a w a r d - w i n n i n g M AGA Z IN E
SWA NSE A
LIFE
324 ideas
to get
WIN!
£200 TO SPEND AT M&S
new season cool 9 771750 843018
9 771750 843018
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autumn-ready
SEPTEMBER 2018 £2.95
Recharge your style and your home with our on-trend looks
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Combining old-world charm with 21st century cool, this is Fairyhill, but not as you know it. As we toast to our future we welcome you to start yours with us. Here’s to new beginnings.
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Contents... S E PTE M B E R
SWA NSE A
LIFE
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FASHION 10. CHECK IT OUT… This season’s must-have print 14. HIGH STREET HOTTEST New season looks out now! 22. WIN! £200 to be won on a new seasonal wardrobe
Editor Laura Davies | 01792 545523 @LawsDx | laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk PUBLISHER Lisa Cameron | lisa.cameron@mediawales.co.uk Photography Adrian White, Jonathan Myers, Gayle Marsh, Hoosh Arabi, Robert Melen Contributors Lara Johnson & Dom Capel, Lesley Taylor, Sian Day, Victoria Wade, Joseph Atkin, Andrew Morgan, Dr. Charlotte Jones, Chris Howells, James Richards, Marc White, and Chris Peregrine
HAIR & BEAUTY
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27. BEAUTY NEWS What is new in beauty this month 32. BEAUTY MINIATURES Why sometimes small is better
Swansea Life, Urban Village, High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW @swansealife Email: laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk If we have published anything that is factually inaccurate, please contact the editor on 01792 545533, at postnews@mediawales.co.uk or at Evening Post, Urban Village, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW and once verified we will correct it here as soon as possible. Swansea Life is part of Local World, which is owned by Trinity Mirror PLC, which is a member of IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We adhere to the Editors’ Code Of Practice as enforced by IPSO, who are contactable for advice at Independent Press Standards Organisation, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London. EC4M 7LG. Website: http://www,ipso.co.ukTelephone: 0300 123 2220; email advice@ipso.co.uk If you have a complaint concerning a potential breach of the Code of Practice, we will deal with your complaint directly or IPSO can refer your complaint to us. Please go to http://www.trinitymirror. com/howtocomplain where you can view our Complaints Policy and Procedure. A “How To Complain” pack is also available by writing to the Legal and Compliance Department, Trinity Mirror PLC, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP.
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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42. OUT OF DATE COSMETICS.. Is your make-up past its sell by date?
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HEALTH & WELLBEING 46. KEEP FIT Fed up of the gym? Then take your fitness outdoors 47. FUEL YOUR EXERCISE Eat your way to a better workout 49. CELEB SUPERFOOD SECRETS The foods the celebrities swear by
BRIDE 53. REAL-LIFE WEDDINGS Brides share their stories
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WHAT’S ON 144. DIARY DATES Best events this September 146. THE BIG INTERVIEW Swansea’s Marc Rees talks Now the Hero
57. WE LOVE This month’s bridal inspiration
148. READ IT The latest books to chill and unwind
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OUT & ABOUT
SOCIAL DIARY
131. WALKIES A leisurely walk with Andrew Morgan
152. NEW OPENING The launch of Coyote Ugly 154. CHARITY EVENT Calon Dda’s Llanelli fundraiser
]132. THOMAS LAND Drayton Manor marks a milestone 134. WEEKEND AWAY... Relaxing break to Thermae Bath Spa
HOUSE & HOME
144
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68. HOME SWEET HOME Buy yourself a new home 85. GEO PRINT ]Update your home with this on trend print
154 MOTORING SOCIAL 140. FIRST TIME DIARY Try out the latest Mazda MX-5
159. FUNDRAISER An afternoon of fun in aid of Maggie’s
140
214. DRIVE HEAD TIME 142. Phphphp hphpKia How goodhphp is thehphp updated Sportage? 221. HEAD Phphphp hphp hphp hphp phphphphphphp
92. GO GREEN Decorate your home with shades of green
226. HEAD Phphphp hphp hphp hphp phphphphphphp
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FOOD & DRINK 59. CAKE AND CUPPA Foods perfect for Macmillan’s World Biggest Coffee Morning 64. ORGANIC SEPTEMBER We round up organic treats 66. FOOD REVIEW Lunchtime at Swansea’s Turkish Kitchen
164
TIME FOR YOU 163. OH BABY Products and essentials for your little one 164. GAP YEAR Tips for those taking a year out travelling 169. LEGAL ADVICE What you need to know about inheritance tax
swansealife.co.uk 5
E D I TO R’ S L E T TE R
Welcome... What can I say! What a gorgeous summer we have had. Apart from a few weeks of rain nobody can say we didn’t get our fair share of nice weather - for once, the school holidays were a sunny success! I don’t know about you, but I am still refusing to put my summer wardrobe away, in the hope we are going to have an Indian summer. Fingers crossed! So it feels a bit strange seeing all the autumn-winter fashions arriving in to the shops and having emails on winter warmers, boots and coats (even Christmas!) drop into my inbox. However, it is a nice reminder that cooler weather is not far away and it will be time to wrap up in cosy layers and get ready to watch all the usual autumn television favourites, cwtched up on the sofa. Yes, September is definitely the time to celebrate the start of one of the most spectacular changes of the year and embrace the new season ahead. With the children starting back at school and normal routine starting to resume, no doubt, many of you will start thinking about learning something new or doing something different as well as looking at making changes in lifestyle. September is almost like a second New Year’s Resolution - getting back into shape, getting a new look, starting a new hobby, or throwing out the old to make room for the new. That is why we have included pages on how to improve your fitness, diet and general wellbeing as well as seasonal updates for you and your home. Speaking of the new school term, we’ve got a last minute round up of kids’ back to school uniform, plus tips for those of you who are considering a gap year from college or work to go travelling. Not forgetting our fashion spread, with the hottest uniform in mind - on trend trouser suits - perfect for the 9-5 day or after work drinks. Rocking a red suit combo, is Swansea’s very own model, Emma Grattidge, from Mumbles, who is this month’s front page cover star. I am sure you will all agree that she looks simply stunning modelling M&Co clothing.
Competition winner: The winner of the Next £500 shopping spree, is Irene Pearson, of Treboeth, Swansea.
There is plenty of new seasonal fashion and homeware as well as the chance to win £200 to spend at M&S. And of course, there’s our usual round up of news, upcoming events and social diary pictures. As well as all of our usual features and contributors, how can we forget about one of the biggest social events in Swansea - yes, our very own Swansea Life Awards on September 14. The tickets have been flying like hotcakes and we simply can’t wait! With a Bollywood theme, expect a lot of Indian-influences and, as usual, plenty of spectacle and surprises. We have a fantastic and memorable night planned! I hope you have your best occasionwear planned - you could be in with a chance to win the best dressed male or female. Good luck to all our finalists and don’t forget to pick up our October edition to see all the pictures from the night. Enjoy the read!
DEBBIE ROBERTS
Advertising Manager 01792 545626 debbie.roberts@trinitymirror.com
LAURA DAVIES
EDITOR
01792 545523 laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk @LawsDx Find us on Facebook @SwanseaLife
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COVER IMAGE: Jacket £42, Trousers £28, M&Co, Cardiff
SANDRA EVANS
EDITORIAL DESIGNER sandra.evans@trinitymirror.com
Swansea lives OUR PICK OF THE MONTH’S BEST PARTY GET-TOGETHERS (FOM PAGE 152)
THE FOUNTAIN INN EAT • DRINK • SLEEP
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coyote ugly opening night
DELICIOUS HOME COOKED FOOD 2 Course Lunchtime Special
£9.95 pp
154
only Tues - Sat 12-5pm
N
EW
Ovaria n Cancer Awareness Afternoo n Tea
Christmas Bookings Being Taken Evening Specials Menu
2 Courses
£14.95 pp
Tues - Thurs 5pm-8pm Beer Garden • Sunday Lunches Parties Catered for • Bed and Breakfast
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COLEG SIR GAR AWARDS
Finalist
AWARDS 2018
160
TOP 100 AWARDS
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01792 881866 • www.fountaininn.co 111 Bolgoed Road, Pontarddulais SA4 8JP GREAT CUSTOMERS DESERVE GREAT REWARDS!
DOWNLOAD OUR APP NOW TO ACCESS OUR LOYALTY SCHEME
FASHION
FA S H I O N F L A S H laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
tickled pink Tickled Pink LOVE Sweatshirt, £12
Tickled Pretty in Pink Tee, £8
Tickled Pink Socks, £5
Make a modern statement with this on-trend tartan check trousers and matching blazer with clashing leopard trim. Style with a white t-shirt for a punk-inspired look that works for day or night
October is Cancer awareness month, so head to Asda stores to back its annual Tickled Pink campaign which supports the work of two leading breast cancer charities; Breast Cancer Now and Breast Cancer Care. Here are a few of this year’s pretty in pink buys. Asda, Llansamlet, Llanelli, Gorseinon and Parc Trostre
Mixed Tartan Check Trousers, £38, Top Shop, Swansea Poet Shirt, £45, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff
Tickled Pink George Tote by Hilary Alexander, £4
Summer taken a toll on your workouts? Then head to Boux Avenue for their stylish new Active range. I think you’ll agree the clothing is all the motivation you need to get back to it.
Ultra-Violet is Pantone’s colour of 2018 - so expect purple to dominate this autumn/winter
jump to it!
Lilac Roll Neck Jumper, £20, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea
Jumpsuits are always a great buy during the transitional period. This is definitely one of our faves this month. Warehouse Pink Belted Jumpsuit, £80, Littlewoods.com
Printed Marble Crop Top, £20, Grey Contrast Leggings, £24, all Boux Avenue, Cardiff
M&S Collction Jumper, £39.50; M&S Collection Trouser, £35; M&S Collection Shoe, £25, M&S, Swansea
PURPLE REIGN Trousers, £46, River Island,. Swansea and Parc Fforestfach
get fit, look fab...
clashingprints
W I T H L AU R A D AV I ES
Seren Contrast Inner Tote, £45, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff
J By Jasper Conran Heels, £59, Debenhams, Swansea
we l ve FABULOUS! Slogan jumpers are not going anywhere this season, and this one just says it all! Fabulous Jumper, £49.50, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff (also available in yellow)
Say aloha to these beauties! Not only do they come in white, they also come in blue suede, soft black leather, patent black and nude. What colour will you choose?
Aloha- Lace Up Mid Block Boot Off White Leather, £90, Office, Swansea swansealife.co.uk 9
FASHION
Check Blazer, £20, Trousers, £14, Roll Neck, £7, Earrings, £5, George at Asda, Llansamlet and Llanelli
Borame, £70, Dune at Debenhams, Swansea
•••••••
check mate laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
Always a winner for the new season. Think Clueless but cooler. The catwalks were awash with the geometrical print across every kind of item. Don't be afraid to double up in two pieces or to mix fabrics. LAURA DAVIES picks her top picks.
Blouse, £35, Evans, Swansea
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Navy Check Belted Ponte Pencil Skirt, £32, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea
Check Shirt, £24, Next, Morfa Retail Park
M&S Collection Skirt, £35, M&S, Swansea
F&F Check Midi Pencil Skirt, £18, F&F at Tesco, Parc Trostre
Red Herring Top, £25, Debenhams, Swansea
Check Tie Waist Pencil Skirt, £40, Oasis at Debenhams, Swansea
Ruffle Top, £26, Skirt, £30, M&Co, Cardiff
M&S Collection Dress, £49.50, M&S, Parc Trostre and Swansea
Check Twist Season, £25, George at Asda, Parc Trostre
Red Herring, £35, Debenhams, Swansea Red Check Jumpsuit, £42, Miss Selfridge, Swansea
Check Mini Skirt, £49, Label Lab at House of Fraser, Cardiff Hat, £20, 5, Jacket, £6 , Shirt, £35 Skirt, £35, 13, Earrings, £ , land Is r ve Ri l al d Swansea an stfach Parc Ffore
Principles Trousers, £45, Debenhams, Swansea
V by Very Check Wide Leg Side Stripe Trouser, £30, Very.co.uk
Shoe, £50, River Island, Swansea
Block Heel Ankle Boots, £45, Next, Swansea and Morfa Retail Park
Shoe, £35, M&S, Swansea
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MUMBLES
Look forward to Autumn with an outfit from our
POMODORO Collection
Diary FASHION SHOW DATES 25th SEPTEMBER - PREZZO 26th SEPTEMBER - NORTON HOUSE 9th OCTOBER - NORTON HOUSE 20th NOVEMBER - PREZZO 7th DECEMBER - MARRIOTT HOTEL
PROCEEDS TO MACMILLAN BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW
516 MUMBLES ROAD, MUMBLES • Tel 01792 366133
Meet your new go-to transitional shoe - the white ankle boot. If the catwalks were anything to go buy white boots will be popping up in shops anytime from now. We love this pair of White Chunky Ankle Boots, £35, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea
Trending!
This jumpsuit has been spotted on all the celebrities and has been a sell out online for weeks. But it’s back..so be quick! Navy Mix Spotted Smock Waist Ruched Sleeve Jumpsuit, £39.50, M&S, Swansea (online only)
THIS MONTH
green
WE LOVE LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of her favourite products this month
GODDESS
laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
H&M COLLABORATION High Street chain H&M has teamed up with iconic British wallpaper and textile house GP & J Baker, to produce a stunning, feminine women’s collection. The collection is light and sheer with a wide range of sophisticated and romantic pieces. Silhouettes are long, fluid and voluminous with details such as puff shoulders, balloon sleeves, lace inserts and contrast print trims. With prices starting from £8.99, this is one collection not to be missed. In H&M stores and online now! We love this stunning green dress from M&S. It’s the perfect pick me up as we move into autumn. Limited Edition Dress, £45, M&S, Swansea
Pictured: Red Dress, £24.99, Blouse, £17.99, Jumper, £17.99, Model Dress: £14.99, H&M, Swansea and Parc Fforestfach and hm.com
ON THE COVER: It’s time to give your officewear a promotion! Whether you fancy spicing up your wardrobe with a red-hot power suit, need some cool separates, or you’re looking for a sophisticated dress to take you from 9-5, M&Co’s super affordable transitional collection has your smart essentials sorted. Jacket £42, Trousers £28, M&Co, Cardiff
PRIMARK LAUNCH ITS NEW COLLECTION
GO WHITE...
FASHION
We can’t believe this is Primark! Their AW18 campaign was shot in Ireland and conjures up images of folklore and countryside, Expect to see faur-fax, sheer floral dresses and teddy-bear jumpers contrasted with bright pops of colour and seasonal prints. Pictured: Coat, £30, Dress, £15, Belt, £4, Boots, £16, Primark, Swansea
STEP OUT
Dune London’s transseasonal footwear, landing in stores and at dunelondon.com now, includes luxe leopard print, bold brights and classic black. And the best bit is all of it will last more than just the summer. These leopard slingbacks and red loafers are £85 and £75 respectively. Dune, Cardiff
LIGHTWEIGHT As we move between seasons, and there a slight nip in the air, why not invest in a lightweight jacket rather than a heavy duty coat. We love this denim jacket in this season’s on trend colour - rust- and it’s a pursefriendly £35 from Next, Swansea and Morfa Retail Park.
STATEMENT EARRINGS Standout with a pair of statement earrings. These fabric detailed round disc droppers are ideal for autumn and perfect for clashing with various checks and heritage materials. Black Check Diamante Boucle Drop Earrings, £12, River Island, Swansea and Parc Fforestfach swansealife.co.uk 13
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8 1. No.1 Jenny Packham Dress, £159 2. RJR. John Rocha Jumpsuit, £65 3.J by Jasper Conran Earrings, £15 4. Principles Dress, £45 5. J by Jasper Conran Jacket, £89 6.Nine By Savannah Miller Bag, £49 7. J by Jasper Conran Skirt, £59 8. J by Jasper Conran Skirt, £59 9. Star by Julien Mcdonald, £39 10. Faith Heel, £39 11. J by Jasper Conran Boot, £29
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HIGH STREET HOTTEST
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LAURA DAVIES shops this season’s High Street styles 9
laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
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1. Dress, £24.99, White Ankle Boots, £25.99 2. Black White and Gold Printed Shirt Dress, £29.99 3. Blue Tartan Skirt, £17.99 4. Black and White Dog Tooth Earrings, £7.99 5. Gold Tie Dress, £19.99 6. Polka Dot Jumpsuit, £29.99 7. Multi-Coloured Striped Turtle Neck Jumper, £27.99 8. Black and Gold Circle Belt, £7.99 9. Cream Ankle Boots, £34.99 10. Green Suedette Stiletto Heel Pointed Courts, £19.99 11. Leopard Print Bag, £17.99
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1. Cold Shoulder Maxi Dress, £70 2. V by Very Printed Jacquard Midi Dress, £50 3. Michelle Keegan Bardot Lace Up Blouse, £30 4. Michelle Keegan Tux Dress, £70 5. Tassel 7 Earrings, £12 6. V by Very Leopard Pencil Skirt, £38 7. V by Very Printed Velvet Wrap Dress, £45 8. Bucket Bracelet Bag, £30 9 9. V by Very Tassel Velvet Crossbody Bag, £28 10. Western Buckle Strap Ankle Boot, £58 11. V by Very Leopard Cone Heel Ankle Boot, £68
1. Zebra Knit, £38, Check Tie Waist Pencil Skirt, £40 2. Dusty Pink Velvet Jumpsuit, £70 3. Red Leopard Dress, £50 4. Geometric Circular Earrings, £12 5. Leopard Top, £38 6. Pink Fairisle Knit, £40 7. Mustard Asymmetric Dress, £55 8. Stripe Sport Knit, £38 9. Blue Shoulder Bag, £28 10. Gold Glitter Ankle Boot, £45
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1. Tanya Shotting Star Midi Dress, £130, Bali Black Lace Up Boots, £69 2. Elizabeth Blouse, £45 3. Selena Spot Dress, £99 4. Poppy Pu Skirt, £60 5. Bella Belted Denim Skirt, £45 8 6. Renee Ring Shoulder Bag, £39 7. Pippa Pea Coat, £140 8. Jacquard Trouser, £55 9. Ochre Mule, £45 10. Sadie Slouch Boot, £89
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suits you As the new academic year begins, we are planning our new cool uniform . Think co-ordinated tailoring, structured looks and sharp suits that can be worn 9-5 and beyond for evening drinks. LAURA DAVIES looks at how you can be top of the class laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
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@LawsDx
Lipsy Red Blazer, £65, Lipsy Red Trouser, £35, Nude Courts, £49, Clutch, £32, Lipsy.co.uk
swansealife.co.uk 17
Blue Checked Jacket, £70, Blue Checked Trousers, £40, Blue Jumper, £35, Bumbag, £24, Boots, £55, River Island, Swansea
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Orange/Navy Double Breasted Jacket, £60 Slouch Trousers, £38, Tie Side Sweater, £22, Slip-On Skater Shoes, £25, Next, Morfa Retail Park and Swansea
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Suit Jacket, £20, Hoodie, £14, Trousers, £16, Matalan, Parc Cwmdu and Morriston
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Blazer, £34.99, Trousers, £24.99, White Roll Neck, £9.99, Boots, £29.99 New Look, Swansea
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FASHION
WIN YOUR NEW AW18 WARDROBE WITH A £200 VOUCHER TO SPEND AT M&S SWANSEA
M&S Swansea is giving you the chance to step into the new season in style with a £200 gift voucher to spend on its gorgeous autumn/winter range. The new collection boasts flattering fit and versatility at the heart of stylish design – with dozens of pieces you’ll fall in love with for years to come. Luxury finishes and standout prints are complemented with a mix of staples to see you through the season, from the classic trench coat to the vintage-inspired dress. Whether you’re looking to freshen up
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your work wardrobe or find that statement winter party dress, you’ll be spoilt for choice at M&S Swansea. One lucky reader will be chosen to get their hands on this exclusive voucher, which will be available to pick up from the Swansea store. For your chance to win, tell us about your favourite M&S wardrobe piece and why you love it. Email laura.davies@ mediawales.co.uk with your response by 31st September 2018.
• T&Cs: Voucher must be collected from M&S Swansea store (270 Oxford St, Swansea SA1 3BB) • One winner will be selected after closing date of 31st September 2018 • Prize is not transferable, no whole/part cash alternatives • Normal Media Wales competition rules apply
COMPETITION
swansealife.co.uk 23
FASHION Belt, £26, Topshop, Swansea
Zebra Print Courts, £22.99, New Look, Swansea
MONOMAGIC
Black and White Polka Dot Heeled Sandals, £19.99, New Look, Swansea
This season sees a surge in monochrome, LAURA DAVIES looks at how to mix your black and whites up - from polka dot to zebra print, stripes to colour blocking. laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
Zebra Print Shirt Dress, £24.99, New Look, Swansea
J by Jasper Conran Bag, £65, Debenhams, Swansea
Nine By Savannah Miller, £55, Debenhams, Swansea
Western Dress, £20, George at Asda, Llanelli and Llansamlet
Dalmation Print Zip Purse, £25, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
Stripe Monochrome Shirt, £44, Littlewoods.co.uk Dot Print Button Through Blouse, £45, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
Black and White Jumper, £20 ,Tu at Sainsbury’s, Swansea
Print Mix Dress, £45, Next, Swansea
Jumper, £45, River Island, Swansea
Skirt, £35, River Island, Swansea
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M&S Collection Boot, £45, M&S, Swansea and Parc Trostre
FWM By Fenn Wright Manson, exclusively at Matalan, Parc Cwmdu and Morriston
Oshaa, £115, Dune, Cardiff
Unisex School V-Neck Jumper, £9-£13, John Lewis, Cardif
FASHION
Mermaid Squad 12 Scented Felt Tips, £5, Paperchase at Next, Morfa Retail Park
Boys 2 Pack Short Sleeve School Shirts, from £4.50, Matalan, Morriston
Shoes, £16, River Island, Swansea
Shorts, £18, River Island, Swansea
M&S, Swansea
FOR
Shoes, £20, River Island, Swansea
Help your kids achieve top marks in the uniform stakes with LAURA DAVIES’ round up of school clothing laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
Unisex School V-Neck Acrylic Jumper, £26-£29, John Lewis, Cardiff
@LawsDx
Skull Lunch Bag and Bottle Set, £8, Owl Lunch Bag and Bottle Set, £8, Wilko, Swansea and Llanelli
Rocket Children’s Backpack, £29.95, Unicorn Children’s Bag, £24.95, Joules, Mumbles
Skirt, £12, River Island, Swansea F&F Boys 2 Pack Grey Trousers, £8, Tesco, Llansamlet
Girls Double Breasted Pleated School Pinafore, from £7, Matalan, Morriston and Parc Cwmdu
F&F Blue 2 pack Polo, £2.50, Black Slimleg Trouser 2 pack, from £7, Football Interactive Shoe £17, Grey Kilt Skirt, 2 pack, £8, Black Pump, £6, Tesco, Parc Fforestfach
Children’s Venture Star Leather School Shoes, £42, Clarks, Swansea
Glitter Drinking Water, £3, Football Pencils, £1, Tiger, Swansea
Thrill School Shoes, £44£46, Clarks, Swansea
Royal Blue Cardigan, £8, Tesco, Llansamlet and Parc Fforestfach
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CELEBRATE ● ● " ! ● ! ● ! ● !
T A GO
AD RO
D
M DG G D M
AR RD C CA K
HAIR & BEAUTY
floral fancy
BEAUTY NEWS A sunny new fragrance is launching at Jo Malone this month and we can’t wait to have a sniff at the latest scent. Introducing the gorgeous Honeysuckle and Davana fresh, fruity and floral with an alluring woody flavour. It is perfect worn alone or layered with Grapefruit or Oud and Bergamot scents. As well as a 30ml and 100ml cologne, it also comes in a home candle.
Cologne 100ml, £94, Cologne 30ml, £47, Home Candle 200g, £47, Jo Malone, Cardiff
W I T H L AU R A D AV I ES laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
PART ONE
styling sorted We absolutely love the new ghd platinum+, the world’s first SMART styler that responds to your hair and the way you style it. Featuring ground-breaking new styler innovation – ultra-zone with predictive technology – the new ghd platinum controls heat more effectively and predicts your personal hair needs, to give ultimate results and stronger, healthier hair. ghd platinum+, £175, Ghd.com
OVERNIGHT SKIN RESET Wake up every morning with a glowing complexion with L’Occitane Immortelle Reset. Upon application the first texture is a light water-gel, infused with Marjoram and Acmella Oleacera. This is fast absorbed and quick to act. Then, thousands of suspended golden bubbles deliver a powerful dose of Immortelle oil extracts which are slowly released deep into the skin. A satin smooth finish delivers instant hydration without any greasiness or stickiness. L’Occitane Immortelle Reset Oil In Serum 50ml, £49, L’Occitane, Cardiff
Sparkle Glisten with this dazzling, ultra-concentrated liquid glitter! Use on its own or mix into your makeup and moisturiser for an intensely glittery glow anywhere you wish to sparkle. In shades OTT, Feels and Poppin’.
CORRECTION PERFECTION We love Erborian’s CC Red Correct, the first automatic CC colour corrector and a 2-in-1 makeup and skincare solution that immediately works to moisturise the skin and even out redness. It is infused with green pigments which helps cancel out redness and can be dabbed on the face or applied all over. CC Red Correct 15ml, £17; 45ml, £38, Spacenk.com/uk and Erborian.co.uk
PREROGATIVE
Barry M Liquid Glitter Sparkle Drops, £7.99 each. (Out September 19) Superdrug, Swansea Free yourself from expectations, labels and judgments with Prerogative, the newest fragrance from Britney Spears. Prerogative is an addictive and seductive Oriental Woody Amber scent with an irresistible gourmand twist. Exotic, contemporary notes like Latex Petals and Red Calla Lily weave the refreshing fruit-forward top notes and warm woody base notes into a seamless gender-neutral composition. Mirroring the complex, one-of-a-kind scent itself, we love the tilted design of the perfume bottle. The collection comes in a Eau de Parfum Spray 30ml, £23, 50ml £30, 100ml £40, and a Body Mist, £9.99, Boots, Swansea
Va-Va-PLUMP
Buxom introduces Va-Va-lump Shiny Liquid Lipstick, an impactful collection of liquid lipsticks that mark all the right spots: plumping and shiny bold colour, with comfortable lasting wear. Shine bright with this innovative plumping liquid lipstick that delivers vivid colour and a smooth finish, for any Buxom Babe to take bombshell looks from day to night. Drying, matte liquid lipsticks are now in the past with a breakthrough formula that prevents the intense pigment from smudging, bleeding and fading for kissable and luscious results. Buxom Va-Va-PLUMP Shiny Liquid Lipstick, £15, Debenhams, Swansea
ho, ho, ho! Okay, so it’s still only September but in the beauty world, that means Christmas launches! Elemis has launched its Christmas Wishlist and we are already enchanted by the range of gifts and stocking fillers on offer. My ultimate favourite is Frangipani Stars which contains a full size shower cream and body oil, £40; Beauty Sleep Trio, a restorative evening routine to cleanse, hydrate and nourish, £75 and the luxurious Pro-collagen Jewels set, £210, Elemis at Monks Spa, Machynys, Llanelli and www.elemis.com
swansealife.co.uk 27
Defy Time MEDICAL COSMETIC CLINIC
Dr Alan Jones Visit Dr Alan and his staff at Defy Time Medical Cosmetic Clinic in Swansea. He has 30 years experience as a GP, 16 years as a Cosmetic Doctor. MEMBER OF British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) British Association of Body Sculpting (BABS) British Association of Sclerotherapy (BAS) General Medical Council Registered Health Inspectorate of Wales Registered Clinic
TIMELESS BEAUTY
AC H I E V E A YO U N G E R , F I R M E R & F L AW L E S S YO U F R E E P E R S O N A L & C O N F I D E N T I A L C O N S U LTAT I O N S
466 Gower Road, Killay, Swansea SA2 7DZ • 01792 208466 • www.defy-time.co.uk
HAIR & BEAUTY
climax mascara: never fake it
BEAUTY NEWS W I T H L AU R A D AV I ES laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
PART TWO
JOLI ROUGE & BLACK: AUTUMN MAKE-UP COLLECTION Plump lips, magnetically dark eyes and ultra-long lashes…discover Clarins new Autumn Make-Up Collection, Joli Rouge & Black. The range features a Waterproof Gel Eyeliner, £26.50, which comes in a small pot with a handy travel-sized eyeliner brush for application on the go; Limited Edition Supra Volume, £22, and Joli Rouge Gradation, £22, which sculpts and colours your lips. The lighter central shade illuminates the middle of the lips while the outer darker shade contours and contrasts promoting plumper looking lips. The lipstick comes in three shades, a citrusy orange, classic red and a deep plum-red duo. All available from Clarins, Debenhams and Boots, Swansea
Introducing a breakthrough innovation in mascara that delivers maximum volume and lift in a lightweight whipped formula. Climax Mascara builds effortlessly without clumping or smudging, giving lashes a lifted look and flexible feel. NARS Climax Mascara in Explicit Black, black satin, £21, John Lewis, Cardiff
VINOPURE
Caudalie is launching Vinopure, a highly natural, simple and effective solution to help clear the skin from blemishes. Vinopure uses naturalorigin ingredients, with no synthetic fragrance, to prevent and fight the problems combination to oily skin encounter. It contains a line of three products designed as a 3-step routine, including Clear Skin Purifying Toner 200ml, £18, Blemish Control Infusion Serum 30ml, £29, Skin Perfecting Mattifying Fluid 40ml, £25, Caudalie.com
CUSTOMISE YOUR FOUNDATION Say hello to the new No7 Match Made Custom Blend Foundation Drops, a tailored blend of highly-concentrated true colour drops that blend seamlessly into your favourite No7 moisturiser or primer for fool-proof, customised coverage. Available in 25 skin-true shades, add one drop for light coverage, two drops for medium or three drops for a full coverage look. No7 Match Made Custom Blend Foundation Drops, £16, Boots, Swansea and Parc Fforestfach
Le Phyto Rouge
Glide-on, soft and enveloping...Sisley presents a new interpretation of its signature lipstick with a revamped case and formula. The brand has infused its extensive skincare expertise at the very core of its formula. Le Phyto Rouge provides both colour and care to give a plumper, smoother smile and to keep lips looking young. It comes in a palette of 20 long-lasting, radiant shades covering four colour families , beiges, pinks, oranges and reds.
LINE ERASING Elizabeth Arden introduces the next revolution in skincare – Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum. The new Retinol Ceramide Capsules combine the powerful line-erasing benefits of Retinol with the moisture-boosting and skin barrier repair benefits of Ceramides. Together, they visibly diminish the look of lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, tone, and clarity to reveal dramatically younger-looking skin. Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum 30 capsules, £42, 60 capsules, £72, Debenhams, Swansea
TOM FORD SCENTS It’s time to get excited! Tom Ford is launching new fragrances this month. The first - Tom Ford Fougere Platine, opens with top notes of bergamot and clary sage which develops into indulgent artemisia and olibanum. Opulent doses of cedar, tobacco and refreshing woods linger for a rich aroma. £162 for 50ml, www.tomford.co.uk This fougère oriental scent features earthy greens, herbs, lavender and citrus. Impeccable. Dashing. Provocative. New and unabashedly bold, Tom Ford Fougère d’Argent is a legend redux that converges impeccable decorum with the modus operandi of an agent provocateur. Key Notes: Mandarin, Ginger, Lavender, Cistus, Akigalawood, Coumarin £162 for 50ml, www.tomford.co.uk
CAMO LUXE COLLECTION For autumn Bobbi Brown has looked to camo- the style-conscious set’s staple print - to inspire a fashion forward range of rich hues, metallic moments and dramatic details. Inside the camo-patterned compact you’ll find earthy eye shadows that range from velvety matte to sparkle infused, along with a gorgeous skin-warming version of Bobbi’s Highlighting Powder. Rounding out the range are chromatic shadows, cool nail polish hues, and richly-pigmented lip colours. The look of the collection: glowing skin with deep coloured accents on eyes and nails. The collection includes Luxe Eye Shadow Multichrome in Incandescent and Jungle Shadow, £27, Camo Luxe Eye and Cheek Palette, £49, Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Cypress Ink and Forest Shimmer Ink, £20, Nail Polish in Camo and Khaki, £14, Luxe Lip Colour in Pink Nude, Downtown Plum and Neutral Rose, £27, Eye Opening Mascara, £24.50, all Bobbi Brown, Debenhams, Swansea
Le Phyto Rouge (20 shades), £38 each, www.sisley-paris.co.uk
swansealife.co.uk 29
BRIAN BROWN SALON MODELLING & MANAGEMENT AGENCY
01792 301901
1 BELLEVUE WAY • SWANSEA • SA1 5BZ
www.briandbrown.co.uk
A hidden gem.. Parc Spa
NEW TO PARC SPA
the ‘Twilight Spa’ package available from 3pm to 7pm, a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. Why not treat yourself to a wellbeing treatment at an award-winning spa. All treatments and packages can be viewed on the website.
NOW OPEN MONDAY TO THURSDAY 9AM - 7PM BOOKING IN ADVANCE A MUST Parc Spa at Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, SA15 4HA T: 01554 758171 E: spa@stradeyparkhotel.com www.stradeyparkhotel.com
HAIR & BEAUTY
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Whether your going on holidays, a weekend break or don’t fancy lugging your beauty essentials around with you all day, beauty miniatures can often be a saviour. LAURA DAVIES rounds up pint -size versions of the products you love
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@LawsDx
laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
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14 13 1. Nivea Daily Essentials Light Moisturising Day Cream SPF15, £4.09, Boots, Swansea | 2. Little MAC Lipglass in C-Thru, £10, Debenhams, Swansea | 3. Batiste Dry Shampoo On The Go Blush, £1.50, Superdrug, Swansea | 4. Benefit BADGal BANG! Mascara Mini, £10.50, Debenhams, Swansea | 5. Torres Basil Lemon Shower Gel, £3, FeelUnique.com | 6. Chloé Les Mini Chloé Eau de Toilette, 20ml, £30, John Lewis, Cardiff | 7. Jo Malone London English Pear and Fressia Body Crème, 50ml, £20, Jo Malone, Cardiff | 8. Nivea Deodorant Black & White Clear, £1.50, Boots, Swansea and Parc Fforestfach | 9. John Frieda Luxurious Volume Thickening Conditioner, £1.98, FeelUnique.com | 10. Benefit The POREfessional Pearl Primer 7.5g, £10.50, Debenhams, Swansea | 11. Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, £1, Sainsbury’s, Swansea | 12. Sanctuary Foaming Micellar Cleansing Water, £3.99, Superdrug, Swansea | 13. Mavala Mini Colour Nail Polish in La Paz Online, £5.20, Lookfantastic.com | 14. Yes To Coconut Hydrate and Restore Cleansing Wipes, £4 for 30, Beautybay.com
32 swansealife.co.uk
Thank you to all of our amazing customers, family and friends that helped us get shortlisted by voting for us in this years Swansea Life Awards.
38 Ravenhill Rd, Swansea, SA5 5AW 01792 587444
72 New Road, Skewen, SA10 6HE 01792 812858
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HAIR & BEAUTY
Makeover! W ITH
L ARA
JOHNSON
Stylist & salon owner Lara Johnson shares her tips in her monthly column.
Colour statement Model: Nia Heledd Occupation: Model from Swansea
NIA says... I have been wearing my hair short for a few years and I really fancied a change. I love to wear my hair short. I want it to stay looking trendy and directional. I really like the shape that has been put into the haircut and it is really easy to style. I love the colour! I have never really gone as directional as this but it just feels fun!
Lara Johnson LIFESTYLE says... One of the most important aspects of creating a look for a client is that they feel confident with it. We discussed the options and Nia seemed a little fed up of being Blonde. Nia wanted more direction so we looked towards playing with colours that wash out straight away. Using the Wella colours we could achieve pretty much anything! We thought out of the box and talked about Nia’s favourite colours, not just with hair but in anything. After playing with ideas we decided on the beautiful blue/ grey tones. We see hair as something that should enhance and compliment you. We cut Nia’s hair into a shape that further enhanced her cheekbones and in particular Nia’s eyes. It was great fun to be given the opportunity to go with a look that was so directional. In a couple of washes Nia will be back to blonde. 34 swansealife.co.uk
After...
Before...
Step by step... Fishtail Chignon
This is an interesting twist on a fishtail plait. It can take some practice but looks far more complicated than it is. We have gone for a fishtail plait though you can achieve a very similar feel with a classic french plait Difficulty level: If you can plait it’s an easy one. If not its going to need some practice Ideal hair length: Medium to long (if you have layers go for a softer feel) Assistance needed? Yes if you are not confident plaiting Accessories: Can be dressed with flowers for a wedding or summer party. What you need: • What you need • Brush • Clear hair band • Grips • Hairspray (optional)
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Brush your hair back to remove any knots and dress to your chosen parting. Take a section of hair and begin your plait. We have have chosen a French fishtail.
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Make a fishtail plait from the top of your head to the opposite bottom corner. French fishtail plaits use the same technique as a regular fishtail , but you add in extra hair from the left and cross it into your right hand, then pick up a small section of hair on the right and cross it over into your left hand. Repeat this as you plait diagonally downwards
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When your plait reaches your ear, start to curve it and plait to the hairline
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Roll the length of plait into shape and secure from behind with grips
When you reach the bottom , continue into a regular side fishtail plait until all your hair is plaited and secure the end with a clear band
To make it extra secure push a grip through the band at the end of the plait Push the pin through the centre of the roll and secure downwards Secure with hairspray swansealife.co.uk 35
HAIR & BEAUTY
REAL WOMEN, WINNING LOOKS W ITH
C H R I S
H O W E L LS
Swansea based International Make Up Artist and winner of the National Federation of Hairdressing’s Welsh Make Up Artist of the Year award, Chris Howells, gives a Swansea woman a wedding look. I wanted to create a modern colourful look on our model Hannah. Starting with skincare I loaded Hannah’s skin with Deciem Hyaluronic Acid drops. I applied five drops to the fingertips then smoothed it onto the skin. I followed with Verso Day Cream, which contains retinol and helps encourage cell renewal, collagen production and reduce even deep set wrinkles. I then applied the Illuminating Primer from Cover FX. Foundation was applied with a beauty blender and I used Cover FX latest offering Powerplay Foundation which is weightless, waterproof and sweat proof and comes in 40 real skin tones. It has a medium to full coverage and is totally buildable. Under the eyes, I used Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, setting it with Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder. This sets the concealer ensuring a creaseless application,while gently blurring and brightening the under eye area. I then set the skin with a soft velour puff gently loaded with Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder. After applying Urban Decay Eye Base all over the lids up to the eyebrows, I took out my Juvias Place the Magic Shadow Palette. Taking the light pink tone I blended it into the socket and just above, then taking a small soft brush and a deep purple shade, I blended into the socket and down the outer lash line. Next, I used the rich yellow and applied it on the inner corner, blending it across the lid and into the deepest purple, taking the pink, purple and yellow under the eye too. I used a black gel liner to tightline the upper lash line, both above and below the lashes. Lashings of Hourglass Caution Mascara set the lashes off beautifully. I finished the eyes with a sweep of Kohl pencil into the waterline and a set of Eylure lashes to create the flirty eye look. Hannah’s brows were filled and shaped using Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil to accentuate her gorgeous arch. I used Charlotte Tilbury Film-star Bronze and Glow to sculpt Hannah’s cheekbones and a sweep of Nars Blush in Angelina to make her cheekbones pop. On Hannah’s lips I used Hourglass Gloss in a gorgeous dusky pink PVC-like finish. To finish, I used a sweep of Ofra Cosmetics Highlight in Rodeo Drive across Hannah’s brow bones, cheekbones and cupids bow to really make her skin pop!
before 36 swansealife.co.uk
The only salon in Swansea to be placed in the top 3 of the Swansea Life Award for the SIXTH year running
Beauty Category
Thank you to everyone who voted for us, we really appreciate it.
OTHER AWARDS
SWANSEA LIFE AWARD Winner 2013, 2017 SWANSEA LIFE AWARD runner up in 2014, 2015 & 2016 CHROMOGENEX - Centre of Excellence GOOD SALON GUIDE - 5* rating 2015, 2016 & 2017 PHOREST - 5* Customer Experience Awards 2015, 2016 & 2017 NATIONAL WELSH HAIR AND BEAUTY AWARDS (Best Tanning Salon) top 3 2016 WBTA - Certificate of Endeavour (Training Students) 2013 Beauty Opening Times: Mon - 9am - 9pm | Tue - 9am - 9pm Wed - 9am - 9pm | Thu - 9am - 9pm | Fri - 9am - 9pm | Sat - 9am - 5pm Sunbed Opening Times: Monday - Friday 9am -9pm | Saturday - 9am -5pm
01792 775558 www.swanseasunlounge.co.uk
Family run business. Est. 2000
facebook.com/MorristonSunLounge 52 Woodfield Street, Morriston, Swansea SA6 8BW
R h y d i a n M a h er H a i r Bo u t i q ue
Finalist in Awards
30 Castle Street | Swansea | Tel: 01792 470274 |
@RhydianMaherHairSalon
FREE
DENTAL, IMPLANT OR ORTHODONTIC CONSULTATIONS IF BOOKED IN JULY 2018 - NORMALLY £75
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DENTAL IMPLANTS • ADULT ORTHODONTICS FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY Contact us today to arrange your first consultation: COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL & IMPLANT CLINIC
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DrDanFacial.com BOTULINUM TOXIN • DERMAL FILLERS • THREAD LIFTS
Make the magic happen • Full range of botulinum toxin techniques and dermal fillers • Forehead harmony, tear trough correction, non-surgical nasal contouring • Lip definition and volume, cheekbone augmentation and jaw-line enhancement • Sweat reduction and muscle clench debulking • Toxin from £190, fillers from £250, thread lifts from £300, gift vouchers • Professional and discrete clinic in North Gower, Swansea DrDanFacial.com provides natural and subtle enhancement. Regular clinics and flexible arrangements. Visit www.drdanfacial.com or phone Sarah for a FREE consultation.
Mr Dan Ashworth FDS, FRCS (OMFS) Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon Penclawdd Dental Practice | West End | Penclawdd | Swansea | SA4 3YU Email: DrDanFacial@gmail.com | Telephone: Sarah 07779 455071
HAIR & BEAUTY
The Terracotta Sun Protect is a double shield from harmful rays, conveniently packaged as 100ml to travel with you in your carry-on luggage, so you’ll be protected as soon as you step off the plane. The formula is enriched with Tan Booster to activate, maintain and extend your tan, ensuring that your skin glows with beauty, always.
CALMING MIST
Limited Edition Guerlain Terracotta Sun Protect Sun Moisturiser SPF15 100ml, £28.80, Escentual.com
wet look
This eyeshadow is a must beauty buy - it delivers a wet look shine, without being wet. This playful, pudding-like texture applies like a gel but dries like a powder. And it lasts all day - result! Glazen Eye Shadow from butter London, £15 each, Feelunique.com
THIS MONTH
WE LOVE LAURA DAVIES rounds up the latest news, trends and best buys for your shopping basket this month laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
SIGNATURE SCENT L.K.Bennett has announced the launch of it’s first ever fragrance, Signature. And it smells divine with top notes of citrus, pepper and rhubarb, warmer heart notes of rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, and deeper base notes of warm woods, dry amber, musk and vetiver. It also comes in a stunning glass bottle which will look the part on your fragrance shelf. L.K.Bennett Signature, £49, John Lewis, Cardiff and www.lkbennett.com
Brow Pro
Define and highlight your brows with this fantastic 4-in-1 contour pencil. Benefit’s multitasking brow pencil features a lighter brow shade, deeper brow shade, edge definer and arch highlighter to create clean, shaped brows with depth and dimension. Turn shapeless, flat brows into defined, contoured brows in an instant. Available in five shades for a wide range of hair colors and skin tones! Benefit Brow Contour Pro, 4-in-1 Defining and Highlighting Brow Pencil, £28.50, Debenhams, Swansea
Following on from the hugely successful launch of Instant Facials, multi-award winning Seoulista Beauty introduces a premium Advanced Clinic Formulation range, launching the Gold Glow Instant Facial. Not only does it cleanse, brighten and rejuvenate your Complexion, it is infused with 100 per cent pure Primrose Oil and Bulgarian Rose Extract which helps to firm, hydrate and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Facials
Seoulista Beauty Advanced Clinic Formulation Gold Glow Instant Facial, £14, www.lookfantastic.com and www.seoulistabeauty.com
TIME FOR A SOAK After the long, hot summer and the rain now here, we need to take some warmth into the autumn and winter seasons. The perfect way to do this is with a nice cosy bath. Why not try a Dead Sea Salt bath, which is rich in minerals, will nourish your skin, reduce fluid retention, slow down signs of aging and calm the nervous system. We love the new gentle Westlab Dead Sea Salt Minerals Soothing Bath Soak, which will leave your skin naturally soft and healthy. £3, available at Asda and www.westlabsalts.co.uk
SCUB UP
We love Natura Siberica Oblepikha Scalp Scrub, which is great to use after your sun has been exposed to too much sun. It’s an intensive triple-action scrub, which deeply purifies the scalp and helps prevent hair loss by increasing blood flow to hair follicles. Vitamins and amino-acids in the formula nourish and repair hair while Altai seabuckthorn and amaranth oils help produce keratin, which gives hair strength and shine.. And it smells great too - marigold, wild Siberian mint and wood sorrow revitalizes scalp and nourish hair roots. Natura Siberica Oblepikha Scalp Scrub 200ml, £5.75, www.naturasiberica.co.uk
primer drops This innovative oil-free elixir is packed with super fruits such as acai berry, goji berry, watermelon and tamarind and this brightens, detoxifies, hydrates and smoothes the skin for the perfect primer and skin care treatment. Use the hybrid-serum under makeup to prime skin or on its own to hydrate, brighten and protect from free radical damage. Barry M Unicorn Primer Drops, £7.99, Superdrug, Swansea
swansealife.co.uk 41
HAIR & BEAUTY
ISYOUR MAKE-UP OUT OF DATE? Have you got lipstick lurking in your makeup bag from three years ago? And is there a crusty old mascara you’ve hardly used in the bottom of your handbag? Well throw them away! LAURA DAVIES looks at how long you should keep your beauty items. laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
■ Makeup sponges – wash after use, then throw away after one month
■ Cream Blush/Cream Eye Shadow – 6 months
Blending sponges should be replaced ideally every month and washed with cleanser after every use. It is important to replace these, and the signs you need to throw it away can include any deformities on the sponge, breaking out for no reason and discolouring.
Creamy makeup products will only last around six months due to them providing more moisture for bacteria to thrive on. Keep an eye on creamy products for mould, smell or separation, and throw away if they look a little funny.
■ Mascara – four to six months Because it can come in contact with your eyes, it is important to discard mascara after it has been opened for three months. This is to prevent bacteria from causing eye irritations or infections. Most mascara tubes are labelled with a shelf life of 4-6 months, so it is important to know this. It is also recommended to avoid pumping your mascara, as this pushes air into the tube, which can dry out the mascara and cause bacterial contamination. When placing your wand into the tube, swirl it around in a circular motion to prevent air bubbles. Throw away your mascara if its dried out, or has a different texture, colour or scent. Also, NEVER add water.
■ Lip Gloss – 1 year In a similar way to mascara, pumping the wand in the tube is also bad for lip-gloss. If your gloss is discoloured, or different in texture and thickness, it’s probably best to throw it away.
■ Eyeliner – 6 months – 1 year Liquid eyeliner lasts around four to six months, as it’s a product that is fairly susceptible to bacteria. Pencil eyeliners can last up to two years but the cap should be kept tightly closed. (The same rules also apply for lip pencils as well.) If you’ve had an eye infection, always throw away eyeliners that you’ve previously used, as this could increase the risk of getting another infection.
■ Foundation – 1 year Liquids and cream foundations only last between 6-12 months, as they contain water, oils and other hydrating agents, which decrease the shelf life and increase bacteria. Powders can last up to two years, as it’s harder for bacteria to grow in products that are solid. It is important to note that the ingredients in the foundation determine the germ growth. Always read the back of the label and make a note of when your foundation is due to expire. Wash your makeup tools regularly and also wash your hands before you apply.
■ Nail polish – 1 year Nail polish is one product that does go out of date. Once you open a polish, the product can evaporate which causes it to thicken and separate. Always remember to keep the lid securely fastened as this can make the product expire quicker.
42 swansealife.co.uk
■ Concealer – 12-18 months If your concealer is dried out, has a change in texture, becomes cakey/lumpy or smells different – throw it out immediately. Not only will the concealer be making your spots worse but it will also prevent you from getting a perfectly blended makeup look.
■ Powder/Blush/Bronzer/Eye Shadow – 18 months – 2 years Although most powders, blushes and bronzers have a shelf life of 18 months to 2 years, your powders should be fine even after they reach their expiration date. Powders can become hard and have poor application after their expiration date, but you can minimise the bacterial contamination by lightly cleaning the product regularly and avoiding leaving the product exposed to air. Throw away powders with broken lids and check for mould and any unusual smells.
■ Lipstick – 18 months - 2 years Look after your lipsticks well and they can last up to two years. It’s important to remember to never leave them without a lid on and clean with a wipe occasionally to remove the top layer of bacteria growth.
■ Fragrances – 8-10 years Although fragrances have a shelf life of 8-10 years, they can last for much longer if you store them correctly. Avoid heated rooms, strong lights and always keep the lid securely on between usages. The best place to keep your fragrances is a dark cupboard and regularly check for discolouration.
No.64 is dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of services and attention to detail Call us on 01792 360449 Find us at: 64 Newton Road, Mumbles, SA3 4BE To find out more please pop in, call or come and visit us
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Heart and Soul
Kathryn Davies’ new salon, Meraki, is very special – but then that’s what you’d expect from a creative hairdresser with a passion for the pampering details most salons forget, writes JENNY WHITE. ERAKI is a Greek word for something done with soul, creativity, and love. It’s the magic that happens when you put “something of yourself” into your work - and there couldn’t be a better name for Kathryn Davies’ new hair salon.
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After years building up experience and training in trendy salons, plus time spent working as a mobile and home hairdresser while her children were young, Kathryn has decided to put down roots in a salon of her own – but it’s a salon with a difference.
Having worked in a variety of popular salons, Kathryn is no fan of the noisy, time-consuming experience that many visits can become, so she set out to create a small, personal salon in which clients could feel enriched, relaxed and cared for. From burning aromatherapy oils to creating a swooningly stylish Victorian industrial interior, she has set out to make her salon a peaceful haven away from the hustle and bustle of the world. “I want to lift the senses and the
soul as well as providing bespoke, creative hairdressing,” she says. “It’s taken a long time to find the right location for a place of my own, but this is in a great location, with parking outside, and it’s small enough to feel personal.” Kathryn has a dizzying list of qualifications and experience. Among many other things, she was recently the only person in Wales to go on Guy Tang’s Manchester course on metallic hair colour; she has completed a Kerastraight course, equipping her to use this “life changing” straightening, glossing and conditioning treatment;
and she is one of few people in the area to have trained to fit Great Lengths hair extensions. “I chose to work with them because they take such an ethical approach to everything from the sourcing of the hair through to the recycling of the used extensions into wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy,” she says. Always creative in her approach, she has developed her own way of cutting, colouring and styling the extensions so that they blend in beautifully. She’s also on a mission to keep nasty chemicals out of her salon, picking natural products and even considering creating her own exclusive range.
“I’m always looking for the best thing for people,” she says. “I’m also constantly looking to learn. If I’m not learning I feel I’m stagnating and not being creative – and this salon is an amazing chance to explore my creativity.” She’s poured a lot of that creativity into the interior, which incorporates vintage finds, original features and stunning, steampunky glass and rusted metal chandeliers. “I’m really grateful to the people who have helped me source my materials,” she says. “They include Glamorgan Tiles, who supplied lights, tiles and wallpaper, Kismet, who supplied some of the vintage furniture, and Gower
Granite, who supplied the marble.” It’s common for Kathryn to get calls and texts from customers telling her how delighted they are with their hair – but now she has a permanent base, she is hoping it’s not just the hair, but also the sights, the smells and the relaxing experience that will draw praise. “This is a calm environment with chilled music,” she says. “I want everyone to go away knowing their hair has been done to an extremely high standard but also having enjoyed their time here, and feeling cared for and relaxed – the idea is to create equilibrium for the person as a whole.”
94 GLANMOR ROAD | UPLANDS | SWANSEA SA2 0BQ | T: 01792 203977 | M: 07825 578343
HEALTH & WELLBEING Under Armour UA Favourite Graphic Tote, £26, Underarmour.co.uk.
p o t
GYM BAGS
TAKE YOUR FITNESS
OUTSIDE
Adidas Training Backpack, £42.95, Adidas.co.uk.
Take advantage of the weather and longer evenings, with some outdoor activities. From coast to countryside, there are plenty of pursuits that can tone your arms, strengthen your abs and clear your mental clutter. Here are just a few family-friendly, al fresco activities to try...
1. Surfing
Surfing is one of the most physically challenging watersports out there, engaging your core and stabiliser muscles as you work to bend and balance on the board. It’s great for your heart, putting on your wet suit, running down the beach, paddling out into the surf and catching waves are all aerobic exercises that hugely benefit for your cardiovascular system. Because you’re usually out on the waves for at least an hour, surfing tests your stamina and endurance, while sculpting your back, shoulder and leg muscles.
2. Inline skating
There’s something seriously addictive about rollerblading; whether it’s feeling the wind in your hair, slaloming past pedestrian traffic or getting out in the fresh air, an hour on eight wheels is pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It’s pretty good news for your figure too - all that lower-body power does wonders for your hamstrings, quadriceps and glutes, and it’s easier on your joints compared with running. It’s estimated that a 10-stone person can burn about 580 calories per hour of vigorous skating, meaning you won’t be missing out on the weight loss benefits while putting your gym pass on ice. Best of all, skating out in nature (even if it’s just your local park) can provide some much needed time for relaxation.
3. Stand-up paddleboarding
SUP is a great low impact muscular endurance workout if the ocean is your thing. Developed when surfers in Hawaii began to use paddles to propel their surf boards, SUP is a relatively new sport that does exactly what it says on the tin: you stand on a board and push yourself forward with a single paddle. During a SUP session you’ll be firing up most of the muscles, with the lower body and core contracting as you anchor to the board and paddle. It’s pretty good fun too: there isn’t the fear of getting outrageously soaked or dismounted that comes with regular surfing, so it’s perfect for people who are looking for a more serene way to enjoy the beach.
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4. Trail running
When the sun’s shining, why not take yourself off the treadmill and on to a nature trail? Natural landscapes offer a mosaic of horizons to stimulate your mind. It’s impossible to run in mud and not have at least a grin on your face. A good trail run through rock, scree and mud will force your body to recruit different muscles that you’ll need to stabilise your core. As with any style of running there’s no getting away from the full-body and highly-respiratory nature of it. Best of all? It’s accessible to everyone, costs nothing and is one of the highest bang-for-your-buck methods of calorie burning after intense weight training.
5. Cycling
Reebok Imagiro Bag, £34.96, Reebok.com.
Lululemon Everywhere Duffel, £128, Lululemon.com
Whether it’s on your daily commute or spending your weekends cycling over mountains, this is a great way to exercise, get fit, get outdoors with your friends or family, and burn a huge amount of calories while increasing stamina. It’s not a specialist skill, so anyone can give it a go, and it’s relatively cheap - there’s just a one-off payment on a bike to factor in. Cycling works the thighs and often arms hard, as well as being a great alternative for those who have joint troubles where high impact exercise can cause problems.
6. Rock climbing
There aren’t many outdoor sports that will be as demanding on your body as rock climbing. It can be a real challenge for the body as every terrain, route and weather condition will be different for each climb. Research has shown that climbing requires significant aerobic capacity to maintain position on a rock face and anaerobic capacity for the climb. It’s a sport that you’ll will need to have a basic level of fitness and grip strength to start with, but it can pay dividends on your shoulders, legs, abs and even mental capacity. There are loads of places to give it a go - more and more indoor rock climbing centres are popping up in cities and towns all over the world. It’s definitely at the more intense end of the activity scale - but try it and I’m sure you’ll love it.
H&M Sports Bag, £9.99, hm.com
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Fuel your workoutght i r e h t . . . y a w
If you’re sweating out at a spin session, perfecting your shoulder bridge at Pilates or pounding the pavements on a run – it’s important to make sure your body has the fuel it needs. LAURA DAVIES looks at the top tips to help you eat your way to better performance
Quality over quantity
Eat every three hours
To perform your best in your workout, the quality of your diet as a whole is more important than what you eat directly before or after a workout. The food you take in on a daily basis has to give you the vitamins and minerals to convert your food to energy, the protein to support muscle repair, the carbohydrate stores to fuel your muscles, and the antioxidants to help bring down inflammation and support recovery.
Try to keep your blood sugar and energy levels stable by eating regularly. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a snack mid-morning and one mid-afternoon, with no longer than three hours between. Also try not to eat carbohydrates after 6pm.
So, a diet based on whole, real foods is key. Try eating plenty of protein to feed your muscles and fill you up.
Perk up your performance with protein For strength training or building muscle, you could benefit from upping your protein, so a high-protein snack before or after training can be a good choice. Or if you’re training more than once a day, then a snack containing fast-releasing carbohydrates combined with protein can be helpful to quickly replace glycogen (energy stores) in your muscles and support muscle repair – a small pack of sushi would work here. Salmon sushi can be a good snack to have after a workout if you’re going to be training again the same day. You can benefit from fast-releasing carbs in the rice to help quickly restore glycogen in your muscles that has been used up during your workout.
To snack or not to snack? Snacks aren’t necessary for everyone before a workout – there are benefits to training on an empty stomach, especially if you’re aiming for fat loss. But in some situations, the right snack before or after a workout can make a difference. A small carb-based snack such as a small pack of corn cakes just before a workout can give you a boost of energy.
Get clued up on carbs If you’re running long distances, performing weight lifting workouts and need to gain weight, you’re going to need some extra carbs before a workout. The most important thing to remember when we talk about carbs is that not all carbs are created equally. Throughout the day you should consume carbs with a low glycaemic impact; they’ll provide sustained energy rather than spiking your blood sugar.
laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
Be cautious about your blood sugar levels One sign that you’ve eaten the wrong thing – or haven’t eaten enough – before a workout is feeling drained or having a sudden dip in energy while you’re exercising. Or if you feel shaky or break out in a cold sweat, this can indicate that your blood sugar has dropped too low. This could be because you haven’t eaten enough, but it can also happen if you’ve eaten a sugary snack, causing your blood sugar to peak and then dip too low. Replace your sugary snack with a healthier option containing slow-releasing carbohydrates and protein to keep your blood sugar more even.
Elite athletes may need to eat during exercise If you are an elite athlete and performance takes precedence over body composition, consuming high-glycaemic carbs during your workout to boost the anaerobic systems is definitely recommended. As a matter of fact, if you are planning to workout at moderateintense levels for more than 90 minutes, you could consider consuming some carbs during your workout as well. Additionally, as the body can also start to break down existing protein for energy during prolonged activity, sipping on a BCAA (branched-chain amino acid) drink during your workouts can help while also providing a small but useful source of energy. swansealife.co.uk 47
OPHTHALMOLOGY
EYE HEALTH EXPERTISE At BMI Werndale Hospital all of the ophthalmologists bring a wealth of expertise and dedication.They are committed to delivering the highest quality treatment and care for patients with acute eye problems, longer-term conditions and those who require aesthetic or cosmetic surgery.
For more information or to get a quote for eye surgery please call on 01267 225639 or visit www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/werndale BMI Werndale Hospital Bancyfelin, Carmarthen SA33 5NT
Serious about health. Passionate about care.
HEALTH & WELLBEING What? Leafy Greens Who? Rosie HuntingtonWhitely Rosie has been quoted saying that she chooses to have a green smoothie for breakfast every morning: She has Kale, celery, apple, cucumber and a squeeze of lemon. “I make my own juice every day at home. It really makes a difference. I can feel my body – everything’s going to way it should and I then I don’t feel guilty if I don’t get to eat my five a day of vegetables.” Why? Leafy greens are so important for your diet. Greens such as kale, spinach, broccoli, watercress, collards, spring greens, romaine lettuce are all rich in antioxidants and nutrients important for the skin including vitamins A, B6 and C, Iron, plus soluble fibre to support digestion and detoxification. Try to include at least 1 cup of greens daily in your diet. What? Fermented Foods Who? Gwyneth Paltrow Gwyneth has been quoted talking about the benefits of fermented foods on several occasions and even has a dedicated article about the benefits of them on her blog Goop. Our gut is home to countless bacteria and if these are out of balance it can promote inflammation and poor detoxification. This is especially relevant if you have taken antibiotics recently. By including fermented foods like raw sauerkraut, kombucha or fermented milk drinks such as kefir, and yogurt which are naturally rich in beneficial bacteria you may notice a healthier skin.
What? Manuka Honey Who? Scarlett Johansson A-list actress, Scarlett swears by the benefits of Manuka honey both for consumption and applying directly to the skin. Manuka honey really adds an amazing glow and your skin is so soft afterwards. Why? Manuka honey’s healing properties make it a great allround wonder food. It has anti-viral, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, and can be used to boost the immune system to help fight off illness and improve skin conditions.
Celebrity
SUPERFOOD SECRETs LAURA DAVIES looks at 6 superfoods that celebrities swear by and why you need them in your diet too… laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
What? Eggs Who? Nicole Scherzinger Nicole opts for eggs to kick-start her morning and give an energy boost. For breakfast she opts for eggs and toast and smoked salmon or bacon, or porridge Why? Eggs contains an amino acid called N acetyl cysteine, one of the building blocks of a potent antioxidant called glutathione which is important in ridding the body of the toxins from alcohol. Protein will also help support energy levels through the morning. So the morning after a party if you can face it, you should try scrambled eggs with veggies for a breakfast energy boost.
What? Chia Seeds Who? Miranda Kerr Miranda has shared one of her favourite healthy recipes with fans: "I make my own superfood smoothie with maca powder, acai powder, spirulina, cacao powder, coconut oil and chia seeds, which is alkalising and nutrient dense." She also adds chia seeds to her homemade muffins: She also lives by the philosophy of 80/20 - eating healthily 80 per cent of the time and indulging 20 per cent of the time. For an everyday treat, tr cooking gluten-free muffins with blueberries and chia seeds. Why? Chia seeds have omega 3 fatty acid making them a good alternative food for those who do not eat fish. They are also rich in fibre and therefore create a good feeling of fullness and slow the emptying of the stomach making then helpful for promoting a healthy appetite (meaning not wanting to over-eat) and general weight maintenance.
What? Lemon water Who? Victoria Beckham Victoria loves her Honestly Healthy cookbook. It’s based on the alkaline diet, which focuses on getting the body’s acidic levels down and the alkaline levels up. Her top tip is to drink a cup of hot water with lemon every morning to kickstart your alkaline levels. Why? Lemon water in the morning help keeps your skin hydrated and is essential for glowing skin. But if you struggle to consume enough water through the day why not add the juice of ½ lemon to a glass of warm water. This combination is ideal for giving your skin a fresh glow. Lemon is incredible for skin, not only because it’s packed with vitamin C, which helps us make collagen but it’s also one of the most alkalizing foods available. Rich and processed foods, excess sugar, too much coffee and alcohol can all makes our bodies more acidic. When pH levels are out of balance it can show up on your face resulting in dry and irritated skin. swansealife.co.uk 49
HEALTH & WELLBEING
ASK
DR. CHARLOTTE
Feeling hot, hot, hot… This unusually hot spell has naturally led to the theme for this month’s article on a few conditions that can make one feel “hot”. Menopausal hot flushes Hot flushes are a common feature of the menopause and peri-menopause. Some lucky ladies sail through the menopause without difficulty but others have some symptoms which can really affect their quality of life and wellbeing. One of the most effective treatments for menopausal hot flushes (and other menopausal symptoms) is hormone replacement therapy. All ladies who have not had their womb / uterus removed need to have both oestrogen and progesterone - this is because if you are just given oestrogen then there is the potential that this could cause a build up of the lining of the womb which could then turn cancerous. It can be given in a variety of different ways singly or in combination (sometimes with the addition of testosterone replacement), thus the key is getting the right treatment for you.
This month Sketty GP and Swansea Life doctor Charlotte Jones, speaks about hot flushes
As with all medications there are risks as well as benefits to treatment but personally I have seen so many ladies menopausal symptoms transformed with HRT. Therefore, it is important that you discuss this with a healthcare professional to ensure you are fully informed of the risks and benefits and are suitable for HRT should you choose to have it. It is advisable to always have the lowest dose that controls your symptoms and have annual checks. If your preparation isn’t suiting you or controlling your symptoms, don’t just grin and bear it – see or speak to your GP. If you are not suitable for HRT treatment OR don’t wish to take hormonal treatment OR cannot tolerate HRT, do not despair as there are alternatives. Alternatives available on prescription include: some types of antidepressants, gabapentin, clonidine and topical vaginal moisturisers. If you are not keen to take a prescription only medication to help with your symptoms there are a variety of herbal / complimentary treatments that have been purported to be of use (e.g. St John’s Wort, black cohawsh, evening primrose /
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starflower oil, red ginseng, red clover, vitamin E, phyto-oestrogens such as soya containing foods, Donq Quang, acupuncture etc) However, there is not a substantive evidence base on the benefits and risks of some of these preparations (particularly on breast & wombs) so it is always important to remember that they are unregulated and quality / content cannot be guaranteed in the same way as licensed prescribed medication. Therefore, if you wish to try these, I think it is important to check with your pharmacist / GP first that it is safe to do so.
Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland at the front of your neck which controls your body’s metabolism becomes overactive and produces lots of thyroxine which can then cause a variety of symptoms including: sweating, heat sensitivity, fast / irregular pulse rate, weight loss, fatigue, eye symptoms (e.g. double vision, bulging eyes, sore eyes), mental health problems (e.g. anxiety, irritability, depression), problems sleeping, trembling, pregnancy complications etc. The overactive thyroid gland can become swollen and cause pressure on the neck (i.e. voice box, trachea and gullet) potentially causing a hoarse voice, difficulty with breathing, coughing and swallowing problems. Causes include an auto immune condition Grave’s disease, thyroid nodules and some medications (e.g. amiodarone). If you think you may have an overactive thyroid then see or speak to your GP who will organise for you to have appropriate examination and blood tests. If hyperthyroidism is confirmed then you will usually be referred to a consultant endocrinologist. Treatments are can include medication or radioactive iodine to stop over production of thyroid hormones or surgery. Where can I find out more? www.thyroiduk.org.uk and www.btf-thyroid.org and www.nhs.uk have excellent advice.
FREE
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Woods Dental, 65 Walter Rd, Uplands, Swansea, SA1 4PT E: info@woodsdental.co.uk T: 01792 476 714 www.woodsdental.co.uk
The King arthur Hotel, set in beautiful grounds in the heart of the gower Peninsular, offers the perfect wedding venue for your special day. Our lovely room ‘avalon’ boasts an abundance of character and charm, with its high pitched ceiling and oak beams. The secluded courtyard and private landscaped gardens surrounding it offer ample opportunities for amazing wedding photographs.
Wedding Fayre Sunday 7th October 2018 11am - 4pm Telephone: 01792 390775 Higher green, reynoldston, gower, Swansea Sa3 1ad weddings@kingarthurhotel.co.uk www.kingarthurhotel.co.uk
BRIDE
Michelle Swift-Davies and Stuart Davies After meeting at a wedding, Llanelli newlyweds Michelle and Stuart tell LAURA DAVIES about their dream day at Sylen Lakes in Five Roads. Michelle Swift-Davies, 31, a teacher, married police officer Stuart Davies, 32. They are both from Llanelli. Tell us about the proposal… It was a couple of days before my 30th Birthday, and Stuart took me by surprise while on a walk along the beach after work to unwind. Stuart says: “Michelle wasn’t keen on going as she wanted to wash her hair before going out for dinner that evening but of course I insisted we went! It had rained that day but come 5pm the sun was shining and we were the only ones on the beach – I couldn’t have planned it better.” Stuart got down on one knee and admitted he was
more nervous about asking my father’s permission than he was asking me to marry him! Where did you get married and why did you choose the venue.. We got married at Sylen Lakes in Five Roads near Llanelli. I have grown up in the village of Five Roads and we are currently building our future home there. We felt that the location would be perfect as we’d always be close to it. When we visited Sylen Lakes we fell in love with the beautiful surroundings and looked no further. What was the theme for the day, and did you have a colour scheme?
We didn’t have a theme - we wanted a natural elegant wedding without too much fuss. We chose a pale blue colour for the bridesmaids’ dresses but everything else was white, including the flowers, invitations, cake etc. When did you know you had found “the dress” and what style did you go for? The dress! I never thought I’d find the one. People kept telling me I’d know when I came across it but I just never had the feeling until about 30 dresses later. A member of staff at Laura May Bridal in Cardiff asked me to try an Enzoani dress on and I fell in love with it. It was very simple, plain fabric, fitted with the most amazing lace train.
Pictures: Purecreations Photography www.purecreationsphotography.com
The couple:
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BRIDE
What about your bridesmaids and groomsmen? We had the bridesmaids’ dresses online. We had ordered a few different styles and colours then found the dresses at John Lewis. They were very elegant and both of my sisters looked beautiful! We also had two little flower girls, our niece and my best friend’s daughter – they both loved being princesses for the day! The groomsmen were a mix of family and friends and Stuart’s best man was his big brother. We were blessed with two gorgeous nephews a few years ago so they also played a big part in our special day. Tell us about your floral arrangements? All the flowers were done by Claire at Claire’s Flowers in Llanelli. I literally took Claire my Pinterest board and she re-created exactly what we wanted. Claire and her staff were the best and could not do enough for us. We would highly recommend them. We had so many comments on the flowers, especially the floral arch at the Church. What about your cake? We found our cake company, Designer Cakes by Janet, at a local wedding fayre. The cakes looked fantastic and tasted fabulous. Janet matched the cakes to our flowers and the detail on my dress.
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How did you make your wedding personal to you? And did you have any DIY touches? We made our own table plan. We’d seen the idea on Pinterest so thought we’d give it a go. We bought a large full length mirror and carefully printed each guest’s name onto black vinyl and then transferred it onto the mirror. As Stuart used to play in a wedding band and we both have a passion for music, we decided to go with a music theme. The top table was named ‘Top of the Pops’ and we named each table after some of our favourite bands and some of concerts we’d been to. What were your wedding highlights? Having our wonderful family and special friends by our side on our special day. We are very blessed to have them and felt so much love on our wedding day. Did you have a first dance? How did you choose the song? Was there any other entertainment? Yes, Stuart picked our first dance. “Michelle knows I have better taste in music and wanted a surprise,” he says. “We have lots of special songs but this was both meaningful and upbeat for a first dance.” Our first dance
was Ray LaMontagne’s You Are the Best Thing. We had the Taliesin String Quartet play at the church and venue along with female vocalist Lauren Fisher. During the evening, we hired a local band called The Tom Collins Band, they were all fantastic and the band had the dance floor full all evening and they and created such a brilliant vibe – looking back at video clips of these moments are priceless! Did you go on honeymoon? Yes, we travelled to Rome for four nights. We saw and visited some incredible sites and learned so much about the history of Rome. The food was outstanding! What was the best investment you made? The photographer, videographer and the wedding band. The atmosphere was fantastic and both the photographer and videographer captured so many special memories – priceless moments that we will cherish forever. If you could go back and change anything, what would it be? We wouldn’t change a thing- we loved every second!
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Have your Picture Perfect Wedding At Norton House Hotel we offer comfort, style and service, Ensuring your special day is one to remember
Weddings l Functions l Restaurant l Accommodation
nd
month
The Perfect Venue for all Celebrations Newly Refurbished Venue
Wedding Packages start from just ÂŁ27.50 per person Picturesque scenery on our doorstep Norton Road, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 5TQ
01792 404 891
Enquiries@nortonhousehotel.co.uk
www.nortonhousehotel.co.uk
Weddings l Functions l Restaurant l Accommodation
BRIDE
WEDDING CHARM Celebrate the big day with this hand-finished sterling silver two-tone charm with a 14ct gold bow, proudly proclaiming “Just Married”. A lovely gift from your husband or from your nearest and dearest. Wedding Day Charm, £80, Pandora, Swansea
THIS MONTH
Ooo la la! If you are looking for something beautiful, seductive or unique for your big day, this wedding chemise is the perfect addition to your bridal collection. Chemise, £40, Boux Avenue, Cardiff
WE LOVE
Use this simply stunning Wishing Jar as an alternative guestbook at your wedding. The glass jar comes with a romantic rose gold lid with 100 wooden hearts. Your guests can write their special wishes to the bride and groom onto the blank hearts and slot them into the jar so you can cherish your magical memories for years to come.
Ginger Ray Wishing Jar Wedding Guest Book, £18, Paperchase at Next, Morfa Retail Park
LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of her favourite products this month laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
A TOAST….
wishing jar
AUTUMN / WINTER WEDDING STYLE Dorothy Perkins has just launched its new wedding range and we just love it. From gorgeous bridal gowns to beautiful bridesmaids dresses in a variety of styles and colours, you can find the perfect outfit for a snip of the price - meaning more money to spend on your big day.
@LawsDx
WEDDING TREAT Finding special, unique wedding gifts can be difficult. That’s why Biscuiteers have created the Wedding Bells Biscuit Tin to make a memorable wedding or engagement gift, for the best day of someone’s life. This box of wedding favours are delicately hand-iced and packed into a bespoke wedding tin. Wedding Bells Collection, £39.50, Biscuiteersbaking.co.uk
Crack open the bubbly and toast your special occasion with these Celebration Flutes. They are perfect for wedding day morning drinks with your besties. Celebration Flutes Set, £29.99, Gettingpersonal.co.uk
KEEPSAKE Cherish your wedding certificate in this gorgeous certificate box, perfect for displaying on a shelf or mantelpiece. Deva Designs Certificate Holder, £35, John Lewis, Cardiff
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fairytale YOUR
BY THE SEA
For a perfect setting for your dream wedding look no further than The Cliff Hotel & Spa. Exclusive use of our wedding suite & ballroom for up to 160 guests (250 for evening reception) with exclusive bar & terrace with simply stunning views over Cardigan Bay. For more details get in touch with our Wedding Team.
WEDDING PACKAGES FROM
£3,499
BESPOKE WEDDING PACKAGES ALSO AVAILABLE FOR 2019 AND 2020
THE CLIFF HOTEL & SPA | GWBERT | CEREDIGION | SA43 1PP T: 01239 613241 | WWW.CLIFFHOTEL.COM | WEDDINGS@CLIFFHOTEL.COM
FOOD & DRINK
You can’t have afternoon tea without scones, jam and cream. These budget-friendly scones are a bargain at just 75p for four and taste delcious too. Becky’s Bakery 4 Devon Scones 7 5p ; Luxury Extra Fruity Strawberry Conserve £1.29 for 340g, both Iceland, Swansea
CAKE CUPPA
Amaretto Flavoured Coffee 200g, £6.50, Whittards, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, Bridgend
Tassimo Costa Americano 16 x 9g, £4.99, Iceland, Swansea
laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
Macmillan Ring Doughnut, 70p each, M&S, Swansea
Mini Afternoon Tea Cupcake Selection £2, the Co-op, Swansea and Llanelli
&
Cake tastes better together so sign up to be a part of Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September, 28. LAURA DAVIES rounds up her top buys
Unicorns are everywhere this year, even on cupcakes. This pretty collection of cakes looks good enough to eat – and luckily you can! Unicorn Cupcakes £ 5, Asda, Llansamlet and Parc Trostre
If you don’t fancy baking your own, these cute mini Eton mess, lemon drizzle and blueberry cupcakes will go down a treat.
Salted Caramel Cake £ 2.79, Waitrose, Cowbridge
@LawsDx
Sencha’s range of delicious teas comes in either loose leaf or ultra-convenient and 100% biodegradable bags — made using waste corn starch and sealed with ultrasound. Its 27 teas include classic black teas, green teas, white teas, caffeine-free herbal infusions plus super teas and boast 60 Great Taste Awards to boot. Sencha Specialty Teas £2.99, Morrison’s, Parc Pemberton and, Holland & Barrett, Swansea
Macmillan Colin The Caterpillar Cake, £7, M&S, Swansea
Sweet-toothed guests will love a slice of this delicious soft moist sponge filled with chocolate flavoured buttercream, topped with salted caramel buttercream and melt-in-themouth caramel curls.
Sainsbury’s Deliciously Free From Cherry & Almond Slices 4 for £2, Sainsbury’s, Swansea If you are serving up afternoon tea to anyone with food allergies these wheat free, gluten free and milk free moist sponge cherry and almond slices might be just the thing.
M&S, Swansea
Macmillan Victoria Sandwich Cake, £2.80, M&S, Parc Trostre and Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
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Advertising Feature
Best places to Eat
Restaurant Guide Four great places to eat and drink
SWANSEA
The Smiths Arms
KINGS G BOO N I K A NOW T ARTIES TMAS P S I R H FOR C
51-52 Neath Road, Hafod, SA1 2HR Tel: 01792 466776
Family friendly pub serving food daily. Serving for food Monday-Wednesday 12-3pm & 5-8pm, Thursday & Friday 12-8pm, Saturday 11.30-6pm Sunday carvery 12-4pm. Choice of 3 meats £6.45. Curry & Pint night every Thursday 5-8pm. Free newly refurbished function room for parties. Car park at rear of building.
G TAKIN NOW BOOKINGS TMAS CHRIS TE WEBSI R U O VISIT ENUS FOR M
SWANSEA
Shepherds Country Inn 18 Heol Myddfai, Felindre, Swansea SA5 7ND • Tel: 01792 794715 www.shepherdsinn.co.uk • E: reservations@shepherdsinn.co.uk Family owned pub located in the lovely quiet village of Felindre (5 minutes off M4 J46). Serving food Tuesday-Saturday 12-2pm & 6-9pm. Lunchtime 2 Course special for £7.95. Evening specials board as well as tempting homemade cheesecakes. Burger & Pint offer Tues-Weds
£6.95. Traditional Sunday Lunch served every Sunday 12-3pm Adults 1 Course £9.95 Childs 1 Course £4.95. Large External Marquee with fully functioning bar available to hire for parties, charity events, etc. Large Car park to the side of the building
Best places to Eat SWANSEA
The Kings Head Llangyfelach Road, Treboeth, Swansea SA5 9EL Tel: 01792 773727
Family friendly pub. Children’s play area. Car park facilities. Quality cask ales. Function room available for hire. Book now for Christmas. Live entertainment every Friday night. Breakfast served from 8am-12pm Monday-Saturday. Traditional Sunday carvery served 12-3pm. 2 for £10 special offer on lunchtime or evening meals. Terms and conditions apply.
SWANSEA
Justin’s Catering Ltd The Mill Tea Rooms, Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill, Swansea SA3 2EH • Tel: 01792 371206 • www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
September 2018 offers: BACK TO SCHOOL! Buy one adults meal, get a child’s meal for free! Available Monday - Friday 3pm - 4.30pm. No need to book (during term times only). New to the Tea Rooms...Sunday Lunch. Adults £12.95 (2 course) or £14.95 (3 course), Children (5-12 years) £8.95 (2 course) or £9.95 (3 course). Under 5s eat for FREE! Take Away: Simply bring your own plate along, and leave the rest to us.
FOOD & DRINK
Vegan Peanut and Avocado Burgers / Beetroot Burgers
great grill gadget Making your own beef burgers? This nifty gadget ensures they will all be the same size and shape, so they will cook at the same time and no one ends up with a dodgy raw bit when they bite into their bun. Grill Press, £3, Tiger Stores, Swansea
Ubiquitous superfood avocado shows no sign of falling out of favour, and now you can find it in your burgers. A nutty texture of peanuts, avocado, brown rice, beans and curry seasoning make this veggie offering from Tesco a tempting one. Or try a mix of chickpeas, beetroot, red quinoa, green lentils, gluten free oats, coriander, thyme and cumin £1.75 and £2.50 respectively, both Tesco, Parc Fforestfach and Parc Trostre
THIS MONTH
MINT CONDITIONING FROM PEPPERSMITH
WE L VE LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of her favourite products this month laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
Be kind to your waistline with Peppersmith’s delicious new range of sugar-free mints and gums made with plantbased sweetener xylitol. The treats include strawberry and vanilla pastilles and Sicilian lemon mints, both priced £1.29, and English peppermint and spearmint gum at £1.19. Available from Sainsbury’s, Holland & Barrett, Boots, Swansea
vegan treats
Gosh! has a whole range of vegan-friendly BBQ specials. Check out its mushroom burger with lentils and butter beans and sweet potato and black bean sausages with a hint of chilli and lime . £3.99 from Tesco, Parc Fforestfach, Morrison’s, Morfa Retail Park.
COLD INFUSION New T etley Cold Infusions are a refreshing way to help you drink more water during the summer The naturally tasty range of fruit and herbal infusions come in mint, lemon and cucumber; passionfruit and mango; raspberry and cranberry and orange and peach. The £7.99 starter kits are available from Tesco, Asda, Llansamlet and Morrisons, Parc Pemberton.
ICE, ICE BABY! Everything stops for iced tea! The Little Miracles organic range offers cherry, elderberry, peach, orange, baobab and pomegranate flavours. The perfect choice to accompany a late summer picnic. Little Miracles Iced Tea, £1.59, Tesco, Parc Fforestfach and Llansamlet
ZESTY
Zesty orange ice cream dipped in a rich chocolate shell is hard to resist when it’s sunny... so don’t bother. Belgium Milk Chocolate Ice Creams, £3 for three from M&S, Swansea and Pontarddulais Retail Park
MIGHTY MALBEC UY! VEGETARIAN B
taste the rainbow
Iceland has launched a naturally grown rainbow coloured cauliflower to brighten up healthy eating. Grown by the sea in Cornwall, the vibrant cauliflower comes in three varieties called Sunset (orange), Grafitti (purple) and Green Storm. £1 a head. Iceland, Swansea
M&S roasted beetroot and caramelised onion “not dogs” will tempt vegetarians and meat-eaters alike or try their vegan lentil and beetroot burgers at £5 for four. As a perfect accompaniment, try BBQ pulled jackfruit part of the Nourish Bowl range, offering turmeric and lemon quinoa, lightly pickled cabbage, black beans and edamame, pumpkin seeds and delicious “brocamole dip”. Beetroot and Caramelised Onion “Not Dogs”, £3 for a pack of four, M&S, Swansea
Exquisite Collection Malbec 2017, Uco Valley, Argentina (£5.99, Aldi) Gorseinon and Carmarthen Road
We love this International Wine Challenge (IWC) silver award winner wine that works a treat. It offers ripe plums and blackberries scented with violet aromas, with good Uco Valley structure. The perfect wine to go with sizzling steaks. swansealife.co.uk 63
FOOD & DRINK
Organic September
Treat yourself well with LAURA DAVIES’ round up of organic products The healthy alternative to sparkling soft drinks you’ve been waiting for, raw and organic Equinox Kombucha is the most popular Kombucha brand in the UK. Made from three simple ingredients - green tea, for its antioxidant properties, cane sugar and a live culture, you will soon be turning into a fermented fan in no time! Equinox Kombucha, £1.80, Waitrose, Cowbridge
Seggiano’s signature Raw Basil Pesto is made from virgin olive oil, cashew nuts, fresh DOP Genovese basil, pine nuts and a sprinkling of sea salt; a nutritious addition to any meal. The pesto is gluten free, unpasteurised and doesn’t contain cheese, making it suitable for vegans. The range also comes in three additional delicious flavours.
Home cooking with Sian Day
A deliciously simple recipe for September..
Baked Churros with Cinnamon Sugar These little darlings are inspired by a recent trip to Spain, after a long and rather tiring stroll through the local market in Barcelona in blistering heat of 35 degrees, these were a welcome sight as we neared the end. Try it served with an iced coffee and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar perfect to keep one going before a very late lunch. The smell of them is divine, who doesn’t love the smell of hot fried dough and the scent of cinnamon in the air no matter what time of year it is. I decided to give these a healthier twist on my return home to Swansea and I’m pleased to say they are nearly as nice - crisp on the outside and slightly soft in the middle.
Seggiano’s Signature Raw Basil Pesto, £6.40 (200g jar), Whole Foods, Planet Organic, independent grocery stores, delis, farm shops and online at www.seggiano.com Ombar is chocolate made with raw, organic Ecuadorian cacao and only natural coconut sugars. Deliciously creamy and indulgent, it is packed full of gut friendly flavanols and antioxidants. It is also suitable for vegans, gluten and is refined sugar free. Ombar Chocolate, £1.99 (35g) / £2.99 (70g) Waitrose (70g bars only) and independent health food stores, or online at www.ombar.co.uk Enjoy a cold one with Celia Organic, a premium craft Czech lager with a refreshing bitterness and a hint of citrus. It is suitable for vegans and is also gluten free Celia Organic lager, £2.29, Tesco, Parc Fforestfach and Llansamlet Not only do they taste good, but they are full of natural goodness. The oats are grown without the use of pesticides or insecticides, allowing the oat to thrive naturally, while also supporting the fertility of the soil. Simple and delicious, try them as a blank canvas for your favourite topping or as an alternative to bread, Nairn’s Organic Oatcakes, £1.10, Sainsbury’s, Swansea Cicioni is a unique and innovative organic and plant-based, fermented nut delicacy that will add a whole new flavour to your meals. Made by blending quality almonds and cashew nuts, the result is a healthy and delicious gourmet treat, which is just as delicious on its own with crusty bread and olive oil, as it is in a salad or added to sauces. Cicioni, £8.49, Ocado online 64 swansealife.co.uk
You will need:
pan like making a choux pastry.
ingredients ■ 1 cup water ■ 4 tbsp butter ■ 2 tbsp sugar ■ ½ tsp salt ■ 1 cup S.R flour ■ 2 eggs ■ 1tsp vanilla extract ■ 3 tbsp sugar ■ ½ tsp cinnamon.
Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 mins.
method Pre heat the oven to 200d In a saucepan combine the water, butter, sugar and salt and bring to the boil. Then quickly add the flour mixing quickly until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the
Meanwhile whisk the eggs and vanilla and combine into the warm dough. Place into a heavy duty piping bag and attach a ¾ inch star tip. Pipe onto baking parchment placed on a baking tray into 4 inch strips (this quantity will pipe approximately 12 churros). Bake for 20-25 mins turning once. Once removed from oven, toss the churros into the sugar and cinnamon mixture and serve. Alternatively, melt some dark chocolate and dip.
Enjoy!
FOLLOW SIAN’S DELICIOUS RECIPES on her blog page siandaydream.wordpress.com or Tweet her @SianDay
a UNIQUE
dINING EXPERIENCE a WaRM WELSH WELCoME aWaItS YoU Welcome to Llwyn Country House, our beautifully refurbished bijou hotel, near Llanelli. We offer our guests a warm Welsh welcome, whether you’re here to stay, to enjoy a meal in our restaurant, to help celebrate a special occasion or for a business event.
a La CaRtE
• SUNDAY LUNCH • AFTERNOON TEA • WEDDINGS • PRIVATE HIRE
FRI-Sat 6.30PM-9.30PM
LUNCHES WEd-Sat 12 - 2PM
EVENING dINNER MoN-tHUR 6.30PM-9.30PM
Tel: 01554 899994
www.llwyncountryhouse.co.uk LLWYN COUNTRY HOUSE, HEOL HENDRE, LLANELLI SA14 9SE
Traditional butchers of quality locally sourced, Gower Beef, Lamb Award winning, Sausages & Burgers, Dry-Cured Bacon, Pies & Cooked Specialising in Dry Aged Beef & Salt Marsh Hog Roast & BBQ Hire and Event Catering now available
Home Delivery available 20 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea also at 8 Station Rd, Penclawdd, Swansea
Tel: 01792 366500 • www.tuckersbutchers.com
FOOD & DRINK
A TASTE OF TURKEY
For authentic Turkish food, all made fresh using the finest local ingredients, Turkish Kitchen is hard to beat, as LAURA DAVIES finds out. @LawsDx laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk Pictures: Adrian White, www.adrianwhitephotography.co.uk
I
must have walked past Turkish Kitchen restaurant on Swansea’s High Street more times than I care to remember and despite there always being a glorious smell of food sizzling on the grill, I have never really taken the opportunity to sample it.
included six fresh homemade starters - Aubergine salad, tzatziki, hummous, tabbouleh, haydari and a spicy Ezme salad - served with another basket of delicious pitta bread. It is not surprising the bread tastes so good with an in house baker making fresh breads for eating with kebabs, dipping and making into pides (Turkish pizzas).
This is no greasy kebab outlet, where you roll out of the pubs or clubs in the early hours, looking for fast food to soak up the alcohol you have drunk - this is a much classier, well decorated, authentic restaurant where the chefs take pride in the food they make and enjoy seeing customers having pleasure from their work.
Food was served very prompt and the next course was being dished out while we were still nibbling. Mehmet was excited to hear our feedback and taste as many foods as we could - and admittedly we gave it a good try.
On arrival at Turkish Kitchen, my dining partner and I were met by owner Mehmet Ongun, who, in a break from the usual meal review, took us through a number of dishes on the extensive menu and picked out a selection of authentic foods from starters, breads, main meals, side dishes, desserts and drinks.
And that was true. From the moment you walk into Turkish Kitchen you feel welcome. As well as the glorious smell of cooking to entice you, there’s a range of food, all neatly displayed in glass cabinets: countless different types of kebab, fat green peppers threaded on skewers, homemade sauces and a colourful array of salads, all freshly made on site. Behind the counter, the chefs are at work at the grill, or carving meat from the sizzling doner gyros, which are also all home-made rather than bought in.
It would be fair to say I had not realised that we would be fed and watered so well over our lunch break, and I literally couldn’t eat a thing for the rest of the day or evening! It was definitely a feast..So what did we have? We started with homemade breads and a garlic sauce and a chili sauce while we sampled a traditional Turkish coffee in a gorgeous ornate holder, while my dining partner tried the Turkish tea. We then shared a cold mixed mezze, which
66 swansealife.co.uk
As he told us: “My aim is to make my customers happy. I want them to feel as though they are being welcomed into my home.”
The restaurant itself is very spacious and colourful, decorated with traditional Turkish arts and crafts, large pictures and gorgeous lighting which Mehmet tells us he had specially made and imported from Istanbul.
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While we look at the gorgeous decor and impressive decorative ceilings, we are called for our main meal - Chicken Shish Kebab Wrap, which is served with couscous, basmati rice, chips, and a Turkish pepper which has a slight spice to it. It is delicious and the meat is tender and packed full of flavour while the wrap is slightly toasted on the grill to give it a crispy coating. It is full of meat just as our much as our ever-growing stomachs! We wash our meal down with a gorgeous mixed berry smoothie, one of a selection of freshly made juices and smoothies on offer at the 100 plus seater restaurant. Besides kebabs and mezze, the restaurant offers an excellent selection of soups and seven different types of casserole, including kleftico (oven baked lamb shank with mixed vegetables), tavuk guvek (diced chicken breast cooked with tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, peppers, almonds, herbs and onions); mousakka; and seafood casserole. Vegetarians and vegans are also very well catered for. Choices include falafel; guvec (a vegetarian casserole); vegetable kebabs and cheese pides. A popular choice for meat eaters is the selection of
yogurt dishes, such as sarma chicken beyti (spicy marinated minced chicken with garlic, cooked on the charcoal grill and served with rice). And onto desserts... We are treated to Baklava, a rich Turkish and Middle Eastern dessert made of thin, flaky pastry with chopped nuts, butter and soaked in syrup. It is definitely one for the sweet-toothed. My personal favourite was Kunefe, two layers of shredded kadayif dough combined with butter and a special cheese melted and served with a dollop of ice-cream in the middle. After another coffee and a selection of Turkish delight, we were ready to make our way back to work. The food was excellent and the service friendly - it is no wonder the restaurant has already gained plenty of loyal customers, not only in the restaurant itself but also through its take-away services including Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats. It also does a special lunch menu and caters for large functions and social gatherings. It is definitely worth a try!
Turkish Kitchen | 21 High St, Swansea SA1 1LF Swansea | www.swanseaturkishkitchen.com swansealife.co.uk 67
HOUSE & HOME
through the keyhole
COUNTRY FEEL TO EXECUTIVE HOME BUILT TO ORDER It formed an integral part of a novel building project and is now on the market for someone else to benefit from, as CHRIS PEREGRINE explaIns. chris.peregrine@walesonline.co.uk
I
There is not much Steve and Gail Lewis don’t know about their house. After all, they designed it and then had it built 30 years ago.
“We designed the house and had it built,” said Steve. “We bought the land. There were three lots of friends.” The setting was key to their deliberations.
Created to their own specifications, in somewhat unusual circumstances, they have also ensured that it has not stood still in design terms, with various elements benefiting from modernisation in recent years.
“We are by woodland and we wanted a country feel to the development,” said Steve. “It is a traditional house and we have got views of the woodland and the mountains. In the spring there is a mass of bluebells in the woods.”
What they did in those early days was the same as friends in the other properties on the land in question.
The brickwork of all three houses is complementary and sympathetic to the natural surroundings, and Steve and Gail’s four
68 swansealife.co.uk
bedroom detached executive home has a lounge, a second reception room, a kitchen/dining room and utility room, a master en-suite, a family bathroom, a downstairs cloakroom and double garage. Moving outside and you will find the property via a private road which is shared between the three properties and a driveway. Also at the front is a box hedge and lawn, with the back garden containing trees, decking, a patio, a lawn and a pond, although it is now more of a plant feature. There are two log stores, with one definitely going to remain after sale, a water butt and a wooden shed. “We have upgraded the house over the last four or five years,” said Steve. “The kitchen has been completely renovated. It has got a new floor and new units.There is a new boiler and the bathroom and en-suite have been renovated. “The decking and patio are linked and we have let water out of the pond. It is now a bog garden, a plant feature with a brook running through it.” The Lewis’s are looking to downsize now, with Steve saying: “It is a four bedroom house with plenty of space. It is ideal for a growing family and someone who likes woodland.” There is a ceramic floored porch and a solid oak floor in the hall, while the lounge has a log burner set with mantle base and surround in Welsh slate and a solid oak floor, with the reception room having the latter. Into the bespoke kitchen/diner and you will find a range of wall base and drawer units with integrated dish washer, a free standing range cooker with a five ring hob, two ovens and grill with extractor fan above, and a breakfast bar island fitted with drawers and cupboard and finished off with black star galaxy granite, among other features. The utility room has a wall mounted combination boiler servicing central heating and domestic hot water, while there are also base units. The double garage has an electric door and access to the attic, while the cloakroom includes a heated towel rail. The first floor gallery landing has a storage cupboard, and connects to the open plan master bedroom which has a dressing area, stainless steel down lighters and attic access. Accompanying it is the en-suite with stainless steel down lighters with extractor fan, a corner shower unit with rain drop shower head and a his and hers sink set in a vanity unit with storage drawers below. There are three other bedrooms and a family bathroom, which has stainless steel down lighters and extractor fan, a double ended bath, a corner shower unit with raindrop shower head and a heated towel rail.
PROPERTY: 2 Ffawydden , Cwmavon, Port Talbot. PRICE: £429,950 BEDROOMS: 4 AGENT: Herbert R Thomas, Neath, 01639 639541
swansealife.co.uk 69
Regionally 18 offices throughout the region Nationally 225 offices across Great Britain
SUMMER HOUSE, THREE CROSSES, SWANSEA
BRYN GELLI, PORTHYRHYD, CARMARTHEN
A superb family home set in idyllic countryside & beautiful gardens on the outskirts of Gower. Offering lovely living spaces, 4 beds, garage & a generous peaceful garden. Summer House also has stunning views towards the Devonshire coastline, Bristol Channel & rural scenery. EPC E
RECENTLY REDUCED-NO ONWARD CHAIN & drawings for 2 bed annex garage conversion. A detached family home with stunning countryside views & gardens. Presenting 3 receptions, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, 5 beds, games room. Ample parking & close to M4. EPC D
Asking Price £695,000
Offers Over £425,000
37 BWLCH Y GWYNT, MACHYNYS, LLANELLI
11 SHERBORNE WALK, MAYALS, SWANSEA
Situated in the popular Machynys, directly on the waters edge running along the Millennium Coastal Path & close to Machynys Golf Course. Perfect for an outdoor lifestyle, offering modern generous living spaces, kitchen, utility, 5 beds, hot tub & breathtaking views. EPC B
Detached home in an exclusive gated development in a saught after location & finished to a high standard. Briefly comprising: kitchen/breakfast room, 3 receptions & utility. With 5 double beds, dressing room & 3 bath/shower rooms. Enclosed garden & double garage. EPC C
Offers Over £525,000
Offers Over £775,000
THE PADDOCK, DYFFRYN, BRYNCOCH
PARC Y BRYN, BROADLAY, CARMARTHENSHIRE
Sat in glorious grounds & heavenly countryside surroundings is this fabulous Art Deco period property. A spacious detached family home with generous living spaces, 4 beds, detached garage, beautiful gardens & a paddock. With Dyffryn Woods on your doorstep. EPC E
The house & lodge are imposing properties bursting with character & nestled in stunning countryside. Main house has 4 receptions, 4 beds & 1 bathroom. The Lodge has open plan kitchen/lounge/diner, 3 beds and 1 bath. Currently a holiday let. Blissful land & views. EPC C
Asking Price £750,000
Asking Price £649,950
Internationally Plus 75 offices globally 5000 professional associates all around the world
Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 | Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com
SHIRECOMBE HOUSE, SOUTHGATE, SWANSEA
WIDEGATE COTTAGE, SOUTHGATE, GOWER
A hidden gem with the most spectacular views of Three Cliffs & Oxwich Bay. Within a 5 min walk are Pobbles beach, village pubs, stores & Pennard golf club. Also included is a detached 4 bed Coach House, used presently as a holiday let. EPC D&D
A charming, traditional cottage originally belonging to the Penrice Estate, set in 9 acres of magical woodland with majestic views. Full of character and briefly comprising: 4 receptions, 5 bedrooms and 2 bath/shower rooms with a self-contained annex. EPC G
Asking Price £2,650,000
Offers Over £750,000
Regionally 18 offices throughout the region Nationally 225 offices across Great Britain Internationally Plus 75 offices globally 5000 professional associates all around the world
THE GRANGE, MIDDLETON, SWANSEA
GREENACRE, SOUTHGATE, GOWER
Beautiful, modern detached 5 bed home is finished to a high standard providing a generous & flexible family home. Quiet coastal location with sea glimpses & close to Rhossili. EPC C
Perfectly located in the Gower coastal village of Southgate. This well loved detached family home presents 4 receptions, family bathroom and 4 beds including a substantial master bedroom with en-suite. Ample parking & beautiful south facing garden. EPC D
Offers Over £599,950
Asking Price £675,000
THE ORCHARD BARN, MURTON, GOWER
WEST ACRE, GROVES AVENUE, LANGLAND
Beautiful, characterful stone barn conversion with generous gardens. Briefly comprising lounge, kitchen/diner, bathroom, 2 double beds, master bed with en-suite and a potential 4th generous bedroom currently used as an office. Ample parking. EPC F
Located in the most desired private road in Langland, this detached family home has exceptionally generous room sizes & stunning interiors. Comprising 3 receptions, kitchen/diner, 4 beds & 2 bathrooms. The master bedroom has sea glimpses. EPC D
Offers Over £750,000
Asking Price £1,299,950
Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 | Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com
www.pablack.co.uk
01600 717 040
black
black
www.pablack.co.uk
www.pablack.co.uk
Prestige homes from Peter Alan Ltd
Llangennith, Swansea
Upper Killay, Swansea
• 4 bedroom detached property, including self contained annex • Sea Views over Llangennith beach and Rhossili down • Situated in over 3 acre plot • Off road parking • Business opportunities (subject to relevant permissions) • Versatile accommodation EPC - E
• Finished to a high standard throughout this 4 double bedroom detached property is not to be missed. • High Specification Throughout • Gated Driveway & Detached Garage • Wheelchair Friendly Ground Floor • Backing onto fields, countryside views • EPC - AWIATED
Swansea 01792 641481 £560,000 Bethany Lane, West Cross,
Swansea 01792 641481 Eaton Crescent,
£550,000
£350,000
For sale with pa black Swansea 01792 641481
St Catwg Walk, Swansea
Graigola Road, Swansea
Lon Cedwyn, SWANSEA
• Detached property Neighbouring Clyne Gardens • gardens StEnclosed Annes,rear Mumbles, • Driveway and integral garage • Bishopston and Olchfa School catchment. • Good access to City Centre and Mumbles. EPC - E
• 4 bedroom detached dormer bungalow • Set in generous plot with Front and rear gardens Dylans View, Uplands, • Detached garage • Elevated views • Generous living space • EPC - E
• 4 / 5 Bedroom detached property with SEA VIEWS •Gower Modernised throughout by current owners Road, Sketty, • Contemporary fitted kitchen • Loft conversion with sea views • Off road parking to rear and detached garage • EPC - D
Swansea 01792
For sale with pa black Swansea 641481 01792 641481
Cardiff Monmouth Penarth Porthcawl Newport
£450,000 £320,000
Morriston 01792
£375,000
For sale with pa black Swansea 798201 01792 641481
£450,000
Swansea 01792
£350,000
For sale with pa black Swansea 641481 01792 641481
Delivering exceptional service for exceptional homes
£395,000
©LW
For sale with pa black Swansea 01792 641481
£625,000
HOUSE & HOME
Star by Julien Macdonald Drawers, £34.99, Debenhams, Swansea
Zen Double Layered Bamboo Leaf Pendant, £25, Dunelm, Parc Pemberton
Leaf Sculpture Tealight Holder, £45, John Lewis, Cardiff
Silver Effect Leaf Trinket Dish, £12, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
Tarina Espresso Cups (Set of 4), £40, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff.
THIS MONTH
WE LOVE Copper and Concrete Planter, £25, George Home, Parc Trostre
LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of her favourite products this month
Tarington Circular Mirror, £119.99 Very.co.uk
@LawsDx
Prism Light, £8, Matalan, Morriston and Parc Cwmdu
Sainsbury’s Home Newstalgia Tins, 3 pack, £10, Sainsbury’s, Swansea Soul Culture Coasters (set of 4), £18, Linea at House of Fraser, Cardiff.
Blue, White and Gold Ceramic Pot, £12.99, Homesense, Parc Fforestfach
Distressed Floral Cushion, £19.50, M&S, Swansea
Rose Gold Decanter, £20, Next, Morfa Retail Park
A by Amara Siv E27 Table Lamp, £45, Amara.com
laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
Ferm Living Pouf, £539, Nest.co.uk
Pink Velvet Office Chair, £99.99, Homesense, Parc Fforestfach
SWANSEA LIFE 73
HOUSE & HOME
SEEING
d e R
Get the same blinds! Scarlet Pleated Blind, from £84 for 400mm x 600mm, Apollo Blinds, Apollo-blinds.co.uk
Cafetière, £9.99, Wilko, Swansea
Hook Rail, £22, John Lewis, Cardiff and Tea Towel, £6.99, H&M, Swansea
Red is great in the kitchen – it is enticing, bold and known to stimulate the appetite says Octavia Lillywhite
Red Cushion, £14.99, Very.co.uk and Velvet Cushion, £35, TheFarthing.co.uk
Kilner jar, £4, Wilko, Swansea
lacemat, £8 ven p , Jo Wo hn L rdiff Ca is, ew
Silver Metal Jug, £9.99 H&M, Swansea
Picture: Apollo Blinds
Pan Set, £20 for 5, Wilko, Swansea and Llanelli
Bowl, £24, Kellyhoppeninteriors.com
Make it work…
Blinds are perfect for a contemporary kitchen-diner:
Don’t go over the top with red – make it an accent colour, pulled out in just one or two statement areas like these blinds and cushions. We love it alongside neutral creams, beiges and natural wood.
Freestanding kitchen units:
Can have a great modern feel. They create a lighter, more spacious feel in a room, and have a casual vibe that suits a combined kitchen-diner.
They can be just as decorative as curtains, but they’re neater in a small space, and easier to clean.
Create extra room: Try hanging pans,
colanders and even jugs from a utensil rail (rather than the utensils, which take up less space in a jar). If you have high ceilings, take it even further with a pot rack hanging from above, and create room for nonhangable Utensils Jar, £10, and Wooden items with a combined pot rack and shelf. Utensils, £2 for three, all from KitchenCraft.co.uk
74 SWANSEA LIFE
coast and country in perfect harmony
DEVELOPMENT OF 5 HOMES OF 3 STYLES (4 AND 5 BEDS)
ONLY
3
MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING CLEWS HOMES
REMAINING
01792 653100 tim.kostromin@dawsonsproperty.co.uk
HOUSE & HOME
1
L E S L E Y
TAY LO R
To Boldly Go
As autumn approaches, Lesley Taylor digests the biggest interior trends heading our way
2 3
1. Deep rich colours contrast beautifully with Summer’s botanical craze 2. For an instant autumnal update invest in some rich, plush textures 3. Bid farewell to marble and say hello to Terrazzo 4. Use different accessories to add a richness to your décor – including thick rugs hung from walls
4 76 swansealife.co.uk
We might have been blessed with one of the balmiest summers in recent memory, but love it or loathe it, there is no denying autumn is heading our way. Children across Swansea are preparing to head back to school, massive tins of chocolate have started seeping into supermarkets and high street shop mannequins have been given their autumnal makeover. And its these mannequins – or rather the clothes they are wearing – that serve as our interiors inspiration for autumn 2018. Oversized knits are going to be huge this season, both on the catwalk and in the home. Textures have becoming increasingly popular in homes over the last few seasons, but this autumn/winter they will be everywhere. As well as blankets, throws and cushions, expect to see rugs in every room and not just confined to the floors either, rugs on walls are going to be massive. Weaved baskets will add interest and are perfect as an additional storage solution, and in the bedroom, create a feature of your favourite clothes by bringing them out of the wardrobe and on to it instead. Pick your favourite pieces, place them on chunky wooden hangers and voila, a capsule wardrobe collection that doubles as an evolving piece of art. Not straying too far from the world of fashion are the colours influencing this autumn’s must-have palette. Deep,
strong colours from rustic oranges, berry reds and calming blue-greens are the go-to hues. While you could opt to incorporate these shades with a plethora of accessories, I say go big! Choose your favourite of these shades for a commanding feature wall. Use accessories in contrasting colours to create a clashing, yet utterly fabulous display. And for those finishing touches? Terrazzo, terrazzo and more terrazzo. This fabulously speckled covering has been embraced by fashion fans but in the home is where it will come into its own. Work surfaces, bathroom tiles, even fireplace surrounds will all undergo the terrazzo treatment bringing a new dynamic where marble once reigned supreme.
Lesley Taylor is the author of 10 interior design books and has appeared on a range of network TV shows, including This Morning, giving inspirational advice on home styling.
THE ART OF COASTAL LIVING. PERFECTED. A UNIQUE RESIDENCE
|
A UNIQUE POSITION
01792653100 tim.kostromin@dawsonsproperty.co.uk PROPERTIES (HOMES) LTD
|
£ 2 .1 M I L L I O N
Welcome Welcome toour ourhome homeinin to MUMBLES MUMBLES Oversized bottles (set of 4)
£250
We would love you to come to our launch party. 29th Sept -1st Oct Rebranding is the perfect excuse to throw a bit of a get together. And that is what we are going to do! We would love you to join us, just to say a quick hello and a look around, or to spend a bit more time chatting to the team and having the chance to raise a glass. Everyone can also make the most of some wonderful perks all through the re-launch party weekend. • A £50 voucher for every £500 pound spent. • Our prize draw to win £1000 in EDIT vouchers. • Free refreshments and some great give aways.
EDIT home and design, 512B Mumbles Rd, Mumbles Swansea SA3 4BU
Comfort sofa 3 seater
£1900 Wide choice of fabrics available
Wonderfully innovative range of wallcoverings
Cushions FROM
£17.50
Flamingo sculpture
£24.50
Glass vases/ candle holders FROM
£10
Sheer fabrics FROM
£28M
2
We stock a wonderful, creative range of tiles FROM
£30M
2
Knitted and Macrame cushions FROM
£38.95
Chloe sofa in linen fabric, many sizes and shapes available 2 seater sofa FROM
Occasional tables FROM
£129
Cotton rugs FROM
£450
£1300
Bathroom design Not only can we help you find that simply perfect accessory to finish off a room; the most amazing wallpaper for your hall and sofa for your conservatory; we can help you create beautiful bathrooms. Our experienced designers can turn your wishes into reality using some of the most coveted bathroom products in Europe, coupled with our innovative design expertise. We will work with you to create an exciting , yet practical design that fits with your budget. The image above is a visualisation for a client.
Plan of bathroom design for one of our clients
Bespoke curtains and blinds
Ask us about our professional interior design service.
Furniture Lighting Wallpaper Tiles
Win ÂŁ1000 of EDIT vouchers Fill in this form and hand it to a team member in our Mumbles store before 29th September 2018
First name Last name Address Post code Telephone Email We would love to stay in touch, just tick the boxes below if you would like to be included: Yes I would like you to keep me informed of seasonal promotions, events, lifestyle articles and EDIT design tips. We promise you won’t be bombarded with daily emails and if you want us to stop, you can just unsubscribe!
EDIT home and design, 512B Mumbles Rd, Mumbles Swansea SA3 4BU
01792 439119 www.edithomeanddesign.co.uk
HOUSE & HOME
Grey Geo Towels, £15,
Joh nL ew is, Ca rd i
ff
Paste The Wall Marble Geo Wallpaper, £25, Next, Swansea Geo Fleece Throw, £6, Matalan, Parc Cwmdu and Morriston
Next, Parc Trostre 48, t, £ e S er nn
12 Piec e
Geo Drawers, £10, George Home, Llanelli
Ge oL ea fD i
Geometric Cushion, £10, Matalan, Morriston
Ella Nest of Tables, £135, Next, Morfa Retail Park
GETGEO!
Biba Geo Vase £50, House of Fraser, Cardiff Newstalgia Geo Tumbler, £3.50, Sainsbury’s, Swansea
LAURA DAVIES rounds up geometric print homeware hitting shops this season
Hexagon Embroidered Cushion, £29.50, M&S, Swansea
laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
Grey Geo Towels, £4-£9, George Home at Gorseinon and Parc Trostre
Set of 2 Geo Trivets, £10, Next, Morfa Retail Park
Ro un dG eo m
ry.co.uk .99, Ve £14 ck, Clo all W ric et
A by Amara Stainless Steel Geo Vase, £50, Amara.com
Geometric Patterned Glass Vase, £7.99, Homesense, Parc Fforestfach
Tokyo Design Studio Geo Eclectic Mug, £8, Amara.com
swansealife.co.uk 85
HOUSE & HOME Malvern Natural Storage Units, £84.95, HouseofBath.co.uk
weave some This Tweedmill pure new wool throw has a smart chevron pattern weave. Crossroads Throw, was £45, now £29, Whitestuff, Cardiff
A woven lantern will mark you out as a leading light when it comes to home decor.
Woven yarns are a great way to add a little warmth and texture to your home The stylish way to throw shade on your sitting room. Hamilton weave pendant shade, £23.15, Wholesale-ledlights.co.uk
This table can be used inside or outdoors to add a pop of colour. House by John Lewis, Salso outdoor side table, £79, john lewis, Cardiff
hese hand-woven African T mats will look great displayed on a wall. Swazi Hills Placemats, from £5 each, Thebasketroom.com
Transform your sofa with oversized cushions. Interwoven cushion, 60x60cm, £65, habitat.co.uk
This vibrant, handwoven and recycled cotton rug is ideal for a child’s room. Cotton Rug, £65, Laredoute.com
86 swansealife.co.uk
Woven Lantern, £19.99, HomeSense, Parc Fforestfach
Dutchbone rural woven rug in Aztec print, £99, Cuckooland
This woven chair is the perfect combination of comfort and style. Make a stylish display and hide clutter with these colourful storage baskets. W oven baskets, from £4.50, Thebasketroom.com
Lois Woven Lounge Chair, £89, Bluesuntree.co.uk
H ME FURNISHERS
re to rs e p u S t le m a s n la L W E N is NOW OPEN!
Offering an extensive range of furniture to suit your home, lifestyle and budget from leading brand names 12,000 sq ft Showroom, catering for the modern day family with ease of access and free parking Open 7 Days a Week, featuring Wales’ Only Rest Assured Dedicated Showroom Unit 2, Phoenix Way, Llansamlet | 01792 473912
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83 Station Road, Port Talbot | 01639 881752 Crosshands Business Park, Crosshands | 01269 842347 Gripoly Mills Retail Park, Sloper Road, CF11 8AA | 02921 155249
g in y u B d e B e t a im lt U Offering the Y L N O ’ s le a W h it w e c n e i Exper m o o r w o h S d e t a ic d e D Rest Assured e r o t s r e p u S t e l m a ur Llans at o
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Each collection offers a simply choice of softer, medium or firmer support so you can easily choose the right mattress for you
To enter simply email the answer to the question below to happyhomesllansamlet@aol.com with “Rest Assured Competition” in the subject including your name, address and telephone number by 28th September 2018. Or can you drop your entry into our Llansamlet Superstore. Full terms and conditions apply, visit www.happyhomefurnishers.com for details. QUESTION: Which is the largest of these mattresses? 1. King 2. Double 3. Super King
Unit 2, Phoenix Way, Llansamlet | T: 01792 473912 | happyhomefurnishers.com
FURNISHERS
Waterford Living & Dining Range
Light Oak Finish. A great range that ensures choice enough for every size and style of home.
FURNISHERS
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FURNISHERS Unit 2, Phoenix Way, Llansamlet | T: 01792 473912 happyhomefurnishers.com
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HOUSE & HOME
ant end Delilah Sputnik P
hn Jo 0, 5 , £4
Hudson Chair in Marais Floral Green, £549, M&S, Swansea
SHADES [ GREEN [
Ero Velvet Tassel Table Lamp £99, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff
Annabelle Cushion, £24, Dunelm, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
OF
From wallpaper to cushions, embrace the tropical palm tree print trend this season. LAURA DAVIES rounds up her top palm picks
String of Pearls in Ceramic Pot, £25, M&S, Swansea
Design Project by John Lewis No 163 Marble Bulbholder, £55, John Lewis, Cardiff
laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
Oslo Glass and Jute Lantern, £19, Jdwilliams.co.uk
92 swansealife.co.uk
@LawsDx
Opulent Bird Jaquard Cushion, £17.50, Statement Floral Cushion, £19.50, Plain Velvet Cushion, £19.50, Elsie Tassel Throw, £39.50, Sandford Side Table (nest of 2), £29 Clara Cotton Velvet Cushion Chartreuse, £20, Dunelm, Parc Pemberton and Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
Oil Slick Tumbler, £4, George Home, Parc Trostre
Large Florence Floral Vase, £19.50, M&S, Swansea and Parc Trostre
Biba Green Faceted Glass Vase, £30, House of Fraser, Cardiff
Retail Next, Morfa sea Park and Swan
Baltimore Bench (part of table and bench set) £499, Saloon Round Mirror, £79, Small Bouquet Vase, £9.50, Large Barrel Vase, £25, Large Fishbowl Vase, £25, Small Conical Vase, £9.50, Large Nouveau Lily Vase, £25, Large Ridged Vase, £25, Large Teardrop Vase, £25, Large Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree, £69, String of Pearls in Ceramic Pot, £25, Large Fern in Terracotta Pot, £59, Fern in Crackle Pot, £49.50, Large Aloe in Crackle Pot, £29.50, Large Cactus in Crackle Pot, £49.50, Small Cactus in Crackle Pot, £9.50, Large Ficus Tree, £99, all M&S, Swansea
Ferm Living Pouf, £979, Nest.co.uk
Basket, £18, Debenhams, Swansea
Connubia by Calligaris New York Velvet Chair in Rust, £329, John Lewis, Cardiff Aula Colour Block Nest Of Tables, £99, Jdwilliams.co.uk
Pot, £15, Debenhams, Swansea
swansealife.co.uk 93
smart bi-folds by
Aluminium ...perfectly engineered for modern living
The natural strength of aluminium provides slim lines with less frame and more glass, letting light flood into your property. Aluminium is highly resistant to corrosion, offering you a sleek design that’s built to last.
Bi-fold Doors • Sliding Doors • Windows • Roof Lights
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Contact us for a free no obligation quote @ABGlassSwansea
All our products are manufactured to order at our purpose-built premises and delivered direct to our clients throughout the UK. Our 25+ years of experience and commitment to quality ensures you receive the best products with great customer service, at a competitive price.
01792 584 440 | info@abforglass.co.uk
www.abforglass.co.uk
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AB Glass (Doors & Windows) Ltd
WE’RE NOT JUST BIGGER
WE’RE JUST BETTER On sofas, lamps, bedrooms, mattresses, recliners, dining rooms, rugs,chairs, accessories and much, much more!
48,000 sq.ft Showroom At homestores you will find a superb choice of dining furniture, suites, beds, bedroom furniture and carpets
Free careful delivery Free Parking Free Coffee Come see our Extended Giftware Department In Store
Gorseinon Road, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 1GG Telephone: (01792) 893121
A company built on its
Recommended installers of Amtico Flooring • Wood/Laminate Flooring • Cushion & Hard Vinyl Flooring • Carpets • Natural Flooring - Coir/Sisal • Safety Flooring • Full Floor Preparation • Domestic & Commercial Contracts • Free Measuring & Estimates
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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
Cwrt Gwscwm, Burry Port
4/8 John Street Llanelli Tel: 01554 779412 Davies Craddock have pleasure in offering for sale this Well Presented Detached Family Home situated close to Burry Port Harbour, Pembrey Country Park, Schools, Shops and Amenities. The property also has good road links to Llanelli and Carmarthen and is within walking distance to Public Transport. The accommodation comprises Entrance Hallway, Lounge, DiningRoom, Study,
www.daviescraddock.co.uk
Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room, Master Bedroom with Dressing Room and en Suite, Four Further Good Size Bedrooms and Family Bathroom. Externally there is an enclosed rear garden, driveway with parking for several vehicles and Detached Garage. Viewing is highly recommended to fully appreciate what this property has to offer.
Cwrt Gwscwm ÂŁ289,950
HOUSE & HOME
1
Use terracotta planters
Think bright pink or red trailing geraniums tumbling over old terracotta or stone pots, or if you've limited space, attach some smaller terracotta planters to a south-facing wall and fill them with trailing drought-lovers which won't need endless watering. Alternatively, make a feature out of huge Grecian urns strategically placed in borders or as stand-alone features at the end of walkways or in the centre of small courtyards. Permanent planters in the Mediterranean garden can also save you time, whether it be agapanthus or hardy evergreen herbs. If you situate them on gravel, plunge the base of each container a few centimetres into the gravel, which will encourage plants to root through into the soil underneath as well as keeping your pot stable. If you have space - and somewhere to house them in winter, such as a conservatory - consider growing a pot of citrus such as lemons, to add a Mediterranean feel and scent. You can grow dazzling bougainvillea in containers and bring it outside every summer, from early June to late September, then move it to a frost-free conservatory for winter.
Avoid bedding plants which are too thirsty. Instead, grow exotic-looking shrubs such as phormium and olearia or grasses with silvery leaves, as well as ground cover such as sedum and thyme.
Cypress) one of the archetypal Mediterranean trees, which grows to produce a tall slender green pillar of evergreen interest, perfect for that Med look.
3
Incorporate water
Lagerstroemia indica (Crepe myrtle), which is rarely grown in the UK but quite suited to our climate, is a multi stemmed shrub/small tree with beautiful bark and glossy green foliage producing a profusion of crepe paper like flowers in colours from light pink to deep burgundy.
Water creates cool relief in hot countries and can be used not only to provide movement, but also reflective value. Stone fountains are a big feature of many Mediterranean gardens but at home, consider your surroundings.
Mediterranean Style Garden Been on your hols to the Mediterranean this year? Hannah Stephenson offers 7 ways to bring a touch of the Med to your own garden.
Another alternative is the pomegranate tree (Punica granatum), which originated in the region extending from modern day Iran through Afghanistan and Pakistan to northern India, and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region. This architectural small tree can make a fun alternative to an olive, with larger specimens having very characterful form. Palms such as Trachycarpus fortunei also add that touch of Riviera glamour.
If you have plenty of room, you might go for an ornate tiered structure, providing a cool cascade of water which you can run your hands through. With less space you might go for still water in a terracotta storage jar or a lined stone trough.
4
Create shade
2
. Consider gravel or cool tiles
Gravel gardens are commonplace in the Mediterranean and in this country the gravel surface acts as a permanent mulch which will help prevent seed seedlings and conserves moisture. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot and prepare the soil, raking it level and then spreading 5cm (2in) gravel over the surface. Plant sparingly - don't smother the gravel surface with plants. They can be placed here and there and perhaps embellished with stone or terracotta planters or an old wooden or stone bench.
Any Mediterranean garden worth its salt should offer shade during the heat of the day. Consider how you are going to achieve that naturally. Perhaps grow climbers that love heat, such as grapevine and trumpet vine, over a pergola with traditional seating underneath.
5
Use drought-tolerant plants
Peter Jones, garden manager for Hardy Ornamental (which include the Mediterranean terraces at RHS Garden Wisley) suggests cistus (rock rose), a lovely family of shrubs ideal for a hot sunny position, which will form mounds of green foliage and a profusion of simple flowers, from whites to deep pink. Other great plants which will thrive in long hot summers include lavender, while for architectural value consider Cupressus sempervirens (Pencil
6
Don't forget succulents
Cacti and succulents are regular features in the Mediterranean garden, growing out of old stone walls and rockwork. If you have a gravel gap between your house and your paving, a strip of sempervivums or other succulents will soften the line beautifully.
7
. Use simple decor
Once you are surrounded by terracotta and old stone or tile landscaping, you don't really want contemporary, shiny furniture. Choose simple wooden benches or seats which will weather with age, to fit with the look. And grow herbs such as thyme and oregano near seating areas, which will smell delicious as well as add to the flavour of the food you serve your guests.
swansealife.co.uk 99
ADVERTISING FEATURE
NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME Leading Home Improvement Specialist Securahome is showcasing new ways to upgrade your home at its newly refurbished Swansea showroom. The family firm, which has carried out more than 3,000 projects across South Wales, prides itself on offering the latest and best products in its field.
breaking, home improvement products on display include five conservatories and orangeries, two of which have solid roofs.
Some of the ground-
The solid roofs are
transforming what was once a seasonal space into a year-round room. High-quality insulation means they have the same thermal properties as a traditionally constructed roof, and they can be retro-fitted to an existing conservatory. In the Gorseinon showroom, there are fullyfurnished garden-rooms constructed with both a traditional looking, tiledeffect roof as well as a sleek, modern, grey solid roof.
The rooms also showcase clever, super-insulated loggia columns that not only boost the thermal properties of a conservatory, but allow for stunning floor-to-ceiling windows to create a real ‘wow’ factor! Another popular product to transform the appearance of your home is sleek aluminium windows and doors. Dubbed the ‘architectschoice’ due to their contemporary appeal, the slim frames of these
products create a modern look and can be an instance ‘facelift’ to your home. For classic homes there are hardwood and ‘Heritage’ UPVC windows and doors that carry all of the hallmarks of traditional joinery. Nigel Hocking of Securahome said that the company was proud lead the way on home improvements:
“Whether its new windows and doors or a home extension, our aim is to give customers the best possible quality, both in products and installation. “It’s a source of great pride that 70 per cent of our business comes through recommendation and we are hugely excited, 24 years on, to be able to say that we are able to improve the quality of our products every year.”
To find out more about the Securahome range of windows, doors, garden rooms and orangeries, go to www.securahome.co.uk, call 0800 808 3224 or visit the showroom at Kestrel Way, Garngoch Industrial Estate, Gorseinon, Swansea, SA4 9WN.
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HOUSE & HOME
The trend of the moment sees luscious greens and playful pinks partnered together to create the chicest ensembles, the most exquisite bouquets and not to mention beautiful interior spaces. Check out LAURA DAVIES’ selection of striking pink and green pieces that are perfect for styling your home.
Geo Woven Topaz Throw, £50, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
Pom Pom Striped Cushion, £12, Debenhams, Swansea
pink& green laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
Small Ceramic Bottle, £12.50, M&S, Parc Trostre
Waterlilies Coffee Cup, £15, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
Oliver Bonas Edo Jug, £28, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff
House by John Lewis Dance Party Shade, £20, John Lewis, Cardiff
@LawsDx
Potpourri Glass by Meike Harde, from £40, Pulpoproducts.com
Geo Jacquard Cushion, £8, Matalan, Parc Cwmdu and Morriston Pink Chevron Ceramic Vase, £14, Next, Swansea
Small Apothecary Vase, £9.50, M&S, Swansea.
n 12 Piece Hutto t, 8, Nex Dinner Set, £2 and Park Morfa Retail Parc Trostre Hudson Chair in Moss, £499, M&S, Swansea
Llano Set, £130, www.Pulpoproducts.com
Succulent, £14, Debenhams, Swansea
A by Amara Fluted Glass Tealight Holder, £15, Amara.com Sage Green Bedtime Bundle, £318.75, Pigletinbed.com
swansealife.co.uk 103
Quality made truly affordable
Electric, gas & wood burning fires Stone, wood & marble fireplaces
Gorseinon Road, Gorseinon, Swansea, SA4 9GG Tel: 01792 892357 | www.brisco.co.uk
VICTORIA WADE’S GARDEN Join Victoria Wade, an RHS Gold winning garden designer from Killay, with her seasonal growing tips.... www.victoriawade.co.uk
@WadeLandscapes
Planting spring bulbs The green sprouts of spring bulbs after a long winter are such a welcome sight, and one of my favourite things about the season. Those little shoots bring promise of beautiful bright blooms and warmer days ahead. And even though it still feels like summer- now is the time to plant them. Whether you prefer your spring bulbs subtle, sophisticated and colour coordinated, or bold, brash and clashing, there are plenty of options for any area of the garden.
In the border Spring and early summer flowering bulbs can give a much needed pop of colour in your borders while the rest of the garden is still waking up. Scatter crocuses and miniature daffodils amongst your herbaceous perennials for much needed early colour, plant a drift of Alliums through a group of soft feathery grasses or add a few bold Eremurus to give height and drama to your planting scheme. Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ and Narcissi ‘Minnow’ (a lovely scented miniature daffodil) are my go-to bulbs for borders.
In containers Pots offer a brilliant opportunity to try out crazy colour combinations and bold schemes that you may not be brave enough to try in the borders. Try planting a couple of varieties of brightly coloured tulips together in a big tub by the front door- guaranteed to cheer up even the gloomiest of days! Plant a mixture of early, mid-season and late tulips for a longer display. 106 swansealife.co.uk
In the lawn We all love the cheery swathes of bright yellow daffodils that pop up along our roadsides and in our parks in Spring, but why not try out something a bit different in your garden. The delicate ‘Pheasant’s eye’ daffodil (Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus) is one of my favourites for naturalising in the lawn. Or to create a woodland feel, try planting a group of dainty native bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) with beautiful wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa) under a tree. Scatter the bulbs and plant them where they fall for a natural look.
Top tips! As a general rule bulbs should be planted twice as deep as they are high, with their shoot facing upwards. Plant bulbs as soon as you can after they have been bought, they won’t store well. More is definitely more when it comes to bulb planting- a big group gives an amazing display.
NEW SEASON from Leekes – the home experts
Home Experts FOR
120 YEARS 1897 – 2017
Leekes Cross Hands, Business Parc, Carms. SA14 6RB Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, RCT. CF72 8XU Tel: 0333 222 4120 | Online: leekes.co.uk
INDUSTRIAL
Blend contemporary styling and modern functional materials like metal, glass and reclaimed wood to create a look full of character which fits perfectly into modern interiors.
Shop with confidence – we won’t be beaten on price on Leading Brands
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BRILLIANT
Never underestimate the versatility of the colour blue. It works in any room either as an accent colour or as the main event. With a wide range of shades available, there is a blue to suit every style and space.
Home Experts FOR
120 YEARS 1897 – 2017
Leekes Cross Hands, Business Parc, Carms. SA14 6RB Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, RCT. CF72 8XU Tel: 0333 222 4120 | Online: leekes.co.uk
Terms and conditions apply – ask in store for details.
†
THINK
Blush pink mixes with taupe and greys to create this soft, feminine look. Add texture with velvets and introduce mirrored or crystal accessories for a more luxurious feel.
NATURAL Natural materials combine with muted shades to create a calming, relaxing look. Two-tone finishes feature heavily in this trend and are perfect for creating a restful haven.
THE SCIENCE OF COMFORT
THE SCIENCE OF COMFORT
THE SCIENCE OF COMFORT
Home Experts FOR
120 YEARS 1897 – 2017
Leekes Cross Hands, Business Parc, Carms. SA14 6RB Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, RCT. CF72 8XU Tel: 0333 222 4120 | Online: leekes.co.uk
Terms and conditions apply – ask in store for details.
†
HOUSE & HOME
Lighting up late Summer With Joseph Atkin, Head Gardener at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire
Hydrangea aspera
Weather wise, September is often the best month of the summer and is in many ways a gardens ‘last hurrah’ before the winter. The choice of plants that flower at that time is as varied, if not more so, than August; and herbaceous and mixed borders are often at their best in September. This is certainly the case at Aberglasney, which made it pretty tricky to choose just a few ‘star performers’ to share with you this month!
Crocosmia ‘Star of the East
Aconitum ‘Ivorine’
In recent years the choice of Crocosmia available has increased dramatically with many new introductions. However, in my opinion ‘Star of the East’ remains one of the best September flowering Crocosmia. It has large drooping heads of fiery orange flowers that go wonderfully well in a hot colour scheme and look fantastic next to a strong blue from a Salvia or Aconitum. This variety is also reliably hardy and not invasive like the dreaded Montbretia. Requiring little care other than a cut back in the autumn it’s a great addition to borders.
Although poisonous Aconitum make excellent garden plants especially in herbaceous borders with a touch of shade. Most follower in and around September with some lasting well into the winter. Unlike most ‘Ivorine’ has creamy white flowers not the typical blue and sprawls nicely between other plants. Although small the flowers show up well and contrast nicely with the foliage usually lasting for a month. Our plant is extremely long lived and has lasted nearly twenty years with little or no care. Most Aconitum have similar characteristics and there are over a hundred different ones to choose from.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Height = 1.5m Spread =2m Position/Aspect = half shade to sun Soil = Any but the best blues are still grown in acidic soils Pest and diseases = No real problems Style = Mixed border, shrubbery, Asiatic style, shade garden, woodland garden
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Anemone ‘Honerine Jobert’ Commonly known as the Japanese Anemone these tough herbaceous perennials are excellent late summer flowering plants and can keep going well into November. They create large clumps and can run when they are happy, but they are well worth the work. The flowers are large white anemone type flowers held on nearly invisible stems allowing them to tremble in the wind. This has led to them often being called wind flowers. They are extremely long lived and near ‘bullet proof’ which can however also make them hard to remove if you decide to change things around. With this in mind, it’s advisable to think carefully about where you plant it. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 112 swansealife.co.uk
Height = 1-1.5m Spread = 1m Position/Aspect = Any Soil = Any except waterlogged Pest and diseases = No real problems Style = Cottage, mixed, herbaceous, woodland, prairie.
Height = 1m max Spread = 1m Position/Aspect = sun or shade Soil = not waterlogged Pest and diseases = no real problems Style = Cottage, herbaceous, woodland, shaded border mixed border
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HOUSE & HOME
HOME
living A new season always calls for a new living room update. As we move into autumn, LAURA DAVIES picks out a few looks that will help you want to stay indoors for longer laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
Riley sofa in Alle Silver, £499, Alle Chair in Charcoal, £299, Whitstable Coffee Table, £149, Maggie Pendant Light, £69, Crescent Chevron Cushion, £15, Agate Sequin Cushion, £39.50, Oversized Velvet Feather Print Cushion, £25, Opulent Bird Jacquard Cushion, £7.50, So Soft Check Throw from £39.50, Medium Ceramic Bottle, £19.50, Printed Cotton Stripe Rug from £19.50, Printed Cotton Geo Rug from £19.50, all M&S, Swansea
120 swansealife.co.uk
Laura Ashley- Water’s Edge Living Room:
Chatsworth Button Back 2 Seater in Caitlyn Grey Green, £2050, Owen Occasional Chair in Dalton Sugared Violet, £1025, Vaughan Footstool in Dalton Grey Green, £475, Milton 6 Drawer Bookcase, £1250, Milton Nest of 2 Tables, £375, Cartridge Pleat Curtains in Bacall Blush £26 per metre, 45mm Natural Painted Wooden Poles from £110 with Dome Finials £28 each, Waterlilies Pale Iris Wallpaper £40 per roll, Straight Edged Roman Blind in Bacall Blush, £26 per metre, Tamworth Arched Mirror, £500, Palm Leaf 5 Light Champagne Chandelier, £250, 10” Bacall Blush Empire Shade, £35, Toucan Table Lamp Base, £100, Glasshouse Grapefruit Cushion, £50, Waterlilies Applique Pale Iris Cushion, £55, Dylan Blush Cushion, Nigella Blush Cushion, £40, Nigella Cyclamen Cushion, £40, Photo Frames from £18, Large Orchids Eucalyptus and Palm Arrangement, £200, Waterlilies Carafe and Tumbler Set, £28, Fitzgerald Brass and Mirror Tray, £55, Ellington Hexagonal Brass Effect Lantern, £36, James Brass Effect Tealight Lantern, £24, Faceted Glass Storage Jar £20, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park
Cushions from £16.99; Pendant £69.99, Bardon 3-Seater Fabric Sofa Mink, £1249, Inca Rug from £34, Gold Scratch Vases (Set of 2) £32.99, Canterbury Side Table, £99, all Very.co.uk
Sofa from £2199, Velour Cushions £8, Pom Pom Stripe Cushion £12, Faux Mohair Blush Throw, £30, Valerio Floor Lamp, £90, Modine Coffee Table, £199, Abstract Stripe Rug from £60, Recycled Glass Bottle, £24, all Next, Morfa Retail Park
Wilson Sofa in Teal, £799, Stockholm Desk, £235, Ochre Rug from £30, Cushions from £8, Laguna Task Table Lamp, £40, Arlo Dining Chair set of 4, £140 , Next, Morfa Retail Park John Lewis Belgrave Large Sofa, £1,899, Meghan Armchair, £749, West Elm Sputnik Coffee Table, £499, Ipanema Rug, £350, Marlo Floor Lamp, £195, all John Lewis, Cardiff
Cushions, £18-£25, Mint Throw, £25, Grey Throw, £60, Vases, £15-£30, Kempton Sofa, £500, Kempton Pink Chair, £350, Kempton Grey Chair, £340, Ives Rug from £120, Parquet Coffee Table, £200, Juno Floor Light, £200, all Debenhams, Swansea
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WINDOWS, DOORS
Beautifully bespoke...
M.P.N & CONSERVATORIES
...M.P.N windows, doors and conservatories. Established Family Run Welsh Company
Every installation comes with a 10 year insurance backed warranty and FENSA Certificate
Swansea: 01792 359244 | Neath Port Talbot: 01639 607426 | www.mpnwindows.com Email: sales@mpnwindows.com | Open 8am to 9pm 7 days a week
HOUSE & HOME
kitchen updates
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Spruce up your kitchen with LAURA DAVIES’ pick of new season cooking utensils, storage containers and colourful cookware laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
@LawsDx
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4 Hutton 12 Piece Dinner Set, £28, Hutton Set of 4 Pasta Bowls, £12, Kempton 12 Piece Dinner Set £28, Kempton Set of 4 Pasta Bowls, £12, Set of 4 Hutton Mugs, £8, all Next, Morfa Retail Park and Parc Trostre
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1. Waterlilies Cake Stand, £42, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park 2. Cutlery Set, £17.99, Homesense, Parc Fforestfach 3. Rose Gold Prosecco Flutes (set of 4), £26 , Next, Swansea and Parc Trostre 4. Scattered Cosmos Single Oven Glove, £13, Cath Kidston, Cardiff
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7. Rural Retreat 3 Pack Knives, £10, Sainsbury’s, Swansea 8 Large Saucepan, £70, Debenhams, Swansea
Dial Kettle, £40, Next, Swansea
9. Biba Safari Marble Coasters (set of 4), £35, House of Fraser, Cardiff 10. Sophie Conran Portmeirion Colour Pop Cereal Bowls, £50, Very.co.uk
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11. Round Marble Condiment Set, £36, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff
5. Urban Escape Patterned Egg Cup, £6, Sainsbury’s, Swansea.
12. Gold Pattern Glass Shaker Metal Top, £7.99, Homesense, Parc Trostre
6. Storage Canisters, £24.99, Very.co.uk.
13.Portland 3 Cup Cafetiere, £14, M&S, Swansea
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Blinds VERTICAL BLINDS
VENETIAN BLINDS
ROLLER BLINDS
SKYLIGHT BLINDS
0% A REPRESEPR NTATIVE
FINA AVAILANBCE LE
Spread the Cost. Ask for more information Spread the costs of all Blinds and Shutters across 6, 9 or 12months at 0% Interest when you spend £600 or more with a minimum 25% deposit. Representative Example for: Window Blinds Purchase Price £1000 Minimum Deposit (25%) £250 Amount of Credit £750 12 Monthly Payments £62.50
Total Payable Duration of Agreement Rate of Interest (Fixed) APR Representative
£1000 12 months 0% 0% APR
Payment plans are offered by Close Brothers Retail Finance. Close Brothers Retail Finance is a trading name of Close Brothers Limited. Close Brothers Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Finance is only available to permanent UK residents aged between 18-75, subject to status, terms and conditions apply.
CHILD SAFETY NEW 2017 FREE HOME FABRIC CONTROLS TO SELECTION FREE design advice and an RANGE ALL BLINDS obligation FREE quotation.
Tel: 01792 896531
Chic are members of the British Blinds and Shutters Association. Your assurance of quality standards.
Unit A2 & A3 Kingsbridge Business Park, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 4HJ
A family business celebrating 27 years in business with over 60,000 customer orders completed ELECTRIC CONTROL
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Control at the touch of a button. Ideal for all large or out of reach windows, and for multiple blinds (up to 16 blinds controlled from 1 remote). Operation by battery, Rechargable lithium motor or hard wired.
CHOICE OF MANUAL OR ELECTRIC
The latest addition to our range. A combination of opaque and transparent material gives an outstanding visual eect and the control of light and privacy.
For more information visit our website www.chicblinds.co.uk Email: sales@chicblinds.co.uk or visit our showroom
Tel: 01792 896531 Unit A2 & A3 Kingsbridge Business Park, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 4HJ
For more information visit out website www.chicblinds.co.uk Email: sales@chicblinds.co.uk or visit our 3 showrooms
Luxury living at prices you can afford! Call us today for a free, no obligation design & quote www.castlekitchensandbedrooms.co.uk
Call in today at our showroom: The Old Lloyds Bank Building, 43 Neath Road, Briton Ferry, SA11 2DX
Telephone: 01639 797901
LARGEST h Sout BED SPECIALIST ’ s e l a Over 100 Beds on Display W
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Unit 12-16 Tower Court St.Davids Rd, Llansamlet SA6 8RU (Behind Smyths Toy store)
Telephone: 01792 799213
www.sweetdreams-beds.co.uk
F RE E DE L IVE R
within 25 mile Y s
HOLIDAYS
Winter Supplement Highlights OUT
AUSTRIAN LAKELAND MAGIC Short sea crossings • 2 nights bed and breakfast en route • 5 nights bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner • One complimentary drink with lunch and dinner • Guided tour of the Salzkammergut • Cable car to Zwolfer Horn with lunch at the top of the mountain • Guided tour of Salzburg • Visit to a traditional cheese making centre • Boat trip from St Gilgen to St Wolfgang • Guided tour and boat trip in Hallstatt
NOW!
4 HOTEL | 7 NIGHTS | 21st Jan 2019 only £819
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TOTEM AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
KILLARNEY AND THE RING OF KERRY
Bed and full English breakfast • Ticket for the evening show • Free time to explore London
Irish sea ferry crossings • 2 nights dinner, bed and full Irish breakfast en route • 4 nights dinner, bed and full Irish breakfast in Killarney • Welcome drink on arrival • Glass of wine, beer or soft drink with dinner at Killarney Towers • Guided tour of the Ring of Kerry • Tour of Waterford Crystal • Nightly entertainment
4 HOTEL | 1 NIGHT | 26th Jan 2019 only £219
LONDON AFTERNOON TEA CRUISE & THE LONDON EYE
4 HOTEL | 6 NIGHTS | 23rd Sept only £539
Bed and full English breakfast • River cruise with afternoon tea • Flight on the London Eye • Free time to explore London
LIVERPOOL & THE BEATLES STORY
4 HOTEL | 1 NIGHT | 16th Feb 2019 only £179 Bed and full English breakfast • Entry into ‘The Beatles Story’ • Mersey River cruise • Free time at the resort
BREATHTAKING BLACK FOREST
4 HOTEL | 2 NIGHTS | 27th Sept only £219 & 20th Jan 2019 only £719
Dinner, bed and full English breakfast • Entertainment • Use of the facilities at Butlin’s Minehead
Short sea crossings • 2 nights bed and breakfast • 5 nights dinner, bed and breakfast • Boat ride on the Rhine River at Strasbourg • Entry into the Clock Museum in Furtwangen • Entry and guided tour of the Glassworks of Dorotheenhutte • Entry and guided tour of Alpirsbacher Brauwelt including the monastery • Excursions to Freiburg, Strasbourg and Triberg
4 NIGHTS | 29th Oct only £179
3 HOTEL | 7 NIGHTS | 23rd Feb 2019 only £769
BUTLINS, MINEHEAD
And don’t forget you can still book our Summer favourites… ANDORRA
BRITTANY
BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS
Short sea ferry / shuttle crossing • 2 nights bed and breakfast en route • 4 nights dinner, bed and continental buffet breakfast • Welcome drink at the main stay hotel • Wine and water with your evening meals – Free bar from 8:30pm – 10:30pm* • Visit to a local vineyard with wine tasting • Guided Three Countries Tour
Short sea ferry / shuttle crossing • 2 nights bed and breakfast en route • Welcome glass of Kir cassis or wine at L’Océan hotel • 4 nights buffet breakfast and 3 course evening meals • Tea / coffee after dinner • Free use of the leisure facilities
Dinner, bed and full English breakfast • Nightly entertainment • Welcome glass of bubbly† • Comedy night† • Tribute night† • Cabaret and bingo night† • Free time to explore Blackpool
4 HOTEL | 6 NIGHTS | 16th Sept only £619
3 HOTEL | 6 NIGHTS | 7th Sept only £749
4 HOTEL | 3 NIGHTS | 21st & 28th Sept, 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th Oct only £229 4 HOTEL | 4 NIGHTS† | 17th & 24th Sept, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th Oct only £239
Prices are per person and based on two people sharing and include return executive coach travel. Single room supplements apply. Excursions as described in the itinerary. *On selected beers, wine and soft drinks
Come and see us in your local travel shop or book online www.edwardscoaches.co.uk Blackwood Travel Shop 01495 222272
Cardiff Travel Shop 02920 348811
Llansamlet Travel Shop 01792 274444
Llantrisant Travel Shop 01443 202048
Merthyr Tydfil Travel Shop 01685 387877
Neath Travel Shop 01639 250250
Swansea Travel Shop 01792 456600
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.
Start/Finish location ......... Visitor Car park Distance ..................................... 3-4 miles (2 hours) Level ............................................. Easy/Moderate
Upcoming Walks
Parking ........................................ As Above
SEPTEMBER Sat 01
Kenfig National Nature Reserve
At Kenfig you can see one of the largest dune systems in Wales which formed part of a larger dune system that stretched between the River Ogmore and Gower. It is now home to one of the best wildlife habitats in the country and has something to see at all seasons of the year. The dunes are extensive and the paths form a warren where you could get lost if you don’t follow the signs but then you could always switch off and enjoy the area without thinking about the navigation by coming along on Saturday 29th September when Swansea Ramblers will take you on a free walk through part of the reserve, on a journey of six miles that will take about three hours. If you are going to do it alone and are OK with navigation then there are signs directing you to and from the visitor centre. From the car park you can see Kenfig Pool and a path in front of you takes you to the water’s edge. You can also see the majestic appearance of the Port Talbot Steel Works and further in the distance, you can see Swansea across the bay. From the edge of the pool you could continue to the beach but instead, take
the easier to follow wide, sandy vehicle track behind the other side of the visitor centre. This meanders for about a mile before it finally reaches the beach. To the left and slightly inland is the historic Sker House, now a private residence and you can choose to wander over to get a closer look. Nearby, out on the rocky foreshore, there is a plaque to the Mumbles Lifeboat disaster of 1947 but this can take a bit of navigation on the rocks to find it. Mumbles lighthouse can be seen far across the bay.
Mynydd Gelliwastad (5 miles) Easy/Moderate meet 11.00am Clydach: RSPB Reserve CP
Sun 02 Oxwich and Port Eynon (9.5 miles) ModerateMmeet 10.00am Oxwich: Beach car park Mon 03 Swansea Canal, Clydach (4 miles) Easy meet 10.00am Clydach: Coedgwilym Park Tue 04
Bishopston (Evening) (3 miles) Moderate meet 6.30pm Bishopston: Pyle Corner
Wed 05 Reynoldston to Rhossili (6 miles) Moderate meet 10.00am Quadrant Bus Station: Stand U Sun 09 Narberth (12 miles) Moderate meet 8.30am Cross Hands (Heol Parc Mawr Mon 10 Swansea Marina and SA1(3 miles) Easy meet 10.00am Aurora Point Car Park Wed 12 Bonymaen & Kilvey Hill (6 miles) Moderate meet 9.45am Quadrant Bus Station: Stand H Thu 13 Cwm Ivy (Early Evening) (5 miles) Easy/Moderate meet 5.00pm Llanmadoc: Cwm Ivy Car Park Sat 15
Two Gower Churches (5.5 miles) Easy/ Moderate meet 10.00am Francis St
Sun 16 Epynt Fringe (10 miles) Strenuous meet 9.00am Francis St
Returning to the point where you first reached the beach, just take in the extent of the sandy beach that runs for two miles to the western edge of the reserve at the Kenfig River then for a further 2.5 miles in front of TATA Steel. There are a number of ways through the reserve back to the visitor centre but the easiest will be to retrace your way on the wide sandy track - or of course come with us on Saturday 29th September and enjoy the company of a friendly group of walkers. Transport: Traveline: www.traveline-cymru.info • 0871 200 22 33 or BayTrans: www.baytrans.org.uk Visit our website: www.swansearamblers.org.uk
Wed 19 Llanrhidian (8 miles) Moderate meet 9.30am Gowerton car park off B4295 Wed 19 Swansea Marina (Evening) (2 miles) Moderate meet 6.30pm Aurora Point Car Park Sat 22
Penmaen and Three Cliffs Bay (6 miles) Easy/ Moderate meet 11.10am Quadrant Bus Station: By Co-op
Sun 23 The Gower Alps (12 miles) Strenuous meet 10.00am Reynoldston near King Arthur Tue 25
Ogmore Vale East (6 miles) Moderate meet 10.30am Blackmill: Cattle Market CP
Thu 27 Penllergare Woods (Night Walk) (3 miles) Moderate meet 7.00pm M4: Jct 47: A48 East: Café lay-by Sat 29
Kenfig National Nature Reserve (6 miles) Easy/Moderate meet 11.00am Kenfig Reserve
Sun 30 Ogmore-by-Sea (10 miles) Moderate meet 9.30am Francis St
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OUT & ABOUT
ALL STEAM AHEAD JONATHAN ROBERTS heads to Drayton Manor to celebrate Thomas Land’s 10th birthday
For a cheeky little steam locomotive, Thomas the Tank engine has come a long way in the last 70 years. From rather humble beginnings as a peripheral character in a children’s book, to worldwide super-stardom, the magic of Reverend Wilbert Awdry’s creation has endured for generations. From printed pages, to television and the big screen - collecting an impressive number of A-listers keen to hop on board his runaway success (not everyone only remembers a certain Liverpudlian drummer for his exploits with the most famous band of all time) - the little blue engine has demonstrated an ability to puff along with the times.
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After all, only the very best of popular children’s characters get their own theme park! And this year, Drayton Manor’s Thomas Land celebrates a proud milestone, as its own magical incarnation of the Isle of Sodor reaches its 10th birthday. With a myriad of fun rides, hosted by Thomas and many of his muchloved friends, this really is an attraction for the whole family. While the familiar friendly faces from the popular TV show may leave the little ones awe-struck, this park really does bring the big kid out in the adults too, who simply cannot resist this wonderful trip down memory lane. And big or small, you’ll be anything but a bored passenger on the rides, which while
perhaps not offering quite the adrenaline rush that can be discovered elsewhere within the sprawling Drayton Manor complex, considerable effort has gone into designing exciting experiences throughout Thomas Land. Whether it’s land, sea or air - there’s plenty of action to be had, and some can even have the bigger members of the party holding on tight. You can reach for the sky on ‘Cranky’s crane drop’, or lift-off with ‘Harold’s Helicopter Tour’ and ‘Jeremy Jet’s Flying Academy’. Plus there’s the brand new James red balloon adventure too. Be careful not to get wet on Captain’s Sea Adventure, before taking on the Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster! After all that fun, Sodor Airport provides all the refreshment you could need in a retro-style coffee shop. If your little ones have a similar appetite for adventure as their locomotive hero, there’s plenty more to be had outside Thomas Land too, with Drayton Manor providing a host of theme park rides as well as a zoo, where you can visit animals large and small. For those who prefer an extended visit, the park also includes hotel accommodation on site, where the Thomas magic continues courtesy of themed rooms, complete with character breakfast and complimentary goodie bag. You will also find a host of dining options with an impressive menu to make your visit extra special. And if the sun is shining, an attractive garden provides a comfortable seating area with big screen TV alongside a children’s park and evening entertainment on selected days. So he may be getting on a bit, but as the continuing expansion of his theme park shows, Thomas the Tank Engine is anything but rusty - and is showing no sign of slowing down. A visit to Thomas Land is well worth it - you’ll be chuffed you came! swansealife.co.uk 133
OUT & ABOUT
spa break PAUL TURNER experiences the Thermae Spa in the historic city of Bath
My eyes were gently opened for me. At this moment, I was completely at another’s whim. Even when I could see again, all I felt like doing was floating there, propped up against the edge of the pool, content to have no will.
M
It took me a little while to return to reality. I’d just had a Watsu Water Massage at the Thermae Bath Spa in the historic city of Bath. And it was...wonderful. It’s one of the signature treatments at the spa, and takes place in the glorious, calming setting of the hot bath. Glorious is a word that can be applied to pretty much all of Bath Spa. The spa, opened in 2006, is housed in five historic buildings, and one new, modern one
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It has four natural thermal baths, using the same hot springs the Romans used to bathe in. In fact, evidence of the hot springs in Bath dates back 8,000 years. No-one knows where they originate from. After entering the spa, you are handed your comfy slippers and dressing gown, and the rest is pretty much up to you. Unlike many spas where you might have one of each option to choose from - a pool, steam room, sauna etc, there are so many more options at Thermae Bath Spa. Downstairs is the Minerva Bath, a calming world at a constant 33.5 degrees C. You can let the waters take you where they will in the lazy river, relax in the whirlpool, feel the benefit of the water massage jets, or just float around and admire the architecture. Further up in the building is the new Wellness Suite. If you’ve been to the spa before but not for a while, this is where you will notice some big changes.
Gone are the large glass domed steam rooms, now there are two, The Roman and the Georgian, each as cleansing as the other. The Roman has traditional stone seating, fluted columns, a mosaic of Sulis Minerva and steam infused with botanicals and flowers. Garden scenes surround the Georgian room, along with a trickling fountain and the scent of flowers. After bathing yourself in steam, you can head for the invigorating sensations of the ice room. Grab a handful of ice from a bath of the cooling stuff and rub it over your body for an exfoliating experience. Then it might be time to try out the infrared room where you will be bathed in light that warms the muscles and joints from the inside out. Across the suite is another, different experience. In the Celestial Room you can relax on a heated lounger, surrounded by twinkling lights, and just lose yourself in the experience. Last but not least are the Experience Showers where multiple jets and coloured lights wash away any remaining tensions, not that there are likely to be any. If you want a more exclusive experience, you can always book the Cross Bath, a stand alone building, Grade 1 listed and on the site of an earlier medieval bath and an original 2,000-year-old Roman cistern. Here you can host your own private party while the people of Bath go about their business around you. But if you need a break from all that relaxing, you can take a trip to the Springs Cafe Restaurant. Here you can enjoy everything from a refreshing drink to an entire meal, all freshly prepared on site. The ambience, like the rest of Thermae Bath Spa, is relaxed, and the surroundings are contemporary, clean, with a hint of the Georgian. Starters include Pear and Bath Blue Cheese Tart and Gin Cured Salmon, mains boast the mouthwatering Grilled Gammon and Mushroom and Garlic
Rigatoni, while for dessert there is Vegan Chocolate Tart and Lemon Posset. There are also sandwiches, cakes and nibbles. Suitably refreshed, you might want to take in a little of Bath, and what better vantage point than the open-air rooftop pool where you can soak in the 42 minerals and trace elements in the warming waters, while gazing over the rooftops of Bath city. There are invigorating water jets here and bubbling springs that will rejuvenate every muscle. Talking of rejuvenation, a visit to Thermae Bath Spa is not complete without trying out one of the wonderful treatments on offer. You can enjoy a massage, hot stones treatment or facial among other enticing treats. Just in the massages there are around 16 different treatments to choose from, including Bamboo Massage, De-Stress Massage and Aromatherapy Massage. All are delivered in soothing surroundings created for only one thing - relaxation. And that’s what I was doing as I enjoyed my Watsu Massage in the Hot Bath. It’s just you and your masseur in this large bath with its domed glass ceiling. The secret of this massage is that you have to give yourself over completely to your expert masseur who will guide and manipulate your body in the water. All you have to do is close your eyes and let your body, limbs, hands and feet be moved in, through and out of the water, during which your head and neck are always supported above the surface. It’s an incredible experience, something akin to an out of body experience, like you are suspended in the space between realities. It takes you a little while to return to the here and now. It’s a feeling that stays with you a little, even after you leave Thermae Bath Spa to return to the hustle and bustle of the outside world. And that’s why you’ll want to return the moment you get a chance!
A visit to Thermae Bath Spa costs £36 Monday to Friday and £40 on weekends, each for a two hour session, allowing you access to the Open-Air Rooftop Pool, the Minerva Bath, the Wellness Suite and the Springs Cafe restaurant. Extra time is added to your session if you visit the restaurant and an extra 15 minutes is added to the end of your session to allow time for changing. Treatments can only be booked alongside a Spa session but you will still receive your full two hours in the Spa. Spa packages are also available, along with special offers. Check the website for details at thermaebathspa.com
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MOTORING ■ WHAT IS IT?
Mazda has never shied away from a specialedition machine. In fact, boot up any Gran Turismo game, head to the used car dealer and you’ll see a virtual recreation of the dozens upon dozens of MX-5 variants the firm has thrown out over the years. Well, it’s not stopping anytime soon - this is the MX-5 RF Sport Black, the latest UK-only limited-edition version of the sports car. It’s not even the first special-edition this year, following on from the Z-Sport, but is it a worthy newcomer?
■ WHAT’S NEW?
Sport Black is a trim Mazda has added to a couple of its ranges lately - namely the 2 and 3 - and each brings a host of exterior and interior tweaks, although little in the way of performance upgrades. That rings true again for the MX-5 RF Sport Black. Based on the hard-top ‘Retractable Fastback’ or ‘RF’ model, this limited-run machine gains black trim details such as the rear spoiler, wing mirror covers and alloy wheels - with Eternal Blue Mica the only body colour option. Inside the car, model-specific scuff plates and floor mats denote it as a Sport Black, along with a plaque in the centre console.
■ WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?
Just the one engine is available for the Mazda MX-5 RF Sport Black, a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder unit that has been in the convertible’s range since it launched back in 2015. It hasn’t been changed here, still producing 158bhp and 200Nm of torque, while paired up to a six-speed manual gearbox. The result is 0-60mph in 7.2 seconds while a top speed of 134mph is possible. As for efficiency, Mazda claims a respectable 40.9mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 161g/ km. The engine continues to be as smooth and fruitful as before, with consistent power delivery and enough poke to make this a real riot on a B-road. Enthusiasts could be forgiven for wanting a little more oomph, but there’s deep aftermarket support capable of taking care of that easily.
■ WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
The MX-5 is one of the purest drivers’ cars available with a license plate, and the Sport
FIRST DRIVE:
MAZDA MX-5 RF
SPORT BLACK Ryan Hirons gets behind the wheel of the latest Mazda MX-5 special edition. Black continues to be just that. Some tweaks have been made to the suspensions of all 2018 model year versions of the car - this included but you’d be hard-pressed to spot a difference, unless you drove a pre-fettled car side-by-side.
entirety. What is added is also pretty minor, with model-specific scuff plates, floor mats and a plaque on the dash marking it out. This isn’t a bad thing, though. The interior of the MX-5 has always been a nice place to be, with a driver-centric cockpit heightening the sporty feel the car’s so known for. It all feels exceptionally well-built too, with a good amount of premium-feel materials utilized across the board. As for practicality, this (perhaps obviously) isn’t a strong point of the MX-5. There’s seating for two, while boot space is a mere 130 litres enough for a weekend trip away, but very little more than that.
■ WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
Based on SE-L Nav trim, the MX-5 RF Sport Black comes with cruise control, keyless start, LED headlights and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Bluetooth support as standard. On top of that, the limited-edition trim brings leather seats, rain-sensing wipers and rear parking sensors to the equation for no extra cost.
As well as being a lot of fun on a back road, the MX-5 RF Sport Black has genuine ability to be used as a daily machine. Steering is well-weighted for town driving, and compact dimensions allow parking to be a breeze, although the large rear buttresses on the RF means rear visibility is pretty limited.
It’s a pretty well-equipped setup, especially considering the rival-undercutting £25,695 price tag, while Mazda’s infotainment system remains one of the best around - offering a level of usability that other manufacturers at this price point often struggle to deliver. We wouldn’t call the Sport Black’s upgrades an absolute must have, but for those looking for a bit more equipment, it presents an appealing option.
■ HOW DOES IT LOOK?
■ VERDICT
The Sport Black doesn’t revolutionise the way the MX-5 RF looks, but it does add some unique features. Exterior trimmings include a black spoiler and wing mirror housings, while 17-inch alloy wheels feature too. There’s just the one paint option here and no, it’s not black - rather Eternal Blue Mica. We’re big fans of the way the MX-5 looks, with a compact yet aggressive visual presence, only enhanced by the RF’s hardtop roof which looks best when up.
■ WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?
The Mazda MX-5 RF Sport Black presents another great opportunity to get in on the fun world of MX-5 ownership. It’s a car that continues to offer tons of fun behind the wheel, while remaining well-valued and genuinely useable as an everyday runabout. The Sport Black trim admittedly doesn’t bring much extra to make it an absolute must-buy in the range, but does bring an extra bit of gear over SE-L Nav machines that could make it an appealing bargain for the right buyer.
Again, there’s very little change inside the cabin of the Sport Black - with the trademark Mazda interior design remaining in its
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model: Mazda MX-5 RF Sport Black ■ Price: £25,695 ■ Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder ■ Power (bhp): 158 ■ Torque (Nm): 200 ■ Max speed (mph): 134 ■ 0-60mph: 7.2 seconds ■ MPG: 40.9 ■ Emissions (g/km): 161
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WE HAVE BEEN SUPPLYING AND FITTING ACROSS SOUTH WALES FOR 34 YEARS We are experts in fitting:
■ TOW BARS
■ VAN RACKS
■ NUMBER PLATES
■ TRAILERS
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■ DUAL CONTROLS
■ PARKING SENSORS
Llanelli Trailer Centre Let the specialists fit it for you
Unit 3A, Llanelli Workshop, Trostre Industrial Park, Llanelli, SA14 9UU Tel: 01554 773608 | E: info@ltcmobility.co.uk Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm | Saturday 9am to 12.30pm
The Wheel Specialist ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT & CUSTOMISATION
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01792 700 110
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• Range of finishes • Diamond Cutting service • New tyres service
MOTORING
The all-new Ford Focus – the most accomplished and technically-competent Focus ever – has been developed from the ground up to provide the most confidence-inspiring, intuitive, and rewarding driving and occupant experience of any mid-size family car in Europe. Following closer collaboration with customers than ever before, Focus introduces a new humancentric design philosophy that fuses emotional exterior styling with class-leading aerodynamics; and delivers an interior offering more space combined with high quality materials and craftsmanship. The most sophisticated range of Ford driver assistance technologies ever offered to Ford customers is seamlessly integrated to enable an intuitive, stress-reducing and refined driving experience. The all-new Focus remains true to the nameplate’s 20-year legacy of class-leading driving dynamics, further enhanced with the first Focus-application of Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) technology for the independent front and rear suspension systems; new Drive Modes; an isolated rear subframe for greater refinement; and Ford-patented spring technology. The occupant experience is enhanced with comfort and convenience features including FordPass Connect embedded modem for connectivity on the move and a new Wireless charging pad for compatible smartphone devices. Powertrain options include a further optimised version of Ford’s multi-awardwinning 1.0-litre EcoBoost and new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, both enhanced with Ford’s industry-first cylinder deactivation application for three-cylinder engines. New 1.5-litre EcoBlue and 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engines deliver ultimate fuel-efficiency, and a new intelligent eight-speed automatic transmission adapts shift patterns to driving style, and is controlled using a stylish and ergonomic Rotary Gear Shift Dial. “Our all-new Ford Focus is the pinnacle of technology and driving appeal in its segment,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “The chance to build a completely new car from a fresh piece of paper does not come around often. We grabbed it with both hands, to develop the best mid-size family car that money can buy.” The face of the all-new Focus is simple and harmonious, exuding a clear and assertive
140 swansealife.co.uk
FIRST DRIVE:
FORD FOCUS presence. A discernibly larger, yet recognisably proud Ford grille sits confidently between the horizontally-biased headlamps, which, like the taillamps, are placed as far outboard as possible to enhance width and stance. The all-new Focus offers a tailored spectrum of choice, with differentiating executions for Focus Vignale, STLine, Active and Titanium reflecting the customers’ specific preferences and needs. Technologies like Stop & Go and Lane-Centring will reduce the demand on drivers, helping them focus their attention and be less stressed, and more confident, at the wheel,” said Helmut Reder, global vehicle line director C-car, Ford of Europe. The Ford patented integration of road sign-reading capability to optimise beam patterns enables the beam to be widened at junctions and roundabouts to better illuminate hazards that are not in the direction of travel. Focus is also the first Ford vehicle in Europe to offer a Head-up display (HUD), which helps drivers keep their eyes on the road by projecting useful information into their field of vision. Active Park Assist 2 makes parking even easier: delivering fully-automated manoeuvres into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces at the push of a button. The technology can also help driver exit parallel parking
spaces using fully automated Park-out Assist. Also further enhanced, Ford’s Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection technology can detect people in or near the road ahead, or who may cross the vehicle’s path. Normal, Sport and Eco modes are offered for the first time on a Focus, enabling drivers to immediately adjust throttle pedal, eightspeed automatic gearbox, Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) and ACC characteristics to match the driving situation. When equipped with CCD, Focus also offers Comfort and EcoComfort Drive Modes, and will adjust the suspension character accordingly. Focus Active crossover models will add two further Drive Modes; Slippery mode – for increased confidence on surfaces with reduced grip such as snow and ice, and Trail mode – which will help maintain vehicle momentum on soft, deformable surfaces. “Innovation in every area has helped us create an all-new Focus with unprecedented craftsmanship and delivering an unparalleled driving and occupant experience,” Bakaj said. “The all-new Focus is the fulfilment of the Focus promise and as of today, sets the benchmark for others to follow. I am immensely proud of the team that has helped deliver what I believe is the best car we have ever made.”
THE ALL-NEW
FOCUS AVAILABLE WITH 68 REGISTRATION AT YOUR LOCAL DAY'S FORD DEALER
ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS ST-LINE
5 DOOR 1.0L ECOBOOST 125PS PETROL
£325 £325 AND ONLY
ONLY
DEPOSIT
PER MONTH^
^Ford Options representative example based on All-New Ford Focus ST-Line 1.0L EcoBoost 125PS Petrol 5 Door
38 monthly payments of
£325.00 Cash price after £1109.41 customer saving
£20,523.59
Customer Deposit
£325.00 Amount of Credit
£20,198.59
Total Charge for Credit
£505.42 Total amount payable by customer
Optional Final Payment Excess mileage charge (pence per mile)
£9004.00 Mileage per annum £0.06 Borrowing Rate (fixed) 1.2% APR Representative
Ford
www.days.co.uk
Gorseinon M4 J47 01792 222111
Swansea M4 J45 01792 616000
Neath SA10 7DF 01639 641234
Haverfordwest SA62 5BT 01437 768000
Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km): Ford car range: urban 54.3-18.5 (5.2-15.3), extra urban 74.3-30.7 (3.8-9.2), combined 64.2-23.5 (4.4-12). Retail only. Offers apply to vehicles when ordered and registered by 30th September 2018. ^Finance subject to status. Guarantees/Indemnities may be required. Freepost Ford Credit. *Payable with first Instalment. The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. Days Ford only offers finance products from Ford Credit. c e m day ltd acts as a credit broker in relation to finance products and not a lender. Pictures for illustration purposes only. Details correct at time of going to press. Terms and conditions apply. **Customer Saving against MRRP
£21,049.01 6000 0.83% Freepost Ford Credit
MOTORING ■ WHAT IS IT? Having already firmly established the Sportage as a mainstream choice of an affordable yet well-equipped full-size SUV, Kia is looking to refresh the model with a new facelifted version. Although it’s almost identical to the previous generation model on the surface - with the aesthetics merely having been ever so slightly tidied up, rather than completely overhauled - there are a number of new technological features on the car. There’s also an updated range of engines available, with the diesel powertrain having been replaced and a mild hybrid option being introduced. ■ WHAT’S NEW? Looking at the facelifted Sportage for the first time, you won’t notice any staggering changes. However, inspect closely and you’ll see that the design has been somewhat streamlined in comparison to before, with new bumpers at the front and rear, as well as updated headlight signatures. The Sportage’s infotainment system has received an upgrade, with a sleeker, frameless eight-inch touchscreen now available as an optional extra. Semi-autonomous features such as Lane Keep Assist are now included as standard from a lower grade than before. There’s a new choice of engines as well, with the diesel option being downsized to a 1.6-litre U3 unit and a mild hybrid powertrain being offered as well. ■ WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? We tested two different engines in the Sportage - the 1.6-litre four-cylinder U3 diesel and the 2.0-litre four-cylinder 48V mild hybrid powertrain. The most obvious choice of powertrain for buyers will likely be the new 134bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine, which is both economical and punchy - offering 58.9mpg and providing a plentiful 320Nm of torque. Acceleration is perfectly adequate, if a bit sporadic, with the car gaining speed at a fluctuating rate as it climbs through the gears, reaching 60mph in 11.4 seconds and carrying on to a top speed of 112mph. That said, we feel that the 2.0-litre mild hybrid is the superior powertrain. The electric element means there’s a great thump of instant torque - a whopping 400Nm of it - when you hit the accelerator, to an output of 182bhp and a top speed of 125mph. In addition, both these engines’ performances are noticeably improved by the Sportage’s Sport Mode feature, with
Drive Time
kia sportage
the Sportage is a solid, well-priced SUV from Kia. It’s now been updated for 2018, and Tristan Shale-Hester takes it for a spin to see what it’s like. the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission we tested changing gear at higher revs. The Sportage is also available with a 1.6-litre GDi or T-GDi petrol unit, with up to 174bhp and 265Nm of torque. ■ WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? The first thing to note when it comes to the Sportage’s driving dynamics is that it does have the quite light steering that is commonplace among cars from other cars in the Kia range. However, this is not as much of a problem in this case as it is with other models for two main reasons. Firstly, whereas you might wish to have a lot of feel in a small hatchback so you can throw it into a corner and feel like a teenager again, it’s sensible for a big car such as the Sportage to be easy to manoeuvre. Secondly, that Sport Mode setting we mentioned earlier does a fantastic job of weighting up the steering, creating a much more heftier feel that gives you a lot more confidence in the corners. To be able to switch between the two extremes with the press of a button is very useful. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is another good point, changing gears with a focus on performance or economy depending on whether or not Sport Mode is engaged - and also allowing the option for the driver manually select a gear using a pair of flappy paddles.
■ HOW DOES IT LOOK? The Sportage’s facelift hasn’t changed the car’s aesthetics in any dramatic way at all. However, the new bumpers at the front and rear, and the updated headlight signatures do offer a slightly smarter look that keen Kia enthusiasts may notice. This is representative of the gradual improvement we’ve seen in how models from the South Korean brand both look and drive over relatively recent years. However, the Sportage still isn’t an exciting or trendy looking car. It stands up to some rivals, such as the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq, but can’t match the stylishness of examples such as the Mini Countryman. ■ WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? In spite of a few scratchy plastics lower down in the cabin - which is acceptable in any non-premium model - the Sportage’s interior is generally a nice place to be. There’s an abundance of leather for a car of this value and, despite being kitted out with a wide range of gadgets, the buttons have been laid out in a logical way as opposed to looking like they’ve been applied completely random. The optional eight-inch frameless touchscreen is also a highlight, blending seamlessly into the dashboard. As for the infotainment system itself, there’s a pleasing symmetry between its digital layout and colour scheme and that of the Sportage’s other dials and instruments.. ■ WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? The starting price for the Sportage is £20,305, which will buy you a grade 1 model with 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, DAB radio and Bluetooth, among other standard features. Grade 2 specification starts at £22,405 and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation and some basic semiautonomous driver aids, such as Lane-Keep Assist and High-Beam Assist. Costing from £25,510, the GT-Line model features sporty styling, front parking sensors and a smart entry system. The Sportage Edition 25 starts at £25,655 and comes with a JBL premium sound system, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav and premium paint at no added cost. The grade 4 car costs from £27,260, which also gets you the eight-inch screen and JBL sound system, as well as a panoramic sunroof, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist and Blind Spot Collision Warning. Finally, the top-spec GT-Line S model costs from £31,245 and includes adaptive cruise control, electrically adjustable seats, an electronic parking brake, a 360-degree around view monitor, a powered tailgate and a wireless phone charger. ■ VERDICT It’s hard to find anything really wrong with the Sportage. It may not be the most interesting or stylish car in the world, but it’s a winner in terms of drivability, practicality and affordability. Add into the equation the new dimension brought to the model by the introduction of the mild hybrid powertrain and it becomes clear that this really is a vehicle that could suit pretty much anyone’s needs.
Bringing food lovers and families together in the heart of Neath! Neath! Dod â theuluoedd a’r rhai sy’n dwlu ar fwyd ynghyd yng nghanol Castell-nedd!
Champagne Tent Pabell Champagne Live Entertainment Adloniant Fyw Street Food Zones Ardal Bwyd Poeth Free Parking Parcio am Ddim
Featuring, Special Guest Celebrity Chef Gwestai Arbennig, Y Pen-Cogydd Enwog
Jean-Christophe Novelli
Friday 5th - 7th October Dydd Gwener 5ed - Ddydd Sul 7fed Hydref
neathfoodfestival.co.uk @NeathFoodFest
@NeathFoodFest
WHAT’S ON
Got something to tell us about, for inclusion in the What’s On section? Please contact Laura Davies... laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
THIS SEPTEMBER... SATURDAY
1
The Great British Gin FestivaL
Brangwyn Hall, 1pm -10pm
01792 545523 @LawsDX
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Open Doors Parc Howard Museum
Live And Let Dance by Mellin Theatre Arts
Bee Garden Cosmetics (Please book in advance)
Parc Howard Museum, Felinfoel Road, Llanelli, until September 16
Swansea Grand Theatre, 6.30pm
National Botanic Garden of Wales Llanarthne, 11am-2pm
2
3
4
FRIDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Bringing On Back The 60s
An Evening with Pete Waterman
Mamma Mia Here We Go Again
Swansea Grand Theatre, 7.30pm
The Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, 7.30pm
Taliesin Arts Centre, 7.30pm-9.45pm
5
SATURDAY
8
6
7
MONDAY
SUNDAY
10
9
Wales Gluten Free Food Show
Bubble Rush Pembrey
Crafts, Paws Scheme and Castle Tours
Cardiff City Stadium, 10am-4pm
Pembrey Country Park, 10am-4pm
Margam Country Park, 11am-3pm
TUESDAY
11 New Jersey Nights
Swansea Grand Theatre, until September 15, 7.30pm
144 swansealife.co.uk
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Outdoor cinema: The Greatest Showman
The Drifters
SWANSEA LIFE AWARDS
Oystermouth Castle, Mumbles, 7.30pm
St David’s Hall, 7.30pm-10pm
Brangwyn Hall, 6.30pm-1am
12 13 14
SATURDAY
15
Abergavenny Food Festival until September 16, Abergavenny
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Admiral Swansea Bay 10k
Alexandra Burke - The Truth Is
Swansea Bay, 1pm
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, 7.30pm
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
Ross noble
An audience with Simon Reeve
8pm, Swansea Grand Theatre, 8pm
Swansea Grand Theatre, 7.30pm
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Fastlove - A Tribute to George Michael
Welsh National Opera: La Traviata
Swansea International Festival
The Princess Royal Theatre, 7.30pm
Wales Millennium Centre, until October 6, 7.15pm
Various locations in Swansea until October 7
16 17
18 19
20 21 22
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Battle of Britain Parade and Service
Fame the Musical
Now the Hero
Uplands Arts presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe
Rob Brydon: I Am Standing Up
Neath Town Centre, 10am
New Theatre, Cardiff, 7.30pm
Brangwyn Hall and various surrounding locations, until September 29
Taliesin Arts Centre, 7.15pm
Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot, 8pm-10pm
23 24 25 26 27 FRIDAY
28 Elvis Festival
pORTHCAWL
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Mumbles Triathlon
Sepsis 6k Run
Knab Rock, Swansea, from 8am
Blackpill Lido, 10.45am-2.30pm
29 30 swansealife.co.uk 145
WHAT’S ON
interview
Now the hero
LAURA DAVIES speaks to Swansea’s Marc Rees, artist and creator of Now the Hero, a five night theatrical moveable performance starting at Swansea beach and leading to the Brangwyn Hall, at the end of September.
I
n a nutshell, what is Now the Hero?
Now the Hero is a large scale ambitious epic piece of theatre inspired by Frank Brangwyn and his British Empire Panels to mark the centenary of World War 1. It’s a promenade performance which starts on the beach in Swansea then leads you towards the Brangwyn Hall where dramatic scenes and happenings will take place on the way. Inside the hall there will be the heart of the performance - a beautiful requiem. What can Swansea audiences expect and why should they come and see it? It will be an opportunity to see something very unusual and to see something quite unique on their doorstep. It will throw light on the Brangwyn Panels in a very unusual way and it will prove that despite Swansea losing out on the City of Culture bid, the city can still produce special, ambitious, bold and visionary cultural events, involving international artists and local communities, which are as important as each other.
For me it was key to identify the plants and vegetables that are featured in Frank Brangwyn’s panels. I wanted to grow these locally, so I invited local artist Owen Griffiths, who I previously worked with on Vetch Veg (a project which formed part of the Cultural Olympiad). I wanted to work with Owen and the Waterfront Museum, so we decided to transform the forecourt in a beautiful rich, blooming garden and produce lots of veg with community volunteers. Our volunteers have worked wonders and as a result we have been donating vegetables to a number of worthy local groups and causes who have hugely benefited from our produce. The garden is very much about the community element, the volunteers experience has been an educational one where we’re offered the chance to learn skills such as weaving, bench making, sowing, construction, jam making etc. The energy from the volunteers has been infectious. Audiences for Now the Hero will also have an opportunity to sample this wonderful fresh produce for themselves when we invite everyone at the end of the performance to join us to sample soup made from these vegetables, therefore feasting the Brangwyn Panels both visually and through taste.
We hear that there will be a mini festival attached for Now the Hero? Can you tell us a little more about this?
You are Swansea born and bred. What does putting on a major cultural event in you home city mean to you?
We are working closely with all the cultural institutions in Swansea, both big and small to respond to the Now the Hero themes. There are 35 events taking place across the city under the title of Now for More. These activities range from things like workshops, concerts, life-drawing to a huge variety of events all of which are free!
It means absolutely everything to me. When I was invited by 14-18 NOW to create an event, I immediately knew I wanted to make something in my home city. It would give me a chance to make my city shine. Brangwyn’s panels were commissioned and rejected – it was an interesting story and I wanted to base something on that. I’ve recently been made a Professor by the University of Wales Trinity St David. I wanted to give something back to Swansea and take something from its history and present it in a new and exciting way via contemporary art. I want to bring attention and show off the city’s cultural assets and potential. I hope when people come to see Now the Hero, it will do just that.
We’ve noticed the court area in front of the Waterfront Museum has turned into a flourishing garden and we hear a rumour that Now the Hero is behind it? Can you explain how the two are linked?
146 swansealife.co.uk
To coincide with the main performance dates there is a mini festival, an extended ‘art weekender’ – Now For More - involving all of the city’s cultural institutions and organisations, large and small. For more information, visit, www.nowthehero.wales/now-for-more ■ September 1: The Munitionettes and Canary Girls exhibition, 12pm-5pm, National Waterfront Museum.Free
September 12 - October 3: Welsh Centre International Affairs: Wales for Peace, 10am-4.30pm, Swansea Museum. Free
■
September 17 - October 5: Swansea College of Art/ UWTSD Artists in Residence Exhibition, Swansea College of Art. Free
■
■ September 19 - October 10: Lee Karen Stow - Women, War and Peace, 10am-4.30pm, Swansea Civic Centre. Free ■ September 21 - November 10: Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press: Buoys Boys, 6-8pm. The Mission Gallery. Free. ■ September 21: Simon Periton - Your War, My Love, 7.30pm-9.30pm, Galerie Simpson. Free ■ September 21: Philip Cheater and Steph Mastoris - On the Brink, 6.30pm-8.30pm, Volcano Theatre. Free ■
September 21: Swansea Peace Trail, Swansea Museum. Free
September 21 - September 29: Rose Daies - Now the Hero Artist in Residence, 6.30pm-8.30pm, Volcano Theatre. Free ■
September 21: Yinka Shonibare MBE (RA) End of Empire exhibition, 7pm, Glyn Vivian Gallery. Free
■
■ September 22 - November 13: Habitats #1 exhibition, 10am-4.30pm daily, National Botanic Garden of Wales. Free ■ September 22: Mark Folds: Black Spots exhibition, 4pm, Cinema & Co, Swansea. Free ■ September 22: Up the Hill exhibition, 7pm-9pm, Exist Skate Park. Free
September 22: Remembering our Heroes/Somethings we Forgot to Remember, 10am-4.30pm, Swansea Museum. Free
■
■ September 22: Votes for Women! Workshop, 2pm, Swansea Museum ■ September 22-September 29: Hope Among the Ruins, 9.30am-5pm, Oxfam. Free ■ September 22-September 29: Nazma Botanica: Peace Garden, Creative Bubble. Free ■ September 22: Youth Vision: A Message of Peace and Goodwill for the World, Taliesin Arts Centre. Free ■ September 23: Museum Monthly Movie - Suffragette (12A), 2pm, National Waterfront Museum. Free ■
September 24: UN World Peace Day, Taliesin Arts Centre. Free
September 25 - March 30: Starlight Order, Dylan Thomas Centre. Free ■
■ September 25-29: Now the Hero, 6.30pm-9pm, Brangwyn Hall. Free.
September 26: First World War Era Themed Tea Dance, 2pm-4pm, National Waterfront Museum. Free
■
■ September 29: Brangwyn the Printmaker exhibition, from 12pm. Swansea Print Workshop. Free.
September 29: Celebrate the Hero, 12pm-4pm, National Waterfront Museum. Free.
■
■ September 29 and 30: Graft - A Soil Based Syllabus, 11am-3pm,National Waterfront Museum. Free.
September 29 - October 29: Habitats #2 exhibition, 10am-5pm, Swansea Grand Theatre. Free
■
■ September 29: Marega Palser: Prelude in Syncopated Now Time…, Elysium Gallery. Free
September 29: Poetry Now! 10am-6pm, Castle Square. Free
■
■ September 29: Swansea Heaven and Hell Performance, 8pm-late, Creature Sound. Free ■ September 29: Tales from the Treasure Box, 4pm-5pm, Volcano Theatre. Free
swansealife.co.uk 147
WHAT’S ON
hot new reads
Treat yourself to some “me-time” and chill out with one of these great reads. Hannah Stephenson rounds up the newest books out.
1
3
Fans of Helen Fielding and Jilly Cooper should check out this fresh and funny debut from the former features director of Tatler, about the misadventures of singleton Polly Spencer. She writes about the aristocracy for celebrity magazine Posh!, drinks too much, is turning 30 and feels the chances of finding a plus one to her best friend's summer wedding are looking slim. Sex, a debauched hen night and a dalliance with a legendary playboy are all thrown into the mix in this light-hearted beach read.
This evocative inter-war story, set during the tumultuous late 1930s in a big country house, sees a party-going protagonist return home to find herself entangled in a world of idealistic beliefs and seemingly innocent friendships. As her her small, privileged circle hears of the possibilities of another war, she becomes fascinated with Oswald Moseley and his fascists, who offer solutions which will have devastating consequences.
The Plus One by Sophia Money-Coutts
(HQ, £12.99 hardback)
2
A Ladder To The Sky by John Boyne (Doubleday, £14.99
hardback) Anyone who loved Boyne's last epic saga, The Heart's Invisible Furies, will be reaching for this latest novel from the award-winning Irish writer and author of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. This psychological drama sees a would-be writer in pursuit of other people's stories. He doesn't care where he finds them - or to whom they belong - as long as they help him rise to the top. Stories will make him famous but they will also make him beg, borrow and steal. They may even make him do worse. 148 swansealife.co.uk
After The Party by Cressida Connolly
(Viking, £14.99 hardback)
4
How To Be Famous by Caitlin Moran (Ebury, £14.99
hardback) The award-winning columnist is at her best here, mixing biting humour with feminist polemic, in the second in a semiautobiographical trilogy following the adventures of Johanna Morrigan, a 19-year-old columnist (known as Dolly Wilde), who makes a name for herself against a backdrop of 1995 London at the epicentre of Britpop. When an odious comedian videos them having sex and then shows the film to his mates, Johanna sets out to wreak revenge and, safe to say, comes out on top.
5
Kudos by Rachel Cusk (Faber & Faber, £16.99 hardback)
Last in this trilogy in which writer Faye, a woman on a plane, listens to the stranger in the seat next to hers telling her the story of his life: His work, his marriage, and the harrowing night he has just spent burying the family dog. Travelling to promote the book she has just published, the novel explores the conversations she has with the people she meets - about art, family, politics, love, sorrow and joy, justice and injustice. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry.
6
Less by Andrew Sean Greer (Abacus, £8.99 paperback)
If you missed the hardback, check out this gentle, witty Pulitzer-winning story about failed novelist Arthur Less, a gay man who receives a wedding invitation from an ex-boyfriend who's engaged to someone else. Arthur decides to go travelling to dubious literary events around the world - from San Francisco to Japan, Italy and back again - yet distance doesn't help him face his plight. Greer's sparkling prose covers his mishaps, misunderstandings, and the fragility of the human heart.
J R E V E N T S P R O U D LY P R E S E N T S
Britains Got talent finalists & classic cross over sensations
& ADAM
RICHARD
A CLASSIC
December 20th 2018 Brangwyn Hall, Swansea Enjoy this ultimate Christmas concert filled with festive spirit & candlelit performances, including: Silent Night,White Christmas and many more, along with songs from their record breaking albums
"absolutely amazing!" TOM JONES
"they never missed a note!" SIMON COWELL
"best I have ever heard"
MERRIL OSMOND
Tickets from ÂŁ16.50 on 01792 635253 | www.jr-events.co.uk
BEAT THE BACK TO SCHOOL BLUES WITH AN AFFORDABLE TREAT FOR ALL THE FAMILY AT GWYN HALL
£4
Christopher Robin
ANY FILM, ANY TIME
* Additional charge for 3D glasses will apply. **Price includes Cinema Ticket Levy.
Johnny English
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies The Happytime Murders
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
COMING SOON AT THE GWYN HALL MARS LIVE
MIKE DOYLE
As Seen in London’s West End
A tribute to Bruno Mars & The Hooligans with Live Band
Rocking with Laughter
Saturday 8 September
Saturday 29 • 7.30pm
Friday 5th October • 7.30pm
th
th
TERROR ON THE TRACKS
CAVERN BEATLES Neath Food Festival
An original stage adaptation of Charles’s Dickens the Signal Man & other tales
The only Tribute band fully endorsed by The Cavern Club
Saturday 6th October • 12pm & 2pm
Wednesday 10th October • 7.30pm
Friday 12th October • 7.30pm
FAT BARRY’S GHOUL BAND
Annual Halloween Ball, wear your best costume!
Friday 26th October • 8pm
CRAFTY’S HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
Where every child gets a trick or treat gift!
Join Daisy the cow on the most GIANT adventure of all!
Tuesday 30th October • 2pm
Friday 4th - Sunday 13th January
Orchard Street | Neath | SA11 1DU | Tel: 0300 365 6677 | www.gwynhall.com
|
SOCIAL DIARY • OPENING NIGHT
OPENING OF COYOTE UGLY WHERE: Coyote Ugly, Wind Street Tell Me More: The official opening of the much anticipated Coyote Ugly bar in Swansea. Pictures: Robert Melen
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Birthdays, Hen Parties, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Engagements, Charity Events and much more Castle Leisure can cater for pretty much any celebration Choose between Afternoon Tea or Evening Buffet with the use of a private room + bespoke party packages also available
152 swansealife.co.uk
Try your hand at Bingo and be in with a chance of winning £45,000 played every afternoon and evening Castle Bingo at Cardiff, Newport, Merthyr Tydfil, Nantgarw, Bridgend, Neath and Swansea Contact us www.castlebingo.co.uk @castlebingo, #castlebingo
SOCIAL DIARY BROUGHT TO YOU BY
swansealife.co.uk 153
SOCIAL DIARY • afternoon tea
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Afternoon Tea WHERE Stradey Park Hotel , Llanelli Tell Me More: Calon Dda held an afternoon tea to raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer. Mr Kerryn Lutchman Singh, Gynaecologist Oncologist was guest speaker with Rev Eldon Phillips as MC. Entertainment was provided by the Phil Harmonics. Proceeds from the day went to Morriston Hospital’s Gynaecology Oncology Department. Pictures: Jonathan Cundy Photography, www.jonathancundyphotography.co.uk
154 swansealife.co.uk
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SOCIAL DIARY • aWARDS EVENING
COLEG SIR GAR AWARDS WHERE: Stradey Park Hotel Llanelli Tell Me More: Coleg Sir Gâr celebrated its first Achievement of Excellence Awards evening with a glittering ceremony aimed at celebrating the best of the best. Over 50 learners, ranging from those studying apprenticeships, degrees, extended diplomas and A-levels, were recognised for their significant achievements.Pictures: Hoosh Arabi
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SOCIAL DIARY • FUNDRAISER
RIVER CRUISE FUNDRAISER WHERE: River Tawe, Swansea Tell Me More: A black tie river cruise took place along the River Tawe to help raise funds to build a school in South Africa. Nicola Matthews, Rachael Webb, head of Hafod Primary, and Sarah Hooke of UNICEF, all from Swansea, will travel in November with Mellon Educate. They would like to thank the Swansea Community Boat Copper Jack for hosting their event and to all the guests that attended.
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SOCIAL DIARY • CHARITY FUNDRAISING AFTERNOON
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MAGGIE’S CHARITY FUNDRAISING AFTERNOON WHERE Swansea Yacht Club Tell Me More: A fundraiser was organised by Maggie’s Wednesday afternoon prostrate cancer group. The charity afternoon, which was held at Swansea Yacht Club, included a glass of wine, buffet and raffle prizes. All money raised went to Maggie’s, Swansea. Pictures: Robert Melen
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SOCIAL DIARY • TOP 100 AWARDS
Top 100 Awards WHere: Marriott Hotel, Swansea Tell Me More: Businesses were recognised at a lunch awards dinner organised by South Wales Evening Post and Swansea Bay Business Life. The Top 100 Companies in South West Wales event, which was produced in partnership with Barclays and PwC, represent the companies that are creating jobs and wealth in this region. Guest speeches included Bluestone founder William McNamara and Barclays’ chair Green Banking Council Rhian-Mari Thomas. Pictures: Hoosh Arabi
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£99
per room DBB based on two sharing, plus a bottle of Prosecco
Sunday Slumber Offer Enjoy the serenity and tranquillity of the Oxwich Bay Hotel on a Sunday evening during Summer or Autumn including dinner, bed, breakfast and a fresh crisp bottle of Prosecco from just £99 per room.
Available Dates Sunday 9th September 2018 Sunday 16th September 2018 Sunday 23rd September 2018 Sunday 30th September 2018
QUOTE: 'SUNDAY SLUMBER' on booking T&Cs apply, DBB includes a £50 food allowance per couple, excludes drinks
TIME FOR YOU Wooden Letters, £1.25 each, JoJo Maman Bébé, www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Baby Pink Keepsake Drawer Box, £19.99, Gettingpersonal.co.uk
Tummy Time Roll, £19, Mamas and Papas, Cardiff
Peter Rabbit My First 18 Months Photo Journal, £12, Paperchase at Next, Morfa Retail Park
3-Pack Elephant Baby Dribble Bibs, £10, JoJo Maman Bébe, www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Babylo Rocking Ladybug, £29.99, Smyths, Llansamlet
Snow Globe Tiny Star, £19, Mamas and Papas, Cardiff
OH BABY
Woven Cotton Cellular Blanket, £16, JoJo Maman Bébé, www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
LAURA DAVIES rounds up newborn essentials, gifts and keepsakes for your little ones laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk
Cuggl Moses Basket, £39.99, Argos, Swansea and Parc Pemberton
@LawsDx
Mini Dancing Monkey, £7.99, www.matchstickmonkey.com Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus i-Size Group 0+ Baby Car Seat, £199, John Lewis, Cardiff
Pure Cotton 2.1 Tog Duck Print Sleeping Bag, £18, M&S, Swansea The Hape 6 in 1 Music Maker, £24.99, Smyths, Llansamlet
Cherry Linkie Toy, £ , Mamas and Papas, Cardiff
Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit My First Little Library, £4.79, W H Smith, Swansea Personalised Super Soft Bear Comforter, £20, www.my1styears.com
Green People Organic Babies Baby Wash & Shampoo Lavender 150ml, £7.95, Baby Wash & Shampoo Scent Free 150ml, £7.95, Soothing Baby Salve Lavender 100ml, £10.50, Softening Baby Lotion Scent Free 150ml, £10.95, Calming Nappy Cream 50ml, £10.50, Waitrose, Cowbridge
Lion Playmat, £69, Mamas and Papas, Cardiff
Personalised Pink Bunny Play Mat, £50, www.my1styears.com swansealife.co.uk 163
TIME FOR YOU
gap year
s p ti
As the new academic year approaches, thousands of students are choosing to break up their studies by having a gap year while a growing number of established professionals are also pressing pause for a career break too. If you’re considering taking off in the next few months, here are some top tips you might want to know...
1. Make a plan
3. Don’t be too ambitious 6. Decide what to take
Half the fun of backpacking is wondering where you might end up, but it’s still worth having a rough plan in mind. It will help you to budget not only money - but also time.
There are so many places to visit in the world and there’s no pressure to see them all at once. Don’t listen to country counters who brag about the number of borders they’ve crossed; it’s far more rewarding to spend quality time in a destination.
2. Consider an organised
tour to get you started
4. Buy the right bag
If you’re nervous about travelling alone, think about booking a place on a group tour to kickstart your adventure. It will give you an opportunity to settle into the rhythm of travel and may also help you make a few friends. Contiki and Leap specialise in tours for younger travellers, while Exodus and Explore cater for an older market.
Whether you’re planning to travel for two weeks or two months, your backpack will become your best friend for the duration. Take time to purchase the right bag that isn’t too heavy (around 50 or 60 litres is ideal) and which fits comfortably. You should aim to have the weight distributed 70-80 per cent on the hips and 20-30 per cent on the shoulders.
5. Pack properly There’s no point buying an enormous backpack which you won’t be able to carry. Maximise the use of space in your bag by packing efficiently and leaving few gaps. Make sure items are also evenly distributed to ease weight pressure.
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Clothing will depend on your choice of destination, so think carefully about the climates you plan to visit. Merino wool base layers are ideal for cold destinations, and look out for T-shirts featuring Polygiene - a stay fresh technology which slows bacteria growth and keeps clothes clean for longer. A universal adapter, a compact quick-dry towel and a sink plug (because most of the sinks you’ll encounter won’t have one) are all extremely useful - and won’t take up too much space.
7. Mingle with the locals It’s very easy to stick with fellow backpackers - and can often be good fun. To really get under the skin of a destination though, try and engage with some of the people who actually live there. Even a short conversation in a cafe can give you some insight into a place.
8. Don’t get hooked on WiFi Uploading images to social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends back at home - but don’t let it detract from your travelling experience. Accept you may not always be able to log on in remote places, and also remember to appreciate time spent detached from technology.
Is it for me? d e k n u b e d s n 4 concer
AGILE NATION2
#TimeForYou #AmserIChi
Agile Nation 2 Career Development Programme is a unique opportunity for women to gain the confidence, knowledge and skills to achieve all they want for themselves in their careers. We will work with you to develop the key team leading skills you need to succeed in the workplace, alongside building your confidence, motivation and aspiration to reach your full potential. If you’re currently a team member at work, and aspire to take a step into managing and leading a team, or you have an eye on a promotion but feel you may not have the skills or confidence to go for it then Agile Nation2 is for you. Our colleague Kath Foot is here to explain more about the programme and why it is time for YOU!
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I haven't studied in years, I'm worried about writing assignments
Many of our participants haven’t studied in years, if at all. You won’t have to write essays, they are what we call ‘reflective reviews’ where you mainly have to write about you and your experience at work, and nobody knows you better! We are always on hand to support individuals, and we tend to find once the first review is complete, the others become easier.
3
2
Everyone has different reasons to do the course and we work with women of all ages. Is it really too late to develop skills and confidence and understand your worth? You deserve this investment! You don’t need to have specific career goals in mind when your start because the Programme will help you become clearer in what you want.
4
I’m too busy to commit
If something is important you will find the time to complete it. The Programme is designed for women living busy lives; yes it will demand your time but it is achievable. Consensus from our participants is that you just need to be organised – set time aside to complete the reviews, the outcomes are worth it. Also use the classroom time and workbooks, the more you do in the training sessions, the less you have to do at home.
I’m too old to think about my career developing
I don’t have the confidence to do something like this
One of my learners spent a year procrastinating whether she should do the Programme. She did not feel confident, she didn’t think she could do it, and used these as barriers to her self-development. After a year she bit the bullet and after completion she is a different person, so much more confident, so much happier, in a new role and earning £10,000 more than when she started. Her only regret is wishing she had found the confidence earlier.
Who can participate? The Programme is fully funded by the European Social Fund and Welsh Government and is available to women who: - Are currently employed and work or live in Wales - Work in the private or third/voluntary sector (Public sector employees are not eligible) - Current role is not funded by any other European programme Pwy all gymryd rhan? Mae’r rhaglen yn cael ei chyllido’n llawn gan Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop a Llywodraeth Cymru ac mae ar gael i fenywod sy’n: - Cael eu cyflogi ac sy’n gweithio neu’n byw yng Nghymru - Gweithio yn y sector preifat neu drydydd sector/sector gwirfoddol (Nid yw gweithwyr sector cyhoeddus yn gymwys) - Nad yw eu swydd bresennol yn cael ei chyllido gan unrhyw raglen Ewropeaidd arall
Ready to get started? Contact us today to find out how the programme can benefit you: www.timeforyou.wales / 0300 365 0445
Barod i gychwyn arni? Cysylltwch â ni heddiw i drafod sut gall y rhaglen fod o fudd i chi: www.amserichi.cymru / 0300 365 0445
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Treat Yourself Our lives are busy, funds sometime tight..We’d all love to treat ourselves every week to something glitzy but we also don’t want to break the bank! You don’t have to spend big bucks to find that perfect item for your sitting room. You don’t have to break the budget on a big night out or extravagant make-over... ...But if you are feeling flush we may have something that catches your eye!
1192 HAIR & BEAUTY Treat yourself to a body wrap and lose 6 inches guaranteed! Give yourself an inch loss boost for a special occasion or late holiday with our relaxing inch loss wrap. With each treatment you are guaranteed to lose at least 6 inches in just 2 hours; the average inch loss is 10-14 inches, which will stay off for at least 30 days. Our powerful inch loss results are thanks to the natural classic clay solution combined with specialist wrapping techniques. ■ 1192 Clinic, Liberty Stadium, SA1 2FA ■ Telephone: 01792 651412 ■ www.1192clinic.co.uk
THE BEAUFORT ARMS Set out some time to visit our charming pub perfectly located to begin or end a visit to the Gower with all local beaches close by. Large outside seating area, free parking and children's play area available. Treat yourself to our mouthwatering steaks, fish, homemade pizzas and everything in between. Live Music last Friday of every month and very popular Weekly Quiz every Monday evening from 8pm. ■ Book now for Christmas tel 01792 234447 ■ 18 Pennard Road, Kittle, Swansea, SA3 3JB ■ Beaufort.arms@sabrain.com
BRONLEIGH HOUSE This multi-disciplinary clinic offers all of your health & cosmetic services under one roof! Visit Afino Aesthetics for surgical & non-surgical procedures undertaken by a registered nurse and experienced doctor, or Kelly Denty Beauty for facials, waxing & more. Get a hair makeover at La Luna Hair or visit The Beauty Clinic who offer beauty services, skin aesthetics, permanent make up, scar restoration and more. For more information or to book a consultation, find us online or via our Facebook page. ■ www.bronleighhouse.co.uk ■ www.facebook.com/bronleighhouse ■ Tel: 01639 632035 ■ 6 Bronleigh House, Cadoxton Rd, Neath, SA10 7AE
BRYNHYFRYD DENTAL Dentistry done differently… Celebrating our ruby anniversary of care (1978 - 2018). Private dental plans now available from just £1.60 per week...that’s just 14p per day! BDA Good Parctice member. Sedation, Straight Teeth, Veneers,Tooth Whitening and more… ■ 261 Llangyfelach Road, Swansea, SA5 9LB ■ Tel: 01792 462 295 ■ www.painfreedentistswansea.co.uk ■ Email: info@brynhfyryddental.co.uk
THE CORRAN RESORT & SPA Why not treat yourself to a short break at the Corran Resort & Spa, set in the beautiful, picturesque marshlands of Laugharne, home to the poet Dylan Thomas. During your stay take the time to relax with a spa treatment and complimentary use of the spa facilities, followed by a fine dining evening meal in our AA 2 Rosette restaurant. Finish off by relaxing in our bar area with a cocktail made by our professional mixologist. ■ To book online: www.thecorran.com ■ Email: info@thecorran.com ■ Tel: 01994 427 417 ■ Corran Resort & Spa, East Marsh, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4RS
CWTCH CORNER An independent, family run coffee shop in the heart of Clydach, where you can indulge yourself in some of the most delicious waffles with Joe’s ice cream, home made cakes and themed milkshakes. Taste the magical Unicorn milkshake, topped with layers of cream, chocolate biscuits, sprinkles and marshmallows or relax with friends and enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea. We even offer Unicorn themed tea parties! Tasty hot food or refreshing cool drinks, we have it all. Book or come along today.
THE SWIGG Treat yourself at the stylish harbourside venue with a brand new Autumn menu served on small plates. There is something for everyone. Serving high quality & local ingredients and includes Vegan and Vegetarian menus. Reserve your table online ready for Beaujolais Nouveau Day and Christmas. ■ The Swigg, National Waterfront Museum, Swansea ■ Tel: 01792 466026 ■ www.swiggswansea.co.uk
WILTSHIRE FARM FOODS Enjoy what really matters with our delicious frozen meals and desserts. Prepared by award-winning chefs and delivered free by your local team, you’ve more time to enjoy doing the things you love. ■ For your free brochure visit wiltshirefarmfoods.com or call 01792 459999
■ www.facebook.com CwtchCornerclydach ■ Tel: 07902 217509 ■ 13 Vardre Road, Clydach, SA6 5LP
TIME FOR YOU
ASK I A N INHERITANCE CHALLENGES
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW? Ian Walker, Solicitor and specialist in Wills, Probate & Lasting Powers of Attorney
As much as a Will is designed to represent the final wishes of a loved one, it is not always the case that they will distribute their assets in a manner that some family members would regard as fair. To this end, there are two types of challenges an individual can progress: 1. 2.
Contentious Probate Disputes Claims brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975
dependent on the deceased at the time of death can make a claim on the basis that the deceased’s Will does not make sufficient financial provision for them. People who are eligible to make this type of challenge include: •
The spouse or civil partner of the deceased.
•
Someone who had lived with the deceased during the whole of the period of two years ending immediately before the date when the deceased died, in the same household as the deceased and as the husband or wife of the deceased.
•
A former spouse or former civil partner of the deceased (but not one who has formed a subsequent marriage or civil partnership).
•
A child of the deceased.
•
Any person (not being a child of the deceased) who was treated by the deceased as a child of the family.
•
Any person who immediately before the death of the deceased was being maintained either wholly or partly by the deceased.
Contentious Probate Disputes These disputes are brought about when the validity of a Will is challenged. There can be several reasons for this challenge: • Fraud and forgery • Undue influence • Lack of knowledge and approval • Lack of testamentary intention • Lack of due execution • Lack of testamentary capacity • Revocation Inheritance Act Claims It is important to note that these cases are different to contentious probate disputes (when the argument is that the will is NOT valid) as in Inheritance Act cases you accept that if there is a Will, it is valid – but you are arguing that it doesn’t make “reasonable financial provision”. The Inheritance Act 1975 provides a route where someone that was financially
This type of legal dispute is often complex and requires expert advice and guidance, so our advice is simple; arrange a free 30-minute meeting with the team at Peter Lynn and Partners who will assess your case and advise you on the most appropriate course of action.
For more information, call 01792 450010 or email Advice@plandp.co.uk swansealife.co.uk 169
NEXT MONTH IN SWANSEA LIFE
Bumper Awards Edition Swansea Life Awards 2018 in Pictures Wedding Special - 50 Plus Pages! Autumn Styles For You And Your Home Home Interiors Get Cosy Warming Seasonal Foods Trick or Treat: It’s Halloween! New Season Beauty OUT OCTOBER 1
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70TH ANNIVERSARY
Swansea International Festival 22.09.18 – 07.10.18
Bringing the best of the world to Swansea. Sharing the best of Swansea with the world.
SIR KARL JENKINS BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES
ROB BRYDON ● ELIN MANAHAN THOMAS ● JOCELYN FREEMAN ● MARMEN QUARTET ● GOULD PIANO TRIO ● ROBERT PLANE ● MILOŠ AND ENSEMBLE 7 ● LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE ● MORRISTON ORPHEUS CHOIR SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION MOCSA YOUNG WELSH SINGER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION ● WELSH NATIONAL OPERA ● GILBERT & SULLIVAN ● NOW THE HERO / NAWR YR ARWR ● THE SWANSEA FRINGE ● AND MORE!
MUSIC ● THEATRE ● COMEDY
Book your tickets now! www.swanseafestival.org Swansea International Festival would like to thank the following organisations for their support:
The Vera Smart Trust and The Friends of Swansea International Festival
DI SCOV E R TH E
Diamond Bouquet
Visit Stephen Hughes Fine Diamonds this summer to view our beautiful collection of certificated D, E, F, G, H, I graded diamonds. 5 Queens Arcade, Quadrant Shopping Centre, Swansea, SA1 3QW | 01792 462999
stephenhughesfinediamonds.com