Cardiff Life - Issue 214

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 214 / FEBRUARY 2020 / £3

@CardiffLifeMag

FAST TRACK

ART HOUSE

ISSUE 214 / FEBRUARY 2020 / KNOW YOUR ONIONS

Expert advice on feeling fit, right now

SLEEPING BEAUTY

The dreamiest bedtime accessories

Painter John Abell at work

WEALTH OF ADVICE

How to steer clear of the January financial blues

PARTY PEOPLE

All the dazzling action from Cardiff Life’s winter party

FRESH PRODUCE GOING THE FULL VEGAN WITH MATT ‘DIRTY VEGAN’ PRITCHARD ALSO JOSIE-SINNADURAI / STACEY DOOLEY / VOCO ST DAVID’S

© MARY W YCHERLEY W W W.T WOCATSINTHEYARD.CO.UK

EDITOR’S LETTER

I

was vegetarian for 10 years, and am, for most of the year, quite vegan-ish. So why then, does Veganuary make me reach for the bacon butties? (Same goes when some moderate drinker starts telling me their Dry January ‘struggle’ – I find myself slipping into the pub and slipping into mid-week Merlot coma). I’ve always claimed it to be the rebel in me resisting being told what to do. However, listening to our cover star, Matt Pritchard, who can out rebel the most rebellious of rebels, talk about the merits of being vegan and sharing his extraordinary recipes (page 28), I’m humbled into paying attention like a proper grown-up. He makes delicious, sustainable sense, without a trace of being boring, lecturing, or hectoring.

We also look at our 2020 health, and because we could do without feeling bullied into getting fit, our lovely Cardiff fitness experts have taken the gentle approach and share their tips to how to feel good right now (page 42). And over on page 58, to help improve get our attitude to money, we have a wellness and financial coach sharing her seven golden rules.

But this issue isn’t just about doing stuff – I strongly believe this time of year it should be compulsory to hibernate whenever the mood strikes, and with this mind, the Ed’s Choice on page 23 is dedicated to sleep.

I’m off for a nap now, enjoy the mag, and see you in three weeks.

R

oeddwn yn llysfwytäwr am 10 mlynedd, ac yn ystod y rhan fwyaf o’r flwyddyn rwy’n tueddu i fod yn fegan. Felly, pam mae ‘Ionawr Fegan’ yn gwneud i fi awchu am frechdanau bacwn? (Mae’r un peth yn wir pan fydd yfwr cymedrol yn dechrau sôn wrthyf am ei sialens ‘Ionawr Sych’ – byddaf yn sydyn yn sleifio i mewn i dafarn ac yn meddwi ar win Merlot ganol wythnos). Byddaf bob amser yn rhoi’r bai ar y rebel sydd ynof, sy’n gwrthod ufuddhau i orchmynion. Fodd bynnag, o glywed seren ein clawr a’r rebel pennaf un, Matt Pritchard, yn sôn am fanteision bod yn fegan ac yn rhannu ei ryseitiau neilltuol â ni (ar dudalen 28), bu’n rhaid i mi wrando fel oedolyn aeddfed. Mae’n disgrifio rhywbeth sy’n gwneud synnwyr ac sy’n gynaliadwy ac yn flasus, a hynny heb ein diflasu, heb bregethu a heb refru.

Rydym hefyd yn edrych ar ein hiechyd yn 2020. Nid ydym am gael ein bwlio i fod yn fwy heini, felly mae ein harbenigwyr hyfryd ar ffitrwydd yng Nghaerdydd wedi penderfynu bod yn garedig ac maent yn rhannu ambell gyngor â ni ynghylch sut i deimlo’n dda yn syth (ar dudalen 42). Ac ar dudalen 58, er mwyn helpu i wella ein hagwedd at arian, mae gennym hyfforddwr lles a materion ariannol sy’n sôn am ei saith rheol aur.

Ond mae mwy i’r rhifyn hwn na mynd ati i wneud pethau – rwy’n credu’n gryf y dylai pawb orfod gorffwys yr adeg hon o’r flwyddyn os dyna yw eu dymuniad, felly mae Dewis y Golygydd ar dudalen 23 yn canolbwyntio ar gwsg.

Rwy’n mynd i roi fy mhen i lawr am ychydig yn awr!

Mwynhewch y darllen ac edrychwn ymlaen at eich gweld ymhen tair wythnos.

SARAH MOOLLA Follow us on Twitter @CardiffLifeMag Instagram @cardifflifemag

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Issue 214/February 2020

COVER Cardiff chef Matt Pritchard gets fresh with his new vegan cookery book Dirty Vegan: Another Bite (page 28)

THE ARTS

11 INTRO The Michael Rothenstein exhibition comes

to the Albany Gallery

36

12 WHAT’S ON Arts, gigs, shows and comedy, it’s all

going on in Cardiff

15 QUICK CHAT Catching up with Stacey Dooley

ahead of her St David’s Hall visit

17 MY SPACE Artist John Abell shows us around his

28

Cardiff art studio

SHOPPING

23 INTRO You’ll love these dreamy soft furnishings 24 EDITOR’S CHOICE Sleep easy with these beautiful

bedtime accessories

FOOD & DRINK

28 RECIPES Dirty Vegan Matt Pritchard shares two of

his vegan favourites from his new cookery book

32 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Three new indie

restaurants coming to capital

LIFESTYLE

36 STAYCATION It’s all aboard the five-star waterfront

voco St David’s Cardiff hotel

42 HEALTH & FITNESS Cardiff experts share their

tips to getting fit fast

BUSINESS

49 CARDIFFWORKS News, views, and inspiring

interviews with the region’s professionals

58 MONEY MATTERS News, views, and inspiring

interviews with the region’s professionals

PROPERTY

62 SHOWCASE Explore a handsome home in Cyncoed

REGULARS

8 SPOTLIGHT Rhod Gilbert, rain dances at Chapter,

and the Welsh suffragette collection

19 WYBURN & WAYNE The boys are back and out on

the town

20 SCENE All the glamour and the lovely people of the

Cardiff Life Winter Party

66 CARDIFF LIVES Meet Welsh-born flamenco

dancer Josie Sinnadurai

Editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@mediaclash.co.uk Ed’s photo by Louis Smith /www.studiowhisk.co.uk Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Rachel Jefferies, Mary Wycherley, Nathan Wyburn, Wayne Courtney, Elsie Chadwick, and John Mather Advertising manager Mark George mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Samantha James samantha.james@ mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Cardiff Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved.

May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag). Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 5

SPOTLIGHT

A look back...

clockwise from top right: The hunger strike medal awarded to Kate; The Illuminated address awarded to Kate by the Women’s Social and Political Union; Welsh suffragette Kate Williams Evans

A WOMAN’S WORK

A rare collection of Welsh suffragette memorabilia has gone on display for the first time at St Fagans National Museum of History. The artefacts were owned by the suffragette Kate Williams Evans, who was born in Llansanffraid in 1866.

The items include a hunger strike medal and a book signed by prominent suffragettes including Emmeline Pankhurst and Emily Wilding Davison.

Sioned Hughes, keeper of history and archaeology at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, says, “Until now we had very little in our collections relating to the Welsh suffragettes themselves. This collection is a valuable asset to Wales’ political and national history collections.”

For more: www.museum.wales

A look forward...

TIME FLIES

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales have appointed an artist to co-curate an exhibition to consider what Wales might look like in 30 years. Henry Alles, who is a theatre maker, director and visual artist from the Netherlands, will be living at St Fagans National Museum of History for the duration of his artist residency until June 2020, when the work will then go public.

Henry says, “It’s a privilege and a challenge to be appointed to work on this project. I look forward to working with the Young Heritage Leaders to investigate the crossover between the old and the new as we explore what Wales will look like in the future.”

This is the first temporary exhibition at St Fagans National Museum of History following the Museum’s redevelopment and will draw on items from the national collection, in addition to engaging with contemporary themes such as the environment, gender identity, diversity, and life experiences.

For more: www.museum.wales

Artist Henry Alles flying the flag for art 8 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Comedian Rhod Gilbert is prepared to talk tackle

Raising awareness

MAN UP

Comedian Rhod Gilbert is fronting a national campaign aimed at raising awareness of male infertility. Drawing on his own experience of fertility issues, Rhod Gilbert has become the face of HIMfertility, which launched in Cardiff on 17 December.

Rhod says, “I’ve got to be honest, I knew almost nothing about male infertility until we had trouble starting a family a few years ago. The journey I’ve been on with my wife has been eye-opening and mind-blowing at times.

“Looking into this area more, I have been shocked at what I have discovered. Male infertility accounts for roughly half of all infertility, but you would never know that from the way we talk about infertility in society.

He has filmed his story for a BBC documentary, Rhod Gilbert: Stand up to Infertility, due to air later this year. As part of this, he met men from across the country who were experiencing difficulties. He says, “Men aren’t always the best at opening up about sensitive subjects around health, but when it’s one that goes to the heart of notions of masculinity and virility, then we are even worse.

“But this has got to change! It’s time to talk tackle – because by closing up and shutting down, we are leaving a hell of a lot of men feeling isolated, helpless and alone.

And this is not just about men; if men were more able to talk openly, and had more places they could access information and support, then everyone would benefit.”

For more: www.himfertility.com

Arts

RAIN DANCE

clockwise from top left: Harry Holland’s unframed pencil drawing drawn specifically for Llamau; Rhiannon Roberts’ Cardiff Bay; Kevin Sinnott’s Into the Millennium; Meirion Jones’ Golau ar Fae Ceredigion; Nicola Gibbs’ Rainbow; Lynne Fordham’s Focus

To highlight the latest British Film Institute’s blockbuster season – BFI Musicals! The Greatest Show on Screen – Cardiff’s Chapter played host to a flashmob led by Cardiff and Barry based Gemma Hilberg of Turnd Up Fitness. The group performed Singin’ In The Rain from the Gene Kelly classic, which is being shown at the multi-artform Canton venue on 26 January.

For more: www.chapter.org

Charity

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS above: Chapter’s flashmob having brolley good fun; left: Gene Kelly in the original classic

On 28 November, the Cardiff-based homelessness charity Llamau held its second Rehoming Art for the Homeless auction at Roger Jones Auction House. Cardiff-based artists Kevin Sinnott, Harry Holland and Rhiannon Roberts were among the 30 creatives who donated, raising more than £10,000 for the charity, with the highest selling piece being Golau ar Fae Ceredigion by Meirion Jones which went for £700.

For more: www.llamau.org.uk

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THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F C A R D I F F ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

GRAPHIC AND NOVEL The Albany Gallery is displaying a unique collection of prints by the artist Michael Rothenstein (1908-93), who is considered one of the most experimental British graphic artists of the 20th century. Rothenstein’s work is held in several eminent public collections including the Tate Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The British Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This exhibition, which includes Sunburst featured here, has been curated by Rothenstein’s estate holder, Goldmark Gallery.

The Michael Rothenstein exhibition can be seen until 8 February at The Albany Gallery, 74b Albany Road, Cardiff; www.albanygallery.com

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WHAT’S ON 17 January – 14 February

Grammy-nominated Beth Hart will be performing at St David’s Hall on 12 February

PLAYS / FILM / PERFORMANCES

concert orchestra performing silver screen classics. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

all, in Verdi’s grand opera. Donald Gordon Theatre; www.wmc.org.uk

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN A masterpiece of the classical Hollywood musical starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor as the big egos of the silent movies who struggle to cope with the advent of talkies. Turn to page 8 for Chapter’s Singin’ in the Rain flashmob. Chapter; www.chapter.org

1 February

PORGY AND BESS The Met’s production of Gershwins’ opera Porgy and Bess is broadcast live in HD across the globe. It tells the joys and struggles of a black neighbourhood in South Carolina in the early 20th-century.

Cineworld Cardiff; www.cineworld.co.uk

LLYFR GLAS NEBO As the dust settles after a nuclear apocalypse, Rowenna and her children Siôn and Dwynwen are facing a world where signs of life are quickly disappearing in this unflinching story about life, death and hope. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

8, 15 & 22 February

11 – 15 February

25 – 26 January

26 January

DANCE THOSE MAGICAL MOVIES Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag deliver an evening of Hollywood glamour, exquisite choreography, stunning costumes, and a 23-piece

LES VÊPRES SICILIENNES Based around true events which occurred in Sicily in 1282, Hélène seeks justice for her murdered brother, as revenge, revolution, confusion and betrayal signal a massacre that will destroy them

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10 – 11 February

A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED The residents of Chipping Cleghorn are astonished to read an advert in the local newspaper that a murder will take place this coming Friday at Little Paddocks, the home of Letitia Blacklock. The group

gather at the house at the appointed time, when the lights go out and a gun is fired. Enter Miss Marple to find the killer. New Theatre Cardiff; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

MUSIC / BANDS 24 January

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB The indie rock band, who took their name from a chain of curry houses, have returned to making new music and performing live after a threeyear hiatus. Cardiff University Students Union; www.cardiffstudents.com

28 January

RACHEL GOODE Soprano Rachel Goode scooped the RWCMD’s Sir Ian Stoutzker 2019 Prize which celebrates outstanding

WHAT’S ON

ABOVE: Mission: Planet Earth is a VR journey at the National Museum of Wales LEFT: Kano gets grimy at Motorpoint Arena on 1 February BELOW: Comic Lou Sanders will be at the Glee Club on 26 January

says is about our dying planet. The Globe Cardiff; www.globecardiffmusic.com

potential and achievement in a young musician, and is making a name for herself on the operatic stage. The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

7 February

DYDD MIWSIG CYMRU – WELSH LANGUAGE MUSIC DAY Enjoy a day of Welsh language music starting with Al Lewis, and HANA2k at St David’s shopping centre. There’s also events happening at Clwb Ifor Bach for a three-floor takeover with music from Papur Wal, Los Blancos, and Ynys; www.gov.wales

28 – 29 January / 15 February

THE BIG GIG Cardiff’s music talent competition returns with the two semi-finals taking place at Fuel on Womanby Street. Then three finalists from each semi-final proceed to the grand final on 15 February at Clwb Ifor Bach. Prizes include a coveted spot on the bill at this year’s Sŵn Festival. www.visitcardiff.com/biggig

31 January

12 February

KAISER CHIEFS Kaiser Chiefs, along with guests Razorlight, are on a nine-date UK arena tour following the release of anthemic new single People Know How To Love One Another taken from their new album Duck. Motorpoint Arena Cardiff; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

1 February

KANO The gifted British MC, aka Kane Brett Robinson, who is considered a significant contributor to the grime music, is touring to help promote his much-acclaimed new album, Hoodies All Summer. C.U. Students Union; www.cardiffstudents.com

6 February

BEANS ON TOAST Essex folk hero is searching for hope in what may be Earth’s darkest hour with the release of his new album The Inevitable Train Wreck, which he

BETH HART When the Grammy Awardnominated blues-rock star sings in her inimitable Californian drawl; clocks stop, hearts dance and neck-hair tingles. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

14 February

MONEY FOR NOTHING Money for Nothing are four talented musicians from Cardiff who in 2000 who formed a tribute to one of the world’s premier rock bands – Dire Straits. The abundant energy and the excellence and musicality of their performance has won them a legion of fans and much praise. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

COMEDY 25 January

DAVID BADDIEL: TROLLS: NOT THE DOLLS David has always seen trolls as hecklers, and if a comedian gets

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WHAT’S ON heckled, it is their duty not to ignore the heckler, but to wittily put them down. David shares the stories of the dark, terrible and hysterically absurd cyber-paths that interacting with trolls has led him down. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

26 January

LOU SANDERS In her stand-up, Say Hello to Your New Step-Mummy, Lou’s confessional stand up examines relationships (all kinds, baby), mental health (other people’s, she’s fine) and perverts (that one is her, actually). With plenty of oversharing and wanging on about spirituality, Lou is ready to give everyone some much unwanted advice. Glee Club Cardiff; www.glee.co.uk

13 February

LA VOIX Expect side-splitting comedy, huge vocals, incredible musicianship, mesmerising impressions of the world’s biggest divas and buckets full of energy. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

ART, PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITIONS Until 31 January

CHRISTMAS SHOW A mixed show of some of the gallery’s favourite artists including Ivan Chapman, Sheryl Roberts, Elaine Kelly, and Jacqueline

Jones. Off The Wall Gallery; www.galleryoffthewall.com

Until 8 February

MICHAEL ROTHENSTEIN A unique collection of prints from Michael Rothenstein who is considered to be one of the most pioneering graphic artists of the 20th century. Turn to page 11 for more.

Albany Gallery; www.albanygallery.com

Until 1 March

AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY SEASON Focusses on the work of the world’s most influential photographers August Sander (1876-1964) and his People of the Twentieth Century project, and Bernd and Hilla Becher: Industrial Visions which brings together 225 photographs by two of the most significant artists of the twentieth century. National Museum Cardiff; www.museum.wales

Until 2021

MISSION: PLANET EARTH Embarking on a mission through time and space, visitors are guided on a virtual reality journey to find out what Wales was like millions of years ago, including the sighting giant bugs, dinosaurs and even woolly mammoths. Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Cardiff; www.museum.wales

Until 4 May

MARTIN PARR IN WALES Martin Parr, one of the most influential and prolific

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above:

See Ivan Chapman’s Molly at Off The Wall as part of their current exhibition Llyfr Glas Nebo is the post-apocalypse tale being told at the Sherman Theatre; below: The Met’s production of Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess can be seen 1 February left:

photographers working today, has always been drawn to Wales, having lived just over the border in nearby Bristol for thirty years.

This exhibition brings together, for the first time, works that explore different aspects of Welsh life and culture, including male voice choirs, coal mining, and the seaside National Museum Cardiff; www.museum.wales

18 January – 1 March

AELWYD – TOWARDS A CONTEMPORARY WELSH INTERIOR Aelwyd is Welsh for hearth – a word synonymous with home. Through their material, making, story or use, the objects in this exhibition explore a deep-rooted sense of belonging and home. Fifteen makers, all from or living in Wales, create handmade items that are a pleasure to live with. Craft in the Bay; www.makersguildinwales.org.uk

28 January – 10 May

IMAGINE A CASTLE Wales is often called the ‘land of castles’ and with over 600 of them, and many renowned artists have used the motif of the castle as a way to represent Wales’ wild, David Baddiel is sharing his social media horror stories in Cardiff on 25 January

majestic, and romantic landscapes.

This touring exhibition, which is supported by Art Fund, of five paintings from the National Gallery, London, will complement and highlight the rich and diverse representations of castles in the museum’s existing collections.

Amgueddfa Cymru– National Museum Wales; www.museum.wales

SPORT

25 January

CARDIFF CITY V WEST BROMWICH Sky Bet Championship, kick off 3pm.

Cardiff City; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

26 January

CARDIFF DEVILS V NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS League, face off 6pm.

Viola Arena, Cardiff International Sports Village; www.cardiffdevils.com

31 January

CARDIFF CITY V READING Sky Bet Championship, kick off 7.45pm. Cardiff City; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk n

A QUICK CHAT WITH...

STACEY DOOLEY of the ones perhaps I’m most proud of.

Stacey’s career as a broadcaster and journalist began whilst working at Luton Airport, when she was chosen to travel to India to work as a contributor on BBC Three’s Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts. She has since gone on to front a string of stand-alone series for the channel investigating stories around the world, as well as being crowned Strictly Come Dancing winner in 2018. We catch up with Stacey ahead of her tour, Conversations with Stacey Dooley, which is coming to St. David’s Hall on 21 February.

You have met many people from different walks of life – who is the most interesting person you’ve met?

I met Barack Obama when he came over here, that was pretty cool. I have interviewed Theresa May, and lots of politicians around the world.

I’m very fortunate in that sense.

There is never a dull moment.

Do you think the world of documentary film making has changed much since you started out your career?

I took part in a series called Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts when I had just turned 20 and I’m 33 in March – I think documentaries have come back into fashion, certainly over the past few years, everyone has a growing obsession with Louis Theroux, it’s at an all-time high.

I think we are very curious, there is this insatiable appetite for information.

What would you say has been your career highlight to date?

Oh wow! I’ve made loads of films, but you’re proud of different films for different reasons. The films we made concerning the Yazidi community in Iraq are some

What is your fondest memory of Strictly Come Dancing?

I shouldn’t say winning, should I? Because that’s too showy.

Kev and I loved the Paso. I was never going to be the best dancer; I was against Ashley Roberts, the Pussy Cat Doll, and Faye Tozer from Steps – both amazing dancers. So, it was just about us taking ownership of our own journey.

What do you do to relax?

My favourite thing of all time, well, one of my favourite things is just sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea watching Only Fools and Horses or The Royle Family. That’s my favourite pastime. Also scrolling through Instagram at Net-a-Porter looking at stuff I don’t need.

I’m very, very low key, not particularly rock’n’roll. I’m a real homebody.

For more: www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

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THE ALB ANY GALLERY MICHAEL ROTHENSTEIN (1908-1993)

Artist Printmaker In association with Goldmark Gallery

16 January – 8 February 2020 View the exhibition on our website www.albanygallery.com 74b Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RS | T: 029 2048 7158 | E: info@albanygallery.com Gallery open: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am-4pm

PEOPLE 1

3

4 6

2

5

8 7

MY SPACE 1. My studio is based in RUG, an artist led gallery, in Cardiff. I create most of my work here before showing them in exhibitions all over the UK. 2. Watercolours and brushes, woodcutters for making prints, everything in my work place has a practical function in the making of art.

3. My phone is my office and is an essential part of my life.

5. 200 Degrees on Queen Street is my favourite place to get coffee, usually an Americano or an oat milk latte. The coffee is roasted on site, and the staff are very helpful and friendly.

6. There’s always trail mix in the studio, it's a good source of energy and protein, especially if you have a plant based diet.

7. My whole studio is full of my recent work. The floors are covered with paintings being varnished before being exhibited. It's a very practical place.

4. Music is a necessity when I work, it keeps me in flow. I love listening to psychedelia and early punk 8. I’m represented by – music with a lot of energy Arusha Gallery, who are based in Edinburgh. and power.

JOHN ABELL

J

ohn, who lives in the city, and works from RUG , the artist-led studio on Queen Street, is renown for his largescale wood block prints and his highly coloured watercolour paintings, of which he says, “explore life, love, lust and the human condition.” He was runner up in Welsh Artist of the Year in 2013, and also won the Josef Herman Centenary print prize in 2012, which allowed him to explore lithography at the Curwen Studio.

His exhibition Becca and Her Children opens this month at Newton House, Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire and marks the anniversary of the Rebecca Riots, which took place in Mid and West Wales between 1839 – 1843 and were protests by local farmers and agricultural workers in response to unfair taxation. n For more: RUG, Unit 16, Ground Floor, Capitol Centre, Queen Street, Cardiff, CF10 2HQ; www.rug-gallery.net

PHOTOS BY MARY W YCHERLEY; W W W.T WOCATSINTHEYARD.CO.UK

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WYBURN & WAYNE Move over Ant & Dec. Make way Edina & Patsy. Stand aside Batman & Robin. Our dynamic duo are in town and they’re here to give us the low down on the Cardiff high life

Forward thinking

W

e are really honoured to have been with Cardiff Life for a whole year now. We love being able to share our experience of Cardiff with you – from community events to fun fundraisers, to restaurant openings to seeing the best shows in town – there wasn’t a dull moment in 2019 and we look forward to more of the same in 2020.

We must have attended a Christmas show almost every day of December including Cinderella at the New Theatre Cardiff with Gok Wan MBE and comic legend Mike Doyle, plus we were lucky enough to go to the opening of the International Convention Centre Wales, which is the joint venture convention centre between the Welsh Government and the Celtic Manor Resort, and was marked by the amazing ice spectacular The Nutcracker on Ice. Dragged 2 Church returned, with the Holy Heels show to raise essential funds for St Andrew’s Church which is committed to holding community events. It was

an even bigger success than last year, which we do attribute in part to winning Event of the Year at last year’s Cardiff Life Awards. (If you have a Cardiff-based business, organisation or charity you’d like to highlight, this is genuinely a great way to go about getting your voice heard – it worked for us in so many ways. The deadline is 23 January so get entering!)

ITV did a live segment from the event and we had Strictly/ Holby City star Chizzy Akadulo as a special guest speaker. The event this time raised £2, 816 in conjunction with the donation from Kinetic Theatre School’s carol concert.

We hosted Carols Around The Piano in the amazing Virgin Money Lounge, on behalf of City Hospice, and also at St Andrew’s, we compèred the Ten Tenors on behalf of Welsh Hearts. In return the church allowed us to use the side hall for our annual Boxing Day curry, where we invite people who may otherwise be alone, and along with food, we enjoying playing games and music.

While we love to party – we

Dragged 2 Church (Part 2) kicks off in spectacular style

Nathan presents Graham Norton with his coffee portrait

Wayne with Heath Hospital colleagues, Philomena Thomas and Maria Hopkins

did also have to both work over Christmas – Wayne, who is a nurse at Heath Hospital, put in several night-shifts, while Nathan made sure the deadlines for commissioned artwork were all met.

We did however get some down time, and took a trip to London to see Rod Stewart, and Nathan managed to present BBC Radio 2’s Graham Norton with a coffee portrait.

We ended the year with one of our favourite nights, Sophia

Gardens’ Candyland Party, and the New Year was welcomed by performing a few songs alongside the resident drag queens at The Golden Cross. It was the perfect way to see in 2020 – great friends, a wonderful atmosphere, and plenty to sing about!

To keep up to date with the Radio Cardiff DJs Wyburn & Wayne, follow them on Facebook, Twitter @WyburnWayne and on Instagram @wyburnandwayne

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SCENE

AC ROSS C A R D I FF, O N E SH I N D I G AT A T I M E

Rodrigo Rashinthe and Anna Garrod

Claire Rees

Sian Hale-Quant, Sharon Owen and Chloe Evans

Mia Kowsor and Russell Lang

CARDIFF LIFE WINTER PARTY

More than 200 people attended the Cardiff Life Winter Party just before Christmas. The newly opened Coconut Tree on Mill Lane was the host venue, serving up an array of delicious Sri-Lankan street food, along with their signature cocktails.

Guests caught up with old friends and networked with new, and later in the evening, enjoyed a speech from the Cardiff Life publisher, Greg Ingham.

Photos by Louis Smith at Studio Whisk www.studiowhisk.co.uk

Anna Kuzniar, Dan Rees and James Thomas Mark Cooke, Mark George and Wendy Hobbs

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The Coconut Tree’s street food was a huge delight Ann Tudball and Caron Rockey

Alistair and Susan Hoy

SOCIETY

Abbi Evans, Andrew Misell, Louise Misell and Callum Staines

Fern Morgan and Bron Wheatley

Loraine and John Poppleton

Trystan Jones, Natalie Holohan, Nick Corrigan, Dawn Attewell and Jason Smith

Helen Rouse and Monika Jackiwicz

Wayne Courtney, Nathan Wyburn and Sarah Moolla Cooking up a Sri Lankan delight

Sophie Bevan and Rebecca Rees

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 21

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

BEAUTY SLEEP

The Glasshouse from Sanderson is a beautifullyillustrated, botanically-influenced, and florallyinspired soft furnishings and wallpaper collection.

It blends the science of flowers and foliage with the elegance of art and stunning embroideries, which sit alongside finely detailed prints as the silhouetted shadows and elegant stems bring a subtle movement to the design. Guaranteed to bring about sweet dreams.

Available from Leekes, Cowbridge Road, Talbot Green, Pontyclun. tel: 0333 222 4120; www.leekes.co.uk

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EYE MASK STAR EYES, £14 Soft-touch navy blue velvet with embroidered star details in pale blue and shiny gold, make this perfect for some shut-eye From Oliver Bonas, 37 The Hayes; www.oliverbonas.com

THE DREAM TEAM

It’s all about getting in max nap times this January with these dreamy accessories

SHAMPOO BAR, £6.50 Translates as ‘good shampoo’ because it is good. It’s handmade, vegan accredited, sulphate and paraben free From The Goodwash Company; www.goodwash.co.uk

24 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SOY WAX CANDLE, £18 Peachy Dreams by Hattie Maud delivers up to 30 hours of green leaves, peach, mandarin, floral jasmine, vanilla, amber gris, woods and musks From Home By Kirsty, 64a Glenroy Street, Roath; www.homebykirsty.com

ENAMEL TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER, £8.50 Just add toothpaste and a toothbrush for a pearly white, night time routine From Lisa Valentine Home; www.lisavalentinehome.co.uk

SILENTNIGHT ELLISTON MATTRESS, ORIGINALLY £2,319.90, NOW £999.95 A luxurious combination offering style and sophistication, and most importantly, a heavenly night’s sleep From The Place For Homes, Sutton Road, Llandow, Cowbridge; www.theplaceforhomesltd.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE TISSERAND SLEEP BETTER OILS, £15 This dynamic duo for bath and massage, uses the essential oils of jasmine, sandalwood and lavender to speed up drifting off From Escentual, 63-67 Wellfield Road, Cardiff; www.escentual.com

MIDNIGHT STARS COTTON PJ SET, £55 Classic cut and crisp cotton, designed to send you gently into the land of nod From Cath Kidston, 45 The Hayes, St David’s Dewi Sant; www.cathkidston.com

TED BAKER PEZ SOCKS, £35 Made from cosy cashmere Ted’s pretty Pez socks will get tootsies bed ready and keep them toasty all night long From Bridgend Designer Outlet, The Derwen, Bridgend; www.mcarthurglen.com

THE LITTLE BOOK OF SLEEP: THE ART OF NATURAL SLEEP BY DR NERINA RAMLAKHAN, £5.97 A beautifully colour-illustrated guide to achieving deep, natural, clean sleep by exploring the science of sleep From The Wellfield Bookshop, 16 Wellfield Road, Roath, Cardiff. tel. 029 20483106; www.wellfieldbookshop.weebly.com

MERINO WOOL BLANKET, £195 Snuggle up with luxury, soft and light wool bed blanket woven from 100 per cent merino wool From Athena Interiors; 47 Llandowlais Street, Cwmbran. tel: 07513 912043; www.athenainteriors.co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Tails of a very special vet

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moved to the UK after graduating in Romania. I lived in London for three months and I hated it. Even though it is on the wish list for many people, that 'tourist perspective' goes away really quickly if you actually move there to start a new chapter of your life. The constant crowd and hassle became a nightmare. I was lucky to have family living in Cardiff and whilst I only came originally for a visit, it was 'love at first sight'. I applied for a role as a veterinary surgeon at Vale Veterinary Centre and was accepted exactly two years ago.

Many young vets move around from one practice to another. You may ask yourself how is it that I'm still there. Well, I've never felt the need to leave. It feels like being part of the family. As an independent practice, we do things in a different way, as much as I gather from my colleagues who work for some big veterinary groups. It is a small practice if you compared us to some huge hospitals, but we are always busy and time flies.

This profession is a part of me now. After

VALE VETERINARY CENTRE introduces Dr Gabriela Pop who talks coming to Cardiff and loving her job learning so much since I moved to Cardiff, everything seems to be easier and my life has started to make more sense. It feels amazing to be there for the animals, even at 2am, when I'm called out for different types of emergencies. It may sound a cliché, but at the end of the day it's all about going to bed with peace of mind.

Apart from the fact that Vale Veterinary Centre gave me the chance to start my career and to go beyond my limits, another really important aspect is that my colleagues have always tried to help me with other things as well. Moving to a different country isn't easy. It's not only that your family lives miles away, but also that feeling of 'okay, now what?'. There have been many things that I didn't know where to start – from finding a house to rent, opening a bank account, having bills in my own name and such like. It was great having everyone happy to help, and share their positive advice.

I have also managed to find that valuable worklife balance. I come to work and do my best for the entire shift, then I go to the gym and invest time for

my mental health. During my days off, I try to visit different places in Wales and enjoy a strong coffee in a lovely environment. Now I'm planning to start a postgraduate certificate in surgery. You may think that 18 years of school are enough, but being a vet involves lifelong learning.

It's all worth it when you find those wagging tails waiting at the reception. One of the best feelings in the world is seeing a dog choosing to cuddle you over anyone else in the room – especially when you are the vet. n

For further info contact us on 01446 739 739 (Barry) or 029 2000 4007 (Pontcanna) or visit our website www.valevetcentre.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE AT:WWW.VALEVETCENTRE.CO.UK Cardiff: 233 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9PP. E-mail: cardiff@valevetcentre.co.uk | Phone: 02920 004007

Barry: 7/8 Ty Verlon Ind Est, Cardiff Rd, Vale of Glamorgan, CF63 2BE. E-mail: info@valevetcentre.co.uk | Phone: 01446 739739

THE VEG OF REASON Matt ‘Dirty Vegan’ Pritchard, who really knows his onions, is here to help us embrace Veganuary, and get rad with the radishes

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ast year a record number of people signed up for Veganuary, the pledge to go meat-free for the first month of the new year. With vegan products even more plentiful and with the arguments including personal health, animal rights issues and environmental concerns looking even more persuasive, 2020 looks set to be the Year of The Vegan.

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In case you were keen but need just a tad more convincing, we’ve called on Cardiff’s own Matt Pritchard for a little vegan-inspo.

Matt, who fronts BBC TV’s Dirty Vegan cookery show, which has returned for a second series (turn to page 33 for more on this), and has just published his second cookery book Dirty Vegan: Another Bite, says, “It was through becoming an ultraathlete that I flipped the vegan switch.

I kept reading that lots of triathletes and ironman champions were vegan, so at first that was my motivation. When I looked into veganism more, the environmental argument against meat and dairy seemed so strong as to be irresistible. I became fully vegan four years ago and have not looked back.“ To help kickstart your meat-less motivation, Matt has selected two delicious, easy-to-make, recipes.

RECIPE

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (gas mark 6).

Place the squash and shallots in a roasting tin and oil and season them well. Pop into the oven to roast for 20 minutes.

2 Meanwhile, make the laksa paste by blending all the ingredients together in a small food processor. Alternatively, bash them together in a mortar and pestle, adding a dash of oil if it has difficulty coming together.

ROASTING TIN LAKSA Serves 2

Matt says, “This is a hearty bowl of South East Asian-inspired noodles – bang on for a midweek feed. The broth is usually made in a pan but, since squash roasted in a tin always seems to taste better, I make it in the oven. If you can’t be bothered to blend your own paste, you can use a few tablespoons of Thai red curry paste instead.”

Ingredients

500g squash, chopped into 2cm chunks 4 shallots, cut into wedges vegetable oil 400g can coconut milk 300ml vegetable stock 1 lemon grass stalk 4 lime leaves

100g rice noodles 100g baby spinach small handful of coriander leaves, salt and pepper lime wedges, to serve

For the laksa paste

1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh root ginger 1 garlic clove 3 red bird’s eye chillies stalk ends cut off 1 tablespoon soy sauce dash of flavourless vegetable oil (optional)

3 When the squash and shallots have had 20 minutes, stir in the laksa paste, coconut milk and stock. Give the lemon grass stalk a bash to split it open and throw that into the tray along with the lime leaves. Return to the oven for a further 10–15 minutes, until the squash is tender.

4 Meanwhile, cook the noodles in a saucepan of salted boiling water according to the packet instructions. Cool immediately in cold water and drain well.

5 Remove the roasting tin from the oven and pluck out the lemon grass and lime leaves.

Stir in the spinach to wilt.

6 Divide the cold noodles between two warm deep bowls. Ladle the laksa broth over the top, sprinkle with the coriander and serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 29

RECIPE PUFFED PEARS WITH CHOCOLATE AND OLIVE OIL SAUCE Serves 4

Matt says, “This is a bit of a showboater of a recipe. You’ll need to poach the pears ahead of time and cool them before you attempt to wrap them in the pastry; warm pears would make the pastry impossible to handle. If you have perfectly ripe pears, though, you could make this recipe without poaching them first. I have included a mulled wine version of the poaching liquid in case you want to attempt that during the colder month. You could even reduce the mulled wine poaching liquid down until it’s syrupy and serve it instead of the chocolate sauce, if you prefer.”

Ingredients For the pears

4 firm pears 320g block of vegan puff pastry unsweetened almond milk, to glaze 40g demerara sugar

For the basic poaching liquid

200g unrefined caster sugar 500ml water juice of 1 unwaxed lemon, plus a strip of its zest 1 cinnamon stick ½ vanilla pod, seeds scraped out

For the mulled wine poaching liquid

150g unrefined caster sugar 500ml red wine juice of 1 orange, plus a strip of its zest 1 cinnamon stick 3 cardamom pods, cracked 1 star anise 4 cloves pinch of nutmeg

For the sauce

100g dark vegan cooking chocolate 4 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons (60ml) boiling water pinch of sea salt flakes

Method

1 Peel the pears, leaving the stalks attached.

Choose whether you are making the basic poaching liquid or the mulled wine version. Either way, place all the poaching ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to the boil over a medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then reduce the heat to a simmer.

2 Add the pears to the pan and simmer very gently for 10 minutes, or until just soft to the tip of a knife. Turn the heat off and let the pears cool in the liquid. Store in the liquid until needed.

3 When you are ready to cook, preheat the oven to 180˚C (gas mark 4). Roll the pastry out into a long, thin rectangle about 5mm thick. Cut it into 1.5cm-wide strips. Cut the very bottom of each pear away, so they can sit up straight.

4 Starting from the bottom, wrap each pear in a tightly spiralled strip of pastry. You may need to join 2 or more strips together to complete each pear, but this is easily done by dabbing the ends of both with a little almond milk.

5 Once all the pears are wrapped, brush them lightly with almond milk and scatter over the demerara for crunch. Transfer them to a baking tray and cook in the oven for 20 minutes, or until golden.

6 When ready, leave them to rest for 10 minutes, which gives you just enough time to make the sauce.

7 Break the chocolate into small pieces and place them in a small saucepan. Add the olive oil and water. Now, swirl and roll the pan so that the hot water starts to melt the chocolate, but resist the temptation to mix or whisk it. It might need a little more heat to keep it going, so place the pan over a low heat to give it a nudge.

8 Don’t keep it on the heat for too long and don’t let it get anywhere near boiling. When the chocolate seems to have almost lost it shape, you can use a use a metal spoon to stir it together. It should come together into a smooth glossy sauce. Add the pinch of salt and serve immediately, spooning a pool of sauce on to each warm plate and sitting a pastry-wrapped pear on top.

Taken from Dirty Vegan: Another Bite by Matt Pritchard. Published by Mitchell Beazley, £20.

Available at local good book stores, and also from www.octopusbooks.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK SNAPSHOTS OF CARDIFF’S FOOD SCENE

THE DARK AGES

The Dusty Knuckle team behind the awardwinning Cardiff pizzeria opened a brand-new eaterie in the city centre on 11 December.

The restaurant DARK, situated in Castle Arcade and open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, is inviting customers to ‘discover their dark side’.

Founders Phill and Debs Lewis explain, “The menu at DARK will range from flatbreads and kebabs, to pizzas to small plates. The focus will be on bolder choices and experimental flavours, with a ‘nose to tail’ ethos playing a big part.”

Menu options include flat iron steak with eggs and fermented ketchup, lamb offal kebabs, tempura cauliflower with sesame, aioli and house-recipe slaw, and chicken curry doughnuts.

For more: www.facebook.com/darkcardiff above: Debs and Phill in the Castle Arcade where their

new foodie venture is housed; right: laverbread and pickled cockles done DARK-style

UNO DOS The husband-and-wife team behind pioneering Spanish bar and restaurant group Ultracomida have announced plans to open a second site in the city centre’s Guildhall Place.

Shumana Palit and her husband Paul Grimwood, who already run popular pinxtos bar Curado, and two award-winning Ultracomida deli-restaurants in the coastal towns of Narberth and Aberystwyth, are leaders in bringing a casual dining style influenced by Northern Spain to Wales.

Shumana explains, “The new venue, due to open February, will be called Vermut (Catalan for vermouth), will specialise in the sale of sherry, wines from Montilla-Moriles and vermouth, all hugely popular aperitifs in Spain. Vermouth is a classic drink of Catalonia, but it has enjoyed a real revival in recent years. It’s a similar story with sherry and wines from Montilla-Moriles, which for a long time were considered very old-fashioned, but are now being celebrated for how fantastic and versatile they are.”

The menu at Vermut will complement the small space and the laid-back atmosphere, with a particular focus on cured meats, charcuterie and cheese boards, as well as canned and cured seafood.

For more: www.twitter.com/VermutCDF

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clockwise from below: Shumana Palit, right, is opening

Vermut in February; right: Paul Grimwood co-owns The Ultracomidagroup with wife Shumana; bottom: The drink Vermouth will feature heavily in Vermut

FOOD & DRINK Tom Simmons and Lois Thomas are opening a new restaurant in Pontcanna

CLOCKWISE: It’s full marks to being strictly vegan; Fearless and meatless; ‘With this veg, I do feed’; Matt really does give a puck about good food

FULL OF BEANS

TOM TOM CLUB

Skate-boarder, TV daredevil, ultra-athlete, chef and vegan Matt Pritchard, is not only sharing two of his plant-based winter warmers from his latest cookery book, Dirty Vegan: Another Bite on page 28, but he’s also back on our TV screens.

Matt, who owns the Sleep When You’re Dead Tattoo & Barbers in the Hight Street Arcade, has returned with a second series of his hit cookery programme, Dirty Vegan, which can be seen on BBC One Wales on Fridays, and also on catch-up via BBC iPlayer.

The former MTV Dirty Sanchez star can be seen rising to every vegan occasion including delivering a wedding buffet for over 120 guests; rustling up a protein-packed meal for the city’s professional wrestlers, coming up with a vegan alternative for some meat-loving ballroom dancers from the Valleys; and devising an energy-crammed feast for the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team.

To help him perfect his recipes he liaises with experts from Cardiff Met University including food scientist Tabi Capeer, and Matthew Bates, an analytical chemist who helps explain the link between taste, flavour and smell.

Matt says, “To be asked to provide a buffet for a whole wedding was a huge challenge but I absolutely loved it. Seeing happy satisfied faces after they’d eaten was even better. The most important thing was I got the thumbs up from the newlyweds that I’d passed my challenge.”

For more: www.bbc.co.uk

Tom Simmons, who already runs One Tower Bridge in London, is to open his first restaurant in Pontcanna in mid-February, along with his partner Lois Thomas.

Tom, who is a Pembrokeshire native, says, “Lois and I are so excited about bringing our love for food and all things Welsh produce home. This has been an ambition of ours since we opened the London restaurant, and also an ambition of mine since I started working as a chef and since I took part in Masterchef, so we can’t wait to welcome people through the doors and introduce them to our food and our restaurant ethos.

“There will be a big emphasis on cocktails and Welsh ales too as we are creating a speakeasy type bar above the restaurant, along with a private dining area for functions and business lunch and dinners.”

Thomas by Tom Simmons is taking bookings from now, with a planned grand opening date around the Wales versus France Six Nations rugby match.

For more: www.tom-simmons.co.uk

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VOCO ST DAVID’S It’s all about me, me, me time when Sarah Moolla visits the Cardiff Bay hotel for a spot of relaxation, pampering, and three-course loveliness

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f someone was bored of Cardiff, then they’d be bored of life, as the writer Samuel Johnson would’ve said if he were Welsh. But sometimes you need to escape, hit the pause / refresh / reboot button. With no agenda, no plans, except maybe to hide away from this endless January month, we’re heading to the five-star waterfront hotel, voco St. David’s Cardiff.

As soon as we arrive at the imposing 142-room hotel, it is evident, the design has fostered and absorbed the elements that are important to the hotel’s heritage and surrounding. The shipping and oceanic sea influences are seeped not just into the décor, but into its very architecture. As soon as you step up the reception, which itself looks like the bow of a ship, your eye is drawn to the towering majesty of the floors, which are layered like cruise liner decks.

The nautical theme washes through to each of the rooms and the suites, incorporating echoes of seaside beach huts, huge floor to ceiling windows to soak up

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those spectacular views across the Cardiff Bay and Penarth Marina, and private balconies to get a little closer to that amazing vista. There’s even a clean invigorating aroma of eucalyptus, mint and sea salt, that has enveloped and trailed us throughout the hotel. It’s the sort of smell that makes us want to inhale deeply, melt onto our glorious queen-sized twin beds, and not do much at all for an hour or two.

Instead, and it’s a hard life, we have to hoist ourselves up off the beds, and head off The Marine Spa, which has 10 treatment rooms and a deep relaxation lounge. I’ve got a nail polish booked with therapist Charlene, who is patient and just the right side of chatty, while I dither endlessly over the rainbow of colours (fluorescent pink in case you were wondering). My pal goes for a facial and I swear she emerges with a radiant glow almost immediately. She’s so pleased, the next morning she races back to the spa shop to purchase the ishga Organic Exfoliating Face Mask which contains seaweed powder and seawater.

STAYCATION

I had no idea just how big and gorgeously relaxing the spa area would be. The hydrotherapy pools, which have been treated with mineral salts to replicate sea water, and are heated to body temperature, are a good size, with the pool large enough for a few lazy lengths. There’s also swan-neck fountains and water jets to help massage the body and stimulate circulation. We also realise this is where that gorgeous smell permeates, amplified by the warmth and the heat. It’s the Aveda products the hotel uses, even in the changing rooms. The one drawback is there isn’t enough ‘around-the-pool’ seating, so we have to stay in the pool, and the decent-sized dry heat sauna, but that’s no real hardship.

Such a large hotel is probably going to struggle not to appear corporate in places, and, for the most part, it does manage that. However, the evening set dinner in The Admiral restaurant, is where the ‘corporateness’ does come into play ever so slightly. The menu comes on a photocopied sheet and the choices such as vegetable soup, spring rolls, and vegetable curry are a little basic.

In the restaurant’s defence though, I must highlight what good value the set menu is, with three courses coming in at £24.94 per person. No wonder the place is a huge favourite with nearby residents and families, and an experience which will be enhanced by the sweet and attentive service from the young waiting team.

My pal’s satay is ‘moist and spicy’ while my soup is packed with seasonal veg. The chicken laksa with fried Asian shallots and fried egg has just the right amount of spice and crunch and generous serving of egg noodles.

The winning dish though is my main of Ross-on-Wye free-range turkey roulade with prune stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, honey glazed roast vegetables and rosemary jus. It’s hearty, balanced, and the very epitome of what a good roast dinner should be.

Following a heavenly night’s sleep and after filling up on the delicious and varied buffet – we’re rejuvenated, restored and raring to go. voco St David’s Cardiff is a great and obvious recommendation to your Cardiff visitors, and the spa packages make a great gift for a loved one – but maybe that loved one should be you once in a while for no other reason than, you’re worth it. n

“We’re rejuvenated, restored and raring to go”

STAY DETAILS voco St David’s Cardiff, Havannah Street, Cardiff Bay; tel: 029 2045 4045; www.admiralstdavid.co.uk Established 2017 (previous to this it was called Tempus at Tides) Restaurant The Admiral St David Type of food served Draws inspiration from the flavours of Australasia and Asia-Pacific, and uses seasonal Welsh produce Prices Starters £7-£15, mains £12£20, desserts £7-£10 Rooms Standard from £89.10, twin from £111.60, suites from £269.10 Spa packages Prices start at £55 Atmosphere Ship shape, and breezy fashion

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Taking the stress out of 11+ entry HABERDASHERS' MONMOUTH SCHOOLS welcome day and boarding children from all parts of Wales

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hildren join Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools from 20 primary schools each year.

Within a unique single-sex and co-educational framework, pupils at Monmouth benefit from the right environment at the right stage.

Parents can feel confident as their children join a legacy of excellence in education that is renowned, both nationally and internationally.

Entrance to the schools is selective from seven years old, but we take great care to assess children on a wide range of abilities. We make our 11+ entry assessment as stress-free as possible and children actually enjoy the morning as we look for potential and not just test performance.

We interview each child to make sure we get to know them as a whole person, giving girls and boys the opportunity to talk about the things they enjoy and in which they are involved.

All pupils sit the same basic test in English and

Mathematics and non-verbal reasoning, together with a short spelling test.

Academic scholarships are awarded to the topperforming pupils which are supplemented with sport, dance and music awards. Means-tested financial support in the form of a bursary may be awarded depending on the financial circumstances of the applicants. We have an effective induction programme with children joining us from up to 20 primary schools each year.

Boys and girls are inspired and motivated in specific ways. At Monmouth, the distracting pressures of adolescence are absent from their academic lives, while they retain the valuable benefits of joint social and co-curricular activities.

As pupils progress into the Sixth Form, co-educational teaching and extensive joint social and co-curricular activities ensure a successful transition from school to university life.

Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools recognise talent and nurture excellence, providing the best

possible springboard for a pupil’s future.

Our Admissions Registrars are happy to guide each family through the procedure. n *The schools have an established bus route, starting at Llandaff.

For more information on our 11+ entry assessment on 1st February, please go to www.habsmonmouth.org/11+entry, call 01600 710433 for Monmouth School for Boys or 01600 711104 for Monmouth School for Girls.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The generation games Residents at a Pontcanna care home enjoyed all the magic and wonder of Christmas through the eyes of children when they hosted a special party for toddlers during the festive week

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taff at Ty Llandaff, a private nursing, residential and respite care home in Conway Road, organised a party for residents and local pre-schoolers so they could bring the two generations together to share in the excitement of the Christmas season.

The festive party included Christmas music and decorations, simple traditional party games, biscuits and mince pies, and a chance for the residents and children to get to know each other over books and stories.

To the delight of the children and the residents, Father Christmas even made a special visit to the celebration and brought presents to give out to the children.

This Christmas event comes after the success of previous events that Ty Llandaff have arranged bringing toddlers into the care home to meet with residents, which was initially inspired by Channel 4’s Old People's Home For 4 Year Olds.

Ty Llandaff activities co-ordinator Melanie Geoghegan says, “As we’ve found previously, nothing lifts the spirits of our residents like interacting with small children. As Christmas is such a magical time for little ones, it made absolute sense to put on a special Christmas event for toddlers and we all really benefitted from watching their faces as they enjoyed the magic of Christmas.

“Informal research has shown that this type of inter-generational mixing can have a transformative power for older people. Events where children visit and enjoy themselves are always popular with all at Ty Llandaff.”

Ty Llandaff Service Manager Lisa Cristina adds, “Here at Ty Llandaff, we do everything we can to create a festive atmosphere for our residents at this time of year. By continuing with traditions that our residents have enjoyed throughout their

lives helps to reignite memories and evoke old emotions.

“The Christmas party for the children has been a wonderful opportunity to not only bring back memories of childhood or having young families but to help us all focus on the real joy and wonder of the festive season.” ■

For more information about Tŷ Llandaff call Lisa on 029 2060 0100 or email info@tyllandaffcare.com or visit www.tyllandaffcare.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 39

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Discover the power of CBD Cardiff-born and co-founder of SEA CBD Claire Griffiths shares some key facts about CBD

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dults of all ages can enhance their quality of life by adding CBD to their diets to promote a sense of invigorating calm.

Numerous positive reviews claim that CBD can improve overall wellbeing by aiding sleep quality, digestion, and also strengthening our immune systems.

What are the positive effects of CBD oil?

Research shows that CBD affects our endocannabinoid system – a network of cell receptors and molecules in the body responsible for regulating things like mood, memory, pain and appetite. As Sea CBD is classified as a food supplement and not a medicine, legally we cannot convey any medical benefits or make any health claims.

How to choose the right CBD oil?

Choosing the right CBD oil can be daunting.

Oils with lower levels of CBD, such as 2.5 per cent, are a good place to start. Depending on their individual needs, people may then work up to stronger oils, e.g. ones containing 4 per cent or 10 per cent CBD. We recommend sticking to premium oils with rigorous quality control processes. Reputable brands should offer independent lab certificates detailing CBD percentages and showing that levels of 40 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

the psychoactive compound THC are below the legal limit of 0.2 per cent.

What makes Sea CBD different?

We set up Sea CBD with the aims of ethically sourcing the purest ingredients to create a premium food supplement and only ever using positive, honest messaging. Sea CBD undergoes rigorous quality control testing at a Swiss laboratory and THC levels are extremely low, with none at all being detected in our 2.5 per cent oil. Every bottle of Sea CBD is matched to an individual batch number taken from a batch report and sent to an independent laboratory for CBD and THC certification. Also, as the sea is one of our passions, Sea CBD donates a percentage of profits to the hero organisations committed to solving plastic pollution in our seas. ■

“It means so much to me to have my pride and joy Sea CBD stocked by this wonderful local Cardiff institution!” Claire Griffiths

71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ Email: claire@sea-cbd.com tel: 0203 858 9490. www.sea-cbd.com

1 FEBRUARY IS CBD DISCOVERY DAY AT

3 St Mary’s Street, Cardiff.

Curious to know more about CBD? Drop into Beanfreaks for a chat with us anytime between 12pm and 2pm on Saturday the 1st of February and we’ll answer all your questions. There’ll also be a £5 discount on every purchase of Sea CBD throughout the day.

� Anti-aging Injections � Lip and Facial Fillers � Non-surgical Hifu Facelift � PDO Threads � Facials � RF Skin and Body Tightening � Hair Removal � RF Cavitation � Cavitation Ice Lipo � Skin Peels � Micro Needling and Collagen Treatments � Acne and Rosacea Treatments � Body Contouring � Luxury AlumierMD Facials � Wellness Treatments � Micro Blading Brows

Brooks Aesthetics Clinic Medi-Spa & Beauty Treatments

Visit us: Brook House, Tynant Rd, Creigiau, Cardiff, CF72 8FG www.brooksaestheticclinic.co.uk | Call us today: 02920 892996

20 easy ways to improve your ďŹ tness for 2020 from those in the know

By John Mather

GET FIT QUICK SCHEMES Yoga can be done anywhere and any time

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HEALTH & FITNESS

W

e’ve all wished for that post-Christmas magic wand to cast a spell and improve our fitness overnight, but it seems no such thing exists. Instead we’ve gone down the next best route and turned to our Cardiff health and exercise experts for their speedy solutions to feeling motivated and getting fitter, quicker.

Ben Brooks advises to listen to your body

Fitness trainer Owen Phillips, who is the director and owner of Operation-Fitness; www.operation-fitness.co.uk Variety is always important, the more you keep your body guessing the more shock you put it under which in time generates growth.

It doesn’t matter what exercise you choose but try to get a balance of cardiovascular and resistance training.

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One of my personal preferences is – boxing, it helps my stamina and conditioning.

Always remember to stretch after each workout. Not only does this have a good effect on your body, but it’s also far less boring than doing the same routine over and over. You are also more likely to stick to it over the longer term when it isn’t monotonous.

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Cut the junk – be mindful of the foods you know are not so good for your health and fitness goals – these are usually mostly processed and fast foods. Look for a nutrition plan based on a 80:20 ratio – 80 of the really good stuff, and 20 of treats.

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Have a day off. Go for a walk on the beach or to the mountain.

I have a dog who I take for walks and, even though I’m not training, he keeps me active and gets me outside for some fresh air.

“Go for a walk on the beach or to the mountain” Ben Brooks of Brooks Movement, is a personal trainer who specialises in strength development, movement practice and mobility; www.brooksmovement.com Start each week by writing a list of all the changes you want to make, including when and where that week you are exercising.

The more positive changes that start to add up, the more success you will have.

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Don’t waste time on things you hate doing, shop around until you find something you love. If you invest time into finding what you actually enjoy, then you’re more likely to continue the process.

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Listen when your body tells you it needs some positive input – all exercise doesn’t have to destroy you. Do some stretching, or go for a swim and a sauna.

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It’s important to look after your sleep as well – cut out caffeine, turn off the screens, and read a book.

Claire Griffiths, founder of Sea CBD an all-natural food supplement made from 100 per cent certified organic hemp, which is available from Cardiff’s Beanfreaks; www.sea-cbd.com; www.beanfreaks.com It is so easy to incorporate a natural food supplement like CBD as part of an exercise routine.

Owen Phillips loves boxing and his dog!

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Many athletes who use CBD claim they’ve experienced accelerated recovery, improved sleep, reduced inflammation, and enhanced sports performance.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Bounce Cardiff’s Patsy recommends high intensity interval training

Patsy Musgrove of Bounce Fit Cardiff; Instagram: @bouncecardiff; www.bouncefitbody.com I’d recommend HIIT (high intensity interval training). It is proven to be extremely effective and the formula we work to at Bounce Fit Cardiff. The aim is short bursts of high intensity exercise followed by short breaks of less intense movement which increases your metabolism and therefore the speed at which you burn energy.

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A food tracker app can be really helpful. It helps me keep in control but also helps me understand where and when unhealthy habits creep into my day.

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I love yoga, and practice at home as much as possible. Yoga isn’t intense in the same way as many exercises but I always find the effect it has on my body and mind is intense.

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Add weights to your existing exercise routine. Adding this element to cardio sessions can have a huge impact on posture, definition in the upper body and overall strength.

Gary Morris, club manager of Anytime Fitness Penarth; www.anytimefitness.co.uk A great place to start is changing your mindset to a positive ‘I will succeed attitude’. If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always got. Take time to think about why you’ve tried and failed before, and what could make this time different.

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Keep it stupidly simple. The basic exercises work such as squats, deadlifts and bench press have been around a long time for this reason.

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“Once you incorporate walking into your preferred activity, the possibilities are endless” 18

Again, another simple rule to remember – you are what you eat. If you want to lose weight burn off more calories than you input. Keep an exercise and food diary to track what you are doing – it will help you evaluate your progression.

Dyfri Owen, director and lead clinician at Penarth Physiotherapy Practice & Pilates Studio; www.penarthphysiotherapy.com The number of people I see during a physio assessment who do not have a hobby is unbelievable, so I always suggest they find something they love and take it up. Playing tennis badly with someone of the same ability as you is always going to be fun and so beneficial to your wellbeing.

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Walking is wonderful. It can be as simple as a brisk walk near your home, it doesn’t have to be hill walking in the Brecon Beacons. But once you incorporate walking into your preferred activity, the possibilities are endless – ballroom dancing, Zumba, fishing, darts, snooker geocaching, ten pin bowling and don’t forget, even shopping means you’re walking! n

Would you like to work in Media Sales?

We are always looking to hear from talented individuals who would like to work for MediaClash, presenting advertising opportunities and marketing solutions across our portfolio of fantastic magazines and events. We are a growing business and anticipate there being various opportunities over the next few months.

If you would like to join our continuing success story please email your CV to pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk or give us a call anytime on 01225 475806 for a chat about the company, our magazines and available positions.

www.mediaclash.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Across the seas Benjamin Delve of BERRY SMITH LAWYERS answers questions on overseas divorce settlements

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y husband and I were married in Pakistan, but have lived in Wales since our marriage (of more than 20 years). We were divorced several years ago, in Wales, and agreed the financial arrangements and obtained an order with the help of solicitors. Everything was amicable.

I have now received court papers, from Pakistan, as my husband has applied to the court for a financial remedy in that country. What can I do about this?

A: Orders made by the family court in England and Wales are not binding on, and may not be recognised by courts in other countries, save where the two countries have entered into a convention, or agreement, to recognise certain types of orders/judgments. Where there is no agreement between the two countries, the recognition of the order in the foreign country will be dependent upon the laws and regulations that country.

By way of example, whilst England and Wales

have a close political relationship to the United States of America, there is no uniform law for recognition and enforcement of judgements made by courts in England and Wales. Thus, whether an order will be recognised / enforced will be determined by the laws, and principles, of the individual states within USA. Fortunately, Pakistan, as a former Commonwealth country, has an agreement with England and Wales (the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933). Consequently, the courts ‘should’ recognise / enforce an order made in England and Wales. However, the process is not automatic, and the judgment must go through a formal procedure for ‘certification’ and then an application issued in Pakistan for enforcement.

This remains, however, a complex legal issue and it is important that, in addition to obtaining advice in this country, you should also obtain independent legal advice from a suitably qualified lawyer in Pakistan. The lawyer should be able to explain the court procedure, and provide you with

Benjamin Delve

representation and guidance in navigating legal proceedings in that country. n

If you would like any further information please contact the family law department at Berry Smith on tel: 029 2034 5511 or email employment@berrysmith.com

It’s the city’s business

CARDIFFWORKS

Yasser visits Jones The Barber

Making a difference

FOR Cardiff homeless charter makes a positive impact in the city

F

OR Cardiff’s Homeless Charter, co-created with organisations supporting people at risk, has seen businesses, schools and universities come up with alternative ways to come together to make a difference.

These have included Motorpoint Arena, The Greenery, and Jones the Barber who came forward to offer a range of pledges such as free gig tickets to help people integrate into society, chef training to improve their employability

“THE COURSE HAS BEEN VERY USEFUL AND HELPED ME WITH MY CV”

and free haircuts to build confidence.

Yasser, who became homeless when he was given a surprise eviction notice to immediately leave his home in February 2019, is one such citizen to have benefited from the Charter.

He left with just the clothes on his back and slept between friends’ houses and the streets of Cardiff for the next six months, which he describes as the worst time of his life.

During these months, he also faced a succession of different obstacles. With no secure place to stay, important documents were lost, and his benefits were sanctioned.

Yasser is now taking part in the Aspire program, which is a four-week training schedule to help people experiencing homelessness get back into employment. As part of this he received a haircut from Jones the Barber in the Dominions Arcade.

Yasser says, “The course has been very useful and helped me with my CV and job applications. Also it was really nice to get a good haircut from Jones the Barber through Give DIFFerently.” Yasser was successful at interview for a casual job with Royal Mail but then couldn’t be given the position, because he doesn’t have his passport, although he is currently saving to buy a new one.

With a degree in Business and IT, and plans to undertake an MA in Business Studies at the Open University this year, Yasser is determined to return to work so that he can “get my life back, get a place to live, and just do normal things that people do.”

You can donate £3 to the fund by texting GIVDIFF5 to 70331.

For more: www.forcardiff.com/givedifferently

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CARDIFFWORKS New tech hub opens in Cardiff

Compiled by Rachel Jefferies

CHILDREN ACTS

MORE GIGS Cardiff has welcomed SIPCOM’s new tech hub, which expands its existing London and New York offices.

The growth of the multinational tech company, which specialises in designing and implementing unified communications for its clients, has enabled the business to set up in Wales, as chief operating officer James Davidson explains, “After an extensive review of locations within the UK, SIPCOM selected Cardiff for its 24-hour Operations Centre, and plans to expand operations to support its global clients in Asia, Europe and North America.”

For more: www.sipcom.com

Schoolchildren in Cardiff recently celebrated World Children’s Day, UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children.

To mark 30 years of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, events across the region included Ninian Park Primary School hosting a Rights Parade; Coed Glas Primary School was taken over by pupils when they delivered lessons, ran the office and even supervised the teachers during playtime; and pupils at Ysgol Pen y Groes took part in a full day of creative activity, which they then used to showcase what children’s rights are to parents and governors.

For more: www.cardiff.gov.uk

Genero’s Ali Morrill

A BIG EVENT Cardiff based creative event specialists Genero Group has announced their expansion into London and Bristol. The firm, which already operates across the UK and internationally, has recently produced events in Barcelona, Stuttgart and Brussels, attending global events such as the Automotive Interiors Expo and Global ABS. Ali Morrill, clients’ relationship manager, says, “Genero have worked in Bristol and London for a number of years and have built a strong client network across both cities. We felt it was the perfect time for us to increase our activities in these areas of growth.”

For more: www.genero-experiences.co.uk

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Coed Glas Primary School are digging World Children’s Day

Jon Taylor, centre, is not a tailor, he’s a carpenter

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC CUT OUT FOR CARPENTRY

Carpentry apprentice, Jon Taylor, has recently won the regional award at the Redrow’s 2019 Apprenticeship Excellence Awards. Jon’s hard work includes a number of Redrow developments across Wales, and he was one of just 12 winners for the company’s regional award.

Jon, who joined Redrow Homes in August 2017, says, “I am extremely proud to have won this award, I thoroughly enjoyed my three-year apprenticeship with Redrow and to achieve this at the end of it all has been the icing on the cake.” www.redrow.co.uk

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

South Wales-based coach company, Edwards Coaches, has just won the Livery of the Year award at the Wales Transport Awards 2019.

The prize was in accreditation of the company’s Red Dragon coach livery, famously seen on television and social media as the official transport for the Wales rugby team. www.edwardscoaches.co.uk

LEGALLY APPROVED

Law firm Clarke Wilmott has been named as a ‘Top Tier’ firm in the latest Legal 500, a guide that ranks the top lawyers and organisations in the UK. The Cardiff office has been recognised for its specialist practice areas of commercial property, banking and finance and social housing. www.clarkewillmott.com

Carwyn has a way with words

CHERRY PICKING Orchard Media & Events Group has announced its collaboration with Carwyn Jones AM, offering public speaking to those who seek to improve their performance.

Carwyn, who has been a member of the National Assembly for Wales since 1999 including nine years as First Minister of Wales, says, “There’s never been a more important time for people to develop presentational and public speaking skills.

“Working with Orchard, we’ll offer tailored training to individuals, determining what they need to get out of it from the outset, filming them in action, critiquing to enhance performance, and providing them with new skills.

“Whatever the context, we’ll aim to reduce nerves, increase confidence, and ensure trainees leave an impression on their future audience.”

For more: www.thinkorchard.com

JUST THE TICKET! Tickets are now on sale for the Cardiff Life Awards ahead of the reveal of the finalists, with hundreds of Cardiff businesses vying to attend the ceremony at Cardiff City Hall on 19 March.

With such high-demand for the uberglam event, tickets look set to sell quickly, especially once finalists are announced on 29 January.

The 2019 ceremony saw a record-breaking night with a full capacity crowd of over 380 guests in attendance – with plenty more on the waiting list – and are set to sell out well before the event once more.

“In previous years, finalists have secured remaining tickets within minutes of their release and the 2020 Awards are forecasted to follow this trend,” says Steph Dodd, event director at MediaClash, Cardiff Life’s publisher. “The latest ticket positions will be updated via Twitter, LinkedIn and email, so be ready.”

Dates for your diary are as follows: 23 January – nominations close; 29 January – Finalists revealed; 24 February – Sponsors’ and Finalists’ Reception; and 19 March – The Cardiff Life Awards 2020 at Cardiff’s City Hall.

For more: www.cardifflifeawards.co.uk

Attend the event and be a Cardiff Life cover star!

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CARDIFFWORKS

OWEN PHILLIPS

The director and owner of Operation-Fitness based in Mermaid Quay talks why boxing is great for fitness and why icecream is great for feeling good

Are you originally from Cardiff?

I grew-up in Caerphilly just outside of Cardiff and moved here when I was 22 and working as a carpenter.

techniques on our vintage punch bags and fight away any day-to-day stresses and burn a lot of calories without being punched in the face!

Did you love sport at school?

At school, I played snooker and I competed in many Welsh tournaments. As I got older, I joined a boxing gym which changed my attitude to health and fitness.

It transformed my lifestyle and I started to compete competitively.

What, if any, treats do you allow yourself?

Everyone deserves to indulge sometimes. I find that those who don’t have treat days struggle to maintain their fitness plans.

Remember it’s a lifestyle and you’re allowed to let loose from time to time. I allow myself a few treats per week, with my favourite being Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream.

Tell us a little about the background to setting up Operation Fitness?

Once I qualified as a personal trainer (PT) seven years ago, I developed a strong client base at the Hilton, EasyGym and St David’s hotel. I also ran various boot camps around and outside the city and have worked with a host of corporate companies. Last year I felt ready to open my own gym, Operation-Fitness.

“I ALLOW MYSELF A FEW TREATS PER WEEK, WITH MY FAVOURITE BEING BEN & JERRY’S ICECREAM”

What was the motivation?

To give people access to a healthy lifestyle in a friendly, nonintimidating environment. I also wanted to make boxing more accessible to people as a different and fun way to get fit and healthy.

How would you define fitness?

Fitness plays an everyday role in my life and I feel it’s the best medicine for so many illnesses, whether that’s physical or mental. When you train you release endorphins, which make you feel unbelievably good. I find this feeling really addictive and enjoy this more than the actual training.

Do you see people following fitness fads?

All the time! There’s always some new fitness or nutrition trend which people are following, but usually these are mostly opportunities for someone to make money. The key is simple – it’s good nutrition and regular exercise.

What is your preferred personal fitness routine?

Boxing, running and strength training.

What is about boxing for fitness that appeals?

Boxing is often perceived as rather brutal but our classes are a safe space where you can learn great

Is there someone in business that you admire, and try to learn from?

I’ve been very fortunate to have an inspirational and entrepreneurial clientele, and I’ve learned so much about business from them.

Any advice to someone who would like to do something similar?

It would be to gain as much experience as you can in all aspects of fitness, nutrition, customer service and working with other companies. Throw yourself out there for a few years to really broaden your experience and understanding of the industry and your business.

What are your hopes for the future of Operation Fitness?

To run a chain of successful Operation-Fitness gyms, all based on our current concept – scenic views and great location, the best equipment, and a friendly and supportive service.

For more: Operation-Fitness, Unit 1 Havannah St, Cardiff CF10 5SF. tel: 029 2132 5869; www.operation-fitness.co.uk

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CARDIFFWORKS

GARETH THOMAS

The director and chartered financial planner of HawkinsThomas Wealth Management talks enjoying spreadsheets and moving to Cardiff Are you from Cardiff?

I was born in Llansteffan, a small coastal village in West Wales.

I joined Barclays Bank straight from school and I moved around several branches before deciding to join the wealth management arm of the bank. I felt that there would be greater career prospects by moving near to Cardiff, so my wife and I moved to Pencoed.

What subjects did you enjoy at school?

I loved the sciences, in particular physics and I also loved sports, especially football and rugby.

However, my father was my maths teacher, so not surprisingly, maths was my favourite and strongest subject. Even now I have a reputation for liking numbers and the odd spreadsheet.

Any childhood ambitions?

From as young as I can remember, I knew I wanted to work with people and money. I’ve always been intrigued by the impact of money on people’s lives – both good and bad. Even now, the psychology of money fascinates me and is a central part of our business.

What was the inspiration that took you on this route?

I learnt very early on that people have three main fears in life – loneliness, ill-health and poverty.

One of the ways they deal with the fear of poverty is through over accumulating money. This could lead to an unnecessary inheritance

tax liability on the estate. More importantly, it could also mean that many people could have done so much more in their lives whilst they were fit and healthy. This philosophy is a real driver in what we do in the business.

Tell us the background to setting up HawkinsThomas Wealth Management I’d known Aaron (Hawkins) for several years because he was well respected by his peers and had a great reputation for financial planning in South Wales. We were both running our own individual businesses and the more we got to know each other, the more we realised that we shared the same values and business goals. After a great deal of planning, we set up HawkinsThomas in 2014 and since then, we have grown to a team of 22 across two offices.

What have you found to be the best tools for growth in your business?

Our people – we are so lucky to have

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such great people in our business.

Any business owner will tell you that the quality of their business and the quality of their people are inextricably linked.

What are your upcoming professional plans for the future?

I’m passionate about professional development and lifelong learning.

The last three years has been focussed on completing my MSc in Wealth Management from Loughborough University, so I’m having a break before I decide on my next project. Also, we have a lot of young people in the business and being able to mentor people and see them grow and develop is very rewarding.

What’s important to you in your personal life?

Family and friends. We are blessed with some brilliant friends and I have a great relationship with my two sons and wife Tara. Scott is now a research assistant in HawkinsThomas, and Miles is

“I FELT THAT THERE WOULD BE GREATER CAREER PROSPECTS BY MOVING NEAR TO CARDIFF” looking to go to university next year to study business management.

How do you relax from work?

Travelling, the gym and golf. Living in Cowbridge, we have easy access to the beaches in Southerndown and surrounding areas as well as Cardiff Bay – two of my favourite places.

For more: HawkinsThomas Wealth Management is a Wales based company specialising in giving tax and financial planning advice to financially successful individuals and business owners. tel: 0844 3843028; www.hawkinsthomas.co.uk

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS 2019

LEFT TO RIGHT: Luke Heydenrych, Jodi Winter, Adrian Field

from FOR Cardiff who presented the CJCH team with the Award, Jacqui Seal, and Nick Wootton

LEGAL AND FINANCIAL WINNER Sponsored by

You won! Congratulations! Talk us through the build-up…

This is the second year we have been nominated and from the time we were nominated right through to the Awards night, there has been a palpable buzz in the office.

How did you celebrate?

The senior partners came into work the day after the Awards and ordered Dominos for all 140 plus of our staff across all four offices and we had a pizza party for the team who all made an invaluable contribution towards making us the Legal and Financial service company of the year.

Tell us a little about the CJCH – what is its background?

CJCH Solicitors is a law firm with a difference. We see ourselves as legal consultants who partner with our customers to understand their needs and deliver on them.

The old school approach meant that people saw legal services as a daunting grudge purchase. We see it as a lifestyle enabler. Whether it is contentious, transactional or proactive legal services our clients need, CJCH will find a way to make it a straightforward and practical experience.

When was it established?

Although CJCH has a history dating back to the early 1980s, the modern firm we are today was the result of a merger of two prominent local firms in 2013.

What was the company’s inspiration?

At the heart of the business, the executives are all friends, and they run the company with that ethos in mind. Stephen Clarke, Tim Hartland, Jacqui Seal, Nick Wootton and Jodi Winter have grown the business through honest, ethical and customercentric values, which are inspired by giving the best to our customers in everything we do.

Along with the above, what else you think helped secured CJCH’s win?

In addition to constantly aiming to improve and expand our services, we actively get involved in community and charity initiatives. Last year we brought 11 other law firms together

“WE DON’T SEE RUNNING THE BUSINESS AS WORK, WE SEE IT AS BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY”

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CJCH

Luke Heydenrych chief of staff of the legal practice which offers lifestyle legal advice for personal, business and publicly funded legal matters in Wales, explains how the team ‘topped’ winning an Award...

to raise £3,000 for the homeless in Cardiff, our senior partner Jacqui volunteered in the kitchens of a homeless shelter, and we ‘adopted’ a school for children with special needs to raise money so that the school continues to have the means to provide for the children. We don’t see running the business as work, we see it as being part of the community.

How does being based in Cardiff benefit the work you do?

We’re a legal practice, but we also work extensively in the software and technology sector globally. We are one of the few international companies who provide a specialised service for identifying software piracy and taking action against infringing parties. Being in Cardiff means that we are operating in the heart of one of the leading areas for technology industries in Europe. From academia, private business, government, and law enforcement, Wales has some of the world’s leading specialists and innovators when it comes to modern technology.

Any collaborations with other local businesses and organisations?

We try to always use local service providers for our company where possible, and we help sponsor local initiatives and clubs like Swim Wales, Tennis Wales, various school sports teams, Duke of Edinburgh, Wills Aid, and the Old Penarthian rugby club to name a few. We also collaborate

with local universities to create jobs for graduates and students, and we developed an accredited training program with one of the local universities, which we recently flew to Texas to present at a conference.

Any negative perceptions about your field?

In past years, lawyers might have had a reputation for being ruthless and intimidating, but I don’t think that is the case anymore. People might still feel intimidated to approach a solicitor, but in reality, they are problem solvers with a special set of skills aimed at helping with tricky and complex situations. If anything, I think people should feel more inclined to discuss matters with their solicitors earlier in the process, it often saves a lot of time and money.

Any moment the company has been particularly proud of?

Aside from winning the Cardiff Life Awards, we’ve had a few moments which spring to mind, such as being invited by the training academy of Interpol to attend their conference in Dubai in 2018 to share our best practice in software license compliance consulting, or more recently our team being invited to Texas to speak at a conference on our innovative internal training initiatives.

For more: CJCH Solicitors, Williams House, 11 – 15 Columbus Walk, Cardiff. tel: 029 2048 3181; www.cjchsolicitors.co.uk

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CARDIFFWORKS

“MANY OF US WERE NOT TAUGHT HOW TO MANAGE MONEY” of your monthly income helps ease the stress that arises when the unexpected happens, whether that’s losing your job or – if self-employed – losing a client.

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Penny wise Cardiff-based money coach TALIA LODERICK shares her seven top tips to health wealth for 2020

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he best way to beat the January financial blues might be to have budgeted carefully before throwing away money on tinsel, turkey, and nights on the town. But for many of us that horse has bolted, taking most of our funds with it. Instead of despairing, we turn to money coach Talia Loderick to guide us through improving our financial wellbeing and aiming for a healthier and wealthier start to 2020.

1

Spend with intention Working out what matters to you most and linking that to what you spend your money on is the basic starting point of financial wellbeing. Your core values are how your express what matters to you most. For example, if ‘integrity’ is one of your core values, you might prioritise shopping at your local, independent book shop instead of on Amazon. You can find a number of core values exercises online.

You’ll want to end up with around five core values.

2

Understand your relationship with money Many of us were not taught how to manage money or understand

our feelings about money. But every day we earn, spend, give, receive, borrow, lend. Writing down your answers to the following questions in this self-awareness exercise can help you start to understand the beliefs and emotions driving your behaviour with money.

• What’s your earliest memory of money?

• What did you learn about money from your parents/guardians?

• What does money mean to you now?

•How do you feel when you think about money?

3

Where are you now?

Work out where your money actually goes, not where you think it goes. Rent/mortgage payments, household bills, socialising, eating out, holidays – work out what you’re spending your money on each month. Estimates are fine where you can’t work out the actual spend.

Knowledge is power and it will help you with the next step.

4

Where do you want to go?

Set your financial goals and plan how to get there. A budget is simply a spending plan. It helps you control where your money is going instead of feeling like it does a disappearing

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act every month. For example, if your goal is to save a property deposit and you know £10,000 is enough to afford the home you’re after, if you want to achieve this in two years you’ll need to put aside £416.67 each month. Having this longer-term vision helps with the short-term motivation needed to get there.

5

Build a financial buffer A financial buffer that’s the equivalent of three to six months

Self-employed? Pay yourself monthly Calculate what you need to live on each month and pay yourself by transferring this amount from your business account to your personal bank account. Do this whatever your monthly income is to help bring stability to your finances.

7

Know when to seek help Whatever your income, if you’re struggling to cover your basic monthly outgoings including rent/ mortgage, household bills, and minimum credit card repayments, that’s a sign you should seek help.

Visit the government-backed www. moneyadviceservice.org.uk and look for the debt advice locator. This lists free online, telephone and face-toface debt advice services. There’s also www.businessdebtline.org.

For more: Talia Loderick Coaching offers sessions on helping women understand their beliefs and emotions around money and also delivers financial education workshops to young people in schools and colleges; www.talialoderick.co.uk

PROPERTY

BRYNDERI Elsie Chadwick finds a handsome hero of a home in Cyncoed

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H

andsome is a word that seems to have fallen out of favour of late along with fortnight, groovy, and Brexit. But like a square-jawed hero of a romantic novel, we felt it a very apt word to describe this solid, dependable and sizeable house. This six-bed family residence in Cyncoed is properly handsome.

Admittedly our good-looking, double fronted, imposing, traditional and detached residence named Brynderi, could do with a bit of remodelling to bring the looks up to date, but the strong, gorgeous structure is all there – ready to be loved and for you to fall in love with.

On approach, you are welcomed by an arched front door with matching leaded light finish side panels and fanlights, which in turn lead into a grand and generously sized central hallway with full turning staircase, with a landing framed by a large window to stop and pose, or from where, you get a great vantage point of the many original features including the high decorative corniced

ceilings, wall panelling to half height, herringbone woodblock floors.

That smooth and lacquered floor can also be found in the three main living areas downstairs. The drawing room is an elegant formal room with double-glazed sliding patio doors leading to the rear garden, and a feature bay to side with French doors, plus a Minster-style fire surround with matching hearth. The sitting room features a bespoke hardwood display cabinet with glass-fronted units, decorative matching pelmets, and more of those high ceilings with corniced decoration detail and a centre rose.

The dining room lends itself to, not only casual family meals, but thanks to its grand proportions and original features, to more formal entertaining.

The kitchen and breakfast room is beautifully and thoughtfully laid out to help ensure meal creations will be as effortless as finger painting, and yet emerge looking like masterpieces – probably! There’s ample storage, lots of work surfaces, twin sinks, multiple hobs, and while the décor might not rock your world, if you don’t have the budget to change it just yet, its neutral look is never going

to jar or offend. Even better, there’s a handy laundry room just off the kitchen, ensuring your whites are never going to mixed up with your curries. Also to be found on this floor is a study, a games room – at the moment housing a pool table – a shower room, and a downstairs toilet.

Upstairs sees six generously sized bedrooms, with the master having its own en suite and dressing room.

The family bathroom with panelled jacuzzi style bath is a – going back to our handsome hero theme – an unusual soft and delicate pink. You could either rip it out and start again, or our suggestion, run yourself a bubble bath, pour yourself a glass of fizz, and get stuck in to a Barbara Cartland classic.

The windows at the rear of the house overlook the ornamentally laid Japanese style landscaped garden with decorative keyblock semi-circular paths and easy-tomaintain areas of lawn, with shrubs and plants – an ideal al fresco spot. There’s also a feature pond with Japanese style bridge, additional paved area to side, and its own in-built brick barbecue, giving you the excuse one day to say, ‘what’s cooking, good-looking?’ n

HOUSE NUMBERS Guide price £1.2m Bedrooms 6 Laundry room 1 Reception rooms 3 Built-in barbecue 1 For more: Kelvin Francis, 362 Cyncoed Road, Cardiff; tel: 029 2243 0176; www.kelvinfrancis.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 63

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Detached four bedroom modern double fronted house, quiet select close away from busy passing traffic. Extensive improvements including stylish new pvc double glazed windows, luxury well designed orangery with french doors and clear view glass lantern window, down stairs cloak room, utility room. 20ft re-modeled kitchen & breakfast room with integrated appliances and bay window with french doors, relaxing 20ft lounge, separate snug/study, stunning new bespoke family bathroom, modern ensuite shower room, large level landscaped private rear gardens backing onto tree lined park land, large double width four card private entrace drve leading to a double garage. lovely quiet location, walking distance to whitchurch railway station, must be seen!

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Private surrounding gardens, extensively renovated and extended in 2019, lovely corner position fronting a quiet residential road away from busy passing traffic yet just a short level walking distance to whitchurch village, must be seen, simply supoerb, no chain.

CARDIFF LIVES

“There’s something about flamenco that just feels right” In flamenco, we used to practice ‘picking an orange

my feet and the designs I want and I think they’re exquisite masterpieces of craftmanship.

My favourite part of them is their wooden heels, the patterns made by the grain of the wood are gorgeous.

There’s something about flamenco that just feels right to me. Everything you do is so

My desert island disc is Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black.

out of the tree and putting it in our basket’ under the other arm. This is because you move the wrists a lot more and the fingers individually.

emotionally charged and the relationship with the music is unlike any other dance style I know because you’re both a dancer and a percussionist with your feet at the same time.

I speak English, Welsh as a second language), Spanish,

JOSIE SINNADURAI The Welsh-born flamenco and contemporary dancer on shoes, cobwebs, and loving maths Josie, who is currently performing in Welsh National Opera’s new production of Bizet’s Carmen, trained in ballet at Mid-Wales Dance Academy, before going on to learn contemporary dance with National Dance Company Wales’ associates scheme. She also studied flamenco in both the UK and Spain with various teachers including Alejandra Velasco and José Garcia.

Josie has since toured Berlin, Canada, the UK and Israel and performed at several internationally renowned arts festivals, such as Le Festival de Jazz de Montreal and Toronto’s 15th Annual Blackout Festival.

Her first directorial commission was at the Festival Flamenco de Montreal in 2018, and Josie is

also the manager and principal dancer of her all-female flamenco group, Brujas Flamenco.

Wales is my home – I grew up in Brecon, in mid-Wales, and did most of my dance training there, and in Cardiff.

My parents are both former ballet dancers, and my mother

was my main ballet teacher.

Most days after school I’d go to her dance class and when home, I’d ask her what she had thought of me, at every moment, during the class. It was probably a little tiring for my siblings!

My first dance related memory is when I was about three years old and being told

to let the middle finger drop a little below the other fingers as if it’s ‘trailing through cobwebs’.

66 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

French and a small amount of German. I also used to be able to count to ten in Nepalese.

The worst job I ever had was a short flamenco set at someone’s birthday. I was

asked to hide in a cupboard 10 minutes before the birthday guy arrived. 10 minutes passed, then another 10 minutes, then another – two hours later they finally remembered me by which time I was shivering from wearing nothing but a flamenco dress in winter, stiff as anything, and more than a little perturbed.

Needless to say it wasn’t the best I ever danced.

I’m a total maths-lover. I once dated an astrophysicist and if the two of us had an afternoon off we used to go find a café to sit in and challenge each other to see who could solve maths puzzles fastest.

I love all styles of dance.

I think there’s a real beauty and sense of pride to many of the Eastern-European folk dance styles and I love the carnival dance styles of South America like Cumbia and Samba.

My most prized possessions are my flamenco shoes.

They’re all handmade to fit

She’s an incredible lyricist and I find her music so poignant.

I would like to learn more about the various Indian dance styles – it is generally

believed that the gypsies who contributed to the founding of flamenco may have come originally from India.

I’ve lived all over the place, and always lead by my dance work. This includes Brecon,

London, Madrid, Berlin, Montreal, Toronto and Seville.

My ambition is to keep dancing and see where it takes me. I learned pretty early

on in my professional career that it’s really hard to plan in this industry because some of the biggest contracts I’ve been offered have come about completely randomly. This has included getting talking to a stranger in a café, or a friend tagging me on a Facebook post about someone looking for a dancer. n

Carmen can be seen at Wales Millennium Centre on the 27 & 29 February; www.wno.org.uk