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Guardianship Scheme Christ College is a school of 350 pupils; the majority of our pupils are boarders, and our overseas pupils are fully integrated in the boarding life of the school.
HOST FAMILIES REQUIRED Host Families care for some of our overseas pupils during the half term and weekend breaks. • Hosts can claim up to £40 per day in expenses • Parenting Experience preferred (aged over 25) • Non-smoking families required If you are within an hourʼs drive of Brecon and are able to provide a caring home for our overseas pupils, then we would be pleased to hear from you.
HOSTING DATES REQUIRED
(3 HALF TERMS PLUS 2 WEEKENDS): HALF TERMS Friday 25 October - Sunday 5 November 2013 Friday 21 February – Sunday 2 March 2014 Friday 23 May – Sunday 1 June 2014 2 WEEKENDS Friday 27 September – Sunday 29 September 2013 Friday 31 January – Sunday 2 February 2014 For further details and an information pack please contact:
Carol Pople-Baker
Tel: (01874) 615440
guardianship@christcollegebrecon.com 02
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Welcome...
Before I even start planning a day out, my first port of call is always: www.metcheck.com where you can get weather forcasts for the exact town you are going to. I’ve found it to be by far the most reliable weather forecasting site. If I were you I would check the surrounding counties for family days out. There are superb days out right on your doorstep for just a little bit more effort in searching the internet and the guide that we have put together for you. If you’re headed for an outdoor attraction, don’t forget to leave your wellies, raincoats and brolly in the back of the car (just in case). You never can tell with the British weather! It’s handy to pack up a change of clothes for the kids (little accidents happen when you least expect them) and a packet of wet wipes can be a godsend! Bring an emergency snack and drink for the kids. Don’t forget your road map, even the best navigators take a wrong turn sometimes! Most important enjoy your Summer days out.
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The Abergavenny Chronicle DESIGNERS: Dave Simkiss dave.simkiss@nwn.co.uk John Gaulton john.gaulton@nwn.co.uk
ADVERTISING: Jenna Hopkins ext 35 For information on how to advertise in our next issue, contact: advertising@tindlenews.co.uk or telephone 01873 852187 ext 35 GENERAL MANAGER - Mary Purcell When you have finished reading the Gazette & Diary Magazine - please recycle it. PUBLISHING: Printed and distributed by NWN Media. www.nwnmedia.co.uk Mold Business Park, Wrexham Road, Mold, CH7 1XY.
Page 06-07 The Easy life in Devon ▲
Page 04-05 The good life Pages
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Page 21 A taste of summer
Page 29 Llanthony Valley and District Show and Sports 2013 ▲
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At NWN Media we are committed to addressing the key environmental impacts of printing and the production process, and preserving the environment for future generations. Our environmental policy is achieved through continuous monitoring, annual targets and action plans.
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Page 24 Abergavenny Food Festival 2013
Nick Ramsay AM
Assembly Member for Monmouth Hospitals - Schools - Transport Environment - Housing Write to: Nick Ramsay AM, Constituency Office, 16 Maryport Street, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1AB E-mail: nicholas.ramsay@wales.gov.uk
For further information call: 01291 674 898 or 029 2089 8735 ●
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THE GOOD LIFE Amanda Lamb, 40, presenter of UKTV Home's My Flat-Pack home, says: "My husband, Sean, and I love southern Italy and we have a little place in Puglia where we go with our daughter, Willow, four. It's the perfect holiday spot as it's beautiful, quiet, and off the beaten track." Lisa Snowdon, 41, co-presenter of Capital FM's Breakfast show, has joined forces with Belvita Breakfast Biscuits to campaign for better mornings. She says: "It has to be Kamalaya Koh Samui Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa Resort in Thailand.
with our four sons and too much luggage!
Chelsee Healey, 24, the actress who's appeared in BBC's Waterloo Road and competed in Strictly Come Dancing, says: "Dubai is a regular destination for me because you can enjoy everything there from shopping to chilling. There are amazing buildings, great beaches and it's always hot."
"We love the cities such as Paris as much as the countryside."
ITV weather presenter Sian Lloyd, 54, says: "Kangaroo Island, south-west of Adelaide, Australia, is the most amazing haven. "It's a pristine wilderness which offers protection to native Australian animals and so you can see sea lions basking on white beaches, koalas dozing in lofty eucalyptus, pelicans soaring over shimmering lagoons, and, of course, kangaroos bounding around.
"You can go there just to chill and holiday, as I do, but there is also a wide selection of programmes to help people with a wide variety of specific problems such as burn-out, diet or stress. "The spa's amazing and the resort is set in the most beautiful grounds, with exotic sweetsmelling flowers everywhere. "You can be comfortable going there alone or with a partner and I never fail to feel wonderful when I return."
"I fell in love with Australia when I appeared in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here in 2003 and I've been back to the country about seven times since." Sarah Beeny, 41, a TV property expert who's backing a campaign by Keep Britain Tidy and cleaning equipment company Karcher, says: "France is definitely my favourite country for a holiday. "My husband, Graham, and I are going this summer and will drive over in a car fully loaded
ABERGAVENNY
MARKET
Situated in the middle of the town known as the Gateway to Wales, Abergavenny Tuesday Market is well known as one of the major markets in Wales.
ABERGAVENNY MARKET OPEN: TUESDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY
FLEA MARKET EVERY WEDNESDAY
ANTIQUE FAIR
EVERY 3RD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH SUNDAY 21ST JULY
FARMERS MARKET THURSDAY 25TH JULY
CRAFT FAIR
RY 2ND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH EVER Y 13TH JULY TURDAY SAT
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Holidays are an annual tonic for our wellbeing and the ideal way to lift our spirits. Celebrities reveal their favourite destinations and some of their fondest memories to Gabrielle Fagan.
For further details contact Geoff Harris 01873 735811
Lulu, 64, the singer who's recently helped launch a new range of glasses, Specsavers Aurora, says: "A cruise on the Bosporus in Turkey in a traditional three-masted wooden sailing boat, a gulet, stands out in my memory as a fantastic holiday and a beautiful destination. "I went with friends and it was fun and relaxing at the same time. We sailed to Istanbul and saw all the sights, which was a brilliant conclusion to my visit to Turkey as it was fascinating.
Malabar coast, which is absolutely beautiful. But I love the buzz in Sydney, Australia. "Variety is essential for me. I've just come back from a spa trip to Miami so my next trip will probably be a city break." Actress Angela Griffin, 36, says: "Last summer for the first time in years I took two weeks off, because of work I never normally get more than a week. I went with the family to Valencia in Spain. "I'm not a beach person so we had a villa with a pool and spent lazy days swimming and eating and others travelling by car to explore the area. It was a brilliant break and our two daughters, Tallulah, eight, and Melissa, five, had a ball. I'd like to go back this year."
"It was a trip I'd never have dreamt of myself but I'd do it again in an instant."
Gardener Charlie Dimmock, 46, says: "I travel quite a lot, giving lectures, so I often don't holiday. Instead, I prefer to stay at home in Hampshire and catch up on all the gardening I've missed.
Caroline Flack, 33, presenter of ITV2's The Xtra Factor, says: "I love travelling and want to see the world, so I've got a big list of places to get through!
"I prefer to be active and busy, but I take short breaks, such as seeing my family in Portugal.
"I've particularly enjoyed Kerala on India's
"My sister and I once
took a break in Jamaica. We spent the entire week relaxing and reading. I have to admit that was bliss!" Kara Tointon, 29, who's currently starring in West End play Relatively Speaking, says: "I'd always pick a ski holiday over a summer holiday. "I enjoy being active and burning off lots of energy and I always feel brilliantly refreshed when I return from the mountains. "Even when I go on a beach holiday, I hate lying around, so I'm in and out of the water and I'm always looking for activities to try such as jet skiing. "Luckily, my boyfriend (Artem Chigvintsev) is the same as me. Having the same taste in holidays with your partner is so important!" Aston Merrygold, 25, former JLS member and judge on Sky1 talent show Got To Dance, says: "For a holiday with my mates, it's got to be Ibiza; it's such a fun island. "But the holiday I'll always remember and would love to repeat is going with my family to Florida and visiting the film studios there including Universal. "It was fascinating and I've promised myself I'll return to explore Miami as well." Gemma Collins, 32, star of reality series The Only Way Is Essex, says: "I saved up for a year to go to my friend's wedding at the luxury resort Sandy Lane, Barbados, and I'm determined to go back one day. It was incredible - she looked like a film star and I felt like one being in a place like that. "I also love a bit of Tenerife, that's the Essex girl in me, but as we're filming the series through the summer, I won't get far this year.
"If I get a break, I'd love to visit Sardinia and enjoy wine, pedalos and chatting to the locals." Chris Beardshaw, TV gardener, 43, says: "I don't get a break in the summer as we're always busy with flower shows and filming. "But when I do, I like visiting new countries and my ideal is somewhere warm with a mix of great scenery and a range of activities. "I've been diving in Britain and abroad for more than 12 years, so it would need to be somewhere coastal, with the opportunity for eating plenty of fresh, delicious food. "In fact, the more I talk about it, the more I would really like a holiday!"
TRIED & TESTED Eating at least five vegetables every day, as recommended in Government health guidelines, can be tricky with a hectic lifestyle and little time to cook. Polly Weeks tests a new vegetable smoothie range.
WHAT IS IT? SaVse's vegetable smoothie range uses freshly squeezed fruits and vegetables, including 'super' vegetables such as broccoli, kale, spinach and avocado, but has no added sugar, preservatives colour or water.
vegetables are preserved. "SaVse has been created for people on a diet or generally trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, and all those men and women in offices who want a healthy drink to accompany their lunch," says company founder Guka Tavberidze. "Our smoothies are jam-packed with everything from beetroot to broccoli and a little sweetness from some fruity friends. They're a tasty way to get two of your five-a-day." WHAT'S IT LIKE? Sometimes life can seem like an endless list of 'to-dos' - if you're not downing pints of water and cramming in gym sessions, you're worrying about getting your fix of fruit and veg. I've got a busy lifestyle and just grabbing a sandwich is often as much as I can do in a day. Tired and famished by the end of the day, my desire for heaped plates of vegetables has ebbed away and I want carbs - and quickly!
with strawberry, broccoli, celery, kale, orange and spinach. The drinks are tasty; full of flavour and chunks of vegetable, and they're not sickly sweet like many smoothie drinks. My favourite was Super Green, which contains broccoli, pear, spinach, kale, kiwi, lemon and banana. These are great as an on-the-go snack, and a fast way to absorb your two of that recommended five-a-day. I'd say they're more suitable for lunch and the afternoon; I wouldn't have been able to take the flavour for breakfast. My verdict: Excellent, particularly if served chilled, and a quick and easy way to feel virtuous and tick off at least one thing on that stress-causing 'to-do' list.
Apparently, I'm not alone - current research shows that 78% of people find it difficult to take in what they consider adequate quantities of vegetables a day. SaVse claims to come to the rescue with its new range of drinks, whose creation was inspired by company founder Guka Tavberidze's memory of his Georgian mother's delicious smoothies. I tested all of the three varieties, Super Green, Super Purple, with beetroot, apple, avocado, lime, mango and lemon, and Super Red,
The company uses highpressure processing to remove bacteria but this doesn't require the product to be heated so, it claims, the valuable nutrients in the
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A Helping Hand From Abbey Vets
The Easy life in East Devon Jeremy Gates finds out why Queen Victoria and Jeremy Vine both adore serene Sidmouth. By Jeremy Gates
Hello, and welcome to a column that each month will highlight health problems that face pet owners.
In its calm, unhurried way, East Devon is re-emerging from a terrible pasting from poor summer weather, and it makes a perfectly cosy place to while away a crisp, long winter weekend.
Many of you will know me from Abbey Veterinary Centres, a practice established over 125 years ago that prides itself on friendly, locally owned 24hr veterinary care for small pets and horses.
Welcome to a gentler pace of life, where shop assistants have time to talk and jot down the prices of three or four items to add up (by themselves!) when your order is complete.
Perhaps the commonest reason people come to us at this time of year is looking for a solution to fleas. Most owners recognise a flea when seen but sometimes may just suspect them because they have bites and come in to show us their own skin problems! This freaks vets out, by the way.
‘infestation and household invasion’ where having accepted a lift on the pet, the fleas have set up house, had a party and started a family. Lastly and by far no means least from a veterinary point of view, there are those poor pets with a flea saliva allergy. These pets overreact to flea bites and will scratch to the point of self harm if they are a dog or overgroom to baldness, if a cat. These present with the most horrendous skin disease. So if you think your pet has fleas that have overstayed their welcome, come over to our place and our trained ‘Flea Advisors’ will send them packing!
Fleas have a life cycle that makes complete ‘flea’ freedom almost impossible if your pet goes outside but regular spot-ons are still most effective. The major treatment decision we have to make is between a pet with the occasional flea – we call them ‘hitch hikers’ and a full blown
This is what happens at a splendid deli in Sidmouth, the jewel on this stretch of the coast. The seaside town which entranced Regency England and fascinated Queen Victoria is maintained so well that more than 500 buildings are listed for architectural interest, including a splendid Georgian terrace on the Esplanade. Little seems to have changed here since the Fifties, as we reflect when we take a tip from broadcaster Jeremy Vine and pause for tea and fairly pricey cakes at Mocha, on the Esplanade. How strange to see an English seafront with every building in a perfect state of repair!
One morning, we leave the car on Salcombe Hill, circle the Observatory, and walk down the hill on the South-West Coastal Path as a panoramic view of the town opens up before us. The red cliff face of Peak Hill sits like a giant bookend on the far side of the town and beyond Sidmouth's small strip of sandy beach below Jacob's Ladder.
UK's most popular pets The results, in reverse order, are listed below: 10. Tortoises/Turtles (around 0.3 million) Tortoises have more in common with humans than you would think – their lifespan is generally the same as ours. However, no human has ever lived as long as the oldest-ever tortoise, ‘King Malila’ who was thought to be 188-years-old before he died in 1965. What a life he must have had since being presented as a gift to the Tongan royal family by Captain Cook in 1777! 9. Horses/Ponies (around 0.3 million) Historians believe that horses were first domesticated on the wild grasslands of eastern Ukraine around 5,000 years ago (goats, sheep and cattle were domesticated long before this). Originally horses were herded for meat and skins and it is thought that the practice of attaching carts to them was introduced before anyone had the idea of riding them. 8. Hamsters (around 0.5 million) When a squeaking box of hamsters was shipped to the UK from Syria in 1931 it was to have massive consequences for the pet trade. The hamsters were the offspring of one female wild golden hamster and were collected by Jewish zoologist Israel Aharoni. Hamsters were first found in pet shops in 1945. 7. Domestic fowl (over 0.5 million) When we think of pets we generally think of animals which reside in our houses. But chickens, geese and ducks all live happily in many gardens – and are still regarded as beloved pets by those who own them. 6. Guinea pigs (around 1 million) In the guinea pig’s native South American regions, this furry animal is seen as an important source of food and is also sometimes used in folk medicine. Luckily, we treat guinea pigs rather better in the UK – many pet-owners have much reason to thank Spanish soldiers for introducing these adorable animals to Europe when they returned from their conquest of Inca territories. 5. Birds (1.0 million) Budgerigars and parrots spring to mind when
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thinking of pet birds. Budgerigars are native to Australia and are the most popular pet bird in the world. Parrots were highly prized by wealthy Roman households, who gave the job of teaching the bird to speak to their slaves. 4. Rabbits (1.0 million) The Romans certainly liked their pets – it was they who first introduced domestic rabbits to Britain. There are many differences between wild rabbits (‘cotton tails’) and domestic rabbits. Cotton tails have longer legs, slimmer ears and a more narrow face than their domestic cousins. I’ve always thought that wild rabbits look cuter than domestic ones, surely it should be the other way round? 3. Dogs (8.3 million) When wolves entered Northern Hemisphere villages to desperately search for food 12,000 years ago many of them never returned to the wild forests from where they came. The humans they found in the villages often gave them food but it came at a price as some wolves were expected to guard, to hunt and to herd for their new owners. These wolves evolved into the domesticated dogs. 2. Cats (8.6 million) Cyprus has never had a wild cat population but the country did become home to the world’s first-ever substantial domesticated cat population; thought to have been introduced by early settlers 8,000 years ago. Pet cats have flourished ever since – give or take the odd couple of hundred years in the medieval period when they were associated with witchcraft and became persecuted. 1. Fish Fish are easily the UK’s most popular pet – there are over 40 million of them providing pleasure to their owners. However, cats and dogs might be rather aggrieved that the poll counted both indoor and outdoor fish as being pets. Goldfish can be considered as being both indoor and outdoor pets; at first they were kept in outside ponds and were not housed in indoor goldfish bowls in the UK until the late 1800s.
July / August
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Local food and drink is another East Devon speciality: in The Holt at Honiton, a pine-tabled gastro pub included in the 2012 Good Food Guide, I ask the cheery fellow on the bar why the pub makes such a show of local Otter beers. He replies, "Well, Dad runs the brewery!" and we load the boot with some Otters before our journey home. The base for our week is a courtyard of converted stone barns a mile or so inland of the Lyme Regis-Exmouth coast road. Higher Wiscombe is part of the Premier Cottages consortium, which boasts five-star self-catering few rivals are able to match. Owners Alistair and Lorna Handyside sunk around £1.5 million into their complex which is so far from the road that a water diviner was called in to find the nearest well. At night, the only light is from the stars above. Whatever the season, almost any holiday in Devon includes at least one day when the rain never stops, and soggy clouds sit motionless on the hills. That's when posh self-catering comes into its own. Our three-bedroom Thatched Barn has underfloor heating, remarkably comfy beds from a British firm (Mattisons), and views (on bright mornings) when it's worth setting an early alarm to catch shafts of sunlight climbing up the hill across the valley. From Higher Wiscombe, there is plenty to explore within a half hour's drive. Beer, a seaside village which has lately gone up in the world, is just down the road. At night, its restaurants are heaving.
Almost on our doorstep is the famous Donkey Sanctuary outside Sidmouth, where donkeys in serene and no doubt well-deserved retirement munch the greensward and stroll with the swagger of Eton boys - as well they might, given the massive lists of bequests recorded around the complex.
From Spring, you'll also be able to witness one of the region's most beautiful carnivores in action: Samson the Russian golden eagle.
In the other direction lies Seaton, where onceheaving holiday camps have made way for a gleaming new Tesco.
Even Sir David Attenborough might scratch his head at the curious slice of wildlife on display at Escot.
Key facts - East Devon ●
Based at Escot, a stately home turned wildlife park near Ottery St Mary, Samson does breathtaking aerial displays along with other birds of prey. ●
The big attraction now is beguilingly olde worlde: on the Seaton Tramway, electrically-powered open top double deckers clank their way past the mudflats of the Axe Estuary Wetlands and on to the village of Colyford, where the Tramstop restaurant serves up local produce from the station master's garden. Our visit to Lyme Regis (just across the Devon border in Dorset) begins with stunning views of The Cobb - alas without a shrouded Meryl Streep perched hauntingly on the far end - and the curve of Lyme Bay stretching more than 20 miles past Portland Bill.
Besides Samson, dumped in a wardrobe when a Russian drugs baron tired of him, there's a rare breed of red squirrel, caged in to fend off predators, and wild boars sprawling in so much mud that it's hard to tell whether Mum knew she had just produced a baby. While Samson and friends dive for raw meat through crowds, your luck is a long way out if you get hit by a golden eagle in East Devon. There's a fascinating backstory too at The Salty Monk, in the Sid Valley, a solid 16th century building once used by Benedictine Monks who traded salt at Exeter Cathedral.
The original streets and buildings of Lyme Regis remain largely intact: we settle for some scrumptious local crab meat in a seafront sandwich bar beside The Philpot Museum.
Annette and Andy Witheridge bought it as a boutique B&B in 1999 and have extended the building ever since: the latest addition is a mini spa with outdoor sauna, hot tub and fitness studio where you can join yoga classes or book a workout.
The elegant voice of The French Lieutenant's Woman's author John Fowles, which, along with the Meryl Streep film, put the historic town back on the map, is audible on headphones.
Andy, whose star-studded CV includes Scotts of Mayfair, Gidleigh Park and Gravetye Manor, is a dab hand at DIY: his luxury suite is a hit with newlyweds bound for exotic honeymoons.
There's also a splendid section on Mary Anning, whose passion for fossils on the Jurassic Coast unlocked some of the mysteries of Prehistoric Britain. This museum is well worth the £3.45 entry fee.
"So many guests go on to Cornwall," says a puzzled Andy, "when there is so much to see and do around here!" When you find the best of East Devon, you'll see his point of view.
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Best for: Walks on South West Coastal Path (Beer-Branscombe is an attractive stretch), local pubs like the Mason Arms in Branscombe, fine restaurants. Time to go: All year round; every season's charming in its own way. Don't miss: Locally-made tipples like Luscombe's Ginger Beer. Need to know: The A303, heading SouthWest from the M3, has pinch points, notably Salisbury Plain and Stonehenge. Don't forget: Walking togs to keep dry in the rain.
Travel facts: Jeremy Gates was a guest of Premier Cottages, which features almost 1,000 four and five-star self-catering cottages in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Isles of Scilly and Channel Islands. Properties range from romantic boltholes to family-friendly country estates, many with onsite facilities like swimming pools, gyms, spas, indoor games rooms and play areas. A seven-night stay for up to six people in Higher Wiscombe's Thatched Barn ranges from £495 to £2,095 and three night weekend breaks from £455 to £1295. For reservations call 01404 871 360 or visit www.premiercottages.co.uk For East Devon information, see www.heartofdevon.com For fine eating in Devon, see The Trencherman's Guide at www.saltmedia.co.uk
When the rains come, the obvious solution is a good lunch - and we manage to discover two of the best restaurants in the region. In the carpet town of Axminster, The River Cottage Canteen and Deli in Trinity Square is hidden behind steamed-up front windows. Once inside, we find a queue for seats in the wide open space which once provided the town's ballroom. This is part of the empire of TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, its dishes based on produce from local farms and fishermen. As my wife salivates over her dish of pork, I cast an envious eye over sheepskins on the walls selling at £55 a pop. Nearby is Park Farm, the base for FearnleyWhittingstall's TV company. It isn't open to the public on a daily basis, though cookery courses lasting from one to four days make great 'foodie' gifts.
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The Most Loved Cycle Shop in the UK! Earlier this year M and D Cycles in Frogmore Street was voted Most Loved Cycle Shop in the UK. The nationwide on-line vote was part of the the ‘14 Days of Love’ competition, organised locally by the Best of Abergavenny. Owner Miles Preece and his shop manager Argo Bowsher were thrilled with the glowing comments their business received. Miles, an ex motorcycle cop, moved from Guernsey to Abergavenny to launch M and D Cycles ten years ago. Noted for its first class service as well as an excellent after sales services, the company’s customers come from all over South Wales and across the Severn Bridge. The shop caters for all types of riding, from toddlers with balance bikes to on and off-road racers - and everything in between. Its products and services include spares and repairs, bicycle sales, service of all major cycling brands, information on cycle schemes, impartial advice on cycling, custom bikes and wheel builds. Miles and Argo really know their stuff. Their friendly professional service is matched by their knowledge of cycling, both as a hobby and a sport, gained over 30 years.
“I took up cycling about 20 years ago when I was coerced into competing in the police national triathlon championships,” Miles explained. “ I soon found I couldn’t swim or run - but I’ve been keen on cycling ever since - nowadays mainly mountain racing.” The business has its own 20-strong racing team - M and D Cycles Kinetica Scimitar Sport - which recently competed in a 24-hour mountain race and will be taking part in the Criterium during Abergavenny Cycling Festival. On the Saturday of the Festival M and D runs a Bike Doctor clinic at Bailey Park, where anyone with a bike problem can seek help and advice. The business also provides back-up (spare bikes, wheels etc) for the Grand Prix Wales. The shop has about 70 bikes on display. It caters for everything from £250 entry level adult mountain bikes to £12,500 top-end road race bikes. There is currently a collection of 16 signed shirts on show as well, including three from Geraint Thomas - from the National
k o o l New ands r B w Ne ls a e d I w e N
Championships, Beijing Olympics and Tour de France.”
Miles’ Golden Retrievers Jaffa and Juno sit on the steps all day greeting visitors.
Why is M and D so ‘loved’? “I think people feel comfortable with us. We give friendly, unbiased advice, we’re not pressure sellers. We provide the best service we possibly can,” said Miles, People are welcome to call in at M and D and seek advice on riding, trails and general cycling or just for a chat and a coffee!
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm (half day Thursday 9am to 1pm). Telephone: 01873 854980. Incidentally, watch out for some special offers in August to coincide with the shop’s 10th anniversary.
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WWW.MNDCYCLES.CO.UK FOR FRIENDLY PERSONAL SERVICES CONTACT 01873 854980
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ETHICAL AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING The terms ‘ethical investment’ and ‘socially responsible investment’ are often used interchangeably to mean an approach to selecting investments whereby the usual investment criteria are overlaid with an additional set of ethical or socially responsible criteria. If you are concerned about global warming and other environmental and social issues there are a wide range of ethical investments you could consider investing in. As an ethical investor you should not (or need not) sacrifice your principles in exchange for achieving the best financial returns.
companies and use this as a lever to press for changes in the way the company operates. For example persuading mining and oil companies to take greater care over their environmental impact or pressing companies to offer better treatment of their workers.
Some would argue that in the long term, ethical and socially responsible investments (SRIs) have better prospects of out-performing other general investments.
There are also Shariah-Compliant Funds. These have expanded in popularity only recently, even though the concept was first developed in the late 1960s. The concept requires considerable effort to implement, since much attention must be paid to compliance with the Shariah principles, both at the fund operations level and for all underlying investments.
The definition of an ethical fund is one which has decided that its investments are acceptable or not by using a positive or negative ethical screening criteria. Funds that use negative screening, known as dark green funds, usually exclude companies typically involved in gambling, tobacco, alcohol and arms manufacturing but could also cover pollution of the environment, bank lending to corrupt regimes and testing of products on animals. Funds that use positive screening look for companies that are doing positive good, such as those engaged in recycling, alternative energy or water purification. There are also funds known as Engagement funds. These take a stake in
Shariah-Compliant funds are prohibited from investing in companies which derives income from the sales of alcohol, pork products, pornography, gambling, military equipment or weapons. Shariah allows for a small portion of an investment's income to come from prohibited sources, though a ShariahCompliant fund cannot profit from this income. Instead, it must separately account for these earnings and donate them to a charity. You can invest directly, or use your ISA allowance of up to £11,520 to invest in ethical or socially responsible funds. By definition the number of such funds you
can invest in is restricted. Therefore the risk of your investment going up or down in value is increased. However this can be mitigated by diversifying your ethical investment over several different styles and types of fund. Like their nonethical equivalent, some ethical funds are much higher risk than others, Similar to most investments, ethically based ones need to be considered in the context specific to your particular circumstances and, most importantly, your attitude to risk and capacity for loss. So it is vital that you seek qualified professional advice to help you make the right choices for your ethical and socially responsible investments. Clive Norbury is a Professional Financial Advisor, qualified to advise on investments, pensions, equity release and long term care.
Lighthouse Financial Advice is an appointed representative of Lighthouse Financial Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Clive Norbury 01873 810630 clive.norbury@lighthousefa.co.uk
Worried about your pension Unsure about your investments? Your Lighthouse adviser can help you make sense of your finances. Contact Clive Norbury Professional Financial Advisor Tel. 01873 810630 Mobile 07810 792214 clive.norbury@lighthousefa.co.uk www.lighthousefa.co.uk
Lighthouse Financial Advice Limited is an appointed representative of Lighthouse Advisory Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Lighthouse Advisory Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lighthouse Group plc. ●
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PA Photo / JupiterImages Corporation
Energy Calculator, where you can work out how you could benefit from the scheme. An average 3kWp (kilowatts peak) PV system, which will produce enough electricity for around 75% of a typical household’s needs, costs in the region of £10,000. Solar thermal panels cost much less, at around £3,000 to £5,000 for a typical system. They’ll provide around 33% of the hot water you need at home (depending on the size of your household), but won’t save you much money between £55 and £80 a year, according to an Energy Saving Trust field trial. You may be able to get a grant to help with the cost of the installation, or other financial assistance - check the Energy Saving Trust website for the latest schemes.
Save with Solar Here comes the sun
cut your utility bills and CO2 emissions, but the benefits don’t end there.
You may think that solar panels are a big expense and so not for you, but if you’re planning to stay in your home for a long time, installing them can make sense financially, as well as being beneficial to the environment.
Solar PV panels can also earn you money, thanks to the Government’s Feed-In Tariffs scheme, which pays you for the electricity you generate and use and also for any surplus you supply to the National Grid.
There are two types of solar panel - ones that generate electricity (solar photovoltaics or PV), which are most popular, and ones that heat your home’s water (solar thermal). With both, you’ll
This could give you savings and income of around ÂŁ670 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Its website (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk) features a Solar
If your home’s leasehold, you may need permission from the freeholder to install solar panels. Restrictions may also apply if you live on ‘designated land', such as a conservation area, and if the building’s listed, so ask your local council about what you can and can’t do. Where planning restrictions apply, solar roof tiles or slates may be acceptable to the planners. These are more expensive than panels, though. Standard solar panels are readily available - try the B&Q website (www.diy.com), where panels start at ÂŁ2,198 for two. Alternatively, go to http://local.which.co.uk or www.microgenerationcertification.org to find solar panel installers. As ever, get as many quotations as possible to find the best deal.
As well as the thermal panels, you’ll need a boiler or immersion heater to give you additional hot water and sometimes to make the water heated by the panels hotter, especially in winter. You may also have to change your boiler and hot-water cylinder to a compatible one. If putting the panels on a pitched roof isn’t an option, you may be able to mount them on a frame on the ground, a wall or a flat roof instead. As with all solar panels, how well they’ll work will depend on how much sun they get - the sunnier the position, the better, although they can still work on cloudy days. Solar panels are heavy, so ground or wall-mounted ones could be a good option if the roof can’t take the weight.
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Properties of the Month Dellwood, Cwmyoy, Abergavenny
Longhouse Barn, Penperlleni
Situated in a picturesque valley, just outside the village of Cwmyoy, this refurbished four bedroom detached stone cottage boasts many original features throughout and is surrounded by enclosed gardens with 6 acres of woodland. The property also has a large detached garage which has scope to be developed subject to necessary planning, as well as having a car port and parking for several vehicles.
Set in the popular village of Penperlleni, this deceptively spacious detached property boasts five bedrooms, three reception rooms, a family bathroom, ensuites, double garage, parking for several vehicles & enclosed gardens. There are also several local amenities, including doctors and schools on its doorstep.
This property is a must be viewed to appreciate its size.
A viewing is highly recommended to fully appreciate this properties beauty.
ÂŁ475,000
ÂŁ290,000 www.
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It is conveniently situated just 6 miles from Abergavenny.
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robertsandcoestateagents.co.uk
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Summer Fun FREE
he With t enny v a Aberg nicle Chro
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013! ●
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Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Welcome to Salmons Fest 2013 An Independent, boutique Summer Music Festival .again the fabulous Three Salmons music festival will be taking place from 2nd - 4th August, only this year promises to be bigger and better. Across three days we will be showcasing the best in local music, entertainment, food and drink in our family friendly festival. An extraordinary variety of performances in such an exquisite venue makes this festival a true highlight of the summer for all music-lovers. At just £5 per person for the whole weekend it has to be the best value music festival in the UK and is set to sell out quickly. year the main stage will be under a 320sq ft marquee, with music for every taste - Rock, Reggae, Pop, House, Ska, Jazz & Blues. Salmonsfest 2013 will be held in the grounds of the Three Salmons Hotel, a 400 year old Grade 2-listed building, in the beautiful market town of Usk in Monmouthshire. The picturesque town of Usk has won the "Wales in Bloom" competition 30 times since 1982.
DJ Jon-Paul will be opening Salmonsfest on Friday 2nd August 2013 with a fantastic selection of dance music. Jon-Paul has over 20 years’ experience playing all forms of dance music & can be heard every Friday covering his own UK radio show. Saturday & Sunday at Salmonsfest will be dedicated to live music with local bands taking centre stage. Saturday’s highlights will include bands such as High Sierra, Doc and the Revd & CoDA. On Sunday Bluesy Susie & Tafijah Allstars will be appearing on stage with IRock Band closing the festival on Sunday the 4th August.
fired pizza oven will be available on the Sunday. Across the weekend there will be three bars available serving a variety of refreshments. Tickets are priced at just £5 for the whole weekend; under 14s are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets are available from Reception or via www.salmonsfest.co.uk Full details of the festival lineup, accommodation options & details of food & drink can be found on our website www.salmonsfest.co.uk
A well thought out selection of food and drink will be available on site with options to suit everyone. Festival goers will be able to enjoy food from our BBQ & a wood
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SIX OF THE BEST FOR SELF PROPELLED FUN
Adults in Mind - Fuzion Asphalt - £69.99 from www.amazon.co.uk
Tots Transport Scuttlebug - £24.99 from www.toysrus.co.uk A simply superb solution for the 18 month plus group of mini-commuters to scurry about in all directions pushing off with their feet.
Using quadcarver technology this scooter can take corners on the street in an almost snowboarding kind of fashion. Lean side to side on the central board for extra speed and don't let the kids have all the fun.
The gel wheels make it ideal for indoor or outdoor use and the clever trike folds flat for taking it on longer trips.
Fun ways to get around.
All terrain trike - KMX Kart - £699.00 from www.kmxkarts.co.uk
By Peter Jenkinson
This is the flagship model in the KMX Kart range, made with lightweight materials; top quality gear system and the best brakes money can buy.
The cycle is the undisputed leader of the pack when it comes to leisure or commuting pursuits.
Take this off road on to almost any kind of terrain. As your centre of gravity is that much lower than on a mountain bike you can really rip up the countryside.
But for a bit of fun and a great way of keeping fit are our only alternatives in-line skates and micro scooters? - Absolutely not. There are enough contenders in the self propulsion stakes to fill a stadium and I've been working up a sweat this week and going in circles at speed to bring you a selection of six for some summer fun.
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Spring in your step - Anti gravity boots £99.99 from www.iwoot.com Granted you'll look a little daft at first but those glares will be ones of the green variety as folk see your increased speed with little energy expended. Leap higher and further than ever before, those rubber springs on the underside may look tame but they convert downward motion into an impressive bounce.
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Early craze - Ripstick - £99.99 from www.argos.co.uk The entire skateboarding scene has seen a massive revival of late but if you want to stand out from the crowd you need to be seeking out the latest bit of kit. The Ripstik is the next big thing on the streets. Its unique twowheeled propulsion system allows you to keep up the speed without leaving the board and with some practice you'll be pulling off jawdropping tricks.
Portable Power - Rollies - £16.95 from www.paramountzone.com Carry these about with you wherever you are, one size fits almost all. Not just for kids these strap on simply to any shoe in no time. I'm thinking they're perfect for long walks between check-in and departure gate.
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Colour me in
July 2013 Pick up a copy of the Abergavenny chronicle
Car Boot Sale, 3pm, ROF Glascoed, Usk, NP15 1XL, Tel: 07746628477 www.carbootys.co.uk St Peters Church, Llanwenarth Citra, Oriel Singers Summer Concert. Interval refreshments. £12.50. 01873 857392
All Creatures & Small Animal Sanctuary, NP44 8AD, Open Day Sat July 6, 11-5pm. www.allcreaturesgrea tandsmall.org.uk
Tabernacle Baptist Chapel Grwyne Fawr Valley, Forest Coalpit. Sankey evening at 6.30pm. All welcome
Crickhowell Craft Fair 10 till 3.30pm in Clarence Hall Crickhowell. Handmade crafts and refreshments. Enquiries Contact: 01873 811618
SWHP Horse Hospital, St Maughans Nr Monmouth Annual Summer Open Day 114. Refreshments, stalls. www.swhp.co.uk. 01600 750233
Clydach Methodist Church (Main Road, North). Open Day. Local history, photos, refreshments
Pick up a copy of the Abergavenny chronicle
Moserah Presbyterian Church Anniversary 6.30pm. All are welcome
Goytre Community Fun Run 12 noon start. Fete, refreshments. Sponsors and stallholders welcome. Registration Fees apply. For further details Tel: 01873 880334 after 5pm
The 25th Cwmdu & District Show at Wern Farm Cwmdu. Opens 12.15. Free Parking. Further enquiries 01874 730351/711738
Pick up a copy of the Abergavenny chronicle
Veterans Day Parade from Castle 2pm to St Mary’s Church for 2.30pm service
Crickhowell Vintage and Antique Fair, Clarence Hall, also Vintage Tea Shop. £1 admission, under 16 free. Supporting Cancer Research UK
Pick up a copy of the Abergavenny chronicle Abergavenny Farmers `Market
Glangrwyney CC at new venue Cwrt-yGollen Camp. 8am start.
Shire Horse Show and Minature Horse Show at Bailey Park. 10am – 5pm. Adults £5, Senior Citizens £3, under 5s free
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Harts Barn Cookery School Since opening in Spring 2011, Harts Barn Cookery School has always been about ‘COOKING FOR ALL’ - our strapline is 'from Basics to Banquets.' We view cooking as an essential life skill – our ethos of 'Cooking For All' means that we only offer classes that are accessible, affordable, give confidence and are lots of fun.
offer gift and experience vouchers and it also possible to hire out the Cookery School for your own bespoke event or party. Classes cater for every taste, local and international cuisine, baking and sugarcraft, cake decorating and classes for specific dietry requirement "Free-From", Vegetarian and Vegan, Raw etc.
All classes offer a hands-on element and will focus on gaining practical skills and knowledge, and we cater for all ages and abilities. We believe in the 'socialisation' of food, bringing people together whether they are learning a new skill in the kitchen to sitting down and enjoying the soiree! Our beautiful cookery school also regularly hosts corporate functions, 'away days', birthday parties (children and adults), charity fundraisers and local events. We also help to organise and run local food festivals and events that involve other local businesses from craftspeople to local producer markets. The School has a beautiful new Earth Oven for outdoor cooking and baking and we have just become a Raw Food Training Centre. We run regular demos, talks and tastings,
Set in the picturesque Forest of Dean, relaxed & fun cookery classes & activities all year round. - Gift and Experience Vouchers - Earth Oven for Outdoor Cooking and Baking - Parties for Kids, Adults & Hens -Venue Hire & Corporate Days - Demos, Tastings and Talks - Raw Food Training Centre call us on
01452 831719 or see all that we offer at
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Welsh Food The Abergavenny Food Festival takes place over the third weekend of September. Featuring some of the brightest lights of the culinary world it occupies the centre of the town across six venues. Around one hundred and seventy stalls with produce from Wales, the Marches and further afield, together with a programme of individually ticketed masterclasses, tutored tastings and chef dems (previous participants: Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, Clarissa Dickson-Wright, Anthony Bourdain). "As Cannes is to Film, so is Abergavenny to food" (Observer Food Monthly).
Welsh Food Festival Set in the beautiful gardens of Glansevern Hall, the Welsh food festival hosts a range of events showcasing Welsh produce. Last year Bryn Williams was the star attraction he hosted a variety of cookery demonstrations. Also present was 16 year old Luke Thomas who’s already worked with Heston Blumenthal and Marcus Wareing and aims to be the youngest person ever to win a Michelin star.
Aberystwyth Food and Drink Festival The historic market town of Aberystwyth, famous for its density of pubs and its picturesque seafront, is a perfect location for a festival of food and drink. Just as well they have one then; a great mix of cookery demonstrations, children’s entertainment and most vitally a fine showcase for welsh food. .
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Festivals Narberth Food Festival
Llangollen Food and Drink
This community event, entirely volunteer-run, won‘t get the biggest names, but it’s still one of the friendliest and most enjoyable food festivals around. Patrons are Angela Gray and Elizabeth Luard, so you can expect talks and demonstrations from those two luminaries, along with a variety of exhibitors, all soundtracked by live music. .
Llangollen Food and Drink is one of the heavyweights of Wales Food Festival circuit, with over 100 handpicked exhibitors and a variety of celebrity chef demonstrations. It’s not just focused on the food though, with a dedicated beer tent featuring ales from breweries around North Wales and the borders launched last year, plus a chance to watch a cider pressing demonstration. Cowbridge Food and Drink
Brecon Beacons Food Festival Brecon is best known for its beacons and its Jazz festival, but increasingly this annual celebration of food is gaining notoriety. The market hall is the host, as it is for Brecon’s weekly farmers market and there’ll be over 50 stalls of produce available.
Neath Food Festival Thousands of visitors enjoy the abundance of food stalls in and outside the Victorian market at Neath Food Festival. Under the guidance of Le Crème Pattiserie’s Ian Hindle, they have big ambitions for this event and you can expect Neath Food Festival to get bigger and better every year.
A real vibrancy takes over the bustling market town of Cowbridge, when this established event is in town. Along with the usual mix of exhibitors, chef demonstrations and talks, you’ll find marquees devoted to the time old coupling of wine and cheese, and to the decadent drink that is Champagne.
Feastival - Wales Alternative Food Festival Billed as the alternative food festival of Wales, this ‘Feastival’ really tries to offer something different alongside its regular programme of stalls, demos and talks. So watch the finale of the 150 mile long Leek relay, showing how far our produce travels (and the effect it has) before it gets to us. And gawp at all 10ft of the cauliflower sheep, made to highlight food wastage and all composted afterwards.
.Gwledd Conwy Feast The Conwy Feast takes place over two days and is now one of the largest and most successful in Wales. With a myriad of choice from local food producers and retailers on hand for you to try (and buy) their produce plus cooking demonstrations and much more, this is a day or weekend for all the family to enjoy. Gwledd Conwy Feast has been awarded 'BEST COMMUNITY EVENT 2010' in Conwy County Borough.
Mold Food Festival Though perhaps a slightly unfortunate title for a festival devoted to eating, Mold food fest is a charming event which showcases a great variety of produce from the town and surrounding areas. Enjoy demonstrations from local chefs and talks on how to use welsh produce, plus a full programme of live music.
Everything you need for a
BEAUTFUL GARDEN
1 mile from A4042 halfway between Abergavenny & Pontypool www.nantyderryGC.co.uk 01873 880377 Open 7 days, 10am - 5pm ●
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Formal, botanic or water garden? Bodnant Garden
Bodnant Gardens
Famous for its magnificent collections of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias. It also boasts the tallest redwood tree in the British Isles.
Aberglasney Aberglasney is an exciting and highly significant garden restoration. Set within 9 acres are six different garden spaces including three walled gardens.
Seasonal Highlights - Spring Wales is a green country and full of different types of gardens. If you're a garden lover looking to visit impressive gardens whilst on holiday in Wales you wont be disappointed. There are gardens in the grounds of magnificent castles, stately homes with beautiful formal gardens and even superb examples of Italian gardens.
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Relax and take in the glory of Wales' gardens Powis Castle & Gardens Trust Castle has outstanding gardens. Set in stunning surroundings; a mix of sweeping parkland, woodland and Italiante terraces.
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Picton Castle & Gardens www.pictoncastle.co.uk/gardens in West Wales. The gardens and woodland walks will be bursting with all the colours of Spring
Dewstow Gardens & Grottoes Edwardian gardens at Dewstow House in Monmouthshire have some interesting features, a labyrinth of underground grottoes and tunnels.
Plasnewydd Country House & Gardens This splendid National Trust property, alongside the Menai Strait on the Isle of Anglesey, is a harmonious combination of house and horticulture. Picton Castle
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Recipe Corner A taste of summer with Earthfire outdoor pizza ovens
Jason’s verdict on the Earthfire ceramic pizza oven: “This fantastic ceramic outdoor oven has an incredible cooking heat so I’d recommend a few trial runs to get used to the speed it cooks at. However, once you master it, you will love the versatility of this stylish piece of culinary kit. My recipes highlight a few ideas but there’s plenty more to it – you can bake bread, smoke food, barbecue – and with two hours of cooking time, it makes outdoor cooking much more relaxed. Get the hang of it first and then you can experiment away. “Its size and the fact that it’s portable make it really user-friendly - you could have it on a balcony, on the decking, in the garden or a courtyard. You could take it camping too and be the envy of the site.” The Earthfire Ceramic Pizza Oven costs £349 plus delivery. To order visit www.grenadier.co.uk or call 01829 741649.
The new Earthfire ceramic pizza oven is handmade, with a durable glazed finish and oak handles, creating a modern, outdoor oven that will cook pizzas to perfection, as well as baking, barbecuing and smoking food. Its unique ceramic material allows the oven to reach temperatures of over 350ºC which are needed to cook pizza and it heats in just 30 minutes, providing two hours cooking time without refuelling. Top chef Jason Palin loved the oven and created a few summer recipes to show what it can do...
Sunshine Pizza Chef’s description, “Fresh pizza dough with a thin crust and lots of summer flavours. Perfect for sharing with friends in the garden.” Makes 2 x 10 inch pizzas Ingredients ● 2 tsps dry active yeast ● 100 ml of warm water ● 500 g of bread flour ● 50 ml of olive oil ● Pinch of sea salt and pinch of pepper ● Pinch of flaked chillies (optional) To prepare the dough Put the yeast and warm water in a mixing bowl to dissolve the yeast. Now add the flour, salt, oil, and chillies. Mix for five minutes until a little sticky (use a dough hook if on a machine). Form into a ball and pop into an oiled bowl. Cover with cling film and let it rest for at least one hour, until doubled in size. Topping ● 200 g of vibrant green pesto ● 125 g of roasted red peppers ● 2 tbsp of capers, drained and washed if salted (optional) ● 20 thin slices of chorizo sausage ● 200 g of grated Manchego cheese ● 20 basil leaves ● Extra virgin olive oil Method Heat up the pizza oven for 30 minutes as you assemble the pizza. Divide the dough into two equal portions and keep one covered aside. When working the first one, roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to about 10 inches diameter, with half an inch thickness. Spread
on half the pesto and sprinkle on the Manchego cheese. Top with half the remaining ingredients; chorizo, peppers and capers, reserving the basil and olive oil. Continue with the second ball of dough and repeat the process. Bake for one to two minutes or until the base is crisp and golden on top and bubbling. Finish with basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil. Chef’s tip: Top the pizza just before you pop it on the hot plate to ensure maximum crispness of the base. The oven cooks very quickly so stay close, as a few minutes is all it will need.
About Jason Palin: Renowned chef Jason Palin has worked across the globe as head chef at leading luxury resorts and as a private chef to Alist names. His style is a fusion of worldwide flavours, showcased with simplicity and flair. He has appeared on BBC1 Breakfast with Cheshire Cookery School, regularly appears at the Cheshire Show and also lectures on food history. Currently Jason is working with esteemed French winemakers Tour de Belfort, and hosts cookery classes, events and private parties. He is based at the vineyard’s UK outlet Le Vin La Table in Hale, Cheshire. Find out more about Jason at: www.gourmetgusto.co.uk
About Grenadier: Grenadier is a family business that has been supplying high quality products to a discerning audience since 1989. Renowned for its electric firelighters, which have been endorsed by a host of celebrities, the company also offers a range or related products including the Earthfire Ceramic Pizza Oven, woodburning stoves and ceramic fire pits.
Earthfire oven-baked mackerel with roast peppers and aubergine Chef’s description: “Crisp-skinned mackerel baked in the pizza oven with super healthy provençal vegetables. A simple dinner for a summer evening with a true Mediterranean taste.” Serves two Ingredients ● 2 medium fresh mackerel (cleaned and gutted) ● 2 red long sweet peppers ● 4 baby aubergines ● 4 baby leeks ● Few sprigs thyme ● Garlic bulb large (unpeeled) ● 1 lemon cut in four slices ● Splash of olive oil ● Sea salt /smoky paprika ● 4 large shallots peeled Method Wash all the vegetables. Preheat your pizza oven for 30 minutes. Then simply pop all the vegetables, including the whole garlic onto the ceramic plate. Slash the mackerel skin three times each side and press thyme into the cuts along with two lemon slices. Rub the fish with oil, salt and paprika. When the vegetables have cooked for three minutes put the mackerel in to bake for four minutes. Turn over and cook for a further four minutes. Serve up half the vegetables with each fish and finish with crusty french bread, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic or fruity vinegar. Chef’s tip: Remember the heat of this oven is 350ºC so it will cook the fish very quickly – keep an eye on it and check regularly.
SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2013 Usk Showground, NP15 1DD Adults: £10 Children: £3 Family: £25
www.uskshow.co.uk ●
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Tintern’s Old Station tea room shortlisted for Best Place to Eat The Old Station in Tintern has been shortlisted in the National Tourism Awards for Wales for the prestigious title of Best Place to Eat in Wales. Only 17 restaurants, pubs and cafes across Wales have been shortlisted from hundreds of entries and now the public will decide which will win through an online vote. There are three sub-categories for Best Place to Eat – Best Restaurant, Best Pub and Best Café. The tea room at The Old Station has been shortlisted in the Best Cafe category. Lesley Sterry, the tea room owner said: “It’s a real honour to be shortlisted. We pride ourselves on serving locally sourced produce and all our cakes are baked here on site in our ticket office kitchen. We aim to give our customers a really excellent experience each time they visit us so to be recognised like this is very special. We hope everyone in Monmouthshire and our regulars will go online and vote for The Old Station.” Anyone voting for the Best Place to Eat will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a hands-on cookery course for two people with chef Angela Gray at Llanerch Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan, plus an overnight stay at one of the vineyard’s luxury farmhouse rooms. You can place your vote for The Old Station on the National Tourism Awards for Wales website http://www.ntawales.com/english/vote/ or at http://www.ntawales.com/cymraeg/vote/
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The winners of the Best Place to Eat and the other categories for the National Tourism Awards for Wales, which is being organised by Visit Wales in commercial partnership with Quadrant Media & Communications, will be unveiled at the awards ceremony at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on 21 November 2013
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Family Fun Brynich Playbarn Want to let your kids have all the fun whilst you relax? Sounds too good to be true... At the Playbarn, strictly under 11s only rule the roost whilst adults take can a break over tea, coffee and home made food.
Llangorse Lake Home to an impressive array of wildlife and rare flowers, you’ll also find sailing, fishing, camping and adventure activity holidays at South Wales’ largest lake.
Llangorse Lake
Centre for Alternative Technology Eco-friendly fun in Machynlleth. With loads to learn, planet conscious displays and forward thinking science. Arriving by foot, bike or public transport will earn you a discount.
Royal Welsh Show In mid July get to grips with prize animals, Cossack Horses riders and even the Gigrin Farm
odd Freefall display. The show remains popular as ever, this year will be no exception.
in species conservation, get up close and personal with one of Wales’ rarest birds. Feeding time commences at 3pm everyday throughout the summer.
Dan-yr-Ogof National Showcaves Know the difference between stalagmites and stalactites? From bones cave to the underground Cathedral, this award winning subterranean treasure combines history and geology in spectacular fashion.
Gigrin Farm - Red Kite feeding station One of the great success stories
Welshpool & Llanfair light railway Choo Choo enthusiasts at the ready: 16 miles return journey via a narrow gauge steam train provide a great alternative to everyday hustle and bustle. For every adult fare, a child rides for free.
Lake Vyrnwy South of Snowdon: good old fashion fresh air, outdoor art, wooded trails, kayaking, a 44m Victorian Dam make this a super spot. The RSPB hold plenty of education workshops too.
Saturday, 3rd August 2013 The Showground, Watton Villa, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7EF
James Dylan Stuntworld is the Bike Act this year, we have many diverse food and craft stands
A great day out for all the family with livestock, horticulture and domestic sections, tradestands and much more.
Dan-yr-Ogof National Showcaves Llanfair Light Railway
From sheep shearing to poultry, axe racing to countryside pursuits, there is something for everyone at the show. Visit our new website for more information and advance ticket bookings.
www.breconcountyshow.co.uk "Stars of the Future" Limousin show, WPCS Bronze Medal Show for Welsh Sections A, B, C & D and WPCS Performance Medals for ridden Welsh. New classes in the horse and sheep sections for 2013
For further information contact: Barbara Green, Plas Gwyn, Saron, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire, SA44 5DZ Tel: 01559 371551/07887 555684 Email: info@breconcountyshow.co.uk ●
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Abergavenny Food Festival 2013 This year’s Abergavenny Food Festival takes place over the weekend of 21 and 22 September and box office goes live on 2 July. An adult stroller ticket (from £6.50) gives access to five venues with over two hundred exhibitors, plus a rolling programme of chef dems, a children’s Food Academy and other entertainment. It’s a fabulous day out for the whole family. And – to help keep costs down there is free entry for children under 16 (if accompanied by a paying adult).
FESTIVAL 21 & 22 SEPTEMBER 2013
Rick Stein
Kate Humble
all about food
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View full 2013 programme from 2 July and book online at www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com or through the Borough Theatre: 01873 850805.
2013 STROLLER & EVENT TICKETS NOW ON SALE 200+ speciality food and drink exhibitors, masterclasses, tutored tastings, talks, walks & forays, children’s workshops, all day entertainment. Adult day stroller tickets from just £6.50* – under 16s get in FREE! See the full programme and buy direct from abergavennyfoodfestival.com Tickets also available from the Borough Theatre Box Office, Abergavenny (tel 01873 850805)
We’re on Twitter @afoodfestival
* Individual adult Sunday stroller ticket bought before 1 Sept 2013
Omar Allibhoy
FOOD
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Caroline Conran
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The culinary line-up also includes MasterChef 2012 winner Shelina Permaloo who will be sharing vegetarian dishes from her book ‘Sunshine on a
Plate’ and Master Chocolatier Marc Demarquette who’ll be giving a tasting of his signature ganaches. World-acclaimed chef Magnus Nilsson is scheduled to fly in and talk about Fäviken - his amazing restaurant on the edge of the Arctic circle which O O seats just twelve AL people; and the head chef at El Pirata De Tapas, Omar Allibhoy (described by Gordon Ramsay as the Antonio Banderas of cooking) is going to show you how to cook paella … properly.
Marc Demarquette
The Festival’s programme of forty individually ticketed events kicks off on Friday 20 September with Rick Stein, one
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Starting off as an accidental chef when his nightclub business got closed down, Rick has scaled the highest heights as a restaurateur and cookery-writer, and is one of the most accomplished presenters of food on television. After the event he will be signing copies of RIC his memoir K which is published by Ebury Press.
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There’s plenty of provision for children at the festival. Thanks to sponsorship from Organic Centre Wales (www.organiccentrewales.org.uk) The Food Academy at the Castle has now been moved into ‘The Dome’ and the additional space will allow more children to experience drop-in hands-on workshops - including food mapping activies - using Welsh organic produce.
of Britains best loved cooks. To mark the occasion of the publication of his memoir ‘Under a Mackerel Sky’ he’ll be in conversation with Xanthe Clay, food-writer for The Daily Telegraph (Borough Theatre 7.30 – 8.30pm, tickets £8.00).
abergavennyfoodfestival.com
If you’re reading this article then the chances are good that you are living in the NP7 postcode area. Well – that’s good news! On top of an early-bird discount - where prices are held over from last year - there’s an extra 10% discount on stroller tickets for NP7 residents until 31 August. Maximum of two discounted strollers per household. Buy online at www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com or through the Borough Theatre (where proof of residency will be required).
And there’s a special event for children too. If they are fans of CBBC’s Stefan Gates then you’ll want to bring them to see him in person with his fabulous show ‘Incredible Edibles Live’ at the Borough Theatre on the Saturday (Adults £6.00, Children: £3.00). This spectacular live show includes edible insects, mindblowing food science and some very very big explosions. Show your family that food is fun!
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Tips for a Great Picnic Don’t Litter. Take along a trash bag or other receptacle for collecting your trash so that you can deposit it in the proper trash receptacle. Make sure that you are using the correct type of cooking equipment permitted in that area. Check with your destination ahead of time for seasonal fire or campstove restrictions that may be in place. Don’t picnic in areas where you are not permitted. These areas have been declared “off limits” to picnickers to protect wildlife, vegetation, or for your safety.
Who doesn’t like a picnic? When you combine good food and company with fresh air and sunshine, you’re free to throw fuss to the wind. But the recipe for a successful picnic doesn’t end there. You’ll need a variety of basic supplies within easy reach throughout the duration of your outing. And while a picnic should be laidback, you’ll want to follow a few important safety rules. Finally, you don’t want your picnic washed out, so be sure to check the latest forecast. But if the worst happens, who says you can’t picnic indoors?
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Picnic Essentials
Personal Safety While Picnicking Be sure to follow these safety tips when planning a picnic in an unfamiliar area: ● Check with local park, forest, or public lands agents to see what precautions need to be taken in regard to storing food away from wildlife. Do not feed the local wildlife! ● Take precautions against picnicking in an area that may be dangerous in case of sudden flash floods. Check with local rangers to find a safe and legal picnic area. ● Remember to take along non-perishable food items. ● Be courteous and remember that you are sharing public lands with other picnickers and recreationists. ● Do not picnic on unauthorized areas. ● Bring along extra safety items such as water, flashlights, maps, and a cell phone or radio.
Whether you’re planning a picnic to celebrate an occasion or simply enjoy a pleasant summer afternoon, it’s easy to make each picnic unique. The food, candles, flowers, games, music, and other diversions you bring add a special touch. But no matter the occasion, most every picnic requires some basic essentials. Consider the following: For Transporting and Storage ● Cooler fully stocked with ice or ice packs ● Picnic basket ● Food storage containers For Safety and Comfort ● Picnic blanket or tablecloth ● Low-standing picnic table ● Cushions or pillows ● Folding chairs ● Antibacterial gel ● Insect repellent ● Anti-allergy medication ● Sunscreen ● Umbrella For Serving ● Utensils/plates/cups ● Napkins/paper towels ● Condiments ● Bottle opener/corkscrew ● Plenty of water/beverages For Cleanup ● Towelettes/paper towels ● Trash bags
Picnics and the Great Outdoors Choosing where to picnic can be half the fun. Whether your dining destination is your backyard, a local park, or a nearby beach, just follow common sense and a few important guidelines to ensure the great outdoors stay great. Be Responsible When Using Public Lands You can help to take good care of our public lands so that others may enjoy these areas for years to come by practicing some of the following actions:
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Picnics and Food Safety Although it may seem we pack too much before heading out on a picnic, they’d be quite a bit safer if we could actually pack the kitchen sink. Food spoilage and cross-contamination are real concerns when eating food outdoors in warm weather without the use of a kitchen. Be sure to follow these tips to ensure your picnic is a healthy one.
Keep Hot Food Hot and Cold Food Cold It’s essential to keep hot food hot and cold food cold throughout the duration of your picnic. Holding food at an unsafe temperature is a prime cause of foodborne illness. Already-hot summertime temperatures can spike higher in direct sunlight. Store coolers in the shade whenever possible. Food should not be left out of the cooler or off the grill more than 2 hours (1 hour when the outside temperature is above 90°F).
Carry cold perishable food like hamburger patties, hotdogs, luncheon meats and chicken in an insulated cooler packed with plenty of ice or frozen gel packs. Be sure raw meat and poultry are wrapped securely to prevent juices from cross-contaminating ready-to-eat food. Perishable cooked foods such as meats, chicken and potato or pasta salads must be kept cold, too. Don’t stock the cooler until immediately before leaving home. Keep the cooler in the coolest part of the car when traveling.
Keep Everything Clean Find out if there’s a source of potable (safe drinking) water at your destination. If not, bring water for preparation and cleaning; or pack clean, wet, disposable cloths or moist towelettes and paper towels for cleaning hands and surfaces. Crosscontamination during preparation, grilling, and serving food is a prime cause of foodborne illness. Always wash your hands before and after handling food, and don’t use the same platter and utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry. Soap and water are essential to cleanliness, so if you are going somewhere that will not have potable water, bring it with you. Even disposable wipes will do. Include lots of clean utensils, not only for eating but also for serving the safely cooked food.
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Grand time in Gran Canaria It may be a popular beach destination, but there's more to do in Gran Canaria than soak up sun. Caroline Davison recommends the top places to eat, drink and sightsee. Conspiracies, cathedrals and Columbus are just a small part of the textured history of buzzing Spanish island Gran Canaria. The possibilities of what to do are endless for me and my partner Dave, as we explore the capital Las Palmas. Led by guide Bruno Knudsen Vizcaino we head to Las Canteras beach, which is divided into sections - for local women playing cards, sports fans, sunbathers and families. It's an urban beach and enjoyed by the city's residents.
VEDDW
HOUSE GARDEN A Modern Romantic Garden
The garden is set in the wonderful countryside of the Welsh border above Tintern.
There are two acres of ornamental garden and two acres of woodland. A favourite part with visitors and ourselves is the dramatic reflecting pool.
CAMPING
CLIMBING
CANOEING WALKING
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TRAVEL
A red tourist bus, which runs throughout the day, is a useful way to get around. We take it to the Doramas Park botanical garden. At the entrance to the tranquil haven is a poignant fountain documenting the lives of the pre-Hispanic residents of the island, the Aborigen. The park, in chic Ciudad Jardin, is named after the last Aborigen king Doramas, and four statues on the fountain depict the might and culture of his people. Legend has it Doramas was cornered by the Spanish in the 15th century, but rather than be defeated and enslaved, the warrior committed suicide by jumping from the ridge of a volcanic crater to his death. Excited by the island's complex historical past, we travel to the oldest part of Las Palmas - Vegueta. Here, noblemen have resided for centuries in huge, traditional apartments clustered around Santa Ana cathedral. The buildings are spectacular but it's easy to get lost in the maze of streets, which Bruno says were designed to be disorientating so ancient enemies approaching from the sea could not locate the heart of the city. We eat lunch in the old town at Bienmesabe Tapas, near a museum dedicated to Columbus and his brief stay on the island in the late 1400s. The eatery lives up to the translation of its name - It Tastes Good. The owners, brothers Airam and Juan Manuel, serve local specialities including Ham & Cheese Croquettes served with their mum Ana's home-made fig jam. The cosy, atmospheric restaurant is also part of the tapas route - bars around the cathedral sell a glass of wine or a beer with a tapas dish for two euros per person, every Thursday from 8pm until midnight. We finish the meal with a complimentary carta oro - rum matured for at least a year in an oak barrel. We go for the dark rum over white and try the delectable honey version, ron miel. Young people on the island drink it with coke, while older residents knock it back neat. We're old enough to try it neat although we have to pace ourselves as we have a long night ahead. Bruno tells us locals go out late here, at about 10pm, and buses run all night from the capital, down the coast to the southern resorts. Most bars, restaurants and hotels on the island are gay friendly, with Las Palmas's drag acts proving popular. The Yumbo Centrum and Kasba in
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013! Playa del Ingles provide similar entertainment in the south. I soon discover Gran Canarians have a very laidback and open-minded approach to life. Nudists are welcome on the island and are granted designated areas to sunbathe - including on the roof of our four-star hotel Gloria Palace.
But no fish could beat the monster Dave eats that night at cheerful restaurant Bistro Balcon del Aguila (www.bistro-balcon-del-aguila.com), in Playa del Aguila. It
has great views overlooking the beach and serves huge, mouthwatering fish, reeled in from the sea that day. Its owners are part of the large German expat community, so most of the menu is inspired by their homeland. Next morning we set off for the interior of the mountains in a minibus driven by guide Tobias Pujol de Riemer. He explains there are nearly 200 miles of pathways around the island for walkers and hikers, so he takes us on some of them to one of the best vantage points on the island - Roque Nublo.
The hotel is spacious and modern, boasting one of the largest Thalasso spas in Europe. The large saltwater indoor spa pool features stations with water jets to pummel and massage the body, plus an outdoor area and hot and cold plunge pools. No holiday is complete without a visit to a local market - so we take the bus to Puerto de Mogan. The market is held in the main square from 9am until 2pm every Friday. It sells clothes, leather goods, crafts and jewellery.
After 45 minutes of walking on stony terrain we arrive at a plateau where we can see the rock itself and across to Mount Teide on Tenerife. It's a view to remember.
The nearby beach is a delight - it's a hub for water sports and is surrounded by restaurants selling freshly caught fish.
We have a reservation at trendy Dejate Llevar on Calle Dr Domingo Hernandez in Guerra, Tejeda (www.letmetakeu.com). The cafe offers wonderful views of Roque Nublo from its terrace in a laid-back, modern atmosphere. On the menu are seasonal, local dishes ranging from nibbles to hearty meals. It also serves up international food as the couple who run it, Nikos and Fernando, are well travelled. I opt for moussaka, as Nikos's mum is over to stay and has made it. Who could resist that? Next, we head for Teror - the religious centre of the island. It is here in 1481 that a vision of the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared on a pine tree.
Bigwell Flyfishery
The venue itself comprises 3 main pools and a nursery pool. Main pool no. 1 is a crystal clear pool where stalking your prey is the order of the day. Pools 2 & 3 are slightly coloured though vision through the water is still very good - wear those polaroids! The fishery is stocked weekly with 2.5-3Lb high quality trout maintaining a very healthy head of trout. Also recently stocked was a quantity of large trout 6-12Lbs, as
sporting fish to be released, for our clients added pleasure. New or old clients; we look forward to welcoming you to a great days fishing! Facilities: - Disabled anglers are most welcome - Toilets with Disabled facilites - Food available onsite: All day full English breakfast, Lunch time special, Sandwiches, Cold drinks. - Complimentary beverages for clients. Bigwell Flyfishery Tinmans Green, Redbrook, Monmouth, NP25 4NB • 01600 772904 info@bigwellflyfishery.co.uk facebook.com/bigwellflyfishery www.bigwellflyfishery.co.uk
■ Caroline Davison was a guest
of Thomas Cook Holidays with Style (www.thomascook.com; 0844 412 5970) who offer seven nights all-inclusive at the 4 star Gloria Palace San Agustin Thalasso & Hotel, from £734 per person (based on two booking), departing from London Gatwick. Price based on a departure date of September 23, 2013, and includes transfers, 20kg luggage allowance and in-flight meals designed by TV chef James Martin. Regional departures also available from airports across the UK. ■ Bruno Knudsen Vizcaino's company, Trip Gran Canaria, offers tours around the island. Visit www.tripgrancanaria.com or call +34 674 128 849. ■ For more information, visit www.grancanaria.com Buildings in the square surrounding a cathedral are colonial style. They were built to reflect their owners' status with elaborate wooden and stone balconies, and ornate facades. A definite 16th century case of keeping up with the Joneses (or rather, the Estradas). As Tobias drives us back to the hotel past cave houses, Dave, a keen cyclist, notes the mountainous roads of the island would be great to explore on two wheels. It turns out many professionals' winter training takes place here and, although Dave's only a professional in his dreams, I can see he longs to come back. And next time, I fear it may be with his bike, not me.
This trout fishery is set in the heart of the Wye Valley at the edge of the small village of Redbrook.
This trout fishery is set in the heart of the Wye Valley at the edge of the small village of Redbrook. Bigwell has been under new management since 1st May 2013. Gary Gray is the new proprietor and is a former client. The fishery has been significantly improved since Gary took the reins and returning anglers have been very complimentary.
Travel facts
Bigwell has been under new management since 1st May 2013. Gary Gray is the new proprietor and is a former client. The fishery has been significantly improved since Gary took the reins and returning anglers have been very complimentary. The venue itself comprises 3 main pools and a nursery pool. Main pool no. 1 is a crystal clear pool where stalking your prey is the order of the day. Pools 2 & 3 are slightly coloured though vision through the water is still very good - wear those polaroids! The fishery is stocked weekly with 2.5-3Lb high quality trout maintaining a very healthy head of trout. Also recently stocked was a quantity of large trout 6-12Lbs, as sporting fish to be released, for our clients added pleasure.
New or old clients; we look forward to welcoming you to a great days fishing! Facilities: Disabled anglers are most welcome, Toilets with Disabled facilites All day full English breakfast; Lunch time special; Sandwiches; Cold drinks. Complimentary beverages for clients.
Bigwell Flyfishery, Tinmans Green, Redbrook, Monmouth, NP25 4NB 01600 772904
email: info@bigwellflyfishery.co.uk facebook.com/bigwellflyfishery
web: bigwellflyfishery.co.uk ●
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Our Show
The Llanthony Valley and District Show will be held this year at Court Farm, Llanthony, on Saturday 3rd August 2013. Horse judging starts at 9.30am. Formal Show opening 1pm with sports and events, livestock classes and produce. Download the 2011 Show catalogue now to see examples of classes and start times.
The 2013 show will be held on Saturday 3rd August
at Court Farm, Llanthony. Attractions include horse showing classes, showjumping, cattle and sheep classes, produce competition, children's races, gymkhana, beer run, rodeo and more.
Our Success
The Llanthony Show was founded back in 1962. It is one of the only shows of its kind still, completely organized by local volunteers, with no major corporate sponsorship involved. The Show's popularity is based on local support on a strictly non-commercial basis. The Show was originally founded following a critical TV documentary about the Llanthony Valley in 1959 called "The Dying Valley". Local people banded together at the first Show Committee to prove that the Llanthony Valley was anything but dying! Its continuing success over the last four decades has proved how wrong that original judgment was.
Our Location
The Llanthony Valley and District Show has one of the best sites of all local shows, deep in the Llanthony Valley near Llanthony Abbey, surrounded by the Black Mountains of Monmouthshire. It sits at the heart of a thriving farming community, and it's longstanding popularity is driven by the full support of the local community.
Visit our Facebook page for more information 28
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The Granary, Cwmyoy, Abergavenny, NP7 7NU Telephone: 01873 890920 E-mail: andreamevans@hotmail.com
www.llanthonyshow.co.uk
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Llanthony Valley and District Show and Sports 2013 Join us in Llanthony on Saturday 3rd August for a fun filled day out for family and friends. Come on down and celebrate the continuing success of farming and countryside communities at this much loved community organised event. This year’s celebration of country life and agriculture boasts a fun packed programme with exciting new classes for horses along with produce classes, children’s sports, dog show, decorated floats, cattle and sheep classes, gymkhana, show jumping, shearing demonstrations, the beer run and much much more! as ever in the afternoon the main ring will be hosting the fancy dress competition, decorated floats, and the gymkhana. Spectators will also be invited to join in with sporting events including the ever popular 4 in a large sack, children’s and dog’s races. We will once again attempt to beat last year’s total of 215 pairs in the 3 legged race (Please don’t be shy in taking part as our commentator will not relent until last year’s record is beaten). For the horse lovers amongst us, there will be even more on offer this year than ever
before. We have included the everpopular working hunter classes and are now a bronze rosette show for the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, which we hope will draw in even more welsh breeds to our show. We have also revamped our traditional “Pony Trekking” class, to be the “Best Horse or Pony suitable for a hack or long distance ride of 12 miles or more”. The class is designed for everyone – whether you have a show pony or not to show off what a superstar your horse is. In the produce tent we will be hosting the extremely competitive fruit and vegetable classes, along with the baking, home made produce and flowers classes. Along side the prize winning potatoes, carrots and runner beans can be found classes such as the bowl of pansies in bloom, the men only 6 welsh cakes, and the Hens eggs, brown, 3 on a saucer. Also featuring in the produce tent will be the handicraft classes, including the “Animals do the funniest things” with caption, hand knitted article, any ply, and in the under 7's classes, a personal favourite of mine, the vegetable monster class. In order to enter any of the produce classes, all entries must be in the produce tent by 10.30am on show day.
The Llanthony Valley and District Show and Sports will be held this year at The Court Farm Llanthony on Saturday 3rd August 2013.
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For more information please visit our web page at www.llanthonyshow.co.uk or find our Llanthony Valley and District Show page on Facebook.
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Visit our Castles
Cardiff Castle
How would you like your castle? Concentric, square, restored, dilapidated, 10th century, 18th century… And would you like coffee with that? Then we recommend Cardiff Castle. It's an impressive fortress, built in 1106. And it's handy for the Queen Street Starbucks, a much rarer sight around here. PowisCastle
Our top picks For the family One of Britain’s largest medieval fortresses, Caerphilly Castle has a big events programme to match. The annual Big Cheese Festival is a favourite - a free weekend of entertainment for all the family that’s staged in the castle grounds.
For a fright Strange things happen at Bodelwyddan Castle. Recent sightings include an apparition in one gallery, a ghostly soldier in another and shadowy figures drifting down the corridors. Even the tea room has a ghost.
For romance In his day the 3rd Marquess of Bute was the richest man in the world, so he could afford to indulge himself. One result is Castell Coch. A late 19th Century fancy built on the remains of a 13th Century castle, it is one of Wales’ most romantic and unexpected places. Don’t miss Lady Bute’s Bedroom, its painted double dome features 28 frolicking monkeys (rather risqué at the time).
For a story Forget Dan Brown, the Holy Grail is in Wales.
TAFF VALLEY QUADS Gift Vouchers Available for all our activities and for any number of people;
Quad Biking, Archery, Clay Shooting & Laser Clays and many more… Personalised message! From £17.00
☎ (029) 20 831658
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nr Cardiff
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013! time too. There are formal Italianate terraces with original lead statues, lush herbaceous borders and exotic plants cascading from the walls as well as an informal woodland “wilderness” that was added in the 1700s.
Bodelwyddan Castle
In a fight Beaumaris Castle looks quiet and picturesque, but don’t be fooled because it is (or was in the late 13th Century) castle technology at its most deadly. It has some wicked touches, like the murder holes through which defenders could drop boiling oil onto anyone they didn’t like.
Catle Coch
Sudoku Challenge
Possibly. Ruined Castell Dinas Bran (or Crow Castle) stands on the site of a 2,600year-old hill-fort. No surprise then that the location is at the heart of many legends, including one that says the grail is in a cave below the castle.
For the view You can’t miss Carreg Cennen Castle - it sits on a limestone crag 300ft (91m) above the little River Cennen, so be prepared for a climb. It’s well worth the effort.
For a stroll
Solution on page 46
Powis Castle is a mecca for garden lovers. The impressive castle was built 800 years ago and the gardens have matured over ●
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CRiC celebrates all things local Unique, hand made, locally produced are all attributes that CRiC looks for in the expanding range of gifts, products and cards that are now sold alongside a variety of carefully selected books, guides and maps. Centre manager Jan Morgan said, “Local produce and producers are pivotal to the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre’s (CRiC) retail offering and supporting local businesses is at the heart of CRiC as an organisation. The staff and volunteers of CRiC look forward to welcoming residents and visitors to the area to our celebratory day of all things local on 20 July when a number of our suppliers will be on hand to chat, offer tasters and show a range of their products.”
Make your own bread with freshly milled flour or a bread-kit from the recently restored Talgarth Mill to eat with one of the scrumptious homemade chutneys from Hardwick Hampers and some local cheese and meats from the delicatessen counter just a few metres down the High Street in Cashells.
In addition to the wonderful exhibitions of local art and craft which change every 8 weeks upstairs in the oriel CRiC gallery, the range of gifts in the retail area downstairs
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includes: items locally turned from wood sourced sustainably on the Glanusk Estate, hand crafted pewter jewellery, pin badges and trinkets, Nature’s Little Helpers’ range of balms and soaps, alongside the beautifully fragranced Quinnell candles made down the road in Usk by rugby legend Scott and his family.
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Welsh honey, as well as jams and preserves from Hay on Wye’s award winning Chef on the Run and delectable handmade Black Mountain Gold’s chocolates are perfectly
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sweet gifts also for sale in CRiC. Lace book marks, tea towels and placemats bearing Crickhowell’s historic buildings and Ordnance survey printed mugs showing your favourite local spot complete the gift range. If you find browsing and buying in CRiC thirsty work the coffee bar serves fresh filter coffee, tea, hot chocolate and locally baked cakes and biscuits or quench your thirst with a bottle of Margaret and John’s Welsh Farm House apple juice. You may also like to join the Walkers are Welcome in Crickhowell walk of “Tolkien’s Shire” on 20 July. Bookings can be made at CRiC. CRiC is a charitable organisation and its volunteers give their time freely over 52 weeks of the year to promote the area and all it has to offer. The centre is open daily 10am to 5pm with the exception of Sundays 10am to 1.30pm. For further information: 01873 811970 tic@visitcrickhowell.co.uk or www.visitcrickhowell.co.uk
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Planning a day trip...? If you’re planning a day trip with your family, you’re liable to bring either too much or too little stuff. No one wants to feel like they’re reenacting the Western Expansion complete with a wagon train, but it’s also incredibly frustrating to find yourself an hour or two along a trail without a diaper for the baby. To help you avoid either of these extremes, here are some basic principles you should consider when you pack for a family day out.
Clothing Dress for the weather, but expect the unexpected. A sweatshirt is always useful if there’s a chance the temperature may drop, and a hat is good protection from the sun. Most importantly, everybody needs a change of clothing, grown-ups included. Yes, it’s probably going to be one of the kids that spills grape soda all over themselves, falls in a stream, or gets a bloody nose. However, the next stop on their trail of destruction is likely to be mom or dad and you may find yourself sharing in the grime, gore and goop.
Food and drink Dehydration is very unpleasant, so be sure to take sufficient water. If you’ll be on a trail,
away from a source of clean water, then you should be carrying a liter and a half of water per person. If you’re planning to eat out as part of the day’s fun, then of course there’s less need to take food with you. But it’s still a good idea to carry some energy-filled snacks such as nuts, pretzels, fruit, etc. That way you can save your money for a couple of good meals, rather than constantly spending on spur of the moment snacks and treats.
Toys and books Whether in the car, at a restaurant waiting to be served, or taking a rest after a picnic lunch, you and your kids will be much happier with something to do. Even the most saint-like parent gets tired of the licenseplate game eventually so be sure that everyone has a book, a favorite toy or game, or some crayons and a coloring book to fill some down-time. Planning ahead and packing carefully will make your day trip less stressful, and more fun.
Clean-up, first aid, and baby supplies If you’re still in the diaper stage with one of your kids, over-pack on diapers and be sure to split them up between more than one backpack just in case you lose a bag, or get separated. Baby wipes, hand sanitizer, plastic bags and a couple of garbage bags will all allow you to keep things clean in any situation ... soiled or soaked clothes can be sealed up in a trash bag, while the debris of diaper changing can be carried easily to the closest trash can. A small first-aid kit is a sensible addition to your backpack. Don’t feel you have to be ready for every medical emergency, but some bandaids, antibiotic ointment, sunscreen and junior pain killers are useful to have.
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Situated in the heart of the Welsh valleys, elevated high on Maesrudded Hill, with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside
www.maesmanor.com Tel: 01495 220011 Fax: 01495 228217 E-Mail: info@maesmanor.com
PRIVATE DINING SUNDAY LUNCH
Our Seasons Restaurant extension is available for private hire for parties from 10 - 30. Add that extra sparkle to a special occasion with the luxury of a private room. Choose from a wide selection of Al a Carte, Table dhote, Set and buffet menu's.
FUNCTIONS
We can take care of any function or private party you have in mind. We have catered for hundreds of people for various occasions such as birthday parties, proms, funerals and anniversaries. Just get in touch with our team to find out what we can do for your special occasion.
CHRISTMAS 2013
Head Chef Nigel Parker & his assistant Mandy have been serving up their renowned Sunday roasts for over ten years, and are more popular than ever. Served every Sunday between 12 and 2 in either the wood panelled Seasons restaurant or the fairy light Islwyn Ballroom. Why not make this Sunday, one to remember?
Filling up fast! Call for a brochure.
Reservations are highly recommended to avoid dissapointment.
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2 courses - £12.95
3 courses - £15.95
Your guide to the best summer fun of 2013!
Beware of cowboys Can you spot the doorstep cowboys, or are you ready to let them gallop off into the sunset with your cash? Every year, thousands of unlucky householders find themselves being taken for a ride when they answer an unsolicited knock at the door. Many people find themselves up to their necks in problems when they make the mistake of agreeing to have their drive relaid by some workmen who appeared to have just finished good job at a neighbour's home. Take the case of Mr and Mrs Bates, for example. The men offered a good price as their equipment was still on site next door, and work began within hours on their drive and eight others in the street. Mrs Bates said: "There was no going back after the first day. "For one thing the drive was soon covered in hardcore and sand - and then it started to rain." Water started to drain into the garage, and the couple had to pay extra cash to have a drain-away fitted to avoid a flood. Eight days later, the other drives were finished, but Mr
and Mrs Bates could see no progress. The unlucky homeowners rang the telephone number on the quote and were surprised to learn it was a different company. It soon became clear the cowboy followed the reputable builder around and secured work from neighbours on the strength of their work.
There are no guarantees about the quality of their work but most should be reputable. These associations carry out checks on the builders before they gain membership status, therefore minimising the risk of choosing a "cowboy builder".
Beating the cowboys: questions to ask Ask yourself these questions and if you answer ‘no’ to any them, then don't buy:
All the associations have a code of conduct that members adhere to. There are a number of Builders Trade Associations, the following are the most common: Quality Mark builders, Federation of Master Builders and the National Federation of Builders. Contact: The Trading Standards website www.tradingstandards.gov.uk - has advice on how to avoid cowboys.
Can I afford it? Would I buy this from a shop? ● Do I really want it? ● Do I know and trust the seller? ● If there's a problem, can I contact them again? ● ●
A consumer protection inspector for Trading Standards said the problem was all too common. Usually there is not even enough information for him to follow up complaints. So what does he advise? "You have got to know who you are dealing with - references are important, and you should get other quotes." Always try to use builders or tradesmen who are members of trade associations.
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Farm Life
Marks & Spencer at the Royal Welsh Show Marks & Spencer (M&S), lead sponsor of Wales’ largest agricultural event the Royal Welsh Show, is inviting visitors to enjoy its best show stand and Farmer’s Lounge yet at the event in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, from 22-25th July. Full of interactive family fun, visitors will be treated to live chef demonstrations and tastings from local suppliers, find out more about the innovative farmers who supply M&S with its wealth of high quality produce and pit their skills in a game of Hungry Hungry Cows to discover more about what goes into M&S Activehealth milk, which is produced in Wales. Steve Mclean, M&S Head of Agriculture, said: “We’re delighted to be back at the Royal Welsh Show and can’t wait to unveil our new stand to the public. Over the three days of the show we’ll showcase the suppliers who bring the very best of regional Welsh food to our stores in Wales, as well as those across the UK. Visitors will really enjoy the chance to get hands on and taste some of our delicious regional produce, witness our passion for quality and innovation and discover the extraordinary lengths we go to, to provide fantastic food.” This year M&S will once again be sponsoring a selection of the beef livestock classes, as well as the Royal Welsh Young Sheep Handler, Junior Pig Handling Competition and cheese section of the Dairy Produce category.
A real focus for M&S at the Royal Welsh Show is to highlight the benefits of its Activehealth milk produced by four dedicated farms in Wales. While all M&S milk has at least 6% less saturated fat due to a specially developed lower sat fat diet that is fed to the cows, M&S Activehealth milk has the added benefit of being enriched with Vitamin D. Visitors to the M&S stand will get the chance to take part in a game of Hungry Hungry Cows where families can compete against each other to see which cow can eat the most special feed and win the game. Each cow in the game will represent one of the Welsh farms that supplies M&S.
The Farmersʼ Union of Wales is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in respect of insurance mediation under Registration No. 308935 ●
Visitors will also have the opportunity to buy sandwiches, salads, wraps and other lunchtime snacks from our M&S ‘Food on the Move’ range.”
Steve Mclean said: “This year, we’re launching a new education programme in collaboration
Contact: Gwen Evans 07909 570471 Neil Smith 07885 257788 Union of Wales
The Summer Issue
“We’ll also be celebrating the achievements of our Farming for the Future Award winner from
Steven Mclean concluded: “Throughout the show, there’ll be plenty to keep the whole family entertained and our customers can get a real insight into the hard work and expertise that goes into making M&S food the best on the high street.
In addition, the retailer will raise awareness of its Forever Fish campaign, revealing how profits from the charge for carrier bags have been used to help fund education projects in association with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and the National Schools Partnership (NSP).
LOCAL RURAL BROKERS
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Visitors to our stand at the Royal Welsh Show can see case studies about those who have already benefitted from this extremely worthwhile scheme.
last year, David Philips, highlighting to visitors the ‘heroes’ in the M&S supply chain.”
M&S will also use the Royal Welsh Show as a platform to celebrate the latest developments in Plan A, including how it is supporting the next generation of farmers through its ‘Farming for the Future education initiative’ and ‘Farming for the Future Awards’.
FUW INSURANCE
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with a number of our suppliers which aims to help address a shortage of skills in agriculture. Our Farming for the Future education programme will see us support 12 bursaries each year, a Graduate Programme and an Executive Education Programme.
July / August
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Fast Fuel Ltd - your trusted local fuel supplier Fast Fuel Ltd is an independent fuel distribution company offering fuel solutions, wherever you are, whenever you want. Since being under new management for the last three years, Fast Fuel has fast become the most trusted local independent supplier in the market, servicing domestic, agricultural and commercial customers throughout South Wales and the Forest of Dean. We specialise in supplying heating fuel and agricultural diesel. We also stock road diesel for our regular customers and premier paraffin. We stock 200 litre barrels and 25 litre containers, so we can match all our customers’ needs no matter how small. We also supply tanks and can source all other accessories related to the sale of fuel. We know that our customers need fuel at all times and in all delivery amounts, which is why we have an emergency out-of-office service so you can get hold of one of us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are happy to discuss pricing with our customers and to give advice on where we think market pricing is going. In this way, we can offer you the best advice on when to fill your tanks so that you can achieve the best savings possible. For further information, give us a call on 0800 093 8445. We look forward to helping you.
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Farm Life
Natural Resources Wales steps up fight against larch disease Natural Resources Wales has committed more than £2 million into the fight to deal with a disease which is attacking Britain’s larch trees. The new body, which looks after the Welsh environment, is to invest £500,000 straight away to combat Phytophthora ramorum (P ramorum) by cutting down trees around the edges of infected areas to try to stop it from spreading further. The urgent strategy also includes a groundbreaking trial to see if injecting trees with a common herbicide could be effective in slowing the spread of the disease.
“We understand the anxiety this is causing the private forestry sector and communities in the affected areas. We are liaising with the Welsh Government and affected forest owners to see how the economic and other impacts can be minimised.” The disease, which spreads through airborne spores from tree to tree, is proving difficult to contain and has moved more quickly than experts expected despite a massive effort to stop it in its tracks. ■
Hopes of containing the disease have also been hit by one of the wettest summers on record and autumn weather conditions, which have been at the optimum for the spread of the disease. The full scale of the spread beyond the South Wales valleys to new sites in West, Mid and North Wales emerged during aerial surveys last month, which provided the first opportunity to assess the trees as they come into leaf. They also showed a rapid spread of the
disease in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a particularly dramatic increase in South-West Scotland. The surveys identified 2,500 hectares (more than 6,000 acres) of new infection in Wales – about 2.5 million trees – taking the total area of infection in Wales to more than 5,000 hectares (12,300 acres) containing about 5 million larch trees. Some 1,200 hectares (almost 3,000 acres) of larch trees have already been felled in Wales since the fungus-like organism was
The grey trees are diseased larch
Natural Resources Wales will spend a further £1.7 million to remove infected trees, replant those areas and to build forest roads so that new areas can be cleared. Trefor Owen from Natural Resources Wales said: “This response shows how concerned we are about this disease because of its impact on timber markets, the landscape, woodland and other habitats.
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first discovered here in June 2010 in Welsh Government woodlands in the Afan Valley. Early signs that this extensive felling had contained the disease proved misleading, however, and a Wales Disease Management Plan was endorsed in 2012 by the Wales Phytophthora Outbreak Response Team (PORT), which includes the Welsh Government and other stakeholders. This recognised that the disease could no longer be fully contained. It sought to slow down the rate of infection and reduce the environmental impact and costs of disease control by selectively felling trees in areas of light infection, rather than felling all the trees in infected areas. However, the sudden, unpredicted increase in new infections revealed by the latest surveys indicates that this approach could not keep up with the spread of the disease and the Wales Disease Management Plan was reviewed this month.
stem. We need to do this to try and slow the spread of the disease. This would also have to be done without causing further damage to the environment. “We empathise with the concerns of private woodland owners and managers and will also be adapting some of the regulatory controls as the disease is now becoming endemic on the western margin of the British Isles and we believe the current strategy of containment is no longer viable in Wales.” He said the timber from infected trees could still be used to produce a wide range of timber products. The countryside remains open and the disease poses no threat to human or animal health. However visitors to woodlands can help reduce the spread of the disease by taking some simple actions such as removing any mud, plant material or leaves from clothing, boots, dogs and car tyres.
Trefor Owen added: “Regrettably, the disease has spread much quicker than anyone expected despite all our efforts, so we are urgently looking into new ways of eradicating infected trees by injecting a common herbicide into the
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Farm Life
Some gains for Wales in Common Agricultural Policy deal Welsh Conservative MEP Dr Kay Swinburne today challenged the Welsh Government to ensure farmers in Wales receive the best possible outcome from reforms to Europe's Common Agricultural Policy.
proposed recognise the environmental benefits of the largely grass based farms we have in Wales." Dr Swinburne said while the agreement contained some improvements on the original
Speaking after agreement was reached following lengthy negotiations in Luxembourg between MEPs, the European Commission, and EU farming ministers, Dr Swinburne called on ministers in Cardiff to ensure "smart implementation" of the new rules. She said proposals for greater regional flexibility needed to be used to full advantage in the interests of the farming industry in Wales. Dr Swinburne said: "This will allow the Welsh Government to ensure local decision making that suits the needs of Welsh farmers. "The ball will soon be in the Welsh Agriculture Minister's court to ensure the best outcomes for Welsh farmers. We need to see smart implementation of the new rules. Regional flexibility needs to be used to Wales's advantage. "During the reform negotiations Conservative MEPs have called for a more effective package for our farmers in Wales and across the United Kingdom. I am glad to see some progress has been made in key areas, and that the practical measures
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policy, the overall package was a "mixed bag". She added: "In terms of the four CAP files which were considered, I am broadly content with the outcome of Rural Development and Financing, but still have
many concerns regarding Direct Payments which involves the Single Farm Payments to Welsh farmers. I am also concerned that in areas such as a common market organisation we look set to have even more red tape than ever."
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Penpentre, Llanfaes, Brecon, Powys. LD3 8DL
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Brecon Car Sales is a family run business in the small town of Brecon. Established for 30 years we will endeavour to provide you with the best customer service within the market place. Although we specialise in Renaults we will service, MOT and carry out work on all makes and models. Our technicians are fully trained to Renault standards. We are a friendly garage and welcome all of our customers. Coffee is complimentary and provided to you while you wait. Transportation issues will gladly be addressed within the local area. Why not have a day out in Brecon while you’re up here?
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Gazette Motors
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SKODA PREVIEWS NEW OCTAVIA VRS
The hottest news from the world of motoring. This week: Skoda previews new Octavia vRS Skoda has revealed the first pictures of the new Octavia vRS ahead of its full debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
To ensure stable and engaging handling, Skoda has lowered the body by 12mm compared to the standard Octavia; 13mm for the estate model.
The new vRS has been unveiled in hatchback and 'Combi' estate guises, although it is not clear whether the Combi name will be used in the UK market.
A newly developed multi-link rear suspension set-up is more responsive and equally new light-alloy wheels help to reduce unsprung weight and inertia.
There will be two engine options, as before: a 217bhp petrol and a 181bhp diesel, with the faster petrol option catapulting the car to 62mph from rest in 6.8 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 154mph when equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Skoda says 17in wheels will be standard with 18in and 19in upgrades offered.
In manual form, the diesel takes 8.4 seconds to cover the traditional 0-62mph sprint and can reach 144mph, but will hold an advantage in fuel economy and emissions - although these are as yet unconfirmed.
NEW STYLE AND INTERIOR FOR NISSAN MICRA
Practicality has always been an Octavia vRS strong point and the new car raises the bar still further, with a five litre increase inside the hatchback, taking it to 590 litres up to the load cover and with up to five occupants in place. The estate can boast 610 litres, but the gap grows when loading above the top of the rear seats or with the rear seats folded.
STYLISH ADAM CLAIMS AWARD FOR VAUXHALL The new Nissan Micra has been updated with fresh styling, new technology and a significantly revised interior. Both the front and rear looks have changed, including not just headlights but the surrounding panels as well. The design now more closely echoes that of the big-selling Juke. Mid-range Micras ride on a new design of 15in alloy wheel, with the 16in upgrades on higher trim levels also a new style. Two new colours have been added: Pacific Blue, which according to Nissan is a shade of turquoise, and Platinum Sage, which sounds like a green-tinted silver.
Vauxhall's fashionable Adam supermini has scooped the best interior design in a production car award at the Automotive Interiors EXPO 2013. Beating competitors such as the Alfa 4C, Jaguar F-Type, Renault Clio and the new Range Rover, Vauxhall's stylish urban newcomer was selected by a jury of respected motoring journalists from around the world. The award is part of a trade show in Stuttgart, Germany, for concepts, materials, surfaces, fabrics and components in vehicle interior equipment.
Elizabeth Wetzel, Interior Design Director, says: "The individualisation of the interior is one of the Adam's many outstanding traits. "Our small lifestyle car offers almost 82,000 combinations for interior styling. The EXPO award is a wonderful tribute to the whole Opel/Vauxhall design team."
On the inside, the instrument cluster has been changed to give greater legibility and clarity at a glance. It's just one of many improvements that take in an all-new centre console with new air vents and a gloss black finish. On the dashboard, drivers will now find USB and 3.5mm auxiliary sockets for portable electronics. There is also a 12-volt socket for recharging other devices. Visia is still the entry-level grade, with remote central locking, electric front windows, power ●
steering, 14in wheels, a radio and CD player and a full complement of safety equipment including dual front, side and curtain bags, ABS and ESP. Mid-range Acenta trim adds chrome accents, body colour door mirrors and handles, 15in wheels, a roof spoiler, air conditioning, front fog lights, a driver's armrest, a leather-covered steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity and automatic control for the headlights and wipers. Tekna versions add climate control, the new NissanConnect satnav, rear parking sensors, a clever Parking Slot Measurement system to guide the car into tight spaces, 16in alloy wheels, suede-like seat fabric, automatic folding door mirrors and Intelligent Key for keyless entry and engine start. Nissan has also added more personalisation options to Acenta and Tekna models, so owners can now specify their preferred colour of wheel centre caps and door mirrors on the outside, while inside they can personalise their gear knob, air vents, gear stick surround and velour mats to make their car unique.
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LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
BUTTERCUP BEAUTY Drop the LBD and pick up yellow frocks for Hollywood glamour-style evening attire. Angelina Jolie, Naomi Watts and Michelle Williams are all converts to colour on the red carpet.
Get into the holiday spirit with this season's hottest shade. By Lisa Haynes With the weather heating up, yellow is the hottest shade to be seen in this season. From canary brights to mute mustard shades, it's time to take a rain check on dull colours and give your summer some zing.
Danielle says: "Look for pale lemon evening gowns. Simple lines such as a column dress, as seen at Nina Ricci, work best."
Pack a punch with bright canary colours or go even bolder and flirt with a touch of fluorescent.
Wallis' yellow print tunic, £20 (30 Euros).
Go short and sweet in yellow with Butterfly by Matthew Williamson embellished yellow dress, £50 at Debenhams, Monsoon's Fusion line Loreto Dress, £46, or Jesire's lemon yellow tulip dress, £99.
"Yellow is very chic right now, if worn in the right way," says Danielle Radojcin, fashion editor at Handbag.com
Up the glamour stakes by searching for gowns in pretty silks and chiffons for a romantic edge. Try Noli's crinkled yellow silk chiffon dress, £165, or Planet's yellow marble print dress, £159.
Fashionistas needn't fret about looking OTT if they find a shade to suit. "It has a reputation as being a difficult colour to wear, but the trick is finding the right shade to suit your complexion," Danielle explains. "Take Angelina Jolie at Cannes recently she has very pale skin and the lemon gown she wore complemented her dark hair and grey eyes perfectly." But you don't have to be a starlet to glow in yellow this summer. From smart gowns to daytime chic, be brave and stop traffic in bold and beautiful yellow.
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MELLOW YELLOW If any shade is a mood booster on the colour palette, yellow is it. Look for casualwear in zesty yellows and you'll soon be feeling like Little Miss Sunshine.
Maxi dresses are soaring on the summer style radars, especially amongst those who want to flaunt their top half and keep legs under wraps. Yellow numbers include ASOS' jersey maxi dress, £30, or John Zack's yellow pattern halter neck maxi dress, £40, available from Discoo. Butterfly by Matthew Williamson embellished yellow dress, £50 at Debenhams
A pretty top paired with jeans is a painless way to ease yourself into brighter shades like yellow. Try Primark's crochet trapeze smock, £10 (15 Euros), or go pale and interesting with Miss Selfridge's LA pansy print top, £40 (60 Euros). If you don't want to go all out on yellow fever, pick up a print that incorporates the colour, such as Wallis' yellow print tunic, £20 (30 Euros). Black aficionado? Even you can do yellow by pulling on a bright jacket - it's an instant way of brightening up your entire ensemble in seconds. Look to Principles' yellow 3/4 sleeve jacket, £45, or for a smarter look go longer with Planet's yellow textured jacket, £169. For true summer fun make a splash in yellow swimwear such as F&F's yellow cut-away swimsuit, £10, or Next's yellow floral trim reversible bikini top, £10 (15 Euros), and bottoms, £12 (18 Euros).
ACCESS ACCESSORIES Those still not convinced of yummy yellow can access the daffodil look with less daunting accessories. "Steer clear of anything in plastic, as yellow is a colour that can very easily look cheap," Danielle warns. Dip a toe into the yellow colour craze in Dune's yellow Mother flip flops, £50, or go high with Barratts' yellow Cocoa platform sandal, £35, or Mango's strappy platforms, £55.
ASOS' jersey maxi dress, £30
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F&F's yellow cut-away swimsuit, £10
Primark's crochet trapeze smock, £10 (15 Euros) Miss Selfridge's LA pansy print top, £40 (60 Euros).
SESAME TREAT Continue your zest for yellow with Forever Famous' new Sesame Street tees - perfect for retro kids who love a touch of nostalgia. Look out for Big Bird's 'B is for Blonde' and Oscar the Grouch's 'Trashed' in canary yellow. Prices start from £24.99. The collection is available now from www.truffleshuffle.com and Topshop, Oxford Street. FLURO FASHION Victoria Beckham wowed the crowds at the MTV Movie Awards exposing her neon pink bra under a dramatic zebra print dress. Jump on the fluro band wagon quick-smart by updating your underwear drawer with some shocking pink pieces. Work the look at La Senza with the Love Lace bra in neon pink, £15, 30AA-38F, and matching shorts, £5. Visit www.lasenza.co.uk Next's fun yellow geometric print bag, £16 (24 Euros).
Swing into yellow style with some shoulder candy. Try Wallis' yellow pocket frame bag, £25 (38 Euros), Debenhams Collection yellow large tote, £50 (75 Euros), or Next's fun yellow geometric print bag, £16 (24 Euros). Those a little braver on the colour front can enjoy the sunshine in Dorothy Perkins' yellow floppy hat, £12 (20 Euros). A must-have for standing out from festival crowds. Adding a splash of colour with a belt or scarf also adds a yellow kick to your wardrobe without being too committed to the colour. Go for French Connection's Moon yellow waisted belt, £25, or Marks and Spencer's Autograph yellow pashmina, £15, to keep you snug on summer nights.
UPCOMING June 14 FASHION
STOCKISTS ASOS - www.asos.com Barratts 01274 893 845/ www.barratts.co.uk
Mango 020 7240 6099/ www.mango.com Miss Selfridge 0845 121 4517/ www.missselfridge.co.uk
Debenhams - 08445 616 161/ www.debenhams.com Discoo - www.discoo.co.uk
Monsoon 020 7313 3000/ www.monsoon.co.uk Next - 0845 600 7000/ www.next.co.uk
Dorothy Perkins 0870 122 8801/ www.dorothyperkins.co.uk
Noli - www.noli.com
Dune - 020 7258 3605 F&F - 0800 505 555
Planet 0191 521 3888/ www.planet.co.uk
French Connection 020 7036 7200/ www.frenchconnection.co.uk
Primark - www.primark.co.uk
Jesire - 020 7420 4450
Principles 0870 122 8802/ www.principles.co.uk
Marks & Spencer 0845 302 1234/ www.marksandspencer.com
Wallis - 0845 121 4520/ www.wallis-fashion.com
Sunglasses: Protect those peepers from the sun's harmful rays with the trendiest sunglasses on the block. With pictures.
June 21 FASHION Mannish: Tailoring, oversized shirts and shorts are a hot look this summer. Why borrow from your man when you can buy your own? With pictures.
June 28 FASHION Beachwear Accessories: So you've got the swimwear sorted - what about your other sun, sea and sand essentials? We reveal the best beach buys. With pictures.
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Looking after your Crowning Glory Nothing reflects inner health and vitality like a clear complexion, sparkly eyes and - your crowning glory - glossy hair. CURLY
“Curly hair can be unruly and out of control, and it is very important to have a good hair cut that is created to work with the natural movement in your hair," says celebrity stylist Anita Cox, who has worked with Anna Friel. And naturally curly hair, as seen on Katie Melua and Rihanna, can often be misunderstood.
Clean shiny hair like Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Aniston or Eva Longoria is a joy to have and head-turning to look at, but is more difficult to achieve. Nourish and condition your hair with plenty of love and attention, with the best products for your specific hair type, and it will shine and last for many years.
“Very curly hair has a very strong, coarse texture which can often look very dry," Charles says. “This does not mean that the hair is in bad condition, it is just its natural texture.
Taking care of your locks is a threefold affair: providing nourishment, treating it with care and using the right products, Treat you hair well and you will reap the rewards. Using the right products on your hair could make badhair days a thing of the past.
The rule of ‘less is more’ doesn’t apply for very curl hair - it will absorb a lot of product. Also, due to its coarse, drier nature, it needs deep nourishment."
The first thing to do is to determine your hair type. Once you’ve got that right, then you can think about the extras.
The right products will control even the most unruly hair and make it smooth.
M. Preece
“With fine hair, the best cut is usually based around strong perimeter lines, like a classic or graduated bob," Anita explains. “They also always work better with more solid form, especially if they are worn longer. Fine hair needs to be regularly trimmed every six to eight weeks, to keep ends looking thicker."
Overconditioning will weigh the hair down, so only use it sparingly. Always use volumising products especially formulated for fine hair too. If you want dramatic lift, dry your hair upside-down. For extra height, don’t be frightened to gently backcomb hair at the roots.
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Thick hair can sometimes be coarse, so you should use a good frizz shampoo and conditioner that penetrates the hair shaft and reacts with damaged areas, as well as forming a smooth and glossing film over the hair surface.
This type of hair can look lank and lifeless soon after washing.
New Roofs ● Slate and Tiles uPVC Fascias and Guttering Repairs and Maintenance Leadwork and Chimney Repair
46
“Thick hair is open to a variety of haircuts, from short to midlength to long. You should talk to your stylist, who will be able to advise you on a cut to best suit you, taking into consideration your face shape and position of your hair line," Anita says.
FINE AND DANDY
Roofing Contractor
01874 711554 07720859621
THICK
Wallbrook Farm Allensmore, Hereford HR2 9BE 01981 570456
Classifieds A. J. Bishop
Bailey Bros MOT TEST CENTRE
Sales and Repairs
Cars, Vans & Motorcycle (Free Retest) Servicing & Reairs all makes
Tredilion Market Gardens, Abergavenny
Old Hereford Road, Abergavenny
Tel: 01873 857117 Mobile: 07812 757223
01873 853058
Dorrell Oliver Ltd chartered accountants
Linden House, Monk Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 5NF Tel: 01873 852113 Fax: 01873 858523 www.dorrells.co.uk
✦ ACCOUNTANCY ✦ AUDIT ✦ TAX ADVICE FOR NEW BUSINESSES
NO CALL OUT CHARGE Trust Us! GWENT LTD ★Local & fully insured★ 30-90 min response 24/7 in ALL Gwent areas • Qualified in all aspects of lock work, both domestic and commercial • No hidden fees. No payment until you’re completely satisfied. All major credit cards accepted.
Garden Machinery Specialists
H. Waters & Sons Lawnmowers • Chainsaws • Garden Machinery
RIDE-ON MOWERS FREE DEMONSTRATIONS
SALES • SERVICE • REPAIRS
45 years experience serving our community We accept part exchange / new & reconditioned
Demonstrations available
01495 226657 www.blackwoodchainsaws.co.uk
Realistic Gas and Electric Fires Fireplaces and Surrounds in Real Wood, Marble & Stone Made to individual specifications Fireplaces & accessories at competitive prices Installation Service Available~Also Plumbing and Heating Specialists
3 ton Mini Digger 3 ton Swivel Dumper with experienced operator Groundwork excavations and pipe laying etc
Tel: 07730530177 01873 831324
www.aquapowerplus.co.uk Contract work undertaken
Painting & Decorating
Celtic Computer Systems New Laptops
with manufacturers 12 mth warranties wherever you are in the UK starting from £399 incl. VAT with legal software
Interior Exterior Lime washing
BEST BROADBAND DEAL! go to www.utilitysavers.org.uk Servicing, Repairs, Updates, Virus Problems
Reduced pricing on legal Microsoft Office with CD and licence
Clean up junk, erase confidential information
Not just added to computer as other suppliers do
Telephone: 01873 858111 email: celticcomputers@uwclub.net
www.celticcomputers.co.uk
FULLY QUALIFIED PLUMBER
FREE ESTIMATES
07814 976861
Motorcycle and Car MoT Servicing and Repair
Stakes • Posts • Rails • Gates • Stock Wire also stockists of Sand, Cement, post crete Aggregates (bulk enquiries welcome)
Qualified Local Reliable
HARRIES PLUMBING
01873 855431
dave@harriesplumbing.co.uk No job too small
STEVE EDWARDS Tel:
Quality Fence panels • Feather edge • Pickets Sheds • Pressure Treated Timber • Fire Wood
01873 812686 • 07880 877090
GOVILON GARAGE
RING FOR FREE QUOTE
Stuart Hamer
MPS PLANT HIRE
AQUA POWER PLUS Moss & Algae Removal Drain & Septic Tanks Unblocked Graffiti & Stain Removal Caravans & Garage Doors Tennis Courts & Swimming Pools Play areas Stephen Lewis Home 01873 840274 Mobile 07949158956
or 07795 565702
Tel: 07825 232517
Mill Garage, Gelli Groes, Blackwood, Gwent. NP12 2HY
POWER WASHING SPECIALIST
01981 580412
Quality work at sensible prices
Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Saturday 10am-2pm 19 Whitcross Road, Hereford 01432 265364 www.rgmfireplaces.com
Cash Paid for MOT Failures / Scrap Cars and Commercial Vehicles Containers Supplied
0800 783 7458 or 07771 560 633
plumbingmaintenance@gmail.com
Paths, Drives, Patios, Walls, Decking, Flagstones
Wrought Iron Gates Balustrades Handrails Made to Measure Service FREE INSTALLATION/QUOTES
FIREPLACES R.G.M. FIREPLACES
CALL NOW 01873 750039 / 07887 915939 www.citylocksmithsgwent.co.uk
BLACKWOOD CHAINSAWS
Cwmbran Gates & Fencing
LINDA J. GARRATT D.O. REGISTERED OSTEOPATH
BROOKS PLACE, 56 UNION ROAD WEST, ABERGAVENNY NP7 7RH
01873 856818
RAGLAN FORD Your Local Ford Dealer For All Your New And Used Cars
MOT
SERVICING MOT TESTING STATION AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALIST
Trade Centre
Church Lane, Govilon, Monmouthshire NP7 9RP Telephone Abergavenny 01873 831696
High Street, Raglan, Monmouthshire Tel: (01291) 690423
Email: raglanford@lineone.net www.raglanford.com
●
The Summer Issue
●
July / August
47