Roath Park View Issue 1 (Summer 2021)

SUMMER 2021

# 01

ALWAYS FREE

W W EE L C O M M EE SS U U M M EE RR YOUR NEW O FREE GUIDE TK ROATH PAR

BUSINESS, COMMUNITY, WHAT’S ON GUIDE AND MORE —THE ONLY GUIDE TO ROATH PARK YOU’LL EVER NEED CELEBRATING YOUR ORDINARY SUPERHERO

PETS, WELLBEING, NUTRITION, FITNESS

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A SCHOOL FOR YOUR DAUGHTER? Choosing a school for your daughter is not a decision to be taken lightly.

The place where she spends her formative years will play such a part in the young woman that she becomes. Howell’s School, Llandaff GDST are the experts in educating girls. They’ve been doing it since 1860, and offer a nurturing environment where girls are free to be themselves in a culture free from bias.

The School’s Ethos

At Howell’s School, academic rigour is a given, but everyone at Howell’s is committed to creating an environment where girls thrive, learn from each other and embrace every subject, every role, every opportunity. Pastoral care and classroom learning go hand in hand to create bold, confident, considerate young people.

The School Run

Howell’s is situated in Llandaff, barely a mile from Cardiff city centre, but for families living across town or out in the Vale, a fleet of minibuses brings in students from Penarth, Cowbridge and beyond, taking the pressure off parents who need to be at their work desks by the start of the school day.

The Facilities

Whether it’s sport, ICT or music where your daughter shines, at Howell’s the facilities are second to none, with a floodlit all-weather sports pitch, swimming pool, a newly enhanced ICT suite and a music wing with a of soundproofed practice rooms for instrumental lessons, and a Grade II listed, wood-panelled Great Hall complete with Bösendorfer grand piano for concerts.

Extra-Curricular Clubs

Education doesn’t finish when the bell rings for the end of the school day. Extra-curricular opportunities help children explore their interests and find their passions. In the Prep School, girls can sign up for sports, dance and music clubs, languages clubs include Mandarin, French and Spanish, green fingered students enjoy gardening club and budding chefs enjoy cooking up a storm.

A School Without Walls

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Howell’s have embraced a programme of Guided Home Learning that has delivered live lessons, as well as pastoral support, extra curricular clubs delivered online, virtual concerts and a live assembly each week.

To find out more about Howell’s or to arrange a visit, contact Admissions Officer Chrissie Hall-Davis, admissions@how.gdst.net or call 029 2056 2019

CROESO—WELCOME SHWMAE

Happy summer!

Firstly, welcome to our summer issue, and it is a big moment here for myself and the team. Our fantastic new editions, Cowbridge View, Pontcanna View and Roath Park View have just joined our original Penarth View title. Releasing all four editions together this summer is the latest step in us realising our dream of publishing hyper-local lifestyle magazines to showcase, promote and inspire people, places and businesses.

Well, I think it’s safe to say that our social calendars are filling up nicely— perhaps a little too nicely—now that even more of the restrictions on our lives are lifted. I’ve enjoyed seeing our shops, cafés and businesses bustling with customers, especially as the sun makes a welcome appearance, and I hope that more and more people will make the journey to their local high street. We’ve been champions of our high street for many years, and we believe a strong local economy offers more choice, is more sustainable, and is ultimately better for the wider community.

Superheroes is our theme of this issue—and no, I don’t mean Spiderman.

We want to celebrate the small acts of kindness, the little gestures of kindness that we’ve all seen over the past 18 months, and now that we are leaving

our holding pattern of restrictions, it seems the opportune moment to start shining a light on the people who have made our lives a little more bearable, in the smallest of ways. There is still time to nominate your own superhero, by emailing john@viewpublishing.co.uk Our team of fantastic writers have taken the theme to heart in this issue, as always, and inside you’ll see great articles on the power of Vitamin C from Rosie, superfoods and their true benefits from Angharad, superhero animals who go above and beyond from Dave, and how to harness your own inner fitness superhero with Rae. Elsewhere in this issue, Stifyn Parri returns as a regular writer, where he’ll be giving us his take on life, always with a comic twist, and our new resident journalist Pippa shares Monique Sotomi’s experience of smashing glass ceilings, glass walls—in fact, the whole glass building. We also have our ever-popular business and community pages, filled to the brim with short news stories from the area.

As always, thank you to all our amazing writers, contributors, advertisers and sponsors. We really could not do what we do without your unwavering support. Diolch!

And, finally, I couldn’t end this letter without acknowledging the hard work of my team. So much so, that Penarth View has recently won Independent Magazine of the Year at the Wales Prestige Awards—a fantastic accolade!

Please enjoy reading this issue, and do let me know what you think.

—John john@viewpublishing.co.uk

WE’RE ALL EARS

Contact us with your event, story or news on john@viewpublishing.co.uk

Bumper community pages We’ve got more community stories for you this summer Monique Sotomi A young woman on breaking down stereotypes.

Lockdown fashion, and how we now have the freedom to express ourselves again.

Not all superheroes wear capes. We’ve been celebrating ordinary acts of kindness.

Turn to our business pages for short updates, as well as an article from Lisa Entwistle on the Wales startup scene.

Shop local and support your local economy

Superhero animals What’s On Guide Our latest guide to virtual and live events this season, sponsored by your local Specsavers branches.

Editor

John Davies

Feautures Editor Will Summers

Sales Associate Katherine Peach

Sales Associate Rob Brown

Journalist

Pippa-Marie Sheppard

Head of Bark-eting Winston

Vitamin C is a real superhero Rosie looks at the properties of the well-known vitamin

We couldn’t have made this magazine in your hand without:

Amy Adams, Cllr Ian Buckley, Rae Carpenter, Dave Deane, Lisa Entwistle, Angharad Evans, Dr. Rachel Evans, Sophie FawcusRobinson, Sara Langford, Phil Lewis, Dr. Natasha Mayo, Rosie Oretti, Monique Sotomi, Stifyn Parri, Sylvie Pasquier, David Schönthal, Kate Thomas and Adam Whitmore.

Our next issue is due out October 2021

Whilst every effort is made to achieve accuracy, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. © Penarth View Limited 2021. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Penarth View Limited (company number 11053989) is registered in England and Wales.

Hyper-local lifestyle magazines that people want to read

Advertise here for just £99 per month, and get your business seen by our 98,000 readers.

Go to viewpublishing.co.uk/offer The important bit: Pay £99 per month for 12 months, for a quarter page in four issues in all four of our titles: Penarth View, Cowbridge View, Pontcanna View and Roath Park View.

This offer is valid for new customers only.

We are an LGBTQ+ and gender neutral salon, based on Pen-Y-Lan Road, Roath providing hair, nail, beauty and aesthetic services.

We pride ourselves on being not just another salon, but a safe haven too. Somewhere you can relax and feel comfortable.

We hope to see you soon 25 Pen-Y-Lan Road, Cardiff CF24 3PG

029 2280 1030

wowhairandbeautybar@gmail.com www.wowhairandbeautybar.co.uk

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From grocers and butchers, to coffee shops and gift shops, and everything in between, discover hidden gems, lower your carbon footprint, and leave smiling because you’ve been served by people who care—and probably did a little happy dance because they’ve made a sale and had a nice chin-wag in the process!

WoW Hair & Beauty Bar

Penny Lane Vintage

25 Pen-Y-Lan Road, Cardiff CF24 3PG 1 Call 029 2280 1030 www.wowhairandbeautybar.co.uk wowhairandbeautybar@gmail.com LGBTQ+ and gender neutral salon, providing hair, nail, beauty and aesthetic services. wow_hair_and_beauty_bar

Wellfield Court Arcade Call 07828 183 272 pennylanevintagecardiff@gmail.com Vintage and retro, ladies and gents fashion and accessories, collectables, memorabilia, furniture and homewares.

PennyLaneVintageBoutique 2

St. Andrew’s Coffee Court

Italus

St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Pen-Y-Lan Road, CF24 3PB Coffee Court open daily, from 9am to 5pm. Enjoy hot or cold drinks and quick bites, with outdoor seating provided.

Where every charitable cuppa helps keep this community building open.

StAndrewsCoffeeCourt

51 Wellfield Road CF24 3PA Call 029 2048 4694 For the smart, elegant, discerning lady, Italus is a well-estabilished ladies’ clothing store with a repuation for delivering excellent service.

John Henry Flowers Stall

Seven Clothing

St Andrew’s United Reformed 4 Church, Pen-Y-Lan Road, CF24 3PB Call 07527 958 109 www.johnhenryflowers.co.uk info@johnhenryflowers.co.uk Offering bouquets, ready-made bunches, dried flowers, house plants and bespoke floral designs. johnhenry.flowers

30 Wellfield Road CF24 3PB Call 029 2046 1777 www.7clothing.co.uk info@7clothing.co.uk Established in 2004, Seven Clothing‘s reputation has been built on supplying the most sought after selections from the world’s greatest fashion brands.

7Clothing

Green & Jenks

RLOO 61 Wellfield CF24 3PA WATERoad 5 NS Call 029 ARDE0300 G2280 www.greenandjenks.com hello@greenandjenks.com An extensive range of everyday groceries such as locally-baked bread, fine wines and speciality food and drinks from Wales and Italy.

GreenAndJenks

Luxor

SaraZtro

Stewart Greenberg Opticians

57 Wellfield Road CF24 3PA 6 Call 029 2049 0600 info@soraztra.co.uk Greek restaurant and bar.

Soraztra saraztro

59 Wellfield Road CF24 3PA Call 029 2047 1010 www.greenberg.co.uk support@greenberg.co.uk Stewart Greenberg Opticians in Cardiff offer high quality eyecare, contact lenses and a wide range of stylish eyewear.

OpticianCardiff

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47 Wellfield Road CF24 3PA Call 029 2280 0300 www.luxorfashion.co.uk luxorfashion@aol.com Unique and seasonal women’s clothing. Perfect for any occasion, crafted to perfection.

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SOMEONE TO TALK TO Volunteer for a good cause

Words by Katherine Peach, Sales Associate

Residents of Roath may have seen a mysterious man in Roath Park going by the name of Mike. The 25-year-old has been offering a listening ear to anyone who needs it, setting up two garden chairs and a sandwich board with the words: “Need someone to talk to? I’m here to listen.”

Mike, like so many people over the past year, have felt the hit of isolation. There were many challenges we were expecting to face during this pandemic, but facing the brunt of isolation loneliness was not one of them. Speaking as someone who very much enjoys their own company, after moving out to live on my own, being on my own for so long was quite hard.

Having someone to chat to was something we all took advantage of before COVID-19. The simple act of talking about your day or venting about your problems is so important, and by being a friendly face who the public can talk to, Mike has undoubtedly made a big difference in people’s lives.

Although things appear to be going back to normal, loneliness is still a problem that many people are battling with. Inspired by Mike’s kind deeds, we have collected a few tips for anyone facing loneliness in isolation.

Struggling to meet new people?

Why no get involved with a worthwhile cause and have the chance to meet people who also need help.

Don’t underestimate the power of Zoom

Although it’s not quite the same, having a chat with your loved ones over video chat can make a big difference.

Simply seeing a friendly face can drastically improve your mood.

A chat with a stranger

Don’t forget that you’re not alone in this feeling. There are people like Mike out there who would love to have a friendly chat with a stranger.

Find a hobby

Finding a common interest with people. A great way to make friends and meet new people is through something you’re passionate about.

Go for a walk

Going for a walk or a run with a companion is not only good for your physical health but mental health as well.

We are happy to see things starting to open up again, but for many people, after having spent so much time alone it’s become very difficult to put themselves out there again.

Even leaving the house can make them feel overwhelmed and anxious.

But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this and to not rush into anything you’re not comfortable with. It’s okay to set your boundaries on your terms, take your time and talk to someone if it feels like too much. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS Here at Roath Park View we are keeping you in the loop with this season’s short stories from the area.

hair a crazy colour or having it cut just the way you like it. They charge for the service you receive, not for who you are or how you identify!

New Trees to be Planted in Cardiff

The Coed Caerdydd project will have a more than £1million investment over the next three years. The project plans to plant trees over an area the size of 1,500 football pitches in the next nine years. This will see new trees planted in parks, on streets, and new woodlands created in Cardiff. This project plays a key part in combating climate change.

Blooming Marvellous—a new Flower Stall for Wellfield Road

After being in the floristry trade for over thirty years and having his own shop in Bristol for 16, John Henry Sartain has opened his own florist stall next to the Coffee Court at St Andrew’s Church on Wellfield Road. Having moved to the area almost three years ago, he decided the time and location was perfect for a local independent flower stall. Opening on 1 July, John Henry Flowers sells a selection of ready-to-go bouquets, houseplants and dried flowers. Find out more at www.johnhenryflowers.co.uk and on Instagram @johnhenry.flowers

Bold, Bright and Beautiful— Just the Way you Are!

WoW Hair and Beauty Bar isn’t just another salon for the Roath community.

It’s a safe haven where you can relax and feel comfortable in yourself. It’s an LGBTQ+ inclusive business with gender neutral pricing. A place where everyone feels included, where you won’t feel judged for dyeing your

Have a Splash this Summer

The beloved Victoria Park Splash Pad re-opened on May 28th, with new COVID-19 safety measures in place to give families a fun and safe place to play this summer. This popular summer attraction has many features to keep everyone entertained and cool.

CRI Chapel Gets a Makeover

The chapel at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary’s new library and community space has received a touch up, with new seating and planters installed ready for flowers to be planted.

Everyone is excited to see this beautiful building open up again.

New Defibrillators Installed in Roath

More and more defibrillators have been popping up around Cardiff and we love to see it. Albany Baptist Church have got an external defibrillator, which is available 24/7 for the community to access in an emergency. Defibrillators are devices that restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse or shock to the heart. Every second counts when someone is having a cardiac arrest. Survival rates are extremely poor at only 3% but when a defibrillator is used, rates can increase to up to 50%, so timely intervention is essential.

Cardiff City Centre Bridge in line for an Upgrade

Plans for the “tired and dated” railway bridge in Cardiff’s city centre have been proposed. This iconic piece of architecture is overdue for a revamp and that’s what Cardiff Council hopes to do.

The Secret of Long Life from 101 Year-Old COVID-19 Survivor

John Tubman, who turned 101 years of age on 1 July, recovered from COVID-19 and pneumonia after five weeks in hospital at the beginning of the year. According to John, the secret to a long, happy life: “a happy marriage and a glass of red wine every day.”

Perhaps some great advice to live by.

The Launch of Outdoor Storytelling Trails

Cardiff’s Child Friendly City programme launched two new outdoor storytelling trails earlier this year.

These bespoke trails are the latest in a four-part series, telling the tales of Welsh myths and legends, encouraging outdoor play for children and to learn more about Welsh stories. Find out more at www.childfriendlycardiff.co.uk

Grounds for Good New Gin Launch

We may have missed #WorldGinDay but that didn’t stop us from celebrating Grounds for Good’s delicious new creation—Coffee London Dry Gin! This coffee-based, yet caffeine-free gin is their latest product that you just have to try! All proceeds go to The Wallich homeless charity, who give help and advice to homeless and vulnerable people through their projects.

A Cardiff Café Bringing People Together

The pandemic has been very isolating for a lot of people, so this Cardiff café, The Hideout Café, is aiming to bring people together by creating an inclusive space for the members of the community to feel welcomed in. The sole focus of the café, located in the newly-refurbished Grange Pavilion, is the community, and aims to create an ethos of inclusivity and build community connections.

Send in your own stories for publication to newsdesk@ roathparkview.co.uk

Hyper-local lifestyle magazines

Introducing

OUR READERS LOVE PRINT Our magazines are beautifully produced, quarterly companions to living in the gorgeous areas of Penarth and Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, and Pontcanna and Roath Park in Cardiff.

—Penarth View —Cowbridge View —Pontcanna View —Roath Park View

SUMMER SUN READY AT SPECSAVERS *Cannot be used with any other offers. Second pair from the same price range or below and to the same prescription. Both pairs include standard 1.5 single vision lenses (or 1.6 for £169 rimless ranges). Varifocal/bifocal: pay for lenses in first pair only. Excludes superdigital, superdrive varifocals, superreaders 1-2-3 occupational lenses and safety eyewear. Additional charge - extra options.

Long summer days are finally here and there is no better way to heat up your new season style than with on-trend sunglasses.

From retro-glamour to classic and sophisticated looks, nearly all Specsavers’ specs—including designer brands—can be turned into prescription sunglasses, meaning there’s 1000s of styles to suit your look. This includes designer brands such as Marc Jacobs, Karen Millen, Tommy Hilfiger, Timberland and Kylie Minogue, as well as Specsavers’ own fashionable frames.

You can also choose high quality polarising lenses to reduce dazzling glare and increasing comfort. They also offer 100% UV protection, improve contrast and help ease the strain on your eyes, so they are particularly good for driving in bright conditions.

Most glasses and sunglasses styles are available to buy online at Specsavers.co.uk, and the handy virtual Frame Styler tool uses try-on technology so you can see how any pair will look from the comfort of your own home—ideal if you’re still hesitant about getting back on the high street.

Even better, these stylish sunnies

are all included in Specsavers’ two for one offer*—doubling your style creds.

As well as looking stylish, it’s important to shield your eyes in the brighter months when UV radiation is stronger, as it can damage your eyes as well as your skin.

James Deavall, store director at Specsavers Cardiff, says: “Prolonged UV exposure has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration, and even some types of eye cancer. Sunglasses are not just fashion accessories—it’s particularly important that you wear a good pair that offer high levels of UV protection.

“Sunglasses don’t need to be expensive but they should always conform to agreed safety standards, and you should aim for a pair that offer at least 80 per cent light reduction.”

Specsavers stores throughout Wales remain open for all eye care and hearing needs in accordance with government guidelines. Customers are also asked to request an appointment in advance by phone or online through the Specsavers website to help manage social distancing and minimise time spent in store.

For more information visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/cardiff

WHAT’S ON GUIDE Performance V

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Steinway International Piano Series: Imogen Cooper

3 Jul 2021

7:30 pm

Online

E Nesbit’s The Railway Children

6 Jul 2021

6:00 pm

Insole Court

Richard III

6 Jul 2021

8:00 pm

Insole Court

Here Come the Boys

10 Jul 2021

7:30 pm

St David's Hall

The Rose and Crown

11 Jul 2021

2:00 pm

Insole Court

Henry V

11 Jul 2021

8:00 pm

Insole Court

Trawsnewid – Queer Cabaret Night

15 Jul 2021

7:00 pm

Online

Ed Byrne + Guests – Socially Distanced Show

24 Jul 2021

7:00 pm

Tramshed

Midnight Skyracer

26 Jul 2021

8:00 pm

St David's Hall

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

2 Aug 2021

7:30 pm

St David's Hall

The World Famous Elvis Show starring Chris Connor

6 Aug 2021

7:30 pm

St David's Hall

Cardiff Opera presents ‘Le nozze di Figaro’

28 Aug 2021

7:00 pm

St German's Church Splott

Jimmy Carr: Terribly Funny

31 Aug 2021

8:00 pm

St David's Hall

The Wonder Stuff

1 Sep 2021

7:00 pm

Tramshed

Hello Again – A Tribute to Neil Diamond 2 Sep 2021

7:30 pm

St David's Hall

The Wildhearts + Syteria + Adam and the Hellcat

3 Sep 2021

6:00 pm

Tramshed

BANFF Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2021

7 Sep 2021

7:30 pm

St David's Hall

Bobby V

9 Sep 2021

6:30 pm

Tramshed

The Bowie Collective

9 Sep 2021

7:30 pm

St David's Hall

Specsavers are still open for appointments, with all the necessary precautions in place. Book your eye and hearing tests at Specsavers Albany Road (029 2043 7220), Specsavers Llanishen (029 2076 3133) or Cardiff Queen Street (029 2039 0297).

WHAT'S ON GUIDE SPONSORED BY SPECSAVERS

Keeping an eye on what's on in Roath Park this summer brought to you by local Specsavers branches at Albany Road, Llanishen and Cardiff Queen Street

Your local Specsavers branches, working with RNIB, to help end avoidable sight loss and transform the nation's eye health.

Your local Specsavers branches at Albany Road, Llanishen and Cardiff Queen Street are pleased to support and be at the centre of their local communities. They are proud to sponsor Roath Park View’s What’s On Guide. Book your appointment online, in-store or by phone.

Specsavers Albany Road 59 Albany Road, Cardiff CF24 3LL 029 2043 7220 Specsavers Llanishen Unit 1B Ty Glas Retail Park, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5DU 029 2076 3133 Specsavers Queen Street 92 Queen Street, Cardiff CF10 2GR 029 2039 0297 www.specsavers.co.uk

V

Blood Brothers: The Play by Pontypridd Theatre Co

10 Sep 2021

7:15 pm

Taff's Well Village Hall

The Boys Are Back ft. Five, A1, 911, Damage

12 Sep 2021

7:00 pm

Tramshed

Black Grape – It’s Great When You’re Straight 25th Anniversary Tour

16 Sep 2021

7:00 pm

Tramshed

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

17 Sep 2021

7:30 pm

Tramshed

Martha Wainwright

26 Sep 2021

7:30 pm

Tramshed

The Showhawk Duo

30 Sep 2021

7:00 pm

Tramshed

Marisha Wallace: Tomorrow Tour

1 Oct 2021

7:30 pm

RWCMD

Events with a V are virtual, and will take place online using platforms like Zoom.

Check out our website for online details.

Please check with organisers if live events are still going ahead.

WHAT’S ON GUIDE Fitness

2021 Cardiff 5K – Race For Victory

29 Aug 2021

7:00 pm

Whitchurch Village

Welsh Wrestling LIVE

17 Jul 2021

7:00 pm

Memo Arts Centre, Barry

An Evening with Frank Bruno

4 Sep 2021

7:30pm

Vale Sports Arena

An Evening with Tony Bellew

18 Sep 2021

6:00 pm

Vale Sports Arena

Cardiff Half Marathon 2021

3 Oct 2021

9:00 am

Cardiff Castle

Are you running your own events?

Submit them online for free at www.roathparkview.co.uk/event-submission

V

Events with a V are virtual, and will take place online using platforms like Zoom.

Check out our website for online details.

FREE CONTACT LENS TRIAL

Please check with organisers if live events are still going ahead.

Valid until 30 September 2021

Show this voucher in-store at Albany Road, Llanishen or Cardiff Queen Street branches.

Terms and conditions apply.

WHAT'S ON GUIDE SPONSORED BY SPECSAVERS

Chapter Arts Centre National Dance Company Wales: Open Air Performance

Join National Dance Company Wales outside to rediscover the joy of live dance from a powerhouse of Welsh artists. ‘Why Are People Clapping!?’ is uplifting, funny and ridiculously clever. It uses rhythm as a driving force to create toe tapping joy. ‘Moving Is Everywhere, Forever’ is vibrant and warm. A satisfying ode to the act of movement set to a magnetic soundtrack by Welsh electronic music duo Larch. Choreography: Ed Myhill and Faye Tan.

Theatr Clwyd: From The Grace Of You Go I

Performances will take place outdoors, in Chapter’s rear car park

Enjoy Alan Harris’ acclaimed dark comedy in this limited run digital event, filmed live in front of a studio audience at Theatr Clwyd. The sixcamera, full HD capture was shot and edited by Theatr Clwyd’s technical and live stream team.

Performances on Saturday 7 August will be BSL Interpreted

This performance takes place online

Friday 6 August 2pm & 4pm, Saturday 7 August 2pm & 4pm

£8 / £5

1 - 14 July

From £3

Holly Davey: A Script for an Archive Following her time as the Creative Fellow at the British School at Rome, Chapter resident artist Holly Davey shares her new work inspired by the photographic collection of Agnes and Dora Bulwer and the work of set designer Dante Ferretti at Cinecitta Studios.

The exhibition will take place in the Seligman Stwidio at Chapter The Meet the Artist event and script reading on 24 July is BSL interpeted 21 - 25 July

More dates added regularly. Visit www.chapter.org

Free

WHAT’S ON GUIDE Culture Museum Talks: The Impressionists – Manet | English

8 Jul 2021

6:00 am

Online

Trawsnewid – PRIDE Patch Making Workshop

13 Jul 2021

7:00 pm

National Museum Cardiff

V

Trawsnewid – Queer Life Drawing

14 Jul 2021

7:00 pm

Online

V

A Night with Amy Dillwyn + Live Q & A

16 Jul 2021

7:00 pm

Online

V

Queer Wales – Question Time LIVE

17 Jul 2021

7:00 pm

Online

Evening of Mediumship – Cardiff

28 Jul 2021

7:30 pm

Llandaff Institute

V

Festival of Archaeology 2021: New Finds and Recent Work in Wales

29 Jul 2021

6:30 pm

Online

V

Museum Sleepover: Outer Space from Home

7-8 Aug 2021

2:00 pm

Online

V

Museum Talks: The Prehistoric Archaeology of Burry Holms

19 Aug 2021

6:00 pm

Online

An Evening with Sam Warburton OBE

21 Aug 2021

7:30 pm

Memo Arts Centre

Museum Talks: Dinosaurs & Deserts in Wales

16 Sep 2021

6:00 pm

Online

David Hurn: Swaps

23 Oct 2021

All Day

National Museum Cardiff

V

V

Valid until 30 September 2021 Show this voucher in-store at Albany Road, Llanishen or Cardiff Queen Street.

2 FOR 1 ON SUNGLASSES

Cannot be used with any other offers. Second pair from the same price range or below and to the same prescription. Both pairs include standard 1.5 single vision lenses (or 1.6 for £169 rimless ranges). Varifocal/bifocal: pay for lenses in first pair only. Excludes superdigital, superdrive varifocals, superreaders 1-2-3 occupational lenses and safety eyewear. Additional charge - extra options.

WHAT'S 0N GUIDE SPONSORED BY SPECSAVERS

Fairs and Festivals

The Gin To My Tonic Show Cardiff 2021 2-3 Jul 2021

6:30 pm

Motorpoint Arena Cardiff

Hensol Castle Wedding Fayre

8 Jul 2021

5:00 pm

Hensol Castle

Wedding Fayre – The Village Hotel, Cardiff

13 Jul 2021

11:00 am

Village Hotel

Cardiff Speakeasy – A Prohibition Drinks Festival

23 Jul 2021

7:00 pm

Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff Prosecco Festival – Fizz, Gin & Cocktails

24 Jul 2021

12:30 pm

Cardiff City Stadium

25th Annual Penarth Open Gardens Trail

24 Jul 2021

All Day

Penarth

Look-A-Like Cardiff Tribute Festival

24 Jul 2021

3:00 pm

VSA Warehouse

The 5th Annual Mod and Ska Festival

28 Aug 2021

10:00 am

Tramshed Cardiff

90’s Festival Comes to Cardiff!

29-30 Aug

7:00 pm

VSA Warehouse

Vale Ale Trail

10 Sep 2021

6:00 pm

Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival This year the festival is going on tour to the beautiful surroundings of Insole Court, Llandaff, and Tredegar House, Newport.

Kids’ Activities Join Little Fizz and Party Fizz for online parties for children aged 0-7. Recordings available to keep.

Go to www.partyfizz.co.uk

Go to cardiffopenairtheatrefestival. co.uk

Did you know?

Your local Specsavers branches are locally owned and staffed by optometrists who live in the area, keeping money in the local economy and supporting a healthy high street.

UNLEASH YOUR SUPERHUMAN Influencer

Rae Carpenter

Penarth-based personal fitness trainer RaeCarpenter MsRaeCarpenter

LiveFitWales

As a Personal Fitness Trainer, with my company LiveFIT Wales Cymru, I work in the community, for the community, and with the community on their health and fitness. Life is short. Without moving our bodies and eating healthily, it’s shorter still. I’m also the health and fitness expert for S4C’s FFIT Cymru and QVC, the UK’s largest shopping and lifestyle network.

As I sit scrolling through my social media, an advert pops up for one of those quizzes— “What type of superhero are you?” Click through and answer some inane questions so that you can see if you are more like Captain America, or maybe the Scarlet Witch, or even the Incredible Hulk!

I don’t bother with it. The feeling and memories of being four years old and literally living in a Wonder Woman costume floods my mind. I loved that costume so much. The best bit was the red boot socks that went over my Clark’s shoes and hid them! I was obsessed with Linda Carter and have watched and re-watched the 1980s series. Oh to have an invisible jet eh?

But as we grow up, I think we realise that there are some serious superheroes amongst us mere humans. I think that there are some reading this right now.

Mums and dads, carers, guardians…

Think of all you do! Think of

the care you give, the lives you help run, the work you do, the juggling of work and home life, the complexities of relationship balancing that you navigate, the battles you negotiate, the miracles you perform of being in two places at once, the safe environment you provide and so much more.

When do you find time to look after you? You total hero.

Giving and giving is what you do—but how do you keep giving if your tank is empty? And I’m sure there have been times when you have felt like you were running on fumes!

Here are my top five tips on ensuring you stay being the stuff of legends!

• Wake up, workout: getting a 20-30 minute workout done and dusted first thing in the morning means you have already smashed your day, and nothing has gotten in the way of your you time.

• Avoid junk food—all that processed rubbish is your kryptonite! It just makes you feel sluggish and dulls your super powers! Feed yourself well, and you’ll keep on soaring!

FITNESS SECTION SPONSORED BY ANYTIME FITNESS

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Take a second—when life’s villains come at you, breathe, take a second and give yourself the best chance to win the battle!

Get decent sleep—the importance of sleep cannot be underestimated.

Disturbed and disrupted sleep = endgame! Treat yourself to an early night, once a week, with no distractions. A clean, calm and quiet bedroom, with zero electronics and some lavender sleep spray can work wonders to create that peaceful space for you to drift off to a great night’s sleep.

Ditch the toxic—don’t be lured by the dark side. Yes, it may be fun, but is it really good for you? Avoid the miserable news, the negative social media, that toxic “friend”, and purposefully seek out positive, vibe-lifting people, places and things that will help you to fly!

And once you have done this, and done it all regularly, your tank will be overflowing and you can consistently continue to be the baddass super hero you truly are! 

A new, state-of-the-art, 24-hour gym opening in 2021! With Anytime Fitness you’re not just joining a gym. You’re joining a supportive, friendly community of like-minded people who are here to give you the encouragement you need. From the welcome when you enter the club, to the support from the personal trainers, the team are professionally trained to help you along your fitness journey, no matter how much support you need. www.anytimefitness.co.uk 029 2009 9247 penarth@anytimefitness.co.uk

To join our LiveFIT community head to www.livefit.wales or follow @livefitwales on social media

4-block HIIT

Morning dance routine Pop five of your favourite get-upand-dance tunes into a playlist.

Wake up.

Hit Play.

Dance continuously—step touch/heel dig/cha cha cha/ merengee—like no one is watching for the five songs.

Shower and dress.

Feel amazing.

8 rounds of 20 second s of each exercise. 10 seconds res t between rounds. Repeat 4 times.

1. Running on the spo t 2. Fake skipping 3. Jumping jacks 4. Mountain climber s 5. Walking high knees 6. Soldiers 7. Travel runs 8. Cycles Push to your maximum effort each 20 seconds and always consult your doctor before un dertaking any exercise if you’ve not exercised in a while, or ever.

ARE SUPER FOODS THAT SUPER? Influencer

Angharad Evans Penarth-based Nutritional Therapist

I embraced the power of natural remedies after trying to manage a diagnosis of lupus and other auto immune conditions. Within three months, I no longer needed my medication and have since overcome the condition completely. After retraining as an allergy and nutritional therapist, I specialise in detoxification and natural healing, and I have a clinic in the heart of Penarth where I offer a bespoke treatment to clients for a variety of illnesses.

Far too often, I’m telling clients that they have an intolerance to a food they have been eating in abundance. “I thought it was good for me? We’re told to eat it.” I hear this daily.

Blueberries, spinach, garlic, almonds, avocados, tomatoes, oats—the list goes on. It goes to show that the old proverb "one man’s meat is another man’s poison" is as true as ever.

A super food is quite a new term—and it’s been a marketer's dream! Labelling food as super invokes consumer confidence, which makes selling such products easy.

Super foods are defined as foods packed with nutrients beneficial to health. Typically, you will have heard of blueberries, garlic, soy, leafy greens, dark chocolate, salmon, cauliflower, goji berries, almonds, olive oil, peanuts, avocado, mushrooms, kidney beans, soy beans, tomatoes, green tea, eggs, oats, cherries, watermelon, walnuts, apples and spinach.

Why are you not feeling ‘super'?

Whilst you may be consuming these super foods as part of your daily diet, you may still struggle with digestion, migraines, stiffness, brain fog, insomnia, heartburn and skin rashes. Perhaps it’s time to consider whether the foods you’re eating are not so super for you, and could be the equivalent to Superman’s kryptonite.

The secret dangers of ‘super foods’ Despite being given the coveted

and appealing title super food, this title actually is misleading, as they often contain substances that can have a detrimental impact on our health. These substances fall into the following categories: • Nighshade family: tomatoes, potatoes, aubergine, peppers, red pepper seasoning, goji berries, Ashwagandha • Tyramine rich foods: aged/ hard cheese, yeast, avocado, asparagus, broccoli, raspberries • Oxalic acid: spinach, beetroot, peanuts, cocoa powder, seeds, nuts, leafy greens • Tannins: tea, coffee, cranberries, blueberries, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans • Amines: fish, cheese, oranges, coffee, strawberries, tomatoes, aubergine, spinach, peanuts • Salicylates: stoned fruit, coconut, almonds, curry powder, paprika, raspberries, pineapple

So, what foods are right for you? Do they need to be ‘super’ after all?

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Don’t assume that super foods are appropriate for you. Be suspicious and eliminate even the super foods to see if it makes a difference.

Eat clean and know what you’re eating. This means avoiding processed food, but also ensuring that you’ve washed off the pesticides and herbicides used in the growing and harvesting of your food.

Do some swaps! If you’re eating oats for breakfast every day, swap with buckwheat or quinoa flake porridge.

Swap your peanut butter for another nut butter, your olive oil for hemp oil, spinach for kale, goji berries for chai or flax seeds, and blueberries for pomegranates! See if these minor changes have an impact.

Variety! We’re creatures of habit

and have a tolerance level for all foods. If we’re eating the same foods regularly, then we cross the tolerance threshold and are exhausting the digestive enzymes we need to process our food. So give your body a break, and try out new and healthier alternatives.

To discover what foods are super and not so great for you and your needs, contact me today to discuss a tailored approach.

I am a fully qualified allergy and nutritional therapist based in the heart of Penarth, where I offer tailored treatments in a professional, friendly and private environment.

I offer a bespoke programme to help adults and children with a very wide range of conditions with a focus on detoxification, nutritional support, allergy and intolerance therapy, emotional support and energy therapy. I offer a natural solution to conditions such as IBS, CFS, PMS, anxiety, mirgraines, skin conditions, perimenopause, menopause, weight loss and many more.

Contact me to discuss your needs Cynigaf wasanaeth Gymraeg ac mae croeso i chi gysylltu er mwyn trafod eich anghenion.

Call 07739 210 291 www.angharadevans.cymru evansangharad@icloud.com Natural Therapy by Angharad evans.angharad

BEATING NORMS AND INSPIRING

A 21-year-old woman from Barry who has beaten the stereotypical norms around race and identity has shared her inspirational story in the hopes of inspiring other young people from around the world.

Words by Pippa-Marie Sheppard, Journalist Monique Sotomi, who attended Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School, grew up in South Wales and has overcome many obstacles in life. She said: “My cultural background is both Welsh and Nigerian. I consider Wales my home and a very big contribution to my background and me as a character.

“I have beaten the typical stereotypes of what is globally recognised for someone like myself. I am a model, and I also work in construction for a living.”

When talking about her school background and what led her to where she is today, Monique said: “I attended an all-girls school called Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School. My school background wasn’t the peachiest.

I unfortunately didn’t have a solid group of friends, and I found myself bouncing between friendship groups.

“I’ll be honest, I wasn’t the sharpest tool in the toolbox. I have dyslexia, and I unfortunately didn’t do the best when it came to my GCSE results.

“I can remember crying and feeling like a failure when I opened my results. I think I realised I put more effort into trying to be liked and making friends rather than trying to invest into myself and my future.”

When asked about what inspired her to work in construction, Monique added: “I grew up as an only child and this resulted in me becoming creative and entertaining myself.

That’s where I first found my love for LEGO and construction."

Her mother, Gemma, raised Monique single-handedly, and also taught Monique that stereotypes are there to be beaten. "Without such an inspirational Mum, I wouldn't have had the confidence to go into a male-dominated industry nor would I have built self-love to stand up in-front of cameras.

“Despite race, age and gender, I’ve been involved with £30 million tenders for buildings such as schools, airports and housing in Wales.”

Throughout her lifetime, Monique has found herself a victim of discrimination. When asked about the issues that she has encountered, she added: “I’ve had many awkward questions thrown at me, things like ‘What is it like to live with your

mother because she’s white and you aren’t?’, ‘Are you gay? Because normal women don’t do construction.’ As well as, ‘You’re pretty for a black girl’.

“For my entire life, I feel like I’ve been bombarded with these types of questions.

I think it’s important to educate yourself when it comes to differences, and make a point of asking someone things like their preferred pronouns, names and ethnicity. Never assume.”

Despite everything she has faced, Monique has overcome the challenges in her path and is now focusing on her future. She said: “I am currently studying Project Management for Construction BSc(Hons) at university.

“I've previously been a building surveyor, and I would like to enhance my property development skills and go into property flipping. I then want to become an advocate for people who are considering a career in construction.

“I’d also like to progress with some art modelling projects with people who are looking to be creative.

“Most importantly, however, I want to have my story told so I can inspire young women, people with learning difficulties and those that don’t fit the stereotypical norms, to follow their dreams and be persistent in achieving their goals.”

LESS SUPERHERO, MORE HUMAN Words by Dr. Rachel Evans, Cardiff-based Clinical Psychologist

It’s common for us all to walk around with ideals in our heads, the so-called superheroes we may strive to be like. Whilst having a moral compass and value base to live up to is a desirable thing, considering ideals as obtainable (like being happy all the time) can be an issue for us all at times. If we aren't relating, behaving, thinking or feeling how we would like—how do we treat ourselves? Research shows that having compassion and kindness towards ourselves and others is key to wellbeing, where self-criticism and the guilt that can arise from unrealistic expectations can have a toll on our mental health and wellbeing.

These ideas have been considered in the media during the pandemic where NHS and other frontline staff felt under pressure to perform in superhuman ways, denying their own needs for sleep, adequate pay, and time off. Whilst there was initial appreciation for the outpouring of respect and gratitude that accompanied Clap for Carers, without actions to back up the appreciation (e.g., adequate PPE, clear policies and messaging, and adherence to the regulations), some began to view it as tokenistic and described feeling a pressure to ‘endure’ rather than voice concerns.

No one likes to feel sad, ashamed, anxious or angry, but these are normal and essential parts of being human as we respond to the situations we are in and the relationships we have with others.

It is the reactions to our emotional responses, rather than the feelings themselves, that are often the focus of therapy. Where there is a push from ourselves or others to deny or hurry ourselves out of certain feelings—it's that which can lead to longer-term problems.

How do we send the message to ourselves and our loved ones, that being human is enough— that 'it's OK not to be OK'?

1. Spend time with others. As things open up and return to normal, there's a focus on going out—but we also need to remember to come back in psychologically to connect with loved ones. This doesn't need to be fancy, just pottering together is enough!

2. Be brave and share your own distress as a model to others, that having the courage to be vulnerable and turn to others for help is a strength and not a weakness.

Doing so may mean others are able to turn to you in the future.

3. Recognise and acknowledge times that you, yourself, or loved ones are struggling emotionally. For adults, as well as children, this may sometimes show up as being argumentative or behaving in ways we find difficult, rather than a nice straight forward request for a chat or a hug!

4. If others do share their experiences of distress, be with them. This is harder than it sounds. We all have a desire to regulate ourselves and not feel pain but we equally probably can

all think of times when we've shared an upset with someone who has tried to talk us out of it, or point out the positives etc. The impact of this, whilst well-intentioned (they want to cheer us up), is often to make us feel unheard and more upset.

How do we emotionally ‘be with’ others?

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Recognise when you can and can't—if there isn't time or space, acknowledging that you see it's a hard time and would like to make time so you can offer support is better than just ignoring the upset.

If you do have the time, remember you do not need to fix things. Others do not want superheroes and super humans who have all the answers.

They want connection. They need to see and feel that you get it.

Showing you are there with them and can tolerate their upset makes it more likely they’ll trust you to be there again. It’s trusting that we can be with others and not alone in our distress that underscores healthy relationships—the bedrock for good mental health and emotional wellbeing, and a buffer to the stress of day-to-day life.

As an example, if you recall a warm memory, a time in your life that you felt really seen and cared for, for who you are, warts and all, it will invariably involve not some all-together superhero but a person who was very much authentically human in how they showed their emotions and how they responded to yours. So, maybe we could do with ditching the ideals and aiming for being human as more than good enough.

A WARM WELSH WELCOME AWAITS A former windmill and Wales' first contemporary art hotel, located in Britain's smallest city, St Davids, Twr y Felin is a relaxing retreat in the stunning Pembrokeshire countryside.

Featuring contemporary design throughout, the hotel is home to 41 bedrooms and over 150 pieces of specially commissioned art.

Originally a windmill built in 1806, Twr y Felin Hotel is, alongside the cathedral, the only high-rise structure in St Davids. Purposely positioned on the peninsula to harvest the everblowing winds, it lasted as a working windmill for 100 years, before the sails fell off just one too many times.

For over a century, this building has had a connection to the landscape— financed by success on the waves, powered by the ever-blowing winds, and now as a mirror to the rolling hills surrounding it, as it hosts artworks to evoke the Pembrokeshire landscape in a new way. The ingredients used in the hotel's Blas Restaurant are carefully sourced from predominantly Pembrokeshire and Welsh suppliers, and where possible originate from the surrounding countryside and coast.

Reinvention has saved this building. Becoming a hotel gave the windmill a new life, and now it is Wales’ first contemporary art hotel and home to 41 luxury bedrooms and a fine dining restaurant.

The rooms have been transformed into chic retreats, splashed with muted pastels. They are comfortable and contemporary, furnished with handcrafted furniture and luxurious textiles. Each room enjoys a view of

the coast, and this visual landscape is enhanced with a choice of bespoke artworks—our particular favourites being those by Graeme Brusby, also known as Xenz, once described as the Monet of graffiti because of the impressionistic nature to his work.

We stayed in room 121, Ramsey, one of their Windmill Spacious rooms in the oldest part of the hotel, which offer plenty of space and feature some of the largest bathrooms.

With many prestigious accolades under its belt, including from Visit Wales, The Good Hotel Guide, and the AA, Twr y Felin offers a welcome that is typically Welsh, warm and enveloping.  Address: St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6QT Telephone: 01437 725 555 Price: Doubles from £250 Website: www.twryfelinhotel.com

COMPETITION

Win a one-night bed and breakfast stay

Win a one-night bed and breakfast stay in Twr y Felin Hotel, located on the spectacular St Davids peninsula, Pembrokeshire.

The prize is based on two guests sharing and includes, breakfast, WiFi and parking.

Twr y Felin is a former windmill and Wales’ first contemporary art hotel, located in Britain’s smallest city, St Davids. Meticulously restored and extended, featuring contemporary design throughout, the hotel is home to 41 bedrooms and over 150 pieces of specially commissioned art, inspired by the St Davids peninsula and Pembrokeshire. Twr y Felin Hotel is also home to two Rosette Blas Restaurant, which offers a menu influenced by the season and uses produce sourced from predominantly Pembrokeshire and Welsh suppliers, as well as foraged ingredients from the surrounding countryside and coast.

To win this fabulous prize for you and a partner or friend, simply go to www. viewpublishing.co.uk/ twryfelin and leave your name and address. Nothing else required! Good luck.

The important bit: The prize is based on two guests sharing a double or twin room and includes breakfast, parking and WiFi. The prize is valid, Sunday to Thursday ONLY, between November 1st 2021 and March 31st 2022, excluding school and Bank Holidays, and Valentines Day. Subject to change and availability at the time of booking.

We welcome children 12 years and over. As hypoallergenic properties, we are unable to accept pets.

GROUNDBREAKING CRAFTS

We love to shine a spotlight on independent artists and creators all across South Wales, so we spoke to Dr Natasha Mayo, a ceramicist and sculptor who has recently moved into The Clock Yard at Rowley’s the Jewellers, Penarth.

Dr. Natasha Mayo is a researcher, ceramicist and senior lecturer at Cardiff School of Art and Design.

Her work examines the human form as milieu, a place onto which we project identities, societal, gendered and cultural thoughts and feelings. She explores the close association between skin and the expression of thought; the sense in which, when blushing, paling or sweating we are, albeit momentarily, taken over by the skin’s conveyance of emotion; what could be described as ‘thinking through the skin’.

What inspires your craft?

It is the very stuff of clay that inspires me. It’s an incredibly sociable

material interwoven through histories, geographies and physical encounters.

I think of ceramics as being a ‘living’ practice, already a part of the ground we walk on. There is a sense that anything we make from it, is already familiar. Now that’s a powerful attribute for an artist!

What is the biggest challenge you face within your craft?

Time! Being a mother of three and Programme Director of Ceramics at CardiffMet, I have previously had little reserve of time to practice.

COVID-19 has caused self-reflection, and isolation has caused me to recognise the wealth of creative subject matter that arises from my home!

Over the years we have created a kind of material-lore captured in the acts of drawing along walls, stairs, hallways and landings, informing your periphery of the fictitious, the factual and playful events of our family. This has prompted me to start a R&D project called Flight Lines, supported by the National Museum of Wales, which seeks to identify a way of creating that

CREATIVE SECTION SPONSORED BY ROWLEY’S THE JEWELLER

arises from the interaction of a number of forces, a common negotiation of women artists but one not specifically identified and championed as a strength in creative terms. The project will take as its inspiration Gwen John’s accumulative and intersecting practice and through the very different corollaries of my own, establish a contemporary, living example.

THE JEWELLERS For over 57 years, Rowley’s have been selecting only the best jewellery, watches and gifts to grace the shelves of the store. The family currently behind Rowley’s the Jewellers have always been incredibly supportive of the arts scene in South Wales, and are proud to sponsor our creative section.

How influential is social media to you?

110 Glebe Street CF64 1ED Call 029 2070 7556 www.rowleysgifts.com info@rowleysgifts.com Rowleys.Penarth RowleysJeweller rowleysthejewellers

Do you have a favourite project?

The Clock Yard was an initiative planned in 2018 as a response to the climate crisis. It aims to encourage new ways of doing business, and they will research innovative ways to bring interesting new collaborations to high street spaces.

Petra Aydin-Barberini says: “We have eco-responsible projects based around a reclaimed urban yard—an oasis of calm bringing together curious brains to find new ways forward.

We’ve been delighted to house Benthyg Penarth—a library of things—and now having Natasha in the premises too is a great addition to the team.”

For more information, contact clockyard@rowleysgifts.com

I haven’t got into the practise of using social media for my own practice, although I am beginning to for this project. I run the Cardiffnet’s ceramics social media accounts and it is an invaluable resource for networking and addictive.

Beyond Borders, where I organised musicians, illustrators, poets, sculptors, writers, archaeologists, geologists and historians to draw parallels between the movement of the earth and of man to encourage debate about journeying and asylum. It taught me how creativity can be used to spark curiosity and awareness of situations often too politicised or complex to communicate in other ways.

Do you like to stay on trends, or create your own path?

I enjoy researching and so need to appreciate contemporary practises in order to understand my contribution to it in making, writing and teaching.

How did you come across this craft?

I first found clay on my PGCE in Birmingham back in 1997 and taught ceramics whilst on placement, as the teacher had slipped a disk, so if I hadn’t set it up, it wouldn’t have been taught.

Luckily she was a great teacher!

Supporting independent artists and creators is important to our community, and showcasing this talent is what we do best. Make sure to check out Natasha’s work online at www.natashamayoceramics.com

ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE Influencer

Stifyn Parri

Entrepreneur and entertainer

Entrepreneur and entertainer Stifyn Parri is a creative producer, presenter, consultant and mentor. He was Marius in Les Misérables in the West End, Christopher Duncan in Channel 4’s Brookside, and is a presenter of a game show and a chat show host. At mrproducer.co.uk he produced the opening of Wales Millennium Centre, the Ryder Cup Opening Concert at the Millennium Stadium for Sky TV, and the 50th Anniversary gala of the Aberfan Disaster starring Michael Sheen, Bryn Terfel and Sian Phillips.

We've all had time to reflect recently. We never know what's around the corner, do we? Who could have foreseen such a catastrophic, neverending rollercoaster in society?

Lockdown for me, however, gave me time to rethink, recharge and quietly entertain myself by watching how others coped with the new rules. I love to people watch. We're funny.

Even in such strange and testing times. Every cloud, eh?

Don't get me wrong, this last year and a half has been difficult for everyone, with death tolls, job losses and anxiety rocketing beyond control.

However, in the middle of a global pandemic, I have also found moments of unexpected joy, hysterical laughter and comedy gold in the public’s behaviour.

Yes, we all need to sanitise our hands and watch what surfaces we touch, but honestly! I’ve seen what seemed like a highly intelligent man, crash his supermarket trolley into the side of his parked car, as he returned from his shop while failing to push his overladen trolley with his ELBOWS. All because he didn't want to touch the handle—what a show that was!

Then, there was the little old lady who seemed to think that because she wore a mask under her chin, constantly smiled and crept on tippy-toe around the shop, that Coronavirus wouldn't get her. I think she was abiding by the two millimetre rule. In truth, she was pushing in front of everyone, invading their space, and coughing all over the veg.

And the piece de resistance, the funniest has to be the dozens of people that drive around alone in their cars fully masked. THAT brings me sunshine.

Speaking of sunshine, to those of us who are still complaining about having to have a staycation this year.

I'd like to remind you that we are living

in the most beautiful country with probably the best food, mountains and coastline you could ever wish for. So, those of us who teeter on bankruptcy at the end of every two-week allinclusive getaway, with jetlag from hell—welcome to Wales, croeso i Gymru.

Pre-covid, I used to love a few nights out (as I was such a social tart), but since lockdown, my appetite for going out has definitely waned. I don’t know about you, but after actually having a night out-out after such strict regulations, I'm gagging for a night in-in again. I lock the door, pull on my PJs and settle in for a flick through Gardeners' World magazine and a podcast. Even if it's lunchtime!

Oh, I'm so not rock-and-roll these days.

More "nice to be comfy, nice to be nice."

But there is one frustration I have to share. Despite having lockdown after lockdown, I still can’t seem to manage one simple thing—to remember my mask. The number of times I've got out of my lounge-wear, hopped in the car, and driven to a shop, then got to the doorway and remembered MASK!, then hopped back in the car and driven back home, given up and opened a bottle of wine. Yes, probably still lunchtime. I think I should staple one to my head. A mask that is, not the wine, but that’s not such a bad idea either.

Keep safe and remember your mask. And smile, it shows in your eyes!

As you were. 

A TRUE SKINCARE SUPERHERO Influencer

Rosie Oretti

Penarth science-geek, purveyor of Tropic Skincare and Co-founder of Grounds For Good

I have a background in pharmacology, psychiatry and addictions spanning over 30 years. I love to consider all things to do with health and wellbeing, of both the mind and the body. I believe good lifestyle decisions are made when we have the right information.

If you are a skincare geek, then you’ve likely heard of Vitamin C. One of the most exciting, research-proven, and coveted ingredient that you can apply to your skin.

It’s good to have plenty of Vitamin C in your diet, but the best way to improve your skin specifically is to apply it directly! Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and provides our first line of defence against damage caused by free radicals (pollution, UV etc). These pesky molecules break down skin elastin and collagen, and stimulate pigmentation, also known as premature ageing!

Vitamin C has a great safety profile and is generally suitable for all skin types. If you have super sensitive skin try a patch test first. There are no reported adverse effects even with long term use.

So, what does it actually do?

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Evens out skin tone by fading areas of hyper-pigmentation and redness.

Great for melasma, age spots and dark circles under the eyes.

By strengthening barrier function, it prevents skin moisture loss and is hydrating.

Promotes collagen and elastin

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formation which increases firmness and elasticity, thus reducing fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

Helps increase cell turnover and assists with healing and repair, thus smoothing out areas of scarring (acne) and inflamed skin.

Protects against UV damage.

The good news is that it doesn’t make skin more vulnerable to sun damage, like retinols for example.

So it is a force to be reckoned with by mitigating problems before they occur as well as after. This also includes any pre-cancerous changes.

Vitamin C is not a replacement for SPF but think of it as a safety net.

The most researched type of Vitamin C is L-ascorbic—there are others. But here’s what you really need to know—Vitamin C is notoriously unstable and becomes easily oxidised when exposed to air, light and differing pH. If it becomes discoloured or has changed in texture, then it’s probably already ineffective.

Concentrated facial serums tend to be the most beneficial. Those with concentrations lower than 10% are more preventative but aid in enhancing the impact of other ingredients. Using levels of 10% and above is best to address existing skincare issues.

Serums should be applied to the face (and even neck, decolletage and back of hands) after cleansing and toning, and before moisturisers, once or even twice a day. You need to be careful when you are applying other types of serums in combination as they can render the Vitamin C ineffective.

However, ingredients which can promote Vitamin C activity include ferulic acid and Vitamin E. As with all skincare routines, consistency is key.

If this all sounds a bit confusing, expensive and not worth the bother,

then let me introduce you to the new kid on the block, Glycoyl abscorbate.

This is a novel, innovative, stable form of encapsulated Vitamin C and is the main ingredient in Tropic Skincare’s award-winning Glow Berry Brightening Serum. The serum also contains Ferulic acid and other super berries which supercharge the Vitamin C.

The results?

After 28 days of daily use, participants had 65% brighter skin; 30% less wrinkles; 20% less dark spots and 19% increased skin elasticity (Independent Clinical Studies).

Now that’s my kind of superhero!

FASHION RE-BOOT Influencer

Sylvie Pasquier Penarth-based Events Organiser

I was born in Troyes in the Champagne area of France. Fashion had always been a passion of mine, leading me to move to Paris to study Haute couture. I now live in the Vale of Glamorgan with my daughter and our little dog Lili, and run an Event Business which specialises in occasions with a certain “je ne sais quoi.”

The world is unlocking and we are finally able and ready to hit the high streets again! Or are we...? According to behavioural studies, it takes 66 days to form a habit. With so many shops remaining closed over the last year, it is likely many of us will have lost the drive to once again shop in the way that we use to.

Spending the day shopping with your close friend for that ‘musthave’ pair of shoes might be a thing of the past, as shopping online seems to have become the new norm. My shopping habits over lockdown have definitely changed too, and it made me wonder how it had affected others. To find out, I decided to interview a couple of families living in the Vale.

Andrew works as a curator; his wife Jo works for the Welsh Government.

They have a young daughter and a baby son. Louisa is a primary teacher and lives in Barry with her husband Chris and their 2 children.

And this is what they had to say...

Andrew

“To be honest, my wardrobe has barely changed over the last 25 years, so lockdown hasn’t had a great effect on the way I dress. As a bit of a Mod/Ageing Indie kid, I still think you can’t better a good pair of trainers and a polo shirt.”

Jo

“I can’t say that fashion was at the top of my agenda over the last year as my son was just a baby then and needed to be carried in a sling most days.

Practicality was key, as I had to also do some homeschooling with my daughter.

When things opened up at the end of last summer, however, I really enjoyed wearing different outfits. I particularly loved wearing my green jumpsuit which I bought in Oasis a couple of years ago.

It made me feel like myself again!”

Oasis jumpsuit “It made me feel like myself again!”

Louisa

“I made a conscious effort to exercise and improve my diet over the last few months and as a result managed to lose the extra weight I had put on during the first lockdown. I felt so much better for it! I took that chance to renew some of my wardrobe and got some lovely dresses online ready to wear for summer.

I didn’t stop there either. I completely changed my hair style too—I went from long red hair, to a short bob in rainbow colours. Quite a daring move considering I am a primary school teacher, but I received a lot of compliments and my confidence has gone through the roof!

Life is definitely too short to worry, it is important to do what makes you happy!”

Despite fashion taking a step back over the last few months in many ways, there is no doubt it has remained important to most of us. Regardless of the way we shop, be it online or on the high street, there is a general feel that after months of dressing down, people want to dress up again and social occasions are giving us the excuse to do so. I certainly didn’t need much of a push myself to put on that pretty dress I had bought last week and meet up a friend for lunch. It was such a great feeling but the best news of all was that I was still able to walk with high heels!

Salutations, Sylvie 

Call 07989 583 514 or 029 2247 0727

SUPERHEROES OF THE ANIMAL KIND Influencer

Dave Deane

Penarth-based Veterinary Surgeon

Having lived and worked in South Wales for 11 years, initially in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cardiff, I have finally found my home in beautiful Penarth, where I also volunteer as an RNLI crew member. Growing up as the son of a dentist may have influenced my passion for veterinary dentistry.

When we think of the term superhero with respect to animals, it is easy for us to immediately think of those animals who we know do remarkable jobs. These would include guide dogs, bomb disposal dogs and medical detection dogs.

Interesting Facts

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Guide dogs have their own superhero costume. When they are wearing their harness, they are in Superman mode and know they have a job to do. Once the harness is off, they know it is play time and will often act like any family pet.

Always ask before making a fuss of a guide dog in their harness as distracting them while working could endanger their owner.

Bomb disposal dogs can decern scents even when they have been masked with another odour—you can’t pull the wool over their noses!

Bio-detection dogs can detect odours of specific disease in urine, breath or sweat, and aid life-saving early detection of conditions such as cancer. Although this process is in its infancy, it has huge potential.

While these animals play an incredible role in our society and the field of bio-detection has scope for huge developments in the future, I have decided to also mention the unspoken superheroes right here in our own homes.

Every pet is a little superhero, whether it be the day-to-day

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companionship or the help and support they unconditionally offer us through difficult times in our lives.

Our pets offer us friendship, and for some, they can prevent loneliness.

For these people they can offer a sense of routine and socialisation and so many care homes will even allow pets to move in with them.

Pets can act as a confidant in offering a non-judgmental ear. In fact, there is probably a lot that we, as humans, could learn from our animal

counterparts. They teach us the joy and excitement in the small things in life, and we are always being told we should get more sleep—well most cats I know definitely live by this mantra.

In fact, pets of all shapes and sizes can teach us a lot. They can teach us about responsibility, relationships and it has also been shown that they can increase our level of empathy.

And as I discussed in the previous spring edition, they can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. 

Three superheroes that defy our expectations There are countless stories of carrier pigeons delivering life-saving messages during World War I. One pigeon in particular, named Cher Ami, was awarded recognition for the delivery of twelve important messages. The last of which saved 194 US soldiers in 1918, which she delivered despite being shot.

The giant African pouched rat, named Magawa, was awarded a PDSA Gold Medal for discovering 39 landmines and 28 items of unexploded ordnance in Cambodia. The PDSA Gold Medal is known as the equivalent of the George Cross recognising acts of heroism.

An ex-dressage horse named Doctor Peyo and his owner now spend their time doing the rounds in a French hospital in Calais supporting terminally ill patients. He helps with end-of-life care and appears to comfort and reduce anxiety in patients, often staying with them until the very end.

Not all heroes wear capes We want to show the world that despite the negatives that may come around, there are always people that will keep you positive.

We love hearing all your amazing superhero stories and we’ve collected some of our favourites to share with you.

Annette and Stuart Sheppard are my superheroes. When I first moved to Annette and Stuart’s home, I was 11. I stayed for 5 weeks while my grandmother went of holiday. But things didn’t work out and 16 days later, I returned back to Annette and Stuart’s. I was very nervous and scared. My family were living in Barry and I had moved to Caerphilly.

I felt like I was miles away from them and I hated the thought of it.

But here I am 6 years later and still living with them. It doesn’t bother me now as much as it did before.

Both Annette and Stuart treat me like family, and I am forever grateful for that. I adore them both to pieces. They always make me laugh, they are so strong and always positive no matter the situation.

They have done so much for me, more than I could ever imagine and for that I am internally grateful.

They truly are my superheroes.

Kasey Moore-Davies

My superhero is my best friend Lucy Richards. She had a difficult year and overcame everything that she faced. She displays such strength, courage and determination, I couldn’t be prouder.

Pippa Journalist at View Publishing

A person that inspires me is my great grandad David Lewis. Without fail, on a Tuesday he picks our dog up and helps look after him throughout the week. He is a man of few words but a very loving soul.

He gave me my first car, which means a big deal, as well as always remembering my birthday and all holidays. I want to say a massive thank you for being my grandad, even through we aren’t blood, and an even bigger thank you for being a dad to my mother, Gemma Lewis. We appreciate you a lot.

Monique Sotomi

If you’d like to nominate your own superhero, drop us a message on social media or email john@viewpublishing.co.uk

My superhero nomination has to go to Ben, my boss. He’s everyone’s superhero around here. Not all heroes wear capes, but he does occasionally.

Puravida, Penarth

The super-teachers of Westbourne School are great. We count ourselves very lucky at Westbourne to have such a talented and dedicated teaching team. Teachers here regularly go far beyond what is required of them to support, motivate and engage pupils at an extremely high level. When the offs have been stacked against us all, their love for the job and desire to see pupils succeed has been unwavering.

Dr Gerard Griffiths Principal at Westbourne School

Mel, for being a wonderful employer, and very supportive.

She’s very community orientated.

Georgie Griffin Books, Penarth

John from Fourways. He helped me out with things in the past when it comes to not having enough money for things for the shop.

Frangoulis, Penarth

I want to nominate my wife, Lucia. She’s always been my rock and I don’t know how I would have done lockdown without her. I suppose it helps to be a bit mad being married to me.

Rick A. B. Snell & Son, Penarth

I’d like to nominate my mum, Kelly Jones. She is the busiest retired person I know! Since opening the shop in October last year she has come to work with me every day to help out and support my business venture. She’s a natural in a retail setting, running a tight ship and is so wonderful with the customers. I couldn’t have done it without her, she’s been my absolute hero this past year! My Dad, David, has also been instrumental in both my business and home moves, painting the shop, putting up shelving and helping in every way possible.

I’m so proud of them both and so grateful for the support they give me daily. I couldn’t have done it without them and I am very lucky to have such supportive parents.

Sophie Fawcus-Robinson Folk Gather Here, Cowbridge

The community and the way they rallied together. They all looked out for each other. Everyone needs a superhero. Everyone has done the best they could. As well as our cheesemakers and suppliers.

Fauvette, Penarth

All of year 11 and 13, and anyone in education that has missed out on learning and are now having to catch up.

Anne Morgan Jewellery, Penarth

Anyone can be a

With a list as long as your arm packed full of random acts of kindness, fundraising events and actions that celebrate those from all walks of life in Roath Park and the wider Cardiff community, when you ask Nathan Wyburn and Wayne Courtney where they get their superhero energy from, Wayne just replied: “We’re just two best mates, having the time of our life”.

The pandemic only fuelled the duo’s drive to raise money for the local charities and community groups they support including A Million Steps for Welsh Hearts, Dragged to Church events, online entertainment shows raising money for the NHS, and their latest project: St Andrew’s Coffee Court on the corner of Wellfield Road and Pen-y-Lan Road.

Starting from an idea to focus on bringing people together, one converted horse-box later and St Andrew’s Coffee Court was born. The court gives an outside meeting place for the community groups that would normally use St Andrew’s Church, and is of course welcome to everyone who fancies a cuppa too.

Anyone can be a superhero when you can use a Defibrillator. Having defibrillators are an essential piece of health and safety equipment that greatly increase the likelihood of saving someone’s life. In June, Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and thanks to the immediate CPR response and the use of a defibrillator, his life was saved. Do you know of any defibrillators in your town?

Deputy Manager of Little Westbourne Nursery, Hannah Bennett, has worked tirelessly over the past year to ensure the wellbeing and happiness of children in her care. During lockdown, she also led one-toone Zoom sessions with children and their parents to ensure the highest levels of pastoral support. Hannah went above and beyond her normal teaching duties when, in March 2021, she helped organise a fundraising campaign in aid of Down’s Syndrome Assocation, inspired by a child close to the heart of Little Westbourne Nursery, raising an incredible £4,000.

Nursery pupils at Westbourne School

When I was little, there was stiff competition between Batman and my mum on who would be my favourite superhero. Granted, Batman had the ultra-cool Bat-mobile, but on the other hand, my mum made my sandwiches and cut off the crusts!

These days, you’ll be glad to know that I’ve grown out of Batman, but my mum still is my biggest superhero. Tenacious, resourceful, kind, caring and, above all, brings the fun! Even when my brother died after a fatal accident abroad, my mum still managed to make sure I was ok. It was the hardest week I’ve ever endured and yet my mum still managed to make me smile, laugh and celebrate Glyn’s life through our grief. She was miles away and I still felt her superhero cloak wrap around me.

Throughout lockdown, mum’s retold side-splitting tales of her ongoing war against technology, her mischievous pranks on my dad, and sent a total of 1,332 GIFs—although I’m not 100% sure what some of them are for! When work is tough, or another lockdown has been enforced, I’ve always been able to count on her to lift my spirits. Thank you!

I also couldn’t leave out my partner John, affectionately known as my adventure partner, who has this superpower where he sometimes knows me better than I know myself. He’s also been known to turn this stubborn mule into a gentle pussy cat—and that’s a superpower!

I’ve come to realise throughout the pandemic that I’m surrounded by people with those same qualities of tenacity, resourcefulness, kindness, caring and funny, all of whom are superheroes in their own right. We’ve all seen society’s everyday superheroes emerge from the woodwork more than ever. Those who are unassuming, humble, and do what they do because they love it—even in the face of so much uncertainty and adversity. Thank you to all of those wonderful people who keep us going, pre and post-pandemic!

Will Summers Features Editor at View Publishing

My superhero is my life and business partner Will, who is always there for me when I need him most.

Always bringing me chocolate when I’m stressed, or a glass of Prosecco on Friday night after a long week.

I’m also always inspired by all the small, independent business owners, who despite everything the year has thrown at them, continue to get up in the morning, put on a smile, and make it happen. Their tenacity, determination and flexibility should mean every success.

John Managing Editor at View Publishing

Road Sweep on Windsor Road.

He is absolutely terrific. He goes around emptying the bins and sweeping the roads.

Penarth Pet Shop

Everyone that has kept going. A big round of applause to everyone that has stuck together around the town.

Andrea’s Flower Boutique

My parents.

Ellie Umpa Lumpa Sweet Shop, Penarth

My lockdown superheroes are my Penarth View team. John and Will were so supportive throughout this difficult time and continue to be a wonderful presence in my life. Even when things are tough and there’s a lot of hard work to do, they’re there to keep a smile on my face.

They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and I’m very grateful to have them in my life.

Katherine Writer at View Publishing

Without a doubt, a massive shoutout to the NHS and care workers all over the country who have gone over a beyond the call of duty. Thank you.

My superhero is Vicky, as she is to many people here. Vicky was a strong, kind and truly wonderful person and we all miss her dearly. Vicky is known as ‘Our Queen’ here at Wow Beauty and she helped us build a safe haven for the community.

Mandie WoW Hair and Beauty Bar

I’m always inspired by the RNLI Penarth Lifeboat Station and the crew— volunteering their time and energy to save lives at sea! Inspirational!

Rob Sales Associate at View Publishing

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS A Virtual Marketplace hits Penarth

Earlier this year Penarth launched a new virtual marketplace called ShopAppy Penarth. This new initiative gives shoppers the opportunity to buy from their favourite local traders online in one place. Go to www.shopappy.com/penarth

Local Businesses Inspire at Food Festival The Coffee Shop on a Bike After being furloughed last year, Piotr Skoczylas started selling coffee from his bike. Stol Coffee is a one-man business aiming to bring the community of Penarth coffee and cookies, which has already been a huge success. Seeing people come out of hard times with great new businesses is wonderful and he has become a meaningful part of the Penarth community.

Virtual attendees to the first ever Food Vale Festival were treated to a series of free events and inspiring stories from some of the Vale’s most sustainably-minded food businesses.

Close to 30 food producers were in attendance, whilst highlighting opportunities to improve the local food system post COVID-19.

New Penarth Business Shortlisted for an Award A Penarth-based business has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2021 Wales Start-Up Awards after only four months of trading. Shroot, who produce a range of growing greetings and sell mostly online, has been selected in the ‘Rising Star’ category, focusing on businesses that demonstrate innovation and future potential. Well done Shroot!

Apothecary64 becomes Skin Care Award Finalists Local business owner has been selected as a skincare award finalist for the 2021 Free From Skincare Awards.

Craig Parker-Trott is among ten other finalists in the Hand, Foot and Nail Care Category. Well done Craig!

Local Chartered Management Accountants and Tax Advisors expand along the M4 Corridor

Evans Entwistle have recently expanded their operations by acquiring a third practice, a wellestablished Newport firm, to join their existing Penarth and Bristol offices serving clients right across the M4 corridor with a combined team of 15 accountancy, tax and corporate finance professionals.

BUSINESS SECTION SPONSORED BY EVANS ENTWISTLE

A Toast to Us!

We love to celebrate the hard work and achievements of South Wales’ businesses. But this time, it’s us celebrating! We are happy to announce that our Penarth View title has won Independent Magazine of the Year 2021 from Wales Prestige Awards! We love what we do, but we couldn’t have done it without the wonderful support of Penarth’s businesses and the wider team.

As the only practice of Chartered Management Accountants in Penarth, we help organisations to maximise their opportunity and profitability, and we help individuals to maximise their wealth and security. Contact us today to arrange a no obligation consultation • Accountancy • Private clients • Corporate finance • Payroll • Taxation • Grant funding • Business advisory support Penarth Office 7 Herbert Terrace CF64 2AH 029 2071 3800 Bristol Office 432 Gloucester Road BS7 8TX 0117 9247 767 Newport Office 9A Port Road NP20 2NS 01633 250530 www.evansentwistle.co.uk mail@evansentwistle.co.uk

Lights! Camera! Clean!

ECleanCommercial have enjoyed huge success in gaining a six figure cleaning contract for one of South Wales’ biggest film studios last December, covering both COVID-19 and core cleaning across the vast site.

After five years in the domestic sphere with their sister company Eco Home Clean, directors Kate and Ceri started ECleanCommercial three years ago and quickly realised it would be the preferred direction for the business. Now concentrating solely on commercial and industrial cleaning, they celebrate success at being the main provider of cleaning services to the vibrant Welsh TV and film industry, covering film studios, locations and exit cleans, COVID-19 high touch point cleaning, and fogging of high rise office and apartment blocks.

With a team of 21, Kate and Ceri celebrate their success and put it all down to having an amazing team who are the linchpins of the business.

Previously celebrated as Wales Online’s Top 35 Business Women Under 35, Kate and Ceri are proof that both women and business can thrive in Wales, even in the midst of a pandemic. ECleanCommercial is forecast to turnover £500k next year.

Find out more about the company at www.ECleanCommercial.com

Send in your own stories for publication to john@ viewpublishing.co.uk

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS Opening a business at any point in life is hard work, let alone during a world-wide pandemic.

But that didn’t stop one local man from achieving his dreams.

Apothecary64 has become a well known, beloved part of the business community in Penarth. Craig ParkerTrott, who ran an online store for a year, expanded his business into a physical shop located on Cornerswell Road, Penarth. Here at View Publishing, we have highlighted Craig’s drive, his passion for his products, and even given you a sneak-peak into what’s coming next at Apothecary64.

We want to take a deeper look into Apothecary64 because Craig doesn’t just sell wonderful candles, room diffusers and soaps that look, smell and feel amazing; his products also hold to a higher moral standard.

After opening his store only three months ago, Craig has excelled at creating a warm, welcoming environment in which he displays his vast range of eco-friendly, vegan and cruelty-free candles, diffusers, room sprays, diffuser refills and fragrance oils.

When asked about what inspired him to expand from being an online store into a physical one, Craig said: “I wanted to make it a space that would be quite experiential, for people to come in and actually physically smell the fragrances.

“Having them online and just describing them is one thing, but I think the sense of smell is key and is such a personal thing. What one person likes, another person doesn’t.

“It was important for me to actually have a shop where people can come in and actually smell all the different fragrances.” 

Address: 7b Cornerswell Road, Penarth, CF64 2UW Telephone: 029 2236 2438 Web: www.apothecary64.com

BUSINESS SECTION SPONSORED BY EVANS ENTWISTLE

From start up… to stability

An unexpected consequence of the year-long pandemic was the biggest British startup boom in the past decade.

Driven by a mixture of job losses, low interest rates, changing consumer habits and pots of government support, many would-be entrepreneurs pivoted their careers, either starting completely afresh or picking up a side hustle to make extra pennies.

Business creation in the UK accelerated significantly last summer, with barbers apparently being one of the most popular start-up choices—let’s face it, who didn’t need their lockdown locks chopped? According to Companies House, there were more than 810,000 company incorporations in the four quarters to March 2021, up by 22% on the same period last year—that’s 1.5 incorporations every minute! Of course, not all of them will be turning over anything yet—some of them never will—but it’s testament to the UK’s entrepreneurial spirit to see so many new ventures in such uncertain times.

But starting up is just the start (the clue is in the name!) and in the excitement of establishing a new venture, many forget the importance of accountancy and how it sits at the heart of every business—every profitable business, that is. So here are our top tips to ensure your fledgling venture makes it to its first birthday.

Be on the ball

Make sure you know your key obligations and deadlines—when to submit your self assessment, file your confirmation statement, pay your tax bill, and more.

Split the bill(s)

The old adage of keeping your business and personal life separate applies equally to your expenses, so open a separate bank account so as not to confuse your costs.

Watch the pennies

Bypass the barista because a morning latte every day for a year will cost you over £1000! Also keep a very watchful eye on all those other little expenses such as stationery, parking and team lunches, as they really add up.

Get your head in the cloud

It may seem like an unnecessary expense at first but cloud-hosted accounting software such as Quickbooks has numerous advantages, such as on-the-go access, reduced paperwork, robust data security and automatic back ups, plus you can easily link up your bank account, send and track invoices and pay bills. So no excuses.

Seek (qualified) support

A good accountant is there all year round, not just at year end—they can suggest strategies to minimise your tax liabilities, offer sound advice to structure your business, help you manage cashflow, offer insights into business performance and work with you to develop a business plan that secures sustainable growth.  Lisa Entwistle is a partner at Evans Entwistle Chartered Management Accountants & Tax Advisors. For assistance with all of these aspects of accounting and more, contact 029 2071 3800 or go to www.evansentwistle.co.uk

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Go to viewpublishing.co.uk/offer The important bit: Pay £99 per month for 12 months, for a quarter page in four issues in all four of our titles: Penarth View, Cowbridge View, Pontcanna View and Roath Park View.

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