City Life Winter 2008

CITY L IFE AUTUMN ❧ WINTER 2008 FREE

P R O U D

TH E CI T Y

OF

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I N D E P E N D E N T

C A R D I F F ’S P R E M I E R L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E

DECK THE HALLS GORGEOUS INTERIORS, FABULOUS FLOORS AND FIREPLACES COOL KITCHENS PLUS GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS RESTAURANT REVIEWS, WHAT’S ON, BUSINESS, SHOPPING

THERE’S

MORE ONLINE

CITYLIFECARDIFF . CO . UK

ART, BOOKS, STYLE, HOMES, COMPETITIONS AND MORE PLUS

Roger Williams The Jewellery Studio

T I M E

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W I T H

VA B E N E

M I L A N

spectacular italian watches

Roger Williams, The Jewellery Studio, 237 Cathedral Road, Cardiff Telephone: 029 2022 1144 | www.jewellerystudio.co.uk

WELCOME

With the Summer definitely over and best forgotten, we can all start to look forward to what is my favourite season, Winter.

If you have got some cash to spare, then there’s no better time to support your local businesses. It’s going to be a tough time ahead so please try to support the good ones when you can...

It’s time to put on thick black tights, boots and snuggly woollies and head off to one of our lovely local parks or coastal paths for a refreshing walk with the family.

This is one of our favourite pastimes and, even better, in this current climate, it’s free!

For us girls, the shops are full of such gorgeous jewel coloured clothes, shoes and bags... it would be cruel not to buy them. For the guys, this is the time of the year when the shops are stocked full of the latest gadgets. Even if you’re a trainee shopaholic like me, finding those perfect Christmas gifts for the ones you love can have you tearing your hair out and leave you exhausted.

But let us ease your pain. Inside this issue you’ll find some great ideas from some of the best shops in Cardiff.

Listmaking has never been so easy.

IN THIS ISSUE A ROUND M USIC

C ITY –

THE

B OOKS –

AND

REVIEWS OF THE LATEST

K EEPING T IME – BBC N ATIONAL O RCHESTRA T HE K EY T O R ELAXATION –

M AKING A H OUSE A H OME – T OTALLY F LOORED –

J EWELS I N T HE C ROWN – D AISY D OODLING – E XPOSURE –

W HAT ’ S O N – H AMPTONS T HE E VE A PPEAL –

OF

IS PROUD TO BE INDEPENDENT

❧ 0845 180 2345

❧ COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN PHILLIPS, PORTHCAWL. INTERIOR DESIGN BY ANDY BRADSHAW, HAMPTONS. MODELS MIA AND THEO BROWN WHOSE DAD OWNS MOBALPA KITCHENS WWW.CARDIFF.MOBALPA.COM

IN

FOR THE DISCERNING

J EWELS

OF

C ARDIFF

M ARTIN P HILLIPS

20 22 24 28 30 31 32

SEASONAL HORTICULTURE

33 34

MARVELLOUS MAKEOVERS , GORGEOUS GIFTS AND JEWELLERY

36

CELEBRATE

AND

C HRISTMAS

WITH

C ITY B USINESS –

W IN , W IN , W IN

A ROUND UP OF BUSINESS NEWS IN AND AROUND

P URPLE – G LEN N EWMAN TALENTED

F OREVER V INTAGE – B ACK –

C ARDIFF

( WELL ,

C ARDIFF

44 46

S TEVE A LPORT

48

T HE P ARADE S PECIALIST D ENTAL C ENTRE

H OME

IN

C ITY L IFE –

T HE L AST W ORD – J ON F IELD

OF

C ARDIFF

54 56 60

SELL YOUR PROPERTY WITH US

U NITY T RUST B ANK

52

58

HOTTEST EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS CLUB

A VERITABLE WHO ’ S WHO IN

40 42

MENS FASHION TO SHAKE AND STIR YOU THIS SEASON

C ITY S OCIAL L IFE –

38

SOME OF THE WAY !)

ON BEST VALUE MOTORING

ARTIST

OF

ALL THE WAY

SOMETHING OLD , SOMETHING NEW , SOMETHING BORROWED

C LUB C LASS – P ONTCANNA ’ S YOUR

E NER - CHI

WE DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY BUSINESS

IT ’ S

S HOWCASE

14 16

26

IS ON THE CARDS

C OMPETITIONS –

IS

12

E GERTON G REY

M OVING S TORY –

S TYLE

P ENARTH

THEM EAT CAKE !

R ETURN O F T HE P AMPER H AMPER –

TO

F LORIDA

C ERAMIC T ILE W AREHOUSE

R ESTAURANT R EVIEWS – L A P LIE , M ULBERRY S TREET C ITY S TYLE –

IN

P ENARTH

F LOWERS I N T HE S NOW – C LIVE S ULLIVAN ’ S

E XPOSURE –

AND

S ARASOTA

RAISING AWARENESS OF OVARIAN CANCER

I N S AFE H ANDS – M IKE P AGE

CARDIFF

E LLIE T HOMAS

AWARD - WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER

The gorgeous dress I’m wearing pictured above is by Missoni and is available from Terminal 9 in Cowbridge.

AND PRODUCED IN

10

SHARE THEIR NEW KITCHEN WITH US

SOFT FURNISHINGS WITH

SUCCESS FOR

8

AND BOOKS

T HE O LD V ICARAGE

THE FINEST SELECTION WITH

Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts Editor jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk

IS WRITTEN, DESIGNED

RENOVATING

6

W ALES

OF

H OME I S W HERE T HE H EARTH I S – E XCLUSIVE F IREPLACES

T ALK

CITY LIFE

CD

C ARDIFF

DISCOVER THE DELIGHTS OF

R OOM F OR L IVING – M R & M RS W ITHNALL

I CING W ORKS – L ET There’s a lot going on leading up to Christmas with various events across the city, so get your winter warmers on and, who knows, you might make some new friends and catch up with some old ones. We’re probably all guilty of letting friendships lapse and, after all, this is the time of year for being a little kinder to each other.

NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND

64 66

Forever Vintage page 54

C ITY L IFE

WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE

WHO HAS SUPPORTED US OVER RECENT MONTHS .

O UR CONTRIBUTORS , OUR FAMILIES , OUR FRIENDS ( INCLUDING ALL THE NEW ONES WE HAVE MADE ) AND OUR ADVERTISERS - WITHOUT THEM C ITY L IFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE . W E HOPE YOU LIKE WHAT WE ’ VE PRODUCED AND WE ’ LL TRY TO MAKE EACH ISSUE EVEN BETTER THAN THE LAST AND IF YOU HAVE A STORY THAT YOU ’ D LIKE TO SHARE , PLEASE GET IN TOUCH BY 0845 180 2345 OR EMAIL US !

CALLING

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

CITY L IFE AUTUMN ❧ WINTER 2008

P R O U D

GIFTS OF TIME AND LOVE ARE SURELY THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF A TRULY MERRY CHRISTMAS PEG BRACKEN

TH E CI T Y

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FREE

I N D E P E N D E N T

C A R D I F F ’S P R E M I E R L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E

CITY L IFE ALL ENQUIRIES 0845 180 2345

DECK THE HALLS

AUTUMN WINTER 2008 FREE

GORGEOUS INTERIORS, FABULOUS FLOORS AND FIREPLACES COOL KITCHENS PLUS GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS RESTAURANT REVIEWS, WHAT’S ON, BUSINESS, SHOPPING

THERE’S

MORE ONLINE

CITYLIFECARDIFF . CO . UK

ART, BOOKS, STYLE, HEALTH, HOMES AND MUCH MORE PLUS

W H AT W E L OV E D ABOUT CARDIFF THIS SEASON T H E L E AV E S C H A N G I N G C O L O U R CARDIFF PARKS A proper Autumn after a lousy summer ON THE RUN M 4 J U N C T I O N 3 3 P E T R O L S TAT I O N Great staff, great service with a smile C A F É B R AVA PONTCANNA Good food. Good coffee. Good art

Editor JENNIFER HOBBS-ROBERTS jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧ Web Editor RICHARD BENNEWITH rich@commediaonline.co.uk ❧

Creative Director MARK ROBERTS mark@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧ Artwork PA U L S E S S I O N S studio@commediaonline.co.uk ❧

Written submissions PLEASE NOTE All contributions to City Life are the opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of the publishers.

We cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. ❧

Photography ❧ MARK ROBERTS mark@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧ JENNIFER HOBBS-ROBERTS jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧

Email contacts ❧ A DV E R T I S I N G jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧ EDITORIAL jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧ STUDIO studio@citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧

Contact us ❧ WRITE TO City Life Cardiff House Cardiff Road CF63 2AW ❧ PHONE 0845 180 2345 ❧

VISIT www.citylifecardiff.co.uk ❧

M&S STORES AROUND CARDIFF It’s all about putting the customer first W Y E VA L E G A R D E N C E N T R E CASTLETON Super clean store and very helpful staff JUNO LOUNGE WELLFIELD ROAD Pop in, chill out… tell them we sent you S TA P L E S C A R D I F F B AY Could they be more helpful… I doubt it FORBIDDEN PLANET DUKE STREET Comics, movies, posters, books and more WA I T R O S E PONTPRENNAU A relaxed shopping experience PERCUSSION HOUSE WHITCHURCH ROAD Go on… bang the drum!

ENER-CHI RADYR Book yourself a massage – you deserve it CAMEO CLUB PONTCANNA The makeover makes a good club great S T R AT S T O N E A S T O N M A R T I N NORTH ROAD I’ll just nip to the cashpoint THE SCOTT ROOM R O YA L H O T E L , S T M A R Y S T R E E T What a great room for a party!

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. ❧ SMALL(ISH) PRINT © Copyright City Life 2008. 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.

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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 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. ❧ MISSED THE LAST ISSUE? We hold a small number of each issue in stock so if you do need a pristine copy, please email jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk or telephone us.

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 is distributed free through a wide variety of outlets across 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!

Roger Williams The Jewellery Studio

D A R E

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s p e c ta c u l a r

o va l

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d i a m o n d s

s e t

i n

p l at i n u m

Wa l e s ’ N u m b e r O n e D i a m o n d S u p p l i e r Roger Williams, The Jewellery Studio, 237 Cathedral Road, Cardiff Telephone: 029 2022 1144 | www.jewellerystudio.co.uk | www.diamondswales.com

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

Four internationally renowned artists have unveiled a series of limited edition prints in aid of Chapter Arts Centre, one of Europe’s most dynamic arts centres.

Super Furry Animals and Magic Numbers album cover artist Pete Fowler and Oscar- nominated animator Joanna Quinn along with James Aldridge and Heather and Ivan Morison have donated an edition of original prints to be sold in support of the redevelopment project.

Each print will be part of a limited edition of 100, signed and numbered by the artist with each one costing £100.

The sale of the prints is the latest fundraising initiative to help Chapter raise funds for its £3.8 million redevelopment programme which it is currently undergoing.

RUMNEY

Anglers land heavyweights at Lamby Lake Lamby Lake in Rumney is proving itself to be a fantastic place to fish.

Already rated by many anglers as one of Wales’ most exceptional coarse fisheries, the management aren’t resting on their laurels and are working hard to make it the best by introducing more fishfriendly aquatic plants, stocking more fish and controlling weed and vegetation growth.

Hannah Firth, Chapter’s head of visual arts, said, “I’m really delighted that four of the UK’s leading artists have given so generously to our redevelopment. The four limited edition prints give supporters the chance to own both a unique piece of art and to invest in Chapter’s future.

All of our artists have a long history of involvement with us. I was overwhelmed with their enthusiasm for the project and their willingness to come aboard, which is a real reflection on the positive experiences they’ve had here. As well as helping Chapter, buyers will also be making a really good investment for themselves and in work of the artists involved.”

Chapter Market Road, Canton, Cardiff CF5 1QE 029 2030 4400 www.chapter.org

Recently the lake has produced some amazing catches by anglers including Gary Marshal who landed no fewer than twelve carp to 23lb in a 24 hour session. Six of these were over 20lb landing a 21lb, 21.4lb, 21.8lb 21.12lb 22.4lb and a 23.6lb common. He also had another four carp from17lb to 19lb!

Amazingly, there have been a lot of other 20lb carp caught from Lamby Lake recently. A 22lb common carp was caught off the top by one of the lake’s bailiffs Ross Partridge. A lovely round mirror carp called Apple at over 20lb was landed by a day ticket fisherman. Another day ticket angler landed a 24lb common carp in a short morning session and some of the bigger carp have been putting in an appearance recently. Tom Barlow caught Frodo, a stunning scale perfect common carp at 28.8lb. The fish was caught on his own baits, BM Baits (see photo left).

Richard Bennewith said, “We are delighted with the progress at Lamby.

As well as these fish, another ten young mirror carp weighing around 25lb are to be introduced to the lake over the next few months. It’s an exciting time.”

For more information visit www.lambylake.com or phone 07878 831048

❧ 6 ❧

Mabinogism - Pete Fowler

Leading artists aid arts centre

The redevelopment will make the centre more accessible to visitors and improve and build on the facilities that are already in place.

Dreams and Desires - Joanna Quinn

CARDIFF

CARDIFF

Season’s greetings from St Davids Polo Club

Tournament Director, Geoff Lloyd, of the St Davids Polo Club would like to wish all readers of City Life a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

For more information on the St Davids Polo Club, to book tickets for next year, or information on the Christmas Party, visit www.stdavidspolo.co.uk Cartoon supplied by Kateart, a regular contributor to the Polo Times

CARDIFF

COWBRIDGE

Help put a lifesaver in every home

Martin Phillips on Vale Life cover shoot

Fifteen-year-old Gareth Farrow from Aberystwyth, was out kayaking with his friend Joe, who became trapped on a rock in the middle of a weir. Water began pouring into Joe’s boat and he could not free himself.

Another season, another challenge.

At least the weather was not going to play its wicked hand in this one.

The original ideas were thrashed out and my long standing wish to shoot a Marie Antoinette style tea party was finally realised.

Gareth performed underwater rescue breaths to keep his friend alive until he eventually managed to pull Joe free.

It wasn’t just quick thinking and the ability to stay calm that turned Gareth into a lifesaver. He knew what to do because he had recently been trained in first aid by St John Cymru Wales.

We believe that training young people is the best way to ensure there is always first aid for people in need.

All I had to do was recreate a (slightly decadent) party in a hairdressing salon!

With the invaluable help of Andy at Hamptons and his remarkable store of props, the scene was set. Our handpicked models, the great hairstyles by Leigharne and her team at The Hair Business and the stunning range of clothes from Terminal 9 were to be an important part of this great set. I still wanted my trademark 3D look, but in a very limited space with lots of potential for difficult shadows and reflections.

A gift in your Will can help to: ■ Train more individuals in first aid ■ Attend more community events ■ Provide more personal development programmes for young people St John Cymru Wales Priory House, Beignon Close Ocean Way, Cardiff CF24 5PB www.stjohnwales.org.uk

CARDIFF

Local art group drawn to the garden Wednesday 1st October saw the opening by Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards of Cardiff Drawing Group’s ‘Drawn to the Garden’ exhibition at Cowbridge Old Hall.

This event, which displays drawings inspired by a recent group visit to the new Physic Garden, was a great success, with around fifty guests in attendance.

After an introduction by Dan Clayton Jones, Chair of the Physic Garden Trust, Captain Sir Lloyd-Edwards gave an entertaining and witty opening address in which he complimented the Group for displaying an interesting variety of techniques, approaches and ways of expressing themselves. He said that he was really pleased to be asked to open the exhibition as he had a great interest in art, and described the images on display as focussed, saying that in this kind of drawing there was little room for error.

Fascinated by the fine nature of the work particularly those executed in pen and ink, he commented that there was loads of imagination on display.

‘young Richard Gere’ with the lightrope. Finally, the challenge met, the tired but elated crew packed away. We had enjoyed another long day proving once more that there is a lot of terrific homegrown talent in the Vale.

More of Martin’s work can be seen in our Exposure feature on page 28.

To view the images Martin talks about in this article please pick up a copy of Vale Life or visit www.valelife.co.uk

VALE LIFE AUTUMN ❧ WINTER 2008 FREE

P R O U D

T H E VA L E

There were going to be problems with mirrors, and spotlights were everywhere - it is a hair salon!

However, I found just enough time to nail the look as Miss Wales balanced the crown (yes, it is very heavy and difficult to keep on her beautiful head) and while I waited for Andy to tie up our

He applauded this exhibition as creating opportunities for the exchange of ideas and techniques. The display of drawings left him with a concept of the Physic Garden as an oasis of peace and quiet where people can freely go to refresh themselves. He offered the Drawing Group a first class ‘Hooray!’ for choosing to make the Physic Garden the theme of their exhibition, and expressed a hope that they would continue to have pleasure in drawing and exhibiting their work in the future.

Responding, Roger Fickling organiser for the Drawing Group, thanked Captain Sir Lloyd-Edwards and all those who had worked to support the project and expressed the group’s admiration for the Physic Garden. The members of the group had thoroughly enjoyed the project, and, as he said, all kinds of things come from drawings.

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G L A M O R G A N ’S P R E M I E R L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E

FASHIONABLY FESTIVE THE HAIR BUSINESS, TERMINAL 9 AND GIORGIO’S PLUS LUSH LINGERIE & GREAT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IDEAS RESTAURANT REVIEWS, WHAT’S ON, BUSINESS, SHOPPING

THERE’S MORE ONLINE WWW . VALELIFE . CO . UK

PLUS A RT , B OOKS , S TYLE , HEALTH, HOMES AND MUCH MORE

Perhaps the exhibition could best be summed up by the visitor book entry of one individual – “I wish I could make marks on paper that could be so admirable”.

Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards will be well known to many as the Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan for some seventeen years until 2008, and also as Lord Mayor of Cardiff.

The Cardiff Drawing Group is an informal network of artists who love to draw. The group began in 2002 on the initiative of Chris Glynne, now Head of Illustration at UWIC.They are always on the lookout for opportunities to investigate, create and exhibit.

For more information visit www.cardiffdrawinggroup.co.uk

Roger Fickling, Dan Clayton Jones, and Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards

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OF

MUSIC This issue’s music selection has been reviewed by Francis Brown of www.newsoundwales.co.uk.

New Sound Wales’ website will keep you up to date with everything you need to know if you live in Wales and are passionate about music.

Their aim is to: ■ Keep you up to date with new bands

B O B DY L A N

GLASVEGAS

Tell Tale Signs

Glasvegas

A must for the Dylan collector comprising live tracks, alternative/unreleased studio recordings.

The standout tracks are the majestic ‘Red River Shore’ and ‘Dreamin’ of You’ with the alternative ‘Most of the time’ already sounding like a lost Dylan classic.

As if Phil Spector had produced the Jesus & Mary Chain with lyrical help from Irvine Welsh. This is bleak and dark but sounds fantastic. Not an easy listen, but it is destined to be a future classic.

City Life recommended ★★★★★

F R I E N D LY F I R E S

LY K K I L I

Friendly Fires

Youth Novels

Debut CD influenced by The Rapture/DFA and at times perilously close to Talking Heads.

Promising, but sounds like a band trying too hard. Standout tracks ‘Paris’ & ‘Jump in the Pool’ are full of great hooks and definitely Radio (6) friendly.

Upbeat, catchy and refreshingly original right on the money. Her strong Swedish accent may not be to everyone’s taste but I found it ultimately endearing.

The CD is good value with 14 tracks.

On the whole me Lykki.

E I RY PA L F R E Y

GRAHAM HOWELLS

Llyfr Pen-blwydd Birthday Book

Merlin’s Magical Creatures

Never forget a birthday again! A handy, bilingual, attractive looking book to record the birthdays of family and friends, with in-depth profiles of each star sign by astrologer Eiry Palfrey.

A stunning guide to the magical world of Merlin the Wizard. This lavishly illustrated handbook, detailing the many magical creatures of the wizard’s world is sure to delight Merlin watchers everywhere.

SIMON WRIGHT

R AY G R AV E L L

The Wright Taste

Grav in his Own Words

Former AA Restaurant Guide editor Simon Wright journeys into the unfamiliar territory of livestock farmer, in order to trace the passage of his award-winning restaurant’s meat from field to fork. This book accompanies the BBC Wales TV series The Wright Taste.

Autobiography of the late Ray Gravell, muchmissed rugby legend and charismatic broadcaster.

Started by Ray before he sadly passed away, and completed by his good friend Alun Wyn Bevan, a percentage from this book will be donated to the Ray Gravell & Friends Charitable Trust.

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.

If you like acoustic, folk and alternative music, www.newsoundwales.co.uk 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.

BOOKS GOMER PRESS COMPETITION

Win all of the Gomer books reviewed here Here’s your chance to win seven books from Gomer (does not include Nicole Cooke or Brian Lee’s books). To enter the competition just answer the question and send your entry to City Life by 31st December 2008. Alternatively email your entry to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk

✃

Q

What decade does Coal House Diary cover?

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.

❧ 8 ❧

SWEET BABOO

THE PETH

L A DY H AW K E

Mighty Baboo

Golden Mile

Ladyhawke

This should see Sweet Baboo become a major player in the Welsh musical landscape. With self-deprecating charm, a distinctive voice and great melodies he draws you in and makes you listen intently. He is childlike, but never childish. Welsh CD of 2008?

This could have been a disaster.

However, it is a great collection of songs with excellent production.

Rhys Ifans isn’t the best singer in the world, but he is a fantastic actor and plays the part of a rock star to perfection.

Debut CD from New Zealands indie pop sensation. More hooks than a fishing tackle shop - this is faultless. ‘Dusk till Dawn’ and ‘Paris is Burning’ deserved to be the soundtrack to the Summer.

Definitely one to watch for 2009.

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM

THE ALIENS

EUGENE McGUINNESS

The 59 Sound

Luna

Eugene McGuinness

This American punk rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey is tipped to break through this year in the UK and if you like your music Springsteenesque with a dash of Tom Petty then this is for you.

There is not a bad track on the album!

This is a disappointment. Its one thing being ‘inspired’ by your heroes (Brian Wilson, Pink Floyd etc) but at times they sound more like a tribute band.

The Aliens need to find their own voice to become truly great.

Being marketed as his debut release despite last year’s promising ‘Early Learnings’ CD, Eugene McGuinness is definitely a major talent in the making. Classic British indie music in the tradition of Blur. Definitely one to see at this year’s SWN Festival in November.

CHRIS S. STEPHENS

TONY COTTEY

GWEN CART WRIGHT

A Christmas Collection from Wales

There’s Only Two Tony Cotteys

Coal House Diary

The perfect festive gift! A sumptuous collection celebrating Christmas traditions in Wales in all their glory. The compilation of poetry and prose with luxurious artwork and photography brings Christmas to life.

A funny and insightful account of Tony Cottey’s long and successful career as a professional sportsman, both on the football and cricket pitches.

NICOLE COOKE

BRIAN LEE

Cycle for Life

Changing Face of Cardiff

Commuting, racing or riding with friends, cycling offers a cheap, fast and environmentally friendly means of getting around that is not only the perfect recreational activity but has fantastic health benefits.

This book deals entirely with places rather than faces. For the first time ever the author uses colour images as well as black and white ones to depict the ever-changing capital city of Wales.

Brian’s many readers will welcome this addition to their bookshelves. Published by Breedon Books.

❧ 9 ❧

Not many people get the opportunity to travel back in time. But that’s exactly what happened to Gwen Cartwright and her family when they took part in ‘Coal House’, the BBC’s living history TV series.

Gwen recorded her daily life over three weeks as her family left behind all modern-day luxuries for a basic miner’s cottage, as they participated in the series. By turning the pages of Coal House Diary, we glimpse at life in a nineteen-twenties mining community through the eyes of a child. With a routine of housework for the women, hardwork down the mine for the men and school for the children, Gwen’s diary records many a highlight and lowlight of daily life.

Gwen lives in Sully, Penarth and is a pupil at Howells School, Cardiff.

BBC National Orchestra of Wales is well known for performing a busy schedule of concerts across Wales and for its performances on BBC radio.

But if you think that’s all there is to it, think again!

KEEPING BBC National Orchestra of Wales can be heard regularly on television as it records the soundtracks for the famous Doctor Who and Torchwood series produced by BBC Wales.

The Orchestra can also be heard performing throughout Wales, at the BBC Proms in London and at the Welsh Proms in Cardiff.

In addition to this hectic timetable of concerts and recordings, the Orchestra is busy working to extend its reach beyond the concert hall as Suzanne Hay, Education and Community Manager explains, “There really is nothing quite like live music. We take the Orchestra into schools, workplaces and communities to help people of all ages and abilities to enjoy live music at its best. Our aim is to make music for everyone as well as inspiring people to try something new or even perform themselves. At our concerts young audience members can find out more

about the music through specially designed family programme notes which help to break down barriers and enable young people to understand the music they are hearing.

Secondary schools from across Wales can apply for free tickets for GCSE and A-Level pupils for BBC National Orchestra of Wales concerts and through our work experience programme, music students are able to find out what goes on behind the scenes at a professional symphony orchestra. Our programme also offers workshops to help develop singing in primary schools and includes an annual project resulting in more than 250 young singers performing at the BBC Wales Carol Concert.

“There really is nothing quite like live music.” ❧ 10 ❧

As well as trying to reach a wide range of people through music, we support and nurture talented young composers, conductors and performers from music colleges and universities. We also have a close relationship with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. At the heart of our work this autumn will be a series of music workshops and concerts specially devised for pupils attending special schools and special units.

These events will introduce the sounds of the Orchestra as well as offering the opportunity for the children to join in.

Conductor Grant Llewellyn at a Schools Concert - photo Brian Tarr

TIME!

We move in to our new home BBC Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre in January, where one of our new facilities will be the multi-function Grace Williams Studio. This will enable us to extend our programme of activity to reach out even further and connect with a wider and diverse audience across Wales.

Activities during 2009 include composition sessions focusing on Welsh composers, singing workshops for choirs as well as new collaborations with other resident organisations at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Building on the success of previous family concerts including the Doctor Who Celebration and our Halloween Spooktacular, we are planning a special Songs from the Shows family concert to take place in February 2009 at St David’s Hall, where we are Orchestra in Residence.

Everyone is encouraged to get involved in our outreach programme and by introducing music to young people at an early age, we hope that they will go on to learn a musical instrument or come and enjoy our concerts in the future. Music is for us all to love.”

If you would like to find out more about the Education and Community Outreach Department of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, contact the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Audience Line on 0800 052 1812 or email now@bbc.co.uk

DAT E F O R YO U R D I A RY

Songs from the Shows Family Concert Friday 20 February 2009, 7pm St David’s Hall, Cardiff Tickets £8 (£5) Family Tickets also available

HOW TO BOOK Tickets can be purchased via the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Audience Line on 0800 052 1812 www.bbc.co.uk/now

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BBC Hoddinott Hall

THE KEY TO While many Brits have discovered the delights of Clearwater and St Petersburg - the perfect antidote to the razzamatazz of Orlando, Sarasota remains a bit of a best kept secret.

Sarasota lies on the west coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico, just a thirty minute air conditioned drive south of Tampa.

Getting there is easy, we flew from Bristol with Continental... great legroom and a must if you happen to be 6’ 4” and the American crew make you feel as if the holiday has already begun. We changed in New York, had time for a cool beer and immigration then a brief three hour flight to Orlando. We hired a car and then headed off down the Interstate to Sarasota.

We stay with our friend Denly, originally a local girl and by that I mean Whitchurch. She now finds herself living here and working in Tampa. She loves the relaxed lifestyle and, of course, the tropical climate. We met Denly through other friends on our first visit and immediately hit it off something to do with large glasses of Pinot Grigio I suspect and her unhealthy devotion to Eurovision!

It’s easy to see why Sarasota has been voted by Americans as the best place in the USA to live and work. Wealthy, yes.

They don’t count the millionaires anymore - just the billionaires.

The houses are spectacular, with many set in lush tropical grounds with the intercoastal waterway lapping at the bottom of the garden - the perfect place to moor that luxury yacht. Downtown Sarasota is fairly unique as it has a bustling, almost European, feel with galleries, restaurants and great shopping nestled in amongst mirrored skyscrapers and towering luxurious apartments, tipping out over the spectacular, sparkling Sarasota Bay. There are restaurants to suit every palate and pocket although we love Mattisons on Lemon Avenue. The menu is huge, with anything from pizza to grilled Atlantic salmon and, of course, the portions are enormous. Live music and the fact that you can sit out with the locals and watch the world go by makes this one of our favourites.

Saturday sees the local Farmers Market.

So after fortifying yourself at Café Americano with the fluffiest of omelettes, fresh fruit and endless coffee, head off to see what the locals have for sale.

You’ll find tropical plants, mountains of dazzling fruit and salads, exotic home made candles and home baking to die for.

The market also attracts the poshest pooches who bring their owners for a bit of a stroll. You’ll see every shape and size... the dogs that is, many bedecked in their Saturday finery of neckerchiefs and caps!

Just across the road, Sarasota Bay houses an enormous marina stacked with the most luxurious yachts. Call in at Marina Jacks, a fabulous place to sit and watch how the other half live and play. Yachts and cruisers glide in and out with the great and the good popping in for lunch or a cool beer. If you want something more informal, the Tikki Bar has a younger, slightly more laid back feel, and you can dip your toes in the sea.

Just across the waterway lies St Armand’s Circle. It was the dream of John Ringling of circus fame to create a shopping experience that would include a whole host of small and varied independent stores as well as housing.

Work began in 1917 amid much excitement. By 1926, however, the depression had taken its toll. The bridge collapsed into the sea and the vegetation took over. St Armand’s slept until 1955 when it was rediscovered and finally finished just as John Ringling had wished. It often reminds me of Portmeirion, brightly coloured with classical statues and architecture softened by lush tropical planting.

On the Circle there are plaques commemorating some of the most celebrated circus performers and there are well over a hundred shops and restaurants. You have to visit the Blue Dolphin Café for breakfast and if you survive the three cheese omelette you won’t have to eat for at least a week.

“It often reminds me of Portmeirion, brightly coloured with classical statues...” ❧ 12 ❧

RELAXATION

Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café, which was partly the inspiration for the Hamptons store is a must. It has a wonderful range of clothing and home accessories downstairs while upstairs the restaurant is laid back and cool.

The staff wear the signature Tommy Bahama shirts and the menu has an island theme. It’s the best place to sample a chilled beer - their own brew is called Bungalow Blonde and certainly hits the spot. If you’re shopping then visit the Met. It looks like a rather grand civic building, but inside you will find every designer brand you can think of.

On the last Friday of every month there is ‘sip and shop.’ You can wander around the Circle with a glass of champagne, listen to jazz or opera and do a little relaxed retail therapy perfect! By now you’ll no doubt be feeling a bit peckish so just time to nip to Kilwin’s who make their own ice cream and fudge - both of which are heavenly although not the best thing to try to eat in ninety degrees of heat as most of it will end up dripping down your arm.

Still, with Lido Beach just across the way you can submerge yourself in the warmest of sea water - it’s often in the eighties. The beach is made from crushed shell and so is dazzlingly white.

Pelicans glide past in military formation and dolphins appear almost daily.

Siesta Key is another beautiful beach just around the bay. Surfy with a tropical village feel, Siesta is popular with the locals especially on weekends.

You’ll be amazed at how much ‘stuff’ they bring. Whole trolleys with cabanas, chairs, umbrellas, cooler boxes and possibly kitchen sinks! Of course there’s only so much lazing on a beach you can do, so brush off the sand and head for the shopping malls. Sarasota has some of the smartest where you’ll find Saks, Macy’s, Williams and Sonoma, Banana Republic and Pottery Barn. You can guarantee that there will always be a sale somewhere so make sure that you allow enough room in your case for all of those must have purchases.

At night Sarasota finds the bars and restaurants filled with locals... we love the fact that you’ll rarely hear a British accent. For an amazing view of the city head to the rooftop bar at Cheviches.

It’s lively, noisy and home to a younger set - by that I mean under 50!

If dinner theatre is more your thing then why not book a show at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. Chicago was playing when we were there and there’s also the opera and the ballet, jazz, blues, in fact something for everyone. ❧ 13 ❧

The cultural diversity is one of the reasons we love Sarasota so much.

In one day you can breakfast at an American diner, chill out on the beach, attend the opening of a gallery, meet friends for drinks by the harbour before heading off to the opera in your recently purchased Armani tux with some home made hugely calorific fudge tucked under your arm. Well, you are on holiday after all!

Andy Bradshaw Andy and Peter are the owners of Hamptons, Penarth. www.hamptons-design.co.uk

For more information on Sarasota please visit www.sarasotafl.org For more information on Bristol Airport visit www.bristolairport.co.uk For more information on Continental Airlines visit www.continental.com

Cowbridge based Room for Living’s reputation for high quality kitchen design stretches far beyond the city. We visit Mr and Mrs Withnall at their beautiful Newport home to see the workmanship and to find out how they were living with their new kitchen.

After already having three quotations from other companies for a complete kitchen and utility refit, it was on a chance visit to Cowbridge that Mr and Mrs Withnall of Newport happened upon Room for Living’s showroom and, after a consultation with Ian, the company’s designer, they realised that their new kitchen would be in safe hands.

Did you have a specific brief to give Room for Living?

We were open to suggestions, but required more preparation space and a central island. We also wanted a larger gas hob, which was changed (after we visited Miele), to a four ring induction hob. We liked the idea of a water filter system and my husband had always wanted a wine cooler.

The other kitchen companies hadn’t proposed this. This vastly improved the look of the dining room also. Room for Living invited us to visit the Miele Centre to help us decide on which appliances would suit us best.

What did you want your kitchen to say about you?

We didn’t want a traditional country cottage look, but equally we didn’t want an ultra modern, streamlined look.

We were aiming for something in the middle, giving clean lines and a light painted wood finish.

Why did you choose them?

The conceptual layout of the kitchen was attractive to us, with the added bonus of having the kitchen/dining room door moved, allowing for a longer run of units. Room for Living were the only company to suggest this approach.

ROOM FOR LIVING

“With over 20 years’ experience, Room for Living cater for all tastes and styles, from classical and traditional hand painted, to the latest cutting-edge and contemporary designs.”

What were your key requirements?

We wanted convenient cooking and preparation areas, and also an eating area for four. We were keen to find alternative cooking methods through state of the art cooking appliances.

Would you recommend Room For Living to friends and family?

We already did at the onset of design!

We recommended them to a neighbour and they installed their kitchen at the same time.

Did Room for Living offer ideas which were helpful?

Yes, they also gave us plenty of information on internal fitments.

With over twenty years’ experience, Room For Living cater for all tastes and styles, from classical and traditional hand painted, to the latest cutting-edge and contemporary designs.

How was the installation process?

I wasn’t looking forward to the disruption but Room for Living were extremely efficient, clean and also extremely courteous.

Are you happy with the finished product?

Absolutely... particularly so with the Miele appliances.

The company have now added the outstanding kitchen and appliance manufacturer Miele as its flagship product and is proud to be the only Miele dealership in Wales.

Room For Living is the port of call when choosing a company to design the most important room in your home, the kitchen.

❧ 15 ❧

Room For Living Willow Walk, Cowbridge Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7EE 01446 771 234 info@rflkitchens.com www.rflkitchens.com

Photography by Martin Phillips www.martinphillipsphotography.com

MAKING A HOUSE A HOME Avid City Life readers may be familiar with Andy Bradshaw of Hamptons Home and Garden Design, Penarth where he and partner Peter Knowles run an amazing homeware and furniture emporium, not forgetting the hugely popular Blue Pelican Café.

Not known for blowing his own trumpet, we at City Life are happy to blow it on his behalf as Andy’s skills extend to puppetry, TV, set dressing and journalism. Is there no end to this man’s skills? We caught up with Andy to ask him how his latest project went.

Approaching any new project is daunting for both the designer and the client as there are so many unknowns, in particular whether you are going to get on. This is why at Hamptons we work on a design brief with the client before starting the creative process.

I think that the client, Val, and I hit it off at once. The house was about to undergo some fairly substantial renovations and so it was the perfect time to be radical and change the style.

Interpreting the style that the client hopes for is really the art of the designer. Val wanted a cool, serene home where the many rooms flowed into each other, yet each room had a certain ‘wow’ factor introduced through a rug or a cushion or even a lamp. Nearly every room in the house is a different colour, although the subtlety of this is almost imperceptible.

Like many of my clients Val was nervous about introducing colour into the rooms but, with a bit of coaxing, she made a tremendous leap from, as she calls it, her ‘comfort zone’ to something altogether more modern and adventurous. It became a running joke as I would take Val to see a supplier and she would say, “you’re pushing me out of my comfort zone,” but with a bit of persuasion she was convinced.

Of course, interior designers have access to a tremendous source book which enables them to show clients products that they would be unlikely to find themselves - everything from fabrics to light fittings, furniture to picture frames.

I guess that from a client’s point of view, having someone to do the leg work and to a degree hold their hands makes the project run a lot smoother.

As with most clients a trip to London is essential. Generally I’ll pop up the week before to do a recce; this makes it so much easier on the day as you focus the client on fewer products. We went to Heals to see a fantastic rug for the sitting room... she loved it! We also visited Bo Concept and the Conran store, as well as B@b Italia. And no shopping trip would be complete without champagne at one of the coolest bars, the Sanderson Hotel.

We bought so much that we struggled to get it all on the train and needed a mini bus at Cardiff Central! The sitting room now has a calm elegance. The new fireplace replaces a rather inappropriate Art Noveau one. The oak floor is a perfect foil for the fabulous textured rug which introduces the deep purple and pink tones. While most of the furniture is new, the two balloon chairs have been recovered in two shades of plum quilted velvet.

The summerhouse was part of the new build and Val wanted this to be the most contemporary of the rooms.

The pillowtalk sofa by Conran is perfect for lounging on a Sunday morning with the papers or chilling out with the girls and a couple of bottles of fizz!

The ceiling was a huge and dominating feature in the room and called for a real statement; consequently we decided to echo the palm fronds of the Kentia palms and had shadows air brushed onto the plaster. At night the effect is at its best, as the real plants are uplit blurring the real shadows with the fake ones. Quirky additions such as the ball lamp become real conversation pieces.

The media room is a bit of a boy’s den.

A big TV needs a big boy’s chair so we opted for a huge love seat as the ❧ 17 ❧

statement piece and a built in window seat for those who prefer views of the garden than views of the fairway!

The hallway looks original but actually most of it is brand new. The original staircase has been tweaked, re-polished and fitted with new spindles and the beautiful tiled floor from The Ceramic Tile Warehouse, replaced the rather tired and damaged original, even the fireplace has been stripped down and re-polished. The chair was a freebie from an old TV series and was lovingly restored and recovered by Jewels who provided all of the curtains and blinds.

Again, having a company like Jewels is of tremendous value to me as I can source samples and present them to the client before taking them to the showroom to discuss the finer details before proceeding further.

It’s these details that finish off the home and we are still tweaking now that Val has her home back - reframing pictures, finding the right colour vase or simply advising on the best way to group family photos is all part of the service. One of the most rewarding things about working with clients like Val is that you both make a tremendous journey, the client ultimately ends up with a wonderful home and the friendship that you develop during the process continues.

We were lucky enough to revisit Val in her newly transformed home for our cover shoot. Seeing her and her friends in the amazing conservatory, sipping champagne, lights a twinkling, you could easily see that Val now has the home of her dreams.

Hamptons 10 Ludlow Lane, Penarth CF64 1EA 029 2070 5391 www.hamptons-design.co.uk

When Val Anderson and her husband returned to Wales in October 2003, after spending time in Italy, they yearned to return to their roots.

The couple loved Penarth as they grew up in the area and as soon as they saw The Old Vicarage, they fell in love with its spaciousness, its wonderful Victorian character and history but, most of all, its potential.

There are those who are blessed with the creative gene and, although Val is suitably blessed in this area, she was keen to enlist the services of an interior designer to ensure that her home realized its true potential. Andy Bradshaw of Hamptons had been recommended to her and, after the first meeting, she knew he was the right person for the job. We met up with Val to learn how the project progressed.

The Old Vicarage has five bedrooms, a gym, a study, a sewing room, four bathrooms, a dining room, media room, lounge, large kitchen, butler’s pantry, utility room and garden room.

Why did you want to change the decor of the property?

Although we’d made some superficial changes when we’d moved in, we always wanted to make better use of the space. We wanted to bring it up to date without stripping the character and to make the house work for us.

Tell us about the project We started planning with the architect, John Rosser in March 2007 and Town & Counties, our builders, began work in January 2008. As well as restyling the house from top to bottom, we reconfigured the upper floors, changing the top floor to create two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study and a gym.

We also restructured the middle floor, in particular the bathrooms, to make better use of the space. We opened up the reception area and renewed the Victorian tiles there. McBeth Joinery rebuilt the Butler’s Pantry, retaining original features where possible.

We replaced all the flooring with suspended oak for better insulation, installed a remote music and wireless internet system throughout the house, and restyled the conservatory into a large, comfortable garden room.

I hear there were trips to London, please tell me more?

Andy knew exactly where to go in London. We visted Heals and the Conran Shop and as a consequence, we took up far more than our fair share of the train carriage with our enormous boxes and packages.

Why did you choose Exclusive Fireplaces for your fires?

I chose Exclusive Fireplaces because they are the stockists for Chesney’s who are one of the top suppliers for traditional fireplaces. Also, their service is excellent.

The Ceramic Tile Warehouse supplied the tiles. Why did you choose this company?

The Ceramic Tile Warehouse has a huge range of tiles and we were able to find exactly what we needed for the bathrooms, the Victorian style flooring in the hall and above the Aga. They were extremely helpful and were always on hand when required.

The fabrics used in the project are gorgeous, why did you choose Jewels to supply these?

I’ve known Julie for several years and I’ve worked with her before. The quality of her work and service is excellent and she has access to a huge choice of fabrics. Julie and her daughter, Hayley, are so easy to get along with and their one-to-one service ensures you get exactly what you want.

What was it like working with Andy from Hamptons?

A laugh a minute! Andy made the project a pleasure, taking away so much of the stress and hard work.

I wanted to be bold and pushed out of my comfort zone and Andy gave me the confidence to be ambitious with the project.

He’s also great at sourcing things and bringing everything together. He’s fun, friendly and inspires confidence.

Are you pleased with the end result?

I love it! It’s really modern, but we’ve managed, I think, to retain the original character of the place.

How are you using your home differently now that the changes have been made?

The house works much better now.

We’re using the garden room so much more. It has a beautiful view and now it is so light, airy and comfortable we can enjoy it all year round. Chicco and Topsy, the cats, definitely approve!

Have you any further plans for your home?

We’re just looking forward to living in it and enjoying it! ❧ 18 ❧

“I love it! It’s really modern, but we’ve managed, I think, to retain the original character of the place.”

Photography by Martin Phillips www.martinphillipsphotography.com

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Exclusive Fireplaces installed the lovely fireplaces at the Old Vicarage. City Life talks to owner, Cormac Edwards who tells us more about the project, his company and his philosophy that...

HOME IS WHERE THE HEARTH IS...

How long has Exclusive Fireplaces been established?

We have been supplying and installing beautiful fires for over fifteen years.

What services do you offer?

We sell top quality fireplaces and have a reputation for excellent service.

We offer customers a full design and installation service.

“Our customers are discerning, looking for top quality products at a very competitive price.”

Who are your customers?

Our customers are discerning, looking for top quality products at a very competitive price.

How did you become involved in The Vicarage project?

I was introduced to Val by Andy Bradshaw of Hamptons in Penarth.

What work did you do?

We supplied and fitted two beautiful Chesney’s fireplaces and also fitted the slate hearths for the upstairs bedrooms.

Do you have any plans for the future?

We will continue to expand our exclusive range of fabulous fires and fireplaces and we aim to work more with solid fuel and wood burning fires as we have both Corgi and Hetas approved installers on our talented and experienced team.

Exclusive Fireplaces 112 Whitchurch Road Cardiff CF14 3LY 029 2061 1881 cormac@exclusivefireplaces.com www.exclusivefireplaces.com

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Photography by Martin Phillips www.martinphillipsphotography.com

“I chose Exclusive Fireplaces because they are the stockists for Chesney’s who are one of the top suppliers for traditional fireplaces.

Also, their service is excellent.”

“The Ceramic Tile Warehouse has a huge range of tiles and we were able to find exactly what we needed for the bathrooms, the Victorian style flooring in the hall and above the Aga.”

Val and Andy needed to source the best quaility tiles for the bathrooms, Victorian style flooring in the hall and above the Aga in the kitchen.

There was only one contender as far as they were concerned and that had to be The Ceramic Tile Warehouse, Cardiff. ❧ 22 ❧

TOTALLY

FLOORED

Photography by Martin Phillips www.martinphillipsphotography.com

We spoke to owner Mike de Claire about the business which has a great deal of experience.

How long has The Ceramic Tile Warehouse been at its current premises at Ocean Park in Cardiff?

We’ve been here since 1992. We believe, and, most importantly, our customers often tell us, that we have the finest selection of tiles available anywhere in Wales. We continue to invest in all of the elements required to achieve this, such as equipment, the latest styles the industry has to offer, warehousing and, of course, our staff.

Who are your customers?

Our customers include the general public, designers, builders and architects. We can lay claim to supplying many local celebrities but, of course, I couldn’t divulge their names!

How did you get involved in The Vicarage project?

We’ve worked with Andy of Hamptons on many projects. He knows that we can source the most appropriate tiles to suit any flooring need from our display of thousands of tiles from all over the world. We also pride ourselves on our high level of service and this is crucial part of any project.

What is your product range?

We cover ceramic and porcelain wall and floor tiles, glass tiles, borders and insets, natural stone, Victorian wall and floor tiles, hand-made tiles and all adhesives, grouts and sealers etc.

Did this project pose any challenges for you?

The main challenge on this project was to find the correct tiles for each area in terms of finish, size and style.

“Our customers often tell us that we have the finest selection of tiles available anywhere in Wales.” ❧ 23 ❧

Which part of the project are you most pleased with?

I’m delighted with how the whole project came together but I am particularly pleased with the Victorian tiles which we used in the hall. Today’s nostalgia for Victorian elegance has led us to find a supplier who is capable of recreating these classic designs and I think that the hall at The Vicarage looks superb.

Any future plans for The Ceramic Tile Warehouse?

We are looking to get more involved in design and specification. We have a wealth of experience in the industry and are always looking to flex our creative design skills.

The Ceramic Tile Warehouse Ocean Park, Cardiff CF24 5HF 029 2048 5522 www.ceramictilewarehouse.com

JEWELS IN THE CROWN All that The Old Vicarage needed to complete its transformation was the curtains and blinds.

Val was more than happy to give this job to Jewels of Cardiff, having worked with owner Julie Perkins previously and on the recommendation of Andy.

Photography by Martin Phillips www.martinphillipsphotography.com

Jewels was established in 1983 as an upholstery business.

Julie started the business and her husband joined soon after when they first bought the premises. In recent years, Julie’s two daughters Candice and Hayley have since joined, keeping the family tradition alive.

What’s it like working with family?

Be honest!

It can be a bit hormonal at times with three women in the business.

The business has evolved a lot since it was just re-upholstery, as customers’ requirements have changed.

What services do you offer?

We offer interior design, re-upholstery, curtains, bespoke furniture design, and manufacturing for other designers.

We also offer a number of new services, including commercial interiors for shops, boutiques and salons.

We’ve just successfully completed two such projects back to back.

Who are your customers?

We have a wide and diverse client base which is constantly growing. We get to meet some interesting people day to day which I thoroughly enjoy. No two customers are alike. One day we could be helping a lady who wants a chair recovered (heirlooms, sentimental pieces, antiques), the next it’s a footballer’s wife who wants an exclusive individual piece like a gold hand painted throne in zebra skin, which is actually printed cowhide as zebra is now, thankfully, not allowed.

We also work with a number of designer shops in the area as well as Hamptons Home and Garden Design, Penarth and we even work for London stores such as Harrods who we supply for their seasonal displays. We also manufacture fitting room curtains for popular high street shop changing rooms and supply unusual items for various department stores, restaurants and hotels such as St David’s Hotel and The Park Plaza. ❧ 24 ❧

We also make furniture and soft furnishings for various TV productions and even for films. I recently had the opportunity of meeting Hollywood film star Ryan Phillipe, which was not an unpleasant experience! We have also been involved in a design programme called Front of House with Oliver Heath. It’s amazing that my small business evolved from the front room of my first house to where it is today!

How did Jewels become involved with The Old Vicarage project?

Andy introduced me to Val, whom I’ve met before. Andy and I have worked on a few projects together recently which is always a joy, and this has developed into a good business relationship.

Jewels made the blinds (silhouette, facette and Roman), curtains, pelmets and recovered chairs (one for the hall and two purple buttoned back chairs for the lounge). Also, loose covers for a bedroom chair, footstools for the study and lounge, and window seat and scatter cushions for the media room.

“Julie and Hayley are so easy to get along with and their one-to-one service ensures you get exactly what you want.”

What are your favourite pieces from this project?

Definitely the buttoned back chairs for the lounge which we did in purple velvets. They are simply stunning!

What next for Jewels?

Jewels has been expanding steadily from the beginning. From front room to shop front to larger Whitchurch Road premises and now, due to the ever changing demands of our customers, we are currently considering moving our workshop to larger premises once again to allow us to take on more staff. We are looking forward to very exciting times ahead!

Jewels 11 Whitchurch Road Cardiff CF14 3JN 029 2069 2255 Julie@jewelscanley.co.uk www.jewelsupholstelry.co.uk

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DAISY DOODLING Not possessing a creative bone in my body, I am always in awe of people who are blessed with such skills. One such creative idol is Ellie Thomas who runs a bespoke card making business called Daisy Doodling. But there’s a lot more creativity waiting to be unleashed from Ellie...

Elin, what is your background?

I studied at UWIC on Colchester Avenue for four years, gaining a degree in Catering Management. I now work full-time in the Millennium Stadium where I manage the kitchen, and in my spare time I run Daisy Doodling.

Art has just been a real passion of mine ever since I was a child and I still remember getting my first tin of coloured pencils when I was five and being so excited!

What is Daisy Doodling?

Daisy Doodling creates hand-crafted stationery. I pride myself on attention to detail and every single piece of stationery is entirely handmade with care in my studio in Cardiff.

Whether contemporary modern or classic, formal or funky, elegant or urban, wedding invitations not only inform the guests of all the important details of the wedding but it also sets the tone and style of the entire day so it’s really important to make the right choice. Each design created at Daisy Doodling is available as a complete range which is co-ordinated in the fine detail. I can provide Save The Date Cards, Day Invitations, Evening Invitations. RSVP Cards, Order of Service, Place Cards, Menus, Thank You Cards, Table Plans, Table Name Cards and Guest Books to name but a few.

When did you start?

September 2007. ❧ 26 ❧

Who are your customers?

Brides to be make up the majority of my clients but I also produce corporate cards such as Thank You Cards, formal invitations for businesspeople and anyone needing personal stationery.

How does the process work?

My designs complement the individual whether it is a particular colour scheme, flower selection, venue, church or general interests. Each design is bespoke and unique to the client’s requirements.

I am versatile and can design from scratch by creating something totally new or adapt an existing design. I work closely with the client to create the perfect look and offer a free consultation with no obligation.

“Daisy doodling creates hand-crafted stationery.

I pride myself on attention to detail and every single piece of stationery is entirely handmade with care in my studio in Cardiff.”

“I am setting up my first workshops, which will target community charities and organisations. I believe art and craft can play an important part in encouraging and motivating under-privileged individuals.”

Why would people choose your services as opposed to buying ready-made cards from a shop?

My product is a bespoke service. I can create anything from a hand-painted church, to a wire crafted heart to a watercolour of a sunflower - whatever the client would like. The colours can complement any kind of theme, and can be the design for the whole range of stationery.

How involved do you get in the design process?

I am the sole designer of my products, but I also like to ask the client for any ideas or input that they might like to contribute. I can either adapt their ideas or create from scratch.

Any other projects in the pipeline?

I am setting up my first workshops, which will target community charities and organisations. I believe art and craft can play an important part in encouraging and motivating underprivileged individuals. The interaction with others would be confidence boosting and help focus and channel energy positively. It is rewarding and fun with a sense of achievement both for the group as well as for me. The workshops would include card making, t-shirt painting, mug painting, canvas painting, jewellery making, glass painting, calendar design, seasonal e.g. Christmas cards, pumpkin carving, valentines, Easter egg painting and creating invitations for special events. ❧ 27 ❧

What are your hopes for the future?

To eventually run Daisy Doodling as my full-time job and to take on a designer and assistant to help with the ever increasing workload. I envisage bright yellow little vans racing round Cardiff and becoming well known for my hard work and my passion for quality handcrafted design. One day!

For more information on Daisy Doodling or to book a worshop, please contact Ellie Thomas on 07967 003130 elliedaisy@gmail.com www.daisydoodling.co.uk

Continuing our Exposure series, in this issue we chat to talented, award-winning photographer Martin Phillips of Porthcawl about his life and work.

EXPOSURE What’s your background?

A slightly confused one! I started out studying Marine Biology. However, I had secretly envied my friends who were at art school and when a couple of surfing buddies came to visit for a surf contest in Porthtowan, they told me how cool their graphic arts course was! I was fascinated with this perfect fusion of science and art (and surfing).

The next weekend they introduced me to their course leader and I signed up there and then! My first experience of the college darkroom was all it took to convince me I had found my Nirvana!

What photographs do you take?

I always try to make time to get out early and capture seascapes (we sell them at our Art Café gallery, Porthcawl and they can also be found in several galleries around South Wales), but my main interest is in photographing people. People are my passion, I have taken thousands of portraits! Finding the right combination of light and expression can make everyone look interesting and/or beautiful.

Recently, the modern style of wedding coverage has excited me; I love the combination of capturing the emotion of the day and still producing images with the wow factor that the modern bride is seeking - and weddings are such fun to do!

Do you keep up to date with the latest trends in photography?

The latest trends in Art, Fashion, Graphic Design are always inspirational and many ideas for a new style of image will come from a visit to an art gallery, a fashion magazine, or a journey.

At Studio Red Kite we are technically on the absolute edge and will only use the best lighting, the highest quality imaging equipment and finest materials!

It takes a lot of time and commitment, but the results speak for themselves.

Can you describe your style of photography?

Strong lines and brilliant lighting are very important in my images. The sense of a three dimensional quality is there too, which is very difficult to achieve, and is a significant part of my work.

At the moment I particularly love rich colours and textures combined with strong expressions - a sort of modern baroque.

How do you get the best out of your subject?

I have been fortunate enough to have the ability to connect quickly with a client and get to the foundation of who they really are. People have always said how at ease I make them feel during the shoot and that is not something that can be learnt, you either have it, or you don’t!

How do you ensure each client gets something unique?

I limit the shoots to only a few per week - I do not want to be a production line photographer! I strive to give each client something unique to them; I won’t use stock studio props, for instance. This studio is not a franchise like the big names in the High Street everyone gets an individual and bespoke service. Even the style of framing can be completely customised to the client’s taste. We do custom designed books, shadow frames, canvasses and some new, unique products that we have just finished developing.

Have you won any awards?

Generally, I am not one to pitch myself into photo awards and competitions, I prefer an individual route to creative development. However, I did submit to the two professional photographic organisations last year and was awarded an Associateship in both, and following on, four of my favourite portraits from the submissions won top honours in the Master Photographer of the Year 2007 2008. It’s satisfying to have approval from the best in the industry, but the main focus is always on exceeding my clients’ expectations at all levels.

What is your work ethic?

To enjoy each day as a creative and inspirational experience.

Martin Phillips DipAD ABIPP AMPA Studio Red Kite 32 New Road, Porthcawl CF36 5DN 01656 771525 martin@studioredkite.com www.studioredkite.com

❧ 28 ❧

“At the moment I particularly love rich colours and textures combined with strong expressions - a sort of modern baroque.�

This image was part of a series Martin photographed and was featured in our sister publication Vale Life.

To view the images please visit www.valelife.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

There’s a lot happening this season with a whole host of events across Cardiff. For more info visit www.citylifecardiff.co.uk.

HAMPTONS OF PENARTH Hamptons of Penarth have recently announced dates for their extremely popular music and dinner events into spring 2009.

Each evening features live music and a superb dinner which is usually at least five courses.

A Night at the Opera 16th and 17th January 2009 Tickets £30

An evening of light opera and delicious food – think summer’s evening picnic at Glyndebourne - with our four fabulous performers following their sell out success in September. With kind permission of Welsh National Opera.

Autumn Swing Fever 14th and 15th November Tickets £28

Following their sell out success at Hamptons in October, the renowned Keith Little Trio return for two more evenings of swing, Dixieland jazz and shuffle – and great food of course.

Midnight Jazz

28th and 29th November Tickets £28

Two nights of laid back jazz and relaxed dining with Diane Mitchell.

Diane is a regular performer at the Brecon Jazz Festival and this will be her debut appearance at Hamptons.

Valentine’s Celebration 13th and 14th February 2009 Tickets £29 Keith Little

Christmas Parties

4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th, 20th December * Tickets £28

Hamptons celebrates Valentine’s Day in the company of Neil Lashley-Craven, back by popular demand for two evenings of Rat Pack, Michael Bublé and soft jazz – and great food of course!

The Graham Watkins Jazz Quartet with vocals by the fabulous Miss Clare Hingott will be at Hamptons for Christmas jazz and a festive six course dinner during December. *Some dates are sold out – please ask about availability

New Year’s Eve Party 31st December Tickets £60

Clare Hingott

Don’t miss the chance to attend the best party in Penarth as Hamptons launches you into 2009.

New Year’s resolutions can wait as you indulge in their seven course dinner followed by dancing until 12.30am to the Graham Watkins Jazz Quartet.

And of course there will be party games to keep you amused as we wait for the New Year to arrive.

The event begins at 8pm.

Diane Mitchell

City Life recommended ★★★★★ ❧ 30 ❧

Hamptons 10 Ludlow Lane, Penarth CF64 1EA 029 2070 5391 www.hamptons-design.co.uk

THE EVE APPEAL Ovarian cancer occurs in 1 in 69 women. When Jan Morgan, event organiser at the Eve Appeal, a charity raising awareness of Ovarian Cancer, invited me to attend a black tie dinner dance at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, I asked her why she had become involved with the Appeal.

Jan told me about her sister Sandra who had been diagnosed with the disease, had gone into remission and is now bravely fighting the disease once more. Sandra, aged 52 currently lives in the USA with her husband and two daughters. She kindly took time out to talk to us about her journey with ovarian cancer.

Sandra, is there a history of cancer in the family?

Mum and dad are still alive with no signs as are my two sisters. The only link with cancer in the family is with my paternal grandfather.

When were you diagnosed?

In December 2006. I was shocked, sad and scared. I wanted to know how many years I had left.

How did you feel about breaking the news to your family?

Telling my family was the worst experience. I felt I could cope with surgery, chemo and the ‘inevitable’.

However, seeing the fright and sadness on my family’s faces was devastating.

I didn’t know how I was to tell them What were their reactions?

They were shocked and so scared; my children did not expect me to get cancer. However they have always been very supportive and loving towards me.

What treatment was recommended?

I was advised to have a full hysterectomy and chemotherapy You were in remission at one point and then learnt that it had returned, how did you feel ?

I was in remission for one year.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to treat especially if not caught early. Therefore although it was very difficult to hear the news, it was not totally surprising.

I just got back into fighting mode.

Is the treatment still ongoing?

I’m currently back on chemo.

What is the prognosis?

My next hurdle is to get back into remission and I have been told there is a 70% chance that this will happen. For now that is as far as I want to dwell into the future.

How do you feel today?

I have no symptoms from the cancer.

The chemo gives me nausea and the feeling of extreme tiredness.

Pictured above, Sandra.

Pictured left, Jan Morgan (right) with Jo Brand at the Eve Appeal Charity Dinner.

More pictures on page 61.

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OVARIAN CANCER - RISKS AND FACTS

The risks ■ Women of any age are at risk ■ Increasing age raises risk ■ Personal or family history of breast, colon or ovarian cancer ■ Never been pregnant or given birth The facts ■ Occurs in 1 in 69 women ■ Early detection significantly improves survival rates ■ There is no test. A Pap smear only detects cervical cancer ■ Causes symptoms, even in the early stages Symptoms of ovarian cancer ■ Bloating ■ Pelvic or abdominal pain ■ Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly ■ Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency) See your doctor, preferably a gynaecologist, if these symptoms are unusual for you and occur almost daily for more than a few weeks. Early diagnosis is key to an improved prognosis.

The Eve Appeal www.ovariancancer.org www.eveappeal.org.uk

ICING WORKS Jenny Yeo is a retired barrister who gave up law in 1993 to be at home with her three children. After acquiring photographic skills at university, Jenny now runs a successful small business Icing Works, and more recently a sister company, The Cake Box Company.

What does your company offer?

Icing Works provides a design service of edible images applied to cakes.

This is a very wide ranging and personalized service and covers everything from simple corporate logos to editing photos according to client’s specific requests. If required, the finished pictures can often bear very little resemblance to the picture provided. I have turned people into James Bond, Mona Lisa, ski jumpers, and created many spoof magazine and newspapers.

I have also had lots of fun creating images of the bride to be for hen nights. Anything is possible. Text can, of course, be added to any design.

Although usually Welsh or English text can be added in any language.

What’s been your main focus?

Corporate cakes and gifts as they are an ideal and personal way of promoting a business. They have been used at events, retirements, business anniversaries and as Christmas gifts. The images can be made to fit large cakes or cupcakes, applied to cookies and can even be adapted to make edible business cards.

What about your latest venture, The Cake Box Company?

When creating cakes as corporate gifts, I became dissatisfied with the bakery presentation boxes available in the UK and realised I was not the only person searching for an adequate solution.

I therefore created a sister company importing and selling attractive high quality bakery and gift boxes.

This has proved very successful and I now stock a rapidly expanding range of cake cases, boxes and designer ribbons. I try to limit the range to high quality items not available in the UK and have imported products from Sweden and the United States.

Who are your customers?

Anybody who ever has a need to celebrate, promote or give a gift.

What occasions do you cover?

The list is endless. It can be divided into personal and business including press days, product and book launches, grand openings, media events, Christmas and seasonal events, thankyou’s, retirement, leaving do’s and on a more personal level, there are birthdays, weddings, christenings, hen and stag nights, Bah Mitzvahs, anniversaries and retirements.

Why would customers come to you rather than a supermarket that offers the same service?

Supermarkets do not offer quite the same service. Photos can be printed on cakes but these are not edited or adapted in any way. The image is the same size regardless of cake and they cannot be applied to cupcakes.

The image is on a thick sheet of icing that does not blend with the cake and luxury presentation boxes are not available.

“My father was absolutely delighted with his 80th birthday cake. How wonderful to be able to request a personalised cake, available in any way I wanted. This is a service I will certainly be using in the future.” ❧ 32 ❧

What customers say about Icing Works “Last Xmas we decided to thank clients with cakes that could be shared by all of their staff. They were a great success and we were delighted with the quality product and innovative design provided by Icing Works.”

Higson & Co. Chartered Accountants

“I am a new customer of Icing Works and have found Jenny and her company to be very professional and prompt in their deliveries and customer service.

I am so pleased that I intend only to use her company for my business needs as it is very important for me to have someone I can rely on totally to service my business.”

The Organic Cupcake Co. London

“Thank you so much for all the toppers you have made we have just finished giving out the cakes, everyone was so impressed.

Thank you!”

Cibavision

“My father was absolutely delighted with his 80th birthday cake.

How wonderful to be able to request a personalised cake, available in absolutely any way I wanted. This is a service that I will certainly be using many times in the future.”

Janet Tabor

Icing Works & The Cupcake Company 07810 058983 jennyyeo@mac.com www.icingworks.com www.cakeboxcompany.co.uk

FLOWERS IN THE SNOW Clive Sullivan celebrates the horticultural joys of the season...

Some flowers however, could turn your mood completely. The beauty of the Viburnum ‘Bodnantense dawn’ is matched only by its exquisite perfume.

Flowering pink on bare wood in the depth of winter, this will lighten your mood during those long dark months.

The season of crunchy frosted leaves is upon us, and soon those leaves will be a distant memory as they melt away into the earth and the bare ethereal beauty of winter.

But, before all that happens, there is the festive season to look forward to, and a selection of plants to help bring you some seasonal floral cheer during the winter months.

At this time of year all we want to do is ignore the dull, damp black bit between the garden gate and the front door as we trudge home from work on a dark day …“What’s that? A garden? I don’t care,”…I hear you sigh. Well, fair enough, we’ve all been there.

Likewise, the wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox with delicate yellow flowers smelling a little peppery, perks up the senses too. These are great planted next to each other near a wall; needing need sun and well drained soil. These shrubs are really worth the investment – time and time again year after year you will reap the rewards…

Sheltering in the warmth of the house, you can of course get away with seasonal favourites like Christmas Cactus, and Poinsettias. Now if you want to stand out from your neighbours why not go for a Cymbidium Orchid?

Admittedly, not a conventional choice, yet a discerning one; beautiful with full waxy creamy flowers that will adorn any winter table!

“Flowering pink on bare wood in the depth of winter, this will lighten your mood during those long dark months.”

Clive’s top tips for the season Water your Poinsettia sparingly, and keep away from draughts If you break a Poinsettias branch don’t get the sap on you as it’s a skin irritant Many houseplants suffer from dry centrally heated air in winter. Mist foliage lightly & occasionally When siting a Christmas tree place it away from heat If you’ve got a Norway Spruce (cheaper) Xmas Tree it’ll need an inch taken off the trunk and the base permanently in water. Oh and put down a sheet which you can later discard under the Christmas tree to catch all the needles!

Water your Christmas Cactus regularly when in flower – this’ll help to keep the blooms lasting longer Outside; during periods of severe frost wrap up expensive plants like tree ferns or more tender palms to avoid damage to the crown If you haven’t planted your bulbs for the spring here’s your last chance!

If you have a pond and it freezes over, melt a small hole in the ice with the base of a saucepan (don’t smash a hole as this will cause shock to your fish

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RESTAURANT REVIEWS Each issue we review a selection of restaurants in and around Cardiff.

SOUTHERNDOWN

La Plie they had us at hello As frequent diners to Frolics, we were very keen to see what new owner and chef Matthew Powell was going to offer. Having learned that he’d worked under a string of famous Michelin starred chefs, Raymond Blanc for one, we were hoping for great things.

A very friendly and, as we learned throughout our lunch, very efficient maitre d’ Alex showed us to our table and attended to our every need.

Matthew briefly came out to greet us but no sooner than the pleasantries had been exchanged, he whipped back into the kitchen to work his magic.

And what magic it was. Fresh, warm homebaked bread was brought to our table which was quickly followed by a gift from the chef in the form of an extremely rich and intense lobster soup served in a slim glass.

Before I go any further, this was for me the highlight of the meal as I’ve never tasted anything so delicious and I’m not easy to please. We then devoured our starters of fresh saffron pasta, crab fricasse, frothed crab bisque and wood sorrel and roasted breast of wood pigeon, roast worcester pearmain apple puree, sweet pickled blackberries with a blackberry jus. So unbelievably moorish, could this get any better?

Mr Roberts enjoyed his beef oxtail but kept asking me for forkfulls of my razor clams. Unfortunately for him they were too good to share. Somehow room for a 70% Guanaja chocolate fondant with orange sorbet and pineapple crisp and a poached chateau des nages white peach, with chocolate sorbet and grapefruit tuile and coffees were found and our piece of lunchtime heaven was over.

A quick chat with Alex and then our mains arrived, pan fried Cornish brill fillet, razor clam, herb crust, roast salsify, vanilla veloute with sea purslane for me and braised Usk valley beef oxtail en crepinette, parsley root puree, late summer baby vegetables, pomme maxine with oxtain juices for Mr Roberts.

Matthew gave us another five minutes of his time to tell us how he spent his days, evenings, spare time. He’s a young man so you would be guessing he’d be chilling, partying, spending time with his mates. Not so for Matt, “I enjoy reading,” Oh yes we say, what kind of books do you read we ask, “Cookery books” and with that he was gone.

The best parts of my dish had to be the razor clam and the sea purslane.

Both were new to me and I’m sorry but it’s pointless me trying to relay how amazingly tasty these were. You’ll just have to order them. Simple as.

L L A N DA F F

The owner obviously has a keen eye for fine wines with an extensive selection of wines and champagne on offer. The knowledgeable staff member suggested an Italian Gavi di Gavi to complement our menu choices perfectly. I can quite easily understand why Mulberry Street is a regular haunt for Welsh celebrities.

It may be its proximity to the BBC, but I would guess it’s more likely due to the outstanding food, the ambience and the impeccable service.

Mulberry Street restaurant Having heard some really great reports about Mulberry Street restaurant in Llandaff, we decided to see for ourselves what all the fuss was about and treat ourselves to lunch there.

Mulberry Street restaurant is on the High Street, Llandaff opposite Kamigata hair salon and sits very well with other high quality businesses including a florist, coffee shops and gift shops.

I spent a good few hours in the morning divesting Mr Roberts of his hard earned cash, followed by a brisk walk around the Cathedral and we then popped into Mulberry Street for lunch.

What immediately struck us was the decor. Pure sophistication. The same could equally be said about the staff who greeted us warmly and showed us to our table. There was a choice of menus, the a la carte, special lunch menu and our choice of ‘Little Dishes’, Mulberry Street’s take on tapas.

La Plie Beach Road Flats, Southerndown, Bridgend CF32 0RP 01656 880127

Open for lunch (12 noon to 2pm) and dinner (6.30pm to 10pm) Tuesday to Saturday with special lunch time offers available.

I went with the rare tuna niçoise, calamari fritti and hot smoked salmon.

Mr Roberts couldn’t resist the meatballs with spicy tomato sauce, lamb kofta and his all time favourite of pan fried chicken livers. We accompanied our tapas choices with a broad bean and pecorino risotto.

“I can quite easily understand why Mulberry Street is a regular haunt for Welsh celebrities.” ❧ 34 ❧

Mulberry Street restaurant 48 High Street, Llandaff 029 2056 4646 www.mulberrystreetcardiff.com

E G E R T O N G R E Y, P O R T H K E R RY

Elegance and luxury in the country

Egerton Grey has rightly gained a reputation as a distinguished country house hotel and has received many well deserved accolades for its interiors, restaurant and service. The moment you step through the door, a peace descends as you are transported into a world of charm, sophistication and elegance. All this in an atmosphere that is so comfortable and welcoming that you are surprised at the ease and speed with which you have been able to completely relax. The superbly warm welcome by the owners and staff only adds to this feeling and it’s not long before you start to imagine that the hotel is your house and that you’ve always lived like this – surrounded by excellent taste and a wealth of fine antiques.

Having visited the hotel previously, we were delighted to return to review the restaurant and we knew that we had a treat in store. This is the closest you come to a Michelin starred restaurant without the star – although the restaurant is no shrinking violet – the cuisine has invited a number of accolades including an AA Rosette.

The restaurant is situated within the former billiard room of the house and has a superb period sky light which adds to the grandeur of the room – it is surprising therefore to find that your surroundings are also intimate and comfortable. The menu is both sophisticated yet simple – the descriptions tell you exactly what you need to know and make choosing dinner over a glass of champagne a real treat. Do ensure that you do this in the drawing room and linger over the excellent and extensive wine list.

Photographs courtesy of Xpedient 01446 731221 andy@xpedientonline.co.uk

Step into the Egerton Grey Country House Hotel and you step into a gentler way of life - and one you don’t want to leave in a hurry.

After much contemplation we decided to start with the Chicken Liver Parfait, Toasted Brioche and Red Onion Marmalade and the Pan Seared Scallops, King Prawns with Garlic and Herb Butter. The Chicken Liver Parfait was superb with a wonderfully silky texture. The scallops were full of beautifully complex flavours with a surprisingly sweet but delicate sauce and king prawns which were satisfyingly firm and full of taste.

Desserts were almost impossible to choose, as the menu offered such a range, but we decided on a White Chocolate and Baileys Cheesecake, which was as good as it sounds, and the Assiette of Chef’s Desserts which included a wonderful mix of miniature puds, including the cheesecake (to die for), a wonderfully light sticky toffee pudding with rum, and raisin ice-cream and a dark chocolate torte accompanied by an excellent sweet white wine.

For our main course we choose the Noisettes of Wye Valley Lamb with Homemade Faggot, Garlic, Mashed Potato and Rosemary Jus and the Pan Seared Medallions of Pork Tenderloin, Apple, Celery and Stilton Tian and Grain Mustard Cream. The Noisettes of Lamb were cooked to perfection with the pièce de résistance of this dish being the homemade faggot - a hearty dish made elegant and a real success.

We enjoyed our coffee and cognacs in the Edwardian Drawing Room, sinking into the squashy sofas and wondering why we didn’t book in for the night!

We decided to leave the car at the hotel and the restaurant manager booked us a cab back to Penarth. What a superb reason to come back again the next day and bring some friends – we all booked in for afternoon tea, preceded by a stroll around the gardens with our children. The tea was an elegant mix of sandwiches, delicate cakes, including local specialities and tea and coffee served, as it should be, in stylish china and silver ware – and not forgetting, of course, the bucks fizz to get into the mood. This is the life…

The pork tenderloin, again, was excellent. The meat was incredibly tender and full of flavour and contrasted well with the crunch of the apple. The stilton flavour came through well but was delicate enough that you questioned the flavour seconds before the answer came to you.

Excellent side dishes of vegetables accompanied the main course, some of which were grown in Egerton Grey’s own gardens – a thoughtful and intriguing seasonal mix. We chose a very good Pouilly Fuisse from the wine list to accompany our meal. ❧ 35 ❧

Mark and Tamsin Carey-Lang

Egerton Grey Country House Hotel Porthkerry, Barry CF62 3BZ 01446 711666 info@egertongrey.co.uk www.egertongrey.co.uk

CITY STYLE Marvellous makeovers, gorgeous gifts and jewellery R A DY R A N D P E N A R T H

Holding back the years at Ener-chi Fans of Ener-chi in Penarth and Radyr will be delighted to hear that Medical Cosmetics at Ener-chi are providing a free, no obligation consultation on facial aesthetic treatments for men and women.

Ener-chi has a fantastic reputation for providing quality and holistic treatments in relaxing surroundings.

Owner of Ener-chi, Judy Mancuso said, “I welcome Dr Davies’ facial aesthetic clinic. Her skill and expertise add another dimension to Ener-chi.

Registered with the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors, Dr Davies has many years experience and has a dedicated following of satisfied clients.”

Judy added, “This complements our offering and this is borne out by the new faces that we see every day at our salons in Penarth and Radyr.”

Ener-chi 31 Hickman Road Penarth CF64 2AL 029 2070 7356 also at 57 Heol Isaf, Radyr, Cardiff CF5 8AH 029 2021 4012 www.enerchi4health.com

PONTCANNA

P O R T H C AW L

Emma-Kate Francis opens new gallery

Custom designed jewellery by Peche

Top London jeweller Emma-Kate Francis has recently opened her beautiful gallery and workshop just off the Kings Road in Pontcanna, Cardiff.

If you’re looking for that special piece of jewellery that’s completely unique then look no further than Peche Jewellery.

Jewellery maker, Emma Roberts, from Porthcawl, created Peche Jewellery after finishing her Comprehensive Jewellery Training at Studio Jewellers in New York. Emma draws on a lot of influences, including the natural beauty of her home country, Wales, and mainly uses sterling and fine silver, gold and precious gem stones in her work.

She creates unique, handmade pieces using silver, gold, platinum, diamonds, semi-precious stones and pearls.

Emma-Kate prides herself on transforming her customers ideas into reality, “Part of the fun of getting something made is that you can boast about it!” she exclaimed.

For your very own custom designed piece, please contact Emma at her studio via email info@pechejewellery.com www.pechejewellery.com

To commission that special piece or to view Emma-Kate’s portfolio of jewellery and silverware visit www.ekfrancis.com or phone 07947 307119, to make an appointment.

For your chance to win custom made pieces by Emma, please see page 42.

Below, Emma-Kate’s ‘Baby’ Star Decorations featured in Elle Decoration.

Emma-Kate Francis 183A Kings Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff 07947 307119 www.ekfrancis.com

❧ 36 ❧

PONTCANNA

The Jewellery Studio introduces Vabene If you’re looking for a watch that is unique and represents a fun lifestyle incorporating fashion, art and love, then a Vabene timepiece might be for you.

The Jewellery Studio in Pontcanna are the only jewellers in Wales to stock these fashionable watches which have been designed by the infamous Grimoldi’s, a family with profound knowledge in high end watch making.

The philosophy of the brand is to embrace the fun side of life. Vabene means, ‘it’s all cool, fine, ok, good’ and is the most used word in Italian as well as the well known ‘Ciao’. It is on the lips of every Italian every single day and is always accompanied with an approving nod and a big smile.

Vabene is big news in the US with celebrities such as rapper 50 Cent, Britney Spears, Paris and Nicky Hilton, super model and entrepreneur of Baby Phat brand Kimora Lee Simmons.

Vabene watches also grace the wrists of soccer players Roberto Carlos, Francesco Totti, top model and actress

Carol Alt, Katie Homes, Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr., boxer Mike Tyson, singer Kid Rock, and many Hollywood starlets.

Head down to The Jewellery Studio and bag yourself a Vabene watch. Telling the time has never been so much fun.

The Jewellery Studio 237 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna Cardiff CF11 9PP 029 2022 1144 enquiries@jewellerystudio.co.uk www.jewellerystudio.co.uk

PONTCANNA

The Hair Studio is a dream come true!

Owner Rachel Williams always dreamed of opening her own hair salon and now that this has been realised, we caught up with her to see how she was settling in at her new salon in Pontcanna.

Why did you choose Pontcanna?

I thought Pontcanna would be the perfect area for me to set up the salon as it’s such an affluent area, full of boutiques, high quality jewellers, florists and restaurants and has such a strong community feel.

How long have you been in the industry?

I’ve been working in the hairdressing industry for nearly twelve years now.

I trained in a salon in Cowbridge and my skills grew to the level that I began training others. This has enabled me to create what I believe is a strong professional salon.

Are your clients local?

I’m happy to say that the local client base is growing very quickly. I also have clients who travel from further afield. One of whom is Kate, pictured above right, who has been a client of mine for many years. She travels from Pen-y-Groes, near Llanelli every six weeks to have her hair re-shaped.

What do you believe you can offer?

With the help of La Biosthetique, we are able to create high quality colour and offer problem solving products for any skin and hair type and style.

We’ve got to know each other well over the years and I make sure that she, along with all of my clients, are treated very well and that they enjoy the experience. ❧ 37 ❧

The Hair Studio 241 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna Cardiff CF11 9PP 029 2037 6151 www.the-hairstudio.co.uk

Elysamber natural organic make-up exclusive to Ener-chi

RETURN

OF THE

This Christmas why not pamper the ones you love with a perfect gift from Ener-chi of Penarth and Radyr, to see them through the cold winter months.

L’occitane Rose collection a selection of seasonal gift boxes from £15.00

PAMPER With helpful staff on hand to help you choose, from stocking fillers from as little as £2 to sumptuous hamper baskets and beautiful boxes brimming with wonderful products from favourites such as L’Occitane, Dr. Haushka, Elysambre and many more, Ener-chi is a must visit for gifts to delight family and friends.

“Treat you or yours to a manicure, facial or hot stone massage.”

New to Ener-chi, and already proving the popular choice for Christmas, are the now famous pamper hampers which can be tailor made to your own specification. Choose from ‘Relaxation’, ‘Energise’ or for the mum to be, ‘Lady in Waiting’, the Ener-chi pamper hampers are sure to delight anyone who unwraps them on Christmas Day. With so much to choose from in this emporium of goodies, if you just can’t decide, then there’s always the ever popular gift voucher which always fits the bill. ❧ 38 ❧

Ener-chi open late into the evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays for shopping and if it all gets too much for you, you can always treat you or yours to a bit of pampering with a manicure, facial or a hot stone massage while the staff seasonally wrap your gifts.

Take advantage of our free makeover See and feel the difference in Elysamber make-up

“Working late and can’t get to the shops? No need to stress. Ener-chi are open late into the evening on Tuesdays, and Thursdays.”

Hot Bears, just two minutes in the microwave brings fragrant comfort and warmth £10.99 Lilly Flame Candles, 35 hours of fragrance £7.99 Try this seasons must have Frankincense & Myrrh

“With so much to choose from in this emporium of goodies,if you just can’t decide, then there’s always the ever popular gift voucher which always fits the bill.”

HAMPER Nourishing Shea butter perfect for sensitive skins Seasonal special £25 (product value £38.50)

Ener-chi 37 Hickman Road, Penarth CF64 2AL 029 2070 7356 also at 57 Heol Isaf, Radyr, Cardiff CF5 8AH 029 2027 4012 www.enerchi4health.com

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From humble roots, Masons Moving Group has grown into a highly respected international company transporting customers’ most treasured belongings around the globe. We asked Gordon Mason, Masons Managing Director to give us an insight into the company’s formula for success.

MOVING STORY When was Masons established?

The company started in 1905 when Sidney Mason, my great grandfather, set up shop on Main Street in Cadoxton.

The company originally dealt in secondhand furniture and all the deliveries were made with a horse and cart.

Sidney’s business developed by moving furniture and eventually he passed on the business to his son Eric (one of nine children!). Sidney and his wife Alice lived above the shop and Eric worked with his dad until the age of eighteen.

World War II broke out and Eric trained as a fighter pilot and was stationed in Burma until 1947. When he returned, he married Esme after wooing her in the first Mason removal van, an old army van bought in 1948.

The business grew under Eric until, in 1955, there were three shops in Barry – Main Street, High Street and one on the corner of Thompson Street and Merthyr Street. Esme worked alongside Eric until his death in 1982 and after over fifty years, she still takes an interest in the business which is now run by my brothers Brett, Richard and myself.

“We’re an international company now with a reputation for excellence and reliability.”

The company has had its ups and downs since then but we’re hard workers and believe you don’t get something for nothing in this life.

We’ve changed beyond all recognition since those humble beginnings. We’re an international company now with a reputation for excellence and reliability and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved as a family.

What was your first job at Masons?

I joined the company when I left school at fifteen. My first job was a driver’s mate and van boy. There were no concessions for the bosses’ son.

My dad made us start at the bottom and work our way up.

How has the business changed over the years?

You can’t stand still in business.

Over the decades we’ve expanded as opportunities have arisen. Overseas removals is a good example… corporate relocations and people searching for of a better quality lifestyle by buying second homes abroad has created a good market for us.

Besides the actual moving of property, we provide containerized storage and warehousing. This is a growing part of our business and the storage side of thing alone has expanded to over 100,000 sq ft and it’s all watched over by state of the art cctv systems, so don’t get any ideas.

What do you like about the business?

The challenges that come with every day. The diversity of group operations means we might have a complicated house move one day and be planning a conference the next.

Who inspires you and why?

My late father because of his strong work ethic.

What do the other members of the family do in the business?

Richard and Brett are Director’s, Esme still takes an interest and my son James is training to be a manager at our new venture, The Business Centre.

You’re called Masons. Are any of you actually Masons?

Yes, I am a Freemason, but that doesn’t mean that everything I do is free!

Has the recent downturn in the economy affected your business?

Although the housing market has affected the removal business, alternative contracts have been secured in the distribution field to maintain our turnover. Additionally, our new venture The Business Centre has experienced an increase in enquiries as businesses do not want to commit to a long term traditional lease preferring to take advantage of the flexibility of ‘easy in, easy out’ tenancy agreements with no capital expenditure or legal fees.

What are your plans for the future?

To maintain our high standards across the group and to expand The Business Centre model in the South Wales area.

Above, Esme Mason with son, Gordon and an ex army truck in 1961. Left, Masons head office at Thompson Street in 1955.

Opposite, Jim Mason and a shop assistant outside Main Street shop in Cadoxton, 1920.

Photographs courtesty of Masons Moving Group, Barry.

Reproduced by kind permission of Gordon Mason.

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“The company has had its ups and downs... but we’re hard workers and we believe that you don’t get something for nothing in this life.” Gordon Mason Eating out, where do you suggest?

Casa Paco, good food, reasonable prices.

What is your favourite meal?

Tomato soup, steak and chips and jam rolly polly with custard.

Favourite drink?

Chablis and Carling Premier.

What do you do to relax?

Read Dean Koontz or Stephen King.

Do you have a pet hate?

Litter…grrrrr.

Favourite music and why?

Pink Floyd, Metallica and Rush.

Do you have a claim to fame?

Becoming a Worshipful Master of my lodge…

I wish more people would take more notice of…

The difficulties that are sometimes experienced by employers.

A phrase I use far too often…

Not another holiday!!!

I’m very good at…

Getting the most out of people.

Gordon Mason’s top business tips ■ Take the right business when

presented and always look for new opportunities ■ Value your staff and make sure

they know it I’m very bad at…

Giving compliments under pressure.

■ Maintain a sense of humour

My ideal night out would be…

A good meal with a nice bottle of chilled white wine does the trick.

■ Know your competitors and

What drives you?

My children.

■ Always follow your gut instinct

In moments of weakness I… Go for a stroll to clear my head.

Any unfulfilled ambition?

No regrets but I’m always looking for new opportunities.

The best age to be is…

50 and I’m looking forward to it.

The most memorable thing that has happened to me was…

The birth of my children.Family means everything to me.

In a nutshell my philosophy is…

Life is something that happens to you when you’re making other plans so you might as well enjoy it. ❧ 41 ❧

understand why they’re your competitors

Masons Moving Group Limited Storage House Priority Enterprise Park Cardiff Road, Barry CF63 2BG 01446 733330 enquiries@masonsmovingroup.co.uk www.masonsmovingroup.co.uk

This issue we bring you a range of competitions with something to suit everyone!

COMPETITION WINNERS

CITY L IFE SUMMER ❧ AUTUMN 2008

P R O U D

TH E CI T Y

OF

T O

B E

I N D E P E N D E N T

C A R D I F F ’S P R E M I E R L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DEREK NAYLOR & SIÂN TRENBERTH

POLO , FASHION , FOOD , TRAVEL AND INTERIORS

RESTAURANT REVIEWS, WHAT’S ON, BUSINESS, SHOPPING

THERE’S

MORE ONLINE

CITYLIFECARDIFF . CO . UK

Custom made jewellery from Peche Jewellery

Emma-Kate Francis jewellery worth £150

Here’s a fantastic chance to win a three Sterling Silver stackable rings set with one 5mm Amethyst gemstone and a hammered sterling silver Rose Quartz pendant.

For more information about Peche Jewellery please see page 36.

To celebrate the opening of EmmaKate’s gallery and workshop and the launch of ‘Seren’, the striking new range of star jewellery, EmmaKate is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a Seren bracelet and triple Seren necklace set, worth £150. See page 36 for more.

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the question in the box below and either post your entry to: Peche Jewellery Competition, City Life, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, CF63 2AW. Or email your answer and contact details to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk.

Please type Peche Jewellery as the title for your email.

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the question in the box below and either post your entry to: Emma-Kate Francis Competition, City Life, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, CF63 2AW. Or email your answer and contact details to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk.

Please type Emma-Kate as the title for your email.

FREE

DELICIOUS AUTUMN TOP

WIN! WIN!

PLUS A RT , B OOKS , S TYLE , HOMES, COMPETITIONS AND MORE

Last issue’s lucky winners THE COPTHORNE MR M HOWELL St Brides Major HAMPTONS MR ANDREW WELCH Cardiff ENER-CHI J AC Q U E L I N E A M S O Llandaff GOMER PRESS S A N DY W I L L I A M S Rhiwbina

Come on City Life readers!

You have every chance of winning one of these fantastic prizes just like the lucky winners above.

All competition entries must be received by December 31 2008.

Winners will be notified within 14 days and prize must be taken

by March 1 2009.

Go for it!

You’ve got to be in it, to win it!

✃

You can win too!

Picture is for illustration only. Please see page 36 for more information on Peche Jewellery.

✃

LOGO B E R R E T T I N V E S T I G AT I O N S Cardiff

Q

Where is jeweller Emma Roberts from?

Q

Where is Emma-Kate’s gallery and workshop?

Answer

Answer

Name Address

Name Address

Postcode Phone Email

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.

❧ 42 ❧

If you do not wish to receive details of products and services from City Life or other companies, please tick the box provided.

WIN! Here’s your chance to win a framed portrait of your child with award-winning photographer Martin Phillips worth £500 Martin Phillips AMPA ABIPP is one of the UK’s top wedding and portrait photographers. City Life would like to offer readers the chance to win a superb framed print worth £500.

Your child must be aged 0 - 12 years to be eligible to enter the competition and be photographed at the Martin Phillips studio. An adult must accompany the child at the photoshoot. Just ring the studio to make your appointment for your free session. The lucky winner will be chosen by City Life and all the portraits taken will be entered free of charge in the national Kodak Portrait Awards 2009. All fees due will be donated by Martin Phillips to the children’s charity PACE. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the question in the box below and either post your entry to: Martin Phillips Competition, City Life, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, CF63 2AW. Or email your answer and your contact details to jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk.

Please type Martin Phillips as the title for your email.

Judges decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into and no expenses or fees will be paid to those entering the competition or subsequent winner. Martin Phillips Photography reserve the right to use all images for promotional purposes in advertising, printed material or online. Competition entries must be received by January 31 2009. Winner will be notified within 14 days.

✃

Martin Phillips is featured on page 28

Q

Where is Martin Phillips’ studio?

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.

❧ 43 ❧

CITY BUSINESS

A round up of news in and around Cardiff.

C A E R P H I L LY

Office spaces to let at Ty Energlyn If you’re looking for space to start a business or simply fancy a change of location, Ty Energlyn is the perfect location.

With ample parking facilities and excellent rates, the offices are ideal for new start ups or established companies looking to reduce costs.

All services are included in the price and the building is set in a pleasant suburb of Caerphilly with easy access to the A470 and M4.

Offices currently available First Floor Suite 3, 117ft2 £1627 Suite 4, 173ft2 £2429 £1872 Suite 5, 127ft2 Second Floor Suite 7, 173ft2 Suite 8, 225ft2 Suite 9, 117ft2

£2279 £2588 £1527

For further information or a site visit, please contact Mr Kevin Ogden on 07968 411814 or email him at kevin@horizondml.co.uk Ty Energlyn Heol Las, Energlyn Caerphilly CF83 2WP

CIT Y CENTRE

Janet Amos awarded Employee of the Year “The retail industry employs over 1.8 million people, so to win this award is a fantastic achievement”, said the judges at Retail Bulletin’s’ People in Retail Awards as they named Janet Amos, Sales Associate at Ernest Jones jewellers, Employee of the Year.

Jan’s manager Jason Evans said, “ Jan has given nothing but 100% commitment to her role, team and customers alike.” Jan fought off tough competition to win her award and the judges said, “Jan has demonstrated commitment and passion for her job and has been an inspiration to her colleagues.” Jan attributes her success to putting the customer first. “It’s nice to get excited with them about their purchase; they could be buying an engagement ring or a present and these things mean a lot to people.”

Jan is also Chair of Cymdeithas Tai Hafan, a charity which helps house vulnerable women and their children.

Ernest Jones Jewellers. 62 Queen Street Cardiff CF10 2GQ Tel 02920 664068

VA L E L I F E . C O . U K

TURNERSTOOLBOX.COM

L L A N T R I S A N T. N E T

“Every piece of editorial in the magazine is put on the website including all the images and active hyperlinks. The advice and expertise that Commedia have brought to the table has been extremely useful and we have already commissioned a further two web projects with the company.”

“I even had a woodturner from the United States get in touch who was coming over here on holiday.

He travelled from where he was staying to my place to have a chat and to purchase some of our products.

I am delighted with the site and have nothing but praise for Commedia.”

“Our website, designed to a first-class standard and maintained by our designers, Commedia, keeps all Freemen updated of events in their hometown and that of their ancestors.

The Town Trust is proud of its website and the outstanding work carried out in creating it.”

Commedia provides effective creative print solutions for businesses and organisations across the public and private sectors ❧ 44 ❧

PENARTH

Tony King Architects are now a Big Issue To coincide with the release of their first ever brochure, Tony King Architects, who have developed particular experience in social and private housing developments, have become the first architect’s practice to become corporate subscribers of The Big Issue Cymru, the charity who specialise in helping the homeless.

Tony King Architects who also specialise in mixed office and retail schemes, refurbishments and listed buildings have recently achieved planning approval for two schemes of ninety houses and apartments for Newydd Housing Association in South Wales.

If you would like a copy of Tony King Architects’ brochure please email mail@tonykingarchitects.co.uk If you would like to check out The Big Issue you can find more information at www.bigissuecymru.co.uk. Remember, Big Issue sellers are selling not begging!

Tony King Architects Ltd 97a Glebe Street, Penarth Vale of Glamorgan CF64 1EE 029 2030 6400 mail@tonykingarchitects.co.uk www.tonykingarchitects.co.uk

Commedia designs, builds, manages and promotes websites for a wide variety of customers across the private sector in South Wales and the South West.

Usability, combined with high quality design, are the cornerstones of our success. From simple showcase brochure sites to fully content managed e-commerce stores, Commedia delivers the goods with flair and creativity.

COMMEDIAONLINE.CO.UK

C I T Y L I F E C A R D I F F. C O . U K

“The true test of any website’s success is unique visitor numbers, visits and page views. After that it simply comes down to actual business generated from traffic which is what most companies are looking for. It’s all about the day to day stats and converting visits into hard currency.”

“Since the City Life website went live at the beginning of February, we are delighted to report that visitor numbers and page views have increased consistently - this, together with the advice and service beyond what we could reasonably expect has been quite superb.”

For more info call 0845 130 1508 or email mark@commediaonline.co.uk ❧ 45 ❧

We could be doing it for your business.

If you’re even thinking about a new website or have one that simply isn’t performing, please call us today on 0845 130 1508. We promise you’ll be glad you did.

Visit us at www.commediaonline.co.uk

“The Mercedes Benz Dualiner drives like a car with lots of luxury goodies, it’s better on fuel, is 100% tax deductable on a lease and you can claim back all the VAT.”

Glen Newman of Purple Contracts gives City Life the lowdown on what vehicles customers are choosing in the current economic climate. If you’re thinking of changing your vehicle in the next six months then perhaps you should...

TALK TO PURPLE Can you tell us about your business?

Purple Contracts are a small, family-run vehicle leasing company based in the Vale of Glamorgan. We provide vehicles and vehicle finance to small businesses and private individuals nationwide.

We adopt a very consultative approach with all our customers – not many realise that although a £10,000 vehicle will always cost £10,000, the way you finance it can save you a small fortune, so we ensure that customers get all the facts to make an informed decision.

Have you noticed a change in enquiries since the onset of the credit crunch?

Yes, of course. It’s not all bad though, quite the opposite! Each and every one of our customers has the same thing in common – they all want to save money.

We’ve all got to look at our outgoings and overheads and a major one is our vehicle costs.

Many lower mileage customers have been switching back to petrol driven cars. Smaller cars are now cooler than bigger cars. Mpg is now more important than Sat Nav. Instead of impressive 21 inch alloys, drivers now prefer to ‘boast’ that their Road Tax is only £35 a year! It’s got to be a good thing, hasn’t it!

Their big disadvantage is that they are so expensive and heavy on fuel. Get the best of both worlds by going for a crew van, such as the Mercedes Benz Dualiner. It drives like a car with lots of luxury goodies, it’s better on fuel, is 100% tax deductable on a lease and you can claim back all the VAT (if you’re VAT registered).

What type of vehicles are people showing an interest in at the moment?

We’re supplying Fiat 500’s aplenty.

They’re terrific little cars (a bit different too), cheap as chips to lease and run, and only £35 a year to tax. Now that really does make good sense in these uncertain times.

What do you think makes Purple Contracts stand out from the competition?

The broker market has flourished over recent years (there are nearly three and a half thousand vehicle leasing ‘brokers’ in the UK at the moment), and with good reason - they all do one job really well... save you money! However, despairingly absent is a reasonable level of customer service. Our surveys reveal that the main reason a customer leases from a broker is price, and they are willing to accept poor service in return for a better price. At Purple, this is unacceptable. Why not have both?

Also, for double cab drivers, they’re missing a trick with crew-vans. Most double-cab vehicles are classed as LCV’s, which means they’re usually 100% tax deductable and business users pay much less company car tax.

I know that if I provide competitive vehicles and great service my business will flourish. I don’t want you to buy from Purple because we are the cheapest, I want you to buy from us because we are the best. Talk to Purple and find out for yourself – we only want your business if we earn it and deserve it.

“Fiat 500’s are terrific cars, cheap as chips to lease and run and only £35 a year to tax.”

Purple Contracts Talk to Purple!

08456 444 300 info@purplecontracts.com www.purplecontracts.com

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This issue we talk to talented Cardiff artist, Steve Alport about his love of drawing, his work ethic and living in Pontcanna.

EXPOSURE Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Steve Alport and I was born in Newport in 1960. I am married to Carolyn and have three sons, Matthew, 20, Ben, 17 and Daniel, 14 and have lived in fashionable Pontcanna for the past nineteen years. My father was an architect and mother an illustrator and art teacher, so from an early age I was never bored, constantly encouraged to draw and build things. Growing up, I always thought I would follow dad into architecture, but at sixteen I discovered graphic design, which seemed to be a great career.

After completing my A levels at Christ College, Brecon, I did a Foundation Course at Newport and went on to Bristol Polytechnic, Faculty of Art and Design, qualifying in 1982 with a BA(Hons) Degree. I have worked in Cardiff ever since, but in 2000 set up my own graphic design consultancy that also gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion for painting and drawing.

Please tell us about your artwork We surround ourselves with colour within our homes so I decided it would be a refreshing change to develop a black and white contemporary painting style that when framed would look great in any home/office/restaurant environment. Much of my inspiration is taken from aspects of the Welsh landscape, usually painting in black acrylic, directly onto watercolour paper where the combination of texture of paint and simple brush stroke provide lively, dramatic results.

The larger the painting, the more effective the final result is! It has proved to be a popular style as I have undertaken numerous commissions from a variety of clients and sold many originals over the years.

I see myself as a versatile artist. I will tackle any subject matter – the more challenging the better. I can usually tell in an instant whether a particular scene will make a good painting.

Pencil portraiture was something I got into by accident. When my youngest son was at junior school, I did a few pencil drawings for some of the parents of their children from favourite family photographs and had a stall at the school Christmas Fare. The interest was amazing and over that year took on quite a few commissions including some portraits of family pets.

I prefer to work from photos that are taken in the spur of the moment, capturing the true character of a child, not necessarily looking directly at the camera, sometimes unaware that they are being photographed. The finished portrait is approximately life-size and is always presented in a double mount – a piece of art, to mark a special moment in time and to pass down to the next generation!

Have you a lifelong ambition?

Although I have had work exhibited and sold in mixed exhibitions, I would eventually love to have the time to create enough work for a one-man show at a prestigious gallery.

What do you do to relax?

I have always been a keen gardener and several years ago decided to reshape my hedge at the front of our house. It is very therapeutic and has become more a hobby than a chore, and after two years, the addition of a Celtic knot (topiary) motif on the front of the hedge is now starting to take shape. It’s great exercise and fun talking to locals and visitors alike who stop to comment and chat!

As a family we have always enjoyed hill walking and picnicking in the Brecon Beacons and early morning coastal walks at Three Cliffs Bay in the Gower.

We are so fortunate to have all this on our doorstep!

What’s your work ethic?

Continue producing work that in my eyes is unique, diverse and the highest quality… I would never produce something that I would not be proud to hang on my own wall.

What do you like about Pontcanna?

Pontcanna has everything… convenient for local shops, restaurants, town and only a few minutes walk to the open expanse of Pontcanna Fields and Black Weir. I’ve spent many a time watching the salmon jumping at the weir.

We have all the essential amenities within walking distance – even where I get my paintings framed by Mike at The Framing Shop just around the corner. I love the close proximity of everything and I always bump into someone I know on my way to pick up a newspaper, where I can catch up on local gossip, often returning home much later than anticipated.

❧ 48 ❧

What has been the most memorable thing that has happened to you?

Being present at the births of my three children. Also, recently I had the opportunity of meeting a couple of Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots at an air show at Duxford and also having the opportunity of sitting in the cockpit of a fully operational Spitfire.

I am very good at…

Being a taxi service for my three sons… although two of them have passed their driving tests, I still seem to be ferrying them around and picking them up at odd times of the day and night!

I am very bad at…

Getting up early in the morning when it’s dark and cold and miserable outside. Probably 99% of people can relate to this one!

Do you have a pet hate?

Anyone who says they are bored!

There’s no such word in my vocabulary.

What’s your favourite meal?

Anything Italian, although my wife makes a fantastic range of home-cooked meals and desserts.

What have been your most challenging paintings to date?

I recently painted in acrylic a large 20 by 30 inch canvas of a Spitfire in flight for one of the world’s most experienced Spitfire display pilots.

Off-and-on it took almost four months to complete and a huge amount of patience, ruining several brushes in the process. It’s a subject I have never tackled before on such a large scale, but it was well worth the effort!

I was commissioned to paint a panoramic view from the Kymin (overlooking Monmouth and the surrounding area) for The National Trust. I painted the original in black acrylic on watercolour paper that was eventually reproduced on a plinth in sepia to reflect a particular period in the monuments history. The size of the original was approximately 3 feet by 18 inches and I still regard it as one of the most demanding paintings I have ever undertaken.

Do you have any regrets?

When I graduated from college in the early eighties, I had the opportunity to join a salvage diving team for several months in the Caribbean (I knew the boss!). I needed to complete a diving course in order to join the team, but with advice and a little pressure from my parents, I ended up getting a graphics job instead. My career would probably have taken a totally different path if I had accepted!

Steve Alport 57 Plasturton Avenue, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HL 029 2025 7239 steve@alport-design.co.uk Enquiries can also be taken through The Framing Shop, Pontcanna 029 2022 9012

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❧ 51 ❧

This issue, we speak to Mike Page of The Parade Specialist Dental Centre, part of the James Hull Group. Mike has a special interest in cosmetic and implant dentistry.

Mike, tell us a little bit about you?

I currently live in North Cardiff. I am married but do not yet have any children, just two dogs called Jack and Rosie. My wife and I have been married for 18 months, but we have been together for nearly ten years.

Although born in Stone in Staffordshire, I spent most of my formative years in Coventry in the Midlands.

How did you come to be working in Cardiff?

I came here originally in 1996 to study dentistry at the University of Wales Cardiff. Whilst at university I met my wife, and she being a local girl, I guess I wasn’t going to be going anywhere else! After qualifying I worked at a practice in Barry and then I worked at a practice in Merthyr for the next four and half years. I have been working at the parade for the last 15 months and thoroughly enjoying it.

Describe your best qualities?

I am relaxed and approachable with a good sense of humour. I do like to get to know my patients and enjoy a good chat. I hope my patients find this more relaxed attitude pleasant and it makes the experience more enjoyable for me and my patients.

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now, what would be your dream job?

I think if I had my time again I would still choose to become a dental surgeon. However if I was pushed I would say that I would have liked to become a airline pilot as I like planes, flying and would relish the opportunity to travel, and get paid for it!

What was the happiest moment in your life?

It is an old cliché but marrying my wife.

How do you juggle the work/life balance?

I do find this difficult as I have a lot of work related commitments. I am currently studying for a masters degree in dental implantology, which is a big commitment. I am an active member of the Association of Dental Implantologists and regularly attend various dental related courses and meetings. When I do have free time I do try to make the most of it with family and friends.

What do you do to relax?

Both my wife and I have black belts in Korean kickboxing and are qualified instructors. We train a couple of times a week and it is a great way to get rid of the stresses and strains of a busy working day. I also play golf regularly and enjoy going to the gym.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I imagine I will still be working here at The Parade, but as I am focusing on implantology, I will be looking to spend more of my time specialising in restoring more complex cases using dental implants. I like the idea of and in some regards take it as a responsibility to pass on what I have learned, so I would like to participate in lecturing and educating other dental professionals in the use of dental implants.

What’s your philosophy on life?

Enjoy it while you are here and everything in moderation. Although now I’m married I am learning a new philosophy, if at first you don’t succeed, try it your wife’s way!!

I currently work at the The Parade Specialist dental practice in Cardiff, where I am the general dentist, with a special interest in cosmetic and implant dentistry. In addition to providing an extensive range of high quality general dentistry, I undertake a lot of referred cosmetic work and also place and restore dental implants.

I am the only member of the implant team currently placing denture retaining implants at the practice.

These are a relatively new and simple system, used to stabilise dentures (false teeth). They require minimal surgery which is advantageous for patients as any post operative pain and recovery time are reduced dramatically. They are easy to maintain and are very effective in keeping loose dentures in place.

However what is impressive about these implants is the price, it can cost around a quarter of the price of four conventional implants, which enables dental implants to be available to a wider range of patients. However it must be stressed these implants are only suitable for stabilising dentures in certain patients. Often traditional dental implants are often still the best option. ❧ 52 ❧

Mrs Brenda Brookman of Cardiff is proof that whatever your age, a nice smile matters.

“I’ve never been happy with my dentures. The top set go off at an angle and the bottom set have never fitted properly. I’ve always wanted nice teeth. At my age, I still want to look nice and smile with confidence. I was speaking to a friend of mine about my teeth and she told me that she’d been to The Parade and had treatment.

Hers were lovely so I booked a consultation. I saw Gareth Jenkins who was absolutely lovely and when I told him that I wanted a full set of implants, top and bottom, he suggested I have a new set of dentures instead which would be far more affordable and which would look lovely.

He suggested I meet with Michael Page who specialises in this area which I did straight away, not wanting to lose momentum.

Mike talked me through the options and suggested I had a new set of dentures for my upper teeth and a new set for the bottom which would be fixed by a few implants to make them secure.

The service I have received from The Parade, Gareth and Mike especially, has been second to none. Mike has given me the smile I’ve been looking for and I’m delighted with the end result.”

The Parade Specialist Dental Centre (part of the James Hull Group) 23 The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AB Tel 029 2048 1486 Fax 029 2049 7983 theparade@jameshull.co.uk Opening Hours Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm

IN

The James Hull Group is led

by Chief Executive Officer Dr James Hull who started the Group in 1987 with his first dental practice in Newport.

He continues to maintain his clinical skills as a dentist.

“Mike has given me the smile I’ve been looking for and I’m delighted with the end result.”

Mrs Brenda Brookman

SAFE HANDS

A goldmine of vintage treasures, at Forever Vintage, Penarth, you’ll always find something distinctive and a bit unusual.

FOREVER VINTAGE With the rise of mass produced, throw-away high street fashion there’s been a growing interest and passion for vintage clothing.

Forever Vintage began when owner Melanie Rhoden sold items in vintage fairs.

How long has the shop been open?

We opened in Penarth in May 2008.

It’s located in a quaint part of town, in the Royal Victorian buildings. The old Victorian square offers a different and unique shopping experience.

What items do you stock?

The shop has often been described by customers as a real ‘treasure trove’.

I aim to source and provide customers with vintage and antique clothes from bygone eras ranging from Victorian through to 1970’s. The most popular decades have been the 50’s and 60’s.

We stock a range of accessories, from antique and vintage bags and purses, jewellery, hats and much more. The shop is also great for lovers of vintage linen, lace and haberdashery items and also collectables.

Where do you source your clothes?

I purchase items from the public, at auctions and have friends who source items for me. As well as a great range of original vintage clothing, local designer and dressmaker Annie Powell has teamed up with Forever Vintage to recreate vintage style dresses from vintage patterns and fabrics, as well as using new fabrics. Vintage style 1950’s dresses from classic Liberty fabrics are particularly popular.

Who are your customers?

They range from teenagers to ladies in their eighties. I have sold hats to women aged eighteen to eighty two, mini dresses to sixteen year olds and women in their forties as they look great over a pair of jeans. Customers return time and time again and bring their friends with them.

We have had customers looking for vintage items for theatre groups, and TV along with mums who are looking for clothing and accessories for their children for school plays or the prom.

I have customers from all over Wales, and also many from London.

How about male customers?

Yes, men don’t miss out either. I have frequently been asked to stock ranges of vintage clothing for them too, so that is an area that I will also be expanding.

Do you offer customers other ways to shop at Forever Vintage?

We can open evenings for private bookings or parties of ten people or more. Women like the idea of the shop opening just for them and a group of friends for a different shopping experience and evening out. It’s great fun to spend time with friends dressing up in vintage clothes as well as purchasing any item they like.

“Women will be looking for that unique dress for the Christmas party.”

Why is vintage so popular?

Women want something different.

We don’t want to turn up at a party or evening out dressed the same as everyone else. Fabrics and patterns are often very different to those mass produced today. Customers love to know the history of the garment they are purchasing and the era that women had worn that particular piece.

Do you rent outfits?

We offer to rent dresses for very reasonable rates, which is an affordable option for outfits that will only be worn once to a special occasion or a party.

What do you think will be your best sellers this season?

For the festive season I believe that vintage party dresses and accessories will be the most sought after items.

Women will be looking for that unique dress for the Christmas party or a great vintage bag or purse. We also offer a fantastic range of vintage jewellery and hand designed jewellery made from sterling silver and antique beads which are already selling well as gifts.

Forever Vintage will at the Vintage Fair, City Hall, Cardiff on 30th November.

A great opportunity for vintage fans!

Forever Vintage 12a Royal Buildings, Stanwell Road Penarth CF64 3ED 07831 590518 m.rhoden@tiscali.co.uk Website coming soon

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“Forever Vintage is happy to purchase vintage and antique clothing from the general public.�

The festive season is the time to be a little indulgent, so we thought we’d show you a few looks to see you through Christmas and New Year parties and maybe dinner with the in-laws. We enlisted a DBS from Stratstone, Cardiff, hunky model Rhys and the gorgeous location of Atlantic College sets the scene...

If you want to stand out from the party crowd this season, Giorgio’s of High Street, Barry has the sharpest dinner suits and the smartest casual wear.

Casual cool If you want to look smart at the Christmas dinner table why not go for something a little less formal but smart nonetheless. A cool tan leather jacket, paired with tailored trousers, check shirt and tan shoes, topped off with a scarf in the same tone as the outfit will fit the bill perfectly.

“If you want to look smart at the Christmas dinner table why not go for something a little less formal.”

STYLE IS BACK

Photography by Martin Phillips www.martinphillipsphotography.com With thanks to Stratstone, Cardiff for providing the Aston Martin DBS as featured in the 22nd James Bond film Quantum of Solace. The DBS is a technological tour de force wrapped in an exquisite body. The combination of modern materials and traditional skills is an essential element of the Aston Martin experience. In the DBS, the fusion of power, beauty and soul is without equal. Available from Stratstone Aston Martin, 156 North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BH. www.stratstone.com

Giorgio’s stocks a range of suits from Hagga, Gabicci, Jupiter, Scott Suits, City Survival Suits and Paolo Vandini shoes.

Recent additions are Hackett, Ralph Lauren, Duck and Cover and Gio Gio. Plus a selection of quality briefcases and a superb range of gifts for all ages and for every occasion. Giorgio’s also has a fine selection of Masonic gifts.

“Men want to look smart and there’s no better way to achieve this than with a really good quality suit.” ❧ 57 ❧

Giorgio’s Designer Menswear 16 High St, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan 01446 740990

Champagne was flowing, well dressed bodies were packed tightly, Only Men Aloud! were belting out some Welsh favourites, Nick Knowles was dashing in his metallic suit and John Barrowman was melting hearts (both male and female) dancing on the bar.

CLUB CLASS The place was buzzing and, most noticeably, everyone was smiling.

I can only be describing the launch of the fantastic, newly refurbished Cameo Club, an exclusive members club in the heart of Pontcanna.

Owners Huw Davies, Rhodri Ogwen Williams and Matt Kirkpatrick have transformed the Cameo Club which now provides a funky bar, bistro and lounge. Daytime sees professional people working away at their laptops or having meetings, couples and friends enjoying lunch, cooked lovingly by Dafydd Lloyd and Jorge formerly of Patagonia, while night time takes on a whole new vibe.

City Life hooked up with friends and caught up with the latest news above the laughter and clinking glasses.

The mood was infectious and after more singing, more chat and even more gyrating from the gorgeous Mr Barrowman, we bade our farewells and moved our way through the crowd and into the street.

We’ve had several business meetings at the club and that’s not just because it has WiFi throughout. They’ve done an amazing job with the refurbishment.

The colour scheme of grey’s and blue’s works well, as does the bar area with its abundance of colourful optics.

We’ve yet to sample the food but the menu looks good as did the food we’ve seen being served. Looking down at us are black and white photographs from Llanelli-based photographer Terry Morris’s Cool Cymru collection and these include Katherine Jenkins, Matthew Rhys, Andrew Vicari and Shirley Bassey. Photographs of Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones will be added in the New Year.

I’ve never been a member of a private club before but the Cameo Club membership definitely appeals. From January 2009, the new membership with be £150, but join now and new members will benefit from the club’s special introductory launch rate of £95, a saving of £55.

So, what are the key benefits of membership? The club has an enlarged private members’ only bar area and versatile private lounge, a private screening lounge for corporate and sporting events, a versatile private lounge for dining, board meetings or parties, use of the bistro, the benefit of a 2am license outside of the city centre and 10% discount off all purchases of food and drink and special events. If you joined now, you would still benefit from the discount for the remainder of November and December. Sold. Now, where do I sign?

“ Daytime sees professional people working away at their laptops or having meetings.”

If you like the look of the Cameo Club, you won’t be surprised to learn that the owners also run the popular bar One which is located over two floors in the Wales Millennium Centre.

One is the ideal place to relax or meet friends in an attractive, contemporary setting for pre and post performance serving bistro food, fine wines, beer and spirits.

It provides a stylish venue for the casual visitor and theatre-goer and is also available for private functions.

Another City Life haunt, we can thoroughly recommend their lamb cawl and mushroom risotto.

One Monday to Saturday 10am to 11pm Sunday 10am to 10.30pm 029 2047 0254

New to the group is A Shot In The Dark on Cardiff’s City Road.

Here you can enjoy delicious fresh food, (they have good vegetarian options), fair trade coffee, a wide selection of teas, home-made cakes and a good selection of old and new world wines, beers and spirits, along with frappés, smoothies and milkshakes. These and more can be enjoyed on squishy leather sofas while you chat with friends or work on your laptop.

Spread over two floors, A Shot In The Dark is available to hire for events, be it business or pleasure.

The Cameo Club 3 and 5 Pontcanna Street Cardiff CF11 9HQ 029 2022 0466

A Shot In The Dark 12 City Road, Roath Cardiff CF24 3BJ

info@cameoclub.co.uk www.cameoclub.co.uk

029 2047 2300 info@ashotinthedark.eu

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“ The food’s great, there’s a good cellar of wines and it’s a nice environment in which to chill out. There are attractive women too which is no bad thing,” says Nick Knowles, ardent Cameo Club fan.

We asked Nick Knowles, journalist, writer, producer and TV presenter about his connection with the Cameo Club and why he chose to become a member.

I have several connections with Cardiff over the years. Firstly I have Welsh family. Uncle Fred and Auntie Sheila Jenkins and all my cousins up in Mountain Ash and Hirwaun near Merthyr, so much of my youth was spent in the Brecon Beacons and in and around Cardiff. I was a keen rugby player and came with my brother to the internationals at the old Arms Park and the new Millennium Stadium.

(I should point out as an England supporter unless Wales were playing anyone else when I would, of course, support Wales).

Many of my best friends like Rhodri Williams are from Cardiff and some of the best nights out down the years have been here. Finally, Only Men Aloud won my recent Saturday night show Last Choir Standing and I’m due down there for a celebratory pint or several with them. Also various girlfriends...

How long have you been a member?

For nine years since Rhodri and Huw Davies took over. I’ve have had some legendary evenings in the company of some of my rugby heroes, drunken actors and actresses and my Cardiff buddies like Oagy.

Why did you become a member?

Because I knew the guys and knew they would create a fun place to be.

The first time I went, neither Rhod nor Huw were there, and I was taking friends. There was, at that time, a secret password that would identify me to the huge doorman as one of Rhod’s true friends as I was new. I was told to say “Let me in you big fat Hom!” I have to say I thought long and hard before using the phrase as I could imagine if it were not correct I would be struggling to eat corn on the cob over the coming months until I could get new teeth fitted. However, on uttering the phrase I was admitted. I must warn customers that the password has long since changed and the use of the phrase to doorstaff now is likely to encourage a fairly physical response.

What do you like about it?

I like the fact that everyone just gets on with their evening. No-one seems to care what anyone else does for a living and no-one tries to photograph me if I over-enjoy a glass of wine. The food’s great, there’s a good cellar of wines and it’s a nice environment in which to chill out. There are attractive women too which is no bad thing.

“I like the fact that everyone just gets on with their evening.” ❧ 59 ❧

Nick is currently working on the 18th series of DIY SOS, a wildlife gardening show called Wild About Your Garden, Real Rescues on daytime BBC 1 and Saturday nights doing Who Dares Wins quiz show around the lottery.

He’s also just finished a film script which is off to America for financing, is discussing the possibility of another Last Choir Standing, and working up to do To the Ends of the Earth, a huge wildlife spectacular in Africa next year for the BBC. The full interview with Nick Knowles can be viewed at www.citylifecardiff.co.uk

Welcome to City Life magazine’s Social Life section, a veritable who’s who in and around Cardiff.

CITY

PA R K P L A Z A

Tonic Champagne and cupcakes were the order of the day (well evening) at Tonic’s party held at the Park Plaza, Cardiff. The Moet flowed, the cupcakes were devoured while guests happily chatted.

BUTE STREET

Bute Space Gallery Guests enjoyed the launch of ‘1001’ at Cardiff’s newest gallery.

1001 pieces of art, design and craft by over 200 artists and designers from all disciplines are showcased in this superb Christmas exhibition, over the gallery’s three intriguing floors. This is the largest exhibition of its kind in Wales and must be seen to be believed! At ‘1001’ you will find the best of new and emerging talent sourced from around Wales and the UK, as well as work by important Welsh artists. If you are looking for a unique and imaginative gift or simply to treat yourself, be sure to visit as there’s something for every taste and budget.

Bute Space Gallery & Studios 123 Bute Street, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AE ‘1001’ is on until 6th January 2009 029 2048 2565 butespacegallery@gmail.com

Specialists in photographing social, society and celebrity events across South Wales ❧ 60 ❧

www.ifotoevents.co.uk DEREK NAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

SOCIAL LIFE N AT I O N A L M U S E U M O F WA L E S

Eve Appeal City Life were delighted to attend the Eve Appeal dinner at the Cardiff Museum in aid of Ovarian Cancer.

Jo Brand was guest of honour at the event which raised £7,610 (and still counting). See page 31 for more...

PA R K P L A Z A

Top 400 There was glitz and glamour aplenty at the launch of the Top 400 networking club at the Park Plaza, Cardiff. Guests enjoyed champagne and nibbles well into the night.

Specialists in photographing social, society and celebrity events across South Wales ❧ 61 ❧

www.ifotoevents.co.uk DEREK NAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Social Life covers launches, parties, exhibitions, charitable events, fashion shows, engagements and weddings.

CITY

PONTCANNA

Cameo Club A fantastic night was had by all at the launch of the newly refurbished Cameo Club.

TV presenter Nick Knowles, Torchwood star John Barrowman, Only Men Aloud! and a number of sporting personalities were among the many guests. There was certainly little room at the inn as more and more people joined the crowd so John Barrowman found his own spot on the bar!

Choirmaster and friends

The sleek new bar

Catching up with friends

Ladies enjoying their champagne

Only Men Aloud! - the choir in full voice

The party goers enjoy the entertainment

The Cameo Club 3 & 5 Pontcanna St, Cardiff CF11 9HQ 029 2022 0466 info@cameoclub.co.uk www.cameoclub.co.uk

The bubbly kept flowing!

John Barrowman and Nick Knowles

Nick Knowles

Specialists in photographing social, society and celebrity events across South Wales â?§ 62 â?§

www.ifotoevents.co.uk DEREK NAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

SOCIAL LIFE Owners Matt Kirkpatrick, Rhrodri Ogwen Williams and Huw Davies with Nick Knowles

Sally, Megan, Lili and Holly with the Gargoyle

The wives and girlfriends of Only Men Aloud!

Geoff Lloyd, Nigel Morgan and guest

Welsh football manager John Toshack (centre) with Huw and family

John Barrowman with sister Carol, Nick Knowles, Rhodri and sister Sara

Specialists in photographing social, society and celebrity events across South Wales ❧ 63 ❧

www.ifotoevents.co.uk DEREK NAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

SHOWCASE YOUR HOME IN CITY L IFE Featuring your home in City Life can help to sell your property!

We’ve all heard the recent disturbing news about the global credit crunch and the effect that this is having on the housing market, but what if you still want to sell your house?

Is your property suitable?

Firstly your property has to be appropriate for City Life. It might have some interesting history, be in a stunning location or just simply beautifully presented.

We have a number of packages available which are as follows:

As with any product, it is important to create a desirable product for the market in which you’re trying to sell.

So, just imagine potential buyers poring over your beautifully presented property in the pages of City Life.

After an initial consultation, we would arrange to take photographys and write descriptive text to complement the images.

Gold A four page feature of your home including photography, copywriting and web pages.

If you’re thinking of selling, this is a highly effective way of promoting your home to discerning readers in and around Cardiff and is the perfect medium in which to showcase your property. C ITY L IFE

Platinum A four page feature of your home including photography, copywriting, web pages and an eight page brochure which would also contain the feature pages from City Life.

AUTUMN ❧ WINTER 2008

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

P R O U D

GIFTS OF TIME AND LOVE ARE SURELY THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF A TRULY MERRY CHRISTMAS PEG BRACKEN

City Life Cardiff House Cardiff Road Vale of Glamorgan CF63 2AW

TH E CI T Y

OF

T O

B E

FREE

I N D E P E N D E N T

C A R D I F F ’S P R E M I E R L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E

For a free quotation, please telephone 0845 180 2345 DECK THE HALLS

AUTUMN WINTER 2008 FREE

“A feature in City Life is a highly effective way of promoting your home to discerning readers.”

Silver A double page spread of your home including photography and copywriting

GORGEOUS INTERIORS, FABULOUS FLOORS AND FIREPLACES COOL KITCHENS PLUS GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS RESTAURANT REVIEWS, WHAT’S ON, BUSINESS, SHOPPING

THERE’S

MORE ONLINE

CITYLIFECARDIFF . CO . UK

PLUS A RT , B OOKS , S TYLE , HEALTH, HOMES AND MUCH MORE

or email jennifer@citylifecardiff.co.uk www.citylifecardiff.co.uk

CEREDWYN COTTAGE 4 star luxury, breathing fresh air into coastal living.

Situated on Colhugh Street, Llantwit Major a stone’s throw from the bustling village with its many quaint shops, cafés and restaurants. Just one mile to the beach and the breathtaking Heritage Coastline, stands this most charming 200 year old Welsh stone cottage.

The cottage has been lovingly restored to reveal its Welsh stone walls and two original fireplaces by its owners Vicki Morgan and her business partner Kevin Hom Sing of Icos Building and Design Ltd. Vicki and Kevin started renovating the cottage just over a year ago and have transformed it into a masterpiece of sophisticated, warm cottage living. The whole cottage has been completely remodelled offering the following accommodation: Interior ♥ Large open plan sitting room with two original fireplaces ♥ Slate stone flooring to the whole of the ground floor ♥ Kitchen/dining room with utility ♥ Downstairs family bathroom ♥ Two double bedrooms (one bedroom with dressing area) ♥ Master bedroom offers en-suite shower room Exterior ♥ Enclosed landscaped garden with decking and lawn area ♥ Private off road parking for two vehicles

This is a rare opportunity to purchase a stunning cottage, full of character, in one of the Vale’s most desirable and sought after locations.

For Sale This charming property is offered for sale at £255,000 Please call 0845 130 6452 or email jennifer@valelife.co.uk

❧ 36 ❧

Ceredwyn Cottage.

Home is where the heart is.

Selling your property?

If you are a homeowner and would like to feature your property in Vale Life please call 0845 130 6452 or email jennifer@valelife.co.uk for further information.

❧ 37 ❧

❧ 64 ❧

One day

I’m going to

save your life

Help us put a young lifesaver into every home

Your Legacy matters to St John Cymru Wales

How many young people would know how to administer first aid in an emergency?

Yes, I would like to learn more about the charitable works of St John Cymru Wales and receive a legacy information pack.

Title:

We are training thousands of youngsters in Wales each year, but we want to make sure the answer to the question is “all of them”.

First name:

Surname:

We believe that training young people is the best way to ensure there is first aid available for those in need. But training is expensive. That is why your legacy is so important to us. We do hope that you will want to find out more about how you can help us save more lives.

For a confidential conversation please call

029 2044 9629

legacy@stjohnwales.org.uk www.stjohnwales.org.uk

❧ 65 ❧

Address: Postcode: Telephone:

Email:

Thank you Send your request for an information pack to: Legacy Executive, St John Cymru Wales, Priory House, Beignon Close, Ocean Way, Cardiff CF24 5PB

THE LAST WORD Jon Field of Unity Trust Bank talks to City Life about his life and work in Cardiff and why customers of Unity aren’t affected by recent events in the financial markets.

Jon, please tell us about yourself.

I’m 34 years old and have worked in the banking and finance industry for seventeen years, previously working for Barclays Bank in their Commercial Banking sector. I’m currently a Development Manager for Unity Trust Bank working with charity and social economy sector organisations.

Who are Unity Trust Bank?

Unity Trust Bank was established in 1984 as a socially responsible bank for the social economy sector such as charities, voluntary organisations, credit unions, social enterprises and trade unions. We provide a full range of banking services including internet banking and commercial loan finance.

What attracted you to Unity?

I was drawn to Unity because of its commitment to customer service and corporate social responsibility. I’m very much a ‘people’ person so I fit in well with a bank that puts relationships at the top of its agenda.

What do you most like about living in Cardiff?

It has to be the City’s wide range of facilities. I really feel there is something for everyone in Cardiff from shopping to eating out and playing sport and its close to the coast and the Vale of Glamorgan.

What is your favourite restaurant?

This is a difficult question as there are so many I like in Cardiff, however I really like Cibo in Pontcanna, it serves great quality Italian food and is situated in a really lovely part of the city.

Favourite meal?

My mum’s Sunday roast with all the trimmings!

Best view in Cardiff?

Cardiff Castle at sunset.

What do you do to relax?

I like to spend time with family and friends. I also thoroughly enjoy going to the theatre and when the weather permits I like to spend a bit of time relaxing in my garden.

If you weren’t a Bank Manager, what job would you be doing?

I would have trained to be a commercial pilot. It’s been a lifelong ambition of mine but I’ve reached the conclusion that I’m too old to start now.

My ideal night out would be?

With close friends at a nice restaurant in Cardiff Bay. In moments of weakness I...

Promise myself I’ll never spend so much money on holidays and nice things... however I haven’t managed this well so far!

If someone summed you up in three words?

Reliable, loyal, diligent.

What gadget would you not be without and why?

My internet connection. Working from home, this keeps me in touch with my customers and the bank. My Blackberry is also something that I really couldn’t do without.

The best age to be is...

Now, live for the moment.

Following recent events in the financial industry, can you reassure both customers and potential customers about the safety and security of their deposits?

Unity has a very strong liquidity position, and therefore does not need to borrow money from the inter-bank markets or from any other organisation to fund its day to day activities. It is not impacted by the current difficulties that some banks are facing from the lack of liquidity in this market.

“Unity has never traded in sub-prime investments or the complex financial instruments that have resulted in difficulties for many organisations.” ❧ 66 ❧

How does Unity fund its banking business?

Unity funds its banking business entirely from shareholder capital and customers deposits. Our shareholders Trades Unions and the Co-operative Bank are long term investors, having owned the bank since formation.

Many of our sharelders are also customers and the comfort and stability provided by owning and controlling the bank means that we do not have a volatile deposit base. This is reflected by the fact that many third sector organisations have chosen Unity as a socially responsible bank, exercising good stewardship of their funds.

There has been a lot of publicity about sub-prime investments, is Unity involved in this market.

Unity has never traded in sub-prime investments or the complex financial instruments that have resulted in difficulties for many organisations.

Indeed, this is outside of both our corporate and social responsibility policies. As such, we have been unaffected by events in these markets.

Is Unity subject to the same regulatory regime as other banks?

Unity has a full banking licence, is regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a member of the British Bankers Association.

Our business is conducted according to regulatory codes and subject to due supervision. Our eligible depositors are fully covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme - www.fscs.org.uk Jon Field can be contacted on 07885 843682 or email jon.field@unity.co.uk

Unity Trust Bank plc PO Box 401 Cardiff CF11 1LE 029 2064 4422 www.unity.co.uk

FUN-FUELLED ACTION MILLENNIUM STADIUM 06 DECEMBER 08

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