Swansea Life

SWA NSE A

LIFE

Swansea Bay homes you will love

ON THE MENU Yummy treats from Swansea’s best cooks

SPRING INTO

9 771750 843018

05

GREAT FASHION FINDS!

HOUSE ENVY

9 771750 843018

417

MAY 2016 £2.95

05

www.swansealife.co.uk

SUMMER! Your go-to-guide to the best of the season’s hottest buys!

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Free Installation on all fitted bedrooms

Italian Designer Wardrobes from ÂŁ1499 including Free Installation

Visit our modern studio instore

INTEREST FREE CREDIT AVAILABLE. T&Cs apply

Cutting edge designs Luxury style

For quality that lasts

E D D E R S H AW S

Harris Tweed Bowmore Sofa ÂŁ1545

Bedroom and Living Room Systems include Free Installation

Metro Corner Group from £1595

Lewis Grand Sofa £959

E D D E R S H AW S

Find us on Hadfield Road (near the new football stadium) CARDIFF: HADFIELD ROAD 02920 229070

www.eddershaws.com

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WHY YOU FELL IN LOVE

Discover the magic of Oldwalls Gower.

Wedding Showcase, Sunday 8th May 2016 12pm - 5pm Thursday 16th June 2016 3pm – 8pm

oldwallsgower.com | T: 01792 391468 | E: enquiries@oldwallsgower.com

VOTED BEST WEDDING VENUE IN WALES - WELSH NATIONAL WEDDING AWARDS

©LW

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Contents...

M A Y

SWA NSEA

LIFE

2 0 1 6

HAIR & BEAUTY

FASHION 16. PLACE YOUR BETS Dress to impress at the races 24 RIVERIA CHIC With Whitsun around the corner, we are holiday-ready 34. FESTIVAL READY Festival buys wherever you are heading

66

51. WHAT’S NEW BEAUTIFUL Be a step ahead with the latest beauty products hitting counters 59. SALON PERFECT How to get the best blowdry from the experts 67. PUCKER UP The best lippies to pop in your handbag

HEALTH & WELLBEING

EDITOR Peter Slee | 01792 545530 @PeterSlee56 | peter.slee@swwmedia.co.uk DEPUTY EDITOR Laura Davies 01792 545523 | @lawsDx laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

77. LEMON SQUEEZE Why eating lemons can be good for you

PUBLISHER Lisa Cameron | lisa.cameron@swwmedia.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Adrian White, Jonathan Myers, Steve Phillips Rob Melen, Gayle Marsh, Hoosh Arabi, Justin Harris, Richie Crossley CONTRIBUTORS Lara Johnson & Dom Capel, Lesley Taylor, Tara Hammett, Richard Hammond, Sian Day, Victoria Wade, Joseph Atkin, Andrew Morgan, Marc White, Jessica Hammett, Daniel Laurie, Dr. Charlotte Jones, Charlotte Rogers

Swansea Life, Urban Village, High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW @swansealife Email: peter.slee@swwmedia.co.uk www.swansealife.co.uk

Average net distribution 7,500 copies sold and distributed in Swansea, Gower and the surrounding South West Wales areas. Opinions expressed in Swansea Life magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or designer and the magazine is in no way liable for such opinions. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents are fully accurate, we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies and late changes. No article, advertisement or graphic, in whole or in part, may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers.

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80. ON YOUR MARKS Be race-ready with our Triathlon tips

80 FOOD & DRINK

84. SLIM FOR SUMMER Meet the woman who shed 10 stone

102

99. KITCHEN WINNER Mumbles foodie maestro Beth Rose with a recipe favourite 102. TABLE TALK We check out the new destination restaurant everyone is talking about 104. THE URBAN KITCHEN A Swansea favourite re-visited

4/22/2016 9:52:24 AM

WHAT’S ON 194. CALENDAR OF EVENTS What’s on in May 196. WHAT’S COMING UP Three great things to do!

34 GREAT ESCAPES

198. THE SHOW MUST GO ON 13 ‘must see’ productions on their way to the Grand Theatre this summer

164

198 SOCIAL DIARY 202. CATWALK GLAMOUR Rowberry’s Swansea fashion show

164. LIVING THE HIGH LIFE A beach holiday in Nevis

204. WEDDING Kevin and Rachel Barrow’s big day caught on camera

165. WEEKEND BREAK The therapeutic waters of Bath 168. GO FOR IT Short breaks with a twist you will love

208. BIG NIGHT OUT We call in at the Swansea Pride Awards 2016

OUT & ABOUT 178. BEST FOOT FORWARD A summer-time walk in Swansea 180. LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE? White-knuckle fun in Swansea

137 HOUSE & HOME

186. MY SWANSEA Helen Williams lets us in on her city favourites

150

178 TIME FOR YOU

120. COUNTRY ATTRACTION “Our Three Crosses idyl”

230. LOCAL IS BEST Why we love our independent traders

132. MAY TRENDS What’s new for your home this month

238. BRINGING UP BABY! Meet our new mum blogger

150. WORKS OF BEAUTY Why having a super garden really can add to the value of your home

249. GET READY FOR THE SWANSEA LIFE AWARDS Your A-Z guide to the most glamorous night in the 2016 Swansea calendar

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E D I TO R’ S L E T TE R

LAURA DAVIES

DEPUTY EDITOR 01792 545523 laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

Welcome...

MARK REES

WHAT’S ON EDITOR 01792 545529 mark.rees@swwmedia.co.uk

Blimey, how did that happen? It feels only like 10 minutes ago that we were celebrating Christmas and the New Year and now look, here we are in May 2016 already!

It’s a month that always seems the right time to take a moment to look at where you are. So we are celebrating one of the year’s most spectacular changes of season and the chance it offers to discover and embrace the new.

In this issue, we are here to help you to tap into that mood of renewal. It’s about streamlining and simplifying to make way for the new things you might want to do or new ways you want to live your life.

Just check out Helen Knightingale’s amazing weight loss story on page 84.

We all love the idea of taking steps to follow your dream then turning it into reality.

It’s exactly what she has done.

DEBBIE ROBERTS

ADVERTISING MANAGER 01792 545626 debbie.roberts@swwmedia.co.uk

Elsewhere, if you’re looking to re-energise your wardrobe, our fashion writers have the lowdown showcasing the key pieces and the latest trends available right here in Swansea! And as the ultimate place to take time out and recharge is in our homes, we’ve got page after page of some beautiful Swansea and Gower properties packed with inspiration when it comes to taking a step closer to your own oasis of tranquillity.

This month’s edition also lifts the lid on the dazzling Swansea Life Awards coming to the city in July. Check out the details on pages 249 to 252.

Finally of course, this issue is all about YOU. And we’ve got 24 packed pages crammed with pictures of local events taken over the last few weeks.

So enjoy. We know you will...and here’s to a great summer that surely lies ahead!

CHRIS CAMPBELL

PROPERTY EDITOR 01792 545564 chris.campbell@swwmedia.co.uk

SWA NSE A

LIFE

GREAT FASHION FINDS!

Swansea Bay homes you will love

ON THE MENU Yummy treats from Swansea’s best cooks

SPRING INTO

SUMMER! Find us on Facebook @SwanseaLife

Editor'sPageMay.indd 1

Your go-to-guide to the best of the season’s hottest buys!

05

01792 545530 peter.slee@swwmedia.co.uk @PeterSlee56

417

05

EDITOR

HOUSE ENVY

9 771750 843018

PETER SLEE

MAY 2016 £2.95

9 771750 843018

www.swansealife.co.uk

ALISTAIR CORBETT

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 01792 545573 alistair.corbett@swwmedia.co.uk

ON THE COVER Lace crop top, £17.77, Matalan, Cwmdu

4/22/2016 9:54:50 AM

Swansea lives OUR PICK OF THE MONTH’S BEST PARTY GET-TOGETHERS (FROM PAGE 201)

parc spa stradey park hotel

2 12 CHARITY DINNER

207

GALA DINNER

222

WEDDING CELEBRATION

Stradey GWESTY PARC Y

218

SALON LAUNCH

2 10 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

PARK HOTEL

HHHH

Stradey Park Hotel & parc spa, Llanelli, SA15 4HA

t: 01554 758171

e: spa@stradeyparkhotel.com www.stradeyparkhotel.com

208 PRIDE AWARDS!

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Wedding Showcase �

Saturday 21 May, 11am-5pm Come and see the venue dressed for the occasion and sample our delicious canapés.

Special Offer

save £750

Your wedding for only £4,500 Book at the showcase for this exclusive offer (package usually £5,250)

Price includes:

• Exclusive use of Sketty Hall • 50 day guests - three-course wedding breakfast • 80 evening guests - buffet • Welcome drinks, Prosecco for toasts and wine for the tables • Chair covers, centre pieces, linen, cake stand and knife • DJ for the evening • and more...

01792 284011 www.skettyhall.com Untitled-1 1

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Fashion

FASHION FLASH! (page 15) WHAT’S NEW NOW (page 18) GOLD/SILVER (page 22) KIDS’ FASHION (page 47)

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T U O B ASK A EWARD OUR R ARD C Mumbles

Clever Clothes at Sensible Prices We look forward to showing you our Spring/Summer collections

Batwing sleeve top from the MARBLE Collection.

516 Mumbles Rd, Mumbles

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|

Tel: 01792 366133

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FASHION Shirt, £45, Trousers, £42, Debenhams, Swansea

FA S H I O N F L A S H L AU R A

W I T H White Lace Shirt Dress £75, Espadrille Sliders £12, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea

DAV I E S

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

@LawsDx

Naya Crochet Structured Dress, £40, available from boohoo.com

Bethanee, £80, Dune at Debenhams. Swansea

all white You know summer is coming when you can start pulling out your whites...

oriental express Take inspiration from the Far East with florals, and kimono-style cuts...

Archive by Alexa Harry shirt, £35, M&S, Swansea

White culottes, £32, Next, Parc Fforestfach

Grey lace and floral print kimono Playsuit, £41, Glamorous.co.uk

Limited Edition Silk Kimono, £189, East, John Lewis, Cardiff

Skirt, £32, River Island, Swansea

Bag, £35, River Island, Swansea

White Filigree Flower Necklace, £12.50, BHS, Swansea

Ted Baker Silver Metallic Mule Sandals, £120, www.tedbaker.com

Pale Pink Floral Print Bomber, £29.99, New Look, Swansea

Belle Embroided Clutch Bag, £32, Accessorize , Swansea

GET THE LOOK

John Rocha Silver Metallic Clutch Bag, £39, Debenhams, Swansea

SPACE AGE METALLICS

Silver Pleat Trousers, £32, Top Shop, Swansea

Get ready to blast off with this season’s shiniest trend.

WE LOVE This jumpsuit is perfect to throw into your holiday wardrobe....

Two spring trends - the Nineties and space age metallics - collide on the cool Clarks Glove Puppet skater shoes, perfect for pairing with a slip dress a la the Calvin Klein catwalk, or cigarette trousers and a bomber jacket.Glove Puppet Silver Leather Shoes, £45.

Clarks, Swansea Quadrant

These feet were made for talking:

...Just add a pair shades and floppy hat and sandals/ wedges to create an on trend cool summer look.

Jumpsuit with embroidery, £65, Asos.com Misguided Metallic Silver Rain Mac, £35; Boyfriend V Neck T-Shirt, £8, www.missguided.co.uk

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Make sure your feet do the talking with these quirky Flamingo motif shoes. There are even an Unicorn pair too. £49, Top Shop, Swansea. Pedicure and nail polish a MUST!

www.swansealife.co.uk | 15

4/22/2016 10:02:11 AM

A Day at the Races: The Edit Get set for a day at the races with LAURA DAVIES’ pick of stylish showstoppers...

Sulla top, £49, Coast, Swansea

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

White Broderie jacket, £45, M&Co, Cardiff

@LawsDx

Feather fascinator, £14.99, New Look, Swansea Floral shutter skirt, £42, M&Co, Cardiff

Sulla skirt, £79, Coast, Swansea Autograph dress, M&S, Swansea, £55

Clutch bag, £69 Lookagain.co.uk

Clutch bag, £22, M&Co, Cardiff

Next, Parc Morfa, £20 Dune, Swansea, £70

Office, Swansea, £70

Coral dress, £50, River Island, Swansea

Clutch bag, £45, House of Fraser, Cardiff

Ellen Tracy flower dress, £130, House of Fraser, Cardiff

Debut floral dress, £160, Debenhams, Swansea

Tiffany fascinator, £29, Phase Eight, Carmarthen

Dune, Cardiff, £60

Gold sandal, £15, Matalan, Morriston

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Blue strappy sandal, £45, Wallis, Swansea

Open toe strap heel, £28, Debenhams, Parc Trostre

4/22/2016 11:34:32 AM

Folded Crin Petal Fascinator, £24, BHS, Swansea

Henrietta jacket, £145, Phase Eight, Carmarthen Trellis top, £65, Coast, Swansea

Trellis skirt, £135, Coast, Swansea

Tie neck lace dress, £49, Very.co.uk

Lace top dress, £145, Phase Eight

Beige Fascinator, £12, BHS, Swansea

Lace cover up, £35, BHS, Swansea

Gold jacquard top, £35, BHS, Swansea

Pink 3D floral clutch £19.99, New Look, Swansea

Ivy Fascinator, £45, Phase Eight, Carmarthen Coral pleated dress, £32, BHS, Swansea

£35, BHS, Swansea

White lace skirt, £35, BHS, Swansea

Ted Baker Court Shoes, £140, John Lewis, Cardiff

Coral Lace Ankle Strap Heels, £22.99, New Look, Swansea

Floral Clutch bag, £18, Very.co.uk

Floral print shoe, £25, Very.co.uk

www.swansealife.co.uk | 17

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MESH IT!

CO-ORDS

FASHION

See through laser cut prints and mesh detail are massive this season, and what can be better than this bright orange pencil skirt to get you in the mood for summer.

£35, River Island, Swansea £22.99, New Look, Swansea

COVER UP

POOLSIDE CHIC

Floral blouse, £30, wide leg trousers, £36; Next, Parc Fforestfach

This Joseph Ribkoff fringe cover up is perfect to take you from pool to beachside cocktails, glam enough to wear as an evening cover up or dressed casually with a pair of jeans, £170, www.josephribkoff.com

River Island has some stunning swimwear this season. From bikinis, to cut out one pieces, classic swimsuits to embellished and jewelled swimwear.

We heart this!

what’s new

NOW

How cool and sophisticated does this matching leafy green floral print blouse and trouser co-ord set look?

Add minimal, subtle jewellery and a clutch for a sleek, effortless look.

Shades. Essential!

A round of key fashion pieces hitting the shops in May with LAURA DAVIES... laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

EMBELLISHED Give your metallic sandals an on-trend lift with a bit of embellishment. 3D floral appliques are everywhere this summer, on dresses, to bags to shoes.

Sandals, £42, Asos.com

@LawsDx

SUMMER COLLECTION This gorgeous kimono jacket from George at Asda will be launching at the end of May – it’s one of the hero pieces from the summer collection and at £16, it will certainly be on our wish list.

SPRING MUSE

BO-HO

We love this embroidered peasant style blouse with tassel detailing. Perfect for pairing with light denim flares or denim skirt.

£45, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

Hobbs has teamed up with Historic Royal Palaces for the launch of their sixth collaboration. The range is inspired by the exotic tulip displays in the baroque gardens of Hampton Court Palace so expect a riot of florals from stems to blossom prints splashed over luxe fabrics such as jacquard coats and silk co-ords. With Arizona Muse the face of the dreamily 27-piece collection, it’s an occasionwear no-brainer. That’s all those garden parties and summer weddings sorted, then!

Available in stores and online www.hobbs.co.uk Prices from, £35 - £379. Pictured: Tulip Border Coat, £299, Tulip Border Dress, £249, hobbs.co.uk

18 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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FASHION

Make a splash!

2.

12.

3.

11.

1.

Get beach ready with LAURA DAVIES’ round up of sizzling swimwear...

10.

4.

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk @LawsDx

9.

5.

6.

8.

7.

1. Animal Palm Print Tummy Control Swimsuit, £32, BHS, Swansea 2. Butterfly by Matthew Williamson Embellished Aztec Bikini, £28, Debenhams, Swansea 3. Blue tie-dye fringe swimsuit, £19.99, New Look, Parc Trostre 4. Sasha Scalloped Bandeau, £15, Accessorize, Swansea 5. Floral Animal Print Control Swimsuit, £30, M&Co, Cardiff 6. PinkWhite Marble Bikini Top, £6 , Bottom, £6, Sainsbury’s, Swansea 7. Butterfly by Matthew Williamson Foiled Leaf Plunge Suit, £42, Debenhams, Swansea 8. Floral Bandeau Bikini Top, £20, Very.co.uk 9. Monochrome swimsuit, £35, M&S, Swansea 10. Bikini top £18, briefs £14, Next, Morfa Retail Park 11. Tribal swimsuit, £40, River Island, Swansea 12. Bikini top, £28, brief, £15, Boux Avenue, Cardiff www.swansealife.co.uk | 19

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Cafefully selected occasionwear collection

Experienced Staff on hand to assist you select the perfect outfit for your special occasion

Complete with matching Millinery, Footwear and Accessories

226 Oxford Street Swansea SA1 3BJ • T: 01792 456 700 Also at 152 Port Tennant Road Swansea SA1 8JQ • T: 01792 651028

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Come view our Rosa Clara Bridal Collection Exclusive in Swansea to Rowberrys

152 Port Tennant Road Swansea SA1 8JQ • T: 01792 651028

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FASHION

GOLD Gold lizard double wrap cuff, £35, House of Fraser, Cardiff Metallic Gold Slip Dress, very.co.uk £27.99 M&S Collection Round Metal Bridge Sunglasses Gold Tan, M&S £19.50 Nine by Savannah Miller Gold Beaded Top, £45, Debenhams, Swansea

Gold Chain Shell Necklace £19.99, New Look, Swansea

Vivienne Westwood gold clutch bag, £125, John Lewis, Cardiff Yellow Pearl Plastic Watch, Anne Klein £65, H. Samuel, Swansea

Limited edition pleated skirt, £35, M&S, Swansea

No.1 Jenny Packham Gold Scalloped Clutch, Debenhams, £45

Krystal, £85, Dune, Cardiff

Metallic Gold Slip Dress £27.99, New Look, Swansea

Buckled Slider Footbed, £8, Matalan, Cwmdu

22

Nancy, £95, Office, Swansea

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Gold look metallic shopper, £9, Primark, Swansea

4/22/2016 10:17:32 AM

FASHION

SILVER

All that glitters doesn’t always have to be gold… we love the silver look too.

CHARLOTTE ROGERS has been checking out some of her favourites...

Limited edition half rim sunglasses, £19, M&S, Swansea

F&F Nylon Bomber Silver, F&F £20, Tesco, Swansea

Fashion Style Silver Watch, Fiorelli £65, Debenhams, Swansea

Antonia, £58 Office, Swansea Emily Glitter Mesh Long Dress, £85, BHS, Swansea

Silver Premium Gem Stone Necklace, £22.99 New Look, Swansea

Quentin, £85, Due, Cardiff M&S Collection reversable shopper, £29.50, M&S, Swansea

Ariana Grande For Lipsy Bandage Prom Dress, £55, Lipsy, Cardiff

Jester, £75, Dune, Cardiff

Mirrored Disc Skirt, £65, River Island, Swansea

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Gaby, £100, Dune, Cardiff

M&S Collection dress, £59, M&S, Swansea

Silver Turnlock clutch bag, £22, Wallis, Swansea

www.swansealife.co.uk | 23

4/22/2016 10:17:58 AM

FASHION Red Herring Striped Bag, £20, Debenhams, Swansea

Striped bikini, £9, George at Asda, Llansamlet, Parc Trostre Per Una Speziale Dress, £99, M&S, Swansea

J by Jasper Conran Navy Sun Hat, £22, Debenhams, Swansea

RIVIERA CHIC

Stripe Collar Dress, £80, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Retail Park

LAURA DAVIES looks at the super chic fashion trend that never dates.

From Breton stripes to cool whites mixed with navy shades.

Stripe mac, £45, Top Shop, Swansea

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

Verity stripe espadrille wedges, £75, Phase Eight, Swansea

@LawsDx

Sunglasses, £12, Asos.com

Striped ribbed top £18; Bikini briefs £9; Strappy sandals £32, Next, Parc Fforesfach

Bardot striped top, £18, M&Co, Cardiff

Navy stripe cold shoulder top, £15, trousers, cropped trousers, £20, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea

24 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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Backpack, £23, BHS, Swansea

White Dibby bag, £60, Dune at Debenhams, Swansea

A BIT OF ALL WHITE Freshen up your spring wardrobe with white arm candy.

LAURA DAVIES picks her top white bags...

Jaeger Hart Leather Cross Body, £125, Jaeger, John Lewis, Cardiff

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

Long Fringed Body White, £12, Primark, Swansea

@LawsDx

Fiorelli Kayla Crossbody in White, £49, www.fiorelli.com Principles by Ben De Lisi Bag, £37.50, Debenhams, Swansea

Tassle Bucket bag, £29.50, M&S, Parc Trostre

F&F Square Mini Tote White, £15, Tesco, Llansamlet

Michael Kors White dome bag, £155, Michael Kors, Cardiff

White Rucksack £15.99, New Look, Morfa Retail Park 25

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Dress £125, Lori Clutch £65, House of Fraser, Cardiff

26 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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spring into

summer The days are getting longer, the sun is starting to shine and this month there are two bank holidays! LAURA DAVIES picks out three looks to get you ready for summer-poolside chic, enchanted forest and night-time glamour. Which girl are you? laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

@LawsDx

www.swansealife.co.uk | 27

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Pink Frill Dress, £36 Gold Hoop Earrings, £6 Next, Parc Fforestfach

28 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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Dress, ÂŁ85, River Island, Swansea

www.swansealife.co.uk | 29

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Joseph Ribkoff dress, ÂŁ270, Crysalis, Gorseinon

30 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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Strappy Green Dress, £28 Mono Tassel Necklace, £20 Studded Tan Belt, £15 Next, Swansea

www.swansealife.co.uk | 31

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FASHION

Flat Sandal Open Back Open Toe Diamante Embellished, £25, Dune at Debenhams, Swansea

Nude Pink Lace Up Sandals, £22.99, New Look, Swansea

Nesee sandals, £49.95, Moda in Pelle, Cardiff

Bali flats, £38, Office, Swansea

Sandals £25, M&S, Swansea

Autograph Tassel Sandals, £45, M&S, Swansea

SANDAL

showdown

Blue Tassel Sandals, £25, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea

LAURA DAVIES gives her round up of her favourite sassy sandals laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

Bobble sandal, £35, Office, Swansea

Gladiator sandals, £30, Miss Selfridge, Swansea

Lace up sandal, £42, Top Shop, Swansea

Diamante Wedge Sandals, £29, M&Co, Cardiff

Woven Aztec sandal, £28, Asos.com

@LawsDx

Eyelet Mules, £34, Next, Parc Fforestfach

Fringed tan sandals, £45, River Island, Swansea

KRISTINE Brown From BIBA, £65, House of Fraser, Cardiff

Gold gladiator sandal, £25, BHS, Swansea

Fringed lace up sandals, £45, River Island, Parc Trostre

32 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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FASHION

Coral Wedge Sandals, £34.99, TK Maxx, Parc Trostre Denim Raffia Wedge, £45, River Island, Swansea

Wedge Sandal, £46, Top Shop, Swansea

Alyssa, £60, Office, Swansea

Navy Espadrille Wedge, £35, M&Co, Cardiff

WEDGE

Aztec Wedge Sandal, £18, Matalan, Parc Cwmdu, Llansamlet

wonders

LAURA DAVIES picks out some of the top wedges on the High Street Peraza wedge, £69.95, Moda in Pelle, Cardiff

Black White Stripe Wedge, £35 , Debenhams, Swansea

Wedge, £50, River Island, Swansea

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

Madge wedge, £75, Dune at Debenhams, Swansea

KANYA From BIBA, £69, House of Fraser, Cardiff

Faith Printed Wedge, £45, Debenhams, Swansea

@LawsDx

Tan Adele Fringe Wedge, £99, Mint Velvet, Cardiff

Katie Wedge Heeled Sandals, £195, L K Bennett, Cardiff

Red Bow Espadrille Wedge, £35 , Debenhams, Swansea

Black Leopard Print Wedges, £35, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea

www.swansealife.co.uk | 33

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FASHION

Deception Fringe Ankle Cuff Flats, £50, Office, Swansea

Gold Shell Tassel Charm Bracelet, £5.99, New Look, Swansea

Multirow Pom Pom Necklace, £12, Asos.com

Dress £60 www.longtallsallycom

Peasant blouse, £35, Miss Selfridge, Swansea

Sunglasses, £50, River Island, Parc Fforestfach

With festival season upon us, LAURA DAVIES picks out the perfect pieces, whether your covered in mud in Glastonbury or sunning yourself in Benicasssim... laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

Red paisley print halter neck jumpsuit, £48, River Island, Swansea

@LawsDx

Red Herring denim ombre shorts, £30, Debenhams, Swansea

Mini Fringed Pouch Tan, £25, Very.co.uk Pom Pom sandals, £38, Next, Parc Fforestfach

Aztec skirt, £38, Top Shop, Swansea 34 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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An eye for a bargain Now celebrating 25 years in business, The Optic Shop offers thousands of designer frames at highly competitive prices – and with the opening of its new Cross Hands branch, there are more bargains than ever in store.

B

esides its long-established Swansea store, the Optic Shop has several franchises throughout South Wales, including shops in Port Talbot, Newport, Cwmbran and Abergavenny.

In late 2015, a new branch opened in Cross Hands run

by Aaron Evan-Jones, son of The Optic Shop’s co-owner Russell Evan-Jones, who founded the business with Helen Jones in 1991. Russell’s family have been in the business since 1886, when his family established a pharmacist/ opticians in Station Road, Llanelli.

“Aaron was keen to continue the family tradition, and the Cross Hands location was perfect, as there is no other optician within about five miles,” says Russell.

The shop, which is right beside the roundabout on the A48 at Cross Hands, has ample parking and a huge selection of frames in store, including selected Ted Baker and Converse frames starting at £30. It also offers complete glasses from as little as £15.

THE

Optic Untitled-1 1

SHOP

The range of frames available includes numerous designer options available on an NHS voucher. Besides glasses, The Optic Shop offers offers an excellent range of prescription goggles for anyone hitting the ski slopes.

The company also specialises in contact lenses, and can provide all the latest options to ensure that you get the best possible experience from wearing them. Regular eye tests are important, not only as a way to ensure your prescription is up to date but also to catch eye disorders such as glaucoma and macular degeneration as early as possible. The Optic Shop offers competitively priced eye tests, which are often available at very short notice.

Key to every aspect of The Optic Shop’s work is its qualified, experienced staff and friendly atmosphere.

Most of the staff have worked at The Optic Shop for many years, and Russell prides himself on their quality of service.

“I’m pleased to say my staff rarely move on. We all enjoy dealing with people, and offering great value for money – which is why our customers say they keep coming back to us.”

63a The Kingsway, Swansea | Tel: 01792 653339 53 Llandeilo Rd, Cross Hands | Tel: 01269 267090 Also branches at:

CARMARTHEN • PORTHCAWL • BRIDGEND

4/21/2016 4:57:48 PM

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GET YOUR DESIGNER SUNGLASSES READY FOR SUMMER We stock one of the largest ranges from all the leading brands

VISIT OUR CROSS HANDS STORE FOR UNBEATABLE

OPENING OFFERS

GLASSES COMPLETE

FROM £15.00

THE

Optic

SHOP

63a The Kingsway, Swansea | Tel: 01792 653339 53 Llandeilo Rd, Cross Hands | Tel: 01269 267090 Also branches at:

FREE GLASSES WITH AN NHS VOUCHER INCLUDING SINGLE VISION, BIFOCALS OR VARIFOCAL LENSES AND MANY DESIGNER FRAMES

FREE EYE TEST WITH THIS VOUCHER

CARMARTHEN • PORTHCAWL • BRIDGEND

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FASHION

Revealed!

How much it costs you every time a friend gets married...

Tilly Stripe Dress, £99, Monsoon, Swansea

Got a diary packed full of Swansea weddings this year? If so, your bank account could soon be looking a lot lighter...

Everyone knows that weddings are expensive. But it’s not just the bride and groom, and quite often their parents, that will be forking out.

From buying a congratulatory gift to attending the stag or hen party, new research has shed light on just how much a friend’s big day may cost an attendee.

It found that on average, we splash out an eye-watering £644 celebrating the best day of someone else’s life.

A smart suit or dress costs an average of £150 while another £124 goes on staying somewhere overnight and £78 on travelling to the venue.

Some will dig even deeper to look great ion the day spending as much as £250 on a wedding outfit.

Not surprisingly, close family members are the most likely to splash out big on gifts, setting them back around £200 per item. There’s around £60 reserved for food and £70 for drinks at the bar...and that’s before you’ve even factored in the hen or stag party.

For better or for worse, there’s not much you can do about the rising cost of supporting your friends as they tie the knot, but there are corners you can cut when the invites start to pile up on your doorstep: car pooling, booking your train tickets in advance and buying your outfit in the sales are just a few ways of reducing your final bill.

Failing that, follow Swansea Life’s Rachel Nichols with tips on how to bag a dress for the big day on a bit of a tighter budget...

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Star by Julien MacDonald Shift Dress, Debenhams, Swansea, £65

Navy Lace Skater Dress, £59.99

Oasis Pleated Asymetric Dress, Mid Pink £75

Red Lace Bardot Dress, Wallis, Swansea, £55

Floral Pencil Dress £16, George

Precis Petite Shimmer Dress, Grey Down from £129 to £38 at John Lewis, Cardiff

Lipsy Love Michelle Keegan Wrap Crochet Midi Dress, Lipsy, £65

Lace Dress, Miss Selfridge, £75

Floral satin dress, £60, BhS, Swansea

Floral bardot frill dress £29.99, New Look, Swansea

FASHION

Spot dress, £62, Next, Parc Fforestfach

Old Jacquard Top £35, Black Satin Hi Lo Skirt £35, Lace Overlay Box Clutch £25, Iridescent Stone Necklace £15, Sandals £30; all, BhS, Swansea

Floral Prom Dress, £55, BHS, Swansea

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FASHION

pyjam a party

Join the

...

Make your lie-in last longer with spring’s catwalk-inspired boudoir trend. LAURA DAVIES picks the PJs you’ll want to wear all day...

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

Black Lace Detail Slip Dress, £38, River Island, Swansea

@LawsDx

Call it a nightie...

If you only buy one item of clothing this season, it simply has to be a slip dress. The undisputed hero piece of the season, strappy silk dresses showed up on countless catwalks, including Calvin Klein, where Francisco Costa’s Thirties-via-theNineties pale bias-cut frocks paid homage the brand’s own history and were styled with box-fresh white trainers, proving that slinky dresses can work for day too, particularly when they’re midi-length.

Luxe High Sandal

by Unique, £125, Top Shop, Swansea

Lace Trim Cami by Laura Scott, £20, LookAgain.co.uk

At Celine, shorter styles with risque black lace edging were made for cocktail hour.

Pale hues - think ivory, dove grey, blush pink - look very chic paired with delicate silver jewellery and black strappy heels.

Shorter lacey tunics or camis can be worn over silky trousers for a bit more coverage - plus-size brands do these kind of wideleg styles really well.

M&S Collection dress, £59, M&S, Swansea

Embroidered Cami, £32, Next, Parc Fforestfach

For a final tongue-in-cheek touch, add fluffy boudoir sandals!

Mat Pleated Wide Leg Trousers, £89.99, Navabi.co.uk

Celine’s Spring-Summer 2016 ready-to-wear fashion collection

Related Acacia Dress, £205, www.relatedapparel.com

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FASHION Jigsaw Linear Flower Silk Shirt, £129, John Lewis, Cardiff

Kick out the jammies...

Dolce & Gabbana are known for their sexed-up, flesh-baring frocks, and while there was no shortage of those on the SS16 catwalk, there were also some very demure designs, including three pairs of floral pyjama-esque sets and a stripey kaftan, almost certainly inspired by a Victorian nightshirt.

Invest in slouchy button-down coords now and you won’t regret it - the shirt will become an office staple paired with block-colour skirts, and you’ll be wearing the trousers right through to summer.

Likewise, a silk ‘pie crust’ shirt (think high-collared and ruffles), as seen at Alexander Wang, looks great with jeans and mules, and with a longer gown-like shirt, you can go tightsfree.

Shoe-wise, it’s got to be the flat that’s taken over from the ballet pump - what could be more trendappropriate than a slipper?

Dune Silver Garnish Slipper Cut Flatform Shoes, £75, Debenhams, Swansea French Connection Sundown Silk Shirt, currently reduced to £48 from £120, and matching Flared Trousers, currently reduced to £36 from £120, www.frenchconnection.com

Chatelles x Elisabeth Thurn und Taxis Seraphin Slippers, £310.98, mychatelles.com

Persona by Marina Rinaldi Striped Silk-Blend Shirt, £119.99, Navabi.co.uk

Dolce & Gabbana women’s SpringSummer 2016

Alexander Wang Spring 2016 Collection

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

EXQUISITE BRIDAL CARS THE EXQUISITE BRIDAL CARS MISSION IS TO DELIVER QUALITY AND VALUE THROUGH SINCERE EFFORT – AND ITS MANY HAPPY CUSTOMERS ARE PROOF THAT THEY’RE GETTING IT RIGHT, WRITES JENNY WHITE. outstanding value for money.

It’s nearly ten years since the threat of redundancy from the civil service prompted Peter Mizen to buy a wedding car and found Exquisite Bridal Cars.

Since then the business has grown from a one-man band to a highly respected company that offers nine beautiful cars – four vintage replicas, four Daimler limousines and a Jaguar. Its reputation is founded on both quality and

“Our aim from the outset was to offer something different, with the focus on a quality product that’s tailored for the benefit of the bride, with no hidden costs” says Peter. “The cars are hired out for the whole day exclusively for your wedding, so there is no time limit involved and you don’t have to worry about the cars being held up at a previous wedding or having to rush off to the next one.

“We try to do everything the bride asks of us – so, for example, if she wants to stop off at a nursing home to see a grandparent on the way to the wedding, we will make that happen.”

The hire of the car covers the allimportant extras: umbrellas, ribbons in the appropriate colour and Champagne in the cars are all included (and if you don’t like Champagne, Peter will source a drink you do like).

As well as there being no time limit, there is no mileage charge, and travel to and from photography locations is included. You can also rest assured that you will have a courteous, smartly uniformed driver on your big day.

“Besides saying how much they love the cars, one of the most common comments we get from our customers is how friendly and polite their drivers were. I’m very aware that the driver can really help make the day, so I only recruit the best.”

The business has grown largely through word of mouth recommendation, with plenty of praise on Facebook. For Peter, this is confirmation that his company is staying true to its motto: “quality is always the result of sincere effort.”

EXQUISITEBRIDALCARS@GMAIL.COM • TELEPHONE: 07854 060459

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“You only get a quality product when someone sincerely puts the effort in to make that happen. In everything from the way we plan the day to the way we clean, maintain and drive our cars, that motto is at the centre of what we do.

“We love being a part of one of the biggest days in our customers’ lives and we strive to make it perfect.”

A MAGICAL MIRROR If you want a fun photography option at your wedding party, fundraiser or special event, the Exquisite Photo Mirror is the perfect and most up to date solution. The very latest in interactive photography technology, it offers something cleverer and more flexible than a photo booth that is bound to get guests laughing and joining in the fun.

The mirror produces an instant, professional quality, 4”x 6” print. The template for each print can contain bespoke information or branding to suit any event (including wedding, birthday or anniversary details, congratulatory messages, company or charity logos, contact details and straplines).

As well as providing an instant printed photo for all guests or customer‘s featured in the photo, the mirror also produces digital copies of each photo that can be uploaded to social media or can be provided on USB stick or other media platforms.

“We are a family business and this is a brand new, exciting, young concept so

I’ve set up our Exquisite Photo Mirror service in collaboration with my two sons, Jason, 27 and Ross, 22, and their partners, Aisha Ackery and Lauren King,” says Peter.

“When you hire the mirror they staff it so that there’s always someone on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly and to provide props and fancy dress.

“The Magic Mirror is a perfect way to promote your event and leave your guests, staff and clientele with corporate information or happy and lasting memories. Our customers can expect to receive the same commitment to quality, value and customer service that we have established in our wedding car business.”

Peter Mizen, the owner of Exquisite Bridal Cars, decided to become one of just a handful of people in the country offering the mirror after being hugely impressed by its performance.

“The magic mirror is fun, interactive and draws attention wherever it is used,” he says. “Guests or customers stand in front of the mirror and as if by magic they are guided through their photo experience by interactive animations.

They can even sign their name or write messages on the screen which print out on the photos.”

EXQUISITEPHOTOMIRROR@GMAIL.COM

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Love your

Curves

Formal, Smart and Casual Wear Sizes 16 to 30 Stockists of: Zele, Chalou, Verpass, Q’neel, Mona Lisa, KJ Brand and more...

Elite PLUS

at

Carmarthen

29 Blue Street, Carmarthen

01267 232377

www.elitepluscymru.com

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FASHION

FASHION

KIDS ZONE! Baby Susannah stripe dress from £40, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

Cardigan £10, Embroidered dress and hat £20, Bird sock 4 pack £5, M&S, Swansea

Get your kids kitted out for the new season with LAURA DAVIES’ High Street picks... laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

@LawsDx

Baby textured stripe dress and cardi set, £18, BHS, Swansea

Butterfly Embroidered Dress from £16, M&Co, Cardiff Striped cardigan, £15, Next, Parc Fforestfach

Bardot dress, £18, River Island, Trostre

Mini cartoon dress, £10, Sainsbury’s, Swansea

Lighthouse denim dress £16; Bow headband £5; Next, Morfa Retail Park

Girls Pink Drop Frill Waist Dress, from £22, BHS, Swansea

Girls ghilee lace-up, £18, River Island, Swansea

Kimono and Tee Set, £7, Primark, Swansea

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KIDS ZONE! FASHION

FASHION Fisherman hat (part of set): £10; Linen shirt: from £9 Cactus print shorts: from £9, Next, Parc Trostre

F&F stripe Jacquard shirt, £6-7, Tesco, Llansamlet

Grey Motor Club Jumper, £12, M&S, Swansea

Mini palm tree print t-shirt, £7, River Island, Swansea

Younger boys stripe T-Shirt, From £6, BHS, Swansea

Bluemulti Skateboard Fashion Short, £7.50, Sainsbury’s, Swansea

Blue and white t-shirt, £5, M&S, Swansea

Stevie Embroidered Short, £14, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

Slogan t-shirt from £4.50, Next, Parc Fforestfach

Chameleon T-Shirt from £6, Stripe Shorts from £8, M&Co, Cardiff

Dino Jersey Marl Dungaree Set, £14, BHS, Swansea

48 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 10:34:57 AM

Hair &

beauty

BEAUTY NEWS (from page 51) PUCKER UP! (page 57) REBEL, REBEL HAIR! (page 61) LARA JOHNSON (page 66)

Beauty.indd 1

4/22/2016 10:38:32 AM

achieve a natural beauty that looks untouched with Dr alan Jones

Defy Time

30 years experience as a GP 15 years as a Cosmetic Doctor

Member of: • British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) • British Association of Body Sculpting (BABS) • British Association of Sclerotherapy (BAS) • HIW registered Clinic • GMC registered

The extent and diversity of these treatments, together with our expertise, enables us to create a bespoke treatment for each individual. Never before has it been possible to tailor the treatment so specifically to suit your individual needs.

Free no obligation consultation

The range of treatment offered at our clinic has certainly benefited from Dr Jones’ continued enthusiasm for attending conferences world-wide.

466 Gower Road, Killay, Swansea, SA2 7DZ • 01792 208466 Private Car Park • www.defy-time.co.uk gift vouchers available

turn your back on ageing... ©LW

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HAIR & BEAUTY

BEAUTY NEWS W I T H

L AU R A

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

DAV I E S

PLUMP AND RE- CHARGE

@LawsDx

Discover luminous skin brilliance with Beauty Boost Skin Restore from organic skincare experts Green People. This home facial treatment and intense skin booster is created to plump and recharge the complexion, restore brightness and banish dull skin, £18.50, www.greenpeople.co.uk

P A RT O N E

“The collection enables you to create natural, healthy beauty.”

SPORTY RETRO CHIC Luxury, Parisian beauty brand Sothys present their Spring-Summer 2016 collection. Taking inspiration from sporty retro chic the collection enables you to create natural, healthy beauty. The collection includes Gel eye shadow in Rose Tendre and Ivoire Lumineux, £18.50; Comfort lip oil £23.50; Iridescent gloss £23.50; Rose nude nail varnish £9.50; Refreshing and fix-up mist, £14.50; www.sothys-uk.co.uk

DEFENDING SKINCARE Origins launches two pollution defending skincare products — Mega-Defense SPF 45 Advanced UV Defender and BarrierBoosting Essence Oil. The Mega-Defense collection employs a three-tier system to protect skin from pollution, defend from harmful UVA/UVB rays and strengthen skin’s barrier to protect.

Mega-Defense SPF 45 Advanced Daily UV Defender, £39, is designed for all skin types and has a high SPF with relatively no white caste, allowing it to easily blend into skin. The new BarrierBoosting Essence Oil, £30, is a light-weight, antioxidant-rich oil that helps defend skin while nourishing and strengthening skin’s barrier and is designed to be applied before or after moisturising or at night for 24 hour protection www.origins.co.uk

TAKE THE DAY OFF...

Clinique introduces the latest addition to its makeup removal range, Take The Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes for Face and Eyes. These oversized, super-saturated wipes swipe away makeup, smudges, dirt and grime whenever, wherever. Even waterproof and long-wearing makeup will clean off with ease. The popular micellar technology is neatly contained in wipe form, packed in a re-sealable, ready to-go package perfect for travel, the gym, or anywhere in-between. £16, Boots, Parc Fforestfach

INDULGE ON A SENSORY JOURNEY WITH NEW SOTHYS BODY ESCAPE RANGE

EYE

Let your senses escape to faraway lands with the tropical floral fragrances of the Sothys Body Escapes range which includes: Frangipani Flower & Plum Escape Cushion Moisturizing Foam, £38.50; Frangipani Flower & Plum Escape Scented Water, £25.50; Green Tea & Fig Escape Hands & Feet Express Enhancer, £17; and Green Tea & Fig Escape Scented Water, £25.50 www.sothys-uk.co.uk

BareMinerals Lash Domination Ink Liner in Intense Black delivers powerful day-to-drama definition with a versatile felt-tipped eyeliner for creating thin to thick lines and a unique pigmentdispersion system for even flow and rich, water-resistant colour.

DOMINATION

£19, BareMinerals, Boots, Swansea

MARC JACOBS SPLASH 2016 Inspired by the original Marc Jacobs’ splash collections, these four favourites recapture the essence of summer. Crisp to the senses, yet mellow in colour, each invigorating scent is packed in a sleek, square bottle, perfect for travelling to a summer escape. Available in Rain, Cucumber, Cotton and Pear 100ml, £38, Debenhams, Swansea

“Powerful day-todrama definition with a versatile felttipped eyeliner.”

JOIN THE TRIBE

We Love MAC’s fantastic collection VIBE TRIBE. Lose control in lips painted in reckless shades of red and coral, or even a flash of gold. Let your eyes escape reality in teal, cobalt, mandarin and charcoal, and achieve free-spirited nails glisten in succulent tangerine and the perfect, buttery nude.

Lipsticks, £17; Lip Pencil £19; Powder Blush, £20; Cream Colour Base, £17.50; Eye Shadow x4 Palette £33; Eye Liner £15.50; Bronzing Powder £24; MAC Studio Sculpt Defining Bronzing Powder; £26.50: Gleamtones Powder £26.50; MAC Studio Nail Lacquer, £11; Brushes from £25; MAC, Cardiff

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BeautyNews.indd 1

4/22/2016 10:47:40 AM

Healthy skin isn’t a luxury... it’s a necessity

Do you have dry/damaged skin? fine lines?

Unwanted blackheads and spots?

Hydra facial is the BRAND NEW latest generation of skin resurfacing technology and here at the Sun Lounge Beauty Centre.

H IMMEDIATE RESULTS H H EFFORTLESS AND PAINLESS H Call now to find out about our launch date

DETOX

EXTRACTION

Lymphatic drainage helps to increase circulation of the lymphatic system.

This increases the blood flow to the area bringing oxygen to support the cells whilst also bringing fresh clean lymph to restore hydration and tone and firm the skin whilst eliminating toxins.

Effortless and painless extractions helps to remove black heads and draw out impurities in congested areas using a serum of natural salicylic acid and honey extract

CLEANSING AND EXFOLIATION

HydraFacial Vortex-Fusion technology delivers a cocktail of hydrating hyaluronic acid and the most advanced and powerful antioxidants, peptides and multi peptides to replenish the skin leaving it hydrated, plumped up and promoting optimum skin health.

Step two

Dead skin cells are gently exfoliated to reveal healthy, new skin whilst simultaneously a serum containing Lactic Acid, glucosamine and many botanical extracts is delivered deeply to cleanse and nourish the skin.

Step three

BRIGHTENING AGENT

This gentle glycolic and salicylic solution helps loosen debris from your pores ready for the extraction stage whilst brightening the appearance of the skin.

HYDRATION

Step Six

REJUVENATION

Red and infrared LED light is used to reduce redness and further stimulate collagen. The light also helps the natural production of vitamin D leaving your skin glowing.

“It's very rare that you see a great result after just one treatment, but the difference after a HydraFacial is incredible" Karren Brady

01792 775558 Family run business. Est. 2000

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ll in to Please ca r a full fo our Salon st. price li

www.swanseasunlounge.co.uk facebook.com/MorristonSunLounge 52 Woodfield Street, Morriston, Swansea SA6 8BW

4/21/2016 5:18:56 PM

HAIR & BEAUTY

BEAUTY NEWS W I T H

L AU R A

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

DAV I E S @LawsDx

P A RT T W O INVISIBLE PROTECTION FOR SKIN

SUNKISSED

Say goodbye to chalky residue on skin with Clinique’s new mineral sunscreens.

Clinique’s Mineral Sunscreen Fluid for Face SPF 30 and SPF 50, £22, as well as Mineral Sunscreen Lotion for Body SPF 30, £25, offer lightweight and invisible protection that blends effortlessly into skin, making it a great addition to your daily routine. Clinique counters, Debenhams and Boots from May 13.

Clarins launches its summer make-up collection which aims to help create a flawless complexion, sparkling eyes and fresh, fruity lips in a harmony of rich gold and bronze shades. Sunkissed includes a Bronzing and Blush Compact £30; Waterproof Eyeshadow Shimmering Cream Colour, £18 (in four shades); Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in Red Berry, £19; Double Fix’ Mascara, £20. We particularly love Fix’ Make Up , £24 — This ultra-fine, cooling mist sets make-up by forming an invisible, fixing veil over the face.

This make-up must-have is hydrating and invigorating with grapefruit extract and organic rose floral water. TIP: Keep in the fridge for a cooling spritz Available from Boots and Debenhams, Swansea

THIS WORKS, WORKS!

ENERGIE DE VIE Give your skin a burst a moisture and energy with Lancome’s new Energie De Vie range which is full of anti-oxidants to leave your skin glowing, healthier, brighter and energised. Its first Liquid Moisturiser, leaves skin fresh and radiant and delivers smoothing and plumping effects. £28,(30ml), £42 (50ml).

Also included in the range is an Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask, £42, and The Wake Up Lotion, £28.

Lancôme, Debenhams, Swansea

We love This Works Skin Deep Beauty Oil, a luxurious multi-tasking oil to delicately scent and nourish skin. Apply throughout the day to dry areas of skin to nourish and heal or roll over pulse points or simply wear as a long lasting, uplifting scent. It can also be applied on its own or as a supplement to your regular moisturising routine. And it is the perfect size to pop into your handbag too! £20, thisworks.com

FOR A NATURAL SUNKISSED GLOW THAT GRADUALLY BUILDS We love this new addition to St Tropez Gradual Tan range. Its innovative new texture is fluffy and light and its rich formulation hydrates skin for up to 48 hours while imparting a beautiful golden glow that deepens with each use. St Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Everyday Mousse, £14.50, Tesco, Llansamlet, Parc Fforestfach

LONG-WEARING, VIBRANT AND IMPACTFUL . . .

Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick glides onto eyes, delivering high-definition colour and medium-to-full coverage in a single swipe.

Available in 21 shades, £16, with a Shader Brush, £21, MAC, Cardiff

SPRITZ OF PROVENCE We LOVE Violette and Rose De Mai EDT is a limited edition floral fragrance that has been designed exclusively to celebrate L’Occitane’s 40th year anniversary.

£42, (75ml) L’Occitane, Debenhams, Swansea

PETAL POP! The sweetness of pear with a crisp bite of apple. Bright with mouth-watering lemon.

Vivid juices streaming over nashi blossom, voluptuous rose and softest white musk. In a unique bottle inspired by the nashi flower. Playful. Radiant.

Efflorescent.

We LOVE Jo Malone’s Nashi Blossom Cologne (30ml) £44, (100ml) £89, Jo Malone, Cardiff

BeautyNews.indd 2

4/22/2016 10:48:09 AM

D O YO U WA N T STRAIGHTER TEETH? LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS, WITH SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT FROM £27.30 PER MONTH*

DENTAL IMPLANTS • ORTHODONTICS FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY Contact us today to arrange your first consultation: COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL & IMPLANT CLINIC

Woods Dental, 65 Walter Rd, Uplands, Swansea, SA1 4PT E: info@woodsdental.co.uk T: 01792 476 714 www.woodsdental.co.uk *Finance 9.9% APR over 5 yrs subject to approval, terms and conditions.

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TOUGH ON IMPURITIES

HAIR & BEAUTY

EXTRA GENTLE ON SKIN

BEAUTY NEWS

Introducing the newest additions to Clinique’s award winning 3-Step Skin Care System with sensitive skins in mind.

W I T H

L AU R A

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

BEACH NUDES COLLECTION

DAV I E S @LawsDx

Bobbi Brown introduces the Beach Nudes Collection which is inspired by the perfect, sunkissed glow. Beach Nudes features three all-new eye palettes perfect for an easy summer eye, plus gorgeous new shades for cheeks and lips.

It’s an effortless way to create a relaxed, bronzy look for warm days at the beach, cool summer nights and more.

P A RT T H R E E

Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam is a plush velvety foam that provides a thorough, yet gentle cleanse to remove dirt, external irritants and excess sebum from the skin.

The mild formula leaves skin feeling fresh and clean, yet soft and comfortable.

Sunkissed Eye Palette, £36; Eye Opening Mascara, £23; Bronzing Powder, £28.50; Bronzer Brush, £38; Sheer Lip Color, £20, all Bobbi Brown, House of Fraser and John Lewis, Cardiff

For an enhanced yet super soft cleaning, pair up with the new Sonic System Extra Gentle Cleansing Brush Head. Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam, £18 and Sonic System Extra Gentle Cleansing Brush Head, £17, Clinique, Debenhams, Swansea

AND NEW

LASH TWIST

FOR HIM...

Stick-straight lashes will get a twist of fate with the new MAC Pro Beyond Twisted Lash.

TED’S TRAVEL TONIC We love the new Travel Tonics by Ted Baker, which comes in three slimline and portable precious metal fragrances.

• Au (Gold) Notes of bergamot and clove deepen to a dazzling heart of jasmine and a base of musk and vanilla.

• Ag (Silver) Melting from notes of bergamot and violet leaf to an earthy heart of leather and warm cedarwood • Cu (Bronze) A rich blend of zingy grapefruit and smoky pepper, contrasted with base notes of patchouli.

Ted’s Travel Tonics, £25 each (25ml) from www.tedbaker.com and ASOS.com

RE-CHARGE

Molton Brown launch its new four-piece SPORT collection built from their iconic Re-charge Black Pepper fragrance, it’s an energetically fresh, citrus-spicy take on the classic. Perfect for any man’s wash bag is the 4-in-1 Body Wash, (body, face, hair and shave) £16; Energising Body Scrub, £24; Deodorant, £19; Muscle Soak, £18; Molton Brown, Cardiff

Lean into the curve and flex your strength with this mascara’s neverbefore-seen flexible wand that can be bent in all directions up to a complete 90-degree angle for the ultimate in lashes, £19, MAC, Cardiff

THICKER LOOKING

HAIR . . .

Aveda launches Invati Men, a two-step system specifically designed for men to address thinning of the hair.

STEP 1 — THICKEN & INVIGORATE Invati Men Scalp Revitalizer 125ml £45; Invati Men Nourishing Exfoliating Shampoo 250ml £25.50 STEP 2 — THICKEN & INVIGORATE Invati Men Scalp Revitalizer 125ml £45, Jamie Hill Salon, Swansea Marina

www.swansealife.co.uk | 55

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Broadway Hair, Beauty & Holistics centre tycocH campus

If you’ve ever wanted to manage your own spa or salon, we’ve got the qualification for you.

q

q

HND Spa, Hair and Beauty Management Subjects include:

Course Length

2 yearS full tiMe

- salon management - managing financial decisions and resources

- sales and quality -

aromatherapy and reflexology anatomy and physiology sports massage therapies therapeutic spa treatments laser and light treatments health and safety sports exercise and rehabilitation

Contact Jackie Lee on 01792 284049 www.gcs.ac.uk/higher-education

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4/22/2016 2:31:34 PM

HAIR & BEAUTY

THE WELCOME MATTE

RAVISHING RED

PUCKER UP YOUR

Matte lip colour usually comes in a bullet, as a thick, chalky lipstick, but Bourjois Souffle de Velvet is liquid, imparting a matte look with a light application in eight shades.

Plum Pidou is a vivid berry pink layer it up for an opaque effect.

SPRING POUT!

Bourjois Rouge Edition Souffle de Velvet Lipstick in Plum Pidou, £8.99, Superdrug, Swansea

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick, £21, Boots, Swansea

From gloss to matte and everything in between, spring brings a whole heap of fab new lip products. LAURA DAVIES runs down the season’s top 10 pout-perfectors...

THE ULTIMATE TEMPTATION

THE MIDWAY MARVEL

Formulated with a trio of oils, Lipstick Queen’s Eden is as juicy and tempting as the forbidden fruit itself. A zingy apple red with a dash of dazzling shimmer, this suits-everyone shade is sinfully seductive.

Falling halfway between gloss and matte, Sleek’s VIP Lipsticks give creamy, full coverage with just a hint of shimmer. If it’s soft sugary shades you’re after, try the toffee-ish Private Booth or pastel pink Reserved.

Lipstick Queen Eden, £22, John Lewis, Cardiff

Sleek Lip VIP Lipstick in Reserved, £5.50, www.sleekmakeup.com

PIGMENTED PAIR

THE FULL MONTY

The latest addition to the Burberry Beauty family is Full Kisses, the brand’s most intense lip colour yet. The 14 shades, from pale nudes to the rich purple of Dewberry, are housed in a twist-up pen, the bullet cleverly shaped so you won’t need liner or a lip brush.

From RMK’s new Colour Performance collection comes the uber-pigmented Irresistible Bright Lips. This blue-toned pink is a great match for cooler skin tones, while Bright Coral suits warmer complexions.

RMK Irresistible Bright Lips in Shiny Pure Pink, £21, www.beautybay.com

Yves Saint Laurent introduces 12 new shades to the ever-popular Rouge Volupte Shine lipstick line-up for spring. Rive Gauche is a luscious raspberry pink infused with oils, which imparts sheer coverage and moisturising benefits, too.

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in Rose Rive Gauche, £26, Debenhams, Swansea

HairBeautySingle.indd 1

THE CARING COLOUR Blended with five oils, including avocado, jojoba and cocoa seed, Bobbi Brown’s Nourishing Lip Colour really looks after your lips, while also giving great colour pay-off and lustrous shine in 15 shades.

Bobbi Brown Nourishing Lip Colour in Desert Rose, £21, www.bobbibrown.co.uk

THE BRIGHT SPARK

Burberry Full Kisses in Dewberry, £24, Debenhams, Cardiff

THE VOLUPTUOUS VIXEN

If you’re a proponent of the ‘casual red lip’ trend (wearing scarlet by day), be sure to add Elizabeth Arden’s Cherry Bomb to your arsenal. One of four new shades in the Ceramide Ultra range, this blue-toned red delivers incredibly pigmented, impactful colour.

THE VINYL SPECIALIST Combining the staying-power of a stain with the juiciness of a gloss, Tom Ford’s innovative Patent Finish Lip Colour, in eight intense shades, oozes out of the clickable pen and slicks on like a dream.

Try Red Corset for a vinyl-like blackberry pout that won’t budge.

Tom Ford Patent Finish Lip Colour in Red Corset, £38, House of Fraser, Cardiff

More subtle than the dense Rouge Coco, Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shine comes in three fierce brights and can be worn as a light gloss or layered for a more vibrant feel. We love the tomato red Shipshape.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Shipshape, £25, Debenhams, Swansea

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4/22/2016 10:50:02 AM

EXPANDS AFTER AWARD WINNING YEAR

Since opening their first salon in fforestfach back in 2012, Marc and Dave have witnessed the business go from strength to strength. With award winning success, they have now had to expand and are proud to bring you another Hair Lounge situated in the heart of Skewen.

MARC ISAAC

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HAIR LOUNGE

Marc searched high and low in late 2015 for a new premises where he struggled with location. As soon as Skewen become available, he immediately fell in love with the salon and wanted it to have a Parisian boutique theme that much, he even took the time to go to Paris to do his research and draw inspiration.

MEET THE TEAM...

KAYLEE PALF

JAYNE SHELLEY

FFORESTFACH SALON MANAGER

SKEWEN SALON MANAGER

After three strong years running the Fforestfach business, Dave then decided to recruit a new Salon manger Kaylee Palf to take over as salon manager who brought a wealth and breadth of knowledge to the team specialising in colouring, cutting and styling.

Jayne has many years of experience in hairdressing and has spent numerous occasions gaining expertise training in London and has been educating in salons across the south of England and Wales.

HANNAH GRIFFITHS STYLIST IN SKEWEN

Hannah has a huge passion for hairdressing and it comes across in her day to day work, creating individual and bespoke colours for her clients.

PROUD WINNERS of the BEST HAIR Category

The salon opened in skewen late in 2015 and has been a great success already, Marc and Dave would like to thank customers new and old for their ongoing support and hope to see you at either of the salons soon.

72 New Road, Skewen, SA10 6HE • 01792 812858 38 Ravenhill Rd, Swansea, SA5 5AW • 01792 587444 www.hairloungeswansea.co.uk Join us on Facebook 4k likes ©LW

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3/21/2016 8:13:26 AM

HAIR & BEAUTY

Learning how to blow-dry your hair effectively is a real timesaver and will ensure your hair stays styled for hours. Whether you want to add some extra volume to hair that is lacking lift or want to create a power hold for a special event, the perfect blow-out is your new best friend. LAURA DAVIES speaks to stylist to the stars Asgar Saboo about his top tips on how to achieve the perfect blow-out that will leave you looking and feeling like you have just stepped out the salon.... laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

@LawsDx

Pre-dry...

Pre-drying your hair makes it much easier to manage later on. Towel dry your hair slightly then detangle with a wide-toothed comb to minimise breakage.

Prep...

In achieving the perfect blow dry, preparation is key! Smooth over toweldried hair with a small amount of serum or natural oil, such as coconut or argan oil, but ensure you use on the mid to ends of your hair to avoid the look of greasiness.

For curly hair, the trick is to ensure the curls

remain constructed, so add a volumising mousse or curl enhancing product to set them. Finally, brush through again with a wide-toothed comb to spread the product evenly. Add a heat protection spray to dry or damaged hair.

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Serum 50ml, £24.50, Boots, Parc Trostre Sachajuan Shine Serum, £22, www.cultbeauty.co.uk

Blow-dry your hair like the professionals!

BaByliss 5665U 3Q Hair Dryer, £119.99, Argos, Swansea

ghd Ceramic Vented Radial Brush, Size 4, 55mm Barrel, £17.50, Unique Hair Design, Gorseinon

Mark Hill Just Tease Me! Wide Tooth Comb, £3.69 £3.69, Boots, Swansea

Section...

For particularly thick hair, sectioning it will make the process of drying a lot easier and quicker. Start by creating a horizontal parting along the back of your hair and fasten the top section of hair out of the way.

Drying the bottom layers first will ensure all the hair is dried thoroughly.

Dry...

The perfect blow-dry is about focusing the direction of the hair when it is drying.

For this, it is best to use the concentrator nozzle of your hairdryer. Using a barrel brush, take a small section of hair and lay the top end over the brush.

With the hairdryer on high heat but medium power, hold it adjacent to the hair and pull along the brush.

Curl the brush under slightly when you reach the end of the hair to ensure it falls with a soft finish. For curly hair, using a brush will cause the look of frizziness so it is best to dry by scrunching and holding your hair under the heat.

Volume...

The volumising mousse will have already added some va va voom to your hair but if you are looking for extra volume, Velcro rollers are a perfect way of naturally lifting and curling your hair. Focusing on the top

layers, particularly for thicker hair, separate individual sections and place the roller at the roots underneath your hair. Pull the roller along the hair and when you reach the ends, roll it back under itself to the scalp. Fasten the roller onto your head with a grip and secure with a medium hold spray.

Once you have secured all the rollers, give a final spray and warm gently using a low setting on the hairdryer.

Finish with finesse...

Now your hair is beautifully prepped and dried, the final steps allow you to polish the look as much or as little as you like. For a bouncy blow dry, remove the rollers and shake your hair gently but be wary of running your fingers through the curls as this can cause the look of frizziness. Position your hair around your shoulders to beautifully frame your face. For a sleek and sultry style, carefully brush through the hair with a paddle brush to eliminate stray hairs and give a soft finish. Finish with a spritz of shine serum and spray to hold.

Toni & Guy Prep Heat Protection Mist 150ml, £6.99, Superdrug, Swansea

www.swansealife.co.uk | 59

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4/22/2016 11:25:19 AM

THERE’S STYLISTS AND THEN THERE’S

BRIAN BROWN

BRIAN BROWN SALON 1 BELEVUE WAY • SWANSEA • SA1 5BZ • TEL: 01792 301901

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4/22/2016 9:09:23 AM

HAIR & BEAUTY

L , E B E R L REBE

hair!

Shaved heads, micro-fringes and bowl cuts were just some of the out-there hair trends seen on the SS16 catwalks, but can these rebellious looks translate to real life? LAURA DAVIES finds out... laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

THE BOWL CUT

Peyton Knight wearing a creation for Gucci women’s Spring-Summer 2016 collection

@LawsDx

THE BOWL CUT A pair of promising up-and-comers showcased the most accessible of the new ‘dos; the bowl cut: Isabella Emmack with her monk-like crop at Alexander Wang and Peyton Knight, whose longer, glossy, Seventies-esque rounded bob chimed perfectly with the kooky mood at Gucci.

There are definitive rules for this hairstyle.

The ideal face shape is oval or angular, because this will accentuate the cheekbones and jaw lines, drawing attention to them and creating an architectural line. If the face shape is more rounded, this style will only emphasise the roundness. Same goes for the longer length - if it doesn’t work with your features, it may make you and the style look very dated.

How to style it To achieve that sleek, glossy, blown-out look, firstly, make sure you wrap-dry your hair with a paddle brush [brushing from side to side, all over the head, to make the hair straight] to help smooth down the hair follicles.

THE BOWL CUT

Isabella Emmack

Wella Professionals EIMI Perfect Me Cream, £7.40, LookFantastic www.look fantastic.com GHD Ceramic Vented Radial Brush - Size 3, £17.50, Unique Hair Design, Gorseinon

Secondly, use EIMI Perfect Me to help give a smooth finish with high shine.

Next, use a medium round brush to create a subtle bevel, but make sure not to get too much of a bend on the ends, as this will make the look appear dated.

Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonderbalm, £18, M&S, Swansea

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4/22/2016 11:28:54 AM

HAIR & BEAUTY THE MICRO FRINGE

THE MICRO FRINGE...

Christopher Kane Spring Summer 2016

At Lanvin, fringes were choppy and pushed to one side, at Prada they were wispy, and, at Christopher Kane, they were shortest of all, leaving a good inch of forehead visible.

A micro-fringe is a statement. Anyone can have a micro as long as they are prepared to maintain it, because it is a commitment. It doesn’t always have to look edgy - if you take Audrey Hepburn, for example, it can still be a beautiful style.

LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of the latest hair buys...

Percy & Reed Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray, £12, LookFantastic, www.look fantastic.com

The key? Allow enough length for your face shape. If you have an oval-shaped face, keep it really short, but if your face is longer, have the fringe slightly longer. And the straighter your hair, the better: With all of the products and electricals available, anybody can straighten. Really curly or afro hair is best to avoid this cut, though.

How to style it:

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie 340 g, £10.99, Boots, Swansea

eSalon Easy Glider smoothing shampoo, £11, Salon.co.uk

To style, use straighteners if necessary. To maintain, use dry shampoo, as fringes tend to get greasy, and a firm hairspray to keep it stay in place The White Touch hair irons, £99, Cloud Nine, www.cloudninehair.com

Fudge Urban Hair Art Pink Ink spray, £5.99, Superdrug, Swansea

THE BUZZCUT! It’s not just Ruth Bell rocking the razored look: lookalike Kris Gottschalk was also cast at the usually ultra-girly Versace show, and there was a trio of suedeheads at Acne.They looked awesome, but what do us mere mortals need to know before going for the full Sinead O’Connor?

Ideally, to make this look work, you should expect the client to have great architectural angles to the face shape.With it being so short, it can work for any hair type or texture - it’s very versatile, and can work so well on so many different people.

Aveda Invati Intensive Thickening Conditioner, £24.50, Jamie Hill Salon, Swansea

Time Bomb Strike A Pose Modelling Hair spray, £16.50, www.time bombco.com

But you should never attempt it first time at home:

How to style it: “EIMI Rugged Texture is fantastic to finish with. It gives an overall matte finish while maintaining the style. Try complimenting this cut with a really vibrant colour to make it stand out.

Always go to a salon. What you need to remember is it’s a haircut that needs to be adapted to work with your face shape and features. You need a professional to advise you and make it work.

Wella Professionals EIMI Rugged Texture Matte Texturizing Paste, £8.48, Toni & Guy, https://store. toniandguy.com

The new Philip Kingsley PK Prep styling range. All are available at £18.50 for full size bottles or the Discovery Pack of travel minis is £21, M&S, Swansea

62 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 11:29:19 AM

IS YOUR CHILD INELIGIBLE FOR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, OR ARE YOU TIRED OF WAITING? WE CAN HELP, WITH CHILDREN'S PRIVATE SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT FROM UNDER £10 PER MONTH*.

DENTAL IMPLANTS • ORTHODONTICS FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY Contact us today to arrange your first consultation: COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL & IMPLANT CLINIC

Woods Dental, 65 Walter Rd, Uplands, Swansea, SA1 4PT E: info@woodsdental.co.uk T: 01792 476 714 www.woodsdental.co.uk *Finance 9.9% APR over 5 yrs subject to approval, terms and conditions.

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3/21/2016 8:23:20 AM

ADVERTISMENT FEATURE

TRUE PASSION Rhian True’s passion for hair has made True Hair a go-to salon for top quality hairdressing at very reasonable prices. She told Jenny White why nothing - not even cancer – has managed to stop her going to work every day.

R

hian True’s experience as a hairdresser is second to none. She recently received the coveted Master Craftsman Certificate in Hairdressing from the Hair Council in recognition of the skills she’s acquired during 30 years of hairdressing, and she shows no signs of slowing down.

Rhian initially trained with the highly respected hairdressing chain Regis International, which has salons all over the world in luxurious locations including Harrod’s and Selfridges. She went on to work for them for many years, managing several branches in

provide top quality hairdressing at affordable prices.

While she is committed to providing value for money, she doesn’t scrimp on materials. She uses L’Oreal colours and products, GHD straighteners, creams and brushes and Olaplex treatments – a new arrival described as “insurance for your hair”, which protects hair during colouring and styling.

Another important piece of equipment – and one that you’ll struggle to find in use elsewhere - is her thermal scissors, which seal the hair during cutting.

Customers come from as far afield as London, Sweden and Singapore, making three-monthly bookings to have their hair cut at True Hair.

the Swansea area.

She and husband Dorian opened their own salon, True Hair, in Brynhyfryd in 1996. Here, Rhian has been able to

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“They help damaged hair to grow thicker and they give more shine to the hair – a lot of customers travel here to have their hair cut because they know a cut done with thermal scissors will last a bit longer because you’re sealing the ends, which stops the hair snapping,” she says.

In fact, customers come from as far afield as London, Sweden and Singapore, making three-monthly bookings to have their hair cut at True Hair.

Asking what brings them back, there are certain comments that get repeated: they come because of the quality of the cut, the value for money and because it’s a relaxed, friendly environment.

It’s attractive and stylish too, with black walls adorned with beautiful vintage-style gold framed mirrors. New customers receive a friendly welcome and quickly become regulars.

4/21/2016 5:02:30 PM

Such is Rhian’s commitment to her customers that four years ago she continued to work all the way through treatment for stage three breast cancer.

“In a way it helped me get through it, but it was also so hard,” she says. “It was near Christmas time and I was doing it for my customers. I’ve always put my work first – hairdressing has always been my life and it’s not just about earning money: it’s a passion.”

Fortunately she plans to continue pursuing that passion for many years to come.

“I just love meeting different people and I love hair – to me, a hair cut is like a painting. I love it when customers tell me they’ve been complimented on their hair. Some of them have said to me that I’m not allowed to retire – so I think I’ll still be doing hair when I’m 90!”

TRUE HAIR 475 LLANGYFELACH ROAD, SWANSEA, GLAMORGAN SA5 9LR | 01792 464958

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4/21/2016 5:02:42 PM

HAIR & BEAUTY

Makeover!

W ITH

L ARA

JOHNSON

Stylist & salon owner Lara Johnson shares her tips in her monthly column...

Enhancing natural curls...

Before...

Name: Maria Occupation: Student and Model

MARIA SAYS...

I have really curly hair that I do like to be curly but it always feels like “puppy ears”. It is naturally dark but I would like it to be lighter. In the past it has been coloured but it is still too dark. It also always feels to red. I want a haircut that I can tie back but I don’t mind if it was a bit shorter. I was looking for a cut with more shape and something to enhance my curls.

END RESULT: I love what the team have done. The colour makes me feel so much brighter and it feels really natural to me. The team showed me tips that will make it much easier to style my hair on a daily basis. The haircut gives far more shape and it also feels so much lighter.

THE TEAM AT LARA JOHNSON LIFESTYLE SAYS...

Maria has the most fantastic natural curls. It was lovely to face the challenge that Maria wanted to enhance her curl and go with her natural hair rather than change it. We started with the colour. Maria’s natural tones are dark so we worked with blondes that enhanced her natural skin tones and suited her natural hair. We were able to lift the colour by using warm blondes from the Wella collection.

We also worked with Olaplex which helps keep the moisture in Maria’s naturally dry texture. For the cut we did take the shape a little shorter but it was more about creating a shape that would allow the hair to sit in its natural curl. We worked with a pattern of layers around the head shape to allow the hair to bounce into its natural form. We kept the styling as simple as possible, we applied Sebastian professional potion 9 which is a wearable treatment, with a little Sebastian professional Dark oil.

This mix of products helps to take away any frizz but does not feel heavy on the hair. We dried it with cold air through a diffuser, the cold air smooths the hair and creates minimal static. Once the hair was dry we applied a little more Sebastian professional dark oil which will help hold and protect the look.

After...

66 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 11:30:09 AM

HAIR & BEAUTY

Step by step...

With plaits and braids having a major influence on the runways for the summer season, we have chosen one of our backstage styles which looks great but also is a practical way to keep your hair protected for a beach holiday. This might not be one that you can do on yourself but with our step by step it will be one you can style with the help of a friend. Perfect for the beach or the dance floor Difficulty This look can take a little practice, but once you get into the rhythm it is easy to do Products A must for this look. We dried in Sebastian Texture Maker as we wanted a soft look throughout. A great tip is to work with a product that offers protection from the Sun, sand and sea.

Apply KĂŠrastase Soleil Micro-Voile Protecteur before the plaiting Equipment Bands, pins and grips

1 2 3 4 5 6

1

2

3a

3b

4

5a

5b

5c

Divide the hair into sections. One in the centre, three either side running parallel. For effect and length on the runway we left out another fine section at the nape of the neck.

If you want a bit of height gently back comb the top section in at the root. Keep it really soft or it will be difficult to dress. Leave a small section out from the front which will be the start of your three piece French plait. Apply some of your chosen product and scalp plait from the front to the back. Secure with a band.

On the outside sections start French plaiting from the back coming forwards. Working from the back can actually be easier to complete on yourself than working from the front. When you get to the end of the section continue to plait the length.

When you have finished plaiting the larger sections create interest by curving the front plait to frame your face. It is still a three strand plait just pulled away from the head. It may take a little practice to get used to the technique.

Once the plaits are finished, place and secure the length backwards against the scalp. This not only adds to the style but also protects your scalp from the sun.

Finish with some product to help hold the style. If you are looking to wear a scalp plait in the sun it is important to protect your scalp with a hi protection sun screen.

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4/22/2016 11:30:22 AM

HAIR & BEAUTY

NAIL THAT

90s LOOK!

Going hand in hand with the fashion revival, Nineties beauty made a comeback on the spring catwalks, but is the era of thick brown lip liner and chunky brows really worth revisiting?

LAURA DAVIES looks at nailing the 90s look... laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

@LawsDx

2

If the SS16 catwalks told us anything, it’s that the Nineties fashion revival is in full swing, and it was no different backstage.

We lost count of the number of make-up artists citing influences from those hazy pre-millennium days, but thinking back, is Nineties makeup really something we want to bring back - all that lip gloss and bronzer? As it happens, yes, it is - because this time round, the make-up maestros have translated the best of the decade, making it super wearable and ideal for spring.

Kenzo’s SS16

BROWS NOW

1

Kneeling unabashedly at the alter of that Nineties goddess, the Supermodel, make-up artist Tom Pecheux gave models at Moschino huge brows, shimmering skin and mahogany lips, all topped off with Linda Evangelista-style pixie crop wigs. At Christopher Kane, Lucia Pieroni said the brows were “a bit feral”, which means you should be combing them up and out, before filling in with a brow pencil that matches your natural shade.

If you’ve gone a bit tweezer-happy and plucked beyond recognition, try Illamasqua’s new Brow Build, which contains micro-fibres to subtly thicken and fill brows.

1. Illamasqua Brow Build in Flow, £18.50, John Lewis, Cardiff 2. MAC Big Brow Pencil in Spiked, £16, MAC, Cardiff

UP-ALL-NIGHT LINER Lucia Pieroni designed the make-up looks for Emilio Pucci and Chloe, claiming Nineties grunge and “rave girls” were the inspiration, which explains why both had a gorgeously smudgy eyeliner look. To recreate this slept-in feel, dust a pale grey or nude shadow on the upper lid, then apply a fine line of black or slate grey kohl on the waterline and below the lower lashes, smudging with your finger tip - and for an authentic Nineties carefree feel, go mascara-less.

2

1

1. New Cid I-Smoulder Smoky Eye Pencil and Shadow in Charcoal, £18.50, www.newcidcosmetics.com 2. Chanel Limited Edition Stylo Eyeshadow Fresh Effect Eyeshadow in Vert Grise, £23, Debenhams, Swansea

68 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 11:31:11 AM

HAIR & BEAUTY

1

TAME YOUR TAN! Back in the Nineties, before Instagram, the Kardashians and the rise of the YouTube make-up tutorial, contouring wasn’t ‘a thing’ and bronzer was applied liberally with a huge brush, the aim being an all-over tan, as if you’d just returned from two weeks in Miami. Nowadays, it’s all about carefully placed colour, so use a small contouring brush and a shimmery (rather than matte) bronzing powder across your cheekbones, temples and down the sides of your nose, then use a larger brush to blend out.

2

You’re aiming for what Lynsey Alexander at Kenzo called “a desert sepia-toned tan”.

3

1. Givenchy Les Saisons Healthy Glow Powder in Ambre Saison, £36, House of Fraser, Cardiff 2. Blank Canvas Cosmetics F40 Small Tapered Contour Brush, £11.84, www.blankcanvascosmetics.com 3. Illamasqua Beyond Powder in Epic, £32, www.illamasqua.com

GET THE GLOSS

Moschino SS16

Make-up artists got really creative when coming up with ways to achieve a pale, matte Nineties lip, using anything but lipstick. At Alberta Ferretti, MAC Da Bling eyeshadow was patted onto lips, and at Blumarine, a pink cream shadow was used.

1

A matte liquid lipstick is an easier way to get the look, and has better staying power, but for the ultimate Nineties homage, it doesn’t get better than a shiny brown lip, as seen at Kenzo.

2

Either slick on a heap of caramel-hued gloss or, for longer-lasting colour, fill in your pout with a tawny liner and finish with clear gloss on top.

1. MAC Eye Shadow in Da Bling, £13, MAC, Cardiff 2. MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in LadyBeGood, £21, MAC, Cardiff 3. Jane Iredale Puregloss Lip Gloss in White Tea, £19.95, www.janeiredale.com

3

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4/22/2016 11:31:33 AM

SPECIALISING IN ALL ASPECTS ON HAIRDRESSING INCLUDING COLOURING CUTTING AND FOILS

TRENDY

LOX

EXTENSIONS

by Vicky

7th May 9:30-4:00pm

Charity Event All donations to Make a wish.

Shelic Nails Prom now £15 packages available Boost your confidence...

Hair extension courses

TRENDY LOX EXTENSION

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off all hair extensions with this voucher.

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If you’re losing your hair it can have a negative effect on your self-confidence. We’ll help to boost confidence and improve your emotional well-being. Trendy Lox offers a free consultaion in our private room to talk you through a range of non surgical hairloss solutions including custom made wigs, tupees and weaved extensions.

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4/22/2016 2:35:54 PM

Health & wellbeing

TARA HAMMETT (page 72) ASK DR CHARLOTTE (page 74) FOOD BENEFITS (page 76) BANISH MINDLESS MUNCHING (page 82)

DefyTime Cosmetic Clinic & Medical Spa

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466 Gower Road, Killay, Swansea, SA2 7DZ Tel: 01792 208466

4/22/2016 11:33:06 AM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

TA R A HAMMETT Swansea personal trainer and nutritionist TARA HAMMETT gives you all the tips you need for a healthy body and mind...

How to really stick to your fitness goals...

2016!! New year, new you! Do those words or thoughts sound familiar? But four months have gone already. And what have you really achieved?

On reflection you may wish you’d worked harder or made different decisions, Did you try something and perhaps give up?

Sometimes life gets in the way and you are not able to meet your commitments, so you disappoint yourself and others. When this happens, it is important to get right back on the wagon. Don’t give up!

So here are some of my top tips to get you back on track...

1. DO NOT OVER COMMIT By that, I mean, don’t take on more than you can handle. The first thing you need to establish is why you set your goal? Ask yourself the reasons and write them down.

By writing them down you are being specific and making yourself think clearly about what it is that you would like to achieve which is important. Breaking your goals down month by month is also a good way of sticking with it. If you set yourself a goal to achieve within

six months, then that’s too far away to get excited! Setting goals to reach by the end of the month, with the promise of a treat such as a new outfit or weekend away, is a sense of more instant gratification!

“If your resolutions have started to fade, then no doubt your mates will have too. Rope them in to at least one of your work out sessions a week and make it a social event.”

2. EAT WELL If you are working hard, but eating rubbish, then not only are you less likely to want to don a tight fitting T shirt to work out in, but you are going to be less motivated by the minimum results achieved. Think of your body like a top of the range sports car.

If you fuelled it with anything other than good quality petrol, would you expect it to perform at it’s best?

3. GO PUBLIC WITH YOUR COMMITMENTS If you are serious about committing to change, tell someone you trust. Anytime you tell someone it creates an added level of determination on your part to follow through.

4. FIND YOURSELF A WORKOUT BUDDY If your resolutions have started to fade, then no doubt your mates will have too. Rope them in to at least one of your work out sessions a week and make it a social event, with the promise of a healthy lunch or shopping after. As with many things in life, it is easier with a friend.

Where possible find someone to encourage you, join in with you. The support and encouragement increases your chances of success, and can make it all a bit more fun!

Of course not. The same goes with how you chose to fuel your body. Select foods that are going to give you energy and goodness, allowing you to work to your best ability in class.

The Dragon Hotel, The Kingsway, Swansea, SA1 5LS • 01792 657211 www.dragon-hotel.co.uk

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4/22/2016 11:36:01 AM

Are you suffering with a heart condition?

The South Wales Heart Centre at Spire Cardiff Hospital gives you access to complete cardiac care, with some of the leading cardiologists and surgeons in the region.

We provide the following cardiology procedures and cardiac surgery:

• Outpatient consultation • Outpatient diagnostic tests • Cardiac angiography • Cardiac angioplasty and stenting • Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

• Pacemaker insertion • Coronary artery bypass graft • Heart valve replacement surgery • Heart valve repair surgery

Our services are open to everyone, whether you have private medical insurance or if you are paying for your own treatment.

Peace of mind is just a phone call away Talk to your GP today about a referral and feel confident in your journey to recovery.

To arrange an initial consultation at South Wales Heart Centre call:

029 2073 6011

www.spirehealthcare.com/cardiff/southwalesheartcentre

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4/21/2016 5:01:44 PM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

ASK

DR. CHARLOTTE Swansea Life GP CHARLOTTE JONES offers helpful advice in her monthly column...

Whether it’s a glass of something to help you unwind at the end of the day, or meeting for a drink (or three) with friends or work colleagues, alcohol is a regular and accepted pleasure for most of us.

And it’s easy to see why. Alcohol can act as a social lubricant and a reason for people to get together, helping conversation and enjoyment flow - though of course, beyond the ‘sweet spot’ of a couple of drinks, the effect can be reversed. And until recently the sciencebacked wisdom was that taken in moderation it could even be good for our health. Just what most of us wanted to hear. But now new public health advice says people who drink regularly should consume no more than 14 units a week - the equivalent of six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine.

It also says if people drink, it should be moderately over three or more days, and we should keep some days alcohol-free. And it warns us against saving up our units and downing them in one or two goes, because this qualifies as heavy drinking. So think again if you like a heavy splurge on a Friday and Saturday night!

So, is alcohol a force for the good or bad?

Well the reality is that in moderation, it can have some benefits but, if taken in excess, then it is linked to a number of health issues.

What are the benefits of alcohol?

• A small glass of red wine (125ml) is believed to be beneficial to your heart

What is drinking doing to my body?

• It can help reduce a specific tremor • Small amounts may boost confidence

What are the risks?

• An increased risk of falling and head injuries • An increased risk of vomiting and if you are asleep it can cause you to choke and potentially die • Liver disease, cirrhosis and potentially need for liver transplant • Pancreatitis

What can I do when out with friends?

• Have a soft drink inbetween alcoholic ones Gin O’clock - opt for long drinks e.g. gin and diet tonic or vodka and tonic or wine spritzers.

Not only will it help you reduce the speed of your alcohol intake but will reduce your calories too.

• Opt for standard measures so you can keep track of your intake – can help you keep track of your calories too.

Where can I get more help?

If you think you, or a loved one, needs help with their drinking then these resources can help:

• Reduced fertility, sexual problems

Local services include:

• Harm to a developing fetus

1. Abertawe Alcohol & Drug Assessment Programme @ 42 St James’ Crescent, Uplands

• High blood pressure, palpitations and increased risk of heart attacks

• Tiredness and sleeping disturbance

2. WCADA @ 40/41 St James’ Crescent, Uplands - offers a range of pre-abstinence programmes and programmes to support abstinence, post detoxification support etc and has close links with community drugs services

What are the recommended units?

3. Community Drugs & Alcohol Service – needs a GP referral – can offer community or inpatient detoxification

There is no safe level of drinking – however, taking less than the maximum recommended limits means you are at lower risk of developing problems.

4. “The Place” @ Infonation, Kingsway, Swansea for young people aged 18 years

• Increased risk of various cancers (mouth, neck, throat, breast) and heart attack • Personality changes, anger and /or low mood

The current maximum recommended alcohol limits are: 3-4 units/day for men and 2-3 units /day for women.

• www.drinkaware.co.uk • DAN 24-7- a confidential helpline service 0808 808 2234 • Alcoholics Anonymous: www.alcoholicsanonymous.co.uk or 0845 769 7555

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4/22/2016 11:36:39 AM

“

“

Every time I lost a stone, I’d quickly put it back on again

Stella

lost 4st 4lb in 4 months

maintain

ing for 5 years

Find out more:

Marilyn Hawkins, LighterLife Swansea Tel 07866 923816 Visit lighterlife.com ©LighterLife UK Limited 2016. All rights reserved.

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4/22/2016 9:10:52 AM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Food Benefits

Lemon Water Don’t be a lemon! Swap your morning coffee with a cup of citrus hot water.

LAURA DAVIES finds out how lemons can help your body zing... laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk @LawsDx

Protects overall health

Reduces appetite

Lemons contain pectin, a soluble fibre commonly found in citrus fruits.

Pectin helps stave off hunger as the fibre creates a feeling of fullness, which results in the suppression of hunger cravings

High levels of potassium in lemons can help brain and nerve functioning and control blood pressure. Lemon water can also ward off stress and depression, which have been linked to low levels of potassium. Lemons also contain vitamin P, which improves capillary permeability and overall blood flow.

Aids digestion

As lemon juice is similar in atomic structure to the stomach’s digestive juices, it has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

It helps cleanse the bowel by flushing out waste more efficiently and stimulates the release of gastric juices, which aid digestion.

The digestive qualities of lemon juice can also help relieve symptoms of indigestion, heartburn and bloating.

Balances pH levels Lemons are one of the most alkalising foods for the body and a good pH level is essential as too much acidity in the body can be inflammatory. Lemon water is very alkalising and most of us have acidic bodies

Promotes healing Ascorbic acid, vitamin C, promotes wound healing in the body and is an important nutrient in maintaining healthy bones, tissue and cartilage. It also calms inflammation in the body.

Free radicals can interact with the healthy cells of the body, damaging them and their membranes and causing inflammation

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Repairs skin

Cleanses the urinary tract Lemon juice is a diuretic, meaning it encourages the production of urine. As a result, toxins are released at a faster rate, helping to purify the system and keep it healthy. Lemon juice can also change the pH level of the urinary tract which discourages the proliferation of bad bacteria.

DetoxiďŹ es the liver

Lemons are great for combating skin ageing. The antioxidant properties help combat free radical damage, which is responsible for the symptoms of ageing.

Lemons are rich in vitamin C and that is really what creates collagen synthesis, which is wonderful in terms of keeping wrinkles at bay.

Freshens breath

Lemon water acts as a liver cleanser by assisting in detoxification. It purifies and stimulates the liver by encouraging the production of bile, an acid required for digestion. Lemon water can also help control excess bile flow, decrease the amount of phlegm produced by the body and assist in dissolving gallstones

The antiseptic qualities in lemon juice help kill off bad bacteria in the mouth by acting as a disinfectant.

A glass of lemon water is also a healthier morning wake-you-up than coffee

Supports the immune system The juice of half a lemon in a glass of water is rich in vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system and assists the body in fighting colds and flu. Lemon also enhances the body’s ability to absorb iron, an important nutrient for a healthy immune system.

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4/22/2016 11:37:37 AM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

A

P RO B L E M

S H A R E D

Swansea Life’s columnist and trained counsellor FIONA CAINE offers her perspective on family dramas, emotional issues and dysfunctional relationships...

WE HAVE REALLY FIERY ARGUMENTS My sister thinks there is something seriously flawed about my relationship with my husband.

He and I are really close most of the time, and I love him to bits, but when we have a row it’s really terrible.

We shout and scream at one another and throw things but then, when it’s over, we make up and everything is wonderful again.

My sister says it’s not right and our neighbours give us funny looks sometimes too.

Are we freaks? B. H.

FIONA SAYS: IT’S GOOD TO AIR YOUR PROBLEMS There’s nothing abnormal about your behaviour; plenty of couples argue violently and as long as neither one of you is being physically or emotionally hurt, there is no real harm in it.

Whether you silently fester or throw plates doesn’t matter, but not finding out what causes the rows and resolving the issues behind them can cause long-term damage.

You could, one day, say or do something that really hurts.As for your sister and your neighbours, I wouldn’t worry too much about what they think.

As long as the two of you are both happy with these sudden flares, I see no reason to think you are freaks.

Clearing the air is far better than leaving a problem unattended and building resentment.

I’M SCARED OF FLYING My girlfriend and I are going on holiday together for the first time this summer.

She’s really excited about it and although I’m sure I’ll enjoy it once I’m there, I’m dreading the flight.

I realise it sounds stupid, but I’ve always avoided flying up to now and all my friends think I travel abroad with my motorbike because I’ve convinced them it’s the best way to go.

A couple of years ago, they won the lottery and are now extremely well off - as a result, my husband is now uncomfortable in their company and no longer wants to go out with them.

I can’t get out of it this time though, and as she thinks I’m the strong one in this relationship, I don’t want to let her down and confess to being a wimp when it comes to planes.

The trouble is, I don’t want to risk going to pieces at the airport or on the plane either.

Any ideas? C. W.

I find this really sad as we all got on so well.

They keep calling, trying to make arrangements to meet and I have to keep making excuses.

FIONA SAYS: DON’T BE EMBARRASSED There are plenty of strong people who are afraid of flying and it’s not an irrational fear, so please don’t think you are in any way being silly.

Even frequent flyers who seem perfectly relaxed have had moments when they’ve breathed a sigh of relief over landing safely.

We all know that, statistically, flying is one of the safest means of travel, but that doesn’t help you get off the ground.

Many major airlines (British Airways, Virgin, Easyjet, for example) organise courses designed to reassure reluctant flyers and some of these include a short flight.

You could also consider seeing a hypnotherapist who would teach you ways to handle your anxiety. But I think the most important thing you could do is tell your girlfriend.

Showing you have a vulnerable side will almost certainly make you more attractive to her, rather than less, and she might welcome the chance to be the strong partner for once.

THEY WON THE LOTTERY For many years, my husband and I have been great friends with a couple who used to live next door to us.

We went on holidays together and met up for drinks and pub lunches.

My husband says he doesn’t want to feel like the poor relation and he certainly doesn’t want them paying for stuff as that feels like sponging.

I am sure they must already feel they have upset us somehow, but how can I get him to change? P. W.

FIONA SAYS: FRIENDSHIP IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY Whilst I can understand your husband’s point of view, I don’t accept it.

These people may have money now but they still need friends, and ones that aren’t after a share of their fortune have got to be the most valuable to them.

Friendship isn’t about scoring points or resenting another’s success, it’s about being with someone because you enjoy their company.

Try to get your husband to see that he is making everyone unhappy, including you.

I suggest you also tell your friends that you want to see them but that you’d be more comfortable if you only do the things you used to do together.

Alternatively, just meet in one another’s houses.

Friendship is a two-way thing - it’s far more important than money - and your husband needs to realise that he still has a lot to offer his old friends.

You can write to Fiona via Swansea Life or email her at help@askfiona.net All letters are treated in complete confidence. Fiona regrets that she cannot enter into personal correspondence or pass letters on to other readers.

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4/22/2016 11:38:49 AM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Jam Transit Micro Sports Buds Bluetooth Headphones

Urbanista Rio Reflex Earphones, £34, from www.urbanista.com

Sennheiser PMX 686 Sports

Targeted towards ‘young, urban people’ these fitness earphones will actually suit anyone after a good quality, waterproof music accessory.

There are two options: the Rio or the Boston, the former comes with a tangle-free, thin cable, while the Boston is wireless. However, given the cables on both are reflective - to keep you safe in the dark - you might as well get more bang (or lead) for your buck and opt for the Rio. There are three sizes of ear-buds including one without the ‘GoFit wing’ for when you’re not exercising.

In addition to the reflective lead, the earbuds are waterproof and can be easily cleaned, so whether it’s pouring with rain or the summer heat is making you sweat, your music won’t be interrupted.

£79.99, from www.sennheiser.com

OF THE

With two versions available for Apple (686i) and Android (686G) devices, these sturdy but light headphones really do impress. Whether you have small or large lugholes, you’ll find they sit neatly in your ears without moving. Likewise, despite the frame being strong, you can’t feel it resting on the back of your head. The benefit of having wired headphones is you don’t need to charge them, just plug them into your phone/ mp3 player when you want to use them. You can take calls through them too and for those concerned about hygiene, the earphones have SteriTouch meaning they are antimicrobial. A great set of headphones and useful for all types of exercise, especially when you’re at the gym.

£39.99, from uk.jamaudio.com Considering all the extras you get with these headphones, they’re unbelievably priced.

Powered by Bluetooth you’ll want to give them a good long charge before using them, but when the battery is full you’ll get 10 hours play - far more than many others on the market. Next up the cable, it’s reflective and comes with a natty ‘Customfit’ panel so you can extend or reduce the amount of cord you need, and there are several sizes of ear hooks and fins to keep the buds in place.

If you’re running outdoors, stay aware of your environment with the ‘Safe Surround’ function. On top of this, the back of the earphones are magnetic so when you’re not using them they sit neatly together. Finally, there’s the packaging, instead of coming in an ordinary box, these come in a water bottle (obviously you’ll want to wash it before you use it). A great all-rounder set of headphones.

5

Beats By Dre Powerbeats2

Wireless Headphones, £169.95, from www.apple.com/uk/

BEST

(fitness headphones)

Love listening to music while you work out? PETER SLEE has been checking out headphones made with exercise in mind...

Their style appeals to millennials, while the clarity of sound satisfies musos. Beats By Dre headphones have become a must-have brand for many, and their wireless sport headphones will appeal for exactly the same reasons.

They’re available in great colours and look good, but most importantly, come with brilliant tech. Syncing them to your phone via Bluetooth is really simple, just press down the power button for four seconds and it will connect. A full charge will see them last six hours, but if you forget until just before you go out for a run, plug them in for 15 minutes and you’ll get an hour’s use. When you are pounding the streets, they’re great at staying put and are also sweat and water-resistant.

peter.slee@swwmedia.co.uk

Aftershokz Trekz Titanium £109.95, from www.aftershokz.co.uk

Strictly speaking these aren’t earphones, they’re more like cheek-phones. A marvel of technology, you’ll hear music via ‘bone conduction’ - mini vibrations will make their way from your cheekbones through to your inner ears. That may sound a bit unnerving, but they’re actually very comfortable and you won’t feel the reverberations.

Most importantly, whether you’re out running or taking your mountain bike out on a mixed-terrain trail, you’ll be able to hear your favourite tunes while also being completely aware of your surroundings. You can also take calls through them and there’s a voice notification function called ‘Audrey Says’. They are Bluetooth operated and the one-size fits all sits snugly on your cheeks, regardless of the size of your head.

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4/22/2016 11:39:48 AM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR

TRIATHLON NOVICES It takes training, determination and time to properly prepare for a It takes training, determination and triathlon.

But on racefor day, you also time to properly prepare a triathlon. need to beForster, awareprogramme of a variety of tips So Geraint director of to BScensure Outdoor Fitness at the and tricks you have a University of Wales Trinity Saint David, good, efficient race.

and an experienced triathlete himself, So Geraint Forster, programme director has been speaking to PETER SLEE and of BSc Outdoor Fitness at the University providing some advice for those whoof Wales Trinity Saint David, and experienced are planning on dipping theiran toes into triathlete himself, has been speaking the world of triathlon in this year’s to Peter Slee and providing advice those inaugural Swanseasome Triathlon onfor June 5, who are planning on dipping toes into organised

by Activity Walestheir Events... the world of triathlon in this year’s inaugural Swansea Triathlon on June 5, organised by Activity Wales Events...

Swim!

The swim is 750m long and takes place in the Prince of Wales dock in SA1. The water quality is of bathing standard. But swimming

in open water is quite different to swimming in a pool, so here are a few tips to help you get the best out of your experience: A wetsuit is essential – in early June the water temperature will still be quite chilly. A specialist swimming wetsuit is ideal, however a general purpose/surfing wetsuit will suffice for your first time. It is sometimes possible to rent swimming wetsuits.

Get used to open water - a few dips at your local beach with some training partners just to get used to the cold water and lack of visibility will really help you come race day.

Stay close to shore and within your depth for safety.

Bike!

The cycle route is flat and scenic going out along the coastline.

Check your equipment – ideally get your bike professionally serviced, but as a minimum, make sure your bike is in good working order – you don’t want your first triathlon to come to an end due to a mechanical problem.

Fuel and hydrate – the bike is the easiest place to get some fluid and energy on board.

Position yourself well –If you are nervous or a weaker swimmer, either position yourself to the side or at the back to avoid the splashing and kicking. Even consider waiting a minute for the main pack to get ahead before setting off – you will then have plenty of space to yourself.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

“Enjoy yourself. You will only ever get one chance to do your first triathlon!”

Practice running off the bike – your legs will feel like jelly for the first 5-10 minutes.

Get used to this by going for a short jog at the end of each training ride – even a 5 minute jog will help get you used to it.

GEAR! With JCP Swansea Bay Half Marathon taking place next month, LAURA DAVIES picks out some fitness items to make you look your best on the day...

A walk-run strategy can work well – sometimes, short walking breaks can help you to actually complete the run more quickly and comfortably.

Transition!

Going straight from one discipline to the next can be the most stressful part – a few tips to help you.

Fill a water bottle with some sports drink (not the fizzy kind) and tape some energy gels or bars to the top-tube (cross-bar) of your bike so you can snack on them as you ride.

Start easy – it takes your body a little while to adapt from swimming to cycling, so take it easy for the first few kilometres.

Run! A flat run through enthusiastic crowds to finish on the stage in Castle Square and celebrate your achievement!

Fuschia Racerback Sports Singlet, £16.99, TK Maxx, Parc Trostre

I don’t sweat water bottle, £6.50, Paperchase, Cardiff

Practice transitions – even just mentally running through the routine will help you to ensure you don’t forget anything (and avoid the embarrassment of completing the whole run wearing your cycling helmet!).

Take your time – you may feel a little dizzy coming out of the swim – this is natural. Just take your time, walk out of the water, take some deep breaths and compose yourself. Rushing will only cause you to make mistakes.

Flip belt in neon punch, £25, www. flipbelt.co.uk

Wear your running/cycling clothes under your wetsuit – trying to discreetly get changed in public whilst out of breath is not a good idea! Wear your shorts and top under your wetsuit – they will soon dry on the bike.

Bra £25, M&S, Parc Fforestfach

“Most importantly ,” adds Geraint, “ enjoy yourself. You will only ever get one chance to do your first triathlon!”

Nike Smartphone Arm Band, £28, Nike.com Garmin Vivoactive GPS Smartwatch, £159.99, John Lewis, Cardiff

Adidas Women’s Solar Running Trainers, £75, www.adidas.co.uk

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4/22/2016 11:41:32 AM

BANISH HEALTH & WELLBEING

MINDLESS MUNCHING

FOR GOOD! May is here and summer’s well and truly on its way.

Cue the bikini diet! But is there an easy way to shift those extra pounds?

LAURA DAVIES looks at a few handy hints to help you adopt a more mindful approach to eating ...

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

@LawsDx

START A FOOD DIARY...

The best way to see exactly how much you’re eating every day is to write it all down - and you have to be completely honest with yourself. The truth about your daily food consumption, in stark black and white, might shock you into eating fewer treats and snacks throughout the day, and help you see where you might be under-eating at mealtimes, leading to energy dips and more unhealthy binging or snacking later.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

TIME FOR CHANGE? Small tweaks in your home can help in the battle to beat the bulge. For example, placing fruit and vegetables on the top shelf in the fridge will encourage you to eat three times more of them.

Pop the ‘treat’ foods in lower drawers - and you’ll eat less of those.

CONTROL YOUR PORTIONS With food waste constantly in the news, it’s easy to feel you have to eat everything on your plate. Generally speaking, portion sizes have ballooned in recent decades and we’re often eating more than we actually need. So what if your plate was smaller?

Try using a side plate when eating dinner, and you’ll start cooking - and eating - less.

IT’S ALL ABOUT PREPARATION FOCUS ON FOOD Planning ahead, by buying a trolley full of greens (and other coloured veggies!) and preparing healthy snacks at home to have throughout the day, will help ensure you stay on track. Protein and fibre will keep you feeling fuller for longer, so why not keep a jar of peanut butter handy to spread on Ryvita or oat cakes?

TAKE IT SLOWLY When you’re really hungry, the temptation is to wolf down your food without it even hitting the sides. But it’s been proven that you end up eating more if you eat quickly, because your brain takes time to register that you’re full (up to 20 minutes, according to the experts). Chew every bite carefully, put your fork down between mouthfuls, savour the flavours and have a sip of water every so often.

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It’s also tempting to plump down on the sofa with your bowl of pasta and chomp away in front of the TV. But if you concentrate on the simple pleasure of eating your meal, with no distractions, you’ll feel more satisfied - meaning you’re less likely to want seconds. Eating is important and should be a pleasure, so give yourself the chance to really notice the tastes and textures by sitting down to eat at a table, or at least switching off the TV if you don’t have a dining room.

“Protein and fibre will keep you feeling fuller for longer, so why not keep a jar of peanut butter handy to spread on Ryvita or oat cakes?”

DRINK FIRST, EAT LATER It’s very common for people to confuse hunger with thirst, because the same part of your brain is responsible for reading the signals for both. Generally speaking, most of us should be eating every three to four hours (unless there’s a medical reason for eating more frequently, or if you’re following a demanding training regime).

If you feel hungry more frequently, try drinking a glass of water and seeing if that staves off hunger pangs for a while. www.swansealife.co.uk | 83

4/22/2016 11:42:44 AM

How I fell in love with

FOOD (...and you can too!)

Helen Nightingale has lost 10 stone in just under three years and is now on target to run her first half marathon. She told JENNY WHITE how she has turned her life around...

H

elen Nightingale is not far off being half the woman she was three years ago.

Her 10 stone weight loss has changed her life, boosting her confidence, improving her health and getting her physically active. It’s a far cry from how things were back in 2013 when she first decided to tackle her weight issue by joining Slimming World.

“I lost my dad, sister, and mum all within 13 months of each other back in 2012/13, and it was then that I really started to think about my weight problem, as I was starting too have a few health issues,” says Helen, 41, from Port Talbot. “I couldn’t walk even 100 yards without getting out of breath.”

Just after her mother died, a chance encounter with a Medium helped Helen take the step from thinking about joining a slimming group to actually taking action.

“One weekend my husband’s work colleague and his wife came down from London. His wife was a medium and she gave me a reading. Little did I know that this would be a life changing moment: she informed me that my mum was telling

her to tell me to watch my weight. I know some people will laugh at that. But for me something inside just clicked.

“A few days later I was talking to a work colleague who had tried other diets but had lost interest, and I managed to get her to agree to come to Slimming World with me, so I had a slimming buddy.”

On June 3, 2013 Helen and her friend Lisa Evans went along and joined the Slimming World classes held by Arlene Smith at Age Concern in Port Talbot on Wednesdays at 5:30.

“I had met Arlene before so I wasn’t nervous about going in, but facing the scales was a different matter. When I stepped on them I was the biggest I had ever been, at 22st13lb. I was mortified – I hadn’t realised how big I had become.”

Each Slimming World class begins with a chance to be weighed, after which class members take part in image therapy – a group session in which participants can share recipes, and tips, frustrations and triumphs, as part of their weight loss journeys.

“It’s a really friendly atmosphere. I cried in class one week because I has having a stressful time and my weight wasn’t going down. I’d tried an SP week, when you cut out

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

TIME FOR YOU

carbohydrates, but I’d gained weight, and the support I received from the group was unbelievable - they all rallied round.”

Her Slimming World eating plan enables her to eat as much as she likes of certain foods, while limiting her intake of others. A major bonus is that it means she never goes hungry, and can enjoy sinful treats now and then.

“I had forgotten how much food you could actually eat on this diet. I went back to basics, cooking everything from scratch – things such as spaghetti Bolognese, homemade burgers, casseroles, Chinese meals and curries. In my first week I lost 3.5lb.”

She was aware that her lifestyle was a large part of the reason why she had gained so much weight in the first place.

“For the past five years I’ve had two jobs – I’m a support worker for Coastal Housing and senior barmaid at Aberavon Rugby Club, it can be really hectic on occasions. When I wasn’t working when used to be in bed feeling shattered. I never had any time or the energy to cook, especially on the weekend with the working long hours, so I just used to get either an Indian or Chinese takeaway.”

Slimming World has taught Helen to take a far more structured, organized approach to her eating.

“These days I pre prepare food before work so that it’s there when I get home,” she says. “Planning is the key – I work out my meals for each week and make sure I buy in all the ingredients I need.”

She has been helped along not only by Arlene and her Slimming World group but also by her family.

“My husband and son supported me from the start: they would eat the same meals I cooked, enjoying the variety that was put in front of them. The weight soon started to drop off the three of us.

“My son was the first one to come with me to class. He wasn’t ashamed of going: he took part in image therapy classes for young members, in which there is no weighing or measuring; it’s all about making the right choices and being more active.”

Helen followed this advice too, joining a small local gym and later, once she had lost some weight and built her confidence, joining Energy Fitness in Port Talbot.

“The thought of going into a gym terrified me: I can remember asking the trainer if he had dealt with people my size but he put me at ease straight away.”

With the help of her trainer she continued to lose weight steadily. A key moment came after she had lost six stone and decided to empty her wardrobe.

“I pulled out an old 5XL work shirt and held it up and asked my husband whether I was really that big. He nodded, and I just broke down.

It was then that I vowed I would never get that big again.

“When I switched gyms to Energy Fitness I was still self conscious but I’ve realized there isn’t any need to be: as long as you’re putting the work in, people don’t care. Myself and my gym friends have all fitted in and are like part of the furniture now. We have been giving nicknames as well, such as the ‘grey team’ and ‘last of the summer winers’.”

She is so committed to her training that she is now 19 months away from competing in Swansea Half Marathon.

“I signed up because I wanted a new goal. Next year I’ve been coerced into dong a full marathon, so that’s another goal to aim for.”

After watching Helen’s weight come off, her husband decided he was going too attend classes too, with the result that by the time Helen had reached her 40th birthday she had lost six stone and her husband had lost two stone.

Helen’s confidence has soared as a result of her weight loss – she is now far more outgoing, and enjoys nights out. She has lost a total of 10 stone and is on target to be 11 stone lighter by her three-year Slimming World anniversary.

“I have done a total 360 of my life: I now train 4-four to six times a week, and I can honestly say that Slimming World has changed my life. I love how Slimming World works: yes, you can have your cake and eat it – you just count it. People often ask me how I can eat everything I do and still lose weight. I’m proof that Slimming World works. It’s not a diet; it’s about healthy living and changing the way you cook.

“I can’t thank Arlene and my slimming buddy Lisa Evans enough – and of course my family, who have been there through thick and thin.”

86 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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Food & drink

BESIDE THE SEASIDE (page 88) THE GREAT HALL (page 90) RECIPES WITH BETH ROSE (page 99) JAMES SOMMERIN (page 102)

Norton Road, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 5TQ 01792 404 891 www.nortonhousehotel.co.uk

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enquiries@nortonhousehotel.co.uk Nortonhousemumbles @nortonhousemumb

4/22/2016 11:47:43 AM

FOOD & DRINK

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside...

Swansea Bay is pretty hard to beat when it comes to great beaches, a bite to eat and a glass of something cool. DANIEL LAURIE shares his top 10...

West Cross Inn

Oxwich Bay Hotel Long-established and family run, the Oxwich Bay Hotel has been keeping diners happy for decades, with a seasonal à la carte menu, with al fresco dining in a lovely terraced garden and with popular afternoon teas. Tons to enjoy here and we love it.

My favourite? Courgette, leek, spinach and wild garlic tagliatelle, mint and basil dressing and shaved parmesan Price taste: Beer battered fish, pea puree, chips and tartare sauce £10.95 A 125ml glass of Chablis: £3.50

Café TwoCann Cafe by day and more restaurant by night, Cafe TwoCann is one of the main draws over at Swansea’s SA1 marina, with oodles of atmosphere and great food. “Lovely, lovely food,’’ is how one writer on a social media website puts it simply.

My favourite? Their home-made beef and caramelised red onion burger.

Not to be missed.

Price taste: A two course lunch can be had for £11.95. A large glass of house white: £4.75

The Bay View If you enjoy a beer in the bar or brave enough to try traditional Thai cuisine, The Bay View is the place for you. They boast a fantastic location situated in Oystermouth Road so a great way to end a long walk on Swansea Bay. My favourite? Neau Row Dang; Wok Fried Beef with Red Wine, Onions, Fresh Tomatoes, Garlic & Spring Onion Price taste: starter and main for £5.95 on lunch menu. 2 for 1 on San Miguel on Open Mic Tuesdays.

Fairyhill Restaurant

Langland Brasserie

A contemporary country house hotel with an award winning restaurant and a wine cellar of international repute, Fairyhill Restaurant is surrounded by outstanding natural beauty.

In summer, an expansive terrace looking down the manicured lawns. Serving the finest local ingredients of Welsh beef and salt-marsh lamb is just a sample of what the restaurant offers.

88 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK Fairyhill

The River House Café Twocann

My Favourite? 14oz bone-in rib-eye steak with chimichurri salsa, chips or seasonal salad.

Price taste: two course meal for £38.50, three courses for £49.50. A bottle of Borsao Rosado, Campo de Borja, Spain: £23.50

Langland Brasserie

for just £2 My favourite? Flat iron steak and red onion sandwich. It is delicious and reasonably priced.

Price taste: Garlic Brined Pork Loin, confit garlic, black pudding, cauliflower: £16.95 2 courses for 2 people and a bottle of house wine for £39 Tuesday to Thursday

This is a sweet option for picturesque, luxury dining, a pebble’s throw away from the water and from Langland’s famous beach huts. Langland BrasserIe is a brilliant place to watch the sun go down with a glass of something cold in your hand and a glass of olives in front of you. Also good for breakfast.

Surfside Café

My Favourite? 14oz bone-in rib-eye steak with chimichurri salsa, chips or seasonal salad

My favourite? A ham and cheese toastie, which comes with a generious side side and plenty of cous cous.

Price taste: Fish & chips – Fresh fish of the day, served with chips & tartare sauce: £15.50 50ml glass of dessert wine Moscato Passito: £3.25

West Cross Inn Perched on the footpath immediately fronting the promenade, the vantage point this place offers of the bay is probably one of the best there is. Its first floor dining area offers even better views. The beer garden just feet from the beach itself is also worth calling in at particularlyuif you are on a long walk between Mumbles and Swansea.

My favourite? Its Sunday lunch is always a sure fire bet. Choose from pork, beef or chicken.

Price taste: That one-course Sunday menu will set you back £8.95. But there is a range of other options too including fish and chips and a legendary homemade Jaffa cake cheesecake which are also worth trying out!

The River House

Located next to the river and sail bridge in the vibrant SA1 development, The River House has become one of Swansea’s most popular eating and watering holes.

With a sophisticated bar and covered terrace area, the lounge served light meals all day as well as high end cocktails and champagne. A perfect place to relax with your friends and watch the world go by.

A good spot just a stone’s throw from the water’s edge to meet up with friends, and to share an informal bite, Surfside Cafe have set up shop along the coast at Langland, Caswell and Rotherslade.

Price taste: Gourmet steak, sweet chilli burger: £6.20. A one-shot cappuccino: £2 Oxwich Bay Hotel

Castellamare You can choose from either its 120-seater A La Carte Italian Restaurant or enjoy a bite to eat in the stunning sunshine in the outdoor area at Castellamare. It serves a variety of dishes from fresh fish, steaks, chicken to fine wines and desserts. Either way, the restaurant offers the very best views of Swansea Bay. Hugely popular with families and rightly so.

My favourite? Spaghetti Bolognese with a classic homemade Italian sauce.

Price taste: Margherita pizza, £7.95.

Children’s meals, £4.75. Bottle of sparkling Prosecco 200ml, £6.95

The Bay View

The Greyhound Inn If you need a pit stop after spending the day at Llangennith beach, The Greyhound Inn offers home-cooked and locally sourced dishes from sea bass to Gower lamb.

The restaurant also uses home produced quality ingredients and unique flavours from their Ales to produce an outstanding Welsh Steak and Ale pie.

My favourite? Lasagne served with coleslaw and garlic bread. Tasty treat.

Price taste: Welsh rump steak fajita - £10.95 Wash it down with a bottle of Gower Gold www.swansealife.co.uk | 89

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FOOD & DRINK

A TASTE OF

SWANSEA Who needs the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, when you can sit on the waterfront terrace at The Great Hall in Swansea, asks PETER SLEE...

I’

m a huge fan of tapas: could eat it until the cows come home.

There’s something immensely gratifying about table earthenware dishes of smoky chorizo, the saltiest anchovies, little roasted potatoes, garlicky king prawns and the like.

In short, tapas is sociable food. It’s about diving in, sharing with friends, getting your fingers mucky, gossiping. Whether you’re shopping, meeting friends after work or out for dinner a deux, most tapas menus usually manage to tick all the boxes. It’s a rare quality indeed and one I truly love.

Yet there remain those doubters who still insist on turning their noses up at the idea of tapas.

So should anyone need a little gentle persuasion as to its merits, might I suggest calling in at The Great Hall at Swansea University’s Bay Campus at Fabian Way. Perched right on the seafront, it’s not exactly Barcelona, but actually, it’s not far off. From its impressive first floor balcony are, you can all but dip your toes into the water outside.

sausage in red wine) and patatas bravas ( fried potato pieces in a spicy tomato sauce). For good measure, a couple of dishes of brushetta de pollo and a tomato and goat’s cheese which by way of contrast was nicely plain but still a skilful assembly that felt palpably nutritious and got quickly to the point, with only a green garnish as distraction. But then that is the beauty of a tapas menu. You pick and choose from a variety of dishes as you go along and as the mood takes you. A little bit of this, and a bit of that. Just how I like it.

Our menu on the day we called in was about comfort food, Spanish-style all helped along by our dazzling and attentive waitress. On another clement day I return for an early dinner.

I am able to style a different meal, starting this time by asking for a glass of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and a bowl of olives (£2.50) while I wait for my friend Joe, who is always late.

So should anyone need a little gentle persuasion as to its merits, might I suggest calling in at The Great Hall at Swansea University’s Bay Campus at Fabian Way.

You can rush in for a quick bite and be out again before you can say ‘Hola!’ or sit for an hour with a bottle of wine and some bread and olives. You can order all your dishes in one go, or you can get stuck into a couple, then decide on some more as and when you get peckish again. Although actually, it’s not all about tapas here. This new arrival to the Swansea eating out scene also serves up an impressive Sunday roast at £14.95 for two courses, salads, light bites, sushi and sashimni as well as farmhouse lunches. But it was their tapas we were here to sample. Any three for £9.95.

First up were a couple of dishes piled high with marinated Queen olives and artisan bread and oils. From here, things moved on a notch further still. Some excellent Pollo al ajillo, (chicken cooked in white wine and garlic) andb deep fried squid in batter.

All very good indeed.

Fifteen minutes later and we were ready for another foray into the menu: we plumped for some chorizo al vino ( spicy Spanish

He arrives and we are tickled pink by locally made sushi. A Mediterranean platter (£9.50) is another assembly as pleasing to the eye as the palate with its tomato tapenade, pancetta, salami, Parma ham and rustic bread.

Yes, the menu here is relatively brief but I gather there are plans to fill it out. And as a stopping off point, I would urge you to, well, to do just that and stop off. This place is meant for sharing, it really is. Its reach is an open one that goes beyond staff and students. Big and buzzy with those fantastic views out across the bay, this café-cum-bar will, I rather suspect, fast gain a legion of fans from an audience that stretches far beyond the university itself.

Everything was delicious, served promptly and really... you can’t ask for much more. A damn fine lunch on a sunny Swansea afternoon at a great price, and you know, sometimes, that’s all you need.

Go here and relax. If my experience is anything to go by, ( and no, they didn’t know who I was) I’m guessing you’ll be in good company.

Who needs the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. A waterfront terrace with tables perched on a huge first floor terrace in front of Swansea Bay does it for me rather nicely, thank you very much!

www.swansea.ac.uk/catering/greathallcafebarrestaurant 90 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

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EatOut Afan Tavern The Afan Tavern in Cwmafan is attracting customers from far and wide all eager to try the delicious home-cooked food.

This popular country pub has developed an excellent reputation for the high quality affordable cuisine and first class service. The Afan Tavern has won the prestigious title of South Wales Evening Post Restaurant of the Year under the Pub Food category and also best steak in South Wales has also received a highly commended award from Swansea Bay Tourism.

your guide to the best places to dine.

The emphasis is on home-cooked produce using fresh local ingredients wherever possible. There is an appetising choice of starters and an impressive selection of main courses such as Singapore Pulled Pork Noodle Sizzler or Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni to name just a couple.

Pub favourites include Fish and Chips with homemade batter as well as succulent Celtic Pride steaks and burgers from the grill.

Delicious desserts include Jam Roly Poly and Chocolate Fudge Cake served with ice cream and the new Nutella Gnocchi is well worth trying.

Curries come with a mini naan, poppadum, mango chutney and basmati rice and/or chips for just £6.95 and include the famous Afan Chicken Tarka. There is also a choice of Real Ales that quench any thirst.

The Sunday carvery is very popular and to cater for demand there are three sittings. Customers enjoy beef, pork, turkey and even lamb, with all of the trimmings. One course is £7.95, two courses are £9.95 and three courses are £11.95. The restaurant is now open on Sunday evenings from 6.00 pm until 9.00 pm.

The Afan Tavern can cater for all dietary requirements and vegetarians are well catered for. Children have their own menu and kids under the age of 12 can eat free with every full paying adult from Monday to Saturday between 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm and 4.00 pm on Sunday. Plus free WiFi.

AFAN TAVERN | Jersey Terrace | Cwmafan Neath Port Talbot | SA12 9AS Telephone: 01639 898 283

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Call

01792 545581

to advertise in next month’s feature.

Quadrant Coffee House Victorian Tea Room Enjoy a little nostalgia and try our Afternoon High Tea, served upstairs in our first floor dining area or downstairs if you prefer.

Gift vouchers available

This afternoon treat is ideal for celebrating a birthday, anniversary or any special moment, but who needs an excuse to endulge in a little self pampering and nostalgia? NOTE: To avoid disappointment, why not reserve a table? - Ask any of our waitress staff - they will be only to pleased to help!

Go on treat yourself... We serve Afternoon Tea every day in our Victorian Tea Room Freshly Prepared... Mixed Sandwiches, Mini Tartlets, Savoury Pastries Petit Fours and great cake selection.

QUADRANT GATE | 23 Nelson Street | Swansea | SA1 3QE t: 01792 463757 w: www.quadrantcoffeehouse.co.uk

The Smiths Arms Family friendly pub serving food daily.

Sunday carvery £6.45 • 12 - 4pm Free function room for parties up to 60 people with free entertainment.

Serving food daily. Open Mon-Wed 12-3pm, 5-8pm, Thurs & Fri 12-8pm, Sat 11.30-6pm

THE SMITH ARMS | 51-52 Neath Road | Hafod Swansea | SA1 2HR | Telephone: 01792 466776

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Coffee

Burgers

Pasta

Pizza

Ice Cream

The Heart of The Seafront

Family

We listen to our customers. You’ve told us what you want and that’s what we’ll deliver - superb food and drink in a spectacular setting with the warmest of welcomes. Join us for a relaxing experience overlooking our magnificent Aberavon beach. Take away food & drinks now available - open Monday-Sunday 9am-9pm.

01639 882121 • www.caferemos.com Untitled-1 1

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DOCKSIDE SUMMER LOVING: ELDERFLOWER COLLINS, Hendricks gin Elderflower Cordial Fresh Lime, Cucumber and Mint Tonic Water

LIVE MUSIC EXCLUSIVE NEW COCKTAIL MENU TAPAS SERVED UNTIL 10PM HHHHH

HHHHH

Telephone: 01792 468230 Open: Wednesday to Sunday 3.00pm - Midnight baramericanos

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FOOD & DRINK

Home cooking with Sian Day ...owner of the catering business The Vintage Tea Company in Penllergaer.

Let fish make a splash in your healthy eating efforts...

SALMON Often hailed as one of the healthiest foods in the world, salmon boasts endless vitalityboosting benefits. Firstly, it’s a good source of lean protein, which helps keep you feeling full for longer, supports muscle growth and repair and boosts metabolism, making it great for helping maintain a healthy weight.

Secondly, it’s packed full of nutrients, like omega 3 fatty acid - known, among other things, to promote heart and brain health - and iron, calcium and selenium, which has antioxidant properties, meaning it could help protect against certain cancers and support healthy immune function. A super-strong allrounder.

SARDINES, MACKEREL, RAINBOW TROUT Oily fish can be a costeffective way of giving your diet a mega-healthy boost.

Varieties like sardines and mackerel are among the best sources of omega 3 you’ll find, and there’s substantial scientific evidence that including them in your diet can play a significant role in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as dementia.

Researchers have found that older people with omega 3-rich diets are 25 per cent less likely to die prematurely and a third less likely to die of heart disease. They’re also a good source of vitamin D, essential for helping the

body absorb calcium, to keep bones and teeth healthy and something many Brits are lacking, particularly during winter with the lack of sunlight, possibly resulting in low mood, depression and fatigue.

COD, PLAICE, HADDOCK White fish doesn’t quite measure up to oily fish in the nutrition stakes, though it does still contain some omega 3, and can be a good source of selenium, B vitamins - which play a key role in a range of vital functions, including energy production, cell metabolism, immune function and skin health - plus iodine, important for thyroid function.

Perhaps the best thing about white fish, though, is that it’s a very good example of a lean, low-fat source of protein, so including them in your diet can help avoid weight gain and the health risks associated with consuming too much red meat, like an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.

PRAWNS Low in fat and calories, but high in protein, prawns are a great dietary addition for maintaining a healthy weight.

It’s also worth mentioning their calcium and potassium contents - helpful for bones, teeth and brain, heart and nerve function - plus vitamins A and E, which play a role in keeping eyes and skin healthy and supporting immune function.

Spiralised Spaghetti Bolognese...

For so long, I’ve wanted to buy a spiralizer. But I’ve been hesitant to pull the trigger because of storage reasons, and because I already have way too many kitchen gadgets. But it went on sale one day and I finally bought it. And I’m so glad I did! I’m obsessed! I love, love, love it.

We haven’t had regular pasta since the purchase of this little gadget. We’ve been all about the zoooooodles. Zoodles. Zucchini Noodles.

Added veggies means less carbs, looser trousers….win, win, win.

It is a gadget that makes “clean eating” easy. You can turn a simple courgette into a large quantity of healthy “carb free “spaghetti” in seconds. Genius. You place the vegetable of choice into your gadget turn the handle and wallah you have instant healthy vegetables ready for a quick blanch or stir fry and you are good to go.

If you don’t have a spiralizer to make the courgette spaghetti, use a peeler to make ribbons of courgette instead. Not quite as easy, but still achievable...

You will need...

• 400g beef/pork mince • 2 onions chopped

• 2 cloves garlic crushed • 2 carrots diced • 1 carton passata • 1 tin chopped tomatoes • 2 tbls tomato puree • 200 mls milk • 1 tsp mixed herbs • 500 mls beef stock • Salt & pepper • Pinch of sugar • Parmesan

Method: I always use half beef and half pork mince. It is what the Italians use and it is much lighter than all beef.

So, firstly brown off mince in olive oil then addthe onions, carrots, garlic and continue to cook for about 6 minutes stirring until softened then proceed adding passata, tomatoes puree, milk, stock and sugar. Simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.

Meanwhile pour some boiling water into a large saucepan add salt and blanch the courgette spaghetti for 30 seconds to gently soften and warm through you don’t want mush!

Then serve the Bolognese over a bed of courgette spaghetti and grate over some parmesan cheese.

Serve with a glass of Merlot and dinner is sorted!

FOLLOW SIAN’S DELICIOUS RECIPES on her blog page, siandaydream.wordpress.com, Facebook or Tweet her @SianDay

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SPECIAL OFFER

Monday - Thursday Lunch time menu £9.95

Lunch & evening menus - check out our specials board.

Also, choose from the individually priced a la carte menu.

EVENING MENU

2 Courses £13.99 3 Course meal £16.99

A La Carte Restaurant Open everyday 12noon - 9.30pm (last orders) Serving delicious lunchtime and evening a la carte menus and daily specials

Specials board available includes catch of the day fresh fish and home made ravioli

Gallini’s Brasserie

TRADITIONAL ITALIAN & FISH DISHES A SPECIALITY Convenient nearby parking available after 6pm Tel: 01792 456285 • Fax: 01792 467795 • Unit 3, Fishmarket Quay, Maritime Quarter, Swansea SA1 1UP

SPECIAL OFFER Lunch time £3.99 Specials menu available served between 12-3pm

EVENING MENU Served Monday - Saturday 6pm-9:45pm 2 courses £9.99 Special menu available

Experience Contemporary Fine Dining influenced by Mediterranean, Italian, Greek, Turkish and French cuisines Why not try our STEAK NIGHT WEDNESDAY with every two meals get a complimentary bottle of wine.

28 Windsor Road, Neath SA11 1LU For reservations and enquiries, please call: 01639 643741 www.lamemobrasserie.co.uk/Neath Untitled-1 1

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CHRISTENINGS • FUNERALS WEDDINGS • ENGAGEMENTS BIRTHDAYS • CORPORATE EVENTS

Perfect s g n i d d e W s p o t e e r at T

New Vogue Photobooth Not to be beaten for quality or price FREE memory book for bride & groom Selfe pod also available

P E N G W E R N R O A D , M O R R I S T O N , S W A N S E A S A 6 7 LW T E L : 0 1 7 9 2 7 9 9 9 2 4 • W W W.T R E E T O P S C O U N T R Y C L U B . C O . U K

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FOOD & DRINK

Gurgle Power!

Peter Slee favours wines by female winemakers this summer...

Finest Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015, New Zealand (£7, Tesco, Mumbles) This light, zesty sauvignon blanc is crafted for Tesco by Tamra Kelly-Washington of the Yealands Family Winery and Crossroads.

The power behind the throne, her wines are always well received and highly rated.

For those who love a crisp, vibrant tipple on a sunny summer’s evening, it’s a perfect match with prawns on the barbecue and fresh, leafy salads.

Extra Special Chablis 2014, France (£11, Asda, Swansea) Produced by leading winery Domaine Brocard, chief winemaker Odile Van der Moere says: “I’m passionate about wine, and mostly Chablis”, which I’m sure most of us can relate to!” From a favourable vintage, this chardonnay is crisp and clean with green apples and citrus notes, aromas of crushed shells and a bright, cleansing acidity, and may even taste better in a year or two.

Mumbles BBC Masterchef semi-finalist Beth Rose shares her recipe for Lemon & mushroom risotto with pea shoots...

Summer is here so let’s celebrate with a wonderful fresh and zingy dish that’s so simple to whip up at home and great to enjoy sitting outside in the warming breeze (you will even have more than half a bottle of white wine leftover for a post meal tipple.)

You can use whatever seasonal vegetables you like but I love the taste of woody mushrooms with zingy lemon and fresh, sweet peas.

The most important thing to remember when cooking risotto is that you must keep stirring constantly to create that wonderfully silky texture and a creamy taste.

Serves 4 people • 1 garlic clove • 4 shallots • 250g chestnut or wild mushrooms, roughly chopped • 4 tbsp salted butter • 350g risotto rice • 175ml white wine • 1 litre chicken or vegetable stock (homemade or quality shop bought) • 1 lemon • 75g frozen peas • 100g Parmesan cheese • 2 handfuls of pea shoots

Method

Frares Priorat 2014, Spain (£13, Marks & Spencer, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park) Inviting and intense, this is a ‘big red’ from Spain’s trendy Priorat region and true to the style, with a youthful freshness and minerality to the wild blackberry and mulberry fruits. Sandra Estevez brings real finesse to the wine by teasing life out of the small bush vines which may only produce as little as one bunch per vine, using minimal treatment in the winery. This gives the wine amazingly concentrated and authentic flavours.

Crush the garlic, dice the shallots and roughly chop the mushrooms. Heat a glug of olive oil and a tbsp of butter in a saucepan and add the shallots. Cook on a medium heat until the shallots are softened but not browned. Next add the mushrooms and the garlic and continue to stir for 2 minutes. Now pour the rice into the pan and move the grains around in the pan so they are all coated by the butter.

Pour in the white wine and let this bubble away until the wine has evaporated. Now carry on stirring the risotto, adding one ladle of chicken stock at a time, waiting until the liquid has evaporated before adding the next ladleful. Once all of the stock has been used up you should be left with a creamy risotto with a slight bite from the grains of rice.

Grate the zest from half the lemon and add to the risotto with the frozen peas and half the Parmesan. Stir until the peas have thawed, then serve your risotto in bowls topped with a squeeze of lemon, the pea shoots and the remaining Parmesan.

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90 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 4QF 01792 644688 www.ndjohn.co.uk

Sparkle this Spring!

FROM CHAMPAGNE TO PROSECCO AND EVEN SPARKLING REDS, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO FILL YOUR GLASS WITH FIZZ. WHEN SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND THE EVENINGS DRAW OUT, THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE, OR SIMPLY RELAX, THAN WITH A SIP OF SOMETHING SPARKLY. THIS IS YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO THE WORLD OF SPARKLING WINES. Sparkling wine simply means a carbonated wine - a wine that produces bubbles. The carbonation in sparkling wine is created using one of two methods: the Méthode Champenoise (Champagne method) or Metodo Italiano (Italian method), which is also known as the Charmat-Martinotti method. This may sound complicated, but the real difference between the two methods is in the taste. Wines in the Charmat-Martinotti method tend to be younger and fruitier while wines made using the Champagne method are often drier and less fruity.

Champagne This is the most popular of the sparkling wines worldwide. The grape varietals used are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. To earn its label, Champagne must be produced in the Champagne region of France, its secondary fermentation must take place in the bottle (to create carbonation), it must contain only grapes grown in specifically designated plots, produced under very particular conditions. Every now and then, the harvest in a particular year is exceptional; and the Champagne is made from and labeled as the single vintage, as opposed to a blend of multiple years.

There are a few varieties of Champagne. Firstly; Blanc de Noirs, a white wine produced entirely from black grapes. Another is Blanc de Blancs, a Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. Also, there’s Rosé Champagne, commonly made by adding still Pinot Noir red wine to the sparkling wine cuvée.

Prosecco This is a dry, white, Italian sparkling wine that is produced through the Charmat method – secondary fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks as opposed to in each individual bottle – making it less expensive to produce. It comes in lightly sparkling (frizzante), fully sparkling (spumante), and still (tranquilo) versions. Unlike champagne, Prosecco,

Lunetta Prosecco Spumante £8.99 A deliciously light and fruity Prosecco with hints of apple and peach on the nose and a fresh, softly sparkling palate.

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does not “get better with age”, and should actually be consumed while at its youngest otherwise it will go stale. Prosecco is great for a toast and an ideal less-expensive substitute for Champagne. It is also the main ingredient in various “Bellini” cocktails, and can be used as a substitute in any cocktail that calls for Champagne, such as Mimosas.

Sparkling Shiraz This is a sparkling red wine, originally called Sparkling Burgundy (in Australia), which uses the traditional method and typically, Shiraz grapes.

On its first fermentation, the wine starts as a Shiraz. The secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle, á la Méthode Champenoise. The red sparkling wine is sweet although there are dry and tannic varieties.

Sweet or Dry? Sparkling wine has four levels of sweetness. The level of sweetness of the wine will be printed directly on the bottle. These levels are: Extra-Brut: This is the driest kind of sparkling wine you can buy. In this type of sparkler, the yeast has eaten all of the sugar, leaving no sweetness in the wine whatsoever.

Brut: This is the most popular type of sparkling wine. The wine is dry, but there is just a hint of sweetness. In this sparkler, the winemaker stopped the fermentation process just before the yeast ate all of the sugar, leaving a tiny amount behind in the wine. Champagne is the most common sparkler to be labeled Brut.

Extra Dry: This type of sparkler is dry, but not as dry as Brut or Extra-Brut, meaning it retains a slight sweetness. It’s not sugary sweet, although they are noticeably sweeter than Brut wines. Prosecco is most often Extra Dry. Demi-sec: This is a sweet sparkling wine. One would usually drink Demisec with desert, as there is a prevalent amount of sugar.

Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne £22.95 Pinot Noir gives this wine richness and a long finish while Chardonnay, from the finest soils of the Cotes des Blancs, adds delicacy, liveliness and freshness. Pinot Meunier, mainly from the Marne Valley, gives this wine an appealing fruitiness and roundness.

The Peppermint Paddock Sparkling Chambourcin, d’Arenberg £16.95 The nose is a swirl of spiced plums, dark jubes, cherries and ripe red berries dusted with sweet spice for lift. It’s a heady mix, drawing you back for another whiff of winter berries and layers of licorice and earth. The palate is full and fresh, spicy with a creamy mouthfeel and there is just enough tannin to keep it all in check.

4/22/2016 2:46:09 PM

Seafood bistro

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Large selection of seafood and entrées available.

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4/22/2016 9:14:55 AM

FOOD & DRINK

RESTAU RANT JAMES SOMMERIN

In search of a new destination restaurant, PETER SLEE finds one along the M4 at Penarth... peter.slee@swwmedia.co.uk

102 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

’ve written about a fair few restaurants on this page over the years.

Family-friendly local eateries, outof-the-way pubs, cafes and chain restaurants. Some good, others, occasionally, a little less so.

But I’ve never before eaten in a restaurant anything like Restaurant James Sommerin.

Dining there on a Saturday lunchtime last month was a bit of a surprise. I had been tipped-off from a friend living locally. There was no PR bumf, no competitive tweets nor insistent Instagrams, no frenzied media telling me what to think, no polls, just arriving at a comfortable, slightly whimsical neighbourhood restaurant that takes bookings enthusiastically and doesn’t have a sound system to rival that of a jackhammer.

Sommerin sits by the pier at Penarth. It is a place that has made the kitchen the star of the show. Along one side seating that still allows some great views of the sea and beach outside.

But it is to the kitchen that the diner’s view is directed, visible through a snazzy window, showcasing localboy-made-good, chef-proprietor James Sommerin, After establishing himself at The Crown at Whitebrook, where he won and held onto a precious Michelin star for seven years, the chef’s eponymous restaurant quickly filled the James Sommerin-sized hole on Wales’s restaurant scene after opening in the summer of 2014.

Diners at this stylish eatery are free to revel in tasting menus of five, seven or ten courses (dining at the chef’s table unlocks a 12 course option), with a three course menu also available at lunchtime.

Sommerin’s celebrated style, once categorised as ‘understated French’, is in full view here – and the Caerleon-born chef dazzles in his ability to create dainty concoctions from the least dainty of ingredients. Pig’s head comes arranged with celeriac and apple, while langoustine is daringly envisaged with white chocolate, tonka bean and turnip accompaniments.

The restaurant’s proximity to water is echoed in its minimalist design, which plays mineral blues against white for a light and airy feel. Service is bright, professional and knowledgeable.

He is keen too, but aren’t we all, on noble ingredients. And they are obvious in what is served up.

We opt for the a la carte option which is launched with a couple of amuses all so fleetingly delicious, we mourn their passing as we eat. The butter which comes with straightforwardly good bread is served on a rounded stone, presumably one that has been plucked from the seashore opposite the front door. A starter of roasted beetroot (£8), pine nut, goats cheese with pickle is perfectly judged and perfectly cooked. So too, our cauliflower risotto with truffle, thyme and chanterelle. Sauces are dotted, microherbs tweezed, but there’s real earthiness and depth to a main of 32- day-aged sirloin with oxtail, parsnip anchored by a terrific red wine jus, (£28).

The vegetarian option (£17) of celeriac with truffle - a Spirograph masterpiece - has an impact way beyond expectation due to the earthy, woody essence of mushroom and truffle in which the well-seasoned vegetables are steeped. The buttery foam which rests on top of it all helps enormously too. And such touches are always used to enhance and intensify flavour, rather than to show off.

Desserts – across the table, a celestial assembly of Kalamansi with black sesame and orange blossom ( £8) and mine, Artisan British cheeses with homemade biscuits and preserves (£12) are first rate, though we’re flagging by the petit fours. But yes, we still eat them and they are every bit as delicious as they look.

Sommerin’s stellar cooking combines first-rate classical technique with clever flourishes and interesting ingredients at every level.

It is a place quite like no other restaurant I have ever eaten in. This raises the bar when it comes to eating out and it is absolutely worth a 40-mile trek up the M4 from Swansea to sample it.

Now all I need is a ‘special occasion’ excuse to call in again.

I can hardly wait.

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FOOD & DRINK

S I M P LY T H E B E S T Andrew Hanson’s much lauded cooking is underpinned by the best ingredients he can buy. He told JENNY WHITE why quality is so important...

Few South Wales restaurants can claim to have the recognition and praise that has been heaped on Hanson at the Chelsea. It has been recommended by the Good Food Guide and the AA Restaurant Guide for years, and it now also features in the Michelin Guide.

What’s more, its ranking in the Good Food Guide has increased and its AA Restaurant Guide ranking has been raised to two rosettes, reflecting the way in which chef/owner Andrew Hanson and his team continue to hone their skills.

Any food lover in Swansea who has not yet experienced Andrew’s food is missing a treat.

He’s been cooking in the area for many years, having started his career in London at top restaurants including The Ritz and The Mirabelle before returning to Swansea and opening his first restaurant – The Seasons - in Mumbles in 1993. He later moved to open Hanson’s in Swansea Marina, before relocating to The Chelsea 10 years ago.

Hanson at the Chelsea is rightly regarded as the place to go if you’re in the know about great food. It’s seen more than its fair share of celebrity diners over the years and has a huge band of loyal customers, ensuring it is reliably busy even early in the week (it is one of a handful of local restaurants to open on Mondays).

“Being busy is great but we don’t get greedy – we keep within the comfort zone of good quality service and food and we don’t risk quality for the till,” says Andrew, who places a strong emphasis on sourcing the very best ingredients from key local suppliers such as Howell’s butchers in Penclawdd.

“The quality of their meats is superb,” he says. “Their 35 -day aged ribeye steak is a case in point – and if diners want to cook the same at home, they can go to Howell’s and get the very same specification cut as we use in the restaurant.”

Another favourite ingredient is the rack of lamb from Howell’s, which Andrew serves with panache of vegetables, vegetable puree, classic

dauphinoise potatoes and a lamb jus.

“Our dishes are not unnecessarily fussy, but even the simplest sounding dish is easy to get wrong. We make sure we get it right by starting with the very best raw ingredients and cooking them accurately.” There’s also no corner cutting: chips are hand cut, sauces home-made and everything is cooked fresh. The Hanson’s steak and chips, for instance, includes home-made béarnaise sauce and onion rings, while the fish and chips features beautifully fresh fish that is battered and deep fried immediately before it is served to ensure the batter comes out crisp rather than soft and sweaty – which is a result of leaving it to sit before serving. It’s served with home-made tartar sauce and pea puree.

Other delightful takes on traditional British food range from steak and kidney pie to Andrew’s scallops starter, which teams pan roasted scallops with a quail Scotch egg. His focus on local, seasonal ingredients means that he has formed excellent links with local farmers, hunting out the very best that South Wales can provide.

“A favourite supplier is Swyny-Garreg farm on Gower, which produces excellent hen and duck eggs,” says Andrew. “They’re only on Swansea market a couple of days a week and their duck eggs sell out quickly so I always make sure I get there early to buy enough for the restaurant.”

He’s currently looking forward to the start of the English asparagus season, when he will serve steamed asparagus with a toasted muffin and a soft boiled, peeled duck egg.

Such traditional British dishes make up much of the menu, but Andrew also draws on classical French and European influences in his cooking. Another take on duck egg is to serve it with duck leg rillettes, toasted soldiers and Hollandaise sauce, while a popular main course is monkfish with linguine vongole made with mussels and white wine.

Classic French chicken liver and foie gras parfait is another favourite, served with home-made pear and

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FOOD & DRINK

date chutney and home-made walnut bread, while desserts (all home-made) might include traditional lemon tart or crème brulee.

After so many years in the kitchen Andrew has a strong instinct for what works, and is constantly dreaming up new dishes. While he is the driving force in the kitchen, his wife Michelle heads up the friendly front of house team. The restaurant is popular for everything from business lunches to romantic dates and parties; there is a private downstairs dining room for those who want their own space.

The main dining area is warm and homely, with wood floors, yellow walls and mellow lighting. Visit at lunchtime and you can get two courses for just £14.50, or three for £18.50, while the evening options include an a la carte menu and a six course menu for £35.

It’s no surprise that customers are quick to praise the value for money as well as the quality of the cooking.

“The thank you from customers at the night end is one of my favourite things about being a chef,” says Andrew.

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THE LOWDOWN WITH ANDREW HANSON

Favourite place to unwind in Swansea I enjoy walking my two staffies over Pennard golf course, and down to Pobbles where we pick all our blackberries – we pick enough in August and September to last the restaurant a year. I also love cooking at home with the kids, and going out on my Ducati.

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Greatest influence on my cooking.

It’s hard to pick out a particular influence. I’ve definitely been shaped by my training at The Ritz and was inspired

by Marco Pierre White, but after so many years in the kitchen I tend to come up with my own ideas.

Best ingredient to cook with Howells’ Gower lamb, and local bass when available.

Favourite comfort food Good cheese and a bottle of wine Dish I’m most proud of I can’t pick one out: we put pride and care into every dish and I’m proud of them all.

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Chef’s choice: Joseph Joseph Elevate Utensil Carousel Set, £79.95, Leekes, Cross Hands

ProductColumn2.indd 2

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4/22/2016 12:00:13 PM

FOOD & DRINK

THE BEST LOCATION Chef James Parker has had an interesting year, and the best bit has been landing the role of head chef at the newly relaunched Pump House in Swansea’s maritime quarter. He told Jenny White about his love of fresh local fish and the pleasures of having a kitchen with a view.

Pump House chef James Parker has some very good reasons to be pleased with his new job – not least the fact that he is back in full time work following a near-fatal cycling accident last year. He was cycling down Mount Pleasant when his wheel hit a pothole; he was flung onto the kerb and ended up on life support with multiple injuries.

“I was in intensive care for a week and in hospital for two and a half weeks, which was very difficult, because I like to be independent and I was very worried for my wife and two boys, Ieuan, 8, and Aled, 3. Aled had to spend his third birthday in hospital with me,” he says.

One of his broken ribs lacerated his spleen, so he had to have that removed and will need medication for the rest of his life – but he is pleased that he is now starting a new chapter with a new job as head chef at The Pump House.

“I’m taking every day as best I can with a smile on my face – I’m pleased to be back on my feet and back in full time work. I was told it would take time but the recovery process was immensely frustrating,” he says.

James has many years’ experience cooking in a pub setting. His previous jobs include cooking for Beefeater, Wetherspoon’s and The Woodman in Blackpill but he also worked at The Mermaid in Mumbles, where he discovered a passion for fresh fish that shines through in his cooking today.

While much of the menu at re-vamped, re-launched The Pump House follows a set pattern, offering grills, pub classics and spicy dishes such as curries, chillis and nachos, there is also room for the chefs to come up with their own specials – and for this part of the menu James makes full use of the Pump House’s marina location.

“We get fish from just across road in Swansea Fish, and it’s great quality,” he says. “Our last special was mussels cooked in white wine, cream and garlic with crusty warm baguette – it took me right back to my honeymoon in France. It went down really well with the customers, so we’ll put mussels on again, but next time we may do a chilli and coriander version.”

James credits his previous job at The Mermaid with helping him hone his chef skills.

“It brought my skills up to a higher level, and that’s come in very useful here, where we have an emphasis on freshly cooked food,” he says.

Besides fish specials, he creates dishes such as pate-stuffed chicken breast with fresh vegetables and a champ mash, or a light chicken Caesar salad for a springtime vibe.

Even the simpler sounding dishes require skill: a good example is the Pump House’s ribs dish, which is the result of a long, multistage cooking process which includes slow cooking the ribs for

Meet Chef.indd 1

up to four hours in a barbeque marinade, steaming them and then crisping them under the grill.

“The result is that they’re really succulent and falling off the bone,” he says.

Some of the most popular dishes on the current menu are the fish dishes – especially the traditional cod and chips and the baked salmon with a béarnaise sauce, fresh vegetables and a choice of potatoes.

“We also do a lot of grill work – the steaks, the mixed grill and the gammon are the most popular,” he says.

Also popular are the two meals for £12 offers, which run all day Monday to Friday, offering hearty fare such as burritos, burgers and ham, egg and chips.

While these types of dishes look set to remain perennial favourites throughout the year, the Pump House menus also flow with the seasons, with a new menu arriving on April 12.

“There will massive variety again, and lots of new specials,” says James.

Like all the team at The Pump House, James was taken on as part of the relaunch of the popular pub and restaurant, which enjoys a plum spot in Swansea Marina. The interior has been totally redesigned, creating a plush, characterful setting full of comfy chairs and rich colours. There are great waterside views and also plenty of cosy corners where you can happily enjoy everything from a quick pint to a three course meal.

A striking part of the area’s industrial heritage, the Pump House’s new look makes the most of its industrial character while also feeling warm and homely. The staff are a vital part of the welcoming atmosphere, and James says the team has gelled well.

“Front of house and back of house have merged as one big team.

It’s a friendly atmosphere and we all bonded during two weeks of training.”

He also enjoys working for Brain’s: “They’ve kept the feel of a local business, with the owners coming round to all their pubs as often as they can. They care about their staff and make sure everyone is happy and well looked after, and they guide us in the right direction.”

One of his favourite features about his new workplace is the open kitchen, which allows guests a glimpse of the action, and gives him a view of the restaurant.

“It means you get to look out and see the world outside – and I especially enjoy it when people walk past the kitchen and thank me for their meals. You don’t get that if you’re stuck behind four walls, and it’s really rewarding. I love cooking and one of the things I really look for is confirmation that people enjoyed eating the food.”

4/22/2016 12:03:41 PM

FOOD & DRINK

“I love cooking and one of the things I really look for is confirmation that people enjoyed eating the food.”

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4/22/2016 12:03:54 PM

ASHBOURNE

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PORT TALBOT Middleton, part of the LBS Group

4/22/2016 2:46:49 PM

House & home

DREAM HOME (page 110) THROUGH THE KEYHOLE (page 120) IN THE GARDEN (page 135) HOMES WITH GREAT GARDENS (page 150)

LBS Home & Garden, 22 Rhosmaen Street, Llandeilo, SA19 6NL • 01558 823900 LBS Neath, Neath Abbey Road, Neath SA10 7BR • 01639 646511 LBS Port Talbot, Unit 5, Cramic Way, Port Talbot SA13 1RU • 01639 884433

HouseAndHome.indd 1

4/22/2016 12:05:31 PM

HOUSE & HOME

DREAM

110 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 12:09:42 PM

HOUSE & HOME

HOME Perfect backdrop Steve Bradford and his family loved their woodland setting on the edge of Pontardawe.

Swansea Life CHRIS CAMPBELL finds out more...

T

eaching his daughter to ride her bike and listening to his son play the guitar are two memories that make this Victorian home in the Swansea Valley so special for its owner.

what it might have been used for in the past. But it’s a stunning home with garden on all four sides.

“What I love about it is that it’s a big house with a big garden, so often you either get one or the other.

Craig Yr Adar, in Uplands Road, Pontardawe is set within an acre of garden and by wonderful woodland.

“Our children have so enjoyed living here and it is private and peaceful. You wouldn’t believe it’s on the edge of a town.

It was the perfect backdrop for Steve Bradford and his family to make the most of an outdoor lifestyle and the house, dating back to about 1880, offers plenty of space for activities plus peace and quiet when needed.

There is history nearby too with an old railway line running 100 yards from the front of the house. It is believed to have been constructed to transport coal from the Ammanford pits to Swansea city centre, but wasn’t completed. There is a disused tunnel there and a Great Western Railway plaque on the floor.

Steve says: “The house is a bit of a mystery, no one seems to know

“We needed a five bedroom house. We lived in big houses before but the kids weren’t all on the same floor, so we wanted a home where their bedrooms could be.”

The five bedroom house has period features, high ceilings, large bay windows and an open-plan style, which makes it perfect for entertaining.

The whole property was refurbished six months after the family of six moved in, in 2008.

It took about three months in total and included knocking down walls to create the open plan space and re-wiring.

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HOUSE & HOME

“The grounds are beautifully planted with a

“The house was much more divided,” Steve says. “We opened it up, re-wired and put in gas fires.

“We have bought 1930s homes in the past and refurbished them, so we had an idea of what worked and what didn’t.

“We thought we could live in this house while the work was being carried out, even without a proper kitchen or bathroom. My advice is for owners to stay somewhere else while refurbishment is being done, particularly if you have a young family and it’s an old house.”

Steve’s favourite part of the property is the sitting room, which has a log burning fire and catches the sun, particularly when it is low in winter.

Sash windows with wooden shutters, original Victorian tiled flooring and ornate ceilings can be found throughout the property and add to its charm and character.

Double doors lead you from the front door into the hallway, which has an original tiled floor with mosaic detail and wooden doors to the reception rooms and kitchen.

The lounge is a lovely room with bay sash windows and shutters to the side overlooking the charming gardens. There are French doors to the front. The original ceiling rose is an attractive feature with decorative coving and a picture rail. The gas fire is set in a sandstone fireplace.

The kitchen/breakfast room has a central island and is fitted with a range of wall, base and display units with oak work surfaces.

A Leisure range sits snugly within an alcove. There are double doors into the dining room, which also benefits from a good size bay sash window with shutters to the side and French doors to the back. There is ornate coving and impressive frieze, plus a wooden floor and log effect gas fire with a feature surround.

From the kitchen, there is a beautiful stained glass door to the spacious utility. It has a tiled floor, sash window and spot lighting, plus a stable door to the back. There is also a shower room and a storage cupboard under the stairs.

There is a spacious landing upstairs and attractive French doors can be found to the front, offering the perfect place for a balcony or Juliette balcony.

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HOUSE & HOME

variety of mature trees and colourful shrubs.”

There are five generous bedrooms and a large family bathroom with a bath and shower cubicle.

Outside, there is a gated entrance, sweeping driveway, ample parking and a detached garage. Lawned areas can be found, perfect for cricket, football and other activities, with elevated terraces and a courtyard.

The grounds are beautifully planted with a variety of mature trees and colourful shrubs.

The gardens enjoy privacy and a countryside outlook.

Steve adds another benefit of the property’s location is its proximity to quality schools and to town.

“There are excellent schools here and being so close to a selfcontained town, while feeling you are right out in the countryside, is great”, he says.

Property: Craig Yr Adar, Uplands Road, Pontardawe, Swansea Lessons learnt: “My advice is for owners to stay somewhere else while refurbishment is being done, particularly if you have a young family and it’s an old house.”

Price: £485,000 Bedrooms: 5 Agent: Fine and Country Swansea • 01792 367301

Mumbles Office Mumbles Office 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea Tel: 01792 367301 Tel: 01792 367301

Mumbles Office 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea Tel: 01792 367301

www.swansea@fineandcountry.co.uk www.swansea@fineandcountry.co.uk

www.swansea@fineandcountry.co.uk www.swansealife.co.uk | 113

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PEnRhyn, MuMBLEs hEAd PARk, PEMBREy

*** Breathtaking Views ***

This five bedroom residence has been designed to maximise the amazing views this home commands across the Burry Estuary, coastline and Gower beyond.

The main living room has a floor to ceiling window to appreciate its outlook. The current owners helped design the house when built 14 years ago. The living space flows easily from living room to dining room, conservatory, kitchen,

www.johnfrancis.co.uk

OffERs in ThE REGiOn Of

ÂŁ350,000

utility, downstairs toilet, four bedrooms, two bathrooms on the first floor, top floor bedroom, garage and driveway.

The grounds have been designed for ease of access and maintenance with many seated areas with views once more from the top decked area.

Our vendors have already bought and are ready to move.

A truly looked after home. Energy Rating: C 72

Llanelli Office Tel 01554 773051 llanelli@johnfrancis.co.uk ŠLW

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MansElfiEld Road,

offERs in ThE REgion of

£485,000

MuRTon Mumbles Office 01792 360060 | mumbles@johnfrancis.co.uk

An immaculate detached family house occupying a generous plot with countryside views to side and rear. Finished to a high contemporary specification the accommodation comprises five double bedrooms, a fantastic reception room with wood burner, an incredible kitchen family room, a luxurious family bathroom and ensuite to the master bedroom. There is also a utility room and WC. Externally there are extensive gardens to the rear and a large frontage with parking for a number of cars.

This house has been finished to the highest standard throughout using quality fittings and is situated in the ever popular and quiet location of Manselfield with views over open countryside to the side and the rear. It is in Bishopston School Catchment area.

MAnorBIer

offERs in ThE REgion of

£599,000 Tenby Office 01834 842859 | tenby@johnfrancis.co.uk an opportunity to purchase a fine, wellproportioned and extremely well presented, detached 4/5 bedroom quality family home with 3/4 spacious reception rooms. ‘White horses’ is set in approx ¼ of an acre of well-tended, walled gardens and occupying a secluded location accessed via a private driveway from the main road to the beach, through this pretty seaside village.

The property is designed in such a way as to balance the demands of modern day living with character and quality throughout. features include; Jerusalem stone floors, 2 wood burning stoves, light and airy garden room with distant sea views, cottage style kitchen, 2 Ensuites, gallery landing, spacious master bedroom with distant sea views, double garage, summer house, outside office/ workshop as well as the addition of solar panelling supplementing the running costs.

www.johnfrancis.co.uk

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www.johnfrancis.co.uk ©LW

4/22/2016 3:10:02 PM

HOUSE & HOME

the perfect

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In the picture Beach hut multi photo frame, £29.95, Dotcomgiftshop

Simple style Blyton painted table lamp £66, Housing Units

Cute Personalised Baby Blanket, £45 Ville& Campagne

In a line Orion Nest of Tables, £99, Made.com

Sweet smelling Emma Bridgewater Feels Like Home Scented Candle, £18, Marks and Spencer, Parc Trostre

Changing rooms Fairydust, Platinum and Happy Daze matt silk emulsions. £18.47 for 2.5 ml, B&Q, Parc Morfa

Clear cut Set of Six Glasses, £9.99, HomeSense, Swansea

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LANGLANDCOURT O U TS TA N DI N G COA S TA L R E S I DE N C E S L A N G L A N D , m um b l e s

OPEN DAY SATURDAY 21ST MAY 11AM - 2PM LANGLANDCOURT

Langland Court is an exciting new development that brings together a collection of classically designed, yet contemporary, spacious homes within a serene coastal setting.

Limited Availability • Prices from £450,000

FINAL PHASE NOW RELEASED – ONLY 2 REMAINING

01792 653100 www.dawsonsproperty.co.uk

For more information call

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NEW

NEW

Regionally 18 offices throughout the region

Nationally 225 offices across Great Britain

Internationally Plus 75 offices globally

5000 professional associates all around the world

CWM FARM LANE SKETTY

SOUTHWARD LANE LANGLAND

Occupying a tranquil spot and woodland position, enjoying sea views and an excellent degree of privacy. This classic Victorian family residence is located equidistant to the coastal village of Mumbles and the city centre. There are many interesting features at Ty Nant which sits in generous and mature gardens. There are three spacious receptions, five bedrooms, dressing room and two bath/shower rooms. EPC F

This prestigious Southward Lane property sits within easy reach of the award winning beaches at Langland and Caswell. The detached home is set over three floors and offers generous accommodation with a family friendly layout. Briefly comprising: Open plan kitchen/breakfast/family room, formal lounge, sitting room and utility room. Five bedrooms and four bath/shower rooms. Ample parking and rear garden. EPC E

£899,950

NEW

£800,000

NEW

ALLT-Y-CHAM DRIVE PONTARDAWE

THE OSBORNE LANGLAND

Allt-y-Cham House is a substantial six bedroomed Georgian residence which has been restored to enhance the original features such as, sash windows, fireplaces, friezes and cornices. The Grade II listed house enjoys an excellent degree of privacy and briefly comprises: Entrance hall, lounge, sitting/music room, kitchen, utility room, wine cellar, six bedrooms, bathroom and shower room. Set in mature gardens. EPC F

Located in the highly desirable Osborne Complex. This superbly appointed ground floor, two bed apartment is situated to enjoy spectacular sea views.

With the added bonus of a generous balcony leading from the open plan lounge and both the bedrooms, creating a lovely flow and offering a great place to enjoy the views, whether you are enjoying a morning brew from the bedroom or a night cap from the lounge. EPC C

£620,000

£575,000

Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com Fine & Country Swansea @FineSwansea

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NEW

NEW

Regionally 18 offices throughout the region

GOLDEN GROVE CARMARTHEN

ROSSERS FIELD LIMESLADE

Situated in a peaceful and private position surrounded by beautiful countryside with rural views from every room. Set behind attractive wrought iron gates in the desirable rural village of Golden Grove. This elegant Georgian style four bedroomed home is immaculately presented and sits in an elevated position within fifteen acres of manicured gardens, paddock and stables. EPC E

Situated at the end of a quiet road with the coastal footpath ahead offering cliff top walks to the local beaches. The desirable seaside location and sea views ensures this detached home will appeal to everyone from families, retirees and holiday home owners.

Comprising: Contemporary fitted kitchen, three receptions, three beds, bathroom and W.C. With building plot to the side. EPC B

£895,000

£750,000

Nationally 225 offices across Great Britain

Internationally Plus 75 offices globally

5000 professional associates all around the world

BISHOPSTON ROAD BISHOPSTON

HIGHER LANE LANGLAND

Offering a truly unique opportunity to purchase a charming Grade II listed four bedroomed Thatched Cottage with the added bonus of a detached three bed Coach House set within the established grounds and woodland. Situated in a private and tranquil setting with impressive and uninterrupted country views. Generous gardens, sun terrace, triple garage, work shop and car port. EPC C

Situated moments from Langland Bay which offers a family friendly sandy beach with tennis courts, beach café and the popular Langland Brasserie By The Sea. The house itself is spacious and offers versatile accommodation with the added advantage of a leisure suite with indoor heated swimming pool, changing and shower facilities. Briefly comprising: Three generous receptions and four bedrooms. EPC F

£1,250,000

£850,000

MURTON LANE NEWTON

LLYS LE BREOS MAYALS

Located in the desirable village of Newton and occupying a sizeable plot. This split level four bedroomed family home is generous and versatile and could easily accommodate an extended family or would be ideal for someone who works from home. The drive offers parking for many cars, with integral double garage. Generous gardens to the side and rear of the property. Excellent school catchments. EPC C

Architect designed detached property providing well thought out accommodation creating a charming family home with many practical features. The generous accommodation is beautifully presented and briefly comprises: Three generous reception rooms, kitchen, utility and W.C. Four bedrooms and bathroom with en-suite and walk in wardrobe to the master. Double garage and parking with enclosed rear garden. EPC D £550,000

O.I.E.O £700,000

Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com Fine & Country Swansea @FineSwansea

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HOUSE & HOME

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HOUSE & HOME

THROUGH THE KEYHOLE

COUNTRY ATTRACTION Deb and Dave Thomas love their semi-rural lifestyle in this Swansea village so much that they moved back after 14 years. Swansea Life’s CHRIS CAMPBELL finds out more... chris.campbell@swwmedia.co.uk

Moving back to this Swansea village and into a family home with beautiful bay views two years ago was a decision Deb and Dave Thomas have no regrets about.

glazed French door with glazed side panels to the back of the room, plus Karndean flooring. The ground floor also includes a hallway, utility room and cloakroom.

The couple lived in Three Crosses 14 years ago but moved away for Dave’s job. They couldn’t wait to move back again and make the most of the village’s walks and scenery.

Deb is also a fan of having a bathroom and two en suites, including one in the guest room, which she says friends and family always appreciate.

The pair also love the flexibility of their four bedroom detached property, called Tor House and which is about eight years old, plus the indoor and outside space it has to entertain guests.

“I love doing up houses and hopefully our next one will be one I can do up,” she says.

Deb, who loves nothing more than to walk her dog nearby, says: “We know Three Crosses having lived here before and it was the location and aspect that really attracted us here.

It’s a lovely, quiet area. The roads are quiet and it just feels so peaceful.

“We started work when we moved in and did little bits at a time. It’s personal taste really. I love putting my own stamp on things. The decor wasn’t to my taste, but it was fine. I’ve changed every room to lighten them up. They’re such big rooms and have very high ceilings.

“The house is lovely, but it’s probably a little bit big for us. It’s a good plot size and there is a big garage too. There are many different options for the reception rooms. We use the kitchen/ breakfast room as a day room to relax in and we have a separate dining room too. It’s got great flexibility, which I like. The family lounge is a lovely evening room with a log burning fire.”

She adds: ”There’s also a walk at the bottom of our road, with woodland and playing fields. It’s perfect for dog walking. The playing fields are wellmaintained by the local community and are safe for families. Another option is across the common, which a nice long walk.”

“We could have moved into here without doing anything, but we decorated to our taste.

“The kitchen before was dark and we wanted it to be light and cream.”

It’s a lovely, quiet area. The roads are quiet and it just feels so peaceful.

Deb and Dave put in a new kitchen, including two new French doors leading out to the garden, a year after they moved in. Other work, which started soon after their move, included carpeting upstairs, having patio laid at the back of the property by the kitchen, and adding a parking space and new wall at the front of the property.

Deb also re-decorated throughout the house to brighten it up and put her own stamp on it.

Her favourite room is the kitchen due to its size and layout for entertaining, plus the family lounge where she enjoys sitting by the Inglenook fireplace and having the odd glass of wine with friends. This room also has a solid oak mantel beam, which houses a multi fuel burner. There is a double

The family bathroom and four double bedrooms can be found on the first floor, two with en suite shower rooms.

The master bedroom has a range of fitted wardrobes, a dressing table and a dressing area.

Access to sizeable attic, via a pull down ladder, can be found in the third bedroom.

The property was built by Waterstone Homes and includes oak doors throughout.

Outside at the front, there is a gravelled area providing parking for one vehicle, as well as a lawned area.

There is a block paved driveway with parking for several vehicles at the side, which leads to the garage with an electric door. There is also an enclosed garden to the back with paved and gravelled areas and a selection of shrubs.

Unspoilt countryside and bay views can be appreciated from the house’s front windows. There are just four houses in total on that spot and Deb says the neighbours are kind and there when needed.

Deb adds it is a family orientated area with an impressive primary school close by.

“It’s a nice community with great people and a lovely feel,” she says.

The house: Four bedroom, detached, family home Price: £495,000 Who lives here: Deb and Dave Thomas Lessons: “I love doing up houses and hopefully our next one will be one I can do up.”

Agent: Astleys Residential, Killay • Call 01792 201100 or email killay@astleys.net www.swansealife.co.uk | 121

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Swansea 01792 641481 swansea@pablack.co.uk 49 Mansel Street, Swansea www.pablack.co.uk

Prestige homes from Peter Alan Ltd

Gower Road, Sketty, Swansea

The Beeches Close, Sketty * Four double bedrooms * Nestled in private grounds * Driveway for several vehicles * Superb gardens

£550,000

The Orchard, Leason Gower

* Conveniently positioned for SkettySq and Singleton Hospital * Superb sea views from upper levels * Surrounded with mature trees providing privacy * Garage an driveway * Walking distance to a range of amenities

£395,000

Ffynone Drive, Swansea

EPC = E * Spacious detached family home

£475,000

* Superb views from the front aspect * 5 bedrooms & 3 reception rooms * Garage * Front, side and rear gardens * Viewing essential to appreciate size

EPC = D

£299,999

©LW

* Detached spacious bungalow * Three double bedtooms * Seaviews * Approx. third of an acre * No chain

EPC = C

EPC = D * Spacious detached 6 bedroom family home

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ate by ly v i Pr ings t On w en Vie ntm i po p A

Last chance to purchase on this Luxury Development of Executive Homes situated in MUMBLES. Lying just a stone’s throw from the picturesque village of Mumbles, the gateway to the Gower Peninsula, Bethany Lane occupies a prime location in a tranquil environment, tucked away off the Mumbles Road. Private viewings available on request.

How to find us: Postcode SA3 5UB

A Luxury Development of 10 Executive Family Homes Situated in

MUMBLES £550,000 & £599,950

For more information call

01792 653100

www.dawsonsproperty.co.uk

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DYFFRYN, THE ESPLANADE CARMARTHEN SA31 1NQ

A Jewel in Carmarthen’s crown, Dyffryn is a magnificent period property offering unparalleled living experience.

The accommodation flows naturally for the modern family, emphasizing the pheonomenal space on offer. The incomparable walled garden to the rear is a delight & notably private.

Magnificent Period Property unrivalled in size, phenomenal Space with incredible ceiling heights & proportions throughout, Grand entrance hall with original features. 5 double bedrooms two with en-suite facilities. light & airy drawing room, day room, breakfast room. Kitchen, garden room, utility room and cloakroom. Incomparable mature walled garden which is notably private.

ÂŁ425,000

5 garages currently generating a useful Income. Close to Glangwili Hospital, direct rail links to Paddington Station.

Marketing the best of town and country Carmarthen 01267 230645 www.ctf-uk.com

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HOUSE & HOME

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SPRING PINKS o you want to put the spring back into your step this month? This spring I have the perfect antidote to help you ease away the pressures of everyday life, and all you have to do is delve into the untold virtues of the colour pink. From the chalky notes of rose and blush, to the peachy tones of coral and salmon pink, your interior revamp this spring can bring all the virtues of love, beauty and of course feminine charm.

interpretation of the colour pink. To fully realise this Frenchinspired look in your boudoir, you can highlight the mink walls with a Parisian style wrought-iron headboard and crisp white linen. Complete the look with the addition of countrystyle furniture or painted floorboards and you will guarantee an interior that epitomises Provencal living. Why not try porcelain tiles for an affordable and stylish way to instantly update a room? From wooden to decorative effects, recent advancements in technology means it’s now possible to print photo-realistic imagery onto porcelain to create tile designs in just about any pattern, colour and texture imaginable.

First things first, don’t ever feel the endless shades of pink are suited to only your children’s nursery or bedroom, because it’s time to embrace the countless options pink can create throughout the different rooms in your home. If you’re looking to completely transform an interior, then a simple lick of paint is enough to change the whole dynamic of a room: but remember you will get a different look and feel from each varying shade of pink you use. To guarantee a relaxing atmosphere fit for a lazy day or busy morning, then shy away from vivid hot-pinks and loud fuchsias this spring.

Instead, use a duskier pink colour palette made up of soft, pastel shades to your walls and furniture for a sophisticated take on the ‘baby pink’ tone.

If like me, you love to indulge in beautifully crafted wallpaper, then a simple floral print can be enough to create the perfect backdrop for a treasured dressing table or rustic sideboard.

Why not try a neutral interior backdrop and let Pantone’s colour of the year, Rose Quartz, pop off the wall upon a classic floral print wallpaper? Rose Quartz is the new colour for 2016 interiors, and is perfect for emulating a feeling of luxury with timeless appeal. When paired with an array of white finishing touches, you will create the most delicious combination, somewhat reminiscent of strawberries and cream. Pink print wallpaper, complemented by a vintage mirror, distressed vanity table or even a solitary chair in the same quintessential print, is all it takes to embrace this new trend.

What’s best is there really is a shade for every room in your home. If it’s your master bedroom that needs a little sprucing up, why not try a subtle mink ‘barely there’ shade for another

So for a quick fix and to bring a little comfort to a room, introduce your choice of pink throughout the soft furnishings and window treatments. Opt for a Daliesque style wingback

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HOUSE & HOME 3 armchair, using a mix of candy-floss and bubble-gum pinks, aqua blues and spring greens to lift the space and balance the natural vitality of such a strong patchwork design.

This on its own is guaranteed to create a country-style living space full of comfort and charm, however if you want to enhance the look bring in some over-the-mantel décor with a touch of bunting in a similar design of fabric, one-of-a-kind antique side tables or shelving filled with fresh herbs, mason jars and a stack of your favourite cookery books.

4

When introducing the colour pink in your home this spring you don’t have to think big, instead it is possible to bring the beauty of coral, rose, blush, salmon, peach and ballet slipper pink to name a few, through the finer details. Plush scatter cushions in varying sizes, sumptuous bedspreads and oversized throws are great for adding subtle colour into a room, and don’t forget that picking the right lighting is fundamental to the overall look.

For example, a cotton candy pink lampshade will flood the room with a bright light, giving illumination to dark corners of the room: perfect for any bed-side table or reading nook. Did you know you can also use lighting to change the atmosphere of a room? With mood-enhancing light options such as coloured LED’s, you can highlight key pieces of furniture throughout the room, or simply up-light a collection of indoor plants which will create a natural balance between light and core shadow and emphasise the sweetness of your new pink interior scheme.

5 1. Don’t overdo it! Bring pretty pink shades through a scattering of cushions and accessories for a subtle touch this Spring. www.villanova.co.uk 01623 756 699 or purchase from the Taylor’s Etc showroom.

2. Baby pink tones can be the height of sophisticated. A lick of pastel paint can instantly uplift a room. www.sanderson-uk.com 0844 543 9500 or buy from the Taylor’s ETC showroom.

3. Create a sophisticated French chic boudoir with lavender walls and a premium Parisian styled headboard. www.sanderson-uk.com 0844 543 9500 or buy from the Taylor’s ETC showroom.

4. Opt for beautifully crafted floral wallpaper in Rose Quartz for the perfect backdrop to a treasured dressing table. www.sanderson-uk.com 0844 543 9500 or buy from the Taylor’s ETC showroom.

5. Bring vibrant hues of pink with illustrative floral patterns through soft furnishings for ultimate comfort and style. www.sanderson-uk.com 0844 543 9500 or buy from the Taylor’s ETC showroom.

Interior Designer and member of the BIID, Lesley Taylor is the Design Director of Taylor’s Etc based in Cardiff.

02920 358 400 www.taylorsetc.co.uk

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FOUR OF OUR ExcLUSivE pROpERtiES FOR SALE Herbert Thomas Way, Birchgrove, Swansea

£159,950

South Quay, Kings Road, SWANSEA

A modern, three bedroom, detached house in a cul-de-sac location. Adjacent to the main thoroughfare on a residential development by Bellway Homes, the property is ideally placed for J44 of the M4 motorway and.

Features a lounge, integrated kitchen/breakfast room, downstairs cloak rook and to first floor a master bedroom with ensuite shower room, two further bedrooms and family bathroom. Integral garage and rear lawned garden. EPC - C72.

J Shed, Kings Road, Swansea

£239,950

£212,000 Executive quality two bedroom apartment situated on the sixth floor in this stylish SA1 development. This modern apartment comprises two double bedrooms, open-plan kitchen/ diner and living room, main bathroom and en-suite off the main bedroom. Views of Prince of Wales Dock can be enjoyed from the wrap around balcony, as well as views over Swansea Marina and towards Swansea Bay. Parking. EPC - E52.

Marine Walk, Maritime Quarter, Swansea

Executive quality, versatile living space. Available as commercial or residential accommodation and located within the high profile SA1 Swansea Waterfront Development, this office suite is situated within the Grade II listed "J" Shed. Open-plan and spans two floors. Combining contemporary with original features. It is equipped with high quality finish, including Video Intercom System, integrated kitchen. EPC - Exempt.

£399,950 Highly sought, four bedroom, seafront townhouse with uninterrupted views of the over Swansea Bay towards the Devon coastline, Mumbles Head and the promenade. Comprising a downstairs kitchen/diner with breakfast bar island, a first floor living room with sit-out balcony to enjoy the jaw-dropping, panoramic views across Swansea Bay, two bathrooms and four bedrooms.

South facing, gated sun terrace.

Integral single garage. EPC - D61.

Estate & Letting Agents www.bayestateagents.com

Swansea 01792 645566 Mumbles 01792 365960

Your key to life on Swansea Marina South Quay

St. Christopher’s Court Two bedroom, third floor apartment with lift access. 2 large double bedrooms.

Electric heating. Large open plan lounge/ kitchen with south-easterly facing balcony. Underground parking. Views over Prince of Wales Dock to Kilvey Hill.

Easy access to M4 and city. EPC - D

Ground floor, 2-bedroom, apartment.

Sea front, large sun terrace, southerly aspect. En-suite plus bathroom.

Electric heating. Allocated parking.

Excellent condition. EPC - C

£299,995

£235,000 Cork House

Cork House Pristine, top floor apartment with lift

Unique, 2-bedroom, top floor apartment with

access. Balcony with southerly aspect

lift access. 2 balconies, southerly aspect,

and full Marina views. En-suite shower

full marina views. Very large bedrooms.

En-suite plus bathroom. Well fitted kitchen.

room. New ‘Fischer’ heating. Brand new

Loft space with power. 2 parking spaces.

kitchen. Parking. EPC - C

Executive size and condition. EPC - D

£225,000

£269,500

Abernethy Sq, MArinA, SwAnSeA, SA1 1Uh ©LW

01792 463780 sales@marinaquayproperties.com • rentals@marinaquayproperties.com • www.marinaquayproperties.com

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Coastal Living Gain inspiration from the seaside with RACHEL NICHOLS round up of themed interior buys...

Wall Hanging Tiger Stores, Swansea £4

Candle, Matalan, Swansea £5 Ben De Lisi Explore Wall Art £38

Sainsbury’s Coastal Clock Sainsbury’s Home, Swansea £14

Weathered Rope lantern, Matalan, Swansea £8

Fish Wall Hanging, Matalan, Morriston, £3

Beach Huts mat, BHS, Swansea £10

Cumi Lounge side table in Contemporary Glossy White with Mango Wood.

Cuckooland.com, £175

Wilkinson, Rope Ball Door Stop £5

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Striped Canvas Seatpad, Blue, BHS, Swansea £8

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RELAX,REFRESH,REVITALISE Sit back and let us create your dream bathroom

Quality bathrooms to suit ALL styles and budgets •

Choose from Duravit, Utopia, Roman, Vado, Laufen, Vanity Hall, Matki and many more

•

Hundreds of tile ranges to choose from / Tiles for your bathroom, kitchen, dining room, conservatory or patio

•

New Furniture Displays

•

Wetroom products available

•

Measure and 3D planning service

•

Delivery service

01792 586160

Unit 12, Cwmdu ind Est, Carmarthen Road, Swansea www.tilerackbathroomcentre.co.uk

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A & C AGGREGATES

NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN IN CWMFFRWD, CARMARTHEN A&C Aggregates Ltd , a locally owned Company, was established in 2003 to supply a wide range of decorative aggregates, paving slabs and products designed to enhance the appearance of the outside areas of your home.

I

t is a family run business and takes its name from Amy and Charlotte, being the daughters of business owners Ian and Julie Harries.

It began its journey at a quarry in Blaengilcoed, Narberth and was initially introduced to specifically cater for customers requiring smaller deliveries and collections In 2009 the business expanded and it relocated to the yard at Rowlands View in Narberth. Further growth resulted in another depot being established at the quarry in Bolton Hill near Tiers Cross , Haverfordwest in 2014 and towards the end of last year, continued success resulted in another depot being established near the ferry port terminal in Pembroke Dock.

New stock & range of artificial grass ideal for patios

The new depot at Gelligaeros Trading Estate in Cwmffrwd, Carmarthen has a comprehensive indoor display. This new depot has a comprehensive indoor display of everything needed to make your garden look fantastic.

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The company supplies a variety of decorative gravels as well as products from a range of local quarries such as boulders of various sizes. It is also able to supply sand, paving slabs (such as the popular Indian sandstone), topsoil, bark, rockery stone, building stone sourced from local quarries as well as the ever popular Pennant stone.

Blocks, cement, and a wide range of products are available to enhance the appearance and enjoyment of your outside areas.

Loose loads, bulk jumbo bags and the smaller handy-sized bags are all available for collection or delivered in the company’s own tippers and hiab lorries.

The company supplies individual and trade customers and welcomes visitors to view their stock and discuss their requirements with its knowledgable and helpful staff.

Recently in Narberth we acquired a transit van that caters for small local deliveries.

4/22/2016 9:23:30 AM

Indoor Showroom at Idole, Cwmffrwd

GELLI GAEROS, IDOLE, CARMARTHEN, SA32 8DJ TEL: 01267 236797 WWW.ACAGGREGATES.BIZ Also at ROWLANDS VIEW, NARBERTH SA67 8RG | 01834 869343

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HOUSE & HOME

TRENDS

HOUSE & HOME

MAY

NEW IN THE SHOPS

1

LATEST STYLES

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2

4 5

6 1. FINE DETAILS Leaping Rabbit Ornament, £20, Laura Ashley, Swansea 2. WE’RE COOKIN’ Stoves 90cm Richmond Chimney Rail Hood, £329, Homebase, Swansea 132 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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7 3. CUTE Scottie Cushion, £12, Lorraine at Home 4. IN THE SADDLE Drift wood effect horse, £30, Next, Parc Morfa 5. KEEP IT TOGETHER Jessica 6 drawer chest trunk, £999, BhS, Swansea

6. COUNTRY HOME INSPIRED Oak dresser, £399.99, TK Maxx, Parc Trostre 7. SITTING PRETTY Duresta Hornblower-2.5str- sofa from £3,340, Arthur Llewelyn Jenkins, Garngoch

4/22/2016 12:13:12 PM

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A Company built on its reputation & personal service

• Wood/Laminate Flooring • Cushion & Hard Vinyl Flooring • Carpets • Natural Flooring – Coir/Sisal • Safety Flooring • Full Floor Preparation • Domestic & Commercial Contracts • Free Measuring & Estimates RECOMMENDED INSTALLERS OF AMTICO FLOORING Technical & professional advice on the best flooring for your home or business SWANSEA’S ONLY NICF MASTER FITTER

Tel: 01792 896523 E: theflooringstudioltd@btconnect.com Visit: www.theflooringstudio.biz Visit our showroom at: 72 High Street, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 4BP

Paul James

Est. 1982 ©LW

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HOUSE & HOME

MAY WITH A DIFFERENCE With JOSEPH ATKIN, Head Gardener at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire.

May is one of the most exciting times of the year as it is usually the zenith of spring and a time when everything has freshness about it. It is a great time of year for colour and an especially good time for really special garden plants. Some of the most choice and spectacular plants we grow at Aberglasney come from Asia and the Himalayas. Conveniently May is a good flowering season for plants with these origins and so I’ve selected three good options that are both easy and spectacular.

Rhododendron luteum

Primula japonica This plant is another favourite of ours at Aberglasney as over the last fifteen years it has seeded around to make big drifts of plum to pink flowers.

Rhododendron is a large group of plants with many different types and uses. The main draw back with them is that they need an acid soil.

This one however has excellent tolerance and will be happy in neutral soil so it’s much easier to grow.

These flowers are held on stiff stems above pale green rosettes of leaves and sway nicely in the wind. As the plant seeds around it provides excellent ground cover and fills gaps between other plants really well.

As a plant it also performs well being a large leaved deciduous Azalea type.

A good dead head and shake of the seed pods and that is pretty much all that needs to be done. As they seed around then propagating them is usually not a problem but a clump should last for about five years. There are some named cultivars but we find they are all pretty good so there is no need to go searching for a special one.

It flowers for about five weeks with nice perfumed yellow flowers then it has good autumn colour in about October.

The general habit of the plant is fairly low growing and it can be pruned easily.

All in all it’s a great option for a first timer or a gardener who really wants a Rhododendron but does not have quite the right conditions.

• • • • • •

• • • • • •

Height = 3m Spread = 3m Position/Aspect = Sun or shade Soil = moist and not very alkaline Pest and diseases= Vine weevil in pots Style = Shrub border, Asian garden, mixed border

Height = 80cm Spread = 50cm Position/Aspect = Sun or shade Soil = Any moist Pest and diseases = Vineweevil in pots Style = woodland, bog garden, herbaceous but best in massed drifts

Combinations

Meconopsis betonicifolia

These three plants all work brilliantly in the same spot, with the addition of Hosta and Iris for moist ground you can have a wonderful combination of colours and foliage.

This is one of the stars at Aberglasney, the revered Himalayan Blue Poppy, one that is quite unlike any other poppy.

They form rosettes of pleasant hairy leaves then send up a flower head with large elegant blue flowers.

Although they do not last for long they are well worth growing as the flowers are so smart. Generally they are a short lived perennial and should be treated in a similar manner to a foxglove with new ones being added every few years. Thankfully today they are much more reasonably priced making them an exciting and realistic garden addition.

• • • • •

Height = 1m Spread = 50cm Position/Aspect = half shade Soil = Moist acidic soil Pest and diseases = No real problems

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4/22/2016 9:24:44 AM

HOUSE & HOME

VICTORIA WADE’S GARDEN Victoria Wade is a garden designer from Killay who picked up Gold at the RHS 2015 show in Cardiff last Spring. www.victoriawade.co.uk

@WadeLandscapes

Keeping chickens in your garden...

Keeping a few pet chickens is so easy and they make a wonderful addition to any garden. As well as laying delicious eggs every day, they are highly entertaining and really rewarding to keep- what more could you ask for in a pet?

Each hen has her own brilliant personality that will keep you endlessly amused- in our garden we have Kiev who is the show off, Schnitzel who is the boss, Nugget and Goujon (the two brown chickens!) who are double trouble, Tikka who is the escapologist and Satay who is the scatty one.

With the right care and management, chickens can be kept without causing too much carnage to the garden. The theory behind keeping free-range chickens is wonderful, but the practice is not always quite so simple.

I had a rather idealistic view of chicken keeping before we picked up our ladies just over two years ago from the wonderful folks at Welsh Poultry. I had a romantic image of pottering around the vegetable garden with my flock clucking behind me, and waiting patiently for the slugs and weeds I may send their waypicking out creepy crawlies from among the neat rows of vegetables.

The reality is that they would happily scratch up what I have just planted, beat me to my new juicy veg and they actually aren’t all that partial to slugs – they will munch on one or two maybe but they, like the slugs, would rather snack on your prize lettuce!

So for the sake of my beloved flower beds, and to save the chickens from constant pestering from our boisterous dog, ‘free ranging’ is on a strictly supervised basis in our garden. For the rest of the time our girls are happy in the rather cushty confines of their fox proof ‘Eglu cube’ with large walk in run (available from www.omlet.co.uk).

In their run they have a ready supply of layers pellets and plenty of fresh water, grit (which helps them to digest their food), a dust bath and plenty of perches.

They happily munch on all of our garden trimmings, weeds and any veg peelings we send their way.

The daily routine is simple- feeding, filling up water, collecting the eggs and checking all is well.

They are very sociable animals- and even pretty affectionate- they will come running to greet you to say hello, and will happily come and sit on your lap for cuddles (and food!).

We clean them out once a week which doesn’t take long, and their mucky bedding produces the most incredible compost – your veg beds will thank you!

Their eggs are delicious - we get around 300 a year from each chicken- plenty for us to enjoy, and plenty to share with our friends, family, neighbours and clients.

They are really entertaining, and never fail to put a smile on our face, but they can be pretty noisy, particularly in the morning.

Our girls like to make a big song and a dance when it is their turn to lay an egg - so it is best to situate their house away from your neighbours.

As long as you don’t mind a bit of chaos, chicken keeping is so much fun.

They really animate the garden and I can’t imagine not having them- in fact I am hooked on keeping poultry now. I’m in the process of convincing my husband that a couple of ducks is just what we need... watch this space!

“They are very sociable animals - and even pretty affectionate - they will come running to greet you to say hello.” www.swansealife.co.uk | 137

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HOUSE & HOME

HOUSE & HOME

6 STEPS TO GARDEN CHIC Entertaining outdoors is just one of the added pleasures that come with lazy summer days and evenings. Regardless of your garden space, with few quick and simple touches, you can make the most of your garden by adding to what is already there.

When it comes to entertaining it is those homely touches that really make your outdoor space great. Think a great comfy chair, fire pits, gas or charcoal barbecues, blooming plants and mood lighting to create that alfresco dining feel. With that in mind, here are seven quick tips which will turn an ordinary garden into a welcoming space.

Think of your outdoor space like your indoor space...

Whether you plan on having friends over for dinner parties or enjoying a good Saturday barbeque with your family, make sure you have plenty of room to sit, to eat and enjoy.

There are so many outdoor furniture sets are weatherproof and comfortable, so there’s no reason to sit uncomfortably. And don’t worry if everyone won’t fit around one table, entertaining a multitude of guests can be made a whole lot easier when you create lots of small seating areas. This is where mixing and matching garden furniture comes in. Try adding a bistro set, and a mix of metal and weave chairs.

Yellow Alfresco Dining Set, Homesense, Swansea, £149.99

Mood lighting Lights have power to transform your space when the sun goes down. Whether that means candles, lanterns or string lights, be sure to add a little light to your space for those perfect summer nights. You can use solar powered accent lights to add drama and interest to the landscape, to highlight paths, layer or create a focal point with spotlights.

Large cut lantern, M&S, Swansea, £25.00

Those box balls that look good in the day can also become a real feature at night.

Spotlights placed at the bottom of a larger tree can create real impact for night time entertainment, lending an architectural edge to your garden décor as the branches and leaves are highlighted.

Display blooming plants Plants make an outdoor space feel more alive and add that fresh, natural pop of colour. Succulents or cacti are great because they live off very little water. Adding potted fruit trees or blooming plants in inexpensive buckets around the garden provides instant

Zinc Bucket Set £7, Tiger Stores, Swansea

colour and texture. Mix up your pits too.

Use a combination of concrete, terracotta and wooden containers with contrasting – matte with glossy, feathery with angular.

You can use big leafy fronds or succulents for a more exotic feel. A hanging basket will make all the difference in terms of colour too. And why not add a centrepiece to the table? A series of potted herbs in weathered pots reinforces the informal vibe of a table setting, simple additions to make your garden your own.

Keep cosy A chimenea or fire-pit lends a cosy ambience to the party setting. It no secret that British weather can be temperamental at the best of times, so adding extra warmth to your outdoor space will enable you to really make the most of it.

Roasting marshmallows in front of the fire and drinking hot chocolate on oversized floor cushions will round off evening parties perfectly.

Skyline contemporary black chimenea£129, Wyevale, Llansamlet

Burgers, Buns and Sausages Whatever the weather, no outdoor party would be complete without all-important barbecue. It’s the greatest thing about alfresco eating; the food is both fun and easy! Here is some food for thought; every BBQ starts with basics like burgers, sausages and chicken, however, those who are feeling more adventurous could attempt fish or marinated ribs. You’ll be spoilt for choice at Wyevale Garden Centres when it comes to choosing a new barbeque and what better excuse than having a summer of entertaining ahead.

• Entertainer 4-burner gas bbq in stainless steel £499, Wyevale, Llansamlet

Simple décor essentials At the end of the day, it’s the small personal touches you add to a space that can absolutely transform a garden. A few simple outdoor décor essential can dress up your space without breaking the bank.

Scatter cushions and blankets on a sitting bench for cooler nights, colour lanterns hanging from trees or gazebos and bunting (string above a table or attach to a fence for an instant party effect) Also, opt for citronella candles to keep bugs away in the evening. Plus a small bowl of water feature with tea lights or flowers floating on the surface is a great addition to a garden party.

Jug, Debenhams, £16

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LIVING • DINING • BEDROOM • FLOORING • ACCESSORIES

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OUR WELSH HERITAGE Since its origin in the late 19th century, the family-run firm of ‘Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins’ has grown from a one-man operation into Wales’ leading furniture retailer.

As we celebrate 125 years in Business with this commemorative feature we would like to thank all of our customers old and new for your continued support keeping us in business all these years, we hope you enjoy our story of how we became what we are today.

Pictured left: Arthur Llewelyn Jenkins

FIRST SHOP It was back in 1890 when Thomas Jenkins, following a serious accident at the local colliery, made the decision to start his own business. Selling oil, carpets & other wares, his horse-drawn wagon became a familiar sight around the areas in the west of Swansea & the business was soon a household name.

He continued running the business until the end of the First World War & when his eldest son returned from war service, he retired – although he still continued to play an active part in the business until his death in 1937.

The eldest son who took over the business was Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins ~ whose name the firm still bears today. While continuing to develop the existing business, in 1933 Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins also opened a furniture showroom in Carlton Buildings, Oxford Street, Swansea. He still maintained the longestablished, excellent door-to-door service throughout the west of Swansea although by this time, the horse-drawn wagon had been replaced by electrically-operated vans!

Following his death in 1945, the business continued to be run by his two daughters until his eldest son, William Arthur Jenkins, returned from war service.

Pictured Top right: First store in Fforestfach, founded by Thomas Jenkins.

Right: During the 1970’s Arthur Llewelyn Jenkins aquired the premises of Lloyds in Landore

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Pictured above: Purpose built 3 storey showroom in Fforestfach

SECOND SHOP In 1958, William Arthur Jenkins, then age 34, was partnered by his 29-year old brother, Thomas Spencer Jenkins, his brother-in-law, Hadyn G. Thomas, 38, & their wives ~ all of whom took an active part in the business. It was at this time that the business sited its purpose-built, threestorey, 5,500 square foot furniture showroom in a commanding position on the main Carmarthen Road. Business flourished & the firm continued to grow. Sadly, 1975 saw the death William Arthur Jenkins, leaving Thomas Spencer Jenkins & Hadyn G. Thomas to continue building the family business. In 1980, Martyn Spencer Jenkins, joined his father & uncle in the firm & over the next few years, it became obvious the business had out-grown the building in Fforestfach & the time had come to re-locate! With 30,000 square feet of retail space, a premises in Garngoch, Gorseinon, was found which fitted the bill perfectly & the business moved there in 1985. The vast floor area was soon transformed into an elegant showroom displaying an extensive & varied range of furniture, carpets & rugs. Since then, the business has continued to grow & expand. 1990 saw the sad loss of Hadyn G. Thomas but in the same year, Rosalind Jenkins joined her father & brother in the business.

opposite was purchased & used to accommodate the carpet department & the warehouse. The firm now needed to expand & in 1996 a new 80,000square feet showroom was built at Mwyndy Cross, Llantrisant to provide quality furniture to Cardiff and the surrounding area. Sadly, in 2004, after more than forty-five years in the business, Thomas Spencer Jenkins died. A man of great character & boundless energy, he was still actively involved in the business until his death even though he was then in his seventies.

The building itself was extended further for an even larger display area & in 1998, the building

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LIVING • DINING • BEDROOM • FLOORING • ACCESSORIES From all the leading brands we know quality is very important to our customers, so we only work with manufacturers of distinction who are as commited to quality and workmanship as we are.

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TODAY Today, the two superb showrooms beautifully display modern, sleek furniture alongside traditional, elegant ranges to suit all tastes. With a work-force of more than 105 employees, their fleet of easily-recognisable yellow lorries & their reputation for excellent customer service, the business continues to thrive.

There have been many changes since its birth in the nineteenth century yet the firm of Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins continues on its upward journey of success into the twenty first century.

Customers have remained loyal over the years with many generations of families retuning to furnish their homes with us, always with the reassurance of exceptional choice, quality and customer service. And now, Miranda, Martyn’s daughter has joined the business, making it the fifth generation of a great family concern.

Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins WALES’ LEADING FURNITURE CENTRES M4 Junction 47 Garngoch, Gorseinon, Swansea, SA4 9WF Tel: 01792 891239

M4 Junction 34 Mwyndy Cross, Llantrisant, Cardiff, CF72 8PN Tel: 01443 222929

www.arthurllewellynjenkins.co.uk

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HOUSE & HOME

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS ADD VALUE TO HOMES

Stunning, well-kept gardens are helping to improve lifestyle and property values in south west Wales.

As Swansea Life’s CHRIS CAMPBELL discovers...

150 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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HOUSE & HOME

A

cres of well-kept gardens would be a box to tick for most house hunters that could afford it in south west Wales.

Delightful flowers, majestic trees, trimmed hedgerows and space for the family to run around in, relax, or entertain is sure to be on the wish list for many.

Not to mention any animal lovers who would unquestionably gain from the bonus of having more land. Indeed, a well-kept garden was voted the most desirable kerb appeal feature for house buyers, in a recent report by Barclays Mortgages.

The survey of 2,000 UK home owners found that people typically take just 10 seconds to decide whether they like a property from the outside.

Sara Copeland, branch manager at Astleys Residential, says: “Selling a property with a picturesque entrancing garden is always a delight for estate agents. It not only gives the property kerb appeal it actually entices people into look at it.

“Many viewers will forgive minor defects inside the house if the outdoor space is relaxing, bright, colourful and well-manicured. Your outside space may well indicate how the inside of your home will look like.

Neat lawns and mature shrubs give the viewers an insight into how loved the property is. Many buyers will enjoy the thought of how outdoor living can benefit the family as a whole.”

Julie Elliott, associate at Fine and Country Swansea, says large, attractive gardens “undoubtedly” added value to homes in the region.

“Properties with private, south facing gardens are always in high demand, and a property with gardens that are well maintained and presented with as much Tudor Lodge, Cwmgwrach

www.swansealife.co.uk | 151

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HOUSE & HOME

attention to detail on the external spaces as the interior design inside.

“A home with kerb appeal will get potential purchasers through the door.

“There is a growing trend for homes with sociable outside spaces including hot tubs, built in barbecues and seating areas. Entertaining at home and making the most of the garden is a key feature.

“If you are considering investing in garden improvements we would advise that you bear in mind who your buyers are likely to be as investing in transforming your garden into a grown up space will not be advisable if your home is likely to sell to a family with young children.

“Due to our coastal location we see plenty of buyers who are looking for a second/holiday home and for them the key features are privacy, south facing and secure and low maintenance gardens.”

Homeowners with stunning gardens can also make the most of sun rooms, conservatories and patio areas and their ability to create social or relaxing occasions.

Ms Elliott adds: “There is no doubt that having a wellpresented garden will add value to your home and help with the selling process.”

House: Tudor Lodge, Cwmgwrach Bedrooms: 4 Price: £590,000 Outside: Manicured gardens, stream and summer house Agent: Fine and Country Swansea Tel: 01792 367301

152 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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HOUSE & HOME

House: Gower Road, Killay Bedrooms: 4 Price: ÂŁ595,000 Outside: Beautiful and generous gardens Agent: Fine and Country Swansea Tel: 01792 367301

www.swansealife.co.uk | 153

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4/22/2016 9:31:54 AM

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4/22/2016 12:20:07 PM

Steve’s top gardening tip

Remove spent flowers from tubs, baskets, beds and borders and feed them regularly with liquid feed, dead heading diverts the plants energy from producing new flowers. Bedding is perfect for this time of year, just beware of late frost. Keep vulnerable plants protected at night if a late frost is predicted. Don’t forget to hoe your weeds on warm days to allow them to wither and die in the sun.

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4/22/2016 12:20:20 PM

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4/22/2016 9:34:06 AM

Great escapes

THE HIGH LIFE IN NEVIS (page 164) ALTERNATIVE CITY BREAKS (page 168) BON VOYAGE! (page 171)

251 Oxford Street, Swansea, SA1 3BL Tel: 0844 800 3855

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GREAT ESCAPES

LIVING THE HIGH LIFE IN

NEVIS In need of peace and tranquillity? BEN MITCHELL finds it in bucketloads on a Caribbean island beloved

by Princess Diana...

A hummingbird buzzes past me as I relax in my private pool, mulling over whether I should spend the rest of the day here or at the beach. I watch intently as the small bird pauses to hover above a pink hibiscus flower, but before I even have time to pick up my camera, it darts off at an impossible speed.

It’s no coincidence that these tireless birds are a common sight around the gardens of Paradise Beach on the West Indies island of Nevis, as the gardeners have specifically selected oleander, firecracker and hibiscus plants to attract them to the grounds stretching down to the peaceful beach. Located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles archipelago and neighbouring St Kitts, picturesque Nevis was originally named Oualie (land of the beautiful waters) by early Caribs. Much quieter than other Caribbean islands, it’s an unspoilt idyll overflowing with flora and fauna. Last year saw the opening of the luxurious seven-villa Paradise Beach resort, which offers the only beachfront villas on the island - with concierge and butler service - and meticulous care has been taken in the design of the villas to ensure the resort lives up to its name.

Each bungalow has its own pool with cabana for eating al fresco, as well as loungers where you can lie back and enjoy your own corner of paradise. The indulgence continues inside with a giant four-poster bed dominating the master bedrooms, along with a powerful outdoor rain shower in the en suite, which is so welcoming and decadent, I find any excuse to have yet another shower. The air-conditioned villas, with Balinese glass walls and sliding doors overlooking the gardens and ocean, are decorated with tastefully chosen artefacts from around the world, and are fitted with bespoke furniture complete with sofas and cushioned

daybeds. And for those who cannot fully shed the real world, there is Wi-Fi throughout, flat-screen televisions in each room and even an office space.

At the centre of the living space is a fully-equipped kitchen allowing you to enjoy the gourmet delights of the island without having to leave your bungalow.

The resort can provide a chef to prepare meals for you, or those keen to show off their culinary skills can conjure up dishes at their own convenience. A butler will happily stock the fridge with all the locally-sourced ingredients you could wish for. One evening our cook, Paulette, prepares a traditional meal of mahimahi fish and fried plantains, and each morning she awakes our senses with a range of zesty juices. She also introduces us to the Nevitian breakfast speciality of saltfish with Caribbean Johnny cakes - a delightful break from my usual muesli routine.

Another highlight of the resort is its tranquil beach, which has its own bar and loungers. There’s a wonderful view across to the neighbouring island of St Kitts and guests can rent kayaks and paddle-boards for an afternoon of soft adventure on the calm sea.

While swimming in the bath-warm Caribbean waters, I’m amazed to see a frigatebird as large as a pterodactyl circling above, before flying off to play-fight with its friends. Below the surface, there are also many unusual creatures to admire. Keen scuba divers can explore the surrounding reefs, wrecks and volcanic vents, and those lucky enough may even encounter giant leatherback and hawksbill turtles.

Guests can reach higher states of relaxation by taking part in jet lag-busting yoga sessions on the beachside decking, or enjoy

164 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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GREAT ESCAPES

massages in their rooms or accompanied by the sounds of the waves on the beach.

The feeling of escape and privacy goes beyond the borders of the resort. Nevis, which has a population of just 12,000, was the hideaway of choice for Princess Diana and also delighted Horatio Nelson, who was stationed here and ended up marrying Fanny Nisbet, the daughter of a plantation owner.

At only six miles across, the island, serviced by a small airport, is easily accessible by bicycle or car and only a short ride from the resort is the capital Charlestown, a quaint high street of souvenir shops, banks and local stores, all painted in the bright colours of the Caribbean.

Nearby are equally colourful, relaxed bars and restaurants serving high-quality spicy seafood accompanied by potent rum cocktails - no trip is complete without a Killer Bee concoction at Sunshine’s or grilled red snapper at Bananas Restaurant.

At the centre of the green island is the “potentially active” volcano Nevis Peak. One morning, we set off to explore its densely forested slopes with the help of our local guide, Baba, who leads us on a trek to some spectacular waterfalls. Along the way, we stop to study the vegetation and he explains the many creative uses islanders have for the different bark and plants. Sarsaparilla is apparently used to “boost sexual energy”.

But whether hiking the forests, taking catamaran trips to snorkel with luminescent fish or enjoying sunset horseback rides, my lasting memory of Nevis is of a blissful retreat from the stresses of everyday life.

TRAVEL FACTS Ben Mitchell was a guest of ITC Luxury Travel (01244 355527; www.itcluxurytravel.co.uk) who offers trips from £1,369 per person based on six adults sharing a three-bedroom villa on a room only basis, including return economy flights. For more information on the resort, visit paradisebeachnevis.com

WEEKEND GETAWAYS A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bath is famous for its rich history and therapeutic waters. The city’s five-star The Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel offers both in abundance, says Polly Weeks...

STYLE AND SUBSTANCE Marbled floors, light, clean colours and a Great Gatsby-esque feel, sophisticated glamour is the name of the game here.

It comes courtesy of the award-winning, New York-based Champalimaud Design team. With the hotel named after artist Sir Thomas Gainsborough, art plays an important role too. You’ll even find a collection of Roman coins, part of the Beau Street Hoard in reception - they were discovered in the building’s foundations in 2007.

SLEEPING MATTERS With high ceilings, the walls painted in muted greys and blues and large windows bathing them in light, the 99 rooms are as classy as they are relaxing. You’ll also be treated to a 42” flat-screen HD television and a complimentary mini bar. The bathrooms feature under-floor heating and Asprey products are provided.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Before dining, stop off in the hotel bar for a cocktail, they’ll create you a tipple tailored to your specific tastes. As for the restaurant, Michelin-award winning chef, Johann Lafer, focuses on locallysourced ingredients blended with Asian flavours. The result is a small but perfectly formed menu that delivers on taste and quality.

AND RELAX Decked out in Roman-style splendour, there really is no other hotel spa like this - it’s the country’s only one to have natural thermal, mineral-rich waters. Whether it’s the spring water, bespoke oil-scented salts, or the spa circuit, you’ll feel rejuvenated after visiting. Fancy a treatment? The 90-minute Magnesium Wrap is particularly enticing and includes a body scrub, wrap and massage.

NICE TOUCH If driving, book ahead for the valet parking service. When your car is returned, you’ll find a tin of Gainsborough branded mints in your automobile waiting for you.

ABOUT THE AREA The Roman Baths are nearby and there are plenty of shops on the hotel’s doorstep. If you’ve not relaxed enough in the hotel spa, visit the Thermae Bath Spa directly opposite the hotel which has a rooftop pool.

Nightly rates at The Gainsborough Bath Spa start from £285 on a room-only basis. Visit: www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk www.swansealife.co.uk | 165

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4/22/2016 9:35:49 AM

GREAT ESCAPES

10

of the best budgetfriendly city breaks to book this Spring...

Our top 10 dream city breaks have been revealed, but are they a bit on the pricey side? LAURA DAVIES checks out these more budgetfriendly (but equally enticing) alternatives instead...

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

@LawsDx

Weekend mini-breaks can seem like a great way to pack in an affordable getaway, but often, they end up being almost as expensive as a week-long holiday - especially if you pick a popular city destination.

Those dream trips to Paris or New York might be beyond the budget , especially if you want some spending money to enjoy while you’re there. But what if you could visit somewhere slightly off the beaten track, without scrimping on food, accommodation, culture, beauty or history?

You want to go to...Venice

Why not try...Bologna Venice is too obvious for lovestruck couples; mix it up by visiting Bologna, famed for its theatres, gluttonous food options (remember ragu was invented here) and medieval terracotta buildings. It’s a great swap for Florence too.

Travel Supermarket have worked out Brits’ top 10 favoured city break destinations and found their budget equivalent.

Try these swaps next time you’re planning a getaway...

You want to go to...Amsterdam

Why not try... Antwerp Quaff beer and eat waffles at medieval Belgium port, Antwerp. It’s big on diamonds (rather than tulips) and was the home of Baroque painter Rubens. The cobbled streets and architecture will even make you think you’re in Amsterdam.

You want to go to...Rome

Why not try...Genoa Rome may have the Coliseum, but the labyrinthine city of Genoa on the Italian coast has the ocean and candy-coloured buildings, as well as Renaissance architecture and many gilded palaces. Don’t miss The Duomo and Piazza San Lorenzo.

GreatEscapesDPS.indd 1

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GREAT ESCAPES You want to go to... Budapest

Why not try... Kraków Krakow might not offer spas and Turkish baths, but it does offer the largest market square in Europe, filled with life, street performances and bars and clubs. Plus, find quieter spots in the Jewish quarter and along the river (look out for the city’s mascot, the dragon).

You want to go to...Prague

Why not try...Ljubljana Prague in the Czech Republic is the spiritual home of stag and hen do parties - escape instead to the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, one of Europe’s greenest cities. Eat and drink on terraces by the river, which slices through the heart of the city, visit the castle and check out the colourful central market.

“Instead of the Empire State Building, visit the White House; instead of Broadway, check out the Kennedy Centre.”

You want to go to...New York

Why not try...Washington DC If you’re a House Of Cards fan, Washington will already be on your ‘to visit’ list. Instead of the Empire State Building, visit the White House; instead of Broadway, check out the Kennedy Centre, and also be wowed by the sheer number of museums the city contains. www.swansealife.co.uk | 169

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You want to go to...Barcelona

Why not try...Valencia Barcelona is crammed with tourists in the summer . Have a calmer time in football-mad Valencia, where you can laze in the park that intersects the city, visit futuristic buildings like the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias and eat your body weight in paella.

You want to go to...Paris

You want to go to...Reykjavik

Why not try...Lyon

Why not try...Bergen

Paris is beautiful, but can be overcrowded, and you can still stay in an arrondissement (Lyon’s got nine, packed with bars and restaurants and personality). Go to the opera, eat moules frites and explore the lively, eco-friendly and newly regenerated area, La Confluence.

At this time of year, both Iceland and Norway require you to wear thermals, and both offer the chance to see the Northern Lights. Bergen also promises some of the best trout you’ll ever eat, and trek into the hills surrounding the city for spectacular views.

You want to go to...Dublin

Why not try...Cork You can get just as good a pint of Guinness in Cork as you can in Dublin, you know. Meander along the waterfront, take frequent rests at the many, many coffee bars, check out the Cork City Gaol and the old butter market, which is what made Cork a major hub in the 1860s.

Have you got any holidays planned?

Send us your pics! Email laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk or tweet @swansealife 170 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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GREAT ESCAPES

Bon Voyage!

Travel organiser, £7.99, www.totally-funky.co.uk

Lime Medium Suitcase, £69, Holdall £20, Debenhams, Swansea

Looking to go away over the Whitsun Bank Holiday or planning a summer break?

LAURA DAVIES picks out some quirky and must-have travel essentials...

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

@LawsDx

Happy Jackson ‘Woo-hoo!

Holiday!’ Luggage Tag, £6.95, Leekes, Cross Hands

Lychee Sorbet Refreshing Travel Set, £15, Accessorize, Swansea

Beach Bag, £16, Matalan, Morriston

Ban.do Passport Holder, I’m Outta Here, £20, Asos.com

Watermelon beach bag, £15, Paperchase, Cardiff

Personalised Stainless Steel Luggage Tags, £14.99, gettingpersonal.co.uk

Hello summer! make up bag, £6, Next, Morfa Retail Park

Photo Upload Suitcase Portrait Image, £134.99, GettingPersonal.co.uk

Lemon print beach towel, £10, Parc Fforestfach

White Applique suitcase £70, River Island, Swansea

River Island

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4/22/2016 12:26:49 PM

SUMMER 17 ON SALE NOW We are excited to reveal that our summer 2017 holidays are now on sale. Our range of holidays is continuously improving and as always we are focused on bringing more choice and flexibility to our customers. This means that from next summer customers will be able to visit three new destinations – St Lucia, Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba and Olbia in Sardinia, all of which offer fabulous beaches. We’ll also be continuing to grow our Family Life programme with the addition of Family Life Bellevue Resort, Istrian Riviera in Croatia and Family Life Janna e Sole in Olbia, Sardinia. For early bookers there’ll also be extra incentives such as low deposits and free child places. Further highlights include four more Sensimar hotels being added to the Thomson collection with Sensimar Matta Village in Olbia, Sardinia, Sensimar Natura Palace, Lanzarote and Sensimar Cabo Verde, Sal, Cape Verde.

Thomson Cruises also has big news with the announcement that our newest ship will be called TUI Discovery from her first sailing in June 2016 and from next summer it will be the first Thomson Cruises ship to feature an all inclusive drinks package as standard.

On top of that we’ve revealed our new summer 2017 itineraries with new destinations and experiences for all the ships in the Thomson Cruises fleet. And we’ll be returning home with the re-introduction of a UK homeport from summer 2017. Thomson Celebration will sail from Newcastle on 10 itineraries that visit the likes of the Norwegian Fjords and Baltic capitals.

Thomson is a trading name of TUI UK Limited, registered in England No 2830117, and TUI UK Retail Limited, registered in England No 1456086. VAT Number: 233 3687 62 Thomson Airways Limited, registered in England No 444359. VAT Number: 490 2120 79 Registered Office: TUI Travel House, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9QL TUI UK Limited, TUI UK Retail Limited, and Thomson Airways Limited are members of the TUI AG group of companies which is the world’s number one integrated tourism business, operating in 180 countries with 31 major source markets and over 30 million customers. TUI AG’s Registered Office is Karl-Wiechert-Allee 4, 30625 Hanover, Germany. Registered in Germany (Berlin/Hanover), Company Number HRB 6580. For more information visit www.tuigroup.com

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4/22/2016 9:36:16 AM

Out

& about

RICHIE HAMMOND (page 174) WALK OF THE MONTH (page 178) YOUR PICS! (page 185) MY SWANSEA (page 186)

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OUT & ABOUT

Upper Killay Pond

S N A P S H OTS O F

SWA N S E A B AY Tranquil beaches. Hidden corners. Unexpected views.

Join photographer RICHARD HAMMOND as he explores some of Swansea and Gower’s coast and countryside. This month he visits Dunvant, Killay and Upper Killay...

T

his month we are visiting super suburbia Dunvant and the Killays.

Clyne Valley until you reach the Railway Inn Public house, which is where we will begin.

So why come here? Isn’t this a place you merely drive through on the way to Swansea or from Swansea to the Gower?

Isn’t this simply all bricks and mortar?

No, it’s more like bricks and water.

Clyne valley is criss-crossed with well-maintained routes and pathways and is a naturally beautiful area. The route from Blackpill up to Killay is probably the best maintained as it’s tarmacked and used by many people for walks, jogging and is very popular for cycling. The footpath follows the track bed route of the former London Midlands and Scottish (LMS) railway from Swansea Victoria to Shrewsbury and is also the location for the first of our ponds. Around a mile up from Blackpill on the path on the left hand side you’ll find this lovely pond quite popular with anglers. It has small pontoons, and many birds and wildlife visit it, so it is a good place to sit and watch or take photographs.

Both Dunvant and the Killays are sprinkled with the most beautiful ponds and small lakes teaming with rare wildlife and plants. Most of these water features were created as a result of a thriving brick manufacturing industry in the area years ago. Today we are going to visit these ponds and waterways and discover the fascinating but sometimes tragic history of the area and the other thing that there is plenty of...pubs!

So how do you get to Killay and Dunvant? Well you can hop on the number 21A, 21B, or Gower Explorer 116 and 119 and jump off at Killay opposite the Black Boy Inn or at Dunvant Square. Alternatively drive up through the Uplands and Sketty until you pass Olchfa School and reach Killay. If you wanted a good walk you could start from Swansea along the sea front until you reach Blackpill, cross at the pelican crossing and walk up the pathway through

Continue along the path and you can either walk onto Dunvant passing the Railway Inn or take a right turn deeper into Killay marsh. Killay Marsh routes after heavy rainfall can become muddy but the scenery is beautiful with fast running rivers, trees, wildlife and vegetation and every so often picnic benches dotted around which are very welcoming. Along the pathways you will notice old bricks protruding at regular intervals and if you look closely you may see the word Killay impressed in to them.

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OUT & ABOUT

Killay Marsh

These came from brickmaking, which was the last industrial activity in the valley and ended during the late 1950s when the Clyne Valley (Killay) brickworks closed.

Other industries to use the valley include a coal mine which operated from around the turn of the 20th century working the shallow coal deposits, a chemical works and an iron works. This is the reason to support these industries the Clyne Canal was built in 1799 and a tramway connecting with Mumbles Railway in 1804. Today it’s a beautiful place for a walk, cycle and even to ride a horse. And in September the blackberry picking is excellent.

If you decide not to turn off the path from Blackpill you’ll soon arrive in Dunvant. Dunvant originated as a village located around the four nearby collieries of, Bishwell and Bryn Mawr (which closed in the 1870s) Dunvant (Closed in 1914) and Killan which at its peak employed 900 men.

Tragically Killan Colliery ceased operations in 1925 following the disaster of 1924 in which five men were killed.

Other industry included the Penlan (Dunvant) Brickworks and Quarry (also called Cydcoed) which although long since derelict is now an area of conservation and owned by the forestry commission now known as National Resources Wales. The Brickmaking in Killay ceased in the 1950s but has left us with the clay pits which have become beautiful ponds with sandstone cliffs and caves to walk around, again full of beautiful birds, bats, vegetation and even otters.

DID YOU KNOW? Dunvant Male Voice Choir celebrates the unique achievement of having provided over 120 years of continuous choral music since 1895.

Dunvant RFC was founded in 1887 and achieved a magnificent promotion to the old Division 1 for the 1993/4 season competing against the giants of Llanelli, Swansea and Cardiff etc. An amazing journey through 8 Divisions of rugby in only 15 years. They even played International games against Japan in 1993 (L23-24) and Romania in 1999 (L10-29).

Currently on the market with Dawsons, a one bed flat in Dunvant is on for £77,000 or a four bed detached house on

Killay Marsh

“Killay Marsh routes after heavy rainfall can become muddy but the scenery is beautiful with fast running rivers, trees, wildlife and vegetation and every so often picnic benches dotted around which are very welcoming.” www.swansealife.co.uk | 175

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4/22/2016 1:33:38 PM

OUT & ABOUT

Fairwood Lodge

Fairwood Road for £595,000. While in Killay how about a 2 bed mid link property situated the Hendrefoilan Woods for £125,000 or in Clyne Cwm Gwyn, Killay, a five bed detached house for a mere £995,000 (throw £5,000 in as a tip)?

Let’s walk down now in to Killay shopping centre where you will find a vibrant area of independent shops cafés and pubs. We’ll come back to the pubs later, but the shops are a real treat.

None more so than Chaplin’s grocery shop which has been trading in the area since 1926 and is in its 90th year. I spoke to third generation proprietor Phillip Chaplin who told me that Chaplins began in Frogmore Avenue, Sketty by his grandfather George selling fruit and veg. This was taken on by his father Harold and uncle with a move to Coed Season Crescent Sketty. Philip started working in the shop in 1980 and told me how you could predict which customers would come in at a given time time and what they’d buy. Chaplins expanded to Killay in 1998 with a shop in the precinct.

Dunvant Rugby Club

So what’s different about it? I think it’s the range and diversity of food you’ll find there. There are flavours of crisps and soups that you won’t find in large supermarkets.

Cheeses and fruit that look and taste delicious and there’s just a great atmosphere which supermarkets can’t replicate.

In short it’s a lovely relaxing place to shop for food.

Let’s continue now through Upper Killay past the Railway Inn again and turn left before the common towards Swansea Uplands Rugby Club. This is where we find another great pond. This one is packed with wildlife including 3 white geese that although seem intimidating at first soon become your best friend if you feed them (although one did nip the back of my leg recently but we’re friends again now).

There’s no fishing at this pond but you’ll also see a good range of ducks and wild geese which will eagerly swim towards you for a piece of bread. Parking is good here as you can stop right by the pond so a great spot to take the children or Grandma.

If you want another walk and to see the last and best pond of all, walk past the rugby club and follow the pylons to the left across the Common. This will take you through the impressive new Swansea City football training centre and past the striking Grade two listed building Fairwood Lodge. Keep following the path until you arrive at the pond.

Picnic tables in Dunvant Cydcoed

176 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 1:33:53 PM

OUT & ABOUT

Route from Blackpill to Dunvant

Here ducklings follow their mothers Herons fish and all manner of birds and wildlife can be seen or heard. It’s a real treat not to be missed.

TIME FOR WINE After all that walking you could probably do with a meal and a drink! Well you’re in luck as Dunvant and Killay have plenty of choices for both. Let’s start by Olchfa School, the Swansea end of Killay, with Olchfa House. Here you will have a good carvery for a set price and you won’t be disappointed - a place to take your mum for Sunday dinner perhaps? Next, moving in to Killay is the Commercial Inn - a pub that does food!

There’s a quiz on a Tuesday, karaoke other nights and lots of food offers.

Almost opposite in the precinct is the Village Inn - again a pub that sells real ales, craft beers and home cooked food. Moving towards Dunvant is the ever-popular Black Boy Inn. A good atmosphere, good food and a place I go with my wife on a Saturday night.

Geese at Upper Killay

We mentioned the Railway Inn in Upper Killay as it’s a very handy place to stop if walking or cycling the footpath. The pub itself has a number of small, but cosy rooms and stocks several ales from Swansea breweries.

Going into Dunvant Square sits the Working men’s club.

Prices are good and it always has a good Saturday night vibe, with acts providing the members’ music to dance the night away. Watch out for local artist Colin Hopkins who usually sings the last song of the evening. Dunvant square also has a really good Chinese take away “The Full Moon”. It has to be one of the best in Swansea!

The last on my list is “The Dunvant” on Dunvant Road,or Hungry Horse. I love this place! They’ve cleverly separated the pub section from the restaurant which means the drinkers are relaxed as are the families that come to eat. They have great offers on their wide range of good food. This means it’s the perfect place for a family to come with the kids without worrying about noise or a big bill. Or alternatively for the lads to watch a rugby or football game in the bar.

So Dunvant and Killay - the land of pubs, bricks and water. Why not come here as a destination and not just pass through? I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

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NEXT TIME...

Next month we will visit sunny Swansea Bay where we will pick up from Blackpill and travel along the beach looking at St Helens, the Patti, and a few shocks and surprises.

I’ll see you there!

Richie.

4/22/2016 1:34:03 PM

OUT & ABOUT

A N D R E W

M O R G A N ’ S

SWANSEA BAY WALK Join ANDREW MORGAN as he leads us on a Swansea Bay walk.

This month, he takes in the view from Sandy Water Park, Llanelli...

Start/Finish location ..............Llanelli North Dock Pay & Display Distance ......................................3.5 miles (2 hours) Level .............................................Easy/Moderate Parking .........................................As above

I’ll be leading a couple of evening walks this month starting from Clyne Gardens, then in June, two evening walks near Southgate. Swansea Ramblers will also have one of their daytime easy short strolls on Monday May 23rd when Sue leads near Llanelli, a 2.5 mile walk designed to introduce people to walking. Check our programme for details then come along and find out how nice it can be to go for a walk.

The Llanelli waterfront has seen some great changes in recent years . Once the coast was separated from the town by industrial sites. Now, there has been large scale rejuvenation of the area, creating opportunities for walking. The North Dock area is on the Wales Coast Path with views across the estuary to North Gower and Whiteford Lighthouse. The car park is by the seafront where toilets and a first floor cafe are located. Facing the sea and turning left takes you through dunes to the sea entrance of the now disused Copper Dock from where you can look across to the new coastal housing

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OUT & ABOUT

Upcoming walks MAY...

SUNDAY 01 Gower Churches (11.5 miles) moderate meet 9.30am Penmaen NT car park MONDAY 02 Swansea parks (5 miles) easy meet 11.00am outside central library WEDNESDAY 04 Llanmadoc Hill (8 miles) moderate meet 10.00am Cwm Ivy Car Park THURSDAY 05 Clyne Evening walk (1 or 3 miles) moderate meet 7.00pm Clyne (Woodman) Car Park SATURDAY 07 Briton Ferry-Port Talbot (6 miles) moderate meet 10.15am Quadrant (Bus X1) SUNDAY 08 Dinefwr Bluebells (4 miles) easy/ moderate meet 9.30am Francis St. MONDAY 09 Gorseinon (4 miles) easy meet 10.30am Gowerton car park off B4295 WEDNESDAY 11 Wentwood Reservoir (9 miles) moderate meet 9.00am Go Outdoors Car Park SATURDAY 14 Merthyr Tydfil (5, 8 & 14 miles) meet 10.00am Cyfarthfa Castle SUNDAY 15 Fan Gyhirych (10 miles) strenuous meet 9.00am Francis St. MONDAY 16 Swiss Valley (4 miles) easy meet 10.30am Felinfoel by church WEDNESDAY 18 Dryslwyn (9 miles) moderate meet 9.30am Cross Hands Co-op THURSDAY 19 Clyne Evening walk (1 or 4 miles) moderate meet 7.00pm Clyne (Woodman) Car Park

development. Having taken in the view, return towards the car park on a path of your choice.

Continue on the tarmacadam coast path past the cafe, enjoying the views to Gower. The path rises to go over what appears to be a hill but is in fact a landscaped bridge over the main railway line. Trains now pass by between you and the coast but there are still good views to be seen.

Other walks are available by following the coast (see the Evening Post page on Swansea Ramblers’ web site) but today, here at the railway bridge, we’ll climb the second rise to the stone memorial for the steel works that once stood here. From the top you get a view over the lake around which we’re going to walk.

Drop down to the lakeside path and turn left to reach the other side of the lake. After a short distance you come to the popular lakeside Sandpiper Restaurant. Continue around the lake and as the path bears right towards the steel memorial, head instead behind the car park to a ‘Mabinogion’ wooden post marking the entrance to a lovely short woodland path, complete with a metal Twrch. This path brings you out to where you saw the memorial then retrace your way back along the coast to the start.

Andrew Morgan

Transport: Traveline: www.traveline-cymru.info 0871 200 22 33 or BayTrans: www.baytrans.org.uk/ Visit our website: www.swansearamblers.org.uk

SATURDAY 21 Penclawdd (6 miles) moderate meet 11.00am Penclawdd seafront SUNDAY 22 Llanthony (13 miles) strenuous meet 10.15am at Abbey MONDAY 23 Llanelli seafront (2.5 miles) easy meet 10.30am North Dock TUESDAY 24 Oxwich (6 miles) moderate meet 10.30am Oxwich Car Park WEDNESDAY 25 Caswell evening walk (3.5 miles) easy meet 7.00pm Newton (Highpool Lane) SATURDAY 28 Caerphilly (Aber Valley) (6 miles) moderate meet 8.30am Francis St. SUNDAY 29 Pontrhydyfen (10 miles) Moderate meet 9.00am Francis St. TUESDAY 31 Kilvey Hill (8 miles) Moderate meet 10.00am Fendrod Lake Car Park

www.swansealife.co.uk | 179

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4/22/2016 1:35:38 PM

OUT & ABOUT

LOOKING FOR

ADVENTURE? Looking for something exciting to do in and around Swansea — something which will get the adrenaline pumping and the heart-rate soaring?

From white-knuckle rafting to breathtaking karting, MARK REES takes a look at some of the best local active attractions...

180 | www.swansealife.co.uk

OutAboutDPS.indd 1

4/22/2016 1:36:53 PM

OUT & ABOUT Go Ape

Afan Forest Park

Dryad Bushcraft How would you survive if you found yourself stranded in the great outdoors?

Join Killay-based Dryad Bushcraft for a course on the basics of getting by, cook up wilderness gourmet food, or try your hand at woodcraft and the primitive living skills of our Stone Age ancestors. Courses available for all ages, including family sessions. www.dryadbushcraft.co.uk

Go Ape For livewires who need to burn off that excess energy, head to Go Ape in Margam where would-be Tarzans can climb, swing, whoop and fly through the air to their heart’s content.

But be warned — it’s addictive!

Go Ape Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, SA13 2AG

Down to Earth Project The Down to Earth Project near Llanrhidian — an award-winning not-for-profit education organisation specialising in working with hard to reach and disadvantaged groups through the outdoors — has seen the building of an eco home, made from traditional wood and turf materials, which will be used as a training centre. Adventures include climbing and abseiling, coasteering and coracle sailing. www.downtoearthproject.org.uk

Dulais Valley Quads and Archery Yes, the Dulais Valley might look stunning on foot — but just imagine what it will look while tearing around on a Honda 250cc quad through acres of rough terrain, hills, woodlands and streams!

With junior quads available for ages eight and over. Nant-y-cafn Farm, Seven Sisters, Neath SA10 9EU www.dulaisvalley-quads.co.uk

Gower Coast Adventures All aboard! Hit the waves and explore the peninsula like never before this year with Gower Coast Adventures, who offer highoctane trips on their 10-metre purpose-built rigid-hulled inflatable boat (appropriately nicknamed Sea Serpent) around Mumbles, Three Cliffs and Worm’s Head. Hold on tight... www.gowercoastadventures.co.uk

Afan Forest Park Energetic visitors travel from around the world to visit Afan Forest Park, and it’s easy to see why.

Grab your bike or boots and head for one of the area’s finest outdoor spaces — and it’s perfect for four-legged members of the family as well. Afan Forest Park, Port Talbot, SA13 3HG

Adventure Britain From stag weekends to office team-building sessions, Adventure Britain offer something for everyone, listing their top 10 activities as: canyoning, climbing, caving, gorge walking, canoeing, kayaking, coasteering, quad biking, paintballing, clay pigeon shooting and mountain walks. www.adventurebritain.com 01639 700388

Clyne Farm Centre Great for the whole family, you could just kick back and watch the world go by, or you could get muddy instead the area’s messiest assault course. Other activities include Challenge Valley horse riding, indoor climbing, abseiling, orienteering, archery, rock hopping (one of farm’s own inventions), canoeing, gorge walking, mountain biking, and bushcraft and survival training. www.clynefarm.com • Clyne Farm Centre Westport Avenue, Mayals, Swansea, SA3 5AR

Antur Adventure Seven Sisters-based Antur Adventure have a mission statement: “We want people coming to Wales to have a unique experience and immerse themselves in our vast history and culture while having the best time that they can.” But it’s not only for visitors — locals can join in with the bushcraft trials, coasteering, gorge walking, hill walking, surfing and rock adventures. www.anturoutdoor.com

Gower Kite Riders Feel the wind down Gower this summer with a spot of power kiting, kite land boarding, kite buggying and kitesurfing with Gower Kite Riders, who have been kiting the sand and sea for more than a decade. www.gowerkiteriders.com 181

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4/22/2016 1:37:13 PM

10 OUT & ABOUT

BEST

THINGS TO DO FOR

FREE

IN GOWER

There is so much more to Gower than just lying on a beach. Not convinced?

Then check out these awesome activities.

JAMIE FURLONG reports...

182 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 1:38:01 PM

OUT & ABOUT

1. rhossili walk

Enjoy some of Wales’s most iconic scenery first hand with this idyllic walk. Stroll along the clifftop pathway and take in the breath-taking scenery overlooking the three-mile beach while heading towards picturesque Worm’s Head. At low tide walkers can spot the wreck of the Helvetia along the beach and the sands of Llangennith beyond.

The headland walk is three and a half miles long and should take visitors around an hour and a half to complete. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

2. star gazing

Pack up a blanket and a flask of tea and head out to the coast for a spot of star gazing this autumn. Gower’s beautiful coastline provides the perfect place to enjoy an uninterrupted view of the glorious night skies.

Three Cliffs Bay is among the most popular destinations among enthusiasts thanks to its clear views towards the Bristol Channel and out to the south. From this spot visitors can pick out various constellations such as the Lagoon Nebula, and star clusters in and around Sagittarius and Ophiuchus.

3. picnicking

Great for a family day out or a romantic evening watching the sunset, the Gower boasts enough beautiful beaches to make it so that no picnic ever has to be the same.

Visitors to the area may choose to eat along the clifftops of Rhossili Bay, the bay favored by Dylan Thomas for its views of dazzling North Devon in one direction and over three miles of fine golden sand in the other. Other options include the award-winning Oxwich Bay where visitors may be so lucky to spot seals or dolphins, and even the luscious limestone clifftops of Three Cliffs Bay. You might decide to take along your own food, but dotted around these beaches are quaint shops where you can buy organically made snacks for a small price which are bound to go down a treat.

4. cycling

Nothing is more relaxing and exciting than pedalling through the countryside on a sunny day. With the wind in your hair and beautiful scenery all around you, you are certain to have a day to remember.

Why not cycle along the winding country roads towards Llangennith, or discover the lush scenery leading to beautiful Oxwich Bay? Or for a fun family day out Mumbles’ cycle path stretches for miles along the seafront providing a scenic ride for everyone. Whether it’s mountain biking or a leisurely pedal you fancy, you are certain to find the route for you in Gower. Wherever you decide to cycle, always ensure that the correct safety measures are taken and you are fully equipped with helmets and protective clothing. Visit www.visitwales.com

5. seashell collecting

An array of colourful shells can be found strewn across the coastline. Everything from oysters and limpets to whelks, cockles, razors, and scallops can be discovered along its many sandy beaches.

Take the kids and have fun collecting a variety of shells - you can take them home to display in vases or create collages and add them to picture frames.

See goweros.blogspot.co.uk

6. wildlife spotting

Sea creatures galore can be found lurking in the rock pools along Rhossili, Oxwich, Port Eynon, Loughor, Mumbles, Langland, and Caswell. Crabs, starfish, anemones, and a host of other sea wildlife can be discovered by children and parents alike. Why not take a fishing net or bait and catch them for yourself. and throw them back.

Bird enthusiasts are also in luck as Oystercatchers, Sea Ducks, Shearwaters, Bitterns, Gulls, and many more species can be discovered across the area. Those who are looking to spot wading birds should head to the Loughor Estuary and Burry inlet where up to 10,000 can be seen at certain times.

7. food markets

Some of the finest Welsh produce can be sampled for free at one of Gower’s food markets. The monthly events allow farms, producers, and retailers to display their freshly made goods for people to sample and buy. Fresh lamb burgers, locally created cheese, homemade cakes, chutneys, jams and much more can be found at these markets.

Many stalls also feature a wealth of free samples to allow you to try before you buy.

Visit www.visitswanseabay.com/markets

8. dylan thomas trail

Follow the Dylan Thomas Trail and discover the Swansea-born poet’s favourite haunts and landmarks which inspired his writings. Visit his home in Cwmdonkin Drive, then head to Mumbles and Gower where he wrote some of his most famous works. Take one of his books and soak up the beauty of the area and find inspiration in your surroundings just as Dylan himself did. Then head to the permanent collection at the Dylan Thomas Centre where a variety of his work is on display alongside memorabilia and art exhibits.

Visit www.dylanthomas.com

9. fishing

One of the most appealing aspects of the Gower Peninsula is the fisherman community. The coastline boasts several fishing hot spots which host several species which vary according to the time of year.

Plaice, Bass and Flounder might be seen along Horton Beach, while those who go to Oxwich Point might also find Mackerel, Lug-Worms, Peeler Crabs. Those who venture out to Worm’s Head when the tide is low might also find the rarer Bull Huss. You might decide to join the likes of the Swansea Angling Club to become part of the fishing community, but you are more than likely to find other fish enthusiasts if you venture out solo and so it is a very easy way to meet new and interesting people. See: swanseaanglingclub.wordpress.com

10. surfing

Gower’s unbeatable coastline is the perfect place to explore your passion for surfing. With award-winning beaches including Llangennith, Oxwich, Langland and Caswell, this area is a bona fide surfing paradise.

Llangennith boasts some of the best quality beach facilities with people travelling from across the world to catch waves here. Enthusiasts of all abilities can enjoy the stunning waves thanks to numerous surf schools based in Swansea and Gower. Those who want to make a weekend of it can also camp at one of the many quality campsites along the coast, however there may be a small charge for this. www.swansealife.co.uk | 183

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OUT & ABOUT

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE! Each month Swansea Life celebrates the very best in reader photographs, capturing all that’s great about where we live and work...

View of Mumbles Lighthouse from Pant-y-Celyn Road in Townhill. By Wayne McTaggart.

Singleton Botanical Gardens by of Greg Jones (below)

Pwll Du Bay by Rob Anthony of Pontarddulais (above)

Prince of Wales Dock, by Eiona Roberts www.flickr.com/photos/lilo_lil

www.swansealife.co.uk | 185

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OUT & ABOUT

M Y

S W A N S E A

H E L E N

W I L L I A M S

What is your favourite Swansea view?

house. She always does an excellent job with the cut and colour, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

It has to be Pant-y-Celyn Road, just off Townhill. When the sun is shining you can see the whole of the waterfront from up there.

What about your favourite cafe?

The Kardomah is my favourite café. It has all sorts of cliental in there, and I really love the hustle and bustle. It is never quiet which is what makes it so great, because I like all the noise. Whenever I have a meeting outside of the office, I tend to go here because it is still quite old-fashioned and it is just a great place to meet.

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

The Pant-y-Gwydr on Oxford Street. It is a lovely French cuisine restaurant, and the food is fantastic and it has a really nice up-market feel to it.

What about a favourite hotel?

My favourite in Swansea has to be Morgan’s. It has a fantastic bar, and although I do not stay there because I live so close, whenever I have friends staying I always recommend that hotel.

“My favourite pub is my local The Buck Inn in Pontarddulais, but when I am out in Swansea, you cannot beat The Queens.”

Where is your favourite place to relax?

Nothing beats sitting in my garden on a sunny day. We have a large garden, and it has been well looked after. We often have friends over for a barbeque and use the hot-tub when it is nice. You can go anywhere in the world, but it is always nice to come home.

What about your favourite bar?

My favourite pub is my local The Buck Inn in Pontarddulais, but when I am out in Swansea, you cannot beat The Queens.

LAURA DAVIES chats to Helen Williams, managing director of Clean Sweep Swansea. Helen runs a cleaning company with offices in Llansamlet, Swansea.

And your favourite shop?

Just because it is so lovely it has to be the Arty Crafty shop by me in Pontarddulais. It is just so quirky and they have some really beautiful handmade things for sale.

Do you have a favourite attraction?

My favourite attraction out of everything Swansea has to offer is Broughton Bay near Llangennith. I have so many great memories there from when I was a child.

Swansea seafront

I would often go down there with the family during the holidays.

And your favourite salon?

I do not have a favourite salon as such, because I don’t trust other people with my hair. The only person I do trust is Sarah Brain in Llangennech. She is a mobile hairdresser and comes to my

Morgans Hotel

Favourite part about living in Swansea?

The coastline. It takes a lot to rival the amazing view we have from Swansea Bay and the Gower.

The one thing you miss most about Swansea when you go away?

I miss the Waterfront when I go away.

It is such a nice place to go, and it is a different kind of view from somewhere like Spain.

Is there anything you’d like to say about Swansea?

Everyone I have met is always so nice.

A lot of people in Swansea want to achieve something in life, and we are the kind of community that helps each other succeed. We are a friendly bunch and I would say aside from the coastline, it is one of its best qualities.

The Kardomah

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Motoring

MERCEDES SHOOTING BRAKE (page 190) BMW 3 SERIES TOURING (page 192)

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4/22/2016 1:40:32 PM

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The Wheel Specialist ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT & CUSTOMISATION “ DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, HERE’S WHAT MY CUSTOMERS THINK” - Mark Allcott, Owner, The Wheel Specialist Swansea I was really pleased with the whole experience. Mark Allcott was very helpful and his advice was spot on. The work was carried out very professionally and I was extremely pleased with the results. It’s a shame that more business’ aren’t the same. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending to others - Kind Regards, Barry H Just had my car done, with Mark and the guys at Swansea branch. Fantastic service, I’m delighted with the finished product and shall be using them again - Kind regards, Matt L Had my wheels refurbished recently at The Wheel Specialist in Swansea on my car. I must say the guys there did a fantastic job, very professional and very helpful. Would highly recommend them to anyone, so many thanks to Mark and the guys at Swansea - Regards, Vaughan would like to thank you and your team for the really good work that was carried out on my Audi, the wheels look as good as new and I will be recommending you to others.” - Paul Trueman “The wheels are brilliant, the boys did a terrific job matching them to my car, Please thank those concerned. I am very pleased with the results.” - Don Lewis

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MOTORING

TWO, THREE, BRAKE! Mercedes-Benz’s CLS four-door coupe was novel enough. The latest Shooting Brake estate versions seem more conventional but are no less desirable as JONATHAN CROUCH reports...

TEN SECOND REVIEW The Mercedes CLS-Class Shooting Brake is more a sporting, coupe-like take on the station wagon theme than your conventional boxy estate car. It delivers discreetly rewarding driving dynamics, a beautifully finished cabin and, perhaps most importantly of all, a level of practicality that CLS-owners have never enjoyed before.

The latest model gets an extensive refresh, with a range of new engines, the development of a nine-speed automatic transmission, some very slick tech features and a better quality cabin. Cleaner engines are the focus, but there’s the continentcrushing 585PS CLS63 AMG S heading up the range.

BACKGROUND Not all estate cars are created equal.

The archetypal estate is a vehicle that prioritises practicality above all else, and a certain Swedish marque probably springs to mind. At the other end of the spectrum are the sports estates, cars in the mould of the Lancia Beta HPE from the Seventies, the Honda Aerodeck of the Eighties or the Lexus IS SportCross from the Nineties, cars that featured a hatch but not much in the way of added practicality.

This genre waxed and waned in popularity but it wasn’t until the launch of the second generation Mercedes-Benz CLS that a major manufacturer really applied it to a high-end car.

The CLS Shooting Brake is a cross between a coupe and an estate. The E-Class estate exists if you need real load lugging ability, but the five-door CLS was an altogether more raffish and elegant thing. It’s been updated since its 2012 launch and now includes many of the systems developed for the latest C, E and S-Class models.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE If you come to this Mercedes expecting it to feel like a big executive estate car, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised. As you should be. After all, the whole point of a ‘Shooting Brake’ is the delivery of sports coupe driving dynamics with extra carriage space. If the car in question doesn’t manage that, then all it really is, is a sleekly styled estate car - like, say, a Jaguar XF Sportbrake or a BMW 5 Series Touring. To live up to its name, this CLS really has to offer a little more than that out on the road. And fortunately, it does.

Mercedes has also revised the engine line up although it seems curiously reticent to advertise the fact. At the base of the range there’s now a CLS220 BlueTEC which has replaced the old CLS250 and features a 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine good for 170PS and 400Nm of torque. This is joined by a tweaked CLS350 BlueTEC, that’s also using a urea-injection exhaust treatment to pass Euro6 emissions regulations. It’s a lot cleaner, but power is knocked down 7PS to 258PS with torque unaffected at a whacking 620Nm. The

flagship model is the delightfully unhinged CLS63 AMG S which is now offered in one state of tune equivalent to the old Performance Package upgrade which means your 5.5-litre V8 makes 585PS and gets to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds.

The transmissions have also been updated, with a nine-speed automatic transmission standard on the CLS350 BlueTEC variants.

The 9G-Tronic unit promises smoother shifts, sharper acceleration and smarter logic software but the seven-speed box continues in the CLS220. The CLS63 AMG S gets AMG’s seven-speed SpeedShift transmission with an auto clutch actuator.

DESIGN AND BUILD Stuttgart has wisely left the aesthetics of the CLS Shooting Brake largely unchanged with this revision. After all, it was such a fantastic-looking car that not a lot really needed doing.

The changes are extremely subtle, with the introduction of a revised diamond radiator grille, a reprofiled front bumper with larger air intakes, LED headlamps as well as slightly darkened tail lights with multilevel function. At around 5m in length, this car is 16mm longer than a normal CLS four-door, but the really important difference is the way that this extension prolongs the height of the roofline to make this Shooting Brake a more comfortable proposition for rear seat passengers.

Unlike some sporting estates that feature

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MOTORING smaller boots than the saloon cars they’re based on, the CLS Shooting brake’s luggage bay is some 70-litres bigger than the CLS saloon, offering 590-litres of capacity to the parcel shelf. Push forward the 60/40 split folding rear backrest and up to 1,550-litres of luggage room is revealed.

The cabin does drama very well. From the immaculately hand-stitched leather dash top to the centre analogue clock borrowed from the S-Class and the matt-silver inlays around the air vents, everything in the wrap-around cockpit is all beautifully crafted - a very high end place to be. And fantastically comfortable too, even if you don’t opt for the sumptuous Dynamic Multicontour seats with their inbuilt massage function. The big change is the addition of a free-standing 8-inch colour display. Other changes include a redesigned three-spoke sports steering wheel and a central control panel that’s more intuitive to operate.

MARKET AND MODEL Shooting Brake prices open at £48,090 for the CLS220 diesel, with the CLS350 with its state of the art nine-speed automatic gearbox looking a tempting £51,040.

Should you hanker after yet more power, it’s then a fairly big step up to the rangetopping CLS63 AMG S, which is yours for £87,000.

Mercedes is very proud of the lighting technology on this CLS and it’s easy to see why. The light pods are full LED, which offer great visibility but the MULTIBEAM LED option is something that really brings this car to life after dark. Here you get a bank of 24 high-performance LEDs that are dimmable through 255 stages. The software is clever enough to spot oncoming cars and keep them in a moving cone of dimmed light while shining brightly at all other areas. This camera-based system can also be used to swivel low beam lighting

around a bend even before the steering wheel is turned. Roundabout lighting, verge lighting, follow you home lighting you name it, the MULTIBEAM LED pack does it.

Also introduced on this model is an integrated Media Interface but you need to be signed up to the temple of Jobs. Your iPhone can now talk to the COMAND Online system to access apps such as weather, Google Local Search with StreetView and Panoramio, destination/ route download and Facebook can even be used while on the move. Audio and video playback is possible from Bluetooth, from an iPod and iPhone, and also from SD card, USB stick or CD/DVD.

COST OF OWNERSHIP The CLS Shooting Brake might look a million dollars but will it cost the earth to run? Not a bit of it. Let’s take the entrylevel CLS220 CDI as an example. The asking price might be enough to deter many, but if you can afford to buy it, incremental ownership costs are modest indeed. Put three years and 30,000 miles on one and the pence per mile figure works out at 109ppm, which compares favourably with the 115ppm of the Jaguar XF 3.0d Sportbrake.

Much of that is down to the Mercedes’ 56.5mpg fuel economy compared to the Jaguar’s 46.5mpg figure.

Stepping up to the more powerful CLS350 BlueTEC diesel doesn’t deliver to much of a handicap in terms of economy, delivering 52.3mpg and 142g/km of CO2. Spend too long on the loud pedal of the CLS63 AMG and you’re not going to get anywhere near its posted 28mpg consumption figure but you’re going to have a heck of a good time. The desirability of the CLS Shooting Brake helps it perform strongly on the used market and the diesel-engined cars

are the most sought after. Industry figures show it comfortably outperforming its key rival, the Jaguar XF Sportbrake, on retained values and model for model, insurance premiums are more affordable for the Mercedes.

SUMMARY The Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake shouldn’t really work but somehow it does. As a result, it’s one of those cars that can’t help but put a smile on your face. There’s something gratuitous and unnecessary about it yet it engenders the sort of goodwill that something like a BMW X6, which could have the same accusations levelled at it, never gets close to emulating.

The latest models benefit from update work on the engines, the lighting systems and the integration of connected services and are better vehicles for it and the concept of a large estate that doesn’t drive like one, never really gets old. More practical than those artful lines might suggest, the CLS Shooting Brake now has even more strings to its bow. It’s going to take quite some car to depose it from its small but fiercely loyal fiefdom.

“The latest model gets an extensive refresh, with a range of new engines, the development of a nine-speed automatic transmission, some very slick tech features and a better quality cabin.”

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MOTORING

TOUR OPERATOR The improved BMW 3 Series Touring now offers an even stronger package for those who don’t pack light. JONATHAN CROUCH checks it out...

TEN SECOND REVIEW The improved sixth generation of BMW’s 3 Series Touring holds no great surprises to those who understand the narrative of this model. It’s not the most accomplished load lugger in its class but it’s the best drive and offers the most efficiency. That’ll be enough to clinch the deal for most who just hanker after a 3 Series with a hatchback.

This revised version gets revised styling front and rear and much stronger levels of efficiency thanks to a rejuvenated range of freshly-developed four and six cylinder engines.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE The well-versed themes of the 3 Series are present and correct in this latest generation Touring. The car in question is rear wheel drive, it features a very meticulously balanced weight distribution, and, as a result, BMW is keen to position this Touring as the best model to drive in its class. What has changed in recent years is a clearer focus on efficiency and this generation Touring campaigns with some hugely impressive engines.

If you’re of a generation who remembers the badge on the back of a 3 Series denoting its engine size, you might be a bit confused by the latest line-up. The 330i, for example, no longer packs a six-cylinder lump, instead squeezing 252bhp from its turbo four, replacing the old 328i in the process. If you do want a six-cylinder petrol engine, BMW will sell you the 340i, a new variant that delivers 326PS (the same as the old ‘E36’ M3 Evo super-coupe) and will take a blink over five seconds to get to 62mph.

At the other end of the petrol engine range is - and you

might want to take a seat for this - a 318i model featuring a 136bhp three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine that’s been pinched from the MINI line.

Most of the diesel engines are heavily modified or new. At the base of the range is the 116bhp 316d and the 150bhp 318d derivative, but the most attractive models will likely be the 320d and 320d Efficient Dynamics Plus variants.

COST OF OWNERSHIP BMW has concentrated on improving the efficiency of the 3 Series Touring and there are benefits right across the board. The three-cylinder petrol engine in the 318i variant records CO2 emissions that can be as little as 133g/km in manual form, or as little as 129g/km with the eightspeed Steptronic transmission fitted, a big improvement over the previous BMW 316i.

Fuel consumption is equally impressive, with the 318i Touring returning 49.6mpg in manual form. The 320i Touring isn’t far behind with CO2 emissions that can be as low as 141g/km in manual form (or 134g/ km as an automatic) and fuel consumption that in mnual form can see the car return as much as 46.3mpg in manual form.

Of course, most UK customers will look to the diesel engines and they’re not going to be disappointed. For example, the 316d Touring manual model returns up to 64.2mpg in manual form, with CO2 emissions of 116g/km. Go for the pokier 320d Touring manual model and though you get more power than the pre-facelifted 320d variant could offer (up from 184 to 190PS), emissions have been reduced by 6% to just 118g/km, along with a combined cycle fuel

showing that can be as good as 62.8mpg on the combined cycle with a manual gearbox: not at all bad for a car that can hit 62mph in 7.6s. There’s also a 320d EfficientDynamics Plus version that improves that showing to 68.9mpg and 107g/km in manual form.

The Steptronic automatic transmission option marginally improves all these figures and now features a coasting mode so that when the driver lifts off the throttle at higher speeds, for example on a gentle downhill grade on the motorway, the engine is automatically decoupled from the powertrain. It then simply ticks over in neutral, which saves fuel and ensures there is no unwanted engine braking at high speed.

SUMMARY The 3 Series Touring has long been one of the quiet achievers in BMW’s model range. It might just be the lowest key car the German giant sells but it’s also one of the most impressive. Look behind the lowkey styling and you find a car that does so much so well.

What’s more, estate car buyers usually have a sense of the pragmatic and will appreciate the great strides BMW have made with this improved version in terms of efficiency.

It used to be that nothing really got close to a 3 Series in this regard. The gap has narrowed in recent years, but this 3 Series Touring still astonishes in offering sports car straight line speed with supermini fuel and tax bills.

With contenders in this class so closely matched, it’s the sort of thing that might tip the balance BMW’s way. Try a Touring and you’ll see why.

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what’s on

CALENDAR OF EVENTS (page 194) WHAT’S COMING UP (page 196) 13 MUST SEE SHOWS (page 198)

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WHAT’S ON

Whats on this May ’

...

Got something to tell us about, for inclusion in the What’s On section?

Please contact Mark Rees... mark.rees@swwmedia.co.uk 01792 545529 @reviewwales

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

CLYNE IN BLOOM IS BACK!

EARLY MAY BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL TIMETABLE

UNIVERSITY OF WALES TRINITY SAINT DAVID EXHIBITION

ALL MONTH AT CLYNE GARDENS

GWILI STEAM RAILWAY, CARMARTHEN

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE, UNTIL JUNE 3

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

2

WEDNESDAY

3

4

THURSDAY

PEPPA PIG’S SURPRISE

THE BLUE ORCHARD GROUP

EVENING BOAT WALK

ADULT CRAFT WORKSHOP

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE, 1PM & 4PM

SWANSEA MUSEUM, UNTIL JUNE 19

MARGAM COUNTRY PARK, PORT TALBOT, 7.30PM

DYLAN THOMAS CENTRE, 10.30AM – 1.30PM

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

CHEESE AND CIDER WEEKEND

‘WAR’S HELL!’ THE BATTLE OF MAMETZ WOOD IN ART

ONLY FOOLS AND 3 COURSES

ROY CHUBBY BROWN

GOWER HERITAGE CENTRE, 10AM – 6PM

NATIONAL MUSEUM CARDIFF, UNTIL SEPTEMBER 4

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE (ARTS WING), 7.30PM

THE PRINCESS ROYAL THEATRE, PORT TALBOT 7.30PM

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

TONTO EVANS

UNDER MILK WOOD TWITTER EXCHANGE #5

DYLAN DAY, ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE, UNTIL MAY 14

DYLAN THOMAS CENTRE, FROM 10AM.

SEE PREVIEW ON NEXT PAGES

5

8

THURSDAY

12

6

7

9 10 11 13 14

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WHAT’S ON WHAT’S ON

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

LLANELLI SPRINT TRIATHLON

THE WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE

BLACK STUFF

FROM NORTH DOCK, LLANELLI

KING STREET GALLERY, CARMARTHEN, UNTIL MAY 18

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF, 7.30PM

15 16 17 WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

CREEPY CARMARTHEN TOUR

SWAP!

MARTIN CARTHY AND ELIZA CARTHY

FROM CARMARTHEN’S GUILDHALL, 7PM (LIMITED SPACES)

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE, UNTIL MAY 21

PONTARDAWE ARTS CENTRE, 7.30PM

18 19 SATURDAY

21

20 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

ALL DAY ACTIVITIES

MINING JOSEF HERMAN EXHIBITION

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL

LLANELLI WETLANDS CENTRE, FROM 11AM

SWANSEA MUSEUM, UNTIL JULY 10

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE, 7.30PM

22 23 24

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA: IN PARENTHESIS WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF, 7.15PM

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

COMEDY CLUB (16+)

ONLY FOOLS AND 3 COURSES

THE KING OF THE SKY

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE (ARTS WING), 8PM

PONTARDAWE ARTS CENTRE, 7.30PM

TALIESIN ARTS CENTRE, 1PM & 7PM

SATURDAY

27 28

25 26

WALK IT SWANSEA

FROM THE JUNCTION CAFÉ, BLACKPILL, 11AM

SUNDAY

MONDAY

GUIDED TOUR: DYLAN’S SWANSEA

MARGAM INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL

THE RONNIE SCOTT’S ALL STARS

FROM THE DYLAN THOMAS CENTRE, 1PM

MARGAM COUNTRY PARK, PORT TALBOT

SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE, 7.30PM

29 30

TUESDAY

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WHAT’S ON

3 GREAT THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH...

DYLAN DAY Celebrate the international Dylan Day at the Dylan Thomas Centre, where award-winning poet and performer Rhian Edwards will lead a Young Writers Squad workshop between 10am and 12.30pm. From 1pm – 4pm there’ll be a family drop in session, where little ones are invited to help the Centre make a model of Llareggub village, the backdrop to one of his most famous works, Under Milk Wood. The finished village will stay on display in their Learning Space throughout May. All ages welcome, and entry is free.

Dylan Thomas Centre • Saturday, May 14, with the Twitter exchange on Friday, May 13

WALK IT SWANSEA Crohn’s & Colitis UK, the inflammatory bowel disease charity, is to host Walk it Swansea to raise awareness and funds for a condition that affects more than 300,000 people in the UK. The 5km or 10km walk, with entertainment and food.

Walk registration is £10 for adults, £5 for children aged 5-16, and includes a free t-shirt. Children under 5 go free. To register visit the website: www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk

From The Junction Café in Blackpill from 11am on May 28.

WNO’S SUMMER SEASON Welsh National Opera will celebrate 70 years of the Company in a season that includes the world première of In Parenthesis, a revival of Cavalliera rusticana and Pagliacci, the first two productions ever staged by the company in Cardiff on 15 April 1946, a new WNO Youth Opera production and a unique production as part of Wales Millennium Centre’s Festival of Voice.

Wales Millennium Centre • Starts with In Parenthesis on Friday, May 13

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WHAT’S ON

THIS MAY, WHY NOT... ...IMAGINE THE WORLD? The final programme for Wales’s largest festival of the arts and literature have been revealed, and with more than 300 events lined-up there’s no shortage of talks, concerts and workshops to get excited about.

The 2016 Hay Festival will include Roald Dahl and Shakespeare-themed events, and will cover such diverse topics as architecture, comedy, culture, dance, fashion, fiction, film, food, music, politics, religion, science and sport.

Some of the big names to keep an eye out for include James Bond director Sam Mendes and larger-than-life actor Brian Blessed, alongside home-grown heroes including Sir Karl Jenkins and Bryn Terfel.

WHERE: Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye WHEN: May 26 – June 5

listen...

read...

watch...

Helen Love “Smash Hits”

Ritual, 1969 by Jo Mazelis

Spotlight

On sale May 20 from HMV Swansea

On sale now from Seren Book at Waterstones, Swansea

On sale May 23 from Sainsbury’s, Swansea

Taut and haunting, this third collection of stories from local Jerwood Prize-winning author Jo Mazelis introduces an eerie strand of the otherworldly to her work. From the ghostly mansion of Caretakers, to delusion and illusion in the strange workings of the characters’ imagination in Ritual 1969, Levitation and Velvet, or the magic realism of Atlantic Exchange.

Academy Award-winning true story in which a team of investigative journalists at The Boston Globe known as Spotlight, under the direction of new editor Marty Baron, go undercover to expose a scandal revolving around allegations of child abuse within the Catholic Church.

Let’s go! After twenty one singles, three EPs and seven albums, legendary Swansea indie bubble-gum-punks Helen Love return with their longawaited eighth studio album, which will be available on Summer Sunburst Super Kay 12” as well as CD from UK independent label Alcopop! Records.

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13 WHAT’S ON

MUST SEE

SHOWS

at Swansea’s Grand Theatre this summer...

The new Swansea Grand Theatre spring/summer 2016 brochure has landed – and there are loads of great shows coming our way to get excited about. MARK REES picks out 13 of the best in the coming season...

1. Frank Vickery’s Tonto Evans Frank’s back - with his most popular play!

Starring Frank himself as Tonto Evans, an exminer and country and western fanatic who is given to dressing up as a Native American feathered headdress and all.

And now that he has come into money, he dreams of visiting the Wild West and eating beans by the campfire. Mair, his long-suffering wife of thirty years has other ideas. But all their plans are put on hold by a murder inquiry...

When: Wednesday, May 11 - Saturday, May 14, 7.30pm, Saturday matinee 2pm How much: £10 - £15. Opening night offer 2 for 1 (terms & conditions apply). Selected concessions available.

2. Swap This May sees the return of another Swansea stage favourite, David Callister.

Written and directed by Ian Ogilvy, Swap sees Brian Flowers and his wife Susan arrive at their house-swapping summer vacation in Spain, only to discover they’ve unknowingly traded houses with a British gangster. The mess gets bigger and the clean-up gets sillier as exgirlfriends, twin brothers and dead bodies all start piling up in this hilarious farce.

When: Wednesday, May 18 - Saturday, May 21, 7.30pm, Saturday matinee 2pm

The Proclaimers

How much: £9.50 - £16. Opening night offer 2 for 1 (terms & conditions apply) Selected concessions available on selected performances.

3. A Party to Murder Six people have come in secret on Halloween to play a murder mystery game at a rustic island cottage. Secret passageways, incriminating letters, hidden compartments, bodies in the window seat and a twenty five year old unsolved mystery twist and turn toward the unexpected and terrifying conclusion.

4. Adam Hills: Clown Heart (14+) Widely referred to as ‘the nicest man in comedy’, Adam Hills has fast become one of the most popular comedians in the UK, with fifteen solo shows that have toured internationally. His combination of positive, uplifting comedy and rampant spontaneity has seen him receive numerous awards, glowing reviews and a legion of fans around the world.

When: Monday, June 13, 8pm How much: £21.50*

When: Thursday, June 9 - Saturday, June 11, 7.30pm, Saturday matinee 2pm

5. The Proclaimers

How much: £9.50 - £16. Opening night offer 2 for 1 (terms & conditions apply).

Selected concessions available on selected performances.

Twin brothers, Craig and Charlie Reid, have over the years enjoyed huge successes across the globe and in April last year released their tenth album on the Cooking Vinyl label. They

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WHAT’S ON

When: Monday, July 4, 7.30pm How much: £20.50 £50.50 premium seats* Selected concessions available

9. Fluellen Theatre Company presents Taffy Shakespeare

by Francis Hardy Kevin Johns returns as Ianto Pugh, who left Wales in order to find fame and fortune in London as a standup comic and ended up by writing Shakespeare’s plays (or so he says!)

When: Thursday, May 12, 1pm & 7.15pm How much: Evening: £10, £8.00 concessions.

Matinee: £8, £6 concessions Bill Bailey: Limboland

have carved a niche for themselves where pop, folk, new wave and punk collide. Expect to hear the classics Sunshine on Leith, (I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles, Letter From America, I’m on My Way, Let’s Get Married and more.

When: Saturday, June 18, 7.30pm How much: £29*

10. Bluestocking Lounge presents Burlesque (18+) A scorching summer with international beauty, Bettsie BonBon (pictured), and award-winning boylesque pole performer, Sir Midnight Blues, in June. The fantastic Whisky Falls headlines August’s show.

When: Saturday, June 18 & Saturday, August 20, 8pm How much: £15.50*

6. Bill Bailey: Limboland

7. Blithe Spirit

8. #JC4PM Since Jeremy Corbyn became Labour Party leader he has transformed his own party and the way politics is conducted in this country.

The #JC4PM tour celebrates his new politics with appearances from a stellar line up of comedians, musicians, poets and speakers.

This wonderfully lavish new staging tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom at the start of WWll. Lucy O’Byrne, fresh from her success on BBC One’s The Voice, plays the title role of Maria.

When: Tuesday, August 23 - Saturday, Aug 27, 7.30pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees 2.30pm

How much: £25.50*

How much: £9.50 - £16. Opening night offer 2 for 1 (terms & conditions apply) Selected concessions on selected performances.

One of the greatest musicals of all time returns to the stage in a magnificent new production to enchant the young and the young at heart.

The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, So Long Farewell, and of course, The Sound of Music.

When: Tuesday, June 21 and Wednesday, June 22, 8pm

When: Wednesday, June 29 - Saturday, July 2, 7.30pm, Saturday matinee 2pm

12. The Sound of Music

She became the competition’s runner up earlier this year, impressing the nation and chart topper will.i.am with her stunning vocal range.

The gap between how we imagine our lives to be and how they really are is the subject of Bill’s new show, Limboland. From his global travels he recounts the hilarious saga of a disastrous family trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights, he rails against a world that doesn’t match up to our expectations and contemplates the true nature of happiness.

In Noel Coward’s classic comedy, the socialite and novelist, Charles Condomine, invites the eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. This backfires when he’s haunted by the ghost of his annoying first wife, Elvira, who after the séance makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles’s marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

The Sound of Music

Burlesque

11. Jekyll and Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men, one good, one evil.

Intent on separating the two, he succeeds in his experiments. However, in doing so he unleashes Hyde, a monstrous and uncontrollable alter ego. Prepare for the fright of your life in a dramatic new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic and atmospheric Gothic melodrama.

How much: £19.50 - £39.50* Opening night offer 2 for 1 (terms & conditions apply) Half price child offer on selected performances and seats Selected concessions available on selected performances.

13. Meet the Real Maggie Thatcher Gerundagula Productions presents an engaging and sometimes gritty insight into one of the most notorious political leaders of our era. Nominated for Best Play in the National Studio Theatre Awards 2014.

When: Friday, June 10, 8pm How much: £10, £8 concessions

When: Tuesday, August 9 - Saturday, August 13, 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.00pm How much: £9.50 - £16* (See with Death Toll the week before and watch both for £21.00) Opening night offer 2 for 1 (terms & conditions apply) Selected concessions available on selected performances.

To book tickets visit... www.swanseagrand.co.uk or phone 01792 475715 * concessions available www.swansealife.co.uk | 199

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Social diary

FASHION SHOW (page 202) WEDDING CELEBRATION (page 204) PRIDE AWARDS! (page 208) EDDIE WHITNEY (page 220)

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SOCIAL DIARY • FASHION SHOW

FASHION SHOW LUNCH, WITH FRIENDS OF THE WELSH NATIONAL OPERA WHERE? Morgans Hotel, Swansea TELL ME MORE... Friends of the Welsh National Opera held a fashion show lunch in aid of the WNO, hosted by Rowberry’s

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FASHION SHOW • SOCIAL DIARY

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SOCIAL DIARY • WEDDING CELEBRATION

Real life wedding Rachel & Kevin Barrow Services Manager Rachel Payne, 30, married Case Supervisor Kevin Barrow, 29, at Glangrwyney Court, Crickhowell.

She shares memories of her big day with Daniel Laurie...

Did you have a long engagement?

We got engaged on Good Friday last year, so only just over a year ago. We were engaged for about nine months before we got married in Crickhowell. I am from Loughor and Kevin is from Bishopston and we met at a mutual friend’s house party in Penyrheol about six and a half years ago. We have been living together in our house in Penllergaer for three years. We both wanted a wedding with limited fuss with a small venue, so it wasn’t as easy to find as some wedding venues we looked at were too big. I think a majority of people have a long engagement to save up money for a big wedding, but because we both wanted a small barn wedding then we didn’t need to wait to save up so we just went for it.

How did you decide on the venue?

I was born in Abergavenny and we had a look around some wedding venues around Swansea. We found that there weren’t many places that fitted to what we wanted, which was a small barn was wedding with family and friends as guests. We had a look around two different places before we looked around Glangrwyney Court and we both fell in love with the venue. It was ideal because it seated 60 people in the barn and it was just exactly how I imagined my wedding to be. Me, Kevin and both our parents all went up to have a look around and we decided together that this was ‘the’ place where we wanted to get married. We reserved the venue on the same day we had a look around, so I had to ring the registrar

to see if it was available, thankfully it was, so everything went to plan. I also liked the fact that the venue had accommodation so we could stay at the venue the night before because it was a trek away from our house in Penllergaer.

The big day We got married on a Saturday so on the Friday evening, me and my two bridesmaids stayed in one cottage at the venue and Kevin, his brother and his best man stayed in a separate cottage. I woke up really early and I didn’t have much sleep because a mixture of nerves and excitement were kicking in.

Lisa Logan, who is a local hairdresser to the venue, arrived to do my hair at 8am so it was an early start. Me and my bridesmaids were all drinking Prosecco as we were getting ready and putting our dresses on. I used Jessie Harries from Swansea to do all our make-up and she did an excellent job.

As the time was moving, on I was getting more relaxed and excited to see people at the wedding. As we picked to get married in December we didn’t expect the nicest weather, but likely for me my cottage was attached to the barn where the ceremony was being held, so I didn’t actually have to go outside before the wedding. This was another reason why this venue was an excellent decision. We were lucky as during the day there were intervals of dry spells so I put my wellies on and we took the opportunity to have pictures outside with Amy, who was a fantastic photographer. The wedding was at 2pm and after the ceremony

the barn was transformed into the reception area. We had speeches from my dad, Kevin and his best man Steve Morgan, which were all lovely. We hired Sugarloaf catering company from Blaenavon to provide our evening meal and they didn’t disappoint.

We had a sit down meal with canopies to start, followed by a hog roast served on a wooden board along with potatoes and salad as a main course meal. For our desert, there were two choices which included a lemon tart pudding which was so tasty. We had around 38 people in the day and then 20 more people joined us for the evening reception.

The perfect gown In my head I had always imagined myself getting married in lace because I love lace. I went looking around dress parlours with my mum for advice. We went to Crush White Orchid first to see the dresses they offered and I tried on around six or seven dresses. I wanted to have a look around, so we went to Cariad Bridal in Picton Arcade, and the second dress I tried on was the one I picked.

When I put it on I felt as if it was made for me and I loved it. I always thought I would just like my wedding dress and just wear the dress because I wouldn’t have been able to find something I love, but I actually found the dress I loved and wanted to wear on my wedding day. I kept it traditional and didn’t let Kevin see my dress until the day. Kevin and the rest of the men got their suits from Crush menswear, which were all very smart.

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WEDDING CELEBRATION • SOCIAL DIARY

Your favourite moments?

Our wedding cake was made my Rachel from Sweet Fancy Things in Clydach which was amazing. It was three tiers with fruit cake at the bottom, a traditional Victoria sponge in the middle and a lemon and white chocolate cake at the top. We were both really happy with it.

have done it without them. I would also like to mention Kevin’s father Rob Barrow, who unfortunately couldn’t make it to the wedding day because he was too ill, and he passed away on New Year’s Eve. He will forever be in our thoughts. Our photographer Amy Reed also deserves a mention because although the weather on the day of the wedding was dull and grey, she has made the pictures look so radiant and she has really done us both justice. She was such a big help. Also the band who played at our wedding reception called The Edge were brilliant and really brought a local vibe to the wedding as they are from Swansea. They played a mixture of current songs and the classics and we just didn’t want them to end because they were so entertaining and had everyone up dancing.

We hadn’t seen play live them before, but we watched videos of them on YouTube and contacted them to play at the wedding.

Special touches worth a mention?

Your advice to brides before their big day?

I would firstly like to thank both mine and Kevin’s families for all their help and support.

They were all such a big help and we couldn’t

I would tell future brides to not be too worried, keep calm and enjoy every moment.

Also don’t get worked up about the small

The whole wedding was amazing and throughout the day there were so many moments which will be with me forever.

My favourite moment would have to be walking down the aisle and seeing Kevin for the first time at the altar, and him seeing me in my dress. It was emotional and just a lovely moment. Our first dance was also another special moment.

We danced to ‘You Are The Best Thing’ by Ray La Montagne which is not a very popular song, but it is easy going and a song that was special to dance to on our wedding day.

things. If someone doesn’t have a napkin or if you haven’t got enough favours, it doesn’t matter and it’s not a big deal although it might seem it on the day.

As long as you have all your family and friends around it doesn’t matter. I was so shocked by how fast the day went, so treasure every moment.

How did you spend your honeymoon?

We went straight to Paris the day after the wedding for a few days because we hadn’t only just got married but I turned 30 days after the wedding, so we did the trip as a joint celebration.

We wanted to get away for a few days to enjoy our time as husband and wife. Also we are flying to San Francesco in April and travelling around Nashville, Vegas and New York for three weeks which is part of our honeymoon.

We are really excited and looking forward.

Photography by www.flashbulb.info • hello@flashbulb.info Facebook.com/flashbulbwales

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SOCIAL DIARY • WEDDING

THE MARRIAGE OF ALEXANDRA MASON-JONES AND NICK DAVIES WHERE? Oxwich Bay Hotel, Gower TELL ME MORE... Alexandra and Nick are from Alltwen, Swansea, and their wedding was held at the Oxwich Bay Hotel, Gower. www.willmasonjonesphotography.com

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SOCIAL DIARY • GALA DINNER

ACADEMI HYWEL TEIFI GALA DINNER WHERE? Great Hall of Swansea University’s Bay Campus TELL ME MORE... A fundraiser for the Hywel Teifi Memorial Fund, which supports projects and provides life changing opportunities and resources for Welsh speaking students. More than 120 people attended the event hosted by guest speaker Huw Edwards, with £12,000 raised.

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SOCIAL DIARY • PRIDE AWARDS

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST PRIDE AWARDS WHERE? Brangwyn Hall, Swansea TELL ME MORE... An evening hosted by the Evening Post and attended by former Eastenders star Charlie brooks to celebrate the region’s unsung heroes

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PRIDE AWARDS • SOCIAL DIARY

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SOCIAL DIARY • DINNER

SWANSEA UNIVERSITY AND TECHNOCAMPS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY DINNER WHERE? The Marriott Hotel, Swansea TELL ME MORE... ITWales International Women’s Day Dinner is an annual event held to provide an insight into the diverse range of business and career opportunities for women in the 21st Century offering a platform for sharing experiences, knowledge and best practice for women, particularly those working within science and technology. This year’s theme was “Education and Achievement” and was co-sponsored by Tehnocampus and the College of Science, Swansea University.

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DINNER • SOCIAL DIARY

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SOCIAL DIARY • CHARITY DINNER

CARERS TRUST CHARITY PRIVATE DINNER IN THE PRESENCE OF HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL. WHERE? Claridge’s Hotel, Mayfair, London.

TELL ME MORE... A fundraiser for the Carers Trust, president HRH The Princess Royal. Hosted by Burry Port millionaire entrepreneur Kevin Green. Attended by 26, members of Mr Green’s international business team and representatives of some leading South Wales businesses., including Castell Howell, Morganstone and the Corran Resport and Spa. Cheque for £50,000 presented to Carers Trust.

Alex Lloyd Photography

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SOCIAL DIARY • CONCERT

MORRISTON ROTARY CLUB WALES SINGS IN SPRING CONCERT WHERE? Brangwyn Hall, Swansea TELL ME MORE... Morriston Rotary Club’s Wales Sings in Spring charity concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.

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SOCIAL DIARY • CHARITY EVENT

QUESTION OF SPORT CHARITY EVENT AT THE LIBERTY STADIUM WHERE? The Liberty Stadium, Swansea TELL ME MORE... A Question of Sport evening at the Liberty Stadium with past and present Swans player raising money for the charity Zimkids

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CHARITY EVENT • SOCIAL DIARY

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SOCIAL DIARY • CHARITY EVENT

AFTERNOON TEA ABOARD THE COPPER JACK IN AID OF ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH UK WHERE? The River Tawe TELL ME MORE... Volunteers Elaine Davies, Non Thomas and Linda Good served an afternoon tea aboard the Copper Jack in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

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SOCIAL DIARY

UNIVERSITY OF WALES TRINITY SAINT DAVID An event to celebrate Lampeter as the birthplace of rugby in Wales with a full day of rugby related events, that also saw former Wales and Lions Legend Barry John awarded an honorary UWTSD fellowship.

TELL ME MORE... Barry John was awarded the fellowship during a ceremony attended by distinguished guests, which also included recent UWTSD fellow and rugby great, Delme Thomas and Derek Quinnell.

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SOCIAL DIARY • SALON LAUNCH

THE LAUNCH OF HAIR CIRCUS, A NEW SALON. WHERE? Hair Circus and Serenity Beauty Boutique in Tabernacle Street, Skewen.

TELL ME MORE... For Serenity this is an expansion of their existing beauty salon and relaxation suite in Llansamlet.

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SOCIAL DIARY • SHOP OPENING

SHARON THOMAS OPENS HER NEW SHOP BELISAMA CANDLES WHERE? Llangyfelach TELL ME MORE... The new shop in Llangyfelach sells Vegan and Ecosoy wax candles, melts and handmade burners.

Plus luscious soaps, beautiful bath bombs & gorgeous gifts, all made in Wales

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SOCIAL DIARY

By invitation with Eddie Whitney

Swansea businessman EDDIE WHITNEY keeps us up to date with his charity work and social diary...

The true heroes at the Pride Awards

I

t is my favourite yet most emotional night of the year by a long way. The annual Evening Post Pride Awards don’t just tug at the heart strings they cut them into little pieces again and again all night.

The evening celebrates the unsung heroes and very special people from Swansea and South West Wales. From teachers who go the extra mile to charity fundraisers who help thousands through their efforts to carers who quietly make life better for those less fortunate in society.

The evening is also well supported by local business and well attended by anyone who cares including a number of famous faces. It was lovely to see the likes of rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones, Di Botcher and even the delectable Charlie Brooks attend the evening and host the event. And I could not pen this column without a special mention to the lovely Blanche Sainsbury, my original angel who has gone onto such amazing things in London since leaving Swansea.

Children of courage Joseph Tobin was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at fiveweeks-old but he has refused to let his condition hold him back in life. The brave 15-year-old, from Cwmavon, Port Talbot, may have a life-limiting condition but he has a real passion for sport. He has boundless energy and has even taken part in the gruelling challenge to help raise more than £2,000 for the cystic fibrosis unit at Singleton Hospital.

Little Maisie-Lee John may be living with a life-limiting condition but she remains happy-go-lucky. The Skewen youngster, aged 5, always has a smile on her face even though she is living with cystic fibrosis. She is on medication and has to have regular sessions of physiotherapy.

Rhiarn Fyfield never complains despite being in out and of hospital throughout her young life. The 17-yearold, from Penlan, is living with Crohn’s disease and has a series of other health With Maisie-Lee John problems. But she has been determined to pursue her studies and has achieved incredible success in the martial art of karate.

In terms of awards, the category that stands apart from And last but far from least, Thomas Bradnum’s world the rest, however, is the Child of Courage Award. I have changed forever following a car accident. The 12-year-old sponsored this for many years but an unfortunate set Portmead was left wheelchair-bound after being knocked of events including me being out of the country meant off his bike during a collision with a car. It was feared Admiral had that honour this year – and quite an honour he would lose his life following the incident but he had it is. battled on, which led to his nomination in the child of courage category.

As ever, keeping in with my own tradition, all the children were declared joint winners on the night and I want to give All these children inspired me and I wish them all every a special mention to them all here. luck with their future battles and successes.

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SOCIAL DIARY

Having a great time at the Pride Awards!

Me with Charlie Brooks!

There were many other touching moments. The Editor’s Choice award went to Tom Bravin, whose was posthumously identified as Swansea’s secret Santa the late Mr X. Thousands of children have benefited from his appeal. In take my hat off to a great legacy and a great man who never sought the limelight despite helping thousands of people.

Another standing ovation went to Elaine Kidwell, the youngest female air warden in Britain who supported families in Swansea’s Blitz. She was just 17 when the city was bombed. In tribute to her work and the era she lived through I was also delighted to see the very lovely and talented Kirsten Orsborn, who I mentor, perform a spine tingling version of We’ll Meet Again.

Helping kids in school...

Finally, an on a completely separate note, I want to commend the Post for another scheme they are running at present.

The Buddy Bench, an initiative launched by the paper in conjunction with the City and County of Swansea . It is a simple idea to eliminate loneliness and foster friendship on the playground. Students who feel lonely or left out can sit on the buddy bench and ask to be included without saying a word.

With Blanche Sainsbury (what do you think of the gladiator shoes, girls?)

If a student doesn’t have someone to play with, they can sit on the bench and the other students know to ask them to come and join in. The Buddy Bench initiative is open to all 79 Primary Schools in the Swansea area.

I am proud to have sponsored one for Mayals Primary School. I hope it will make a great difference to children’s lives and I commend the Evening Post for backing this scheme.

Eddie x

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Look out for your Buddy Bench in your school, kids!

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SOCIAL DIARY • WEDDING CELEBRATION

THE MARRIAGE OF STEPHANIE HEALEY AND DANIEL DOUGHTY FROM PENLLERGAER IN SWANSEA TELL ME MORE... The ceremony was at Clyne Chapel with the reception at Manor Park Country House

www.laurenamelia.com

222 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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WEDDING CELEBRATION • SOCIAL DIARY

www.swansealife.co.uk | 223

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4/22/2016 2:07:36 PM

SOCIAL DIARY • RED CARPET LAUNCH

THE RED CARPET LAUNCH OF HYDRA FACIAL WHERE? The Sun Lounge Beauty Centre, Morriston TELL ME MORE... The Sun Lounge is the only centre in Swansea to offer this unique Facial. Organisers hailed the champagne event a big success with 75 per cent of guests signing up to a 12 month course after their trial.

216 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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Tforme you

GETTING SUMMER READY (page 233) YOUR PET PICS! (page 234) HELLO GORGEOUS! (page 239) HOROSCOPES (page 248)

Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA15 4HA (01554) 758171 • myddfaispa@stradeyparkhotel.com

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4/22/2016 2:14:29 PM

TIME FOR YOU

SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED Swansea’s independent shops and boutiques are what still help make it so special. From one-off jewellery buys to afternoon tea, Swansea Life’s RACHEL NICHOLS celebrates some of the very best...

1

The Cwtch What: A welcoming café with vintage interior that specialises in freshly ground coffee and homemade cakes. Don’t miss out on the lunch meal deals with sandwiches, paninis and jacket potatoes on offer.

Why we love it: The café has a colourful and quirky design, with a warm atmosphere and really friendly staff.

What the owner has to say: “I opened The Cwtch after finishing my degree, when I discovered that I had a love for catering and homemade food. We source our produce locally, with the aim to support other local independent businesses.”

Rhiannon Howells – The Cwtch, St David’s Place, Swansea.

Coco Blush Boutique What: A trendy boutique that stocks everything from clothes to jewellery and accessories. With popular brands imported from France and Italy, the boutique sells high trending fashion.

Why we love it: This place provides a stylish, affordable shopping experience that differs from the high street. Sadie and her staff are welcoming and provide great, personal shopping advice.

What the owner has to say: “We have a wide range of clothing to suit all ladies here at Coco Blush. After the success of our boutique in Swansea we are hoping to develop an online store where customers can have their purchases delivered to them.”

Sadie Alder - 15 Nelson Street, Swansea SA1 3QE

3

Valley Mill What: A new arrival to Swansea which specialises in beautiful Welsh slate home ware, personalised gifts, soy candles and natural soap.

Why we love it: With personalised gifts ready to be made in-store, the team at Valley Mill are more than accommodating to individual requests. The soy candles are a treat, with unique flavours such as Welsh cake and Bara Brith. Plus, a really cheery welcome from behind the till.

What the owner has to say: “At Valley Mill, we provide purely Welsh gifts and stock Welsh-made food and drink. Our slate is handmade with care and pride, as we hope to give our customers the best service possible.”

Kevin Thomas – 39 Union Street, Swansea SA1 3BZ

Have you got a favourite independent business in Swansea?

Let us know! E-mail us at peter.slee@ swwmedia.co.uk

226 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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TIME FOR YOU

Tyler Jenkins

4

Health & Herbs What: An independent health and food shop with a wide range of natural remedies and super foods.

Why we love it: The staff provide excellent one-on-one customer service and offer a generous 10 per cent senior discount. With a wide range of products and brands, there is something for everyone on its shelves. It is also the first health shop to have won a coveted Mary Portas Award for the way it has always championed local high streets.

What the owner has to say: “We are an independent business in Swansea that has been open for nearly 30 years.

We pride ourselves on selling the highest quality natural products, whilst also providing caring customer service.”

David Slatter - 5-7 Picton Arcade, SA1 3BH

Derrick’s Music

What: A beautiful jewellery shop that stocks contemporary silver and the latest trends such as Nostalgia and Troll Beads.

What: A family run music store selling, CDs, Vinyl’s, tickets and more.

Why we love it: The shop is both spacious and luxurious. The walls are lined with gorgeous glass cabinets that allow leisurely browsing coupled with manageable prices. The family is extremely helpful and always on hand to answer any customer questions.

Why we love it: With a resurgence of Vinyl records, Derrick’s Music store is busier than ever. With a wide range of genres, all tastes of music are catered for.

What the owner has to say: “After starting out in Carmarthen and Swansea Market our business has grown. We love being local to Swansea and would love to stay here for a foreseeable future, providing our customers with the up and coming trends of jewellery.”

What the owner has to say: “We are the longest trading family in the record industry in Britain and have been selling music for over forty years. We aim to provide the best records, whilst delivering first-rate customer service.”

Beth Jenkins and Jonathan Jenkins, 7 Nelson Street, Swansea, SA1 3QE

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7

Christof Stylianou - 221 Oxford St, Swansea, SA1 3BQ

Quadrant Coffee House What: A recently refurbished café and coffee shop with a sophisticated Victorian tea room. Small breakfasts, sandwiches and delicious cakes fill the menu.

Why we love it: The Victorian tea room located upstairs in the coffee house is unlike any other establishment in Swansea. The café provides a family-like atmosphere whilst also serving delicious food.

What the owner has to say: “I aim to provide customers with a relaxed, friendly and satisfying experience. To support the other local businesses in Swansea we source our fresh produce from Swansea Market.”

Hani Omar - Quadrant Gate, 23 Nelson St, Swansea SA1 3QE www.swansealife.co.uk | 227

4/22/2016 2:17:14 PM

TIME FOR YOU

COMING CLEAN Around one in 50 people will show signs of an obsessive compulsion at some time, Many see their lives taken over by pointless habits. Here, Swansea Life’s LIZ PERKINS meets a Swansea sufferer...

IT’S 6am but Sandra Armstrong-Bartlett is already thinking of bleaching the kitchen work tops.

After a quick cup of coffee she’s tweaked the cushions on her bed to make it look perfect and crease-free, fed the cats and put the dishwasher, tumble dryer and washing machine on.

Sandra admits this is only half of her routine before she sets off for work.

“The first thing that happens is that Rob makes me a cup of coffee in a cup that says ‘Good morning gorgeous’ - no other coffee tastes as good as that one,” she tells me.

“Rob always makes the bed and I tweak the cushions as they have got to look perfect. We feed the cats and give them attention.

“I bleach all the worktops and wipe everything down that takes five or 10 minutes in case the cats have jumped onto them.”

Her Port Talbot home is absolutely spotless before she has the chance to get washed and dressed, by which time it is 8.10am.

Sandra says: “The cleaning takes about two hours, I feel great after that. I use the bathroom and clean my teeth and then I wipe all the bathroom down again.

“The house isn’t going to be used all day but I want all the downstairs looking perfect. That’s my morning routine. I feel really good.

“In the car I’ve got my makeup bag, I put it on in the car.”

Sandra’s cleaning habits have led her to become the subject of banter at Swansea Market, where she runs Sandy’s Lunchbox.

She says: “I have a girl there at 8am because I’m doing too many jobs in the house. In the market they always say Sandra and Rob are late because Sandra is forever cleaning!”

She adds: “The dishwasher, tumble dryer and the washing machine are on simultaneously. Whatever I’ve put in the machine the night before goes into the drier.

But when researchers from Channel 4’s Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners came to Swansea in the search for someone to appear on the show, they were sent in her direction.

“The dishwasher goes on and I mop out the kitchen. I clean all the kitchen floor because the cats are in there overnight and because of the antibacteria thing in my head.

“I then hoover all the downstairs.”

The levels at which it manifests itself vary from person to person.

But in the most extreme cases, the crippling disorder can see people washing their hands with bleach many dozens of times

OCD affects more than 70,000 people in the UK.

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TIME FOR YOU

“Everything is properly cleaned and I do love what I do. We work six days a week and work 10 hours a day.”

every day, line up cans in cupboards to ensure they are pencil straight, scrubbing skirting boards in the middle of the night or even refusing to touch other people for fear of picking up germs.

Some might even worry they have a life-threatening disease.

“My son James is 27 and his friends have come to the house for food and they say ‘Oh look it’s the pyjama family.’

Little wonder though that Sandra’s market stall is always immaculate.

“I’ve got a five star hygiene rating,” she says.

Sandra’s son James jokes that he and his sister Jade, aged 32, when they were growing up they “had a duster and bottle of polish” in their hands.

“I like to make sure that the tables are wiped down and everything is wiped down so I am ready to clean the vegetables as our main trade is at lunchtime. We do a full two-and-a-half hours of cleaning at the business every day.

Sunday should be Sandra and Rob’s day off but it never is.

“I clean for a lot longer on a Sunday,” she says. “Rob does the garden, I like him to hoover the astro turf so there’s no leaves on there. I get him to hoover the decking.

“Everything is properly cleaned and I do love what I do. We work six days a week and work 10 hours a day.

“He makes sure the garden is prestigne.”

“It can be quite stressful.”

But Sandra’s work does not stop there.

“They stand up and don’t sit down if they don’t have pyjamas.

They know the score.”

Sandra may have seven cats in her home but you would never think it.

While Rob is out buying food supplies for the next day, Sandra is reaching for her cloth again.

She says: “When you go into people’s houses and it’s smelling of animals I can’t stand it. I make sure my house is nothing like that.

She adds: “Tonight I came home and polished and sorted the cats. I redid some of the work from earlier by wiping the doors of the kitchen cupboards.”

“When you do have animals you have to clean up after them. A quarter of the time I spend cleaning.

“People say they would never think there were animals here.”

One of her pet hates is people wearing their outdoor clothes into her house and taking your shoes off is a must.

Sandra, who tied - the - knot with Rob in Sri Lanka in September, last year, thinks she has calmed down cleaning wise.

Sandra says: “The feeling of being proud of my home that’s the essence of it. I do not have the poshest house but it’s well maintained.

“I would clean the windows every single day when my children were young,” she says.

“No one wears shoes into the house. I do not wear any clothes that I have worn outside into the house.

“I get changed and get showered straight away. As soon as we sit down we are in our pyjamas and slippers.

“My children come around and they wear their pyjamas and slippers and the grandchildren do too.

“They say ‘We’re going down mummas (corr) she’s a crazy woman.’ Before they come here they change and bring their slippers with them.

“I feel like I’ve mellowed a lot - some people think ‘no’ but I have.

When I had a deep pile carpet I wouldn’t let people walk on it.

“I’m never afraid to clean.”

She has already been approached to star in a show called Country House Rescue, which will see Sandra get to grips with cleaning a dilapidated old home.

“I’ve been known all my life for my cooking and cleaning, I have always had OCD going on but I haven’t been diagnosed,” she says.

www.swansealife.co.uk | 229

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4/22/2016 9:41:10 AM

TIME FOR YOU

How do you get summer ready?

Rachel Nichols has been finding out what keeps you happy and serene in the run-up to summer...

REBECCA NAPOLETANO

CHLOE JONES 18, LLANELLI

FERN LEE-JENKINS

25, LLANELLI

I have been following Joe Wicks’ recipe book: ‘Lean in 15’ to get myself ready for summer. I think it’s important to eat well and exercise in the lead up to the warm weather. I also make sure to cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day.

When summer is around the corner I like to cut my hair and add blonde highlights to give myself a fresher look, as well as using a tanning moisturiser.

I like to start looking after my skin a lot more, and sometimes even treat myself to a manicure.

Before summer begins I will be following the Weightwatchers programme, to try and slim down after having my baby. I love putting away all my winter clothes to make room for a new summer wardrobe, full of bright colours.

PAULINE BUSHROD

IRENE EVANS

74, GORSEINON

As the weather gets warmer I enjoy exploring and finding new places to spend the day, like the beautiful Gower. I love walking my dogs in the evenings, as well as buying new dresses – because I don’t have the chance in the winter!

20, PORT TENNANT

SARAH CROWNIN

34, LLANELLI

23, SWANSEA

After indulging at the beginning of the year, I like to start eating healthily to lose a few pounds for summer.

I always make sure to exfoliate and moisturise my skin every day. I also like to go to the gym and take long walks after work as the weather gets warmer.

In the warmer months I also like to use fake tan, and change my makeup to include brighter shades and colours.

Let us know what makes summer so special to YOU on our Twitter page @SwanseaLife www.swansealife.co.uk | 233

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TIME FOR YOU

Your pet pics!

Who‘s the fur-est of them all? They’re part of the family, we wouldn’t be without them, and now we want to see just how gorgeous the furrier members of your household are.

Email us your pet pics: laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

Name: Lily Age: 2 Breed: British Short hair Likes: Cwtches Dislikes: Being woken up Owner: Michael Verbeck From: Treboeth

Name: Mylo Age: 20 months old Breed: Cavalier King Charles Likes: Going for walks and treats Dislikes: Cats Owner: Brian and Angela Thornton From: Loughor

Names: Doug andCally Age: Both 6 Breed: Doug (was a stray cat), Cally (Maine Coon) Likes: Both cats love a cwtch Owner: Grace Collins From: Neath

Name: Chester Age: 5 Breed: British Short Hair (BSH) spotted tabby Likes: Raw beef Dislikes: Srangers Owner: Alyson Lewis From: Sketty

Name: Kobe Age: 3 Breed: English Bulldog Likes: Eating people’s shoes Dislikes: Carrots and the Hoover.

Owner: Rachel Lloyd From: Sketty

Name: Joe Age: 1 Breed: Syrian hamster Likes: Running up and down his tubes and playing in his ball Dislikes: Loud noises Owner Evie and Ffion Thomas From: Landore

Name: Sonny Age: 3 Breed: Bedlington Terrier Likes: Godfather 1 and 2 Dislikes: Godfather 3 Owner: Ceri Williams From: Mumbles

Name: Honey Age: 12 Likes: hair bobbles Dislikes: Our Siamese cat Jimmy.

Owner: Sophie Cobbold From: Newton

Name: Jackson Age: 12 Breed: Ginger Tom Likes: His bed, sleeping, eating Hates: The outside, Billy the other cat Owners: Paul and Steve From: Birchgrove

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My baby and me Alana Perrin is a mother-of-one, with baby number two due in June.

She lives in Llanelli with her husband Stewart and very busy toddler Santino, whose boundless energy and love of exploring keeps them on their toes. A news editor and mummy blogger, Alana gives an honest insight into life as a first-time (and soon-to-be second time) mother at www.baby-holiday.co.uk When she’s not running around after the whirlwind that is Santino, she can be found writing – usually with coffee and cake within reach.

What seems like just a few weeks ago, we were debating whether to find out the gender of our second baby at our 20 week scan. We decided not to...and now it’s driving me a bit mad!

and my bump seemed higher up all along, so I’m not convinced about this!

I’m fairly impatient, so waiting six more weeks to find out if Santino will have a baby brother or sister feels like an eternity. You’d think having gone through my first pregnancy keeping the baby’s gender a mystery I wouldn’t find it such a challenge but, if anything, this time around it’s worse!

Beating hearts:

I was so tempted to ask the sonographer if we were having a boy or a girl – and with regular growth scans over the past few weeks we’ve had more opportunities than most to find out.

But Stew is insistent that we don’t want to know, so until he announces the news in the delivery room a secret it will remain.

Or will it?

For a bit of fun – and to see if it gives any indication – I’ve gone old school and tested some of the gender prediction myths. I know, I know, they’re all nonsense but there’s no harm in trying. And I promise not to base the baby’s wardrobe on the results!

So here goes...according to the old wives tales, are we on team blue or team pink?

High or low?

They say if you’re carrying high, it’s a girl, but if your bump is low, it’s a boy. My bump feels very low compared with last time, which would indicate it’s a boy. But Santi was all up in my ribs

Result: Boy

If your baby’s heartbeat is above 140bpm, it’s said to be a girl. Below, and it’s a boy. At my last appointment it was 144bpm, which means I’m growing a little pink bubba. But again, Santi foiled this as his heart rate was always above 150bpm.

Result: Girl

Sugar and spice?

Women who fancy salty or sour food are likely to have a boy, while women carrying girls will crave sweet snacks and drinks. I’ve been craving orange juice and Diet Coke this pregnancy, which would suggest we’re having a girl.

Although I have such a sweet tooth I don’t think I’d ever be different!

Result: Girl

Got the glow?

Girls are said to steal their mother’s looks, so if you don’t get the pregnancy glow it’s a little pink for you. I’ve definitely been looking a bit offcolour, so no little brother for Santi (although it could just be a new foundation to blame!).

Result: Girl

Wedding ring: Tie your wedding ring to a piece of string and dangle it over your bump. If the ring makes a circular motion, it’s a girl, but if it moves to and fro, it’s a boy. I’ve tried this twice, once with me holding the string and once with Stew doing it, and both times the movement flitted between the two, so who knows!

Result: Inconclusive So there we have it. These are all the tests I could find online, and the results are...

Girl: Four Boy: Three

Unlock the mystery: This one is just bizarre. If a pregnant woman picks up a key by the narrow end she’s apparently carrying a girl, but it’s a boy if she goes for the round end. Without knowing what this one was about, Stew asked me to pick a key up and I went for the round end. Surely that’s just logical as it’s how you would use a key to open a door!

It’s pretty close, so the sickness and ring test could have been the deciders if they were a bit more concrete. It looks like we’ll be cracking open the yellow paint for the nursery to be on the safe side!

Result: Boy

LAURA DAVIES picks out gifts and gadgets for your baby...

John Lewis duck bath thermometer, £3.50, John Lewis, Cardiff Gro-Egg Thermometer, £14.99, Mothercare, Parc Tawe

Ewan The Dream Sheep, £29.99, from www.sweetdreamers.co.uk Garmin babyCam, was £159.99 now £129.99, Halfords, Parc Pemberton

ONE FOR MUM TO BE

Baylis and Harding Mum to Bee Treat Me Travel Bag, £7.

For a relaxaing weekend away or the all important hospital bag. Tesco, Llansamlet, Parc Fforestfach, Parc Trostre

Motorola MBP853 Video Monitor, £129.99, Argos, Swansea

238 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 2:21:00 PM

Hello gorgeous!

Name: George Shores Born: May 13, 2014 Parent: Alys Scott From: Llanelli

Name: Sienna Grace lewis Born: June 5, 2014 Parents: Claire Lewis and Robert Lewis From: Llanelli

Meet more of Swansea Life’s new arrivals...

Name: Chad Carl Lewis. Born: November 22, 2014 Mum: Tracey Lewis From: Llanelli

RD Photography Swansea

Name: Eva Williams Born: February 4, 2016 Parents: Debbie Payne and Daniel Williams From: Cwmdu

Name: Amelia Evelyn Davies Born: February 27, 2016 Parents: Emma Haynes and Ashley Davies From: Tycoch

Name: Brody Condon Born: October 4, 2014 Parents: Nadine Owen and Alex Condon From: Port Talbot

Name: Mason James Davies Born: January 28, 2015 Parents: Lauren Walters and Kalvin Davies From: Morriston

Name: Pixie-May Roberts Born: January 1, 2016 Parents: Bradley Roberts and Alana Burrows From: Pontardawe

Name: William James Mears Born: Parents: Claire Mears and From: Pyle

We’d love to see your new arrivals. Send your pictures along with details to laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

BabyPics.indd 2

239

4/22/2016 2:15:51 PM

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• 2 Day Sat & Sun General Entry Ticket • Dinner, bed & full English breakfast

The Derby

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• Executive Coach Travel • Coach transfer to Epsom

£209 PER PERSON

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For further information contact our Travel Shops

Swansea - 01792 456600 Cardiff - 02920 348811 Untitled-1 1

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4/22/2016 3:38:19 PM

S WA N S E A

LIFE

Have your say...

Find us on Facebook:

Facebook.com/SwanseaLife • Tweet us

@SwanseaLife

Urban Village, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW

On Twitter this month... @Jermin_Prod Happy Monday all, hope you’ve all had your morning fix? A coffee, a @swansealife magazine and we are good to go at JP HQ! @truehairswansea Great to see our charity night at the @coast_italia for @noahsarkcharity in the @swansealife thank you.

Letters...

Inspired!

The House & Home section of the magazine continues to amaze me. I love seeing inside people’s homes. Your April edition even gave me the incentive to begin the job of tackling our spare bedroom.

It’s a work in progress, but I’m getting there!

S WA N S E A

LIFE www.swansealife.

co.uk

APRIL 2016 £2.95

SPRING

STYLE

OUR BIGGEST FASHION EDIT EVER!

Style gets personal!

Made in Swansea The very best in local food

Be inspired!

Seasonal beauty boosts

238

LOOKS

TO KICK-START

YOUR WARDRO BE

Dazzling design from our interior experts

04

Rachael Lynne Gorseinon, Swansea

04 9 771750 843018 9 771750 843018

@Richie_Hammond Enjoying this month’s Swansea Life!

Thank you @bethdoesfood It’s a very nice feeling to see your recipe in your local magazine!.

Thank you Swansea Life for dedicating some of your pages to plus-size fashion. (April) It’s a rare thing to see but nonetheless very welcome indeed. The reality is that we are not all size 8’s. We live in the real world and it is nice to see you acknowledging that fact.

Andrew Hewson Blackpill

Unexpected treat I called in on the Cinema& Co enterprise in Swansea on the back of your article on it in April’s magazine. What an unexpected treat. Well done to the people behind it.

Annie Davies Via email

Keep tweeting us your thoughts about the magazine and let us know what you would like to see in our June edition of Swansea Life!

www.swansealife.co.uk | 243

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TIME FOR YOU

SUPER SUNNIES

1 SWEET TOOTH

Bunch of flowers? Pah! That’s so yesterday.... how about brightening up someone’s day with a gorgeous bouquet of sweeties! The Great Gift Company, www.thegreatgiftcompany.co.uk

Big, bold and embellished, this year’s sunnies are about creating a statement. These Dolce and Gabbana glasses are just perfect, £267, www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk

2

SWANSEA LIFE’S

WISH LIST! Laura Davies’ pick of this month’s most wanted... laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk

10

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL Give your home or garden a colour boost with this crochet blanket.

Also makes the perfect cover-up, £40, BHS, Swansea

@LawsDx

9 WHAT A STAR! light up your room with this quirky, ‘uber modern wooden star feature light, £40, BHS, Swansea

244 | www.swansealife.co.uk

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4/22/2016 2:22:33 PM

TIME FOR YOU

3

LACE UPS! Let your feet do the talking with these Multi Colour Beaded Lace Up Sandals with Pom Poms, £22.99, New Look, Swansea

5

COLLAR POWER Jazz up your outfit with this stunning multi coloured embellished collar, £12, Asos.com

87

ALEXA’S ARCHIVE

4

Alexa Chung always looks fab and her collection at M&S is just as stylish! We love this dress, £45, M&S, Swansea

ROYAL CUPPA

Celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations with Sainsbury’s range of memorabilia. How British can you get than having a pot of tea for two, £12

GO FRUITY Add a tropical touch to your garden table this Whitsun with this Mercury Pineapple Vase, £25, M&S, Swansea

6 LIMITED EDITION We love this purple iridescent bottle and are already imagining we are in the Tuscan hillsides with the scent of irises in bloom.

Orris and Sandalwood Limited Edition Scent, £120, Jo Malone,Cardiff

www.swansealife.co.uk | 245

FavouriteThings.indd 2

4/22/2016 2:22:53 PM

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STYLE OUR BIGGEST FASHION EDIT EVER!

Style gets personal!

APRIL 2016 £2.95

Made in Swansea The very best in local food

Be inspired!

Seasonal beauty boosts

238 LOOKS TO KICK-START YOUR WARDROBE

Dazzling design from our interior experts

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FASHION UPDATE

LET YOUR LOVE SHOW

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HOME & GARDEN SPECIAL 44 pages of fresh ideas for a better home

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4/22/2016 2:23:37 PM

NEXT MONTH IN SWANSEA LIFE

Funnyman Bill Bailey on all-things Swansea!

“We eloped for our wedding day!”

400-plus buys that are right for you Swansea chefs share their favourite recipes

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TIME FOR YOU

HOROSCOPES Your forecast for the month of May...

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

APRIL 21 - MAY 21

MAY 22 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 22

Long-term plans are going apace and even finances are looking up. Do you remember that long, heated look across the room last month? Well, one of you may decide to make a move soon.

Avoid giving in to something at work just because you are feeling tired or unsure. Delay.

Whatever you want is not as far away as you think.

It is a highly creative month for you.

The trick is to combine business moves at the right time financially.

Romance is all around you, but are you ready? It is sometimes a good idea to be ‘busy’ and play for time if you are not sure. Don’t think that all decisions (especially personal ones) need to be made alone. Others have been down your road before and may well have some good advice.

Spontaneous romantic feelings could see you express more than you intended this month. Do you really want a current romance to become more serious? At times it feels as though you are being backed into a corner. Be busy. Make plans to travel to avoid premature leaps in the dark. Head spinning? Don’t feel guilty about taking some time out and doing something relaxing.

Lighter moments see Venus giving everything a sentimental edge.

While you love romance, choose your words carefully to avoid misunderstanding. A partner may want to be spontaneous. Fine, but make sure it isn’t with your money!

The Full Moon in May can make some people feel a bit loopy. Refresh your memory. Remember your dreams and ambitions.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

JULY 23 - AUGUST 23

AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23

OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22

Matters of finance and of the heart may come to a head this week. Venus, bringer of peace, wants you to tie up loose ends to bring contentment.

Some will decide to take a romance to the next level. Cash flow should give you the chance to move forward on a pet plan. Watch out! Your ambitions are showing! Does your view of the future differ from that of your partner or family? Talk your socks off and try to come to some sort of agreement.

Someone you were not initially attracted to could take on a rosy new glow in your eyes. Why is this? Could it be that their lack of interest has stirred your curiosity?

You feel lucky and are the owner of a sharp mind. Use it to get the best out of any situation, business or personal. Feeling bored?

Remember, the devil finds work for idle hands.

Unusual turns of event bring you face to face with your ambitions.

Do you feel you are being given an opportunity, or just being put in a stressful situation? Perhaps a little of both? Don’t kid yourself. You know what you want and what you do not want. So easy really, isn’t it? Push and make that extra effort now to see your dreams come true.

A long conversation inspires you to make changes. This could be to your appearance or your attitude towards an old flame.

Sentiment certainly comes into it.

You may be thinking, ‘What if...?’

Spontaneous spending should be avoided this week as you may regret it later. Keep an open mind and stay flexible, especially when it comes to romance.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21

DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20

JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20

Surprises and spontaneous fun are yours in May. Even so, it sometimes seems like one step forward, one step back. This is not the time for taking leaps in the dark, especially if they are financial. A partner has the right approach, even if it does need a bit of tweaking. Going around in circles leaves you exhausted and in the middle. Let others get the moves going and watch and see what happens.

Venus, giver of peace and romance, is certainly on your tail this month.

Accept invitations and enjoy being the centre of attention. Things may have been a bit quiet recently and, in certain areas, you could do with a bit of spontaneity. Who did you dream about last night? A highly tuned mind is sending the right signals. All you have to do is listen carefully.

Family and friends keep you moving along happily, even if energy is low. Talking takes little of this and there is plenty of talking to be done. Chances to discuss things that have been pushed under the carpet arise. Make the most of them. Honesty is not easy for everyone. Give encouragement.

Be adult and mature and see that things are not as worrying as they at first appear.

Sentimental thoughts of the past come flooding back when an email or call comes out of the blue. It is lovely to remember good times and what it was like to be together.

However, take into account why you parted. Closer to home there are things that need to be aired.

248

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L I C E N C E T OO T H R I L L BRANGWYN HALL 15∙7∙16 Untitled-2 1

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WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD WIN? BRANGWYN HALL, SWANSEA | JULY 15 2016

So, here we go!

But who do you think should take the titles in 2016?

THE Swansea social night of the year is looming large once again.

Which do you think is the bay’s best restaurant?

What about your favourite shop, hair salon, pub, gym or wedding retailer?

The wraps are off for the 2016 Swansea Life Awards paying tribute and rewarding the successes of our highest achievers from right across the Swansea Bay area.

Last year's awards really got you talking and saw some of the best places and people in Swansea recognised for making 2015 their year. More than 100,000 votes were cast in 18 different categories.

This year, 17 categories are being opened up for public vote and over the next couple of weeks we’ll be chatting with you on social media to find out who you think made 2016 their own.

N O M I N A T E A S WA N S E A B U S I N E S S T H AT Y O U F E E L DESERVES RECOGNITION The Swansea Life Awards, Swansea’s red carpet event of the year, rewards individuals and businesses that have helped to push Swansea onwards and upwards, with regards to outstanding quality, customer service and innovation.

Winning or even being nominated would be a huge publicity boost for your chosen Swansea Bay businesses. It is recognition that really does last well beyond the awards night itself. The businesses associated with the awards will get coverage in Swansea Life magazine and the South Wales Evening Post, as well as regular mentions on www.swansealife.co.uk and the Swansea Life Facebook and Twitter pages.

S WA N S E A L I F E AWA R D S . . . N O B O D Y D O E S I T B E T T E R Untitled-2 1

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T H I S Y E A R ’ S C AT E G O R I E S . . .

BEAUTY: Are you looking good for one of our Awards?

FINE DINING: Do you cater best to your customers?

CAFÉ CULTURE: Finest cafe, coffee shop or deli in Swansea? Tell us which your favourite is...

AFTER DARK: Top Swansea drinkery or dance spot? You tell us!

EVENT: Have you run Swansea's most successful event? Marshal your case

FASHION RETAILER (LOCAL): Smart operator?

Go shopping for an Award!

GASTRO PUB: Great food, drink, service and vibe: might you be a winner?

FASHION RETAILER (NATIONAL): Highlighting and celebrating great service from your high street, big name favourites

HAIR: Is your salon award-worthy? Let us know!

HEALTH/GYM/SPA: Are you fit for the purpose of winning?

LEISURE & TOURISM: The area is full to bursting with brilliant attractions. Which one gets your vote?

HOTEL: Are you feeling comfy? Here’s which you say is the very best WEDDING VENUE: Pulling out all the stops to make your big day the best possible.

VISITOR EXPERIENCE: Do you go the extra mile for your visitors?

HOMES & GARDENS: Which shop makes your home dreams a reality?

WEDDING RETAILER: Who has inspired your aisle style?

SWANSEA BID CITY CENTRE AWARD: Which brand does it for you when you are out and about in Swansea?

H O W T O N O M I N AT E A N D V O T E F O R T H E S WA N S E A L I F E AWA R D S 2 0 1 6 Nominate your business/businesses at www.swansealife.co.uk NOW. Closing date for nominations is May 13th, 2016.

A full list of this year’s nominations will be available at www.swansealife.co.uk from 16th May.

To vote, simply select the business/businesses you feel deserve recognition from one or more of the categories.

Voting opens 16th May, 2016. Closing date for voting is 8th June 2016.

Nominate NOW at www.swansealife.co.uk Untitled-2 2

4/22/2016 4:51:59 PM

LAST YEAR'S WINNERS WERE...

CafĂŠ Culture Verdis

Hotel Morgans

Beauty The Brow Bar

Wedding venue Oldwalls

Event Waterfront Winterland

After dark venue Bambu Bar

Gastro pub The Grill House

National fashion retailer River Island

Health/gym/spa The LC

Local fashion retailer Stardust Boutique

Hair The Hair Lounge

Visitor experience Rhossili beach

Leisure and Tourism Pembrey Country Park

Wedding retailer Allison Jayne Bridal

Fine Dining Bouchon De Rossi

Homes & gardens Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins

Watering Hole Bar Americanos

Swansea City centre award Bouchon de Rossi

Lifetime achievement Eddie Whitney

WHO WILL IT BE THIS YEAR? Nominate NOW at www.swansealife.co.uk

The Swansea Life Awards offer a great opportunity to put your organisation in front of some of the most dynamic and forward thinking businesses in Swansea. With categories covering all types of businesses you are sure to find a category that suits you.

For more information on sponsorship contact: Debbie Roberts Direct line: 01792 545 626 | Mobile: 07966 071602 | Email: debbie.roberts@swwmedia.co.uk For more information on booking tickets for the event contact: Paul Carter Direct line: 01792 545 518 | Mobile: 07725 499701 | Email: paul.carter@swwmedia.co.uk

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4/22/2016 4:52:17 PM

Monks PREMIER SPA & HEALTH CLUB

• A Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage or an Elemis Express Facial • Use of the Hydro Spa Facilities • Use of the Fitness Suite • A 2 Course Meal at Machynys • Complimentary Refreshment on Arrival • Use of Robe, Slippers and Towel

Please note a £5.00 supplement fee applies to ALL spa days booked Friday to Sunday Telephone: 01554 744888 | www.machynys.com

Machynys Peninsula Golf Club & Premier Spa, Nicklaus Avenue, Machynys, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA15 2DG

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SPRING HAS SPRUNG

4 Portland Street, Swansea SA1 3DH | 01792 462 999 | www.stephenhughesďŹ nediamonds.com

10 % DIS COUNT O N AL L PAIRS O F WE DDING RINGS With complementary engraving on each

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