RedHanded Magazine - Issue 53 by Taste Magazine Scotland

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T GET CAUGHT WITHOUT IT

SUMMER 2019

UNFINISHED BUSINESS HALFPENNY'S AFTER THE RUGBY WORLD CUP ROOTED IN WALES NIALL TAKES A STEP BACK IN TIME SILK ROAD SPECTACULAR RIDING THE RAILS IN UZBEKISTAN

LOVE + FEAR THE TWO SIDES TO

MARINA

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4.1% APR* REPRESENTATIVE. MAZDA PERSONAL CONTR ACT PURCHASE. £500 MAZDA DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION.

Book a test drive° today, call us on 02920 609241 VICTORIA PARK MAZDA Hadfield Road, Cardiff CF11 8AQ 02920 609241 www.victoriapark-mazda.co.uk The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the All-New Mazda3 range: Combined 42.2 (6.7) - 56.5 (5.0)^. CO2 emissions (g/km) 128 - 107^.

Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 fi gures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These fi gures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. ^There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 fi gures. The CO2 fi gures shown however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. Retail sales only, subject to availability for vehicles registered between 01.07.19 and 30.09.19 at participating dealers. T&C apply. *4.1% APR Mazda Personal Contract Purchase available on all new Mazda3 models. Finance subject to status, 18s or over. Guarantee may be required. Mazda Financial Services RH1 1SR. Model shown: All-New Mazda3 122ps GT Sport, OTR from £24,595. Model shown features optional Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint (£790). OTR price includes VAT, number plates, delivery, 12 months’ road fund licence, first registration fee, 3 year or 60,000 mile warranty and 3 years’ European roadside assistance. °Test drives subject to applicant status and availability. Details correct at time of going to print. Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless specified. Victoria Park Motor Company Limited, trading as Victoria Park Mazda is a credit broker not a lender for this financial promotion. We can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers and may receive a commission from them for the introduction.

CONTENTS Features 14 Time’s Up Top watches for 2019

Marina pics © Zoey-Grossman

16 Losing the Diamonds Marina has dropped the moniker and written a cracking new album 21 Caaaw! Blimey Those Damn Crows are rocking the joint at Steelhouse Festival this summer! 26 All eyes on Japan This season’s been up and down for Leigh Halfpenny but now it’s all about the World Cup 34 Ale bait Welsh beers you must try 44 Feast Your Eyes Dining with a view

Regulars

darrengriffithsphotography

5 Scene & Heard Pack your wellies! It’s festival time again 10 Right Stuff You know you want it, you really do 12 Niall’s World A Tom Jones tribute act called Sexbomb 30 Write On Exclusive extract from Sam Adams’ latest thriller 32 Travel Exploring the ancient silk road by high speed train 39 Fashion Looking cool in the heat of the summer 46 Lifestyle Hot tubs, parties, festivals and so many ways to enjoy life 54 Health & Grooming Good night! We can make you sleep! 56 Reviews This is how we do it! Sounds, words, movies, grub… all chosen for you! 58 Sport The south Wales derby is back! 64 Cars The slick new Mazda 3 66 The Back Page Bennett was so good they asked him back on stage for more! email: redhanded@conroymedia.co.uk www.facebook.com/red.handedmagazine twitter.com/#!/RedHandedMag

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REDHANDED 3

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26/06/2019 11:18

SCENE AND HEARD

Don’t let summer be a washout. Let Abigail King save you from shivering by the barbecue with nothing but burnt sausages...

Festivals that are really in-tents

Nothing says summer more than a squelchy field, a sea of phones and a boozy rendition of your favourite songs with your mates. And Wales obliges with a string of summer fests where you can botch your camping skills with the best of them. The Green Man returns (Brecon Beacons, 15 Aug – 18 Aug, £198) mixing Welsh and international music with comedy, film, literature and ale. Headliners include Four Tet, Father John Misty, Idles and Sharon Van Etten with Broken Social Scene, Stereolab, Amadou and Mariam and Khruangbin also set to play. Over at The Big Cwtch (Crugybar, 30 – 31 August, £15 - £60) you’ll find the biggest line up of breakthrough and emerging Welsh artists: Adwaith, Mathilde Bataille and Dan Bettridge headline in a feel-good festival that packs in paddle boarding too. Who knew that was a thing? True Welsh fans should head north to Maes B (Conwy, 7-10 August, £40) the National Eisteddfod’s alternative little brother. Welsh lyrics reign supreme and over 20 bands belt out numbers into the night. Join 10,000 rock lovers in a field in Ebbw Vale at the “Welsh International Rock Festival”, Steelhouse (Hafod-y Dafal Farm, Ebbw Vale, 26 – 28 July, £60 - £95) Thin Lizzy, Thunder and Uriah Heap headline the highest music festival in the UK. And it all takes place on the edge of the Brecon Beacons. On a farm! While at Between the Trees (near Merthyr Mawr, 30 August – 1 September, £20 - £70) Americana and acoustics mingle as Sam Kelly, Noble Jacks and Ofelia mix things up amid the sand dunes, making a welcome

change from the mud. And the Big Cheese is back! (Caerphilly, 26-28 July, Free) This year it’s in a revamped form, promising a live music lounge, more street food sellers, a fun fair and even a medieval battleground area within the castle grounds. You don’t get that at Glastonbury…

Look at the Gig Picture…

If you can’t face tent-erection shame and trench foot, music isn’t just for the muddy. Stay dry with a cracking line-up that kicks off with Kate Nash (Cardiff, The Globe, 30 July, £20.16) with the cracks in her foundation

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“music isn’t just for the muddy”

REDHANDED 5

September, £46). Too lazy to organise anything? Don’t worry! There’s fine stand-up comedy every Friday and Saturday night at the Glee Club (Cardiff, Glee Club, weekly, £19+) with a roving roster of names including Sol Bernstein, Emmanuel Sonubi, Brendan Dempsey and Noel James to cover all comedy from sweet smiles to absolute filth.

Kinky boots and cigars

“...this time next year, Rodney, we could be millionaires”

and those lemons that are so very, very bitter. Zach Condon brings Beirut (Cardiff, Tramshed, 25 August, £24) to Wales to mark the release of his 5th studio album, Gallipoli, a cathartic embrace of old and new that claims to turn music into a visceral experience. Also with new album in tow are the Afro Celt Sound System (Cardiff, Tramshed, 12 September, £25). Led by Simon Emmerson, Flight highlights kora and balafon virtuoso N’Faly Kouyate and dhol master Johnny Kalsi. Sell out success in Cardiff earlier this year means Hot 8 Brass Band (Swansea, Sin City, July 25, £18.70) prepare for an encore. The Pixies (Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena, 13 September, £46.60) promise an electrifying performance that swaps intense lo-fi music for between-song banter. And Dazed (Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach, 20 September, £7 – £13.80) present the mighty Sub Zero for your dance delectation, along with one of the hottest MCs in the game, Mr Traumatik for his Welsh Club debut. And Cerys Matthews (yes, the one from Catatonia) mixes music with poetry and even a bit of cooking to mark the launch of her new book Where the Wild Cooks Go (Cardiff, Sherman Theatre, 4 September, £16.50.)

The Smile High Club

Switch off the news cos it’s all awful and have a laugh instead! Young Daniel Sloss (Cardiff, Glee Club, 1 October, £16.50) smashes into town after starring in hit Netflix specials DARK and Jigsaw, with a show that’s ‘dirty, sweet and clever’ with strong adult themes. Meanwhile, score good guy points by taking the littleuns to the Glee Family Comedy Show (Cardiff, Glee Club, 28 July, £10 adult, £7 child, over 5s only) then leave the in-laws to babysit as you head back into town. Leave the kids at home for Russell Howard’s Respite Tour (Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena, 23-24 September, £40.45). After critically acclaimed spots on Sky One and Netflix, Howard is back on stage, tearing up foreign policy, fear of death, and a world spinning out of control. And if this time next year, Rodney, we could be millionaires, then don’t be a plonker and catch the immersive show Only Fools: the (cushty) dining experience (Cardiff, Ffresh Cabaret Bar, Wales Millennium Centre, 10-15

6 REDHANDED

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All the world may well be a stage but that doesn’t mean it’s all worth watching. Leave it to the pros with this varied line-up for you. With extra credit to the costume departments, who have gone all out this year, Cardiff ’s Open Air Theatre Fair (The Everyman Theatre, 27 June – 3 August, £10+) is back, ushering in drama beneath a blue (or grey and wet) sky. With covered seating, you’ll avoid a soaking throughout Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (11-20 July); belt out the Bible in rock phenomenon Jesus Christ Superstar (25 July – 3 August); catch a Midsummer Night’s Dream for one night only (28 July). Indoors, the multi-award winning musical Kinky Boots (Cardiff, Donald Gordon Theatre, 22 July – 3 August, from £19.50) brings, you guessed it, kinky boots to the stage, along with sequins, sass and hits from Cyndi Lauper. Club Tropicana (Cardiff, Donald Gordon Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, 13 – 17 August, £16.50+) continues the musical megahits with X-factor winner Joe McElderry and former Subababe starlet Amelle Berrabha. Paul Metcalfe completes the trio with a Rod Stewart strut in spikes in Some Guys Have All the Luck (Cardiff, St David’s Hall, 5 September, £26.50). Or else switch gears somewhat to the sultry, cigar-rolling operatic antics of Carmen (Cardiff, Donald Gordon Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, 21 & 28 September, 6 & 10 October, £14+)

And for something a little different

If that’s not enough for you already… geek out in cosplay as the annual Film and Comic Con (FCC) returns (Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena, 7-8 September, £8). Talk soy beans at the Welsh Vegan Festival (Cardiff, Tramshed, 3 Aug, £3) and then it’s time for spandex: the NXT UK comes to Wales for the first time ever at the NXT UK Takeover Event (Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena, 31 August, £58).

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24/07/2019 21:50

In Brief

Troy moves to Wellfield Road

We’ve long been fans of Troy Restaurant. A stalwart of the middle-eastern restaurant scene on multi-cultural City Road in Cardiff it fully deserved its reputation as the best kebab restaurant in Cardiff, thanks to a combination of great quality ingredients, an open Okabashi charcoal grill and masterful chef technique. However, owner Ersin has harboured a desire to move away from the less than salubrious surroundings of City Road for some time, knowing that Wellfield Road, though only a stones throw away, would be a better and more lucrative home for his high quality middle eastern cuisine. And so it’s proven. Troy moved to 13 Wellfield Road earlier this year and Ersin hasn’t looked back. The food is as good as ever and still remarkable value but the location and decor gives an even better vibe, while the larger wine menu and the fact that Troy is close to wealthy Roath Park and Penylan has helped with drinks sales. Result. www.troymezebar.co.uk 13 Wellfield Rd, Cardiff CF24 3NZ. Tel. 029 2049 9339

Anna Loka expands to Swansea

The guys at Anna Loka are on a mission to get us all to live a healthier and happier lifestyle. Not content with opening what’s become the ‘go to’ Vegan restaurant in Cardiff long before veganism became trendy, they’ve now moved along the M4 to set up a Vegan and Yoga café in Swansea called Yogaya. Due to open in late August it will be great for body and soul, with yoga sessions most days, alternative therapies, workshops, entertainment and absolutely scrumptious but healthy, guilt-free Vegan food all in a supportive, community-minded environment. Yogaya, 8 Craddock Street, Swansea.

Historic Hensol Castle gets boost for business

The 400-year old Hensol Castle, used as a backdrop in BBC dramas including Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and Torchwood, is set to become a flagship £7 million scheme tourism destination. Located in the grounds of the four-star Vale Resort, visitors will be able to distil their own bespoke bottle of gin, made to their specific taste, take a tour of the distillery operation, learn about the history of gin and Hensol Castle, understand and identify the ingredients used in the distillery; and enjoy a gin tasting and cocktail bar. Stephen Leeke, managing director of the Vale Resort, said: “The distillery experience will be totally unique, not just in Wales but globally. It is a key part of our strategy for the re-development of Hensol Castle and its destination restaurant, which will focus on the very best of Welsh food and drink.” www.hensolcastle.com

Abergavenny gets mad for food

This summer sees the 21st edition of the Abergavenny Food Festival host an absolute smorgasbord of chefs, farmers and food writers from across the UK and beyond, for demos, discussions and the exploration of all things delicious! For serious foodies – and those who simply love food – Abergavenny Food Festival is the place to be. Influential figures on the British cooking scene Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver, top a cast of the very best stars of modern Welsh, British and international cuisine.

Hit the Trail

Jaega Wise joins Pete Brown to discover Beers and Ciders of Wales; with fine spirits and cocktail aficionados Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley bringing a ‘Weekend Cocktails’ class and an exploration of the world of gin to the 2019 festival programme of events. Among those already confirmed for this year are Asma Khan, Xanthe Clay, Sandor Katz, Bee Wilson, Rosie Birkett, Elly Curshen, Emiko Davies, Genevieve Taylor, Fozia Ismail, Pete Brown, Jekka McVicar and chefs Anissa Helou, Sam and Shauna from Hangfire BBQ, Copenhagen’s Trine Hahnemann, Gareth Ward, Josh Eggleton, Tom Hunt, Cyrus Todiwala and Tommy Heaney. www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com

We’ve all been there, this time of year. We decide to go for a walk/yomp/climb/surf/swim to make the most of the fine weather and the great outdoors on our doorstep but, wanting to travel light, don’t take the sensible precaution of bringing a bite to eat just in case we’re out longer than planned or we get a sudden attack of the munchies. Or perhaps you’re playing in or watching a sporting event and you can’t pull yourself away from the action to grab something to eat? Alas, there is a solution. Just throw a few packets of Trailhead Beef Jerky in your bag. Made from 100% Welsh beef, they’re low in fat and high in protein which makes them healthy and great at keeping hunger at bay. Available in a variety of Great Taste Award-winning flavours from easy-going original and barbecue through to robust Spicy Chilli. The only problem is they taste so good you’ll struggle to save them until they’re needed! www.trailheadfinefoods.co.uk

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29/07/2019 11:48:59

GROOVE ARMADA

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PETE TONG & THE HERITAGE ORCHESTRA

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14/06/2019 17:17:37

THE RIGHT STUFF FINDERS KEEPERS

Keep track of the things that matter most, such as your keys, wallet, bag and just about anything else by pairing them up with a Tile Mate. Ring it when you’ve misplaced your belongings, if it’s close by, and use it in reverse to call your phone - even when it’s on silent. If you fear you’ve left your belongings further away, check where your item was last seen on a map, or tap into Tile’s community, the world’s largest lost-and-found network, which will anonymously help find the lost or stolen item almost anywhere in the world. Price: £20 Retail: www.tileapp.com

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Entertainment is serious business – for both producers and consumers. That’s why you need to make sure that you not only consume the freshest, crispest, highest quality content (preferably sourced locally, in season, yadda,yadda…) but you also need the best quality tech to play it. The Epson LS100 is a high-water-mark in TV projection, and should be the only way to dine on the finest entertainment from the comfort of your couch. Price: £2599 Retail: www.epson.co.uk

EOZ DUZ IT

Despite having so many different styles of headphones on the market at the moment, it is rare to find a pair that stand out from the crowd. Most just want to imitate the hugely successful Beats by Dre in the looks and sound department – but not so the EOZ Air Noir. These look like they were designed to be eye-catching and unique. The sound quality is something else as well – with precision ‘pin-drop’ acoustics replacing the standard bass-heavy drudge that seems to be the new industry-standard. Price: £85 Retail: www.eozaudio.com

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DOOGEE OR NOT DOOGEE

If you’re looking for a phone that combines Fort-Knox with hard-knocks then it’s about time I introduced you to the Doogee S40. This hard as nails mobile is able to survive extreme temperatures, sheer drops, tsunamis and a light sprinkling of dust (that last one’s a joke…just in case). It also comes equipped with facial-recognition and fingerprint unlocking. If Yorkies were still socially acceptable, they’d rock this phone. Price: £80 Retail: www.doogeemall.com

OLD-SOAK

With ‘’me-time’’ becoming endangered these days, it’s important to make the most of any opportunity for self-care. That’s why we like Olverum bath oil, as it crams around a year’s worth of relaxation and well-being into a 10 minute soak. You’ll exit the bath feeling like you’ve just been on a meditation retreat with George Harrison. It’s not cheap, but you might just about be worth it. Price: From £22 Retail: www.olverum.com

TOUCH BASE

The 612 GW NextBase is the first Dash Cam to ever film in Ultra HD (4K) resolution, which means that its video quality is unsurpassed. Its super-sharp 4K footage, smooth and simple mounting and useful extra features have seen it receive the highest score by any Dash Cam in testing by Which? Magazine. It boasts Intelligent Parking, and is also rather gifted in the ‘saving you money on insurance’ department. Price: £249.99 Retail: www.amazon.co.uk

LOEWE RIDER

Luxury German design brand Loewe has introduced its first foray into the world of portable speakers. The klang m1 is a pocket-sized powerhouse which automatically detects music as soon as it is streamed from a phone, tablet or handheld device. Available in rose gold, graphite grey or silver finishes, each speaker is even coated in real gold for that uber-luxurious finishing touch, and comes complete with a quality, real leather wrist strap. Price £169 Retail: www.loewe.tv

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REDHANDED 11

REVISITING OUR Niall takes an old friend on a quest to trace the roots of ancient ancestors

“But his traceable blood begins here, amongst these sawtoothed mountains, and the phantom

12 REDHANDED • Issue 3

GHOSTS

I am drinking in a pub in Caernarfon with a feller called Bill. He arrived from California a few days ago, and indeed it was in America where I first met him, years back, in the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon; he was singing in a Tom Jones tribute band called Sexbomb. I knew he’d become a pal the moment he walked on stage, this big bald bloke in skin-tight white slacks and yellow frilled shirt which he tore off at the climax to ‘Delilah’ when the passion within him buckled him to his knees, clenching his fists, wailing to the hanging chandeliers above. After the show I sought him out at the bar and he’s a good buddy now. Great company and a deeply wondrous man. We’ve been in this pub for three days’ running. Yesterday, we went out to the village of Penisarwaun; it was from here that Bill’s grandad set out for Ohio, in 1909, at 17 years of age, a farm-boy who spoke no English. We visited the church in which his birth was registered and, as Bill chatted to the verger, I went out into the graveyard for a smoke. A quiet spring day, just the singing birds and the distant grumble of a tractor. Eryri nearby, its peaks rising and shimmering in the haze, the highest ones still a bit snow-streaked. This is what he left, Bill’s taid, this little village and its surrounding fields and mountains; when still a child, he uprooted himself from this, put himself on a ship and left it all thousands of miles behind him. Huge bravery in that; America at that time called to millions of people like him, of course, all over the globe, offered promise and potential and selfrealisation - powerful and successful seductions. Bill’s taid was in no way unique, but that accentuates rather than undermines the intrepidity of his adventure; such a Babel he was entering, a colossal meltingpot of culture and language, all familiar handholds and lifebelts gone. Alone amongst many millions. A dangerous sea-journey to take him far, far away from the enclosed little village of his home. Seventeen years old. The admiration blooms for that brave boy, all those years ago. My own ancestors, on one side of the family, also left this part of Wales but their destination was Liverpool; reachable by horse and cart

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in a couple of days. There’s more to exile than mere physical distance, yes, I get that totally, but mournful expressions of loss and longing for the ‘old country’ carry more weight and poignancy when heard in Sydney or Los Angeles than in the bar of the London Welsh Centre on Gray’s Inn Road, two hours away from Cardiff Central on the Great Western Railway. As a kid, if I was taken to visit my granny’s homeland we’d set off after breakfast Rice Krispies and arrive for dinner-time beans on toast. Anyway. He’s a bit subdued, Bill, when he comes out of the church. I know how he feels; on many occasions I’ve re-visited my own ghosts, all over the world; the diaspora continues, the reaching and restlessness that propels it never sleeps. Bill’s home now is in Fresno. He’s a successful lawyer, he has two healthy boys called Evan and Owain. Bill gulps life and all it can throw at him. But his traceable blood begins here, amongst these saw-toothed mountains, and the phantom of his taid is moving through him. I can see in his face that he’s picturing the tree of his life, the branches that have been explored and the spectral ones that haven’t; what would he be, now, had America not called to his forefather? What trajectories would’ve been described? So much depends on past decisions which never stay cosied up in historical isolation; to quote the great Ron Berry, ‘history is what you live’. So now, here in the pub, we raise a Penderyn to Bill’s grandfather, and I think of the points of the web of my own familial spread, from Ireland to Australia to New York state to Toxteth to this soil, here, beneath my feet. We’re multitudes. Great chunks of the world are bundled up in the corner of this Caernarfon pub, and the first time the barman refers to Bill as ‘cofi’, his grin could illuminate Gwynedd. Welcome back, pal, although you never really left.

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TIME O

Pour a dram, sit back and peruse some rather fine time pieces that have hit the high street so far this year. IWC – Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire The Pilot’s Chronograph Spitfire is easily recognisable with its vintage aesthetic and distinctive style. The bronze dial is truly unique as over time it develops an individual patina that will be different for each timepiece. Coupled with an olive green dial it makes a subtle statement. The case size has now been reduced to 41mm, allowing for a more comfortable fit on the wrist and a balanced dial. For the first time ever the Pilot’s Chronograph is presented with a movement from the 69000-calibre family. The IWCmanufactured calibre is a rugged chronograph movement with a classic column wheel design. www.laingsuk.com

Omega – Seamaster Diver 300m The Seamaster Diver 300m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 43.5mm is a legendary watch that has become a firm favourite amongst explorers, divers and watch fans alike. The modern collection takes inspiration from its ocean heritage, but updates the iconic model with impressive innovation. The 43.5mm case is crafted from black ceramic and grade 5 titanium for a robust look. The dial pays homage to the ocean with laser-engraving used to create raised waves. The Seamaster is a legendary collection, which continues to explore, testing limits as it goes. www.laingsuk.com

Panerai Submersible 42 For many Panerai fans, the brand is synonymous with large case sizes with a 47mm whopper on the wrist considered pretty standard fare. In an effort to reach out to a wider audience though, Panerai launched these 42mm Submersibles earlier this year, reasoning that a 42mm diameter is still big enough to be consistent with the brand’s DNA, but small enough to suit most wrists. Crafted in AISI 316L stainless steel, the case is brushed creating a silky matte finish. Two giveaways that this is a serious 300m water-resistant dive watch are the hallmark bridge protecting the crown – like the Luminor – and the unidirectional rotating bezel to display dive times. With its notched profile, the interior of the bezel features an applied ceramic disc in either blue or black, depending on the model, with the first 15 minutes indicated with white markings. Like the iconic 1956 watch made by Panerai for the Egyptian Navy (L’Egiziano), the Submersible features peg markings on the bezel, which in this case are all treated with white luminescence. At last, a stunning Panerai for the smaller wrist. www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

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28/07/2019 19:32:31

E OUT Cartier Santos Dumont

The original Cartier Santos Dumont was developed in 1904 to help the celebrated aviator Alberto Santos Dumont tell the time whilst flying. The latest addition to the collection remains true to the elegance of the original, with an understated look. The pared-down design is a contemporary reflection of the impeccable style of Alberto Santos and it has a refined simplicity to it. A watch for an aviator also had to be practical and in 2019 Cartier enhanced its ease of use with a highly-efficient quartz movement. It’s a stylish, reliable watch with a story to tell. www.laingsuk.com

Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Rolex unveiled an all-new Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 at Baselworld 2019, now boasting a slightly larger case measuring in at 42mm. Flaunting a swish monochromatic theme, the Yacht-Master 42 is composed of 18-carat white gold with a matte black Cerachrome bezel set against a black dial, while paired alongside an Oysterflex bracelet to match. It’s equipped with a calibre 3235 movement, a first for the Yacht-Master model, which is a self-winding mechanical movement that incorporates the brand’s new patented Chronergy escapement. Made of nickelphosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic interference, ensuring superior efficiency and precise timing, while also boasting approximately 70 hours of power reserve. www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk and www.fraserhart.co.uk/store/ Cardiff-Dewi

TAG Heuer Autavia The latest iteration of TAG Heuer’s Autavia (a portmanteau combining automotive and aviation) is the ultimate in functional elegance with the brown sunray dial model being particularly attractive. There are five steel models in the collection, plus two further pieces in bronze. Combining ground-breaking know-how with scientific prowess, TAG Heuer has developed a revolutionary movement, the ISOGRAPH: a proprietary stateof-the-art oscillator featuring a carbon composite hairspring and tailormade balance wheel for high chronometer precision. A great entry-level, understated but confident Swiss timepiece. www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

Breitling Navitimer 41 The Navitimer range was given a major revamp in 2018 but the Navitimer Automatic 41 gives a brand-new 2019 take on this stalwart of Breitling’s offering. Combining the historic appeal of a true icon with the refinement of a sophisticated, contemporary timepiece the new 41mm case sits perfectly between the slightly feminine, in our opinion, 38 and the bulkier 46. While powered by the Breitling Caliber 17, COSC-certified chronometer movement, it’s only 10mm thick so sits very comfortably on the wrist but still has the manly presence of a larger case. www.fraserhart.co.uk/store/Cardiff-Dewi Laings, St Davids Dewi Sant, Cardiff Crouch (Fraser Hart), St Davids Dewi Sant, Cardiff Watches of Switzerland, St Davids Dewi Sant, Cardiff

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REDHANDED 15 28/07/2019 19:32:32

THIS TIME IT’S PERSONAL After her period in the wilderness when she considered quitting music completely, Marina’s back!

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Marina’s an enigma. We’ve charted the lass from Abergavenny’s rise and rise here at RedHanded since the very earliest days. (That’s since 2009 can you believe it?) Every album has been different. There’s been constant change, huge creativity. You never know what to expect from the Diamandis girl. There’s no question she’s a star. These days she has a massive fanbase and cracked America with her last album Froot. But your average Joe probably wouldn’t know who she is. It’s a strange kind of fame. She has racked up millions of streams but not actually had a top 10 single.

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“I don’t care about being a star or idol”

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“I’m really interested in why we behave the way we do” But maybe that’s how she likes it? “I’ve been able to succeed in my own way,” says the 33 year old. “My fans have made and supported my career because I’m not a standard artist that’s always supported by media. And I’m actually fine with that. I also feel people always say: ‘This artist is so underrated.’ I think it comes from a sweet place, but how we define success for artists doesn’t suit every artist. I would not want to have fame. I don’t care about being a star or idol. I love connecting with humans through music.” At the end of a long tour to promote her last album Froot all over the world in 2016 however, she was burnt out. That connection with people through her music had been lost. Completely. “I felt like Marina and the Diamonds had just become this shell and I was trying to break free of it,” she says. Ever the professional, on the surface everything had looked fine. The tour was a huge success with glowing reviews from fans and commentators alike. “It was to do with family,” she confides. “A relative was really ill, and shortly after that two very dear family members passed away – all in the space of three months. I just felt like I couldn’t cope anymore, but I had a commitment to be on tour. I was on stage every night realising I didn’t want to be looked at, but I couldn’t speak about that publicly because I didn’t want to spoil the illusion for people coming to see you, who’ve paid for a ticket and waited outside.”

“I love connecting with humans through music”

Even for seasoned Marina-watchers used to her constant reinvention, what happened next was a surprise. She jacked it all in. For close to three years she didn’t write any music at all. “I just felt completely blocked. It was easier for me to just stop being an artist,” she explains. “Since I was 22, I was constantly projecting myself into my work, and after a while I said, ‘Well, I can’t see a space for me to continue in that form.’ As a 31 year old, it was completely terrifying. I was like, ‘What’s the point in life? I don’t know what my purpose is.’ How it came full circle was actually just acknowledging I didn’t want to do music at that specific moment, and I could quit and that would be fine. And once I allowed myself to quit, I felt like I opened up inside.” So what do pop stars do when they decide they don’t want to be one anymore? At first Marina began taking acting classes. But that didn’t feel right. “I kept trying different things instead of staying at home moping and doing nothing about it,” she explains. “I tried acting. I took painting courses. I did floristry arrangement. All things that were creative and exciting, but didn’t feel quite right.” Eventually she decided to enrol at University to study psychology. And that was where something happened. “Psychology felt like a natural home for me,” she enthuses. “I just love developmental psychology. I’m really interested in why we behave the way we do.”

Re-energised she finally started song writing again. The end result is a new double album - Love + Fear. And perhaps unsurprisingly her studies have had a big impact on her writing. “Psychology gave me more of an objective view of life, which has made me address subjects in a simpler way,” she says. “When you’re in your own inner turmoil, you can’t see clearly. My past lyrics are very concrete, specific, and quite strange. With Love + Fear, that conflict is gone inside of me, so I’m able to view and express things more directly. Part of it is growing up and looking less into yourself. Once you deal with the problems you had growing up, you start to look outside to the world.” Love + Fear is already garnering heaps of positive attention. Upbeat, happy tracks like Enjoy Your Life and the single Orange Trees are full of sunshine and joy. But the twist comes with tracks from Fear which as you’d expect are darker, full of self doubt. The ambition was less about writing hits anyway. The texture and complexity is totally intentional: “Culturally, songwriting’s changed quite a lot. It’s become a lot more fluid and fun,” she explains. “I don’t feel like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to write a hit’. It’s like, ‘I’m going to write a song with people I really like.’” The result is a mature, thoughtful collection of tunes that benefit from further listening, revealing some lovely hidden touches as you go. She’s rightly proud of it. Marina brought in a hand-picked bunch of collaborators, including boyfriend Jack Patterson from Clean Bandit, and Lorde’s co-writer Joel Little to help her. So what does she want people to get from Love + Fear? “I think each person will take away what they need to at that time. I don’t think there is one overarching message, but I do hope that it brings something positive to people’s lives. That’s really important to me—feeling good about investing a lot of time in being an artist.” That more grown up side of Marina is also reflected in a more thoughtful approach to social media which has been massively important for building her fan base. “I have boundaries now,” she says. “I love and adore all support for my music, but people online don’t own me, and I won’t give them any illusion that they have any kind of entitlement.” It’s a particularly difficult balance to strike when social media is so crucial for success these days and the boundaries between private and public life are so blurred. “I think it’s really unhealthy to play into that, so I don’t post about my personal life online at all,” she explains. And you get the impression she’s quite happy if that means fewer headlines - even less success in the traditional sense of the word. “I think success is being able to be yourself,” she says. “I know that sounds quite basic, but for me as an artist, it’s being able to be myself in a real, authentic way. That’s the ultimate success, as a human being.” Love + Fear is out now. Marina plays the Motorpoint arena in Cardiff on Nov 1st

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“Success is being able to be yourself”

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28/07/2019 11:13:52

STONE THE CROWS!

Well what do you know? Those Damn Crows are playing Steelhouse Festival (again) and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new album on the way too! www.redhandedmagazine.co.uk

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REDHANDED 21 28/07/2019 19:35:46

Festival season is upon us. And Steelhouse Festival is back, bigger and badder than ever. This year rock legends Thin Lizzy are headlining the Welsh international classic Rock Festival so it’s bound to be epic. Also taking the stage will be Wales’ hard-hitting five-piece, Those Damn Crows. We caught up with lead singer Shane Greenhall to find out how it feels to be on the bill at their ‘home’ festival with the likes of Thunder, Uriah Heep and of course, Lizzy, one of the bands that inspired them to don leather and pick up instruments in the first place. RedHanded: How did you guys meet and start making music? Shane Greenhall: Ron and I have known each other since school from around seven years old. We then met Shiner when we went up to comprehensive school. We formed a band as kids and it was obvious that music was our connection. We played every local jam night, every pub, and travelled to London to do a few shows at the age of 16. Then we split. We did our own things, still with music. Ron and Shiner went on to play in a couple of bands and had some success with Miss Conduct, (female fronted band). I started writing and singing on other people’s albums. RH: How did you end up back together again then? SG: We hadn’t been in touch for a number of years. Ron and I bumped into each other in our home town in Bridgend. He told me that he started writing with Shiner again and I was saying that I needed some drums on a track I had written to send away for publishing and wondered if he was up for doing it. So up I went to Ron’s house, when I got there, Shiner was there too. After Ron had laid drums down on my track, they showed me the demos they’ve been working on. I asked who was playing bass? They went on to describe Lloyd who was currently playing for another band at the time, but he’d been jamming with them on these demos. Next thing I knew, I was in my studio singing, writing parts for these wicked demos. Then we thought let’s do an album! So off we went to record an album in Rockfield Studios after only doing a couple of gigs. Mad really!! But we just thought it was the right thing to do. RH: But the band line up is slightly different now isn’t it? RG: Yeah, absolutely. After we recorded the album, we knew we needed to create a bigger sound live to compete with the record we just made, so we went looking for another guitarist. We found our fifth crow in Dave, another Bridgend boy who has been in bands from an early age. We knew right then that we could potentially have something special. It just all clicked together.

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28/07/2019 19:35:49

RH: What inspired your band name? SG: Ron’s dad who is 92 - can you believe it - grows his own veg out in his back garden. One day Ron was helping him, when the crows came flying in and started picking at the veg. Ron’s dad whilst trying to shoo them away, shouted angrily the immortal words Those Damn Crows! And that was it. RH: With Steelhouse, arguably Wales’ best rock festival rapidly approaching, you must be excited to play there. What is the best part of playing at a festival? SG: We absolutely love Steelhouse Festival. Not just because it’s in Wales where we’re from, but because everyone from Mikey and Max, who are the cofounders of the festival, all staff, all volunteers, as well as all the fans and punters are like one huge family. Every year come rain or shine (mostly rain haha) the festival and the Steelhouse family grows bigger and better. It’s always a special moment when us Crows walk on to the stage at Steelhouse. The support and welcome from the crowd is always amazing.

RH: And how does the experience compare to when you recorded your first album? SG: The recording process has been an incredible experience. We got to work with producers Colin Richardson (Slipknot, Bullet for my Valentine) Chris Clancy and Andy Sneap (Judas Priest, Hell, Killswitch Engage) at Andy’s home studio in Derbyshire. All three with their skill set and knowledge just blew us away. We got to jam and use Judas Priest’s rehearsal rooms; we used their drums too. It was all very, very cool. We’ve heard a few tracks from the album and it is sounding absolutely amazing. It’s definitely taking us to the next level. Steelhouse Festival, 26-28 July, Ebbw Vale NP13. Tickets from £60. www.steelhousefestival.com

RH: Did you previously go to Steelhouse festival as fans to watch others perform? SG: Yes...Some of us have done so in the past, so it’s amazing to see the festival grow every year! The first time we played at Steelhouse was four years ago, as an up and coming band on the Friday night. No one really knew us, but thanks to Max and Mikey, who have made this festival a major success, it gave us the chance to show people what we’re about! RH: It must feel incredible to be performing on the same stage as the likes of rock legends, Thin Lizzy. Did they or any of the other bands performing at Steelhouse inspire you when you were starting off? SG: Of course! Thin Lizzy are on that legendary list of the truly great bands. Their twin guitar riffs are something us Crows always bring up in practice when we’re writing new material. With two guitarists in the band we often call on Lizzy for inspiration when coming up with guitar harmonies. RH: What’s next for the Crows? What are the band’s aspirations? SG: To evolve and grow in every aspect as a band. If we continue to give everything we have every time we play on stage, then opportunities will come. We just want to build the fan base, play as many shows and festivals as possible, and see where that takes us. RH: You were recently main support for Awesome Stone Broken, how was that? SG: Stone Broken are really, really lovely guys. It’s always a relief when you’re touring with another band and they’re genuinely down to earth nice guys, it makes the tour so much more enjoyable. It was a really great tour for us, we picked up some new fans all across the country and it made us up our game with our live shows. It really was a great three weeks. RH: You’ve been working on your second album, has a release date been confirmed? SG: We don’t have a release date. But we hope to have one relatively soon. That’s down to our record label (Earache records). Hopefully it won’t be too long.

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REDHANDED 23 28/07/2019 19:35:52

St David’s Hall – a guilt-free pleasure We’re all a little guilty of taking some of the great aspects of living in Wales for granted. Whether it be our amazing coastline, the awe-inspiring Principality Stadium or the sonic experience of one of our bestloved and most iconic concert venues – St David’s Hall. How many people in Wales know it’s ranked in the world’s top 10 best acoustic concert halls? And how many of us have actually made the effort recently to experience world class classical music in this jawdroppingly good venue?

Peter Donohoe

And there’s no better opportunity to enjoy what St David’s Hall has to offer than the International Concert Series this Autumn. You‘ll be amazed at how much classical music is around us all the time. Many of us will know Nessun Dorma from the 1990 World Cup but there’s so much more – from the Champions League anthem (Handel) to Audi’s Q8 ad (Verdi) to numerous TV and movie soundtracks, the most famous of which include 2001: A Space Odyssey, Apocalypse Now and A Clockwork Orange. Equally a visit is sure to impress your loved one without breaking the bank, with top price tickets costing half of the price of a national rugby game yet far more romantic. Season highlights this year include a stirring seasonopener (Oct 9) from acclaimed British pianist Peter Donohoe accompanied by the world-renowned Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and legendary conductor Yuri Simonov with a feast of Russian music. Who better to ignite Rachmaninov’s rarely heard but powerful Fourth Piano Concerto, a work suffused with bluesy, heart-easing tunes and glittering virtuosity?

Sayaka Shoji

From the drama of the Russian steppes to the romance of Brahms and Sibelius, Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia present two imperishable landmarks of the Romantic repertoire with sensational Japanese violinist Sayaka Shoji (Nov 27).

Daniel Muller-Schott

Wales’ WNO Orchestra (Oct 27) will transport you with an evening of sensual orchestral colour, stirring tunes and a wonderful concerto with virtuoso cellist Daniel Müller-Schott, as they take on Debussy’s symphonic masterpiece, La Mer, a surging musical seascape wonderfully capturing the play of light on water in the English-channel. Swirling currents and national sentiment flow through Smetana’s uplifting

evocation of the River Moldau in his native Bohemia, while one of the finest cello concertos ever written wistfully echoes the spirit of Dvořák’s homeland and pays tribute to his lost love Josefina in its central songlike slow movement. The Prague Symphony Orchestra under Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen make a welcome return for the emotional rollercoaster that is Mahler’s stunning Third Symphony (Nov 8). As the last great Romantic symphonist, Mahler’s music is conceived on the grandest scale. Regarded by some as one of the ten greatest symphonies of all time, it is a sublime hymn to the natural world, its ambitious scale, launched by a barnstorming opening movement, unfolds with an accumulating emotional energy and culminates in a heaven-storming climax. There are also shows that take a less conventional look at classical music. The Classical Roadmap Talk on the History and Art of Film Music (Oct 31) will look at the craft and magic of the combination of music and drama on screen, from the lush scores of the Hollywood golden age through to present-day techniques. Expect classics by Steiner, Herrmann, Williams jostling alongside modern masters, all brought alive with film excerpts and fun demonstrations at the piano. Timeless guitar works from Spain and Italy rub shoulders with a wealth of music from across the globe in an eclectic programme from virtuoso guitarist Craig Ogden with the Manchester Camerata (Dec 3). This veritable ‘tasting menu’ of musical gems spans over three centuries of guitar tradition and combines vintage Spanish and Italian repertoire with contemporary classics and outstanding arrangements. Followers of Australia’s best-loved guitarist can enjoy a varied, tuneful and vibrant programme supported by the enterprising Manchester Camerata, described by The Times as “probably Britain’s most adventurous orchestra.” The message is clear – if you haven’t tried St David’s Hall, you really don’t know what you are missing. And if you haven’t been for a while perhaps it’s time not to take it for granted. After all, it’s an opportunity right on your doorstep to experience world class music in a truly world class venue. www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

Win, win, win! Your chance to win 2 top-price tickets to the opening ICS concert which is Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra (Weds 9th Oct at 7.30pm), plus prosecco, ice cream and a programme. Simply answer the following question and email your answer to redhanded@conroymedia.co.uk or direct message it to us on twitter @RedHandedMag Craig Ogden

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When did St David’s Hall open? 1972, 1982 or 1992?

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28/07/2019 19:38:15

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28/07/2019 17:03:24

HALFPENNY IS B 26 REDHANDED

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S BACK

It’s hard to imagine Leigh Halfpenny as a man with unfinished business. It’s arguably easier to list the accolades the 30-year-old Scarlet hasn’t won, rather than those he has. But here’s a quick summary: Three-time Lions tourist, two-time Six Nations champion, 84 test caps, Wales’ third-highest points scorer. He has won the European Champions Cup, the European Challenge Cup and the Anglo-Welsh Cup and he’s widely acknowledged as one of the best fullbacks and goal-kickers in the game. But a World Cup year brings out that sense of frustration at his fortunes around the global showpiece. Halfpenny may have played in a World Cup semi-final – having helped Wales to the last four in 2011 – but admitted he suffered sleepless nights after his late longrange penalty fell short against France at Eden Park. Four years later and injury heartbreak ensured he played no part in the 2015 tournament after suffering ACL damage in the final warm-up game against Italy. So, when it comes to Japan later this year, Halfpenny has a laser focus on playing his part. “I am hugely excited about the chance to try to go to Japan,” he says. “Missing out on the 2015 World Cup was hard, to be so close to the tournament and then to have to sit and watch was very difficult. Then I think back to 2011 and the kick against France and I really want that chance to put that red shirt on again at a World Cup.”

He’s taken a bit of a pounding on the injury front of late, but a new arrival has left Leigh Halfpenny revitalised and eyeing the Rugby World Cup later this year. Interview by Will Burton

But nothing can be taken for granted, and he knows it. “There’s a lot of work to be done but I cannot wait for it. Like any player, I want to be a part of it. There are going to be two very tough training camps first though, I know how hard those can be, and there is a lot of competition in the squad. Liam Williams has been playing so well at full-back and on the wing, he is a good friend of mine and I was pleased to see him win the Champions Cup with Saracens the other day. He has been outstanding this season, we are good mates and it is good to have that competition.” Should Halfpenny make the plane to the Far East – and it’s hard to imagine that he will not do so if fully fit – there will be some additional relief given he was forced to sit out three months of the season with a concussion. Halfpenny was injured in the closing stages of Wales’ autumn win over Australia in Cardiff, being poleaxed by a Samu Kerevi challenge for which the Wallaby was extremely fortunate to receive no punishment after carelessly leading with a shoulder. It was the fourth time Halfpenny had been concussed in six years, and he was continuing to suffer headaches and other symptoms in the lead-in to the Six Nations. It meant he was a delighted yet frustrated spectator as Wales secured the title and the Grand Slam with that clinical victory over Ireland in the pouring March rain at the Principality Stadium. The former Toulon and Cardiff Blues man acknowledges that the indefinite spell on the side lines, unsure exactly when he might be able to return, made this one of the most challenging periods of his career. “Dealing with injury is tough, because you desperately want to be out there and it’s difficult when you cannot do that,” he says. “Out of all of them this was probably

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“There is a lot of competition in the squad” REDHANDED 27

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the hardest injury because you do not know when the end of it is going to be. The medical staff with the Scarlets and Wales were incredible in helping me, but you never know when you are coming back. It was tough on that front but I hope I am stronger for it.” But everything is fine now and understandably that’s his focus. “It’s all good now, I have had no reaction and I have been able to get games under my belt with no problems,” he says. “I am just delighted to be back out on the field. I missed being out there with the team. Obviously the Grand Slam was an outstanding achievement for the squad. I was delighted for everyone but, of course, as a player you really want to be out there and playing. But the main emotion for me is relief at being back out there and we will see what comes from there.”

“I have plenty more I want to do and achieve”

Fortunately for Halfpenny, he had more than enough to occupy him off the field too. Partner Jess gave birth to the couple’s first child – a little girl named Lily – in January. Mucking in with the dirty nappies and late-night feeds has been something Halfpenny has relished being a part of, and helped provide a different perspective to his enforced absence. However, he admits he has had to take measures to ensure he gets his 40 winks as he stepped up his recovery ahead of his eventual return to action for his region against the Cheetahs in February. “It’s been pretty busy, but it’s been incredible. I am loving being a dad,” says Halfpenny with a smile. “There have been a few sleepless nights, particularly early on, but my partner Jess has been amazing. There have been a couple of nights where I have slept in the spare room to make sure I get my rest ahead of training or a game. But it’s been great, she is four months old already. I cannot believe how quick it has gone. I think it helped put things into perspective for me. Rugby is a huge part of my life, and still is, but the little one does not care about rugby. There are other things to think about. You put the work in during training, and look to perform to the best of your ability, but at home I have to switch my focus a little bit. It’s amazing going home to the family and spending time with them.” Having ended Wayne Pivac’s reign at Parc y Scarlets with a disappointing defeat to the Ospreys – ensuring Scarlets will not be in the Champions Cup next term – attention now turns to the summer ahead. Wales will hold preWorld Cup training camps in Switzerland and Turkey, plus two fixtures apiece against Six Nations rivals Ireland and England. It promises to be a gruelling period, but Halfpenny is itching to get started. “I don’t feel I am done, I have plenty more I want to do and achieve,” he says. “With the season over there is a bit of downtime to have with the family, and then I come back into World Cup prep. Based on previous experience it will be very tough, but it’s a new chapter for me now with my little girl. I am fit and I cannot wait to get into it.” With Wales on the back of a 14-match winning run, neither can an expectant rugby nation. Wales get their World Cup campaign under way against Georgia on 23rd September in Toyota, Japan.

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THE DEADLYCOLD An exclusive extract from In the Vale a new historical thriller by Welsh author Sam Adams

For an entire month, winter was unrelenting. Deep frosts spread a glistening crust on the white surface of the changed world. The lane, filled up with snow, here and there to the full height of the hedges on either side, remained impassable. Movement was easier on some fields sloping down to Ystradowen, where the snow had been blown to hedge margins and piled there in great drifts, leaving shallower accumulations elsewhere that a careful rider could negotiate. Eventually, treacherous icy paths wound their way to Cowbridge and to Llantrithyd. Mr Aubrey set off again for the Plas, saying it was unlikely he would be back that same day, much as he wished it.

and a figure wrapped in cloak and scarves crusted with ice fell in over the threshold. Someone screamed. ‘It’s Mr Aubrey – he’s dead.’

Two days and two nights passed and still he had not returned. Sarah hid her anxiety from the children and kept them busy with work and play as best she could while insisting rooms were kept warm for them and food prepared as usual. On the morning of the third day, encouraged by a lull in the gale, a few of the day men braved icy, narrow paths through deep snow to Ash Hall. They stood in a huddle outside the back door, stamping their feet. Finding the master was not at home, ‘What shall we do now?’ they asked. Slither their way back home again, without having earned a penny? The kitchen maid, who had answered their knocking, turned to Sarah, at the head of a small table drawn close to the hearth where the children were finishing their breakfast. Together, the other servants turned and looked at her, and the men in the yard peered in. After a moment’s thought, she told one to lay in more sawn logs for the fires and bring coals nearer to the door, and the other two to clear the stable yard in readiness for the master’s return. ‘And please close the door,’ she added, ‘or we shall freeze inside.’

‘He’s alive,’ said Sarah, who had been holding her own breath until she almost fainted away. There’s a fire in his room?’

Unable to leave the confines of the house, or even move more than a few yards from a fire, for all Sarah’s efforts to instruct and amuse them the children were fretful and gripped by lassitude. They had an early supper while warming pans were put into their beds and their bedroom fire made up and, after a last story about Jack and his adventure with an immensely tall beanstalk and a giant who lived in a castle in the sky, which Sarah remembered from her childhood, they went contentedly to sleep. At nightfall the wind rose from the north and snow whirled by the windows, whether fresh or blown from drifts it was impossible to tell. All the servants were once more gathered in the kitchen, where a great fire blazed, and yet the air was chill in the farther corners. With the noise of the wind no one heard approaching hoofbeats on the icy path, and the servants looked fearfully around at a muffled thud against the door. Had hoary old winter himself arrived demanding to be let in? ‘Open the door,’ cried Sarah, ‘for God’s sake, quickly.’ Unlatched, the door swung open with the wind’s blast

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The door slammed shut. In the confused hubbub of wailing and shouting that followed, Sarah knelt by the prone figure, pulling at the bundle of frozen clothing until she had turned him on his back, hauling away layered scarves, already dripping with melting ice. The face was deathly pale, the body, corpse-like still, and the eyes open, staring with huge pupils, but there was the faintest sign of breathing – a breath, a breath, a long pause, a breath.

‘No, Mistress Sally. He didn’t come back this morning and we didn’t think to see him today.’ ‘We must get these wet, frozen things off him. You,’ she motioned to the two men hanging back at the fringes of the group, ‘carry him to my room, undress him at once, quickly, and place him in my bed. Someone light the candles, and Mary, tend the fire there – now.’ The servants had been standing, some wringing their hands helplessly, until stirred to action by her urgent cries. Younger women scurried to light the way and the room above and in a moment their dying master had been lifted and carried upstairs, followed by Sarah and Mary with coals for the fire. ‘Lay him on the carpet by the bed. Strip him. Come, come! You must get those wet clothes off to save him.’ She watched as they struggled with boots and stockings, buttons and sleeves until she almost wept for anguish, but at last it was done and the marble form of Richard Aubrey lay still at the bedside. ‘Lift him, lift him, man – into the bed. Now, out. All of you – out.’ Under the bedclothes, the man lay still as before, staring at nothing, his breath faint. Sarah knelt by the bed, begging God to tell her what to do. And suddenly she knew. She rose, hastily took off her gown, her stays and petticoats and, in her shift and woollen stockings, entered the narrow bed. Clasping the rigid form in her arms, she pressed herself fiercely against its deathly chill and prayed the warmth of her body would bring life. ‘Live,’ she murmured in the frozen ear, ‘live … live for your children … for me … live, live,’ on and on, until at last the turmoil of events and fatigue overwhelmed her and she fell asleep. In the Vale by Sam Adams is out now priced £9.99. Copies can be ordered from your local bookshop or www.ylolfa.com

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REDHANDED 31 29/07/2019 15:19:17

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK MEETS Thanks to a new high speed train network you can now see Uzbekistan’s spectacular Silk Road cities in one epic long weekend, says Jeremy Head

FAST TRACK Forget camel trains. My journey to the fabled silk road city of Bukhara was by high speed train. There were no sacks of spices or carpets in the luggage racks either. Since the death of former dictator Islam Karimov in 2016 things have been speeding up in Uzbekistan. Getting to see the spectacular mosques and madrasas of the fabled silk road cities of Khiva, Samarkand and Bukhara involved a torturous visa application process which used to take weeks. Getting between them meant internal flights or long journeys on bumpy roads or cranking trains.

Not now. There are ambitious development plans in this central Asian country that is a seven hour flight away. You no longer need a visa and new high speed trains now zoom at over 200kph between Tashkent the capital, Samarkand and Bukhara. At that kind of speed you can really maximise your time exploring. As off the beaten track short breaks go it’s right up there.

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Bukhara used to be an eight hour train ride from Tashkent but on board the new train we covered the 400-odd miles in under four hours. There’s space to stretch out and it’s quiet and calm. It was the perfect spot to nod off as Tashkent’s surprisingly clean streets and modern buildings slipped past and yielded to dusty desert countryside punctured by the occasional village of squat flat roofed houses and dirt tracks. I dozed happily feeling just a tad battered after the overnight flight. The silk road was all about trade, and Bukhara remains at heart a trading city. I wandered slightly jetlagged through the hat bazaar. Under shady archways all manner of furry headgear was on sale, some with tails and faces. There are different hats for men and women and for all sorts of occasions. Intricately woven carpets, dazzlingly colourful plates, bowls and dishes, delicate calligraphy and painting on slivers of silk paper, this is a souvenir hunter’s paradise. It’s also virtually free from hard sell. Round a couple more narrow corners and there it was. Unmissable and all the more striking for its unexpected appearance, Bukhara’s famous minaret is allegedly the only part of the city Genghis Khan left standing when he ransacked it in 1220 killing all

30,000 of its menfolk. At 47 metres high it could be seen miles across the desert. At the top of its 100odd steps are 16 windows from which 16 different Muezzins used to issue the call to prayer five times a day. Talk about cacophony. The minaret is simply decorated, with just a few brickwork flourishes. Genghis referred to it as ‘a beautiful woman that needed no make up’. But the Poi Kalyon mosque and Mir I Arab madrasa that sit facing each other across a wide, stone courtyard right next to it are anything but. Two immense porticos tower upwards, drenched in intricate mosaics. Arched colonnades stretch out either side protecting interior courtyards of more arches and porticos. It’s aweinspiringly lovely, the proportions perfect. The dazzling detail features calligraphy and layer upon layer of blue, green and gold mosaic. Not a single surface is left unadorned. What’s particularly wonderful is that you can walk right on in. Small sections of these holy buildings are sometimes off limits to non-Muslims, but due to the tendency to de-consecrate them in the Soviet era tourists are quite welcome to wander. The interiors of some of the arches are spectacular, adorned with forests of tiny stucco stalactites and painted in more bright blues and whites. I just sat and soaked up the atmosphere, virtually the only person there watching the warm fingers of late afternoon sunshine play upon the shimmering mosaics. Scrabbling for adjectives I settled on ‘spiritual’. This ancient trading city still houses all sorts of artistry too. Many of the souvenirs on sale are made locally and you can stick your head inside the workshops to see craftsmen at work. Puppetry is a tradition that dates back generations. I watched demonstrations of how

papier maché puppets are crafted using moulds and sanded for hours to make them smooth, then lovingly painted to make surprisingly characterful faces. During the Soviet era many of these traditional crafts were discouraged. Stalin had declared that Uzbekistan should be the focus of cotton production for the Soviet Union. People were needed out in the cotton fields irrigating, planting and gathering in harvests. The new generations are re-learning many of these almost forgotten skills from grandparents who kept them alive at home behind closed doors. Weaving is a particularly good example and you can see weavers at work on old looms at the Artisan Development Centre inside another old Madrasa. Back on the train again I marvelled once more at how totally out of kilter this sleek machine is with the timeless old streets and madrasas of Bukhara. It’s just a short 90 minutes to Samarkand and I was there in time for dinner and an early night catching up on much needed sleep. The Registan here is the city’s silk road jewel in the crown. By now I’d seen a few of these incredible porticos and spectacular domes, but they still left me a little awe-struck. It’s perhaps the juxtaposing of the vast and the intimate that gives them their unique atmosphere. You move from standing in open-mouthed wonder at hugely ornate buildings to ducking into pokey souvenir shops housed in the tiny rooms where devotees of Islam once studied and prayed. The ethereal and the mundane sit side by side. Remarkably for here, it was raining. I sat in a tiny café in one of those old student nooks and slurped fatty soup and ate damp meat-stuffed pastries called somsas. Just me and a couple of souvenir sellers. It was hard to believe that right outside the low door was the vast courtyard of the madrasa with its sensationally colourful facades. Back in the capital Tashkent, I had an evening to kill before my flight next morning. It’s a modern city and I strolled pedestrianised streets where people were busking, kids playing on scooters and couples strolling arm in arm. It felt utterly cosmopolitan, a world away from the ancient mosques and souks of the silk road. To finish my trip in style I headed for a neon lit karoke bar. Did they have any songs in English I asked? Yes of course. It was late I was tired and full of surprisingly good Uzbek beer. Surrounded by drunk businessmen and lovestruck couples I had my brief moment in Tashkent’s spotlight. The obvious song? Homeward Bound.

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CRUCIAL INFO Getting there: Uzbekistan Airways (www.uzairways. com) flies twice weekly from London to Tashkent. Economy class from around £560 return Staying there: Local tour operator Veres Vert (www. veres-vert.com; +998 66 233 6126) offers a three night/four day break to Bukhara and Samarkand from £230pp based on two sharing. Price includes B&B accommodation, transfers, guided tours and business class high speed train between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara

“The dazzling detail features calligraphy and layer upon layer of blue, green and gold mosaic” REDHANDED 33

Right Up Your Valley

Independence Day has come for Welsh Craft Beer Out amidst our lush green hills and fed by the finest of Welsh spring water a brewing revolution has been quietly taking place for years. Now, finally people are starting to notice. Luke Waterson takes us on a tour around some of the bright stars in the welsh ale brewing scene. The watershed came in 2015. CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale awarded overall gold to a Welsh brewery at the Great British Beer Festival. Since then Welsh brewers continue to push boundaries in their quest for new, exciting flavours using everything from seaweed to oysters. In a move not seen since the 1870’s some are even brewing with Welsh-grown hops. Better still you can go see many of them in operation. Scenic brewery settings, such as Tenby Brewing Co’s beach bar and Bluestone Brewing Co’s lovely mountainside farmhouse give the visitor experience a uniquely Welsh character. Today, there are funky indie brewers making amazing beers all over the country. Here are a few that we think really stand out.

Monty’s Brewery, Powys Comfy armchairs, flagstone floors and beams are not the welcome you might anticipate in a brewery, but head brewer Pam and her husband Russ have bucked trends at Monty’s, since day one. Their convivial visitor centre in historic Montgomery, sheltering beneath the town’s 11th-century ruined castle, might seem a genteel townhouse, but it includes a brewery shop and a development brewery where the latest hops and experimental beers are trialled. The visitor centre offers a unique opportunity to buy the experimental brews, and you can expand your palate further with the regular beer-and-chocolate, or beer-and-cheese pairings. Wacky one-offs aside, their multi-awardwinning, golden and citrussy Sunshine heads the best of the rest. We also dig the Best Offa, a golden bitter brewed especially as the Offa’s Dyke Path’s official beer. Buy the beer: Monty’s Brewery Visitor Centre, The Cottage, Montgomery, Powys SY151QT; www.montysbrewery.co.uk Price: £2.20-£3.50 per bottle

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Boss Brewing, Swansea Way before the first sip, this 2015 addition to the South Wales brew scene founded by Sarah John and Roy Allkin impresses. The slick website looks like a sequence from a graphic novel for goodness sake! In 2018 the outfit remodelled and moved into a centuryold cinema for their new premises. Inside, not only are you treated to the whole grain-to-glass process, but the £20 tour fee covers as much beer as you want to quaff. So, don’t drive there, OK? There is an on-site taproom open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus another, Copper, in central Swansea which also specializes in coffee. Of all their brews, it is perhaps the stouts that stand out. The silky Boss Black was Champion Beer of Wales in the stout category in 2016 and 2017. Look out for the comic book-style pump clips. Buy the beer: Boss Brewing, 176 Neath Road, Landore, Swansea, SA1 2JT; www.bossbrewing.co.uk Price: From £2.75 a bottle

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Bluestone Brewing Co., Pembrokeshire Sequestered away up in the Preseli Mountains along a labyrinth of lanes, Bluestone is not the easiest place to find. But the adventure is utterly ‘wort-while’. (The pun preps you for the wild beer names, which combine brewing terms with the region’s rocky topography, e.g. OutCROP, RockHOPper). You eventually rock up at a 300 year-old farm centred on a courtyard which hosts regular live music events. Here is the casual bar-cumbrewery shop. Set up by a father-and-daughter team, Simon and Amy, Bluestone’s beers use spring water that tumbles down from the mountains through a natural reed bed filtration system and arrives on the doorstep so pure that it is ready to be used for brewing without further ado. Their talismanic beer is Preseli Pils, a pilsner commemorating a battle supposedly fought nearby by King Arthur. Buy the beer: Bluestone Brewing, Tyriet, Cilgwyn, Pembrokeshire, SA42 0QW; www.bluestonebrewing.co.uk Price: £2.95

Grey Trees Brewery, MidGlamorgan The Welsh Valleys were once one of Britain’s most important areas for breweries but ale’s golden age came and went with the mining industry. If ever there was a brewery to boost beer’s profile hereabouts however, Grey Trees would be it. It is one well-decorated brewery, with the shining star their Afghan Pale Ale, an American pale ale styled beer with some real character and depth. Gold in the Champion Beer of Britain’s strong ale category and overall gold in the Champion Beer of Wales in 2017 testifies to its success. Staff are enthusiastic about showing visitors how they make what is jestingly referred to as their liquid gold (as opposed to the black gold, aka coal, mined in the nearby hills for centuries). Behind-the-scenes tours include malt and hop samplings and the chance to pour your own pint (or more) from a selection of Grey Trees brews. Buy the beer: Grey Trees Brewery, Units 5 & 6, Gasworks Road, Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF44 6RS; greytreesbrewery.co.uk Price: From £2.20

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Tenby Brewing Co, Pembrokeshire Tenby is the traditional Pembrokeshire holiday destination. And beer and the seaside combine just wonderfully according to Tenby Brewing Co founders James and Rob - whether it is slaking your thirst in the sun on the sand or huddling over a brew on a stormy winter day. So knock back their perennially popular tropical ale Son of a Beach during the former, or nurse a Black Flag Porter, replete with hints of chocolate, coffee and vanilla-infused rum, during the latter. Tenby Brewing Co relish innovation, too: they have fashioned brews with everything from Welsh-grown chilli to Pembrokeshire-foraged seaweed. They’ve even collaborated with a nearby farm to make a beer with hops cultivated in Wales (not easy, by the way, hops hate damp, wet and wind) for the first time since the 1870’s. A block back from the sandy beachfront, they have opened craft beer and street-food joint Sandbar, sporting seven craft keg lines, a range of UK indie beers and some Welsh artisan ciders to boot. Buy the beer: Sandbar, 4-5 Upper Frog St, Tenby SA70 7JD; tenbybrewingco.com Price: £2.40/£3.40 bottle/can

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Purple Moose Brewery, Gwynedd In the rapidly-evolving craft beer world, Purple Moose, based in the fetching seaside town of Porthmadog on the Llŷn Peninsula, is a grandfather of the movement, tracing origins back to 2005. They have won more awards than most other Welsh breweries, with eight of their range decorated multiple times. The unusual Elderﬂower Ale won Champion Specialty Beer of Wales two years running, while Dark Side of the Moose has come second in Champion Winter Beer of Britain. The brewery taproom is in The Australia pub on Porthmadog’s High Street and, in an unprecedented partnership with three other North Wales breweries, Purple Moose operates Conwy’s famous craft beer bar, the beautifully preserved 1920’s Albion Ale House. Buy the beer: Albion Ale House, Uppergate Street, Conwy LL32 8RF; purplemoose.co.uk Price: £2.59 per bottle

Crafty Devil, Cardiﬀ There is no visitor centre at this up-and-coming Cardiff brewery, established by best mates Adam Edinborough and Rhys Watkins in 2014, and started initially in a garden shed. But beer aficionados’ heavy-heartedness at this news will be assuaged by the knowledge that the out-of-the-ordinary beers are available at two very cool Cardiff bars: Crafty Devil’s Cellar Bar and crowdfunded Beelzebub’s, with a cosy American-style vibe and Brobdingnagian portions of American comfort food like Philly cheese steak fries. Opt for Safe as Milk, a coffee-ﬂavoured stout, or the Triple AAA, a sweetbut-hoppy American amber ale. Buy the beer: Crafty Devil’s Cellar, 16 Llandaff Rd, Cardiff CF11 9NJ; www.craftydevilbrewing.co.uk Price: £3.90 per can

Untapped Brewing Company, Monmouthshire Alongside one of South Wales’ mightiest fortresses in, Raglan Castle, Untapped has been going strong since 2009. These guys spend the majority of their time making beer and so concentrate less on the visitor experience, although they do have a brewery shop and will arrange tours and tastings, where you can slurp from your very own cask. Their Ember, a silver award-winner in the Champion Winter Beer of Britain and a slightly sweet and spicy brown ale, is our recommended refreshment. Unusually for any brewery, Untapped offer two organic beers in their range too: Monnow, a best bitter, and U.P.A, an IPA. Buy the beer: Untapped Brewing Company, Raglan, Monmouthshire, NP15 2BX; www.untappedbrew.com Price: £3 per bottle

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The Glamorgan Brewing Co, MidGlamorgan In the 1990s, when virtually no indie breweries in Wales were around whatsoever, the Glamorgan Brewing Co were. Now with 25 years’ experience and located in Llantrisant, home to the Royal Mint, the brewery is still stamping its authority on the craft beer business with some wonderfully idiosyncratic offerings. Bravest is their boozy version of the Welsh cake, the griddled dried fruit-stuffed rounds that rank as one of our country’s foremost traditional sweet treats. The Welsh Cake Stout has oats and raisins mixed in to yield a unique heavy, biscuit result. Their Welsh Lager, meanwhile, was made to show would-be drinkers that lager can be lovingly made and produced with quality ingredients. A newly-built bar above the brewery serves a great range of their beers. Buy the beer: Glamorgan Brewing Co, Llantrisant Business Park, Llantrisant, Mid-Glamorgan CF72 8LF; www.glamorganbrewing.co.uk Price: £10 for 6-bottle selection pack

Brecon Brewing Tracing its lineage back to 2002, Brecon Brewing is run by a stalwart of the Welsh beer scene Buster Grant who is one of the daddies of modern Welsh brewers. He’s served on the board of industry body SIBA and the Food and Drink Wales Board and he’s an old brew dog, having garnered a masters in brewing, not afraid to learn a few new tricks. So whilst the range includes traditional, award-winning ales such the golden Welsh Pale Ale, Golden Beacons and the light and refreshing Welsh Dark it also extends to modern, full-ﬂavoured beers in its Artisan and Heritage ranges. Go for the deliciously complex Red Beacons which sits very nicely between a traditional Welsh Red Ale and the hoppy, zesty hit of an American IPA. Buy the beer: Squire Drive, Brynmenyn Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF32 9TX www.breconbrewing.co.uk Price: £2.99

Tomos Watkin Originally brewed in Llandeilo, Tomos Watkin has been part of Swansea based Hurns Brewing Company since 2002 and has grown into West Wales’ most popular range of beers, belying its family-owned status. Historically Tomos Watkin’s repertoire has consisted of more traditional albeit well-crafted ales which include OSB, a classic rich red bitter and Cwrw Haf, a fine zesty summer ale. More recently they’ve pushed the envelope with more idiosyncratic brews, a doffed cap to the craft beer movement no doubt, such as the citrusy Blodwen’s Beer and Delilah, a light, golden ale that uses American hops. What to go for? Though tempted by Pecker Wrecker, if only for its cracking name, the sensible choice is Delilah, a lovely blend of classic and modern. Buy the beer: 3c Alberto Rd, Valley Way, Swansea Enterprise Park, Llansamlet, Swansea SA6 8RP www.tomoswatkin.com Price: from £1.79

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SUMMER LIVING

Cool threads for hot days

Superdry Katalina Apron dress - Â£49.99 www.redhandedmagazine.co.uk

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FASHION

Top Left Debenhams Multicolored print short sleeve £35 straight leg trousers £31.20 Red Herring blue suede Desert boots £50

Top Right Karen Millen lifestyle snakeskin print midi dress £199

Bottom Left Superdry Orange Label Lite T-shirt £17.99 Superdry Taper Work Pants £49.99 Superdry Truman trainers £49.99

Bottom Right Luke SS19 Phil Archive jacket £130

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FASHION Top Left Oliver Bonas Foil Spot Midi Dress £69.50 DUE MAY

Bottom Left River Island green tie dye printed T-shirt £18 River Island stone check shorts £25 River Island long sleeve T-shirt £15 River Island khaki reversible hat £15 River Island round retro sunglasses £12 River Island ribbed socks £8 Prolific canvas trainers £35 Right Luke SS19 Farmers Boys tracksuit £85

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REDHANDED 41 28/07/2019 19:53:39

FASHION Top Left M&S Limited edition shirt £19.50 limited edition jeans £25

Top Right Primark Shirt £11 Trousers £10 Shoes £16

Bottom Left M&S Cotton rich pineapple print shirt £25

Bottom Right Reiss Yellow Carlton suit blazer £275, trousers £150

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FASHION Top Left Lifestyle Monsoon Alani coral plain trousers £39

Top Right Luke SS19 1977 Hoddle Sport Vintage Tape Tracksuit £80

Bottom Left River Island pink print embellished kaftan £38

Bottom Right Oliver Bonas Wow Layering Jumpsuit £75 Pom Suede Lace Up Flat Sandal £59.50 DUE MAY

Credits: All available at St. David’s Center, Cardiff www.stdavidscardiff.com

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REDHANDED 43 28/07/2019 19:53:55

Let’s Go Outside... Those balmy summer evenings call for dinner ‘al fresco’, or in Welsh, ‘yn yr awyr iach’. Lowri Haf Cooke enjoys the early-evening breeze at prime outdoor supper spots all over Wales. Gwesty Tŷ Newydd, Aberdaron After a jaunt to Uwchmynydd, overlooking Ynys Enlli, make your way down through the heather and gorse to Gwesty Tŷ Newydd. Savour fresh Pen Llŷn crab and lobster, or Cwrw Llŷn battered cod and chips – and don’t forget the side-order of ‘pys slwtsh’. Take in the fresh sea air and the stunning view of Aberdaron’s mile-long beach. For a taste of Welsh culture with your ’sgod a sglod’ supper, time your visit to coincide with Gŵyl Pendraw’r Byd – Tŷ Newydd is at the centre of this vibrant music fest, usually held towards the end of summer. Gwesty Tŷ Newydd, Aberdaron, Pwllheli LL52 0HU; tel: 01758 760207

Dylan’s, Cricieth At peak-times during summer, there is a queue for over an hour to grab a premium seat outside Dylan’s restaurant in Cricieth. To cope with demand, cool Welsh blankets are provided to enjoy the beach view with a ‘Menai Mojito’ in hand! It’s definitely worth the wait, for the starter of ‘Tacos Angharad’, followed by a wood-fired pizza or classic Menai ‘moules marinière’. If you’re famished, there’s plenty of tables inside, in one of Clough Williams-Ellis’ Art-Deco architectural gems. The best advice? Arrive extra early, and wear your ‘siwt nofio’ underneath; pray for a wait, go for a refreshing dip, before an epic Eifionydd feast! Dylan’s, Maes y Môr, Cricieth LL52 0HU; tel: 01766 522773

Bwyty Mawddach, Llanelltyd Would Madam or Sir like a view like no other, in the fresh Meirionnydd air? Follow the Mawddach trail up to Llanelltyd, near Dolgellau, and prepare to be blown away! Chef Ifan Dunn, formerly of Cardiff ’s Da Venditto and Laguna Restaurant, Park Plaza – returned home to Llanelltyd in 2010. His family farm now includes a contemporary restaurant with a wow-factor view of Cadair Idris. Time it right in July, and savour his brother Will’s Spring lamb, for a Sunday lunch to remember. And when the temperature hits high, go for a Negroni outside, followed by a Crab Linguine or Haddock Risotto. Bwyty Mawddach, Llanelltyd, Dolgellau LL40 2TA; tel: 01341 421752

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Pizzatipi, Aberteifi As you stroll along the Teifi in Cardigan, past Lord Rhys’ 12th Century castle, take a moment to admire the view from the bridge . Savour poet Ceri Wyn Jones’ lovely ode to the quay, then make a beeline for Pizzatipi, and pray that the queue at Tafarn Smwglin is not too long! Between 12-9pm each day over summer you’ll find the party’s just begun; grab a pint of the Mantle ale, and find a table in the open air whilst awaiting a fresh wood fired pizza. Toppings vary from local Aberporth crab, to Perl Las cheese and Pembrokeshire new potato, or keep it simple and go for the Bianca –‘dim saws, jyst caws!’ If it rains, laugh it off and make a dash for the nearest tipi; it’s what Welsh summer dreams are made of. Pizzatipi, 1 Cambrian Quay, Aberteifi SA43 1EZ; tel: 01239 612259

The Shed Bistro, Porth-gain If seafood’s your passion, make your way to Porthgain, for a feast of fish and chips. Take a pew near the harbour, near owner Rob Jones’ fishing boat, to feast on the freshest flavours of Pembrokeshire. The crab salad with coriander is a must to begin, along with a glass of Muscadet. Follow that with a John Dory, or a monkfish tail – or chase your plaice and chips with local Bluestone ale. Don’t leave without tasting Caroline’s walnut tart, glazed with caramel and Penderyn sauce. And if you contribute a pound to the Fisherman’s Trust, she’ll share the easy-peasy recipe with you! The Shed, 56, Heol Llanrhian, Porth-gain, Haverfordwest SA62 5BN; tel: 01348 831518

Pitch Bar & Eatery, Cardiff For a cheeky outdoor supper in the capital city centre, look no further than Pitch Bar & Eatery. This Welsh independent ‘drinks and dining’ destination is a Cardiff sunny day sensation. Situated right at the heart of historical Mill Lane, the sun-trap terrace is terrific for people watching. Whether preparing for a concert, or a classic Saturday night out in Cardiff, start with some ‘prinks’ – perhaps a ‘Pitch’er’ of ‘Pitch Punch’, or how about a ‘Beer on Mill Lane’ whiskey cocktail? Do stay for the food – locally sourced from the central market – including the wildly popular ‘Hoff ’ Burger (Welsh for ‘favourite’!), ‘Bass in a Bag’ and veggie-friendly Glamorgan Bites. Polish off your summer eve with a selection of fine Welsh cheeses, and seriously consider returning to Pitch for your Sunday lunch!

The River Café, Glasbury Don’t leave it a year before you retun to Hay on Wye, for the glittering literary fest. Welsh foodies often return to visit The River Cafe, for a leisurely lunch or dinner 5 miles away in Glasbury. Book a table overlooking the 11th century bridge on the river Wye - the site of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn’s victory against the Bishop of Hereford’s English forces. Plump for the crab papardelle and a glass of Italian wine, and admire those gliding along in their canoes along the Wye. The casual dining menu never fails to delight, and was much admired by late restaurant critic AA Gill.

Pitch Bar & Eatery, 3 Mill Lane, Cardiff CF10 1FL; tel: 02920 228882

The River Café , Wye Valley Canoes, Glasbury, Powys HR3 5NP; tel: 01497 847007

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LIFESTYLE

HEAD COACH

XAVIER RUSH LAUNCHES WALES’ FIRST PURPOSE BUILT HAIR TRANSPLANT CLINIC Xavier Rush is most commonly known for his rugby skills as a former All Black and ex Cardiff Blues Captain. He also created a very successful property development empire specialising in developing listed buildings across Wales. What not many people know is that Xavier was always a property developer and businessman before he was ever a professional sportsman. And it’s his business acumen that’s led to a new project that will help boost the confidence and self-esteem of men across Wales. Xavier had a hair transplant in 2016, for which he received lots of positive feedback. He then started to get a high volume of personal requests from men that were receding and going bald asking Xavier to recommend a clinic for a hair transplant. Xavier didn’t believe that there was a suitable clinic to ethically recommend that he felt was both reputable and local. Which gave him the nugget of an idea. Dedicated research work began, exploring all of the patient feedback online, with the aim of creating a clinic that delivered in the areas that patients were asking for. After years of due diligence, strenuous business planning and outreach and recruitment Xavier decided that he would launch his own clinic in the capital of Wales. And so Head Quarters Hair Transplant Clinic was born. It’s a purpose-built hair transplant clinic based on Charles Street in the middle of Cardiff ’s vibrant city center. Already Head Quarters Hair Transplant Clinic has attracted some of the founding fathers of FUE and FUT Hair Transplants including surgeons operating in the most elite high net wealth patient circles worldwide We couldn’t resist the opportunity to quiz Xavier, a former All-Black, on the Rugby World Cup Players to Watch in the tournament England’s number 7 Tom Curry, outstanding in the 6 Nations, is epic. Ardie Savea is playing great for New Zealand! But a lot of New Zealand’s hopes rest in Beauden Barrett. Alun Wyn Jones has lead Wales brilliantly since the wonderful Sam Warburton retired. Liam Williams causes every team problems whenever time he touches the ball. His awareness of space is amazing. And I’m really impressed with Scrum Half Gareth Davies and Jonathan Davies is world class and would make any teams starting spot at 13. Who will win? It’s the most closely contested world cup I can remember. The Northern Hemisphere has closed the gap over the last 4 years…but they haven’t closed it far enough. All Blacks will still win I believe.

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and from a prestigious brand clinic situated on Harley Street. This determination to use the best surgeons in an affordable business model is crucial to the company’s philosophy. Xavier felt that too many men in the UK were opting to go overseas to Turkey to get substandard hair transplants done due to lack of budget. These were carried out by non-surgeons and non-medically qualified and registered individuals. Xavier was shocked to read recent expose press pieces, showing taxi drivers were completing these FUE and FUT Hair transplants and the long-term damage they were causing that was often irrevocable. There are finance packages at Head Quarters which means that any patient who is suitable for a Hair transplant, will never have to compromise on expertise due to cost, as all the finance packages will be made as fair and affordable as possible. Meaning every day men can now have a celebrity-style hair transplant without compromising on quality for cost. Xavier said that “Head Quarters is built on high integrity and ethics, this is not a numbers game - it’s all about quality not quantity. If we feel we can’t get a potential patient the best possible results that match his expectations or if we feel he is unsuitable for the hair transplant then we won’t take him on as a patient.” The clinic is set to launch on the 8th August 2019. www.hqhairtransplants.com tel: 0800 193 3888 However, I have been really impressed by how the Welsh team have stood up in big occasions over the last 12 months. It will serve them really well in this World Cup. This is Wales’ best chance! Who is the dark horse? South Africa is the dark horse as the conditions really suit them - tt’s going to be very fast rugby played in Japan with young, raw teams and nothing to lose! The Banana skin … Could be Argentina…. Any tips if I was Captain? Don’t underestimate them! Enjoy the journey. Stay in the moment … and hard work works. Players with most star quality New Zealand’s Reiko Joanie and Wales’ Liam Williams

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LIFESTYLE

A BUMPER CROP FROM ORCHARD It’s that time of the year when the team at Orchard Live crank into overdrive to deliver a series of awesome music events in Caerphilly, Cardiff, Swansea and Pontypridd. Here’s a taste of what’s coming up.

The Zutons play the iconic setting of Caerphilly Castle on Friday 12 July. The band will perform their seminal album ‘Who Killed The Zutons’ to coincide with its 15th anniversary. After 8 years apart, the band reformed for a one off fund-raising show in 2016, which sparked conversations at the time about possible new shows and new music. Zutons frontman Dave McCabe said; “We’ve all been off doing our own thing for a little while, and it’s only with hindsight and a bit of space that you see how special something really is. It’s easy to take things for granted when you’re younger, but now it’s just amazing to think of those songs still having a place in the world, and for people to come and hear us play them again”. Black Stone Cherry also play Caerphilly Saturday 13 July. With five critically acclaimed albums, they’ve rocked 12,000-cap arena shows, topped the UK charts, and shared the stage with a diverse roster of superstars, including Guns’n’Roses, Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Mötorhead, Alter Bridge and ZZ Top. Fans can expect to experience new cuts alongside classic favourites such as Blame it on the Boom Boom, Lonely Train and White Trash Millionaire. Groove Armada will complete the Caerphilly line-up on Sunday 14 July. This will be the legendary duo’s first live appearance in Wales for over 10 years and an exclusive Welsh summer show. Expect to hear all the fan favourites including Superstylin, My Friend, I See You Baby, At the River and many more. The date promises not only to be an incredible live show with a vibrant, Ibiza party atmosphere but a visual spectacle to assault your senses. Taking the stage at a gloriously retro event on July 20 on the Front Lawn at Sophia Gardens (next-door to Glamorgan Cricket Club), Cardiff are Bananarama. Having celebrated the group’s 36th anniversary earlier this year their achievements speak for themselves. The most successful female band worldwide with the most

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LIFESTYLE charting singles, four hitting the US Billboard Top 10 including a No.1 with Venus. To date the duo have had 32 Top 40 UK hits which include firm favourites Robert De Niro’s Waiting, Cruel Summer, and Love in the First Degree. Other big names on the bill include Bonnie Tyler the international first lady of rock, born in Skewen, Neath, South Wales. Both “It’s a Heartache” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart” are among the best-selling singles of all time, with sales in excess of six million. Completing the line-up are 90’s and noughties pop sensations S Club and Liberty X. Meanwhile in Swansea, the hottest ticket of the summer returns to Wales after last year’s sell out Cardiff Castle show. Pete Tong & the Heritage Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley, will bring a brand new Ibiza Classics show to the beautiful surroundings of Singleton Park on Saturday 27 July. The show is a must see for ravers, party animals and everyone who ever saw Ibiza as their Mecca, an irresistible combination of the UK’s most influential DJ with a 65 piece orchestra, a spectacular visual show with lasers and the biggest party anthems. The following day sees Jess Glynne headline at Singleton Park. Jess’ debut album I Cry When I Laugh is one of the defining British pop records of its era. It debuted at number 1, spawning 12million worldwide singles sales, 39 weeks on the UK top 10, 2.5billion Spotify streams, a sold out UK arena tour, and Brit, MTV,EMA, Ivor Novello, MOBO, Q and Glamour award nominations. Since then, she has released her chart-topping second studio album, Always In Between which went straight into the number one spot. Her run of hit singles continued with I’ll Be There, a seventh top spot that secured Glynne the record for most number one singles by a British female solo artist. Also on the bill, is Nina Nesbitt who broke through in 2013 with Top 20 hit Peroxide. Nina’s comeback album The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change has been a total transformation in sound and image blending pop and RnB into a magnetic sound, which has seen her amass over 100million streams and gain playlist status on BBC Radio 1 and 2. Up the M4 corridor, Orchard Live are bringing back Ponty’s Big Weekend, and the stage is set for a return on Saturday 17 August at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd for the first time since 2014. Multi-million record selling artists Ocean Colour Scene will headline a day of live music which will also feature fellow Britpop icons The Bluetones and South Wales’ very own Goldie Lookin Chain - who will bring their legends set. Up-and-coming Welsh bands Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, The Pitchforks, Al Moses and Young Garbo complete the bill with what should be a great day out at one of the most popular parks in Wales. Ocean Colour Scene’s story is already the stuff of legend: a rip-roaring rock’n’folk odyssey set to a backdrop of over 20 years of UK pop culture at its very

best, notching up nine albums, three of which went Top 5 and a run of nine successive Top 20 hit singles commencing with 1996’s The Riverboat Song. It will be the Birmingham band’s first South Wales show in 3 years. Further down the line Orchard have even more gems lined up for music lovers in South Wales. There’s Childcare at Clwb Ifor Bach on 19 September; chamber jazz and folk ensemble Penguin Café at St David’s Hall on 6 October; the legend that is Lulu is also at St David’s Hall on 26 October; Newport’s post Britpop alternative rocksters Feeder will be playing on 7 November at The Great Hall, Cardiff University; singer-songwriter Freya Ridings on 20 November at St David’s Hall, Cardiff; and last but most definitely not least the gloriously anarchic godfather’s of Indie rock/ pop/funk fusion, the Happy Mondays, play The Great Hall, Cardiff University on 29 November. Tickets and info: www.orchardlive.com or Ticketmaster.co.uk, tel: 0844 844 0444

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LIFESTYLE

IMPROV TO IMPROVE Want to boost confidence? Impress in meetings or social events? Or just be an even better version of you? Then an Improv Comedy course may well be what you need. Improv Comedy is the art of discovering every moment as it happens. When anything occurs onstage, improviser or actor will have trained to bring that live instance to an effective use. It is not about being intelligent; people doing this are not renaissance ‘men’ (or women). Although, I am pretty sure some come close - but that is not the given norm. By being present to what is happening, we become better people… that is a proposition, more than a claim. Onto what can be claimed. Coming from research on these collection of art forms, it is possible to state that improvisational comedy helps bring people together and build new friendships. For some people and some places, a community forms that they feel is an asset for them. When doing improv for a number of years, it is likely that you will find the global improv community. You may even find the smaller communities within it too (but still global ones). People suggest that they build social and communication skills, gaining interpersonal developments. People take up improv comedy for a number of reasons. It could be that they wish to bring spontaneity into their personal lives, challenge their social anxiety, or use it in their professional business lives for leadership, problem solving, or ideation. Organisational improvisation is a growing common

PARC LIFE

The gorgeous 4*Stradey Park Hotel and spa is ready and waiting to welcome you to their award-winning Parc Spa for a day or stay that will relax, refresh and revive you. Nestling snugly in a picturesque Welsh hillside, it offers all the amenities you need for contentment accompanied by an air of total tranquillity.

corporate training resource in the UK. Nathan Keates, the man behind Nathan Improv sums up his own journey: “I am an extroverted introvert. And I’ve found that Improv can connect you with new friends, a wider community of wonderful human beings and enable you to communicate effectively in a manner that brings fun and playfulness to the room. This makes Improv useful to all, as the fundamentals are applicable to any area of life: business and personal.” Nathan Improv runs classes in Cardiff, Wales with Cardiff Impro. He delivers high quality, professional improv comedy and acting training, as well as other theatre events. Having taught for nearly fourteen years, and all around the world, these classes will enable you to achieve the goal you desire. The class explores spontaneity and its application to create comedy live. Having delved into thoughts on spontaneity it will go on to enhancing the performance of the players through using playfulness in their improvisation. With him, it is about finding the funny together, through co-created and emerging theatre. As a qualified teacher, researcher and performer, he enjoys exploring whatever else you wish to discover - in the scene and in your life. Other classes he runs include clown, musical improv and dramatic improvisation. To find out more or to register your interest in attending a class visit www.nathanimprov.com #findthefunnytogether The multi award winning Parc spa is set out over 2 floors and comprises three zones. Zone 1 is a Spa garden with outdoor hot tub. Zone 2 an indoor hot tub, sauna, tropical rain room. And finally Zone 3: Relaxation room and sleep room, 2 double spa treatment rooms and the copper tub ritual treatment room. The spa has recently launched its new outdoor area, a Spa sensory garden designed to becalm guests via all the senses. Sound: Calm Garden Sounds from nature. Smells: guests receive cold cloths infused with Ylang Ylang and orange. Vision: sit quietly, relax and forget your stresses in their relaxing spa garden. Touch: Let the jets and bubbles sooth your body in our heated Jacuzzi. The spa offers a range of treatments, spa days and midweek twilight spa packages. Midweek Twilight spa package £45pp (based on 2 people booking): Relax and unwind after a long day at work with any combination of a 25 minute back and shoulder massage, use of spa facilities between 3pm and 6.30pm, complimentary robe and slipper use and a tapas box to share. For more info on everything the Spa at Stradey Parc Hotel has to offer visit www.stradeyparkhotel.com. Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, SA15 4HA tel: 01554 758171

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LOOKING GOOD FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

LIFESTYLE

It’s that nerve jangling, bottom-twitching time again, when we all wait anxiously to see which Wales will turn up for the Rugby World Cup. Will it be the team that defied expectations to comfortably win the Six Nations, through an almost perfect balance of swashbuckling attack and relentless defence. Or will old frailties on the biggest stage creep in? Eitherway, one thing’s for sure. The boys at Shop Rugby in Duke Street, Cardiff will be able to kit you out in the latest Rugby World Cup attire so you’ll at least look the part as you laugh and cry through the inevitable emotional roller-coaster that lies ahead. Impress your mates down the rugby club or in your local pub with your choice of the new ‘home’ kit or the rather svelte new dark green away shirt. Or, if you want to hedge your bets, you could supplement your first choice Wales kit with the All Blacks RWC kit – just in case we don’t make it all the way, or you simply look better in black. For those of you who are not Welsh, our commiserations. But don’t feel left out – Shop Rugby also stock home nations’ RWC kits too. 8 Duke St, Cardiff CF10 1AY tel: 029 2066 4466 www.shoprugby.com

RAISING THE BAR

POPULAR PENARTH HOTEL LAUNCHES OUTDOOR BAR FOR SUMMER Holm House, the popular independent hotel and restaurant based on Cardiff ’s famous Penarth Esplanade has launched an outdoor bar to cater to its growing wedding market and al-fresco dining guests.

The stylish bar will be open on weekends and everyday throughout August to offer a true al-fresco experience to guests enjoying afternoon tea, Sunday lunch and food from the AA rosette restaurant menu. It will also serve as the exclusive bar for Holm Houses’ luxury weddings. General Manager, Dan Jones said: “Since reopening the garden this Spring following an extensive renovation our popularity has soared. Spa guests, residents and locals alike all visit to enjoy the garden’s serenity and spectacular views of the Bristol Channel. The outdoor bar will offer a sophisticated space for people to unwind this summer and hopefully get the city talking.”

The 12 bedroom boutique hotel was acquired by the founder of Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Phillip Day back in 2012. A substantial sum has been invested into the listed property to include a magnificent Elemis spa complete with a stylish indoor pool and roof terrace boosting unparalleled views over the Bristol channel. Dan Jones continued: “The demand for exclusive weddings at Holm House has really taken off since we scooped South East Wedding Venue of the Year at the Welsh Wedding Awards earlier this year. For larger weddings we erect a marquee in the garden which the new outdoor bar will now cater for.” The hotel has played host to a number of famous stars over the years including Kylie Minogue, Ryan Giggs and Anthony Joshua. www.holmhousehotel.com 11 Marine Parade, Penarth CF64 3BG tel: 02920 706 029

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LIFESTYLE

FLAT HOLM SANCTUARY Flat Holm has a unique island character, with a sense of wilderness, remoteness and isolation, and extensive views from and across the Island to the coasts of England and Wales. Less than half a mile wide and five miles off the coast from Cardiff, this tiny Island is an intriguing hidden jewel in the Bristol Channel that’s rich in wildlife and steeped in history. Flat Holm is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserve.

now you can follow in his footsteps with Sanctuary in the Sea – a unique opportunity to escape from the everyday and enjoy a wellness retreat weekend on Flat Holm island

St Cadoc made frequent visits to the island in the late 6th century for periods of tranquil meditation and

www.cardiffharbour.com/retreat or tel: 029 2087 7912 for info

Each retreat includes a return RIB boat trip, relaxing yoga, Reiki, reflexology and meditation sessions, vegan food and drink and basic shared dormitory, or camping accommodation. All for only £50 per person!

DON’T GET STUCK IN A RUT

Looking for a Stag Party venue with a difference? Only a few miles away from Cardiff city centre, Cardiff International White Water has everything you need for the perfect Stag Party experience. Choose from a variety of fun, adrenaline-fuelled activities, including exhilarating White Water Rafting or a chilled out Stand Up Paddleboarding session on the flat water. Plus, CIWW offer Stag Party packages that include all of our team-based activities, such as Indoor Wave, Hot Dogging, River Boarding, Canoeing and Kayaking, Family Rafting and Gorge Walking. Having a great stag do is a milestone in most men’s path to married life. These days the possibilities for epic stag do activities are endless, so it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the choice. One of the great things about choosing to bet on CIWW as your main source

of stag do entertainment is that you can leave planning your stag weekend activities in their hands instead of shouldering all the responsibility. Kick off your bespoke stag do package with some White Water Rafting early on Friday evening. On Saturday you can nurse your hangover on your way to a day of Gorge Walking which will test your courage with jumps from big heights into plunge pools. Conclude a weekend full of adrenaline packed stag do activities with a Sunday spent Canoeing & Kayaking, or even taking part in one of their activities away from the beach, such as the Indoor Wave, Air Trail and Climbing. www.ciww.com or tel: 029 2082 9970 for more info

10 YEARS OF MOCKA LOUNGE When opening their doors all those years ago, Mocka Lounge instantly became an integral part of the Mill Lane party scene and this summer, can you believe it, Mocka Lounge is celebrating it’s 10th birthday!

From that first moment until now, the Welsh community has opened their arms to this exclusive venue and the love and support has only grown with each passing year. You will have seen renovations, developments and upgrades over the past decade but what remains the same are Mocka’s core beliefs – outstanding cocktails, exceptional events and five star service.

There are many places where you can drink cocktails but few with the skill and expertise that Mocka Lounge has. Only those with a true passion and flare for creating magic behind the bar are welcomed into the Mocka team and this is why Mocka Lounge remains a sure favourite with all that frequent the Cardiff bar scene. Over the years Mocka Lounge has thrown some incredible events, hosted some ‘one of a kind’ parties and welcomed some unbelievably talented acts and performers but none quite as special as the annual birthday party. This year’s official birthday celebration ‘Paint the Town Red’ will be held on August Bank Holiday weekend (24-25 August) at Mocka Lounge and you’re all invited. As every year, Mocka’s birthday is going to be a party to remember so make sure you don’t miss out. Get in touch today to show your support and reserve a table. Dress code: simply red Reservations: info@mockalounge.com Mocka Lounge, 1-2 Mill Lane, Cardiff CF10 1FL. tel: 029 2022 1292

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OUT NOW Coaltown Coffee Roasters

Wright’s Food Emporium

Heavenly

Destination Dining There are places in Wales you simply have to visit to consider yourself a Welsh ‘bolgi’ or gourmand. Keep these foodie guides to hand, as these epicurean epicentres are surrounded by local gastro treasures. Book a weekend away, and make ‘bwyd a diod’ the highlight of your stay; let Lowri Haf Cooke guide you on the first of our taste.blas Welsh food pilgrimages...

Welsh Food Mecca: Wrights Food Emporium, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire After helping to establish Y Polyn as a Carmarthenshire gastro hot-spot, Simon and Maryann Wright (and family) created something different; today, Wright’s Food Emporium is a mecca for Welsh gourmands . You don’t need to be a food hipster, however, to enter the old Golden Grove – just bring an appetite for life and bold Welsh flavours . Originally based in Nantgaredig, this contemporary Welsh hybrid of cafe-deli-bar-restaurant crossed the Tywi to Llanarthne in 2015. Located just a stone’s throw from the National Botanic Garden of Wales, it shines a similar light on local, seasonal produce. To your left, as you step inside, you’ll find a tableful of cakes, including meringues – served with seasonal fruit - as big as your plate. To your right, gaze above at the daily blackboard – the Rarebit (with or without ’nduja spicy sausage) is a classic, as is the Pork Belly Cubano, both available all year round. But savour those seasonal ‘shooting star’ ingredients – blink, and you

really might miss them – such as coracle caught sewin from the Tywi. Take a walk through the deli – stock up on Batch 62 Single Botanical Juniper Organic gin from Talog, to the west of Cynwyl Elfed. Or wander into the bar, and take your pick from Welsh ales – Tomos & Ilford from Glamorgan, Loka Polly from Mold, or Seren from Clunderwen.There’s also a variety of natural European wines – also available in Wright’s Wines in Cardiff ’s Castle Arcade. Out back there’s a pleasant sun-trap to while away the hours; grab a book from the extensive foodie library, and savour over Hard Lines coffee from Cardiff, or James Gourmet, roasted in Ross on Wye. Request a bottle of catsup with your meal – it’s plastered with Castro, the family’s three-legged cat. Once a feature in the cafe, he’s now retired upstairs, only rarely heard meowing for his supper. Amongst the friendly foodie chatter, Castro’s spirit is still strong, welcoming all to this Welsh food community that’s like a home away from home. Wright’s Food Emporium, The Golden Grove, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire SA32 8JU; tel: 01558 668929

While you’re in the area... Coffee: Coaltown Coffee Roasters, Foundry Road, Rhydaman SA18 2LS; tel: 01269 400265 (25 minutes; 11 miles South-East) Hoffi coffi? Grab a cup of Joe from the Roastery Canteen, HQ of Coaltown Coffee in Ammanford. Head straight for the espresso bar, and order a seasonal special – the Maple Syrup Latte with Halen Môn oaksmoked seasalt was a recent revelation, blended with the award-winning Black Gold No. 3 Espresso. Take a pew, and enjoy the view of a proper roastery, then tuck in to an espressobrownie or home-made sourdough pizza. Whatever you do, stop pinching yourself. You’re not in San Fran – you’re in Rhydaman! Bar: Ginhaus Deli, Market Street, Llandelio SA19 6AH; tel: 01558 823030 (13 minutes; 7 miles NorthEast) Cross the Tywi from Ffairfach and follow the pastelhued hillside houses to the dreamy market town of Llandeilo. Make a left, and then a right onto Market Street where the drinking den of your dreams awaits! It’s both a gin bar and a deli chock-full of Welsh produce, including Strawberry Gin Jam from Miranda’s Preserves. How about a Gimlet or a Tom Collins? Faced with a veritable wall of gin, you may feel a tad overwhelmed, with a choice of over 240 gins from 46 countries. Make it easy on yourself and choose a Welsh G&T from the selection at ‘Cornel Cymru’. P.S. There’s a train station within walking distance! Ice Cream: Heavenly, London House, 60 Rhosmaen Street, Llandeilo SA19 6EN; tel: 01558 822800 (13 minutes, 7 miles East) Before departing Llandeilo turn onto Rhosmaen Street, and ponder the philosophical question; ‘What if Willy Wonka were Welsh?’. You’ll find the answer at Heavenly Exquisite Desserts. Not only will you

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Restaurant: Y Polyn, Capel Dewi SA32 7LH; tel: 01267 290000 (5 minutes: 2.9 miles North-East) Finish off your long-weekend - or make a decision to extend! – by discovering the foodie holy grail that is Y Polyn. There you’ll find the definition of a Welsh gastro-pub, thanks to husband and wife team, Chef Susan and Mark Manson. The Sunday lunch is an entry on every Welsh foodie’s ‘Bucket List’, or consider booking a superlative three-course supper. Pack your elasticated-waist trousers for a feast to remember; Susan’s fish soup is the ultimate sharing dish as a starter, whilst the Knickerbocker Glory is a gastro ode to joy!

Summer 2019 Ginhaus Deli

Pub: The White Hart Inn, Llanddarog SA32 8NT; tel: 01267 275395 (10 minutes; 5 miles South-West) How about a pub, after all that grub? Preferably a cosy, historic, thatched-roof affair, from the time of Owain Glyndŵr, the last native Prince of Wales. Look no further than Llanddarog where The White Hart Inn has welcomed guests since 1371. Along with a blast from the past, you’ll get a taste of contemporary Wales, thanks to the entrepreneurial nous of the Coles family - inkeepers since 1994. Back in 1999, they established Coles Family Brewery, which has expanded to include an in-house distillery. Take your pick of award-winning ales, including the Coles Carmarthen Gold – or go for the SA32 Vodka or Cadogan 1791 Carmarthen Dark Rum. The ‘Cwrw Blasus’ says it all, as does the greeting at the door: ‘Croeso i’r Hydd Gwyn’.

www.taste-blas.co.uk 05/07/2019 17:33:14

Celebrating great food and drink in Wales

discover a luxury chocolate emporium, but also the most indulgent spot in Wales for afternoon tea. However, the main attraction has got to be the homemade artisan ice cream; don’t leave without tasting one of over 200 fresh flavours. The peach melba is to die for, along with blood orange, and pink grapefruit sorbet. As in life, the biggest challenge will be one of restraint. Life’s too short as it is, so fill your boots!

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Y Polyn

The White Hart Inn

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Drinking in the summer sun Cool and refreshing on a long summer evening or a hot sunny afternoon, cider’s getting a bit of a revamp at the moment with all kinds of innovative things being thrown into the mix. New Welsh producers are bringing oak and rum casks into production, pressing apples by hand, reinventing orchards, dabbling with dragons and involving local communities. All to produce a cider for every palate, from Anglesey to Ponty. And it’s just in time for the good weather. So, whether you like a hint of fizz and fruit or prefer a deep and dark complex taste, we have the cider for you. Now, how do you like them apples?

Apple County - Deciderly Good Whitehouse Farm lives near Skenfrith, Monmouthshire, snug between the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Channelling their inner winemakers, cidermakers Ben and Steph use slow, cool fermentation methods and select only a single variety of apple for each type of cider. They installed the first terraced orchards in Wales, to maximise that elusive Welsh sun, and the cider tastes all the better for it. Tasting notes: bottled as Vilberie Medium Dry, Dabinett Medium and Yarlington Mill Medium Sweet, the taste ranges from light apple juice with a bit of a kick to deep mellow flavours with a brandy-like finish. Drink it: with raspberry or rhubarb fruit juice for a sweeter, pinker taste. Find out more: http://applecountycider.co.uk/

Gwynt y Ddraig: Breathe a Cider Relief Gwynt y Ddraig, the wind of the dragon, is a firebreathing brewery in Llantwit Fardr near Pontypridd with apples picked and pressed by hand. Born as a hobby in 2001, Gwynt now sells in seven countries worldwide, carrying names like Welsh Warrior and Black Dragon into the collective cider consciousness. Farmer’s Pride and the Fiery Fox mingle with the Old Crow and Farmhouse Vintage Scrumpy, making a tasting session sound like a mix between Dylan Thomas and Roald Dahl. But it’s the Gold Medal Cider, the first CAMRA gold award for Welsh cider producers, that remains their pride and joy. Tasting notes: oak-induced subtle aroma of autumn leaves. Smooth with a bit of a mineral kick. Drink it: with Dragon’s Caerphilly cheese. Find out more: https://www.gwyntcidershop.com/

Ty Gwyn - Slice, Slice Baby James McConnel grew apples for large cider companies while his stepson played at Glastonbury. A surplus of apples one autumn led to the birth of Ty Gwyn, a dream continued by stepson musician Alex Culpin. Both music and mixology, he claims, need the big three: passion, patience and practice. Using the only belt press in the country, the results include naturally still draft ciders and bottled beauts with a light sparkle. The Cider Shop near the Black Mountains runs free tasting sessions and you can also order cider online. Tasting notes: the Medium Sweet Cider carries the lightest aroma and taste, with a gentle fizz. Drink it: with your favourite song playing.

Old Monty’s – The Oakey Cokey

Cooking al-fresco

It began, as all good stories do, with a hobby, a handpress and a mill. That was 2006. By 2018, Old Monty shot to glory by winning the best Cidermaker in Wales Award at the Welsh Cider Championships and the rest, as they say, was history. Situated in Montgomery and only using local apples, Monty relies on natural fermentation to produce their fare. Along with traditional ciders, sip on the Old Monty Oakey Cokey, a potent cider brewed in rum barrels for 12 months to soak up the flavour. Tasting notes: deep aromas fuelled by rum casks and oak in the Oakey Cokey. Drink it: try it hot with a slice of lemon and a dash of bourbon

PIC’N’MIX

Picnic hamper goodies

Find out more: http://www.oldmonty.co.uk/

FEAST YOUR EYES

Jaspels – Living Appley Ever After Jaspels, the name an acronym for owners Janet and Ade as well as their red squirrel mascot, takes a different approach. They gather unwanted apples from across Anglesey to produce five unique craft ciders using a handmade wooden press. Through social apple contributions and arty posters with a sense of fun, they aim to revitalise the community’s sense of heritage and craft. Batches sell out fast and names like Autumn and Woodland reflect their love of the outdoors. Tasting notes: the subtle, refreshing Sundaze fits long summer evenings while the Heritage Dry Cider tastes crisp throughout. Drink it: with a slice of apple or even cinnamon as autumn draws in.

Welsh dining in stunning locations

Find out more: https://jaspels.co.uk/

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Find out more: https://www.tygwyncider.co.uk/

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IN-CIDER KNOWLEDGE

The best Welsh Ciders

ICE CREAM BELIEVER

A gelato tour round Wales

PLUS CARMARTHEN FOODIE HOTSPOTS, FESTIVALS, RESTAURANT REVIEWS AND RECIPES GALORE

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HEALTH & GROOMING Tired of tossing and turning? Jason Jones can make you sleep!

6 of the best… Sleep Essentials

We’ve all been there, right? Staring at the ceiling dreaming of the recommended nightly dose of eight hours sleep, only to realise we’re a fully paid-up member of the wideawake club desperately calculating how much kip we can cram in before the morning work alarm klaxons. Not only does zzz-deprivation bode badly for our looks – ‘Get your beauty sleep’ is a phrase for a reason – but it can also have serious health implications with chronic lack of quality sleep linked to heart disease, diabetes and depression. Unsurprisingly, though, in this ever-spinning, everspeeding, literally woke world, two thirds of UK adults have reported regularly suffering from some form of insomnia. Enter the grooming biz with a few tricks of the trade to help us get the restorative rest we need. 1. This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (75ml, £19.50) The best-known sleep product on the market because it does pun-intended work. Steeped in lavender, spray 10 minutes before hitting the sack and a decent slumber is virtually guaranteed. Also, check out the recently-launched Sleep Power Nap Spray (50ml, £28) for a 40-winks quickie fix. 2. Neal’s Yard Remedies To Roll For Relaxation (9ml, £8) Obviously, the enemy of sleep is stress so we must minimise the cortisol causes. Apply this on the

body’s pressure-points, inhale deeply and journey to the land of nod. 3. Ren Evercalm Ultra-Comforting Rescue Mask (50ml, £32) Another great way to anxiety-bust is a good facemask. This is does-what-it-says-on-the-tin calming and comforting and leaves your mug free of the muss of modern-day life and ready for a hard day’s night. 4. Aromatherapy Associates Deep Breathe Bath & Shower Oil (55ml, £47) An important part of improving sleep health is breathing. Why else is snoring such an eternal problem? This is an efficient way to clear the sinuses and up the relaxation ante in one easy, tub-soaking swoop. 5. Lush Sleepy Shower Gel (110g, £5.95) If a bath isn’t your bag, then try this bestseller. Again redolent with sleep-easy lavender, this mixes soothing oat milk with sweet-smelling tonka bean to produce a perfect way to unwind from the daily grind. 6. Spacemasks Eye Masks (5 for £15) In stating-the-obvious news, our peepers need to be soporific to get some shut-eye. These awardwinning, self-heating masks create a cosy environment for the windows to our soul to drowsily drift off.

5 SLEEP HYGIENE HACKS Keep your cool It sounds counterintuitive but make sure your bedroom is kept cool-ish. Warmer may seem kip-conducive, but studies have shown that lower temperatures promote prolonged and better sleep with the optimum between 16-18C. Don’t hit the hooch Again seemingly counterintuitive because of the sedative properties of booze, but those only work temporarily and before you know it you’re tossing and turning into the wee small hours. A nightcap is fine, a bottle of Malbec not so much.

Spa Gazing Signature treatment: As the only naturally mineral-rich thermal baths in Britain it has to be the H2O treatments. Most popular is Watsu (50 minutes, £69), a portmanteau of water and shiatsu that borrows elements of massage and acupressure and involves being gently pushed and pulled through a series of flowing movements in the water by a therapist leaving both body and mind retuned. Prices: Surprisingly competitive for such a high-spec operation. Sticking with the sleep theme, the Twilight Package is a 3-hour spa evening session with dinner that comes in at a very reasonable 49 quid for one and 92 for two. Keep an eye out for the pocket-pally special packages that change monthly. Service: The staff are quietly slick and slickly quiet. The X Factor: The open-air rooftop pool, where you can enjoy the warm water while soaking up expansive views across the skyline of one of the country’s most historically significant and architecturally beautiful cities. Score: For the sheer audaciousness of combining the ancient principles of the curative thermal spa with contemporary blinged-out luxe it has to be a near-perfect 9 out of 10. thermaebathspa.com

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Scoff to snooze It’s not widely-known, but certain foods can help us hit the hay. Go for scran high in the amino acid tryptophan (dairy products, poultry), magnesium (fish, nuts) and vitamin B6 (avocado, meat) for maximum benefit. Embrace the darkness Dubbed ‘the Dracula Of Hormones’, sleep-aiding melatonin is naturally produced by the body but only in darkness so swap the bright lights of TVs and tech for blackout blinds and those 50 Shades Of Grey-style blindfolds, er, sorry, eye masks, which brings us to… Netflix and chill A cocktail of natural feelgood chemicals, including dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin, flood the brain and body during sex making us feel (hopefully) satisfied and de-stressed, consequently inducing that sense of postperformance sleepiness.

JOIN US FOR OUR 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! It’s hard to believe but Cardiff’s favourite cocktail bar has been providing outstanding service, excellent entertainment and fantastic cocktails since 2009. And we’d love you to help us paint the town red to celebrate with yet another great night to remember this August bank holiday (24-25th). Get in touch today to show your support and reserve a table. Dress code: simply red

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Restaurants & Bars

Hare & Hounds, Aberthin

And on a day that Wales beat England in the rugby, the savoured memory of our feast in this delightful country inn will live as long as that splendid sporting feat. A rhubarb prosecco and Pirate Bay IPA from Bridgend’s Cold Black Brewery were the perfect preprandial thirst-quenchers. The feast kicked-off with a tasty offering that highlighted Chef Tom WattsJones’ take on nose-to-tail eating. A skewered lamb heart separates the men from the boys and displayed a clinical execution; roasted slowly in balsamic vinegar, rosemary and thyme, it was a masterclass in food seduction. Following the home-made sourdough and focaccia breads, the Smoked Cod Roe on Fennel Sourdough Cracker was the sea in essence. Served with Radish from the kitchen garden, the umami confection was gone in seconds flat. The choir of flavours gradually rose in fervour with a Grilled Sardine starter. The delicate taste of the sea lifted to sublimity by sweet Heritage tomatoes and the spicey tang of fermented chilli. My partner’s mussel and laverbread risotto was another terrific Swansea seafood starter and had us humming with delight. But as with the match, the best was yet to come – the second half of the lunchtime feast was an outright belter. Having learnt my lesson from an earlier visit to The Heathcock - H&H’s new sister-restaurant in Llandaf, Cardiff - I plumped for the rump of Torgelly lamb, sourced a few miles away in Llanhari. I cannot sing the praises of this classic enough; between the to-die-for crispy fat, and mellow sweetness of the meat, it is a marriage of Glamorgan flavours made in heaven. The Chateau Marais (a Syrah Grenache blend), was a gloriously jammy red wine, that wonderfully offset the rich potato Dauphinoise. How on earth do you follow that? With a signature soufflé that brought our meal to a close with a thunderous ovation. Light as air, the ravishing raspberry affair was paired with a home-made vanilla ice cream. As we headed home with the anthem still ringing in our ears and with flavours like these, we could not help but belt out, ‘Gwlad, gwlad!’. Lowri Haf Cooke Hare & Hounds, Maindy Road, Aberthin, Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7LG; tel: 01446 774892

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28/07/2019 20:08:13

Anna-Loka, Cardiff Anna-Loka opened its doors four years ago; and is very much at the top of its vegan game. The restaurant has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2015 – and with vegan Joe Calzaghe at the launch – this timely kick-off started the thinking person’s philosophy that if premium athletes were following a plant-based diet – then the rest of us could too. Anna-Loka is hands down my favourite vegan restaurant in Cardiff – so it was with a spring in my step I headed over to a taster session – of some old favourites – and some brand spanking new dishes. Try the cracking Cali Breakfast, one of owner Adam El Tagoury’s top choices: with homemade sausage, bacon rashers, avocado, grilled tomato, scrambled tofu, toasted seeds, agave mustard dressing and wholemeal toast. The Rodeo Seitan Burger rocks: Juicy, meaty, satisfying. Or the new Laska dish, which is simply, outstanding. Beautifully fresh vegetables that are bursting with natural, organic and local flavour, cooked in a dreamy peanut and coconut sauce; a victory of comfort food heaven, served with crispy fried tofu, rice noodles, Bali sauce and chili peanuts. This might just be my next go-to dish. The Crispy Seafood Cakes are a true testament to the imagination and creativity of Adam’s chefs; and I would happily eat the Muhammara of roasted red pepper and walnut dip, with toasted seeds; served with an awesome airy sourdough, all day long.

Restaurants & Bars

Adam tells me he loves the Southern Fried Seitan Burger of crispy coated seitan, panisse bacon, cheese, garlic mayo, and Frank’s burger sauce. Served with a choice of triple cooked chips and ketchup or sweet potato fries with garlic mayo; and I agree that it’s lipsmackingly good. After all that umami full-on flavour, it’s time to discover something sweet. We dig into a plateful of fluffy, crispy, gluten-free pancakes, with chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries and vanilla ice cream. If there was a scanner showing my brain, you can be sure that all of the pleasure zones would be lit. As I roll homeward-bound, stuffed to the limit; and on a definite food-high, I reflect on the genuinely exciting menu that Anna-Loka offers. The clue is really in the Sanksrit name, with Anna meaning food, health or earth, and Loka meaning world or planet in India’s ancient language. It effectively represents what Adam and his team offer: an eclectic, authentic, healthy experience that facilitates principled, conscious choices but does not compromise on quality or taste. Meryl Cubley © Anna-Loka, 114 Albany Road, Roath, CF24 3RU. Tel: 029 2049 7703; www.anna-loka.com - Booking highly recommended.

Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli With the recent sudden closure of Sosban Llanelli, the town is down a dining MVP. Could the chefs at Stradey Park Hotel and Restaurant raise their game – and pots and pans - to paint Llanelli scarlet once more? The attractive spa hotel is a long-established draw for locals and visitors. Indeed, having previously visited the venue for weddings and conferences, I was familiar with its offerings. But a weeknight stay was a first for me, on a Monday eve in February. By the time we arrived, seventy guests had enjoyed afternoon tea, and the central Copperplate Bar & Grill retained a buzzing atmosphere. Following a revamp last year, the copper-accented dining room offered a warm welcome in ‘Tinopolis’ town. Tables are close enough to savour a variety of accents – from business guests to lively groups of local diners. We were offered two different menus; the ‘bar & grill’ selection offers familiar bar fare for a very reasonable price. The second, however, was the 3-course dinner menu, with daily specials that showed a touch of flair. As a nod to the local area, I chose a Stradey Park signature as a starter – the Mature Cheddar Cheese & Felinfoel Bitter Rarebit was delicious. My friend chose the creamy parsnip soup and enjoyed its comforting earthiness.

As a main, I opted for a dish that flies off the menu the lamb tagine did not disappoint. The lightly spiced meat was rich and tangy, and balanced nicely with the salad and lemon cous cous. My friend’s pork belly, herb mash and red wine jus, on the whole, was a perfect winter warmer. With a wide choice of desserts we opted to share; the moreish chocolate brownie was a feast of gooey goodness, whilst the lemon panacotta tart paired with salted caramel ice cream had a pleasing zing in its tail. Our recently refurbished room brightened our cosy Monday night; I only wish we had the time to indulge at the spa, before returning to ‘real life’. A hearty buffet breakfast raised the spirits on Tuesday morning, as did the panoramic view of the Carmarthenshire coast. The Sosban fach of this rugby town might have recently lost a game, but this hearty Sosban Fawr is definitely worth a ‘try’ for a super supper and an overnight stay. Catrin Rowlands Stradey Park Hotel and Spa, Llanelli SA15 4HA, 01554 758171

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REDHANDED 57 28/07/2019 20:08:19

SPORT Will Burton’s looking forward to the resumption of South Wales derbies already!

The South Wales Derby is back!

It may not have come around in the fashion either club would have wanted, but fans of Swansea City and Cardiff City will be casting their eyes around for only two fixtures when the EFL release the 2019-20 schedule on June 20. It has been over five years since the last South Wales Derby and the two meetings next term promise to be as intriguing as any in the game’s 107-year history. Swansea had their ups and downs under Graham Potter, but few would contest that they are moving in the right direction and the return to the playing identity so beloved of the fanbase has certainly been a success. With Potter now moving on to Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Swansea (at the time of writing) start their search for a new manager. It will be interesting to see if the new boss continues the playing style in that vein. By contrast, should Neil Warnock remain at the helm, Cardiff march to a different tune, one more traditionally intrinsic to the British game. They are sides who are brave in different ways. Cardiff in their tremendous work-rate, commitment and organisation; Swansea in their determination to dominate through possession no matter the pressure. They are two mouth-watering days to look forward to in the Welsh sporting calendar over the next 12 months.

And don’t forget County

“The manner of their defeat to Tranmere in extra time at Wembley was heartbreaking ”

But, while we look forward to those two games, it would be remiss not to heap praise on Mike Flynn and Newport County for their feat in reaching the League Two play-off final. The manner of their defeat to Tranmere in extra time at Wembley was heart-breaking, but the reality is that County - who are run by a supporters’ trust - have simply no right to be getting within a sniff of League One given their resources. Yet the superb coaching of Flynn – who must be receiving admiring glances from elsewhere such has been the manner in which he has gone about the job since masterminding ‘the Great Escape’ – and the under-rated quality of his squad continue to confound expectations. More pundits predicted them for the drop than the top six, but this is a club that loves proving the doubters wrong. They have shown they can go the distance in the league, beyond the heroics of their two stunning recent FA Cup campaigns.

Which makes the manner in which his departure has come about so sad to see. Edwards has always proclaimed himself a man of his word. Yet those qualities have not been in evidence in how he has handled his post-World Cup business. Edwards had decided to take up an offer to coach Wigan Warriors in rugby league following the conclusion of the global showpiece in Japan, but chose the baffling timing of Wales’ Grand Slam celebrations to reveal he would not in fact be joining the club he served with such distinction as a player. Instead, he wanted to stay on with Wales, despite incoming head coach Wayne Pivac being well down the road to appointing his staff for the post-Gatland era. It was a state of affairs that did Wigan, Pivac and the WRU no favours and stemmed from Edwards’ own reluctance to clarify his position. In the end, it has been decided that Edwards will not be staying on with Wales. He is now reportedly being courted by France. He will still depart with deserved praise and acclaim ringing in his years, but his Wales exit has been poorly handled on all fronts.

Cardiff welcomes Homeless World Cup

Cardiff has rightly earned an exceptional reputation for staging sporting events over recent years, and this summer will see the 17th Homeless World Cup held in the Welsh Capital from July 27 to August 3. Over 500 players representing more than 50 countries will converge on Cardiff for the week-long festival of football. Forty-eight teams will compete in the men’s competition, with a further 16 in the women’s tournament. The aim of the event is to alter people’s perceptions and understanding of homelessness, as well as providing employment opportunities in the run-up to the tournament, which will be held in Bute Park.

Edwards departure leaves a sour taste

It goes without saying that Wales will miss Warren Gatland when the Kiwi calls time on his 12 years in charge of the national team following the World Cup in Japan. But not far behind in the list of significant departures will be his lieutenant Shaun Edwards. It has not been coincidence that each of the four Six Nations crowns Wales have won during Gatland’s tenure have been built around a suffocating, ironclad defence. Defence wins championships, and Edwards has done truly exceptional work with Wales in that area. Image © Anita Milas

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MUSIC REVIEWS

Live Reviews Adam Rees relives his much mis-spent youth at two classic gigs

Bryan Adams, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

While the nostalgic reunions of his peers continue to be the most-talked about gigs of the year, Bryan Adams’ continued popularity has gone by seemingly unnoticed for years. And while sold-out stadium shows might be a few years behind him, a packed Motorpoint of screaming (and some horrendously shitfaced) fans just days before album 14 rockets to the top of the charts affirm his evergreen appeal. The three new songs from Shine A Light might not be the most riveting of Adams’ career but they’re sung back with glee from an already well-read crowd, with frontman and always excellent band effortlessly delivering on each of the night’s 27-strong setlist. And having an opening gambit of Can’t Stop This Thing We Started, Run To You and a rousing Heaven can’t harm matters, with Keith Scott’s soaring lead on the latter dazzling in front of mammoth screens. But forget the bells and whistles - great though they are. It was his acoustic encore, ending with a mass singalong of All For Love that was the most captivating moment. Another reminder of why the Canadian’s star still shines so bright.

Suede, The Globe, Cardiff

Even into his 50s, Suede’s Brett Anderson still has that coolness and magnetism that just seemed to come so easily to the best of the 90s crop. Whether he’s crooning away, getting progressively sweatier as he stands on the crowd barrier or exclaiming “If you don’t know the words to this one, why are you here?!” before belting out the band’s 1996 hit Beautiful Ones, he does everything in his power to steal the show. Not that the rest of Suede feel left out, hitting it off with the Globe attendees from opener As One onwards to the end of a great set list effortlessly mixing old and new. From ethereal and moody to acoustic numbers and the full Suede experience of My Insatiable One and Trash, it’s an evening that far surpasses the band’s last appearance in the Welsh capital in 2002 at the Coal Exchange. Hopefully it won’t take them so long to visit again.

CDs Catfish And The Bottlemen - The Balance (Island)

(Nexgen)

Given the success of 2016’s number one record The Ride and the world conquest undertaken in its name, the Llandudno quartet can surely be forgiven for repeating the winning formula on album number three. After all, plenty of artists have done damn well for themselves finding their lane and vigorously riding it (even if that lane is a tad crowded with other likeminded acts). That said, there’s still plenty on The Ride to distinguish Catfish And The Bottlemen’s jangly indie from the rest of the pack. Vann McCann’s drawling vocals and Billy Bibby’s gruff guitar leads meld perfectly on the pristine Fluctuate, while Conversation’s laidback stylings mask an underbelly of 90s swagger, building to the kind of anthemic peak that has helped propel them to their dizzying heights. Meanwhile, Sidetrack and Basically, with their melancholic melodies and shimmering moods, show there’s more here than just a collection of repetitive crowd-pleasers. Success will always make you an easy target, and while there may be those disappointed by The Balance playing it safe, when they’re able to hit the notes that have proved so irresistible it’s hard to argue.

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Undersound - No More Shooting Stars

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Originally from Haverfordwest, Cardiff DJ and multi-instrumentalist Gareth Evans has a glittering and ridiculously varied CV. Playing in orchestras for musicals and royalty, scoring stage and screenplays, releasing drum & bass and other compositions under a number of monikers - he really has done it all. His latest venture as Undersound is an intriguing amalgamation of funk, hip hop and blissful speculation that’s as multifaceted as his career to date. The dreamy title track lulls you into a false sense of security with its arresting piano and Gareth’s own understated pipes, while the Portishead inspired A Frozen Loves Tale’s elated guitar is punctuated by turntable scratches and the soulful pipes of Harri Davies. On the other side of the coin, trumpets herald the stylish pomp of No More Lies, while various MCs lend their rhymes to Never Go That Way and Party Arrangements’s more boisterous rumblings. Dissecting each track reveals intricate playing and a wealth of ideas that just hints at Davies’ admirable ability.

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PERFECT

DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT… WHEN BENNETT MET RHOD GILBERT?

WALES WORLD CUP WINNERS! WILL 2019 BE OUR YEAR?

IT’S WORLD LOVELY CUP JESSROOTED GLYNNE IN

WALES NIALL TAKES MUCK AND NETTLES A STEP BACK NEIL WARNOCK IS FIXING CARDIFF FC IN TIME

YOU’LL REMEMBER YOUR SILK ROAD FIRST TIME

SPECTACULAR A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO COOL CARDIFF RIDING THE RAILS IN UZBEKISTAN

LOVE + FEAR THE TWO SIDES TO

FREE MARINA

READY FOR THE ALL BLACKS?

ED’S KING OF THE CASTLE

“FOUR GUYS PULLED GUNS ON ME” THE TIME NIALL NEARLY DIED

UNFINISHED POP BUSINESS HALFPENNY'S PERFECTION AFTER THE RUGBY

PHOENIX RISING RITA’S BACK!

THE LIONS HEAD DOWN UNDER

SPRING 2018

BIG HITTING INTERVIEWS!

TALKING TO GLAMORGAN’S FINEST

IT’S ALL GO!

VOLVO OCEAN RACE, HUGE GIGS,FESTIVAL OF VOICE

SLEEPING IN THE FRIDGE

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RedHanded Magazine is published by Conroy Media Ltd, PO Box 607, Cardiff CF24 1ZR ©Conroy Media 2017. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers can not be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequence arising from it. The views expressed in RedHanded are not necessarily those of the editor or the publishers.

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UNFINISHED BUSINESS HALFPENNY'S AFTER THE RUGBY WORLD CUP ROOTED IN WALES NIALL TAKES A STEP BACK IN TIME SILK ROAD SPECTACULAR RIDING THE RAILS IN UZBEKISTAN

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26/07/2019 15:48:41

BOOKS HOW TO FAIL

Elizabeth Day £12.99, 4th Estate Failure is a funny thing. Not funny-LOL, but funnyweird - because it means different things to different people. For instance, I had a sobering brush with what I would class as failure recently. I applied for a job I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted. I promise you I’m not pride-saving; I properly wasn’t sure. But it paid a magic-money-tree salary for limited output. I was qualified and told I stood a good chance. Then, you’ve guessed it, I didn’t. Cue deep embarrassment and general feelings of being a total loser. If you’ve never felt any of those things, then this isn’t the book for you.

Jason Jones is glad he’s a failure, honest.

Or maybe it is? Part-memoir, part-manifesto, How To Fail documents the downs of Elizabeth Day, a much-lauded journalist with a lucrative book deal. Consequently, the concept of failure in this context becomes a tad come-again?-tricky, but it’s testament to Day’s talent as a writer that she manages to mine her own seemingly sorted life for universally-relatable rites of cringeworthy passage. So we get family fallouts, career car crashes, friendship fails and dating disasters all with the message that failing is good because trying is good, something we often (always?) lose sight of. Sounds self-help saccharine and more than a bit Oprah, but it’s actually a pretty sound design for life. After all, Oprah isn’t a multi-billionaire for no reason. Thank God, I didn’t get that job.

CHERRY

Nico Walker £14.99, Jonathan Cape Born during the greed-guzzling, success-is-everything 80s, a privately-educated but directionless American teen signs up to the military – ‘cherry’ is army slang for rookie recruits. He becomes a decorated veteran, returns to civvie street with acute PTSD, self-medicates with heroin and ends up robbing banks to fund his habit. This plot arc could easily fall into the you-couldn’tmake-it-up category, but actually, its author didn’t. This novel is heavily autobiographical and was written from prison where Nico Walker is serving an 11-year stretch for aforementioned heists. A publicity tour was a no-can-do, then. The publishers needn’t worry, though, because, coupled with the truestory buzz, this is one of the most astonishing, grab-thejugular first forays into fiction in years. That’s because Walker speaks for his generation. Lost, frustrated, entitled, confused and craving elusive professional and personal fulfillment, he chronicles the complex workings of the minds of millennials who don’t have the certainties of previous generations to signpost their lives. It’s not done in a finger-wagging moralising way, though, and that’s down to Walker’s voice, which is sincere without being smug. Plenty of novelists cannibalise their own lives for copy, but few do it with such a suckerpunch. Walker writes as if his life depends on it, which in lots of ways it does. Now all he needs to do is get parole and flog those bank-manager-friendly film rights.

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CARS

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Top speed: 122mph 0-62: 10.2secs CO2: 128 MPG: 55 Price: £20,595

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As car companies go, Mazda are a modest bunch. Not surprising really from a company that at its core is focussed on engineering first and foremost, almost to the point of bloody-mindedness. It’s an approach that has stood it in good stead – after all, Mazda’s now almost 100 years old. But it does mean they don’t always get the attention they deserve. It’s best illustrated by Mazda’s insistence, when everyone else was going hell for leather with diesel, that for most drivers and the environment more generally, petrol engines were the better option, putting a tremendous amount of effort into developing class-leading non-turbo engines. Their combination of performance, economy and low CO2 is second to none. Fast-forward a few years and they’ve been proved right. Now, Mazda are making the point that full electric vehicles are still some way off being a real-world alternative to carbon fuels. Low range, cost and lack of infrastructure being the main problems. That being so, the new Mazda 3 2.0 SkyActiv-G M-Hybrid is a mild hybrid and uses an electric motor, powered through regenerative braking, to supplement a petrol engine around town and when accelerating – the two types of driving that use the most petrol. In practice, you barely notice the electric motor’s presence. It just feels like a

very peppy petrol. Mazda say that’s the plan though they do point out that the way it intervenes makes for smoother gear changes and a more refined feel, which rings true on the road. The Mazda 3 is a very slick, refined drive. As good as any car in its class, including the prestige badges. This seems deliberate, when you look at the overall package from a design perspective. It’s a great looking car from every angle – just the right balance of aggression and prettiness, well-proportioned and a great mix of curves and cuts. The view from behind is probably the best on any hatchback currently available even if it does have an impact on over the shoulder visibility. The first impression on entering the cabin, is that Mazda are really pushing hard to give the car an upmarket feel. The dash is quite minimalist in feel, with much of the car’s functions ably controlled via a rotary control by the gear stick and large screen atop the dash. Unencumbered by clutter, with high quality materials and a very high standard of finish you could be forgiven for thinking the 3 was made in Stuttgart or Ingolstadt, not Hiroshima. It really is that good. What all this means is you’re getting great quality for your money. Ally to this great seats, a comfortable driving position, a spacious airy cabin, even with the dark headlining, and some nice touches, such as the heads-up display and you have a car that’s well on the way to beating much more expensive brands at their own game. To be the complete package though, it has to deliver on the road. The 2.0 engine, unlike most rivals, is naturally aspirated. This lack of a turbo-charger is part of Mazda’s SkyActiv strategy – they argue that higher compression ratios in a larger engine result in a better balance of efficiency, power and fun. Without a turbo’s torque you do have to rev harder and stir the gears more but that’s part of the fun – especially when the gearbox is as sweet as this one, with smooth, short throws that snick into gear. You kinda forget how enjoyable it is to use the revs and gears to get a car motoring. The 0-62mph in 10.2secs belies how delightful the performance of this engine is – it’s zingy, responsive and swift. And it’s great on the forecourt too returning a combined mpg of 55. And finally, there’s the handling. This has been a Mazda strongpoint in recent years, thanks to the SkyActiv philosophy of low-weight, high strength materials. This combination put simply makes the suspension’s job of sticking to the road that much easier. The 3’s a case in point. It has oodles of grip, even when you’re over-zealous with the right foot midway through a corner – something one simply should not do with a front-wheel drive family hatch. It’s not just about outright grip though. The 3’s handling feels alert and direct, adding to the fun factor of the engine’s performance. Thankfully, none of this is at the expense of comfort. The ride is supple and compliant even over the Vale’s backroads and at cruising speed there’s a real sense of calm.

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28/07/2019 20:10:40

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REDHANDED 65 29/07/2019 15:28:42

DOUBLE TROUBLE How would the crowd react when Bennett served up a second helping?

I performed my first ever stand-up gig 22 years ago this year. As a naturally shy person, I didn’t really like the idea of being on stage and having people looking at me. However, I had been writing material for TV shows and I had written a particular joke that I really liked. Unfortunately the producer told me that the joke wasn’t funny. I was convinced that it was, but he was the one paying. So the only way I could prove to myself that I was right, was to try it out. So I did it on stage at an open mic night. It received a huge laugh. After that, I was hooked.

My eighth ever gig – yes, I kept a record – was a short spot at the Bearcat Comedy Club in Twickenham, which had been running since 1984. The gig went well, and, from that day, they have continued to book me on a regular basis.

At this point, whilst I shared their concern for the show, I wasn’t sure how I could help apart from calling other comedians who might be in the area and could come along at short notice. However, they told me they had already done this and no one was nearby. That’s when they asked me whether, in the event of the act not arriving, I would go back on to close the show. Now, closing a show of course isn’t a problem. Over the years, like most professional comedians, I have done it hundreds of times. What I had never done was to go on to close a show – after I had already performed a 20 minute set! It wasn’t so much that I was concerned about not having the material – I’ve written and starred in three radio series and four Edinburgh shows – the concern was the audience. I knew they had enjoyed my set, but they had seen me. I wasn’t the headline act. Would they feel short-changed – literally, in my case. As I was thinking about this, James and Grahame received a message from the last act, explaining that there had unfortunately been a family emergency and they weren’t able to make it to the show. So now there was no option.

On Saturday February 23rd this year I again performed at the club. However, that night, something happened which had not only never happened to me, but also had never happened in the history of the club. There were five acts due to perform that night. I went on third and had a great time despite - or perhaps because of - the fact there were loads of English rugby fans there and Wales had just beaten England 21-13 in one of the most exciting matches I had ever seen. The minute they heard I was Welsh was, well… fun! After I finished there was then an interval and, as I have been doing for the past year or so, I signed some of my books and sold them to raise money for the charity Treat Trust Wales of which I am a patron. I then went to say goodbye to Grahame and James, the lovely people who run and book the club. They both looked a bit worried and asked me if I would stay a while longer. Whilst I was of course flattered that they wanted me to hang around - I assumed it was because I’m such great company – I explained that I lived a long way away and needed to get back. They then explained that the last act hadn’t turned up and they couldn’t get hold of them.

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James went onto the stage and explained to the audience what had happened. There were a few chuckles from people who initially thought the whole thing was a joke. (As if you’d find that in a comedy club!) He then introduced me back on to the stage. I was as nervous as when I had first performed at the open mic night all those years ago. I didn’t know how the audience would react. I half expected them to boo. However, I can honestly say, their reaction was one of the best I have ever received. The applause went on for ages. It was genuinely quite emotional. I then performed another 25 minutes – and it was without doubt one of the best gigs of my career. I even did that first joke I had performed 22 years earlier. Last month I thought about giving up as a comedian. Like many in my profession I go through periods of self-doubt – especially after performing at drunken Christmas shows! (That’s the audience drunk, not me. Although it would be more fun the other way around.) However, those performances reminded me of why I do what I do and why I have been doing it for so long. There’s a clip from the set online if you want to have a look. It’s also there if you don’t want to have a look. So, I can proudly say that, for the first time ever, I performed twice in one night, no one was bored and I wasn’t even tired afterwards! Not bad for someone of my age. © Bennett Arron April 2019 See what Bennett’s up to at www.bennettarron.com Follow Bennett on Twitter @bennettarron

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