YOUR LOCAL CROWD
LOCAL CROWD JANUARY 2017
Promoting and supporting local business in print & online
DIGITAL MAGAZINE
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU? INSIDE
Two great READER OFFERS, The New Year Resolution Guide & The New Year Detox PLUS all your regular guides, reviews & more...
To advertise simply visit www.yourlocalcrowd.co.uk
Advertorial
Are you a local business who...
would like to feature in our new Tourism Guide Book?
New for 2017... Are you a tourist attraction, accomodation provider,or business that caters for tourists? ...Following the success of the magazine, Your Local Crowd will be launching a new Tourism Guide Book for 2017 and would love to hear from local businesses who would like to be invovled. The new Guide Book will include a variety of local articles on where to go, what to see and where to stay locally across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire. It will also hold several guides, showcasing the various festivals, museums, gardens, walks, beautiful beaches, galleries, craft centres and activities that West Wales has to offer. The handy pocket sized book will be available to in many local shops, hotels, cafes & Tourist information centres throughout the three counties and beyond. A useful source of information for both locals and the visiting tourist. If you would like to be included, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. Advertising starts from just £150 a year. To be included contact our team on 01239 460210 or email your enquiry to sales@yourlocalcrowd.co.uk
10% discount on advertising for PT & WIRE members 2 YOUR LOCAL CROWD
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Some sample pages
Editors Letter
Find us on Facebook @ylcrowd
Happy New Year! Welcome to the first edition of 2017...
Each year I watch those around me resolve to make new life choices. To get more active, cut down on the booze, go to the gym...bla bla bla and fall at the first hurdle to be left feeling like a failure a week into the New Year! So in this issue we have set out a simple guide to help you be a little kinder to yourself. By all mean, set yourself a goal, but don’t beat yourself up if you falter early on...read our guide on page 4 and you may suprise yourself and those around you by finally reaching your set goal, small steps and look to the future positively... Our team of committed contributors, continue to offer all manner of advice, from Conscious Art and Natural Paints - Celtic Sustainables, The Tax-Free Childcare Scheme - Ashmole & Co, Recipes and Kid’s Crafts - Kelly Robinson, childrens author an blogger and New Year detoxing - Birdsol. We also re-run our Tried and Tested review for Deli Delights Handmade Truffles Workshop, I attended in the autumn, following the great reaction from my Xmas guests on being presented with my very own creations as gifts. We also continue to run two great Reader Offers from Twy y Felin, Wales’ first art hotel, in the beautiful city of St David’s.
I’d love to hear from you to discover your business & events or just
to hear your views on Your Local Crowd. Don’t forget to check out our website where you will find so much more, our magazine archives, many other articles & interviews, recipes, what’s on and not forgetting, our directory of local businesses. Your Local Crowd also offer a design service should you need any leaflets, booklets or magazines put together - feel free to get in touch!
SAM JONES | EDITOR | 01239 460210 sam@yourlocalcrowd.co.uk
FREELANCE GRAPHIC DESIGNER
www.uk.linkedin.com/in/samjones71 Neither Your Local Crowd, nor it’s employees or agents shall be liable to the consumer, or the recipient of services advertised herein for any loss or damage howsoever arising from the provision of such services by the persons, companies or bodies advertised in this magazine. Your Local Crowd hereby warrants that care has been taken to ensure the details displayed are correct at the time of printing, but accepts no liability for changes occurring after print or failure by the advertiser to provide the services as advertised.
ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Dyfed - Powys Police www.dyfed-pwys.police.uk Celtic Sustainables www.celticsustainables.co.uk Ashmole & Co www.ashmole.co.uk BirdSol Fitness, Nutrition & Wellbeing www.exerciseyourfreedom.com Kelly Robinson Childrens Author & Blogger www.naturemumblog.co.uk Sally Sellwood Feature Writer www.sallysellwood.com
NEW FOR 2017 If you are a local business who would like to feature in our new Tourism Guide Book, please get in touch.
More information at www. yourlocalcrowd.co.uk
Love it or hate it, the New Year is a time to set new goals. We may be left a little skint and bloated after the excesses of December, but as we see out 2016, we at Your Local Crowd welcome all that 2017 has to offer. With new projects on the horizon, we are looking forward to the year ahead, whilst continuing with our one shared passion, to promote and support all that is local.
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Guide
Welcome 2017!
What’s your goal?
How many of us will make a New Year’s resolution – maybe to lose weight, quit smoking or drink less – and fail at the first
W
ELL don’t be too hard on yourself, you are not alone! If 2017 is the year for change, here are our top tips on how to set some realistic and achievable goals. We’re more likely to succeed if we break our resolution into smaller goals that are specific, measurable and time-based.
future goal. 3. Don’t repeat previous failed resolutions. Mix it up, tweak and change creating a new resolution, simply revisiting past resolutions sets you up for failure before you even begin! 4. Stand out from the crowd. Create and tailor your own resolution, do the unexpected!
So here goes… 1. Make just one resolution. You are more likely to succeed if you focus on changing just one aspect of your behaviour. 2. Don’t rush the decision. By making a rash decision over a glass of fizz on New Year’s Eve, you are setting yourself up for failure before even starting! Take your time to think carefully about your
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5. Small steps… Set your goal but then break it down into small achievable steps, creating more satisfying and reachable mini goals. 6. Tell everyone about your goals! By doing this you’ll receive far more support. 7. Keep Track. Monitor and check off those mini goals regularly to help you stay motivated.
8. Reward yourself. On reaching each mini goal, reward yourself, maintaining that sense of achievement. 9. Keep a record. Without boring your family and friends, keep a record of your achievements! Log them in a journal, take photos, mark it in a diary, anything that helps track and record your progress. This will help motivate you to continue to the end goal. 10. Be kind to yourself Don’t flap if you revert to old habits once in a while, don’t get down about it, just revisit your original plan and re-focus…don’t give up. Everyone is allowed a little wobble, you’re human after all! So whether you are choosing to lose weight, quit smoking, get active, drink less or simply wish to lead a healthier lifestyle, plan, set lots of mini goals, small steps and don’t forget to reward yourself on your success. We wish you a Happy New Year and lets see what 2017 will bring!
Kids Crafts
Entertaining the young ones! With the weather often being cold and wet at this time of year, you may be looking for activities to keep the young ones entertained at home and what child doesn’t enjoy getting creative with Play Dough? Here is Kelly’s simple Salt Dough Recipe using just three ingredients Simple Salt Dough Recipe INGREDIENTS • 1 Cup Salt • 2 Cups Plain Flour • 1 Cup Water METHOD Pour the salt and flour into a mixing bowl. Gradually pour in the water. Using a large spoon mix until all water is combined. Flour your hands and start to knead. Knead until the dough is soft. Wrap in cling film and store in the fridge. I find that storing overnight and using the next day gives the best results. Shape your dough. Place on a lined baking tray and bake in a pre-heated oven at 125c for 2-3hours or leave overnight to air dry. TOP TIPS Try adding spices such as cinnamon, to give you that festive feel. Always flour your hands before handling any dough. So before you start kneading make sure your hands are floured and each time your hands start to feel sticky, put your hands back into the flour.
Kelly Robinson, children’s author, blogger and mum of two, moved to Wales in 2014, and believes that the beautiful rolling hillsides of Wales to be the perfect place to help her children and other families explore the great outdoors. Her columns are filled with useful, fun and educational treats for all the family but especially the little ones of your clan. More information on Kelly, her creative blogs and information regarding her books are found on www.kellyrobinson-key.co.uk. www.yourlocalcrowd.co.uk | 5
Guide
5 Stunning places...
... to visit on St Dwynwen’s Day
West Wales is full of romantic settings to visit with your loved one
O
N the 25th of January each year, people all over Wales celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day, the traditional Welsh equivalent of Valentine’s Day but much sooner. Why wait until Valentine’s Day when you can celebrate the Welsh way? After being couped up all winter get outdoors and explore your local area. LAUGHARNE CASTLE When you think of Laugharne, you think of Dylan Thomas and rich cultural and historical context of this unique South-Western Carmarthenshire town. Laugharne’s magnificent medieval castle and the surrounding area of the Taf estuary is an enchanting place for an leisurely stroll with someone special. Visit the Dylan Thomas’s boathouse and writing shed. We can only assume that his creativity was inspired by his stunning surroundings! 01994 427906 Laugharne Castle, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4FA Places to stay/dine out: Corran Resort & Spa and the The Cors Restaurant & Rooms are two special places, but not forgetting, Keepers Cottage, The Boat House Bed & Breakfast, , Broadway Country House & Hotel, Browns Hotel, Tre-Brentir, Swan Cottage, Longlane House Bed & Breakfast.
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Places to shop/visit: Dylan Thomas Boat House & Dylan Thomas Writing Shed. Choices Gift Shop, Castle Stores, & The Tin Shed. MWNT The tiny secluded seaside village of Mwnt, situated between Cardigan and Aberporth on the Ceredigion Coast is best known for its beach, featured in The Daily Mail’s “Europe’s Top 10 loveliest hidden beaches”. On Mwnt’s grassy cliffs you will find the iconic Eglwys y Grog, a medieval church. The pelagic and breath-taking views over Cardigan Bay make this an unbeatable Welsh romantic setting. Mwnt Beach, Ceredigion, SA43 1QH Places to stay/dine out: The Gwbert Hotel, The Cliff Hotel & Spa, Penrallt Hotel. BOSHERSTON LILY PONDS & THE STACKPOLE ESTATE A natural haven for wildlife in an enchanted flooded limestone valley. The valley opens up into Broad Haven South Bay, which is equally as beautiful. The Stackpole Estate is now part of The National Trust and is a great site for visitors with its secluded and peaceful walled gardens. Perfect for a romantic walk! 01646 661425 Stackpole Estate, Pembrokeshire, SA71 5DQ Places to stay: Stackpole Inn,
Hayston Farmhouse, Coach House, Barn at Kingston,& Barafundle Barns. LLANGRANNOG Another Ceredigion seaside village with an unspoiled beach, where you can walk out to its second bay at low tide. The clifftop path walk over to Ynys Lochtyn is also fantastic, with some of the best sea views in Wales, where dolphins and seals are often spotted by walkers. Llangrannog Beach, Ceredigion, SA44 6SN Places to stay: Penbontbren, The Pentre Arms Hotel, Angorfa, Dol Llan, Morfa Isaf, Manorafon & Crannog Cottage. Places to visit: Patio Café, The Ship & The Pentre Arms. Llangrannog is situated on the coastal path which makes a pleasant walk. HAFOD ESTATE The Hafod Estate, 12 miles South East of Aberystwyth offering stunning scenery. Several walking paths you can take, including Ystwyth Gorge Walk, Lady’s Walk, Bedford Monument Walk & Coed Hafod Walk. Celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day with someone you love by lacing up your walking boots and stride out over some of the most attractive rural parts of Ceredigion. www.hafod.org The Hafod Estate, Devil’s Bridge, Ceredigion SY23 Places to stay: Tynrhyd, Maesglas Uchaf, The Hafod Hotel (Devil’s Bridge), Hawthorn Cottage & Froneithinog.
Guide
Drive with care...
... during the winter months
Some practical advice for motorists driving in frosty and wintery conditions Tips for driving in icy conditions • Slow down, steer gently and avoid sudden sharp braking or acceleration • Leave a bigger gap between you and the car in front
Read more at www. yourlocalcrowd.co.uk/guides
Snow Tracks ©Simon Howden.FreeDigitalPhotos.net
• If you skid, do not brake harshly, • If you travel across black ice and the steering feels light, don’t brake, just ease off the accelerator
Ensure your vehicle is prepared; • Antifreeze – check coolant level regularly and, if required, top-up with antifreeze. • Battery – the most common cause of winter breakdowns. A battery more than five years old may struggle in the cold. • Fuel – keep at least a quarter of a tank in case of unexpected delay. • Lights – check and clean all lights regularly. • Carry spare bulbs. • Tyres – need at least 3mm of tread for winter motoring. Check pressures at least every fortnight. • Windscreen – reduce dazzle from the low sun by keeping the screen clean inside and out.
• Screen wash – use a 50% mix of a good quality screen wash to reduce the chance of freezing in frosty weather. • Locks and door seals – stop doors freezing shut with a thin coat of polish or Vaseline on rubber door seals. A squirt of water dispersant (WD-40) in locks will help stop them freezing. Winter emergency kit – it is worth kept in your vehicle • Blanket, rug or sleeping bag • Shovel • Torch and batteries • Tow rope • Bits of carpet or thick cardboard to place under driven wheels to help regain traction on ice or snow • Salt, sand or cat litter – to help clear snow and ice • Reflective jacket(s) • Ice scraper and de-icer • Snow chains (if you live in a remote or rural area) • Battery jump leads • Bottled water • Snacks – chocolate or cereal bars • Extra screen wash When bad weather is forecast • Warm winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves and warm clothes • Waterproofs • Sturdy boots • Flask of hot drink
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Guide
The Tax-Free Childcare Scheme After much delay, the Tax-Free Childcare scheme will be launched to parents from early 2017. The scheme will be rolled out gradually, with parents of the youngest children being able to apply first. All eligible parents will be able to join the scheme by the end of 2007.
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• not already be receiving support through Tax Credits or Universal Credit. Parents will be able to open an online account into which the government will make ‘top-up’ payments at a rate of 20p for every 80p that families pay in. Self-employed parents will be able to get support with childcare costs using the Tax-Free Childcare scheme, unlike the current Employer-Supported Childcare scheme. For employees, the employer-Supported Childcare scheme will remain open to new entrants until April 2018. Parents already registered by this date will be able to continue using it for as long as their employer offers it.
The government will make ‘top-up’
payments
at a rate of 20p
for every 80p
that families
pay in 8
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ARE YOU AN EMPLOYER? If you are an employer currently offering an Employer-Supported Childcare scheme, you need to consider the terms under which you will continue to offer the scheme. Whether or not it is beneficial for your employees to remain in the existing scheme
depends on a number of factors and you will need to ensure that employees have access to advice from the Childcare scheme provider. More news from Ashmole & Co can be found at www.ashmole.co.uk/ english/news/newsletter Ashmole & Co Manchester House, Bridge St, Cardigan SA43 1HY 01239 612162 www.ashmole.co.uk
Disclaimer - This article provides only an overview of the regulations in force at the date of publication and no action should be taken without consulting the detailed legislation or seeking professional advice. Therefore no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material contained in this article can be accepted by the authors, publisher or Ashmole & Co.
Image courtesy of Hywards at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
HE relief will be 20% of the costs of childcare up to the total of childcare costs of £10,000 per child per year. The scheme will therefore be worth a maximum of £2,000 per child (£4,000 for a disabled child). All children under 12 within the first year of the scheme will be eligible (up to 17 for children with disabilities) To qualify for Tax-Free Childcare all parents in the household must: •Meet a minimum income level based on working 16 hours per week at the National Living Wage • each earn less than £100,000 a year, and
Read more from Ashmole & Co at www. yourlocalcrowd.co.uk/guides
T
Recipe
Cheeseboard leftovers Design, co-ordination and project management of interiors for residential, business and tourism
07710 273211
info@janeyeversinteriors.co.uk www.janeyeversinteriors.co.uk 1 Gower View, Tenby, Pembrokeshire SA70 8RB
Winter at Ceridwen Open Mic Night 29/12/16, 7.30/8pm to late/ Cash Bar/ Food/ Free Entry/ Relaxed & supportive crowd St Dywnwen’s Supper 25/01/17, 6pm ‘till late
Contact for Menu/ Book in advance Winter Pizza Sunday 12/02/17, 1pm to 7pm/ Cash Bar/ Live Music/ Indoor games/ Family friendly/ Book in advance
CANOLFAN CERIDWEN CENTRE
Holidays-CoursesEvents-Weddings
Drefelin, Drefach Felindre, Carms, SA44 5XE, 01559 370517 www.ceridwencentre.co.uk info@ceridwencentre.co.uk find us on Facebook/Twitter
At Christmas most families will purchase a large amount of cheese and chutneys. But once Christmas day is over they tend to sit in the back of the fridge until they are well past their use by date. Instead of producing unnecessary waste, use it to make a beautiful pastry snack for all your friends and family to enjoy. Ingredients • Ready Made Filo Pastry • Chorizo (Thinly sliced) • Different Cheeses (Cut into small cubes) • Chutney (I used caramelised red onion) • Chestnut Mushrooms (Thinly sliced and cooked) • Water Method Preheat the oven at 180c (gas mark 4). Lay out your pastry sheets on a large chopping board and cut all the sheets in half. In each parcel use two of your halved sheets. Lay the two sheets on top of each other and brush water around the edges which will make the pastry stick easier. Place the filling in the middle of the pastry, the fillings I used were; Mature blue stilton and mushrooms; Cranberry cheese and chutney; Mature cheddar, chorizo and chutney. The amount you put into the parcel is up to you but I used a tbsp of cubed cheese and a tsp of chutney. You don’t want to overfill as this could cause the fragile pastry to split and the filling to leak out whilst cooking. Bring each corner up into the middle and pinch the pastry together, make sure there are no gaps. My pictures below show how they need to look. Place around six parcels on a large baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Spread them out just in case one does leak. Cook for around 12-15 minutes or until the pastry starts to brown. Then Enjoy! Author: Kelly Robinson www.kellyrobinson-key.co.uk
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Luxuriously Stylish Set in the heart of the beautiful Welsh countryside, Twr y Felin offers a unique experience. It’s historical building, a former working mill, has been beautifully and tastefully restored to provide a luxurious and restful base for exploring this wonderful part of Wales
I
T’S been through a number of transformations, restored and extended, this luxury art hotel is now home to 19 en-suite bedrooms and two suites, offering meticulous service, fine dining and elegant guest rooms, all of which are hypo-allergenic. This makes Twr y Felin the perfect retreat for couples to take in the tranquillity. On arrival I was warmly greeted in the entrance hall and shown around the hotel and to my room. That’s right, no reception desk here, just one to one meeting and greeting. I was shown all that my room had to offer and given all the necessary guidance to explore the rest of the hotel. The room was spacious, comfortable and had all the whistles and bells you’d expect
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from a “luxurious’ hotel! A pod coffee machine, tea making facilities a fridge with fresh milk and bottles of welsh water. The en-suite had the biggest bath ever as well as a separate shower cubicle – both big enough for two! Pity I forgot to pack the husband. The décor throughout the hotel shows, I think, a strong Asian influence, unsurprising as the Welsh born owner Keith Griffiths, is an architect based in Hong Kong. Strong clean lines, if a little masculine in colour, showed meticulous attention to the smallest detail and his intention to make this the first art hotel in Wales is very much in evidence, with a wide range of artwork on all the walls and in every room. Over 100 in total, specially
commissioned art inspired by the St Davids peninsula and Pembrokeshire. Now, I am of the school “don’t know much about art but I know what I like” and I found some pieces a bit overwhelming, but on the whole it was a fascinating experience and I enjoyed browsing. After a restful day, I was looking forward to my evening meal in the hotel’s restaurant Blas – meaning ‘Taste’ in Welsh which offers a menu
‘‘
The perfect
retreat for couples to take in the
tranquility
Tried & Tested influenced by the season and locality. It began with a delicious Amuse Bouche of Roasted Onion and Cauliflower Velouté. I chose Welsh Beef Fillet Scotch Egg, Celeriac, Black Pudding and Cockle Popcorn to start, which was cooked to perfection with the outer shell cooked but the inner egg still soft – how do they manage that? The black pudding was delivered as a soft mouse and the cockle popcorn was delightful. Onto the main, Sea Bream, Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper and Fondant Potato. Again cooked to perfection although I thought the potato was a little too solid to be called fondant, but what it lacked in texture, it delivered in taste. After a decent pause, giving me time to savour my crisp glass of Pino Grigio, came the desert. A delicious selection of local cheeses, Perl Las, Perl Wen and Golden Cenarth, delivered with sliced apple, grapes and crackers. All in all a delicious meal rounded off with a good coffee and a glass of Penderyn whiskey. After a good nights sleep in the
very comfortable & quiet space of my room, I was greeted in the morning by a beautiful Welsh autumnal morning with bright sunshine and a view down to the sea. Breakfast was again a very generous selection of 12 dishes and a well stocked buffet bar. As I am not a big breakfast person, so I settled for fresh fruit salad, orange juice coffee and toast, all served by a bright a smiling waitress. On chatting with other guests all appeared to be very happy with their stay, with one couple back for a second visit. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for the staff who all were unfailingly discreetly attentive. Would I go back again – like a shot! I may even take the husband next time! The hotel joins sister properties, Roch Castle and Penrhiw Hotel, as the first fully serviced hotel of the group and is certainly a great offering for anyone visiting the area. Ffordd Caerfai, St Davids SA62 6QT. 01437 725555 www.twryfelinhotel.com Reviewed by Cathrine Moon
READER OFFER
Stay with us… Stay at Twr y Felin Hotel for two nights between November and March and enjoy a complimentary three course a la carte dinner each evening and a complimentary upgrade to the next room available at the time of booking. Rates per room per night, from £200 at Twr y Felin Hotel Terms and conditions apply, visit www.twryfelinhotel.com/ special-offers for full details. Book direct: 01437 725 555 Quote YLCDE
Dine with us… Join us for a two course lunch at Blas Restaurant and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine with your meal. Terms and conditions: One glass of selected wine per person, with each two course lunch. An alternative drink of the equivalent value may be requested. You must present this voucher on arrival, only one voucher per person can be used at any one time. Expires February 28th 2017. Book direct: 01437 725 555 Quote YLCLO www.yourlocalcrowd.co.uk | 11
More Reviews at www.yourlocalcrowd.co.uk/articles
Twr y Felin, a former windmill and now Wales’ first contemporary art hotel, located in Britain’s smallest city, St Davids, offers a ‘Croeso Cynnes Cymreig’ – ‘warm Welsh welcome’. Stay on bed and breakfast basis in one of 21 ensuite luxury bedrooms, or choose to dine at Blas restaurant, which offers a menu influenced by the season and locality. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and drinks, we welcome resident and non-resident guests alike.
Tried & Tested
Learn the art of making
Mandy Wilcox of Deli Delights hosts another of her incredible ‘hands on’ workshops. Having been in the food business for over a decade – full of passion for what she does, it’s a natural step for her to share her passion and her knowledge in a series of carefully thought out workshops. Having recently reviewed her Patisserie workshop, we went along to learn more, this time to master making Truffles.
A
RRIVING ahead of time at the Guildhall kitchen, I have the opportunity of a quick cup of tea and to meet the other attendees. Today there are three of us and we eagerly grab our aprons and browse over the ingredients that sit before us…chocolate, lots of white, dark, and milk chocolate! Mandy, was well organised and several steps ahead of us, having prepared a well thought out programme for the afternoon ahead. Utensils, scales, chocolate, did I mention the chocolate…and recipe cards were already set out on our arrival, which gave Mandy the time to explain in detail what we were going to create. I’m the first to admit, I’m not
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the best cook! My dinner guests are always very polite at my attempts, but cooking, and more so, the enjoyment of cooking, doesn’t come easily to me. I’m a lazy cook, always looking for shortcuts and get flustered, often leaving a trail of destruction and mess behind me. So I was looking forward to learning how to add the ‘wow factor’ to my dinners with some impressive “handmade truffles” Reassuringly calm and confident, Mandy explained the variety of truffles we planned to make. White Chocolate & Coconut, Raspberry & Peanut Butter, Irish Whisky Caramel & Sea Salt and a Basic Chocolate Ganache and we got to work. After a quick demonstration
on how to make a remarkably and equally impressive “after eight dinner chocolate”, we got to grips with the White Chocolate and Coconut Truffles, which were fuss free to make and the perfect start for me! By combining the ingredients of cream, sugar, rich white chocolate & coconut, we were left with a wonderful gloopy, deliciously sweet smelling mixture, cooled in the fridge to become more workable, before being rolled into, I laugh now…petit four sized, or in my case, mouthful sized balls! These were then dipped into more chocolate before being rolled into coconut and refrigerated once again. With much concentration and laughter, halfway through the workshop, I’m probably already proving to
Truffles
be the messier attendee of the group, but with Mandy sharing some of the secrets used by many famous chocolatiers, I’m beginning to realise that actually, it’s easier than I imagined to create that instant ‘wow’ factor I craved, with the guidance and knowhow which Mandy was generously providing. Moving onto the Raspberry and Peanut Butter Truffles, again with some tips and tricks on how to make what appear to be very intricate truffles, with ease. Mandy leads the way and continues to gives us the encouragement we need to be master of our own creations. All executing a slightly different technique, but with all of us getting equally messy with the piping bags and runny chocolate, we soon have a tray of filled truffles.
A quick clean up and we move onto the Irish Whisky Caramel and Sea Salt Truffles, with Mandy showing us how to mix and temper the chocolate to the correct temperature, how to add the correct amount of ingredients, too much and the chocolate will not set…and which utensils to use to get the most out of the chocolate. On to decorate the truffles and again Mandy pushed the boundaries by introducing us to new taste combinations I would never have imagined. This is where we all get really messy, dipping each individual truffle in yet more chocolate before sprinkling with the topping of choice. Gloves were most definitely needed for this, with sadly no finger licking allowed!
With some great tips on how to decorate and present the truffles, with edible glitter, mini foil cup case holders, presentation bags and ribbons, we were left with a generous amount of delicious hand crafted truffles and the confidence to recreate these little mouthfuls of joy time and again. At £35.00 a session, the 3 hour workshop offered great value for money. With Mandy’s down to earth confident and reassuring approach, this hands on workshop is suitable for all, even the lazy, flustered cook such as myself! For more information you can find Mandy and Deli Delights on Facebook, on Twitter @ DeliDelights1 and on Instagram @deli.delights. You can contact her by phone 01239 810928 or find her at www.delidelightswales.co.uk Courses can be delivered in both Welsh & English. Reviewed By Sam Jones
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Go Green
Florence Jackson Celtic Sustainables
W
HEN I am not wearing my Celtic Sustainables hat, I work as a freelance illustrator. I specialise in colourful visual narratives that are largely based on nature, Folk Art and Eastern Philosophy but aim to create ambiguous narratives that can be universally relatable. I have always been concerned with our impact on the planet and its increasing vulnerability, and so aim to be environmentally conscious in my everyday decisions. Since working for Celtic, I’ve learnt a great deal about the pros of using natural emulsions that are not only great for the environment but can also be used for artistic projects such as upcycling furniture, painting ceramics and even creating murals! When asked to design the ‘Winter Mural’ for Wales Millennium Centre, I wanted to create a piece that was reminiscent of tales from different cultures, drawing inspiration from stories such as Babushka, Diwali and The Three Wise Men. Many of these stories consist of epic pilgrimages towards light, love and shelter and the coming together of people from near and far to celebrate the joys of life. Choosing the right paint I really wanted to use Earthborn paints as I had already used them in my home and was very impressed by the lovely texture of the paint, the wonderful matt finish and last but not least the lack of VOC’s! Deciding which range to use was difficult as I had initially wanted to use the Claypaint for its thick and creamy consistency and earthy colour palette; the main issue was that I would have
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been unable to create the more vibrant tones that I required for the detailing, which were necessary to create balance and focal points that the eyes would be naturally drawn to amongst the subtler, more neutral tones. Ecopro Matt Emulsion I decided to work with the Ecopro Matt Emulsion and chose the three primary colours Poppy (red), Cosmos (blue) and Saffron (Yellow) which I could then mix just like I would my gouache and watercolours, just on a much larger scale! By doing this I gained more freedom to create a unique palette that would match my initial painted drafts and colour swatches. Mixing and Matching When it came to mixing the paint, I used re-sealable plastic food tubs which I could keep airtight and reuse over the ten days I had to complete the mural. I managed to match up the emulsion almost, if not exactly to the initial designs I had painted with gouache, needless to say, I was very impressed with the finish. Painting the Mural The paint worked really well when being applied to the interior brick wall which had already been painted in a white emulsion. I diluted the colours with some water so that it would create a cleaner line for detailing and maintaining the block shapes and colours so as to look like one of my watercolour paintings. The pigment still kept extremely well, even on the black/blue sky which was created with just one watered down coat! Looking Back… I really enjoyed working on this project as it enabled me to push the boundaries
of my artistic capabilities. I had never created a mural before, especially on such a large scale (5m x 8m). There were many leaps and hurdles including how much paint I would need, how long it would take, how I would paint such an enormous image which meant getting a license to operate a cherry-picker! I was a little concerned about the paint and how well it could work when not being used as a standard decorating emulsion for walls and ceilings. Luckily, this was not an issue. The paint actually worked better than I had imagined. I ended up with plenty on my shoes, which unfortunately didn’t come out… but apart from that, the consistency and vibrant colours really brought my mural to life! The mural has been received well and has been featured in local and national papers including Wales Online and Pembrokeshire life. It will be on display, free to the public, until February 28th, 2017. You can find more of my work on florencejacksonillustration.tumblr.com https://www.wmc.org.uk/productions/2016-2017/305060/wintermural
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Conscious Art & Natural Paint
Health
5 New Year Resolutions for Happier Teeth
1. Ditch the cigarettes and keep your Teeth Research at Newcastle University has found that giving up smoking will have a dramatic impact on your gum health, meaning you are less likely to lose your teeth early. You’ll also help your teeth stay whiter and have fresher breath. All good news! 2. Protect your teeth with healthier eating Taking more care over what you eat, and when you eat it will not only help you achieve a healthy weight and make you feel better, you can do all sorts of good for your teeth and mouth. A good balance of dairy protein, leafy green veg, oily fish nuts and eggs can help your teeth replace and renew tooth enamel removed by sugars and carbohydrates in food. And if you’re cutting out snacking, you’ll cause less harm to teeth because your teeth will have a chance to recover between your meals. 3. Drink More Water to Hydrate
your Mouth We all know about the health benefits of drinking lots of water, but a less talked about benefit is to our teeth and gums. Sipping water is one of the best things we can do for our teeth. Water with fluoride is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to prevent tooth decay as it washes away any leftover food. Water also dilutes the acids leftover from bacteria in our mouth. The hydrating effect of water and means we have enough saliva – which helps in the battle against tooth decay. 4. Do More Exercise - And Reduce Gum Disease More scientific research – this time form 2005 – found that regular exercise (in whatever form you choose) not only improves your overall health and fitness, it can help reduce the risk of
inflammation around the teeth and gum disease. All good news for your teeth and gums! 5. Cut down on the booze and have whiter teeth Although many of us enjoy a drink, there are a wide range of health risks associated with alcohol. As far as your teeth are concerned, alcohol contributes to the erosion of your tooth enamel and increases the chances of fillings. More seriously, alcohol intake is linked to mouth cancer. Fans of ‘alcopops’ drinks which are often coloured can stain your teeth, and we all know that too much alcohol can lead to dehydration – which can impact on our saliva production. If you’d like to find out more about the benefits a healthier lifestyle in 2017 can have for your teeth and oral health, talk to your dentist! From all of us at the Pembrokeshire Dental Centre, we wish you a very Happy New Year for 2017! www.yourlocalcrowd.co.uk | 15
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Whatever your New Year’s resolutions for 2017 – to lose weight, to do more exercise – you will have had very good reasons for doing so. But did you know that in many cases, the resolutions you make for a healthier lifestyle will also benefit your teeth? What a bonus!
Gardening
Reflect and reshape... S the days get shorter, the temperature drops and all life seems to seep from the garden, you might want to do nothing more than curl up in front of the fire and dream of spring. But getting your garden in shape will do you the world of good! This is the time of year your welly boots were made for! Grab your woolly socks, some gloves and perhaps a hat and get out in to the garden. There’s plenty to do, clearing up after the growing season. It’s also a time to reflect and reshape, make changes you may have been contemplating. And, if nothing else, it will make that fireside cup of tea and slice of cake all the more delicious! WINTER CLEANING Winter is a great time to clean your garden equipment. Utensils, pots and seed trays can all benefit from a good wash, using a mild detergent if necessary. Make sure your tools are properly dry before you put them away to avoid rust. Protect wooden handles with linseed oil, and sharpen your shears and secateurs. Get your lawnmower
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currently being used serviced now. TOP TIPS for winter veg. Cover BUILDING 1. Clear your borders parsnips, carrots and MAINTENANCE 2. Clean your gardening kit other root veg with leaves Check your sheds and 3. Get your mower serviced or straw so that the soil greenhouses for rot or 4. Make sure sheds and other doesn’t freeze and you other damage; replace structures are weather-proofed can keep harvesting greenhouse panes that 5. Give your lawn some TLC through the winter. might be susceptible to 6. Look after the wildlife THE BORDERS high winds and nail down 7. Plant spring bulbs As with other areas in loose roofing felt on your 8. Tidy up the veg patch the garden, your borders shed. Apply another coat 9. Protect winter veg and tubs need a good of wood preservative 10. Buy your seeds for next year clear out. Prune summer if needed. Check other flowering shrubs, dead head Autumn garden structures such as your flowering plants, cut back herbaceous gates and fences to make sure plants and get rid of summer bedding they are in good order before the and weeds. If everything is looking a bit really bad weather arrives. sorry for itself, plant winter bedding for TENDER LAWN CARE splashes of colour on the greyest days. TLC for your lawn that’s been PLANT SPRING BULBS walked, run, and BBQ’d on all Speaks for itself – tulips, daffodils, summer. Try and avoid walking snowdrops, crocuses, whatever you like. on the grass, although feel free to Equally spectacular in pots or planted attack any large weeds and moss. in drifts through the garden, planting Rake up fallen leaves regularly. bulbs as Winter draws in gives you COSSET YOUR something to look forward to. NON-HARDY PLANTS LOOK AFTER THE WILDLIFE All those delicate dahlias Fat balls and other appropriate food and geraniums need to be for birds, frogs, hedgehogs and other lifted and stored or potted up for wildlife will help them survive the winter. Move bigger plants in winter and help you keep down the pots nearer the house where it garden pests as the weather warms up. will be warmer. Protect those you Keep water available, and break any ice can’t move – tree ferns, banana that forms. plants, gunnera, from the colder SHOPPING weather wrapped up in hessian or When you do retreat to the fire, insulated with straw. THE VEG PATCH remember to take your favourite Get rid of any canes and netting gardening catalogues with you to plan that can’t be re-used next year, your planting for next year and buy in and dig over any soil that isn’t all your seeds.
Plant winter
bedding for splashes of
colour
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A
Image courtesy of Dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
... your garden as you head into the winter
Health & Wellbeing
New Year Detoxing... A
FTER Christmas and the party season is over, you’ll probably feel like having a rest from all the rich food, chocolate and alcohol! But how about making January, not only a detox, but the start of a change to your lifestyle for the long term? This may seem like a hard task, it may even make you want to pull the duvet over your head! But taken step by step over time will make you much more likely to stick to your new lifestyle, rather than, for example, a hard and fast strict diet that may work in the short term, but before you know it you’re back in front of the TV with a box of chocolates. To get you started for the New Year, here are 3 steps. 1. Eat ‘cleaner’ Common ailments like headaches, aches and pains, bloating etc. could be tackled through or even down to diet. What you eat is also important for a healthy immune system and affects your mood and energy. Eating ‘clean’ is the latest buzzword for a healthy well-balanced diet. It’s not revolutionary though; Indian’s have been eating ‘clean’ for around 5,000 years using the Ayuveda principles . To eat more clean (or ‘sattvic’ as it’s known in Ayuveda), minimise or eliminate artificial sugars and processed food, reduce starchy carbs and eat a good variety of plant based whole foods such as beans, legumes, whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Tip
to start: eat more dark leafy greens. 2. Take back control of your mind Your mental state can have a profound effect on your health. Stress, for example, is the number one cause of cardiovascular heart disease. Cleansing your mind can help cleanse your body. Whether it’s traditional seated meditation, more modern mindfulness techniques, tai chi or even playing an instrument, spending time focusing your mind on the present, and in particular one task, can help to improve stress resilience, emotional intelligence and your ability to focus on tasks. Further to this, practices such as yoga can help you take this a step further to look at how you think about and perceive things, trying to reduce the psychological and associated effects of negative thoughts. Tip to start: Try a one-minute meditation . 3.Get and stay active! Being active isn’t just about losing weight - activity cleanses your body. Moving helps your blood and lymph flow and improve organ function, helping toxins to be flushed out, keeping your immune system boosted and body resilient to disease. It also helps to maintain and improve your ability to function at everyday tasks. To be active you don’t have to be training for Iron Man, 20-30 mins at least five times per week is plenty to keep yourself healthy. Tip to start:
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go along to a step into fitness class with a friend. So if your suffering from that heavy head, lethargy and irritability that comes from weeks of overindulgence, then start your journey to detox, not just for January, but for life. To find out more visit www. exerciseyourfreedom.com/fit-tips. Leanne Bird Founder of BirdSol Fitness | Nutrition | Adventure | Well-being www.exerciseyourfreedom.com
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...3 steps to start the New Year with a new you
Help us Help usput MS on the onmap put MS Help us. the map Text HOPE to 70099 to donate £5 to our groundbreaking research, or visit www.mssociety.org.uk
We are a charitable organisation aiming to relieve the effects poverty for are individuals and families within Pembrokeshire. We a charitable organisation
aiming relieve effects of Yourtohelp is the invaluable. poverty for individuals and families Donations of non-perishable foods, within Pembrokeshire clothing and small household items are always welcome. Thank you.
Your help is invaluable. http://patchcharity.org.uk We know that multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially devastating condition of the nervous system. We know it’s most often diagnosed in people’s 20s and 30s. We know some have mild symptoms, others are severely disabled.
tracy@patchcharity.org.uk Donations of non-perishable
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We know that multiple sclerosis is a potentially We know that multiple sclerosis (MS) is a(MS)potentially devastating condition of the nervous system. We know it’s most often diagnosed in people’s 20s and 30s. We know devastating condition of the nervous system. Wedisabled. know it’s most some have mild symptoms, others are severely But there is still so much we need We to knowknow to find a cure. often diagnosed in people’s 20s and 30s. some have Help us. Text HOPE to 70099 to donate £5 to our mild symptoms, others are severely disabled. But there is still so groundbreaking research, or visit www.mssociety.org.uk. much we need to know to find a cure.
Multiple Sclerosis Society. Registered charity nos. 1139257 / SC041990. Registered as a limited company in England and Wales 07451571.
Texts cost £5 plus standard network text rate. The MS Society receives at least £5. We may use your number in future. If you’d prefer we don’t contact you, add OUT after the keyword when making your donation or at a later date text OUT to 70099 Multiple Sclerosis Society. Registered charity nos. 1139257 / SC041990. Registered as a limited company in England and Wales 07451571.
Together we can put MS on the map.
Together we can put MS on the map Texts cost £5 plus standard network text rate. The MS Society recieves at least £5. We may use your number in the future. If you’d prefer we don’t contact you, add OUT after the keyword when making your donation or at a later date text OUT to 70099. Multiple Sclerosis Society. Registered charity nos.1139257 / SC041990. Registered as a limited company in England and Wales 07451571
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Help us. Text HOPE to 70099 to donate £5 to our groundbreaking research, or visit www.mssociety.org.uk.
Together we can put MS on the map.
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