CITY L IFE SUMMER ISSUE 2009
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“At County Marquees we don’t just provide marquees... we help you to create the perfect atmosphere for your event.” Choosing the right marquee and interiors can make all the difference between a great occasion and a really memorable one. Come and see for yourself. Our next marquee viewing weekend is on 2nd - 4th October 2009 at The Woodlands, Sedbury Park, Chepstow NP16 7EY Please call 01446 772739 to book an appointment.
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Throughout the day and into the evening the champagne flowed freely as did the conversation.
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Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision.
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IN THIS ISSUE A ROUND M USIC
C ITY –
THE
B OOKS –
AND
CD
REVIEWS OF THE LATEST HYBRID WONDER
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B EAUTIFUL B LUESTONE –
TRANQUILITY ON YOUR DOORSTEP
14
B EAUTIFUL
&
S NOW B USINESS –
BEAUTIFUL BESPOKE JEWELLERY
T HE S KI L ODGE
28 30
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
F IRST W E E AT W ITH O UR E YES – S UMMER
DISHES AT
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S T D AVID ’ S P OLO –
W IN , W IN , W IN
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E XPOSURE – C ARDIFF
ARTIST
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IN PROFILE
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CABINET MAKER OF DISTINCTION
ON THE
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L AUGHARNE – H URST H OUSE
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NEW YOU , NEW STORES AND NEW BARS IN THE CAPITAL
W ELLBEING –
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WHO TURNED THE LIGHTS ON ?
H EALTHY A PPETITE – WALLY ’ S D ELICATESSEN
AND
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THERE ’ S NO BUSINESS LIKE
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The Cardiff Harbour Festival (August 29, 30, 31) is a wonderful way to bring the summer holidays and the Cardiff Festival to a close, featuring, for the first time in Wales, the British Fish Craft Championships, interactive displays for visitors to cook and eat fish, the Welsh Oyster Opening Championships, tall ships and activities on both land and water. www.cardiffharbour.com www.cardiff-festival.com
CITY L IFE SUMMER ISSUE 2009
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Passionate about cardiff We are independent. We are not a large publishing group pretending to be home grown. City Life magazine is written, designed and produced in Cardiff for the people of Cardiff. Our philosophy We are committed to quality. This quote by William Foster pretty much sums up our thinking. “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” Use it or lose it Business is the very life blood of any community. Without business, villages have no heart, towns have no centre and cities have no soul. Please support the businesses who advertise in City Life - without them there’d be no City Life. ❧ 6 ❧
Small(ish) print © Copyright City Life 2009. All rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine (including adverts) may be reproduced in any shape or form (in whole or part) without the express written permission of the publishers. We take breach of copyright and theft of intellectual property extremely seriously and will sue at the drop of a croissant. You have been warned (nicely); ignorance is no excuse. Green is good The pulp used in the production of the paper City Life is printed on is obtained from sustainably managed Scandinavian tree farms and utilises an elementary chlorine free bleaching process. Important you read this We have made every effort to ensure that all information contained in City Life or on www.citylifecardiff.co.uk is correct and accurate. However, we accept no responsibility for
WELCOME It’s been a funny old time hasn’t it? If the credit crunch hasn’t sent us into a pit of depression, then the threat of a swine flu pandemic did it’s best to bring us down. There’s something to be said for the Welsh stiff upper lip and the fact that we hunker down and work together to get through tougher times.
Whether you decide to stay at home or holiday abroad this summer, this issue is a bit of a travel fest and has something to suit all tastes. If you’re planning to holiday close to home, then take a look at our review of Bluestone in Pembrokeshire, Hurst House on the Marsh in Laugharne and The Queensberry Hotel in Bath. If you’re dead set on taking yourselves or your family abroad, then Sardinia should tick all the boxes. We also take a look at Cardiff Market, the city’s Victorian indoor market, which serves up a everything you could possibly think of, and more, under one gigantic roof. Now that the warmer weather’s finally here (hurrah!) we can head to the shops which are full of colourful clothes, shoes and bags, to adorn our bodies and paraphernalia for our homes and gardens. Let’s give the shops our support and spend what we can.
Win a fabulous helicopter flight and dinner, bed and breakfast for two worth over £1,500. It’s our
Enjoy the summer! Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts Editor jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk any errors or omissions and can offer no compensation should we get it wrong. Please note that the opinions, thoughts, views or ideas expressed in articles contained in City Life are strictly those of the authors. Caveat emptor All advertisers have supplied their own copy (and in some cases artwork), therefore City Life cannot accept any responsibility for disputes between advertisers and their customers. Caveat emptor - let the buyer beware. Subscriptions To guarantee your copy of City Life magazine, please send a cheque for £20.00 (four issues) made payable to City Life. Visit www.citylifecardiff.co.uk for special subscriber discounts and special offers.
best competition yet! See page 40.
Missed the last issue? We hold a small number of each issue in stock so if you do need a pristine copy, please telephone us or email jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk. Hopefully we’ll have the issue you want (but we cannot guarantee it). Each back issue costs £5 including postage and packing. Yes it’s free! City Life magazine is distributed free through a wide variety of quality outlets in and around Cardiff and beyond. City Life is given away free of charge on the understanding that we are happy for it to be lent, passed around, given to friends and generally read until it falls apart. At which point, you can recycle it and we’d be delighted if you did. Recycling... because there is no Plan B!
City Life is home grown. It is written, designed and produced in Cardiff for the people of Cardiff. ❧ 7 ❧
T H E C I T Y O F C A R D I F F ’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Editor JENNIFER HOBBS-ROBERTS jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧ Creative Director MARK ROBERTS mark@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧ Studio PA U L S E S S I O N S studio@commediaonline.co.uk ❧ Web RICHARD BENNEWITH rich@commediaonline.co.uk ❧ City Life Cardiff House, Cardiff Road CF63 2AW ❧ City Life Website www.citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧ Telephone
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AROUND THE CITY I F Y O U H A V E S O M E N E W S O R A S T O R Y W H I C H Y O U’D L I K E T O S H A R E , P L E A S E C O N T A C T C I T Y L I F E CIT Y GARDENS
Credit le Crunch Many plants are easier to grow than we realise. In these turbulent financial times we can ameliorate that bitter taste of recession with good old fashioned gardening. Many vegetables and flowers will give you great results for minimal effort. Here are a few small and easily digested ideas. Firstly, produce always tastes better when grown locally, and even better if grown organically with a bit of elbow grease! Many Lettuce varieties take well from a summer sowing. You can sow seed at three week intervals for a succession of fresh foliage. Loose leaved Lettuce such as ‘Lollo Rossa’ keep growing after picking so are very popular. Cabbage can be sown in summer with great success. Savoy types can be started in seed trays then transplanted out. Don’t forget to put a card collar around the cabbage to guard against root flies, and water well. Sunflowers are dead easy to grow. They aren’t too late to sow, though they’ll flower later into the autumn now. For the price of a seed and the size of the future plant, it’s great value for money! Sow in situ, use a bamboo cane, and use soft material to wrap around the stem. Don’t use string, it cuts in!
Spark your kids interest with cress on a damp cloth. It inspires a generation, and costs pennies. Carrots are easy to grow, either in a long pot or moist ground. Sow seed where they will be grown (carrots do not easily transplant). Like Cabbage; root fly needs to be prevented with the barrier method. Watering and weeding are crucial. Herbs play their part in these ‘challenging thymes’. There are some very easy ones you can lay your hands on to invigorate your taste buds at dinner time! Sage and Oregano both are great for stuffing or flavouring pizzas, and need warm, sunny borders to flourish. Chives perk up a lunchtime sandwich and grow very easily in damp ground. You can buy a basic pot for under £2.
“Gardening in the credit crunch... it’s easier than it looks, works off your frustrations whilst being inherently creative. What are you waiting for?” ❧ 8 ❧
THINGS TO DO IN THE SUMMER GARDEN ■ Water and feed, ideally in the
evenings. Watering is especially important for vegetables as they’re putting on so much growth compared to ornamental plants. ■ Deadhead all flowers, especially Roses ■ Pinch out your Tomatoes to put energy in side growth ■ Put out saucers of beer to reduce slug infestation (it works, at least they go with a grin) ■ Spray to minimise insect damage, ideally with a soapy organic spray. ■ Weed (yes it’s hard, so use a hoe) ■ Mound up your Potatoes to encourage more to grow ■ Pinch out growing tips of Broad Beans when in full flower; this will encourage crops and reduce whitefly. Words and images, Clive Sullivan
The next giant leap forward. The next Prius. 01.08.09.
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MUSIC Reviewed by Francis Brown of www.newsoundwales.com
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New Sound Wales aims to: ■ Keep you up to date with new bands and performers that are emerging from Wales and beyond. ■ Recommend new CD’s and music downloads. ■ Let you know which Welsh gigs are coming up in the months ahead.
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T H E B E AC H B OY S
DEFECTED IN THE HOUSE
Summer Love Songs
Ibiza (Eivissa) 09
Nothing encapsulates the sound of the summer more than the Beach Boys. This collection includes some of their biggest hits such as ‘God Only Knows’ & ‘Help Me Rhonda’ as well as some alternate mixes for all the army of Brian Wilson fanatics.
If your idea of a hot summer night is clubbing in Ibiza then this is the collection for you. Packed full of sophisticated house music from the likes of DJ Gregory & Armand Van Helden. Guaranteed to keep the L’America/ Hed Kandi crowd on their feet from dusk till dawn
If you like acoustic, folk and alternative music, www.newsoundwales.com is the place to bookmark and check on a regular basis. New Sound Wales are keen to hear what you think about music in Wales, what bands you’re listening to and who you would like to see playing in Wales. For more information contact Francis at www.newsoundwales.com City Life ‘we love music’ rating system ❦❦❦❦❦ Complete scorcher - factor 50 ❦❦❦❦ Sunny with clouds - factor 30 ❦❦❦ Some showers - factor 15 ❦❦ Overcast and grey - factor 5 ❦ Complete washout - factor 0
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JARVIS COCKER
LEONARD COHEN
Further Complications
Live in London
The high energy rock production on most of the tracks just doesn’t suit the songs or Jarvis’ voice. It is saved from being a complete turkey by a few tracks, such as the superb ‘I never said I was deep’ which is as good as the best of Pulp.
Last year he was the hottest ticket in town and this is one of those occasions when it is actually worth buying a live recording. Packed full of Cohen classics it captures the warmth of the reception he received, his genuine response to it and some immaculate musicianship.
DR ANDREW HIGNELL
JOHN BARNIE
The Australian Cricketers in Wales
Tales of the Shopocracy
Welsh and Australian cricket have come a long way since an Aborigine team first played at Swansea in 1868. Cardiff has become an official Ashes venue, and to mark this occasion, The Australian Cricketers in Wales looks back over each visit.
Tales of the Shopocracy is the memoir of one shopkeeping family, following the profound social changes of the post World War Two years. John Barnie looks back at his experience of this world.
PA U L M A N S H I P
M A L AC H Y D OY L E
Dear Mr Author 9-12 yrs
Swap 9-12 yrs
Meet Sam Willoughby. Out-distanced in the swimming pool and upstaged on the football field, he’s had a run of bad luck. Or so he thinks. But when a mysterious stranger claims to be ‘the author’ who is directing his life, it begins to sound more sinister.
Huw, from Wales, and Marcus, from Dublin meet whilst on holiday with their families in County Cork, Ireland. It turns out they’re identical to each other - ‘the perfect spit’ - even their mums can’t tell them apart! So they hatch a plan to do a swap. Only things start to go very wrong...
BOOKS Win all of the Gomer books reviewed here
Just answer the question and send your entry to City Life by September 21 2009. Alternatively, email your entry to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk
✃
Q
Who is the author of Bats at Bay?
Answer
Name Address
Postcode Phone Email If you do not wish to receive details of products and services from City Life or other companies, please tick the box provided.
Last issue’s lucky winner M S J AC K I E J A M E S Llanedeyrn, Cardiff
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HUW M
IRON & WINE
ISLAND RECORDS
Os Mewn Swn
Around the Well
Reggae Anthology
This is Huw M’s debut album and he looks set to be another Welsh artist to watch out for. The music is a mix of original melodies, folk songs flavoured with a dash of world music. A welcome addition to the growing number of Welsh artists worthy of wider recognition.
Value for money double CD of just some of the numerous ‘B’ sides, soundtrack contributions and EP’s that Sam Beam has put out under the moniker ‘Iron & Wine over the past 5 years. Stripped down lo-fi production, striking imagery and gorgeous melodies.
Ideal soundtrack for a hot sunny day chilling with friends in the garden. A fantastic 64 track, 3 CD collection at a very reasonable price charting the history of reggae and ska at Island Records since 1959. Classic hits sit nicely alongside less well known treasures.
❦❦❦❦❦ M A N I C S T R E E T P R E AC H E R S
❦❦❦ PA U L O N U T I N I
❦❦❦❦ S U P E R F U R RY A N I M A L S
Journal for Plague Lovers Sunny Side Up
Dark Days/Light Years
It took 14 years for the band to bring Richey Edwards’ last set of lyrics to life. Combining energy, passion, emotion and strong hooks they sound like a band re-born and re-energised. ‘Jackie Collins existential question time’ is up there with the best of their work.
Ninth studio album and they show no sign of compromise, self parody or running out of interesting ideas. Best track here is ‘The very best of Neil Diamond’ which deserves an award just for its title alone. A hit single provided Diamond’s record company don’t object.
Less commercial than his debut and he seems to be following his instinct rather than sales which is good to hear. Lead single ‘Candy’ is a classy pop and the album has a variety of influences from reggae to 60s soul which bodes well for his future output.
CITY L IFE SUMMER ISSUE 2009
P R O U D
TH E CI T Y
A N G E L A G R AY
TIA JONES
The Welsh Cheese Book
On Open Ground
Celebrity chef Angela Gray has designed a selection of mouth-watering recipes to tickle the taste buds. From light, summery starters and hearty mains to indulgent desserts, this has something to tempt everyone.
Perfect summer reading! In the aftermath of WW2, Elin returns to a small seaside village in west Wales and marries Ianto, a local farmer. Soon Ianto’s violent temper rears its head, and Elin finds herself caught in the middle of a feud.
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BOOKS AND MUSIC
Become a reviewer for City Life magazine FRANCES THOMAS
SHEENA CROSSLEY
Megan the Detective 9-12 yrs
Bats at Bay 7-10 yrs
Megan has a talent for solving problems. Lucky too, for no sooner has she fixed one problem, another pops up before her! Megan treats us to a view of life from her perspective, even sharing her favourite recipes. But when her friend’s horse is stolen, she is suddenly confronted by a problem...
When a family of bats is forced to move from their tree, the search for a new home begins. They fly all around Cardiff visiting the famous sights in search of a place to all suit all their tastes... the Millennium Stadium, Bute Park, Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch and Cardiff Bay.
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City Life is expanding its website and would like to hear from readers who wish to contribute music and book reviews for inclusion on www.citylifecardiff.co.uk If you’re interested please telephone 0845 180 2345 or email jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk
THE NEXT The best just got better. The third generation of Toyota’s hybrid car has more space, dynamism, power and performance. City Life gets behind the wheel.
NEW PRIUS The new Toyota Prius further reinforces its status as the world’s most advanced expression of massmobility with improved aerodynamics, a higher level of environmental performance, innovative human-centric technologies, higher quality and a more refined image. S PAC E A N D S T Y L E
Thanks to an exceptionally sleek profile, the next Prius is one of the world’s most aerodynamic cars. Benefitting from enhanced all-round performance, plus a sleek yet solid design, this practical family car offers impressive luggage space – enough for up to three golf bags – considerable head and leg room and many innovative storage solutions.
T O TA L E C O N O M Y
H Y B R I D SY N E R GY D R I V E
The next Prius gives you a combined 72.4 miles per gallon and CO2 levels are down to just 89 g/km, so there is no UK road tax to pay – quite impressive for a family car.
Toyota has been researching and developing hybrid drive systems for more than 30 years. Our thirdgeneration hybrid technology makes Prius ownership even more satisfying. It’s a cutting-edge combination of petrol and electric power that brings compellingly clear benefits. In three generations Hybrid Synergy Drive system power has increased by 35 per cent, yet fuel consumption has fallen by 23 per cent and CO2 emissions cut by an impressive 25 per cent.
It is the only family hatchback to combine the fuel consumption performance of a small city car with a potential cruising range of over 700 miles, 93 miles more than the previous model, in spite of having the same size fuel tank.
“Drive the next Prius at Toyota World Cardiff during August and you’ll see what we mean.” ❧ 12 ❧
GIANT LEAP FORWARD
New Prius full hybrid system is capable of operating in petrol and electric modes alone, as well as in a combination of both. It gives the car strong, seamless acceleration and remarkably quiet operation, while still returning class-leading fuel efficiency and exceptionally low emissions. At rest, the engine stops automatically to conserve fuel. In low engine efficiency conditions, such as at start-up and low to mid-range speeds, the vehicle runs on the electric motor alone, eliminating CO2 and NOx emissions.
A new head-up display projects key vehicle information on to the base of the windscreen, including vehicle speed, the Eco Drive Monitor and turn-by-turn navigation information, so your not distracted. The Touch Tracer switches on the steering wheel let you control the audio system, air conditioning and the Eco Drive Monitor without having to look down or take his or her hands off the wheel. The next Toyota Prius also has an upgraded Intelligent Park Assist system as standard.
H I G H T E C H I N N OVAT I O N
L I F E I S E A SY
The third generation Toyota Prius introduces numerous high technologies, in addition to advance Hybrid Synergy Drive feature.
Drive the next Prius at Toyota World Cardiff during August and you’ll see what we mean – whether you’re in town or on the motorway. You’ll experience instantly accessible power responsive handling, relaxed high-speed cruising and effortless overtaking.
These include a world-first combination of a solar powered ventilation system, reinforcing new Prius’s environmental profile, using solar powered panels to cool the car efficiently even when you’re not in it, and a remote control function that allows the air conditioning system to be activated even before you get into the vehicle.
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What’s more, our Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) allows for smooth driving. You’ll enjoy it all in style and comfort, with intuitive advanced technology at your fingerprints. New Prius is available from 01.08.09. Priced from £18,370 on the road. To discover more visit Toyota World Cardiff Hadfield Road, Cardiff, CF11 8AQ 02921 157829 toyotaworldcardiff.toyota.co.uk/prius
BEAUTIFUL City Life spent a wonderful weekend in Pembrokeshire at the stunning Bluestone village and rediscovered the beauty and tranquility of West Wales. The first thing you notice on arrival at Bluestone is the newness and, I have to say, I quite liked the fact that I was one of the ‘Bluestone pioneers’ to coin a phrase. I’m sure in five or ten years, the planting will be more established and the village will have that ‘lived in’ feel about it but, for now, I am enjoying the vista of the new.
Once we had booked in, we made our way to our lodge. The short drive down is the first chance you get to appreciate the views here. Fortunately we had chosen, what seemed to be, the only scorching weekend in summer and we were rewarded with glorious, almost breathtaking views towards the Preseli hills to the north – this is a truly stunning setting. The second thing you notice is how peaceful it is. There’s a real sense of calm about the whole place. Staff are extremely friendly and nothing seems too much trouble they seem genuinely willing to please. The other thing that struck me almost immediately was that we weren’t being discouraged from going off site! I have been to several developments like this and you get the impression that once they have you through the gate you are locked in. At Bluestone, this is certainly not the case. In fact, we were positively encouraged to leave and explore which we did. ❧ 14 ❧
Bluestone is literally next door to Oakwood and the pretty little harbour town of Tenby is a mere fifteen minutes away. Besides these great attractions, there are scores of others to choose from that are suitable for children of all ages. You could easily spend two weeks in Pembrokeshire and not run out of things to do. It’s the perfect family destination. And, even if you don’t have children, you’re equally spoilt for choice. There’s bundles of heritage and history, great restaurants and some of the finest beaches in Europe just a short drive away. As a base from which to explore Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, Bluestone is perfectly placed. I suppose the test for the great british holiday is what happens when it rains. Bluestone delivers. With it’s excellent pool, wonderful wave machine and slides, you certainly shouldn’t be bored. There is also a superb sports facility with gymnasium, badminton courts, pool tables and much more.
BLUESTONE This is also home to various activities such as the very popular Rock School for the aspiring rockstar. There is also a range of indoor and outdoor activities for both young and the not so young such as crafts, off road safari and archery and laser clays. Bluestone has been compared, understandably, with Center Parcs and, okay, there is similarity but they do deliver very different experiences and, if I am forced to make a comparison and decide between the two, in my opinion Bluestone wins hands down because it has something that Center Parcs doesn’t… Pembrokeshire!
As a parent, I was concerned that there would be enough activities for our nine year old son Jack to keep him amused. I needn’t have worried. Jack is a vocal nine year old, as they often are, and wanted to give his account of the trip.
“I liked the lodge we stayed in because the bedrooms were downstairs and the kitchen and TV area were upstairs. I got to go on a jeep safari which was cool because mum and dad couldn’t come and we went in the mud. It was awesome! I also had a go at laser clays and I loved the pool because when the hooter went the waves started. That was awesome!
What we liked about Bluestone ■ Family-friendly environment ■ The impeccably designed lodges ■ The sustainability principles central to Bluestone’s ethos ■ The genuinely friendly and helpful staff (we can’t praise them enough!) ■ Stunning views of ancient woodlands, rolling fields and the Preseli Hills ■ Pembrokeshire on your doorstep.
The food was good too. Mum doesn’t like me eating kids food because all you get is chicken nuggets and chips but in the restaurant I could have what I wanted, so I had spare ribs and massive prawns in their shells.
Tenby harbour
We also went on a trip to Tenby beach which was near to the lodge and the tide came in. Dad had to carry mum through the sea because she’s scared of crabs! I liked Bluestone and want to go back next week. It was awesome!”
“You could easily spend two weeks in Pembrokeshire and not run out of things to do... it really is the perfect family destination.” ❧ 15 ❧
Bluestone The Grange, Canaston Wood Narberth, Pembrokeshire SA67 8DE 01834 862 400 reservations@bluestonewales.com www.bluestonewales.com
QUEENSBERRY RULES! Only a few minutes’ walk from the delights of Bath’s many attractions is The Queensberry Hotel, a privately owned luxury contemporary boutique hotel in the centre of the Georgian city. City Life spent a relaxing weekend enjoying the sights and hospitality that makes Bath the most visited city after London.
Run by husband and wife, Laurence and Helen Beere, the hotel has 29 rooms, each designed with a contemporary theme. Every room is complete with flat screen televisions and DAB digital radios and CD players, whilst bathrooms are finished with luxury products from The White Company in generous 50ml bottles. Having visited Bath on many occasions we felt that the hotel was very well positioned and we couldn’t wait to see our suite which, beautifully appointed as it was, certainly didn’t disappoint. Even though we were only ten minutes from the centre of Bath’s fantastic shopping, we hadn’t planned to go out on this day. We’d decided to indulge in a treatment at the famous Thermae Bath Spa, the only place in Britain where you can bathe in natural thermal water. Cossies donned, we made our way to the Spa and spent some time relaxing in the warm mineral-rich waters, just as the Romans did more than 2,000 years ago.
“We moved from the waters to the various steam rooms, then made our way to the amazing open-air rooftop pool with spectacular views across the city and surrounding hills.” Feeling suitably relaxed and cleansed, we decided to enjoy the Spa’s signature treatment, the Watsu for Two.
Here’s the science - The Watsu is a Zen Shiatsu massage performed in the naturally warm soothing waters. Floating in the natural thermal waters while being guided by a Watsu practictioner, (one each in our case), our bodies were stretched and strengthened whilst being supported by the water. I couldn’t believe that for a full 50 minutes I was, a) silent, b) trusting my body to a stranger to be pulled ever so gently and expertly for that length of time and c) not wanting to break into the crawl.
After this amazing experience, over a very good meal of sausage and mash and scrumptious, fresh crab cakes at the Spa’s own Springs restaurant, Mr Roberts and I reflected on our Watsu. We felt that we’d had a workout, but felt completely relaxed. Mr Roberts commented that he’d felt like he’d had an out-of-body experience which was quite surreal but thoroughly enjoyable. It was quite late when we returned to our suite and we both felt tired, contented and ready for sleep. After a peaceful night, we made our way to breakfast and, with a full day of shopping and sightseeing ahead of us, we both decided on the full English. The bar was packed full of cereals, fruits, yoghurts, meats and cheeses which we were to sample on our second morning. Shopping in Bath never fails to impress me. Yes, it has the shops that we find on most city centre High Street, with a few more to boot, but it’s the independent boutiques that hold and sustain my interest and I happily browsed until lunch. We fancied something a bit off the beaten track and stumbled on a fine Italian restaurant not far from the Jane Austen Centre, Fiorelli’s on Gay Street. What a find that was! Bellissimo! We thought that our legs had nothing more to give but as I’d had my morning in the boutiques it was the turn of Mr Roberts who likes nothing more than visiting the many art galleries the City has to offer. ❧ 16 ❧
Then it was back to the hotel for a long, hot bath and a quick change into our glad rags for dinner at the hotel’s Olive Tree restaurant adjacent to the hotel which was superb. We dined on ham hock, foie gras and guinea fowl terrine with pickled Williams pear and slow cooked belly pork, Cornish scallops and crackling pencil to start, followed by roast monkfish, chicken wings and baby leeks and beef fillet with dauphinoise potato and crisp onion and dessert of a selection of homemade ice creams and sorbet and west country cheese plate for dessert. The kitchen brigade use the finest ingredients sourced from local farms in and around Bath, independent suppliers and reflecting the changes in season. This was certainly reflected in the taste of the dishes.
“It’s no surprise that The Olive Tree has become the number one choice among many diners in Bath.” The Queensberry Hotel is a must if you visit Bath as is a treatment at the Thermae Bath Spa. Perhaps on our next visit we’ll try a different treatment, although I think it would be very difficult to top the Watsu. The Queensberry Hotel Russell Street, Bath BA1 2QF +44 1225 447928 reservations@thequeensberry.co.uk www.thequeensberry.co.uk The Thermae Bath Spa The Hetling Pump Room Hot Bath Street, Bath BA1 1SJ General - 0844 888 0844 or +44 (0)1225 33 1234 info@thermaebathspa.com www.thermaebathspa.com
If you thumb through the many guidebooks you’ll discover why 5,000 years of turbulent history make Sardinia an ideal destination for archaeology fans, but although we enjoy cultural pastimes as much as the next person, we were here to relax given our stressful lives. For us, this would be a holiday of sublime inactivity, spent on some of Sardinia’s many hidden beaches.
HEAVEN IN THE Earlier in the year I was fortunate enough to visit The Gambia with The Gambia Experience operated by Serenity Holidays whom I was very impressed with. Everything had been taken care of, with the greatest attention to detail, from the accommodation to the excursions and I’d felt then that should the opportunity arise to use them again, I certainly would.
We landed in Olbia, about an hour’s drive from our villa, Villa Oro Verde on Sardinia’s northeast coast. Our hosts Paola and Pierro were there to greet us and give us the keys. Not a word of English could be spoken, but we muddled through with a bit of sign language. Our first impression of the villa was that it was truly authentic in its decor and style, as we wandered through the various rooms.
It was time for our annual holiday and we’d heard good things about Sardinia, the second largest island in the Med. When I learned that Serenity Holidays also operated Sardinian Places (part of its Mediterranean offering along with Corsican Places) and had villas and hotels on the island, that clinched the deal. I phoned them to discuss what we were looking for i.e. authentic villa, quiet location, good size pool and plenty of sunshine. In no time at all, I got the call saying that they had found the ideal location. They had found out about the flight details and all we had to do was book the holiday and the flights.
The garden areas were equally as impressive with a huge pool adjacent to, wait for it, a vineyard. Music to my ears! Just like the children’s tv character, Mr Benn, Pierro appeared with a huge bottle of red wine from his vineyard. There was already a bottle of bubbly on the table and a nice welcome note from them and an impressive welcome pack from Sardinian Places. What a welcome!
“Our first impression of the villa was that it was truly authentic in its décor and style.”
“In no time at all, I got the call saying that they had found the ideal location.” ❧ 18 ❧
MEDITERRANEAN Our hosts Pierro and Paola at the fiesta
“We didn’t want to leave our lovely villa or indeed the beautiful island of Sardinia. We had never seen such stunning landscapes.”
As well as the more popular beaches on the Costa Smeralda, we visited many uninhabited beaches off dirt tracks. The sea was indescribably bluey-green.
Owners of Gastronomia Belvedere served the best pasta ever!
The view from the fiesta at San Antonio Caffè Nina
“I truly believe that travel is just as much about the people as the place and we found a real sense of kindness and serenity about the people of Sardinia.”
Tranquil setting to moor your yacht.
Villa Oro Verde’s big selling point, besides the vineyard, is its proximity to world-class beaches.
Other villas and hotels available through Sardinian Places
LU TRIUZZU Santa Teresina, Costa Smeralda 3 bedroom villa, sleeps 6 Private pool (freeform) 10m x 6m, depth 1m – 2m
The stunning view from Gastronomia Belvedere
Villa Oro Verde’s big selling point, besides the vineyard, is its proximity to world-class beaches, the nearest being only 8km away. The nearest town of Arzachena, is a mere 3km away. As it was quite late by the time we arrived, we planned on a quick visit to the supermarket and a night getting to know our surroundings. That wasn’t to be the case as our hosts invited us to a fiesta which was held three times a year. Delighted with the prospect, we headed off in their car to San Antonio to spend the evening with their family and friends. The table was set and we feasted on traditional pasta and stew dishes, with the obligatory wine. These events usually go on until the early hours but as we’d had a long day, Pierre kindly offered to take us home and return to the festivities. The next day we discovered what was to become a popular beach for us, Baia Sardinia, which has a long stretch of white sandy beach, a smattering of smart shops and boutiques and a few quality restaurants, our favourite being right on the beach. Ten minutes drive from there was the very glamorous Porto Cervo. Lined with cafés, bars and restaurants, the ‘Piazzetta’ was the perfect spot to pose and party. It’s a shopper’s paradise, if you happen to shop at Dior, Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana and the like. A-listers are known to frequent Porto Cervo - Flavio Briatore of Formula One fame has a club there and the Aga Khan moors his yacht there. Too rich for our pockets but fun to see nevertheless, we headed off to the port and found a fantastic little bar and restaurant which served amazing cocktails. Another spot to people watch at more reasonable prices.
A ten minute drive the other direction from our villa was San Pantaleo, a beautiful traditional village and one of the prettiest on the island. Bursting with character, the village is set around a piazza along with lively cafés and artisan shops. In the height of summer, they hold regular ‘festes’ and weekly markets and I’d revisit the island just to see these again! I couldn’t finish this review without talking about the Sardinian food. Firstly, the island’s name has nothing to do with Sardines! Surprisingly given its island setting, the cuisine is generally meat rather than fish-based, the most popular dish being suckling pig However, their fish is exceptionally good. Traditionally the Sardinians start with a plate of pasta, followed by a meat course, and finishing off with a salad. The pizzas are amazing, as you’d expect, but the bread is good too as are their pastries. I found the food quite simple, as they don’t swamp everything in sauces as we tend to do, letting the flavours of the produce speak for themselves. You must try the local agritourismi, which are farm based restaurants dotted around the island. On our last day, we found an amazing restaurant in Porto Cervo called Gastronomia Belvedere, which served the freshest pasta I’ve ever eaten. We didn’t want to leave our lovely villa or indeed the beautiful island of Sardinia. We had never seen such stunning landscapes or more sparkling, inviting waters. However, I truly believe that travel is just as much about the people as the place and we found a real sense of kindness and serenity about the people of Sardinia. We will definitely return. ❧ 21 ❧
VILLA MARIA Santa Teresina, Costa Smeralda 5 bedroom villa, sleeps 10 Private pool (freeform) 11m x 7m, depth 0.6m - 2m
VILLA NIALICCIA Costa Smeralda 4 bedroom villa, sleeps 8 Private pool 8m x 4m, depth 1.1m - 1.6m
HOTEL CAPO D’ORSO T H A L A S S O & S PA ( 5 S TA R ) Palau, north east Sardinia Number of Rooms: 84 2 sea water pools (one for general use and one in the Thalasso Centre) Please check online for 2009 prices
To enquire about a holiday to Sardinia please contact Sardinian Places Reservations 0845 330 2050 holidays@sardinianplaces.co.uk www.sardinianplaces.co.uk
Over the course of nine years, Brooklinde has garnered a reputation for beautiful bespoke jewellery where the quality of their design is surpassed only by their excellent craftsmanship. We talk to owner Irene Linder. Tell us about Brooklinde We are an independent contemporary jewellers set in Cardiff’s historic High Street Arcade. My husband Rob, who is the goldsmith, and I own the business and Clare and Emma are our designers. We are a great team and we all work together to showcase our jewellery.
When did you open? We opened in July 2000. Who are your customers? Independently minded people with varying budgets who are looking for individual pieces. Most of our customers become regulars and are happy to recommend us to their friends and families.
Why is Brooklinde special? We all love what we do! Being able to take a customer’s idea and through talking, sketching and model making come up with an individual design, then create it in our onsite workshop and finally the huge sense of satisfaction at seeing the customers excitement when we hand over the finished piece.
BEAUTIFUL “We have a wide range of customers including many celebrities. I believe that what they value most about our work is the high quality of our designs and our attention to detail.” Irene Linder
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Why do people shop at Brooklinde? Customers shop with us because they want distinctive items of jewellery, whether they are buying a present or treating themselves. Like myself they enjoy wearing jewellery that people will comment on and they feel makes a statement about themselves.
What do you stock and make? We showcase and make designer engagement rings and wedding rings in platinum, 18ct and 9ct gold and also palladium. We regularly make bespoke wedding rings to fit perfectly next to the more unusually shaped engagement rings.
How did you get into the business? I worked for many years in an exclusive ladies and men’s clothing shop in Cardiff. I met Rob, my husband, who was a goldsmith and I decided to retrain in jewellery, gaining a lot of knowledge and enjoyment. At the time we both realised there was a gap in the market for a dynamic contemporary jeweller with an onsite designer and goldsmith and we went on to open Brooklinde Jewellery.
A considerable part of the work we do at Brooklinde is ‘one off’ commissioned items, working to the customer’s requirements and budget. Sourcing stunning gemstones and diamonds for clients to see before setting them in an array of different designs. We also showcase designer collections by Eden, Fischer, Alexis Dove, Ateliar Gilmar, Bjorg, Dower and Hall, Deco Echo, Goodman and Morris as well as our own gold and silver collections.
Sum up Brooklinde in three words Approachable, innovative, professional.
Brooklinde 20 High Street Arcade Cardiff CF10 1BB 029 2023 2854 brooklinde@aol.com www.brooklindejewellery.co.uk
& BESPOKE
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From its humble beginnings as a farmers’ market, trading in livestock and farm produce back in the 1700’s, Cardiff Market has evolved over time and now attracts traders and customers both locally and from as far away as Europe, Asia and the USA.
CARDIFF MARKET I can never visit Cardiff’s city centre without walking through the market and taking in the sights and smells of all that’s on offer. I enjoy the stallholders’ banter and can’t help but remember the days when, as a child, my mother used to take us upstairs to see the animals in their cages only to be nagged at for the rest of the day to buy a rabbit.
To this day, the market represents one of the main outlets in the city centre for fresh fish, meat and vegetables and a wide variety of non-food goods. This traditional Victorian market remains a well established landmark in the history of Cardiff.
D.P. Aquatics
E. Ashton
The Tool Shed
AQ U AT I C AC C E S S O R I E S
FISHMONGERS
POT S, PANS TOOLS & HARDWARE
David Phillips has been in the market for over thirty years. Sells a large range of aquatic accessories, tropical fish and plants and has a wealth of knowledge and information.
Ashton’s is one of the largest fish retail outlets in the United Kingdom, employing around 25 staff. They also supply the major hotels and many restaurants across Cardiff and the Vale.
The Tool Shed is a great traditional hardware stall selling tons of DIY bits and bobs. Its sister stall, Pots & Pans sells kitchenware and a comprehensive range of utensils.
Contact: David Phillips Telephone: 029 2066 8199
Contact: Jonathan Adams Telephone: 029 2022 9201
Contact: Keith Nunn Telephone: 029 2038 2007
Sullivans
The Secret Garden
HIGH CLASS GREENGROCERS
FLORIST
A friendly bunch at the heart of this lively market, Sullivans sell fresh fruit and vegetables including seasonal produce. The stall is opposite Ashton’s the fishmongers.
Lovely little florist that carries a good range of flowers for wedding, sympathy and gifts. Friendly service. They also cater for corporate clients and offer local delivery. Well worth a visit.
Contact: Marlon Willits Telephone: 029 2038 2020
Contact: Donna Bridgeman Telephone: 02920 344419
Here are just a few of the traders that you’ll find in this vibrant market.
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Getting there Cardiff Market is situated in the centre of Cardiff’s vibrant and exciting City centre. There are two entrances and the main entrance is situated on St. Mary Street, with an additional entrance at Trinity Street, opposite St. John’s Church. The Trinity Street entrance is accessed via a pedestrianised area which has a peaceful landscaped garden with seating where you can relax and enjoy a snack purchased from one of the various market stalls. The market’s full history can be found online at www.cardiff-market.co.uk. This tells the story of the market from the 1700’s until present day and makes for fascinating reading. Opening times Monday to Saturday, 8am until 5.30pm. There are numerous car parks within walking distance, and the market is only five minutes walk from the Cardiff Central train and bus stations. There are also a number of bus stops around the St. Mary Street entrance. Cardiff Central Market 029 2087 1214 www.cardiff-market.co.uk
Keepsakes
Yan’s & Sons
I. J. Roberts
GIFTS AND FRAMES
HEEL BAR
PET SUPERMARKET
The Perfect Gift for your loved ones. Sentimental verses personalised to suit your every need, sold in a wide range of elegant frames for any person or occasion.
Co-owners and brothers Andrew and John are lovely chaps, really friendly. Provides shoe repairs and key cutting while-u-wait. If, like me, you’re always losing keys, get some spare copies now!
Ivor Roberts sells a large range of pet supplies for a wide variety of pets including birds, cats, rabbits, hamsters. When we visited he had two of the cutest kittens ever.
Contact: Denise Edwards Telephone: 029 2022 8088
Contact: John or Andrew Chandrinos Telephone: 029 2022 8088
Contact: Ivor Roberts Telephone: 029 2037 7013
Andy’s Hairhut
Sew Elegant
Kelly’s Records
HAIR PIECES AND WIGS
D R E S S M A K I N G & A LT E R AT I O N S
V I N Y L S , C D S & DV D S
100% human and synthetic hairpieces and wigs. Andy’s is exclusive stockists of ‘Hairaisers’ hair and also offer Total Euro and Afro Haircare & Beauty. www.andys-hairhut.com
Dressmaking and alterations. Specialists in wedding and bridesmaid dresses, evening gowns, outsized handmade garments, alterations, repairs, all your tailoring requirements.
Established in 1969, Kelly’s is a real international success story, selling vinyl, CDs and DVDs to customers all over the world. There’s even a Kelly’s Barbers next door! www.kellysrecords.com
Contact: Andrew Smith Telephone: 02920 394770
Contact: Ms Siriporn Chimpanich Telephone: 07950 988938
Contact: Allan, Rhodri or Russell Telephone: 029 2037 7355
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We might be at the height of summer but now is the time when people generally think about their next skiing holiday. We talk to powder afficionados Zack Starke and Jason Jeffery of The Ski Lodge in Barry, near Cardiff, who claim that there’s no business like...
What do you stock? We pride ourselves on providing a huge variety of products for every type of skier and snowboarder. Some of our biggest brands are also exclusive to us, such as high end performance ski outerwear brands like Spyder, Killy and Degre 7. We stock many of the world’s leading brands for both equipment and clothing such as: ■ Salomon ■ Burton Snowboards ■ Atomic ■ Quiksilver ■ Roxy ■ The North Face ■ O’Neill ■ Animal ■ K2 ■ Bonfire ■ Nitro ■ Oakley ■ Rossignol and many more.
SNOW BUSINESS Image supplied by Animal www.animal.co.uk
What are your backgrounds? ZACK Well, I’ve skied from a young age and it has been a major driving force in my life. I’ve managed The Ski Lodge since 1996 and I’ve been lucky enough to indulge my love for skiing and have also been very fortunate to have travelled to some fantastic winter locations around the world.
JASON As a snowboarder I’ve travelled all over the world from Canada to New Zealand chasing winter! Career wise, my background is in product and graphic design. I spent a bit of time travelling and settled for a year in Australia, and on my return to the UK started working at The Ski Lodge.
What are your roles in the business? ZACK As store manager, I oversee the day to day running. I like to have a very hands-on role and you’ll find me on the shop floor interacting with customers and staff on a daily basis. I’m committed to delivering a high standard of customer service to all our customers. There are many aspects to my role from sales, through to product buying and human resources management.
“We’re a dedicated winter sports store and we’re passionate about what we do.” ❧ 26 ❧
JASON My role as creative and marketing manager sees me taking care of all the visual collateral and marketing material produced through the season as well as in store point of purchase, store interior design and layout through to designing and delivering our new website. I also plan and implement all marketing activities across the year and I’m involved in the product buying process. It’s a pretty diverse role. Who started the business? Barrie Hill established the business back in 1986. Why Barry? At that time, snow and action sports were exploding in popularity and with the UK and particularly south Wales enjoying a big increase in participants, it made sense to provide those enthusiasts with a retail outlet where they could get their hands on the latest kit, right here in south Wales.
“People spend a long time in the store immersing themselves in everything winter – we like to be the first stop on their nextsnow holiday.”
Who are your customers? We have a large number of loyal customers who have shopped with us for many years. We have customers that travel to us from London, the Midlands and the West Country. We like to think we cater for every snow enthusiast, from those lucky young individuals heading out for a season through to families taking their annual ski trip and people who are new to the sport. This is an area we feel a great sense of pride, in guiding people through the minefield of items available, offering guidance on what they need and, more importantly, those they don’t for a successful trip. Our price range is quite diverse, and so we cover a variety of budgets – skiing is a lot more accessible than it once was and kit is now available to all budgets. We also work very closely with a number of schools in helping introduce pupils to winter sports. For us, it is simply about passing on our passion to our customers and supplying them with the very best kit available. Why do customers shop with you? We’re a dedicated winter sports store and we’re extremely passionate about what we do and have well over twenty years experience. Not only do we feel that we offer the very best range of products available, but we also pride
ourselves on our first-class customer service delivered by a team of enthusiastic, highly experienced and informed staff who are happy to guide all customers through the products, answer any questions or simply exchange ski stories, triumphs, challenges or have a natter about favourite resorts.
This season we are launching an e-commerce website where customers will be able to buy online. This is extremely exciting for us as it allows the Ski Lodge brand to expand across the UK and open up the store to an even larger customer base as well as enabling us to stock any even wider range of products.
Why is this a good time for customers to visit you? Now is the best time to buy new kit here at The Ski Lodge. Not only are the products as technically advanced as they’ve ever been, but we are also currently in sale and as we are a specialised store have a great range of products still available this summer at greatly reduced prices. Couple this with the highly publicised strength of the euro increasing the cost of renting and purchasing in resort for the UK visitor and it makes sense to buy now in the UK. Skiers and snowboarders looking to get the most out of their money should take advantage of the reduced prices available at this time of year in readiness for their next trip to the snow.
We will also feature news blogs and offers to our customers to keep them at the forefront of what is happening at The Lodge.
Any new developments? It’s always exciting, we are looking forward to another great season of snow in Europe, but the biggest area of change for us is our website. ❧ 27 ❧
The Ski Lodge Cardiff Road, Barry CF62 2QW 01446 741870 www.skilodge.co.uk
Wendy Doig, a drumming facilitator with a long career in banking, recently attended a training day with a difference, delivered by one of Wales’ most inspirational development consultants, Helen Wingstedt. Here, Wendy tells us what it’s like to experience...
I met Helen recently in Cardiff where she was giving a short talk on ‘Creative Communication’. I say talk, but in fact she spent the first ten minutes just standing and looking at us, the audience. Inevitably people started shuffling and looking around wondering what was going to happen next. If you could hear the thoughts emanating from the group, I guess they were mostly along the same line: “What’s going on?” Why isn’t she getting started? Oh crikey, she’s steadily making eye contact with everyone here!” “No, don’t look at me – nothing to see here!” You get the picture. Those minutes started to feel like hours but no one got up and left, all of us intrigued, captivated and curious. Eventually she ‘broke the spell’ and started talking but what really struck me was her vibrancy and confidence to stand up, firstly saying nothing for so long and then to lead a group of over one hundred strangers into acknowledging their thoughts and changing their opinions in front of the group. Fascinated, I signed up for more and two months later found myself attending The WOW Factor training day. I arrived at the training day, held in a hotel in Cardiff, and straight away had the feeling this was going to be no ordinary day. In my previous life working in banks I had attended numerous training courses and teambuilding events but they always seemed to have the same format... ‘by the end of this session you will etc’ but boredom would inevitably set in, and depending on how it was delivered I would come out either remembering just enough or having to completely ‘wing it’ as a result of nodding off to prove to line management that their way of ‘Investing in People’ (don’t you just love that phrase) had been money well spent.
“Learning to free the mind of conditioning.”
So here we all were, having been greeted by Helen and her two beautiful dogs (her assistants as it turned out). We took a seat in anticipation and I noticed that the tables in the room had chairs along both sides i.e. facing towards and away from the flipchart which we assumed was standing at the front of the room. Everyone chose seats facing the ‘front’ or moved chairs to the sides of the tables if necessary so they could see the flipchart. I wondered if Helen had meant to arrange the room like this but didn’t otherwise give it much thought. As it turned out, this was one of an array of creative ideas used by Helen to disrupt our expectations – we had already unknowingly started to act like a pack and it was that pack ‘energy’ that Helen led and changed frequently throughout the day. Sufficiently outside our comfort zones, finding ourselves in new territory, Helen introduced us to her ‘assistants’. Other than finding the dogs friendly and playful I hadn’t really given them much thought but now I watched as Helen asked us all to pay close attention to how the fluctuating energy of the group was affecting the dogs’ behaviour. Helen led us through discomfort and anxiety into calm and relaxation and as we felt ourselves change we noticed that the dogs behaviour also changed. As we stood, fascinated, it became clear just how much our thoughts, intentions and the energy we project influenced the behaviour of others around us – even animals. It was a revelation! Suddenly much of what I’d read or listened to other trainers talk about but never quite understood clicked into place. To say Helen opened my eyes and really made me think is a complete understatement. I thought I’d been thinking my whole life with perhaps even more concentrated thought in the last few years, but WOW, what was this new type of thinking? Just when I thought I’d been there and got the T-shirt, a whole new can of worms were let loose. ❧ 28 ❧
THE
Early on in the session we were all asked to get up and stand together at the front of the room and Helen sat at one of the desks facing us. She then carried on with her session from the comfort of her seat while we gradually tired of standing. She had already told us at the start that we didn’t have to do anything we didn’t want to do – but did we actually hear it? Apparently not. We had decided, as a pack, that we would stand there, and stand there, and stand there while Helen carried on delivering her training day from the comfort of one of our chairs until, hey, someone decided to sit on the edge of a nearby desk. ‘Damn! Why didn’t I think of that? I’m supposed to be the rebel around here! What did Helen do? She cheered, one of our first lessons learned. Conditioning. Had we listened properly to the instructions earlier? – No. Of course our pack soon started to follow the lead on sitting down again and mostly in the seats we had originally chosen! I remained standing (I am a rebel after all) asking myself if I should continue standing there clutching on to my big bright rebel’s flag? I compromised by sitting on the edge of the desk but still facing the group. Of course this ‘new me’ is happy facing an audience now (I think). I don’t know when I finally drifted back to my seat, but no doubt Helen noticed. So what was this training day about? Helen explained early on that her communication work with people and animals (she’s also one of the country’s leading horse whisperers) doesn’t involve learning ‘the technique’ but learning to free the mind of conditioning so that clear, authentic thinking and communication can take place. Now, she was really talking my language. I loved it and listened whilst she analogised, “Horses and dogs haven’t read the book about ‘the technique’, they only understand and react to the energy that our state of mind produces and projects at any given time”.
WOW FACTOR
This was the message that she put across to us in many ways throughout the day, giving us examples of conditioning and the affect it can have later in life. Childhood events that ‘sit’ in our subconscious, influencing how we react and make decisions over and over again and surprise, surprise, it leads to us generating the same end result! ‘Self-fulfilling prophecy’ I’m thinking to myself.
The WOW Factor reminded me of bingo in years gone by when people having no luck would shout to the caller ‘Shake your balls up love!’ to get their luck to change. Well Helen certainly shook our balls that day! Unlike most training sessions that drag on and are quickly forgotten, this one just kept on working and a week later, I still found myself having daily realisations about how Creative Communication works and why. I also found myself using it more and more to achieve the results I wanted. If you’re the scientific type, I gather it’s the basic action/reaction thing, but look deeper than the action and understand the energy behind it and there you will find the well of potential outcomes that we all have available to us at any time. Or, put another way, by shaking our balls up we can all change our ‘luck’!
I arrived home feeling a mixture of thrilled, bewildered and wiser and certainly different! A paradigm shift is afoot. My eleven year old daughter noticed and was interested in my change of ‘energy’ or in her words, “You’re crazy!” - a compliment indeed! Helen Wingstedt 029 2073 4081 or mobile 07719 345616 helen@helenwingstedt.com Creative Communication, The WOW Factor, is available to private individuals, Professionals, businesses and organisations in the form of personal sessions, training days or short courses.
The day for me was full of ‘light bulb’ moments. There was so much information to digest, so originally presented but at the same time I realised we’d barely scratched the surface and that Helen had so much more she could teach us. It’s difficult to explain everything I learned from this day but what struck me was that this was the first training day I had ever attended where every member of the group was attentive from beginning to end. Helen had an amazing ability to follow whatever issue or question came up without any rigid plan for the session, she just gave us, as a group and individually, whatever we needed in order to understand what she was teaching. I found this an impressive skill and one which as a facilitator/trainer, I’m keen to develop. ❧ 29 ❧
“I believe that if we’d had this kind of training day in my corporate banking days, the bank I worked for would not have messed up so badly. Who knows what results might have been achieved had a few management balls been shaken back then!”
RESTAURANT REVIEWS Each issue we review a selection of restaurants in and around Cardiff CIT Y CENTRE
Casanova The Italian Restaurant Don’t you just love it when you discover a restaurant you love that you never knew existed? Well, hidden away from the business of St. Mary’s Street and Westgate Street in Central Cardiff is Quay Street, where you’ll find Casanova Italian Restaurant. And what an absolute find at that! Casanova was born in January 2005 from the idea of three friends; Angelo Montuori, Antonio Cerosimo and Luca Montuori with the idea to bring authentic Italian cuisine to Cardiff through a combination of traditional regional food and the latest Italian recipes. It is just a stones-throw away from the Millennium Stadium and, for those designated drivers (like myself on this occasion), you’ll be happy to know there is an NCP multi-storey car park conveniently on the same street. My partner James and I had something special to celebrate – moving into our first home together, and Casanova proved the perfect setting to mark this occasion in style. Known for using quality local produce and prime ingredients, combined with the chef’s skills Casanova has built up an excellent reputation throughout the country and I was definitely looking forward trying it myself. The decor had a clean, contemporary design with a splash of Italian flair. I was very impressed that we were greeted by an Italian spoken waitress, who offered menus and details of the specials, and left to deliberate over a surprisingly good glass of house white.
I was driving so it was more like half a glass before James ‘kindly’ swapped it for his lemonade. At this point, Luca (one of the restaurant owners) emerged from upstairs to greet the diners. Casanova is absolutely heaving when there’s an event on in the stadium as it has ample capacity upstairs. As I’m a great lover of seafood, and don’t get to eat enough of it, whenever I eat that’s usually what I choose. Casavona gets their seafood from Ashton’s fishmonger (more details on page 24) which provides fresh fish on a daily basis. To start, I chose Seppie e piselli (tender pieces of squid cooked with peas) and James had Sarde al soar (Traditional Venetian recipe of fresh sardines marinated (served at room temp) with sweet and sour onions, served on toasted bread). The squid was cooked to perfection; it was so tender and meaty. I’d not tasted squid like that before – it just peeled apart. The squid went very well with the peas and, although the portion was quite generous, the dish was light and tasty. James’ starter looked lovely, so as a girlfriend’s prerogative, I had a taste of his too (and every other course that followed). The marinade was mouth watering and not at all overpowering.
Given how impressed we were with our starters, we were really looking forward to our mains. I ordered the Anatra al balsamico (pan fried duck breast with a reduction of balsamic vinegar, cauliflower purée and rose flat mushroom which was served pink) and James chose the seafood special – Pappardelle mare e monti, a dish of freshly cooked pappardelle pasta with king prawns, wild mushrooms and white truffle sauce. The duck was served pink with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar that really gave this dish its bite and perfectly complemented the mushroom and cauliflower purée. James’ special was equally tasty and I could have happily had half of his too! Between our main and dessert we were offered a small glass of pineapple sorbet which was really refreshing. I was pretty full by now, but I made sure that I had a little room for dessert – funny how that always happens! We ordered the tiramisu’ (layers of Savoiardi biscuits, espresso coffee, Marsala, mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate chips) and Torta al Cioccolato (homemade chocolate and hazelnut cake, served with vanilla ice cream). I am definitely a chocoholic so the home made chocolate and hazelnut cake was just up my street!
Casanova’s no ordinary restaurant. A combination of traditional dishes and new Italian recipes make it stand out from its counterparts. Casanova Restaurant 13 Quay Street, City Centre Cardiff CF10 1EA 029 2034 4044 info@casanovacardiff.com www.casanovacardiff.com
P E N D OY L A N , N R C A R D I F F
The New Red Lion gastro pub Kami Soroush has been a chef for over 25 years and his previous restaurant was the highest ranked Michelin Guide entry in Wales. Kami and his wife Azi have recently refurbished the New Red Lion, creating a delightful setting to match the excellent cuisine. What does The New Red Lion offer? We have tried to create the sort of place I would love to visit when my wife, Azi and I go out. Somewhere beautiful in the countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city with no parking problem but with good surroundings, ambience and friendly staff who provide relaxed but efficient service. Most importantly, on offer is an excellent choice of menu and a wonderful wine list. What dishes are most popular? You see a lot of restaurants these days using too many flavours (more than four can be confusing to the palate) and a lot of fancy names in their menus. This can end up being too complicated and some customers may feel uncomfortable ordering or might feel the need to ask someone to explain it to them which can be embarrassing. Because of this all of the dishes that we create are kept simple but with a little twist which are presented beautifully with emphasis on freshness. One of the most popular dishes we find, for example, is the Red Snapper with fresh Pomegranate, Saffron, Walnuts and Tarragon.
Where else have you worked and how has it influenced you? I am a self taught chef and have always worked for myself having owned my own restaurants, but of course I was not a chef to begin with. At my last restaurant, Trillium, I had a good team in my kitchen but the problem was my chefs knew more than me so I felt that I had to learn fast. I soon started to work in the kitchen as a Sous Chef and within six months I took over the role as Head Chef where, not long after, I was presented with the award for the highest recommended restaurant of the year in Wales. I received this award for four years running and was included in seven different good food guides including The Michelin. I also had the pleasure of training the winner of the Wales Future Cook of the Year who became one of the top five in Britain. I was also runner-up in the awards for Welsh Lamb Dish of the Year. What has been your proudest career moment to date? Without doubt it was when Azi and I were introduced to Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall when they stopped at the New Red Lion Gastro Pub in 2005. Where do you think your talent for cooking comes from? My mum had a lot of influence on my love for cooking. I think to be a good chef, as I say in my cookery courses, you need to have a lot of patience, never cut corners whilst cooking and always imagine the food you are about to cook by smelling and tasting it in your mind so you have an idea of how you intend the dish to look and taste.
Has anyone inspired you? My philosophy is ‘simple but nice’ and it comes from one of the greatest chefs, Anton Mosimann. I remember when I was cooking on the TV show Get Going in 1993 I was often asked why I never wore a chef jacket but instead I would wear a shirt, bow tie and apron and the answer was always the same... “It’s a tribute to Mr Mosimann,” as he always wore a bow tie on his programmes. What has been your most memorable meal to date? Definitely the Welsh Lamb Casserole with Sun Dried Limes, Saffron and Lentils which Azi cooked - ‘majical’. Where would you most like to eat in the world? Hmm, that’s a difficult one. If I could go back in time then it would definitely be one more meal in my mum’s kitchen. The restaurant I would really love to visit but haven’t had the chance to yet is El Bouli which is in Madrid, in Spain. What would be your last supper? A glass or two of champagne!
The New Red Lion Gastro Pub Pendoylan, Nr Cardiff CF71 7UJ 01446 760332
“My philosophy is ‘simple but nice’ and it comes from one of the greatest chefs, Anton Mosimann.” ❧ 31 ❧
www.newredlion.com
Steven Salamon, owner of Wally’s talks to City Life about his passion for the family business founded over 25 years ago. Wally’s was founded by my father, Wally Salamon, in 1981. However, the origins of the shop go back much further, to pre-war Austria in fact! My Polish born grandfather ran a general store in a small village near Vienna.
“He came to the UK with his family, including my father as a three year old, in 1939 as a refugee from Nazism.” Having worked in a factory for eight years to accumulate capital and learn the language, he decided to open a food store in 1947 in Cardiff’s Bridge Street (now where the new St. David’s 2 development is sited). My father and his brother, Otto, joined their father in the shop when they left school at the age of fourteen. They continued to run the business together after their father died in 1963 until redevelopment of the area in 1981 forced them to find a new location. At this point the brothers separated and Wally opened Wally’s Delicatessen in Royal Arcade in 1981 with my mother, Laraine. I came into the business in 1993 after first having qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked for the UK’s largest firm of accountants in London and then an Investment Bank in Cardiff. Following redundancy I decided the time was right to join the family business. My wife Corrine also started working part-time in the shop at this time. The shop came into my ownership in 1995 and my father and I continued working together until his death last year. We have three members of staff who have been with Wally’s since it started in 1981. David Pike, the shop manager, in fact started working for my father in the former shop in Bridge Street as a 14 year old on Saturdays.
He went full time at sixteen and is still with us even now aged in his early fifties. David’s wife, Tricia, also started at Wally’s in 1981 as did David Richards, who started at the same age. Now, two of my children, Ben and Natalie, also work with me on Saturday’s, so it’s truly a family business. Who are your customers? From the earliest days our customers were Eastern European immigrants. Many of them had come to Wales as refugees to work in the coal mines, factories and mills in the post war redevelopment stage. Responding to their needs the shop soon started selling and specialising in Polish cooked meats and pickles, Hungarian salami, German hams and sausages, European breads, etc. The shop soon established a reputation for its European products, many of which had never been seen in this part of the country.
“The shop was a constant hub of activity and a meeting place for its customers who would converse with each other and with the staff in a variety of languages.” Over the years the continental influence has remained high and we have seen second and even third generation customers, many of whom began coming as children and now bring their own children. Many have become firm friends with the staff and feel very affectionate towards the business. In more recent years though the emphasis shifted away from Eastern Europe to Western Europe, with a great many of our customers now heralding from Spain, Greece, Italy. All the while the local customers have been coming to Wally’s in increasing numbers and have grown to love the products we sell. This has been largely down to the increase in overseas travel
and the number of cookery books and TV programmes now available. Our customers come from far and wide to shop with us and we see daily customers, weekly customers and the more occasional customers who all make it their business to shop with us regularly. In the last few years we have developed an online business also so we now have thousands of customers around the country who shop with us and whom we have never even met! Why do they shop at Wally’s? Our customers traditionally shopped with Wally’s because it was the only place they could find what they wanted. As the availability of products has become more widespread our customers still shop with us because they can find everything they need in one shop. Our customers like the atmosphere of Wally’s. They like the quality of products and they like the personal, old-fashioned service. They like the familiarality of faces and the continuity of the family business. They like the whole shopping experience that coming into Wally’s provides. What do you stock? Our specialism has always been in continental cooked and cured meats, hams and salamis. However our fresh delicatessen counter also provides a wide range of continental cheeses and olives. We also stock a wide range of ambient products, from nuts and dried fruits, to mueslis, to herbs and spices, to ethnic foods, wines and spirits, teas and coffees, olive oils and vinegars, breads and flours, cakes and biscuits. South African products.
HEALTHY ❧ 32 ❧
Steven Salamon and his mother, Laraine Salamon
Mae Ballantyne, Richard Ballantyne & Charlotte Ballantyne (Ballantyne's Wines)
Matthew Bosanquet and Lynne Bosanquet
Alex Kalebic (Cooke & Arkwright) & Richella Dee
Erika Chapell & Phillip Chapell (Builders)
David Gerson and Lisa Gerson
Sharon Owen and Andrew Owen
Steve Jenkins, Corrine Salamon, Tina Jenkins and Jemma Friday
Steven Salamon and his wife, Corrine Salamon
Any new developments? In June 2009 we opened a new extension with the acquisition of the adjoining premises. The extra floor space will more than double the sales area. The extension has been fitted out to the highest standards and has been designed to provide an updated version of the old Wally’s, whilst still maintaining the charm and character of the original business. The extra space will allow us to get into lots of product areas that previously we did not have the space for.
Are you planning anything special for Christmas? Christmas has always been a magical time for us at Wally’s. The shop will be decorated with an abundance of seasonal specialities, such as Italian Pannetone, German Stollen, Spanish and Italian Torrone, German Lebkuchen, Gingerbread houses, Spanish confectionary and Belgium chocolates.
We have an enlarged delicatessen counter, a large walk around olive bar, a new wines department, a take-away lunchtime food offering, Italian Gelati, loose teas and coffees, a range of artisan breads. There will generally be more space for customers to browse and better displays of products.
What are your hopes for 2010? We want to consolidate the new extension into the overall business and make sure we make good use of the extra selling space. We would really love to become specialists in the new product areas. Finally, we have a desire to open a Wally’s Coffee Shop, utilising the fantastic range of products that we have in the shop.
Wally’s Delicatessen 38 - 46 Royal Arcade Cardiff CF10 1AE 029 20229265 steve@wallysdeli.co.uk www.wallysdeli.co.uk Open from 8.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Saturday
APPETITE ❧ 33 ❧
A selection of Summer dishes from La Plie, Southerndown. Matt Powell, head chef and owner of La Plie restaurant, is fast gaining a reputation as one of Wales’ finest chefs. Matt tells City Life about three of his creations for Summer. All the following dishes have their roots in classical French cuisine but we just use the best ingredients and treat them with as much respect as possible and do not detract from their natural flavours. People talk about molecular gastronomy as a new thing but the scientific process starts as soon as we boil water or start to cook. T O M AT O S O U P
Tomato essence This dish is all about the tomato and taking its elements, pulling them apart and then putting them back together again. This is the French way and in classical training you must try to use everything! It’s about the fifth taste and we would like to dedicate it to the Japanese chemist, Kikunae Ikeda who discovered the component which produces the flavour of meat. It can be found in ingredients like seaweed and tomatoes, which creates the sensation of ‘umami’. Tomato Umami Umami is a Japanese word that means yummy, meaty or just delicious! It was discovered by Kikunae Ikeda and in my view is just as important as Monsieur Escoffier inventing veal jus. They were basically discovering the same thing but in different forms. This is the fifth taste sensation. It is found in ingredients like Japanese dashi, parmesan, asparagus and in meats and reacts with the Lglutamate receptors on the tongue.
What we do here at La Plie, is basically take the tomato essence and reduce it down to a complete glaze. The edible flowers in the dish are present because of their enzymes and to add beauty. To the clear soup, we add pansies (the pansy is the flower of Osaka), some marigolds, nasturtium flowers and leaves. Tomato essence The first part of the dish is the essence itself where we take tomatoes and pulp them very finely, season them with herbs and a little garlic and then put them through a very fine filter. In essence, it is a consommé that has no cooking process at all. Tomato tartar The tomato tartar is a mixture of tomato concasse - just blanched tomatoes, skinned and dried a little and then finely diced. Also, we make a candied tomato, which we season with olive oil, fine slivers of garlic, and then dry in a de-hydrator, which really brings out the flavour of the tomato. To finish the tartar we mix them both together and season with sea salt and umami. Tomato powder We simply take the trimmings from all our tomatoes and de-hydrate them for a few days and then blitz them up with a hand blender. We then push it through a fine sieve and collect the dust.
FIRST WE EAT W WITH OUR EYES
SEA BASS
Wild sea bass, artichoke barigoule, crab tortelinni and crab sauce We pan fry the skin, turn it over and then finish gently under the grill. Artichokes are probably my favourite vegetable and are great from early spring. We use small violets at the start of the season and then use Camus artichokes which come from Brittany. We get our wild bass from Jonathan at Ashtons fishmongers in Cardiff market. The bass is landed in the Gower and the large crabs come from Salcombe harbour in South Devon. We have recently teamed up with Tythegston walled garden, and Greg Nuttgens there has given us the best artichokes we have seen all year. We then make an artichoke barigoule with finely diced fennel, shallots and carrot, with a little white wine and olive oil. This is simple French cuisine in its purest form. DESSERT
Assiette framboise We like to pick our raspberries at Hendrewennol in the Vale when they are in season. Again, we use the entire raspberry in a soufflĂŠ. In the glass we have jelly with a simple set cream accompanied by a very light iced mousse. To finish off the dish, we create a tuile made of raspberry reduction which we dry overnight. The flavour from this process is unbelievably concentrated.
La Plie Restaurant 52 Beach Road, Southerndown Bridgend CF32 0RP 01656 880127 www.laplierestaurant.co.uk
CITY STYLE New you, new stores and new bars in the capital CIT Y CENTRE
Prices start at £25 for a maxi-lip treatment which will give you full luscious lips without the need for collagen injections and facials start at £45. OXYjet treatments are suitable for all ages, whether you want a great facial to refresh your skin or want to work on particular problem areas to keep your skin looking younger for longer.
Give your skin new life at Triniti Beauty If you want to keep your skin looking younger for longer but really don’t want to go down the route of surgery or injections, Vanessa at Triniti Beauty offers a fantastic range of OXYjet treatments to suit all pockets and skin types. Known as the ‘Celebrity facial treatment’, OXYjet uses natural cosmetic products and pressurised oxygen to, literally, breathe new life into your skin and increase the production of collagen, giving you a facial and a face lift.
Triniti Beauty 14 Churchill Way Cardiff CF10 2DX 029 2022 7049 info@trinitisalons.co.uk www.trinitisalons.co.uk
OXYjet is a great alternative to bo-tox and collagen injections and its toning, plumping and lifting action makes it a brilliant alternative to face, neck and bust lifts.
RHIWBINA
Designer labels at affordable prices Looking for a designer or high street label for only a fraction of the original selling price? Look no further than Beulah Dress Agency. For 17 years, the agency has offerered the perfect solution for special occasions such as weddings, evening events or cruises. Owner, Barbara Low and her friendly staff can find you the perfect item of clothing, hat, accessory, shoes and jewellery to help you look a million dollars. Garments are normally less than two years old. Commission is offered on quality items that you no longer need. Pop in for a bargain. Beulah Dress Agency 3B Beulah Road, Cardiff CF14 6LT 029 2069 1039 Open 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.
John Lewis Cardiff September opening date Excitement is building. The new John Lewis shop opening in Cardiff is getting nearer. This new department store will change the face of shopping in Cardiff. On Thursday 24 September at 9.30am John Lewis will open as the principal anchor shop for the landmark St David’s development. Liz Mihell, managing director of John Lewis Cardiff said, “We are all thrilled to be opening in Cardiff this September. Our shop will be a contemporary showcase with hundreds of exciting products and we can’t wait to share it with shoppers in Wales.” Covering 280,000 sq ft in total, the new shop will have over 170,000 sq ft, of selling space and feature fashion, furniture and homewares. The Cardiff store will be the second largest in the John Lewis Partnership and the largest branch outside London.
John Lewis Cardiff managing director, Liz Mihell
CIT Y CENTRE
“Customers can look forward to shopping for everything under one roof in a fantastic shop spanning four floors.”
Liz adds,“Customers can look forward to shopping for everything under one roof in a fantastic shop spanning four floors. There’ll be men’s and women’s fashion brands including Nicole Fahri and Stella McCartney lingerie and an aspirational beauty department including Kiehls, Laura Mercier and Liz Earle – all brands that aren’t available anywhere else in Cardiff. Womenswear brands will also include Reiss, Ted Baker, Jigsaw, Paul and Joe Sister and Elie Taharia and in menswear Ralph Lauren, Belstaff, John Smedley, Zegna Sport and Hackett.”
“Covering 280,000 sq ft in total, the new shop will have over 170,000 sq ft, of selling space.” ❧ 36 ❧
Hungry shoppers will also be well-served in the new department store which will feature a ‘Place to Eat’ restaurant with 293 covers on the third floor and an espresso bar with 129 covers – the largest in any John Lewis branch. Liz adds: “We are looking forward to becoming part of the local community and this huge new space will now allow us to bring our principle-led approach to retailing to Cardiff in September.” Recruitment is underway for more than 700 jobs at John Lewis Cardiff. In addition to John Lewis, St David’s will feature over 100 shops, 21 cafes and restaurants and 304 new homes.
C A R D I F F B AY
Havannah Bar now open at Cardiff Bay Far from the maddening crowds! Havannah Bar at Sovereign Quay, Cardiff Bay and adjacent to its sister company, Gavin Alexander hair salon is the perfect setting. Conveniently situated with car parking opposite the bar entrance on Havannah Street and close to the ultra cool St David’s Hotel. The newly refurbished Havannah Bar is a venue with that special feeling of space, mixed with a warm and friendly welcome providing clients with a stress-free environment. Manager, James said, “Relax and chill out at our waterfront location. We have a fabulous covered terrace with wonderful views across the Bay. Attentive staff will serve you a superb selection of wines, continental bottled beers and our unique Japanese draught beer, Kirin, the purest beer on the market. If you’re feeling peckish, our menu is simple, freshly prepared and cooked to order.”
Havannah for hire Havannah Bar is a great setting for a special birthday, anniversary, pre wedding get-together, or any function or special celebration that needs promoting even that all important book launch. Call James on 029 2047 3222 for more information.
SPECIAL OFFER 50% off your first two drinks purchased with this voucher.* *Voucher can be used only once and is valid until September 30 2009. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and is only redeemable at Havannah Bar, Cardiff Bay.
W H AT ’ S O N AT H AVA N N A H
Themed Nights Launch Wednesday and Thursdays only. Pre booking only. Ticket only entry, includes buffet and drink on arrival. Office parties or groups welcome. Casino Night Are you a high risk roller? Enjoy a night of casino games with our friendly croupiers. You could win an iPod and you’re guaranteed to have a lot of fun! Murder Mystery Night Enjoy a night of mystery, intrigue and suspense... Someone’s been murdered! You find out who did it! Another fun night with a difference.
Havannah Bar - provides a relaxing, stress free environment to enjoy a perfect evening.
❧ 37 ❧
Havannah Bar Unit 3, Sovereign Quay, Havannah St, Cardiff Bay CF10 5SE 029 2047 3222 havannahbar@live.co.uk Bar opening times 5pm to 11pm Wednesday to Friday 11am to 11pm Saturday, 11am to 6pm Sunday. Havannah Bar can accommodate 80 people.
HEALTH & WELLBEING Take good care of yourself with City Life’s guide to healthcare in the capital C A R D I F F B AY
Vale Healthcare launches Baby Hip Clinic Vale Healthcare is pleased to announce the launch of a new Baby Hip Clinic service, providing a screening service for babies at risk of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.
Vale Healthcare Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Mr Phill Thomas and Mr Sandeep Hemmadi specialise in paediatric hip problems, and are delighted to now offer this screening service for babies under four months. The screening is available through both GP and self-referral routes, with GP referrals requiring the baby to be at ‘high-risk’ for this condition. Risk factors include: ■ Family history – any relative/sibling who has had a previous childhood hip problem ■ Breech position of the child during pregnancy ■ Oligohydramnios (low level of fluid in the womb during pregnancy) ■ Foot abnormalities at birth ■ First born, female sex
Vale Healthcare Cardiff Bay Clinic Celtic Gateway, Dunleavy Drive, Cardiff CF11 0SN 029 2083 6714
You can find out more about the Baby Hip Clinic by contacting Vale Healthcare on 029 2083 6714. This hip condition affects a significant number of children in the UK and refers to a spectrum of disease ranging from complete dislocation of the hip, through to some shallowness of the hip joint socket. If the condition is not identified then the child will have an increased risk of lifelong hip problems, which will usually require a hip replacement at a young age. Although not life-threatening, the condition is hugely disabling in relation to quality of life. Currently there are several NHS tests in place to try and pick up the problem including a postbirth examination of the baby’s hips before leaving the hospital, and then a later examination by a GP at 6 - 8 weeks. Unfortunately there are no screening tests in place, and the above examinations are not ideal as can be very difficult to perform on a young baby. As a result, the more subtle problems can be missed which often means significantly later detection of problems, and worsened long term outcome. Hip ultrasound is the gold standard for detecting hip problems in children under 4 months. It is quick, safe and well-researched, and is a compulsory test for all babies in most European countries including Germany, Switzerland and Austria, although not currently in the UK as standard. As a result of the screening in these countries, the rate of later hip dislocation and disability is significantly reduced.
Vale Healthcare Hip MOT Hip replacement is a major operation, so don’t let the lack of follow-up appointments cause you difficulties in the years following your op. Most of us know a friend or relative that has had a hip problem, particularly in later life, which can often result in a Total Hip Replacement operation. The majority of patients that undergo the operation are relieved of the pain and disability which has compromised their quality of life and even threatened their ability to live independently. But follow-up appointments after the hip replacement surgery vary from surgeon to surgeon, with some surgeons discharging patients after one year and few patients being followed up in the long term. This is not good practice, particularly as the prosthetic hip will begin to fail after five to ten years, with many more failing after this time period. In addition, the hip replacement failure may be unknown to the patient in the early stages, and when noticed at a later date it results in difficult and uncertain revision operations. ❧ 38 ❧
www.vale-healthcare.com
Recommended best practice from the British Orthopaedic Association is that patients are followed up both clinically and radiologically in the years after their operation. Follow-up appointments will identify patients that are at risk, and allow for an exchange/revision operation to be planned before any further deterioration occurs. Vale Healthcare Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Alun John offers a ‘Hip MOT’ service at the Cardiff Bay Clinic for individuals that have undergone Total Hip Replacement surgery. This follow-up service will identify any failure of the prosthetic joint in its early stages before severe bone loss will increase the difficulty of revision surgery. It will also ensure that patients receive timely checks and assurance in their hip health in the years following the operation.
Cosmetics Clinic at Vale Healthcare ORTHOPAEDICS & RHEUMATOLOGY CLINICS PHYSIOTHERAPY, REHABILITATION & TREATMENT CENTRE DIAGNOSTIC & INTERVENTIONAL SPINE CLINIC DERMATOLOGY CLINIC PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC GASTROENTEROLOGY & GENERAL SURGERY CLINICS COSMETIC CLINIC
Vale Healthcare offers a range of surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic treatments in a friendly, caring and professional environment. All our Consultant Surgeons are highly qualified and experienced in cosmetic procedures, and are all registered with BAAPS so the quality of clinical care you will receive is unquestionable. Procedures available include:
EAR NOSE & THROAT CLINIC CARDIOLOGY CLINIC UROLOGY CLINIC OPHTHALMOLOGY CLINIC DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
• • • • •
Breast Enhancement (surgical and non-surgical) Facial Rejuvenation Nose Re-shaping Tummy tuck Liposuction
BREAST CARE CLINIC SPORTS MEDICINE CLINIC GYNAECOLOGY CLINIC NEUROLOGY CLINIC
To book an initial consultation, or for more information about procedures that we offer please contact the Cosmetics Clinic at Vale Healthcare.
for info call: 029 2083 6714 www.vale-healthcare.com Working in partnership with
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PLUS A RT , B OOKS , S TYLE , HOMES, COMPETITIONS AND MORE
Last issue’s lucky winners SUZANNE JAYA NICOLA POOLE Cardiff NANOR TASHDJIAN J O H N TAG G A R T Eston, Cleveland RHS SHOW C L A R E FA R R O W Heath, Cardiff
Originally a 16th Century dairy farm, the hotel’s main house and restaurant overlooks acres of marshland and an organic kitchen garden, while a large courtyard is enclosed by beautifully renovated outhouses containing sumptuous bedrooms and a bijou spa. Laugharne, famous for having been the home of Dylan Thomas, may only be a couple of hours drive away, but why drive when you can arrive at your destination in style in a helicopter courtesy of Veritair. If you’ve never taken this mode of transport before, you will be in for a real treat. After your night’s stay at the hotel, the helicopter pilot will be on hand to whisk you back home in style.
EMMA-KATE FRANCIS
You can win too! Come on City Life readers! You have every chance of winning one of these fantastic prizes just like the lucky winners above.
For more information visit www.hurst-house.co.uk. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the question in the box below and either post your entry to: Hurst House Competition, City Life, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, CF63 2AW. Or email your answer and contact details to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk. Please type Hurst House as the title for your email.
Q
All competition entries must be received by 21st September 2009.
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AND ASPIRE WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED
Which famous poet lived in Laugharne?
Answer
Winners will be notified within 14 days and prize must be taken by 31st October 2009.
Name Address
Go for it! You’ve got to be in it, to win it!
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Please note, City Life cannot be held responsible If you do not wish to receive details of products and services from City Life or other companies, please tick the box provided.
financially or otherwise should a company or any third party offering a prize in this publication be unable to fulfill its obligation, for any reason.
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WIN! WIN! WIN! A colour, cut and blow dry worth up to £100 at Gavin Alexander, Cardiff Bay
A three course meal for two at La Plie restaurant worth up to £100
A stunning silver and aquamarine bracelet worth £155
Here’s a fantastic opportunity for a lucky City Life reader to have a completely new look courtesy of a senior stylist at Gavin Alexander salon in Cardiff Bay.
Brooklinde (see feature on page 22) is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a stunning silver and aquamarine bracelet made by British designer Alexis Dove.
For more information on the salon please see page 52.
Similar to the picture below the bracelet is from Alexis’s Wild Rose Collection which is a firm favourite with many of Brooklinde’s customers.
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the question in the box below and either post your entry to: Gavin Alexander Competition, City Life, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, CF63 2AW. Or email your answer and contact details to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk. Please type Gavin Alexander as the title.
Picture yourself in an idyllic location by the sea, eating delicious food cooked by a Michelin star chef in the making, who trained under Raymond Blanc and you’d think you were in gastronomic heaven.
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the question in the box below and either post your entry to: Brooklinde Competition, City Life, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, CF63 2AW. Or email your answer and contact details to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk Please type Brooklinde as the title.
Here’s your chance to do just that as La Plie, Southerdown is offering one lucky couple the chance to win a three course meal for two to the value of £100.
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Name the quay where the salon is situated
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the question in the box below and either post your entry to: La Plie Competition, City Life, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, CF63 2AW. Or email your answer and contact details to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk Please type La Plie as the title.
Q
Who is the owner and head chef at La Plie?
Q
Which Cardiff arcade is Brooklinde situated in?
Answer
Answer
Answer
Name Address
Name Address
Name Address
Postcode Phone Email
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Postcode Phone Email
If you do not wish to receive details of products and services from City Life or other companies, please tick the box provided.
If you do not wish to receive details of products and services from City Life or other companies, please tick the box provided.
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If you do not wish to receive details of products and services from City Life or other companies, please tick the box provided.
CITY BUSINESS A round up of news in and around Cardiff
CIT Y CENTRE
Cardiff band front UK launch of clothing range
Syke is the brain child of Japanese designer and artist Tri Vo from Melbourne, Australia. He began the fashion range over 10 years ago and his work is inspired by ‘hentai’ anime, meaning ‘strange appearance’ in Japanese. The range currently includes t-shirts, jeans, jumpers and cardigans.
S O U T H WA L E S
The Business Centre is just the business With the global downturn and financial markets suffering from the fallout of the credit crunch and with growing acceptance that 2009 will be tough for all sectors, some businesses in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan are taking precautions to ensure they can minimise exposure to risk where they possibly can.
Capital Chauffeurs – a capital idea! As a regular flier from Cardiff International Airport, it came as a bit of a shock when we had to fly from Gatwick for a holiday. The thought of driving three and a half hours didn’t fill my husband with joy, especially as we had a very early start.What to do? I’d heard of Capital Chauffeurs through a business colleague and thought I’d give them a call to see what could be done. I left a message and owner of the business, Richard Francis gave me a call back within the hour. He sounded like a personable chap, someone I wouldn’t mind spending three and a half hours with (in a professional manner of course!).
An up-and-coming Cardiff rock band, The New 1920, is fronting the UK launch of established Australian street clothing range, Syke.
The trio behind the UK launch of Syke, Ross O’Leary and founders of Neon Events & Marketing, Nick Miles and Kate Novell, have already lined up a number of stockists across south Wales including Cardiff’s Pavilion, A2 in Merthyr Tydfil, The Edge in Neath and Route in Blackwood.
CIT Y
As well as stocking the range at retailers across south Wales, the clothing is also available to purchase online at www.sykeclothing.com The New 1920 www.myspace.com/thenew1920
Taking out traditional ten, fifteen or twenty year leases does not allow you much flexibility which is why so many companies are looking to a more flexible and risk adverse route. In addition, as of April 2008, companies have had the added motivation to avoid having unused office space on their books as they now have to pay full business rates on office space left empty for more than three months. One way they can avoid this is to operate their business from The Business Centre as they can expand and contract to reflect their income. One company that did just that are Purple Contracts. Owner, Glen Newman said, “We wanted to take some new staff on in January, but at the time our office was too small. No problem… we simply moved to a slightly larger office in The Business Centre. Then, if our situation changes again and we need to downsize, we’ll just back to a smaller one. It means we are only ever paying for the exact size of office that we need. Brilliant!” For those businesses still wanting to start up in a recession or for existing businesses that want to reduce and fix their operating costs, then taking office space in The Business Centre is an ideal option. Low move-in costs, short lead ❧ 42 ❧
Perhaps most importantly, he assured me that he would be reliable, that his vehicle would be clean and roadworthy and that he had all the insurances should anything go wrong. Weighing up the cost of the service against diesel, cost of parking up the car for a week and, taking into account the stress factor, we decided to book him there and then.
times and access to up to date IT and telecoms equipment and services, which can be rented by the week with no capital outlay are some of the benefits. Other benefits for clients to enjoy at The Business Centre are, access to business storage and support services such as conference and meeting room hire, secretarial and admin assistance without the need for employing extra staff. These services are also available to companies who are not resident at The Business Centre. For further information please contact Lynnette Knight on 0800 6349920 and discover how being at The Business Centre during a recession is the best place to be.
“Not only can we promise to save you money on your running costs but we can also introduce you to other like-minded business people who may want to do business with you.”
The ungodly hour didn’t put Richard off in the slightest; he merely said that the roads would be quieter which would make for a smoother journey. He arrived on the dot at our home and carried most of the luggage. I felt a bit guilty as my husband works out a lot and is a fair bit younger than Richard, but he wouldn’t hear of any offer of help. He’d mentioned that he’d spent much of his younger days in the services, which would have accounted for his fitness. We settled into the very comfortable seats of the immaculate Mercedes Viano, which was equipped with all of the latest gadgets and off we set. The ride was smooth and Richard had provided us with comfortable blankets and even offered us the morning papers and those lovely travel sweets that you get from Marks & Spencer. Mmmm! We reached Gatwick in plenty of time and after Richard again sorted out our luggage, he bade us a cheery happy holiday and he was on his way.
Would we book Capital Chauffeurs again? Yes, no question. Next time, we’ll get the sweets, although I expect Richard would have that covered!
Each Capital Chauffeurs driver has a transport industry or military background and is a member of both the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and the British Guild of Chauffeurs (BGC). Capital Chauffeurs provide corporate travel, security chauffeuring, airport chauffeuring services, leisure packages and event transport.
On our journey home, I made a quick call to Richard to let him know when the flight was due in (he already knew this anyway but said it was good to hear from me!) and he would be there in good time to pick us up outside the terminal building.
THE BUSINESS CENTRE
The flexible benefits of a serviced office ■ Instant Access
Usually, you can move in to a fullyfitted turnkey office suite, within 24 hours, providing you with an immediate solution to your office requirement. ■ Flexibility
We are flexible, streamlined and trouble-free – you can expand or contract at short notice free from leasehold responsibilities and obligations.
Capital Chauffeurs 08456 44 87 11 contact@capitalchauffeurs.co.uk www.capitalchauffeurs.co.uk
■ Cost Effective
When all the costs of running a business are taken into account, The Business Centre offers excellent value for money. There is minimal capital outlay and no expensive legal fees. ■ Convenience
One monthly rental payment based on the size of the office suite chosen covers all of the following business essentials: ■ Rent ■ Service charge ■ General and environmental rates ■ Heating, lighting and power ■ Executive furniture ■ Daily cleaning of office ■ Furnished and manned reception ■ Telephone system including handsets ■ DDI line per authorized user ■ Mail handling ■ Building insurance and maintenance ■ Fire alarm and building security ■ Free car parking ■ Free membership to on-site gym ■ For more information call
The Business Centre for free on 0800 6349920. ❧ 43 ❧
The Business Centre Cardiff House Cardiff Road, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan CF63 2AW 0800 6349920 enquiries@thebusinesscentreonline.co.uk www.thebusinesscentreonline.co.uk
RHIWBINA
Swain Scaffolding reaches new heights If you’re looking for a reliable and competent scaffolding company, then look no further than Swain Scaffolding. The Cardiff based company are happy to work in the south Wales area and provide a quality service: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Domestic and Commercial Competitive Rates Fully Insured CITB and NVQ Qualified Scaffolders Provide a 24 hour service Provide FREE quotes with no obligation
69 Heol-y-Nant, Rhiwbina Cardiff CF14 029 2062 4079 stew@swainscaffolding.co.uk
CARDIFF
Designs for Life aids Cancer Research The Designer Desires team of Jennifer Davies, Jane Egan, Kim Elliott, Sharon Hobbs and Zowie Smith ran the 5k Race for Life in Llanelli on 14 June. The online dress agency, Designer Desires was set up so that everyone who loves fashion can afford a piece of luxury. The credit crunch means that
S O U T H WA L E S
Recession fear increases use of serviced offices With financial markets suffering from the credit crunch and with growing acceptance that 2009 has been tough for all sectors, some businesses in the Vale are taking precautions to ensure they can minimise exposure to risk where they can.
Taking out traditional ten, fifteen or twenty year leases does not allow you much flexibility which is why so many companies are looking to a more flexible and risk adverse route.
everyone is looking to reduce their spending and this is the ideal way to own the very best designer fashions without breaking the bank. The team raised over £700 in sponsorship monies for Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work. Designer Desires 07917 691576 or 01656 773323 jane@designerdesires.com www.designerdesires.com
One company that did just that are Purple Contracts. “We wanted to take some new staff on in January, but our office at the time was too small to accommodate. No problem…we simply moved to a slightly larger office in The Business Centre. Then, if our situation changes again and we need to downsize, we’ll just move to a smaller one again. It means we are only ever paying for the exact size of office that we need. Brilliant!”
equipment and services, which can be rented by the week with no capital outlay.
For those businesses still wanting to start up in a recession or for existing businesses that want to reduce and fix their operational costs then taking office space in The Business Centre is an ideal option. Low move-in costs, short lead times and access to the latest specification IT and telecoms
For further information please contact Lynnette Knight on 0800 6349920 and discover how being at The Business Centre during a recession is the best place to be, Not only can you save money on your running costs but you can also meet other like minded business people who may want to do business with you.
In addition, from April 2008 companies had the added motivation to avoid having unused office space on their books as they now have to pay full business rates on office space left empty for more than three months.One way they can avoid this is to operate their business from The Business Centre as they can expand and contract to reflect the market conditions. ❧ 44 ❧
Other benefits for clients to enjoy at The Business Centre is access to support services such as conference and meeting room hire secretarial and admin help without the need of employing extra staff. These services are also available to companies not situated at The Business Centre.
CIT Y CENTRE
10 Feet Tall in the city centre What is 10 Feet Tall? Is it a bar/grill/tapas/cocktails/live music? Answer - it’s all of these. A move away from Cardiff’s commercially dominated bar scene, 10 Feet Tall is stamping its independent mark on the city. An insightful fusion of good quality food, the finest cocktails and the best local and touring bands, dj’s and entertainment as well as a mix of club nights to satisfy all music tastes. City Life found out more. Who are your customers? Our customers range from students to professionals who enjoy quality, unique and somewhat eccentric surroundings, offering a home from home, reminiscent of your granny’s living room. We also believe 10 Feet Tall has a welcoming family environment. What’s special about 10 Feet Tall? The bar offers a myriad of secret treasures and ambiences making it possible to be the kind of place where customers will discover something different every time they come here. S O U T H WA L E S
Move for free with Mason’s Moving Group In 1905 Mason’s used a horse and cart and since those humble beginnings, the company has changed beyond recognition. Nowadays, Mason’s is a modern, international company.
Whether you want to enjoy a wide selection of world beers, slurp one of our unique summer cocktails (a selection of which are available as part of our 2 for 1 offer), have a nibble of our tapas, tuck into a 25oz steak, or experience one of our varied club nights or live acts. What is your cooking style? Cymru Gastro Grill with a Mediterranean kick. What can we expect on your newly launched menu? Our daytime bar menu offers a selection of lite bites, sandwiches, Homemade burgers and Mediterranean tapas, all served in under 20 minutes; great for a quick business lunch or a casual bite to eat with friends.
Their most recent venture The Business Centre, provides serviced offices, telephone answering, conference and meeting room facilities in the Vale. To celebrate their success, Mason’s will move any company absolutely free of charge, within a radius of 25 miles, who take office space at The Business Centre.* In addition, Space Centre Self Storage next door to The Business Centre is offering a 10% monthly rental discount if customers sign an agreement for a minimum six month period. Space Self Storage is the only self storage company in The Vale and offers private storage rooms ranging from 25 to 5,000 square feet. Space Centre is secured by state of the art CCTV and customers have their own lock and key to can gain free access as often as they want within office hours. Should you have a need for extra storage space for your archives, business stock or household effects, please do not hesitate to contact the Space Centre Team. *Subject to terms and conditions.
“To celebrate their success Mason’s will move any company, free of charge, within a radius of 25 miles who take office space at The Business Centre.” ❧ 45 ❧
Heading into the evening, 10 Feet Tall transforms into a bustling club that’s, inviting and with lots of atmosphere. We offeri a selection of light starters, complimented by some beautifully cooked, high quality, fresh and locally sourced dishes, comprising grill, fish and vegetarian options, all topped with a choice of mouth-watering desserts. Describe your bar in three words... Ecclectic, quality, lively. 10 Feet Tall 11a - 12 Church Street Cardiff CF10 1BG 029 2022 8883 contact@thisis10feettall.co.uk www.thisis10feettall.co.uk
Space Centre Self Storage Priority Enterprise Park Barry CF63 2BG 01446 700799 enquiries@space4storage.co.uk www.space4storage.co.uk
Mason’s Moving Group Ltd Storage House Priority Enterprise Park Cardiff Road Barry CF63 2BG 01446 733330 enquiries@masonsmovingroup.co.uk www.masonsmovingroup.co.uk
They say that the sun shines on the righteous and shone it certainly did, for most of the day, at the extremely popular St David’s Polo. Set, once again, in the beautiful grounds of Fonmon Castle, it was the perfect day for people (and frock) watching. More on that later with City Life’s resident style guru Suzanne Jaya.
ST DAVID’S
POLO The must see social event of the Summer
A fabulous day was enjoyed by all as City Life were delighted to host a VIP table at St David’s Polo in the grounds of Fonmon Castle. Our illustrious guests included Peter Knowles and Andrew Bradshaw of Hamptons of Penarth, super stylish Suzanne Jaya, Mike McNabb, owner of Room for Living Kitchens of Cowbridge and partner Karin Wright, Jane Egan of Designer Desires and her partner, businessman, Richard Case. ❧ 47 ❧
We arrived at eleven in the morning and started the day with a refreshing Pimms. Throughout the day and into the evening the champagne flowed freely as did the conversation. Geoff Lloyd, Chairman of St David’s Polo, was the perfect host, with glamour provided by the effervescent Amanda Protheroe Thomas and Geoff’s partner Michelle Sturgeon. The teams representing on the field were Wales versus South America.
The rain stayed away long enough for a brilliant display of polo and both teams played particularly well. The heavens then decided to refresh us with a spot of light rain but it did not dampen our spirits and there was a mad dash to the marquee and the disco. In no time at all, the dancefloor was packed with gyrating bodies getting on down to the likes of the late, great Michael Jackson and other music legends.
The microphone was even opened up to the floor for some impromtu karaoke and many guests entertained us with some ‘memorable’ vocals. Looking around the marquee, it was fantastic to see everyone having such a good time. Yes, the polo is an amazing sporting spectacle and, in my opinion, this event is equally about people getting together and just having a ball.
“We arrived at eleven in the morning and started the day with a refreshing Pimms. Throughout the day and into the evening the champagne flowed freely as did the conversation.” ❧ 48 ❧
For more information please contact Geoff Lloyd St Davids Polo Club 34 Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9LE 029 2066 6091 geoff@stdavidspolo.co.uk www.stdavidspolo.co.uk
The images you see and many more can be found online at St David’s Polo official photographer’s site at www.ifotoevents.com and on www.citylifecardiff.co.uk. Derek Naylor tells City Life why he loves attending and photographing social events, especially the Polo.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Behind the lens with Derek Naylor Derek Naylor tells City Life why he loves attending and photographing social events, especially the polo.
“I love the polo. It’s the premiere social event in the Vale and having covered it for a few years now, it’s fantastic to catch up with friends and enjoy the day as well as photographing it. Guests really make an effort, the atmosphere is amazing and the polo match is an exhilarating spectacle that has to been seen to be appreciated fully. Lots of familiar faces, wonderful outfits, charming celebs, fabulous hospitality... it’s a great day out.” More images can be found online at www.citylifecardiff.co.uk. and all images can be purchased at www.ifotoevents.com
ST YLE
City Life style guru Suzanne Jaya’s Polo picks 1 Keep it in the family Not sure if they’re related but they certainly have a style connection. Watch out girls, the mum’s hot and understatedly elegant and comfortable in her own skin. A great role model. 2 Bags of style at the Beeb Sian Lloyd here in an elegant frock that drapes her beautifully, without revealing more than she should and yet allowing her warm smile to come through. 3 No thorns here All roses... don’t the boys scrub up well too? Is that a Diane Von Furstenberg – love it! 4 A touch of class What I love about this is their attention to detail, great grooming and a confident attitude. Particularly loving the black dress and turquoise shoes and the lady on the far right in the classic black and white ensemble. Real head-turners all of you.
S WA N S E A
St David’s Polo presents Surf and Turf
5 Bezzie mates Sometimes style has nothing to do with the clothes – just pure joyous, genuine laughter – how could you not love them?
It’s official, the sun will be out on August 8th 2009, and to celebrate the occasion St David’s Polo are presenting the first Beach Polo Day ever seen in Wales. Sun, sand, polo and glamour is the intoxicating mix for a fabulous cocktail called ‘fun’!
6 Are you sure this isn’t Glastonbury? Not a brolly in sight, yet these two are having the best time and looking confident and sassy sheltering under what looks like a Barbour! Like your style girls!
Two teams of professional high goal polo players will represent Wales and Spain and Chairman, Geoff Lloyd, has asked the Spanish team to bring their weather and the spirit of Fiesta to Swansea Bay.
Right I’d dye for that dress The lady third from the left certainly got it covered – cute, flirty tie dye frock that speaks volumes with no need to shout about it.
For details visit www.stdavidspolo.co.uk
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Suzanne Jaya is a freelance personal stylist, personal brand and image consultant based in Cardiff and works in and around South Wales and the West. She provides a complete style and image service for individuals and people in business to ensure that they create a positive and lasting impression. Suzanne writes, is a radio contributor and is a member of the Federation of Image Consultants. Suzanne Jaya 01443 229296 or 07833 780006 suzanne@suzannejaya.com www.suzannejaya.com
© Image courtesy of L’Oréal Professionnel
GAVIN ALEXANDER
For a fresh dynamic approach to your next hairstyle
SALON CARDIFF BAY Location location location Clients can treat themselves to the ultimate hairdressing experience at our unique location at Cardiff Bay’s Sovereign Quay, only 500 yards from St David’s Hotel. Parking couldn’t be simpler as there is a car park opposite the salon entrance.
Why do you think clients come to Gavin Alexander? I have built up very strong relationships with my clients, many of whom have been regulars for years and my client base has increased from my loyal clients passing on the good word, which is very nice. We are confident that we are experts in the art of hair colour and keep a keen eye on catwalk trends that help us to inspire looks and create ideas for the coming season. This is particularly important to us and our clientele. What do you believe sets you apart? We believe that the key to a successful consultation at Gavin Alexander is ensuring that our technicians look at and consider skin tone and eye colour, and advise on maintenance costs before a client commits to a colour choice. This, together with advice on the right shampoos and conditioners helps to keep the colour and style looking good for longer. Our new mood boards have proved a hit for the client who might be a bit apprehensive about a colour change.
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Given the salon’s enviable reputation, does that translate into expensive bills? Not at all. Our styling team are passionate about creating the right hairstyle for our clients with a price structure that’s affordable.
Please give us an idea of the tariff? A cut and finish for our female clients would typically cost from £34 and for our gentlemen, from £24. A half head foiling would cost from £43. So, you can see, an appointment at the salon won’t break the bank. Can we expect frequent promotions? Yes we regularly have weekly promotions with discounts of up to 20% off colour services and intensive conditioning treatments. This will change each month so it’s best to call to enquire about weekly special offers on 029 2047 3333 (excluding appointments with Gavin). Clients can also join us at our Soiree Evenings. Please check the website for more information Turn to page 41 for your chance to win a colour cut and blow dry with a senior Gavin Alexander stylist worth over £100! Gavin Alexander Salon Unit 3, Sovereign Quay, Havannah St, Cardiff Bay CF10 5SE 029 2047 3333
T
he last thing you’d expect anyone to do in a recession is to start a business, especially a building company but that’s exactly what John Smith and his business partner Danny Willis have done.
Tell us a little about yourself...
How many fights have you had in all?
I was born in St David’s hospital in October 1973. I’ve lived in Cardiff all my life and have two older brothers. My oldest brother Simon was a good rugby player when he was younger but he’s lazy now (laughs). No, seriously, he’s a hard worker. My other brother Antony was ABA Welterweight champion in 1995.
Twenty two as a junior, twenty six as a heavyweight senior and twenty two adult heavyweight IBA fights. In 2006 I became British and European Champion at IBA (Independent Boxing Association). I boxed for Wales as a senior heavyweight and captained Wales too. After that, I had to stop for a while after having an operation on my neck. I had a five hour operation where they put a titanium cage into my neck which kept me out of action for two years
So boxing runs in the family...
Yes, when we were teenagers, we used to hang around the streets and there was a gym nearby called Highfields ABC in Ely. A group of about thirteen of us started going there to train and after a few sessions we started sparring. Then the blood and tears kicked in and the following week we were down to four and my brother Antony and I were two of them.
What do you do when you’re not training?
I’ve run my own building company for several years and last year, I merged the business with a good friend of mine, Danny Willis. It was definitely the right thing to do as Danny had a contract cleaning company and we felt that the two businesses combined could offer a more complete service to both our existing clients. Now the new business, JSW Property Services can offer a wider range of building, cleaning and management services than before which opens up more opportunities.
That must have been very frustrating...
Yes it was. I was quite depressed not being able to do the thing I loved. I felt like I was in my prime so, while I needed the operation, I felt I had been deprived of my best years. It was the end of 2008 when I started back on the road to recovery.
So you caught the boxing bug...
Yes, within two years, I’d had twenty two schoolboy fights and won around seventeen or eighteen so I was doing okay. I won my first Welsh Junior ABA fight on my sixth fight and the second came in the following year.
Danny Willis and John Smith at Ocho Lounge, Penarth
Where do you train now?
I still train in Ely although it’s a different gym from Highfields. It’s called Ely Star Gym and it’s on the Grand Avenue in Ely. It’s run by Ronnie Rush who used to train Steve Robinson and Barry Jones. I train there three times a week. I also do a fair bit of roadwork (running) and I do a cardio/strength training with Neil Munn at Penarth ABC twice a week. That’s really old school training using the sledge hammer on a lorry tyre and high repetition weights which usually kills me off for the day!
I had a five hour operation where they put a titanium cage into my neck which kept me out of action for two years.
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TIMES
Boxing teaches you discipline and makes you resilient.
Training at Penarth ABC
John with the lads at Ely Star Gym
Circuit training with Neil Munn at Penarth ABC www.penarthboxing.com
Some would say starting a business like this during a recession is a bit of a risk...
We’re doing okay at the moment, the great thing about the new business is that if the building work drops off, the the cleaning and property maintenance and management takes up any slack. Do you think that your boxing background has helped you in business?
Without a doubt. Boxing teaches you discipline and makes you resilient. One thing you learn in boxing is to take the knocks. As Neil Munn says, you don’t go swimming and not expect to get wet. Boxing, like business, is full of highs and lows and you have to learn to grit your teeth and just push forward. It’s about being determined to win and any business is like that. You’re in competition. For example, when you’re in the tenth round and you look over at your opponent, he’s doing the same and your both wondering who’s got that little bit extra. Ali once said... “Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have lastminute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”
The building business is exactly the same. There’s lots of competion and some are very good, like us, but sometimes it comes down to personalities and Danny I are good working together. We bring out the best in each other and our staff. Glyn, our Contracts Manager, is a really good guy, he’s a bricklayer by trade and has been in the forces so is very disciplined in his approach. My brother Antony also works with me and I have to say, he’s one of the best brickies in the business. So what sort of clients do you have?
We do a lot of work for Cowlin. We were part of a team of contractors which won the award for Cowlin in Newport. We provide cleaning services for Dudley’s, a large national building company, and we’ve recently been working with Pizza Hut across south Wales and have won several responsive maintenance contracts. Are there any projects that you are especially proud of?
Well, last summer we did a large building project for Craig Bellamy, the captain of the Welsh football team. That really was an amazing job. ❧ 56 ❧
I knew Craig before the project through sport and he’s a fan of boxing too, so when he asked me to do the work for him I was delighted. Have you worked with any other sporting personalities?
Craig’s the only high profile sports person we’ve worked for but I know Enzo and Joe Calzaghe very well. I was in Vegas and New York to watch Joe fight Hopkins and Roy Jones Junior. What do you think of Joe Calzaghe as a fighter?
I think he’s outstanding and has been completely underestimated at certain times in his career. He’s beaten everyone they’ve thrown at him so that’s all that matters.
The infamous sledge and lorry tyre at Penarth ABC
We operate with integrity and always ensure that our customers get the very best from us.
On the pads with Mark at Ely Star Gym
Do you think Joe will fight again?
No, I think he still could but, for once, I believe a boxer’s head has won over his heart. Too many boxers fight for too long and, no matter how good you are, it’s hard on the body. Joe has probably got a few more fights in him and probably could have got to fifty unbeaten but I think he’s been very wise and hung up the gloves. Unfortunately, I don’t have Joe’s money in the bank and I’m one of those boxers that still thinks there’s a few more fights in me. We’ll see. So when’s your next fight?
Hopefully in August. I’m training well and really looking forward to it. It’ll either be in Cardiff or in London, we haven’t finalised the venue yet. You’re thirty five now, how long do you think you can carry on boxing?
I think, realistically, I’ve got another two or three years where I can be confident in giving my best but I have a family and it’s important to make sure that I don’t put myself in a situation where I might be hurt for their sake. I think Kelly, my long suffering partner, probably would like me to stop but she never says the words. She knows I love it and supports me by coming along to
fights. My son Joe is eleven and he’s into rugby and football and is quite sporty so he really likes the fact that I box but is always telling me I’m a bit old and should call it a day. My other children are younger so don’t really have an opinion either way. What are your aspirations for the future?
Workwise, Danny and I are really excited about the future. We don’t think about the recession, we have a good business and seem to be attracting really good customers. I think they like the way we do business. We operate with integrity and are always trying to ensure that our customers get the very best from us. Hopefully, we’ll expand and if that happens, then we’ll be very happy but we know we have to earn it. As far as the boxing goes, then I’ll be happy just having a few good tear ups over the next two years and maybe win my belt back. I love boxing. I feel I’ve had a little bad luck over the years with injuries but these things happen and boxing teaches you to suck it up and move on. Who knows, if I hadn’t had all those setbacks, just maybe I could have been a contender (laughs). ❧ 57 ❧
JSW Property Services Ynys Fach Yard ■ Construction ■ Ground Work Heol Y Ynys ■ Cleaning Taffs Well Services Cardiff CF15 7NT ■ Maintenance 029 2081 4419
Welcome to City Life magazine’s Social Life section, a veritable who’s who in and around Cardiff.
CITY
CIT Y CENTRE
BAFTA Cymru Awards Ceremony A great night was had by all at the 18th Annual BAFTA Cymru Awards Ceremony held at the Wales Millennium Centre. Welsh celebrities such as Ruth Jones and acclaimed actress, Margaret John picked up awards as did Sharon Morgan and Ifan Huw Dafydd. Not surprisingly BBC Cymru Wales’ popular sci-fi series, Doctor Who has scooped a total of four awards in the Production, Craft and Performance categories.
Alex Jones
The full list of this year’s winners can be found online at www.bafta-cymru.org.uk
Anna Ryder Richardson
Lucy & Jamie Owen
Matthew Rhys
Eve Miles
Gary Lineker & Danielle Bux
Ruth Jones
Russell T Davies
For exhibition and display solutions call
I T ’S YO U R C H A N C E TO R E A L LY S H I N E ❧ 58 ❧
0845 w w 130 w . 1508 c o mwww.commediaonline.co.uk mediaonline.co.uk
SOCIAL LIFE C A R D I F F C I T Y S TA D I U M
Gala Dinner in aid of NSPCC Cymru/Wales The best of Welsh football and rugby came out to support NSPCC Cymru/Wales’ Building Brighter Futures Appeal at a black tie gala dinner. 600 guests enjoyed entertainment BBC’s Last choir standing winners Only Men Aloud, comedian Milton Jones, dance troupe Debbie Chapman Dancers from ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent and West End performers, the RAT PACK. Hell’s Kitchen finalist, Danielle Bux, was also in attendance.
Milton Jones, Dr Olwen Williams OBE and Sir Stanley Thomas OBE
Only Men Aloud
Danielle Bux with Men Aloud
Sir Stanley Thomas OBE, Danielle Bux, Scott Thomas, Ceri Portelli, Gareth Edwards, Maureen Edwards, Jean Boyce, Max Boyce
To make a donation to the Building Brighter Futures Appeal please visit www.nspcc.org.uk/brighterfutures
L L A N DA F F
Kamigata Superwoman event Kamigata, the stylish salon in Llandaff was the venue for the June Superwoman event. Tickets were £25, of which £5 went to charity. The Superwoman events host 160 women and has so far raised £15,000 for charity.
For exhibition and display solutions call
YOU CAN BE THE STAR OF THE SHOW ❧ 59 ❧
0845 w w 130 w . 1508 c o mwww.commediaonline.co.uk mediaonline.co.uk
When only bespoke quality will do, Rathkey’s crafstmanship and service may be the right choice for you.
ONLY BESPOKE City Life spoke to owner Paul Rathkey to find out why customers choose him and what it is that makes Rathkey’s service so special.
Paul, what’s your role in Rathkey’s? I manage and organise a team of staff and ensure the safe and creative making of bespoke furniture to the client’s requirement. I meet clients at their premises and discuss in detail what their options are and put forward ideas. Where did you train? I went to Rycotewood College where I did a diploma in Furniture & Design.
“I was head hunted by David Linley Furniture.” The owner, of course, is Viscount Linley, the Queen’s nephew, and I worked there for the next ten years making bespoke fine furniture for some very rich and famous people. The furniture manufactured was fine inlay work and precise cabinet making! ❧ 60 ❧
Describe your typical day From the moment I arrive in work, at 8am most days, I begin answering phoncalls and ensuring that the boys all have enough work to keep themselves busy all day. I also have to ensure that all orders for materials are placed in plenty of time to ensure we have the correct stock and materials to complete the jobs we have. In between all of this I have to answer any telephone calls that are received during the day and help the boys with any technical problems that may occur and also visit clients. Do you see any trends developing? Recently, the call for contemporary furniture as opposed to traditional furniture has been in higher demand, working with more oak and walnut furniture. A large proportion of our work is for bespoke kitchens in natural timber or hand painted finishes.
“I am passionate about wood and making bespoke furniture. I get a sense of immense satisfaction when we create beautiful products.”
WILL DO Do you enjoy your job? I am passionate about wood and making bespoke furniture. I get a sense of immense satisfaction when we create beautiful products. I love the feel of the timber when the furniture is completed and enjoy seeing the faces of satisfied customers, many of whom have become firm friends. Who inspires you? My wife – she is my driving passion and supports me the most. What was your proudest moment? After the birth of my two beautiful children, Oliver and Lucy, it was making furniture for David Linley as the level of workmanship that had to be achieved was absolute perfection.
How do you get most of your work? We are pleased to say that we have had regular work and are very lucky that clients have highly recommended us to new potential customers, even allowing us to show clients their houses and the quality of work we produce. What do you do when you’re not creating beautiful furniture? We enjoy eating out and if we’re shopping on a Saturday afternoon in Cowbridge we’ll often pop into Bar 44 to relax with a refreshing drink and tapas food. I like to keep fit and enjoy running, swimming and cycling. What are your future plans? To continue to give an excellent service to our clients.
“I get a sense of immense satisfaction when we create beautiful products here at Rathkey’s.” ❧ 61 ❧
Rathkey’s Cabinet Makers of Distinction 29 The Woodlands, Llandow CF71 7PF 01446 772931 admin@rathkeys.co.uk www.rathkeys.co.uk
Hurst House on the Marsh is situated just outside Laugharne in South West Wales made famous by Dylan Thomas in his classic work Under Milk Wood. Fifteen minutes from Carmarthen’s mainline train station and a half hour drive from the coastal town of Tenby and the picturesque village of Narberth.
LOST IN LAUGHARNE After a particularly manic spring, I was feeling pretty exhausted, so my husband offered to take me for lunch ‘somewhere special.’ Little did I know, to make the experience an even more memorable one, he had booked a helicopter flight to take us there and back. To my joy, I learned that we were going to be staying at Hurst House on the Marsh in Laugharne, a Grade II listed hotel with eighteen sumptuous bedrooms and bijou spa. With the dining provided for by the talents of consultant chef Martin Blunos, who has two Michelin stars, we were in for a real treat! The day of our trip arrived and we made our way to meet Julian Verity, Director of Veritair, and our pilot Captain Phill Hall-Davis, who were to accompany us on the trip. Julian was a very affable, amenable gentleman who gave us a tour of the facilities of Veritair and told us all about the helicopter in which we were to travel, and (here’s the science bit) the very impressive seven seat (six passengers and pilot) Bell 407 made in Canada. It was the manufacturer’s latest model, with a top speed of 160mph and a range of 400 nautical miles. I could think of many reasons for travelling this way, including business or pleasure trips or even as a wedding charter! As neither of us had flown before, Julian ran through the instructions on how to alight and depart and made sure that we were strapped in and had our headgear on. The sensation of taking off was unusual to say the least and the feeling of flying in a helicopter was amazing, but the main highlight for me was the stunning view. We were able to see the landscape below with so much clarity that I commented on how many mini trampolines there were in gardens across the Vale - we decided that perhaps we should have been in the trampoline business! What struck me during the flight was that we really do live in a beautiful part of the country.
When you see things from the road, you often miss much of the detail around you and all the wonderful colours and forms of the landscape. Half an hour later, we had reached our destination and the landing was just as graceful as the takeoff. We alighted and made our way into the hotel where we were welcomed by the General Manager who gave us a whistlestop tour of the hotel. We had a quick peek at the newly built spa with pool, spa bath, gym, three treatment rooms offering a selection of Elemental Herbology products and a tranquil relaxation space. The bedrooms are all individually designed with an eclectic mix of lovely antique furniture and high tech comfort, including media centres, Roberts radios and large bathrooms with REN products and huge Frette linened beds - pure indulgence!
The quirky mix of furniture continued throughout the hotel and as we sat in the lounge perusing the lunch menu, it was delightful to see a family with their children and dogs looking so relaxed and obviously enjoying their stay. There’s nothing worse than a hotel where you can’t feel like you can kick off your shoes and relax.
“With the dining provided for by the talents of consultant chef Martin Blunos, who has two Michelin stars, we were in for a real treat!” ❧ 62 ❧
“A Grade II listed hotel with eighteen sumptuous bedrooms and bijou spa.”
We were sat for lunch in the hotel’s restaurant which overlooked a large working kitchen garden, the fruits of which feature in their seasonal menus. The area was glass fronted and punctuated by olive trees. I could easily imagine a wedding party in this environment, of which the hotel hosts many throughout the year, as well as meetings, conferences and general family events. Hurst House even boasts a cookery school. The owner mentioned that they recently hosted a wedding function where, after the wedding breakfast, the bride and groom and guests enjoyed the rest of the day on the beautiful beach only a stones throw away. Our lunch consisted of baked asparagus wrapped in prosciutto with Hollandaise sauce to start, followed by roasted rump of lamb with creamed carrot and caraway. Then, came one of the Chef’s speciality dishes of ‘boiled eggs and soldiers’. Not the conventional type, of course, this was a sorbet served in an egg shell with cake soldiers and sugar
and chocolate granules (salt and pepper) served on the side. True theatre! Our dessert was mango crème brûlée with cardamom cow. Over coffees and home-made truffles the owner explained to us that the next phase of the development plan will include luxury lodges set in aces of marshland as well as a recording studio, perfect for the many musicians and artists who flock to Hurst House for its privacy, discreet service and inspiring, secluded surroundings. Our experience concluded with the helicopter ride home which was just as amazing as our flight down as due to low cloud, we had to hug the coastline for the return journey - a real joy! Would I want to do this again? Definitely! The helicopter trip was a real experience of a lifetime and Hurst House is a beautiful hotel in a very special part of the country. If flying is not for you, then you can drive there from Cardiff in roughly ninety minutes and I thoroughly recommend you do. ❧ 63 ❧
Hurst House East Marsh, Laugharne Carmarthenshire SA33 4RS 01994 427417 reception@hurst-house.co.uk www.hurst-house.co.uk
Veritair Ltd Cardiff Heliport Foreshore Road Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF10 4LZ 029 2046 5880 catherine@veritair.com www.veritair.com
THE MANY FACES OF... Regular City Life readers may recall the profile of Pontcanna artist Steve Alport. At the time Steve had enthused about a young artist called Nick Lord who happened to be a friend of his son and after seeing some samples of his work we decided to invite Nick to tell us some more about himself. What’s your background, Nick? I was born in Cardiff at Saint Davids Hospital in 1988. I’m currently studying a Fine Art degree at Kingston University, London and have just finished my first year there. Please tell us about your art I’m interested in creating and producing visually stimulating and aesthetically pleasing imagery and investigating new and exciting ways of working. I’m particularly involved with painting I find it such an exhilarating process and activity. The sense of freedom and capacity to change and alter an image with a single brush stroke is the ultimate thrill. I aim to create images that show structure, form and a sense of perspective. The content and subject of my work is an important component in the development of my skills as an artist. It is vital for me to vary my subject matter in order to improve and enhance my artistic awareness. My work is often
very figurative and is of an expressive nature. I concentrate on developing my own personal techniques and style, helping me to evolve as an artist. I’m greatly influenced by a wide range of artists such as Conor Harrington, Jenny Saville, Lucien Freud, David Tress and Jonathan Yeo. Have you a lifelong ambition? I’ve many goals that I’d love to fulfil, but the main one is to be able to earn a good living selling my artwork.
“I’d love the opportunity to have solo shows in prestigious galleries, around the world!” What do you do to relax? I like to have a nice cold beer after a hard days work, preferably a bottle of Bud. It’s such a great feeling - the cold, burning sensation is mighty fine! I also enjoy rock climbing, especially bouldering, the sense of freedom whilst working a route is so relaxing yet so strenuous all at the same time. I listen to a lot of hip hop and funk and recently purchased some Bose speakers which has made listening to music even more enjoyable! ❧ 64 ❧
What’s your work ethic? Quite simply, ‘you get out what you put in’, i.e. the more effort you put into something, the greater the reward. I’m constantly pushing myself to create work that satisfies me. What do you like about Cardiff? I love the location of Cardiff. I love the easy access to the surrounding areas, such as the Brecon Beacons, and the Gower which allow me to escape the hustle and bustle of the city without travelling too far. I also have many friends in Cardiff which makes living here a good social environment. I love the fact that it’s the capital of Wales and I have a real sense of pride that comes with living here. What’s the most memorable thing to happen to you? For some strange reason the one that sticks out at the moment is an accident that happened to me when I was six! Completely un-art related, I was playing in our front room and slipped and fell on a wine glass. The wine glass penetrated my ankle and made a deep cut. I had to have several stitches and a cast. It wasn’t an ideal start to my weekend, but at the end of it I had a cool scar which is still visible today and, even better, a week off school!
NICK LORD What’s your most challenging painting to date? During my foundation at Glamorgan College of Art and Design Technology, my first attempt of a life study colour painting. It was extremely hard to get the right colours and tones. I had decided to make the leap from black and white painting to colour and it was like being transported into a new world.
“I remember sitting for two weeks’ worth of one on one session to get the painting done. It really was such a frustrating time!” The painting just didn’t seem to want to behave or work how I intended it to. I think I ended up leaving it undone as a ‘future’ project. It’s now somewhere in my garage gathering dust!
I love... Being outside, especially when the sun is shining and, in contrast, listening to the rain on the roof whilst in bed. My favourite meal is… Hmm, Toad in the Hole is always good, with homemade chips, peas and tomatoes with a bit of ketchup, it’s always a winning combination! Homemade beef casserole with mash, cabbage, Yorkshire puddings and crispy roast potatoes. Chinese, omelettes, salad, sandwiches, homemade lasagne, pizza, cheesecakes... I have a lot of favourite meals! My favourite drink is… Ice cold coke is a good thirst quencher, so is cream soda. And a cold Budweiser on a hot summer’s day. Hot chocolate when it’s cold outside. I’m currently listening to… Showbiz and A G Runaway Slave, it’s a very good album. I’m watching… South Pacific series, on BBC.
I’m very good at… Motivating myself
If I could change anything… I don’t know what I would change!
I’m very bad at… Essay writing
Three words that describe me are… Creative, friendly, ambitious. ❧ 65 ❧
Nick Lord 07868 486 500 nicholasjrlord@hotmail.co.uk Nick is happy to accept commissions individuals and corporate clients
THE LAST WORD City Life talks to Geoff Lloyd, Chairman of St David’s Polo at one of his favourite haunts, the recently refurbished Cameo Club in Pontcanna, where Geoff was preparing for his next event, The Beach Polo at Swansea Bay. Geoff, what do you do? I am Chairman and chief bottle washer of the St David’s Polo Club What do you like about Cardiff? Everything! It’s my kind of town. Where is your favourite dining experience? Other people’s houses, but it doesn't happen very often! What’s your favourite meal? Anything that complements a good bottle of wine. Favourite place in the City? My place and the Cameo Club.
“I am Chairman and chief bottle washer of the St David’s Polo Club.”
Best event in the City? Polo and Beaujolais Day. What’s missing from the City? Nothing, its perfect. Favourite place to stay in Wales? Cardiff. What do you do to relax? Drink and smoke a good Cuban cigar. Do you have a pet hate? Speed cameras and traffic wardens. Favourite music? Piano Jazz. Most memorable event? Playing Polo on No 1 Ground at The Guards Polo Club.
Geoff Lloyd St David’s Polo Club 34 Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9LE
Sum yourself up in three words One word will do... fabulous!
029 2066 6091 geoff@stdavidspolo.co.uk www.stdavidspolo.co.uk
What gadget do you most need? Corkscrew. Any lifelong ambition? To make a difference.
The images on this page are from the recent St David’s Polo at Glanusk.
I’m good at... Delegation.
For more information about St David’s Polo and future events please visit their website.
I’m very bad at... Lying. ❧ 66 ❧
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The Jewellery Studio, 237 Cathedral Road, Cardiff Telephone: 029 2022 1144 | Email: enquiries@jewellerystudio.co.uk www.jewellerystudio.co.uk