attracts some of the best acts on the circuit. Student

Comedy veterans will also be familiar with Jongleurs comedy club, available nationwide and is located in the Millennium Plaza opposite the station. Jongleurs in Cardiff does not offer a student discount, and tickets are £11.50 on a Saturday night.

ity...//

The National Museum Cathays

Park

Just a few hundred yards from the students’ union in Cathays Park, the best thing about this museum is that it’s absolutely free.

The ground floor explores the natural history, archaeology and evolution of Wales, from the dinosaurs to today, with a great selection of slides, artefacts and interactive materials.

The first floor contains a fine art selection, including European porcelain, Welsh ceramics and the Williams-Wynn collection, along with contemporary craft. Past exhibits include drawings

Art Galleries

Martin Tinney; g39; BayArt

Martin Tinney Gallery, in St Andrew’s Crescent, is a light, airy space on three floors, offering the perfect artistic sanctuary for the partied-out student.

The gallery exhibits work by the most important living Welsh artists, including Harry Holland, Sally Moore and Evelyn Williams. There are monthly solo exhibitions on the main floor, and constant changes of paintings, prints and sculptures on the other two floors. Free entry.

g39, a slim building with minimalistic exhibitions, also free entry, aims to promote awareness and understanding of contemporary art in Wales. It is situated in the café quarter at the top of St Mary’s Street.

Alternatively, head to BayArt on Bute Street, celebrating both Welsh and international modern art. Past exhibitions include Contemporary Cuban Prints and Sense in Place.

Wales Millennium Centre

Bute Place

Senghennydd

This is a modern-style theatre in a very convenient location, just to the left of the students’ union. It often features lesser-known theatre and dance companies, as well as more established names, and is the home to The Sherman Theatre Company. The venue tends to target young audiences rather than old due to its innovation and inventive re-writings of dramas.

Past performances include the classic thriller An Inspector Calls and the violent, erotic modern tragedy Women Beware Women The Guardian calls it “the kind of theatre you won’t find anywhere else”.

www.wmc.org.uk

Home of musicals, operas, ballet and dance, and set in the heart of Cardiff Bay, the WMC is renowned for providing excellence in the performing arts. Recent performances have included the opera Carmen and the classic tale of murder and malice, Duke Bluebeard’s Castle. Look out for the comedian Jimmy Carr and the beautiful ballet Swan Lake coming to Cardiff this October.

Mozart’s melodic epic The Magic Flute will be showing in February, or for something more light-hearted, go to White Christmas in December.

by Leonardo da Vinci and photos by renowned snapper of the stars, Angus McBean.

Tired of meaningless sexual encounters? Bored of searching for a soulmate in the snakebite doused, labyrinthine recesses of the Students’ Union? Then perhaps we can help you to find...

MR RIGHT OR MS PERFECT

LOVE*

Email our eager hostess now at blinddate@gairrhydd.com to arrange a blind date. You provide the conversation and we’ll keep the the wine flowing. Our dedicated, flame-haired, sultry love goddess Rosaria Sgueglia is an expert at enticing Cupid’s arrow to the table and guarantees that your blind date will be the single most satisfying evening of your life, ever.

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CULT CLASSICS

WE are students///

but what is it to be a student...?

So begins another year and with it comes the usual array of a vast multi-colour of student types, each adding their own element into the university lifestyle. Yet, it will always seem that students are stereotyped in the usual clichés. But just how far from the truth is this vision?

On politics

Students are normally associated as having political sympathies. They are assumed to be well aware of the goings on in the country’s politics and how these goings on are deemed to affect them.

In reality, very little is known about the topic by a majority of individuals. The cult icon Che Guevara seems to peer out from posters adorning student walls. I am suspicious that his presence is more to do with the unkempt and rather random facial hair than the political angst Guevara represented. I may be wrong.

On music

The music scene is also something that students are seen to be associated with. Whether you’re in a band yourself, or prefer browsing the local interest, music will inevitably be integral to your university lifestyle in

cult

classics guides you through the cliché that is

some shape or form. Take for in stance another poster icon: Bob Marley. Like Che’s popularity, I’m pretty sure Bob’s is not completely to do with the music, but rather a lifelong obsession with some other substance. Lets face it, there is only so much reggae anybody can take!

On music (more)

It is safe to say that students are also linked with being a little old fashioned. Not in the Model T-Ford, Polaroid sense of the phrase, but in the music scene. And who are we to argue that the sixties didn’t churn out better music than this age of techno digital mixes of absolutely anything?

On al-kee-hol

Student culture has undeniably been given a bad stereotype. The context may be true, but its interpretation is, I believe, a little flawed. I am talking about the joys of alcohol. So, we enjoy a little drink every now and then … maybe twenty … in the middle of the day … for two straight weeks. Ok, so admittedly it doesn’t sound healthy, but hey! We are young and away on our own for the first time. We don’t have to be straight-edged sitting around watch-

ing Bargain Hunt every day. So we get out, we live a little. And how else are we going to learn that going out and getting royally whammed is bad for us? It’s all about experience. Case closed.

On darker matters

Now, dare I mention this…? The library. No matter whether you spend hours on end in there, browsing random shelves and reading rare French underground anarchistic literature for the sake of it, you will be forever associated with it. The library could be seen as the heart of your university… or the black abyss you don’t venture near for fear of death.

Final words of wisdom

Students are expected to fit into one of two categories; the clear hard workers, striving for their first, and the carefree person on a rather interesting roller coaster (with or without sickness). Yet, all students possess one main thing in common. They are there for the experience, cliché or not.

In the words of cult hero Hunter S. Thomson, “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”

Enjoy!

Gareth

J. S. Mogg

Kick off Freshersʼ fortnight by embracing the Rugby World Cup

There is only one sport worth watching this September, argues Matt Cutler

It’s time to forget that the English Premiership season has started again. Cast into the dark crevasse in the back of your mind the qualification of the home nations for the 2008 European Championships. Doff your cap to that incredulous cricket fan blanking out the understandably attractive Twenty20 World Cup. Cardiff is a no-fly zone for this traffic trying to enter your sporting air.

With so much going on this month, one would think that sports fans should bask in the glorious rays of the sporting sun that shines on us. Indeed, it may be a month to wet the pants of any even vague follower of sport, but September should mean only one thing: the

Rugby World Cup is here and ready to take over your life.

For those of you that didn’t already know, Cardiff IS rugby

Freshers, in particular, are lucky people indeed. The University has ever so kindly made sure that the start of term, and indeed Freshers’ Week, coincides with one of the most exciting times to be in our wonderful city. The RWC will turn Talybont into a sporting battlefield; the Social acting as a nucleus to the patriotic egg-chaser high on the prospect of victory for the English or Welsh (or any nation you spring from or have a soft-spot for in your partisan heart).

For those of you that didn’t already know, Cardiff IS rugby. From the towering heights of the Millen-

nium Stadium to the sea of red shirts swamping the streets (even out of season), just a brief moment of wandering in the ‘Diff is long enough to see that rugby encompasses all in the capital. So where else is better to experience the quadrennial centrestage of Rugby Union? Cardiff will be buzzing.

Despite the event being held across the Channel, don’t be fooled that the French will be hosting every game. Better still, our beautiful metropolis is hosting three of the pool games, meaning an experience that many of us will never have encountered before is going to kick off the 2007/8 term in style. Head into the city centre and soak up the atmosphere; Cardiff on a matchday is something everyone needs a taster of.